Dame Deborah James’ book 'How to Live When You Could Be Dead', published posthumously, has debuted at number one in the UK, it has been revealed. Since its release, just under a week ago, on Thursday, August 18 it has sold 40,878 copies, according to Nielsen BookScan’s Total Consumer Market and has also become the bestselling non-fiction debut of the year so far.
The campaigner, podcast host and former deputy headteacher - who was known by many by her social media handle @Bowelbabe - died in June aged 40, five years after being diagnosed with bowel cancer. She had been working on her latest book for two years but completed the last chapters at her parent's home in her final few weeks.
Deborah announced in early May that she was receiving end-of-life care, telling her followers it was a message she "never wanted to write". At the time, she also revealed the creation of the Bowelbabe Fund for Cancer Research UK - which has so far raised almost £7.5 million - and £3 from every copy of the book sold in the UK will go towards the fund.
