2015
is almost upon us, and I would like to take this opportunity to wish you all a
happy, healthy, and prosperous New Year. I’m sure that many of you have made some sort
of New Year’s resolution; maybe to lose weight, give up smoking, eat more
greens or even to write that book you've always said you would write!
I
recall my 2013 resolution was to make good on my long time ambition to write a
book. A lot of procrastinating, sleepless nights and hard work resulted in my
debut novel, “Known to Social Services”, which will be published by Faraxa
Books early in 2015.
“Known
to Social Services” is a gripping novel, which takes an inside look at the
challenging and often harrowing world of social worker Diane Foster as she
juggles with her impossible work load and complicated private life. Though dedicated
to her work, Diane cannot stretch herself thinly enough to manage all the
demands made of her.
There
are several key characters in the book, with lives so absorbing and terrible;
you may find you can’t put it down.
Diane
is frustrated in her efforts to engage with the avoidant and neglectful, Kirsty
Thompson and her vulnerable three-month-old baby Daniel. Magnifying the risk is
Kirsty’s obnoxious partner Neil O’ Grady, though she refuses to accept any
advice or support. At the other end of the scale is the likeable but hopeless young
mother Jodie Pearson, who understands exactly what her choices are, in relation
to her drug-dealing boyfriend, but lacks the confidence to make the right ones.
As
well as all the children she is striving to keep safe, Diane is aware of the
possibility of a paedophile ring operating in her locality, with many of her
families unwittingly caught up in the middle of it.
There
is a desperate drama when a child goes missing, resulting in the intervention
of Interpol, not to mention an angry confused teenager who is about to throw
her whole life away just to make a point. These
are just a few of the story lines, which I sincerely hope will keep you enthralled,
entertained, and hopefully asking for more.
The
book is a realistic reflection of the day-to-day life of a social worker and
culminates in a breath-taking climax, which of course I’m not going to tell you
about here J but
don’t worry, I’ll let you know when the book is available.
My
resolution for 2015 is to focus on completing the sequel to “Known to Social
Services”.
Discipline
will be the main requirement, with the usual balancing act of timescales versus
creativity. Steve has threatened to chain me to the computer desk if I don’t
knuckle down to it J I
have actually made a start and have the skeleton for the book, with new
characters developing along the way. There are already some I know you will LOVE
to hate.
I am
grateful to those of you who have sent me good wishes and congratulations in
relation to this exciting opportunity. I’d like to ask a big favour of you all;
would you take a minute to visit my Facebook page – Freya Barrington – “like”
it, and then share the page, and the link to this blog, http://freyabarrington.blogspot.com/
with your own friends on Facebook with the request that they “like” it too. This would be a huge support to me in
promoting the book, and will also ensure that no one misses the book launch. Thank
you J and
Happy New Year once again.
Freya