I would like to thank everyone who has shown interest in my forthcoming book, "Known to Social Services".
The book takes a realistic look into the often harrowing world of a social worker. It follows the day-to-day life of social worker Diane Foster as she struggles to manage her impossible caseload. Diane is dedicated to her job and works hard to improve the lives of the children she is involved with.
Below is a small preview of just one of the families Diane is currently working with. Shanice and Grant Ellis have four children, a beautiful home and to the outside world, seem to have it all. However, Shanice is hiding a terrible secret.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shanice Ellis picked herself up off the floor and went to the bathroom. The face which stared back at her was not her own. She had a black eye and a cut lip; her nose was bleeding and she had a clump of hair missing from the side of her head. Shanice touched her face and wept. She knew that she was trapped and she rued the day she had met Grant Ellis. She had been a successful beautician, with a good job in a salon in the nearby town of Blenton. Grant’s Sister Louise had been a regular visitor to the salon and had been the one to introduce her to Grant. Shanice had been impressed with his 6’ 2” frame and rugged good looks; not to mention his charm. As an added bonus, he ran a construction business and was not short of money. Grant had been so loving and attentive when they first met. He had swept her off her feet, showered her with gifts and flowers and taken her to dinner every few nights. It had been a whirlwind romance, and he had proposed to her at midnight one Christmas Eve; she had said yes of course, never suspecting that her fairy tale romance, would evolve into a nightmare.
The changes had initially been so small as to be almost insignificant; a complaint about her cooking; followed by a teasing laugh and an accusation that she was sulking. A comment about how she was dressed for an evening out, accompanied by a seemingly innocent suggestion of how she might prefer to dress when she went out with him. Then came the objection to her working, with the argument that she did not need to work as he provided a good living for them. Eventually, reluctantly, Shanice had given up her job and devoted herself to being a full time home maker. Grant had then openly disapproved of her regular visits to her mother who lived ten miles away, stating that it was taking up too much of her time. The same argument was used to curtail her trips into town for coffee with friends. Worn down by his constant criticisms, he finally succeeded in isolating Shanice, and then announced that he was ready to start a family, which had been the final nail in the coffin.
Grant’s first assault had come when she was pregnant with Tia; she had been tired due to severe morning sickness. Grant had made sexual advances, but she had said no; what followed had changed everything forever. Grant had attacked her with such ferocity, she had feared for her life. After he had finished, Shanice had lain in shock on the bedroom floor shaking and covered in her own blood. Grant had dragged her to her feet; told her to go get herself cleaned up, “Don’t ever make me do that again” he had warned. He had of course done it again, repeatedly. Shanice dare not tell anyone, not even her own mother, for fear of what Grant might do. However, the walls were thin, and the neighbours had called the police on more than one occasion, which had led to the intervention of Social Services.
Grant had been furious and had blamed Shanice; she tried desperately to put on a brave face, but she knew she was reaching breaking point. Grant had started to pick on the children now, and only last week had hit their 6 year old son DJ across the back of the head when he failed to answer Grant’s question quickly enough.
Shanice studied her battered face and wept some more.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
You can read about the outcome for Shanice, Grant and their children, and for all the other families Diane is involved with, in the New Year.
"Known to Social Services" published by Faraxa Books is due for release early in 2015
No comments:
Post a Comment