Book release date

I am thrilled to announce that my debut novel, Known to Social Services, published by Faraxa Books, finally has a release date. 

The book will be available as a paperback from Amazon from 28th February 2015, and in paperback in Malta from mid to end of March. The downloadable version will follow soon in March. 

In the course of promoting the book, I have sent literally thousands of e-mails to all the Universities in the UK, which offer courses in social work, psychology, criminal forensics, nursing, midwifery etc. asking them to give consideration to adding the book to their reading list.

Why would academic institutions add a novel to their list I hear you ask? Well, whilst the book is fictional in its content, the stories reflect the reality of life as a social worker and are well within the bounds of credibility - ask any front line social worker and I'm confident that they will agree. 

I have received an overwhelming response to my e-mails, with invitations from several Universities to speak to their students in relation to the book. I am extremely grateful for this opportunity, not only to promote the book, but to raise awareness of the difficulties faced by my colleagues who have made, or who intend to make, this profession their life's work.  I have of course accepted the invitations and look forwards to meeting with the students and lecturers.  

Being a social worker myself for many years, with a wealth of front line expertise, I wanted to write a novel based on my own professional experiences – one that would focus on the harsh truth of day-to-day work and substantiate the almost incomprehensible difficulties faced by the much-maligned social worker. Thus Diane Foster, the social worker central to the book, was born.

The appeal and usefulness of Known to Social Services lies in its highly authentic storylines, believable characters and riveting climax which keep readers on the edge of their seats, while instructing them as to the true nature of the socio-psychological issues involved all around. It is written to address a subject matter most people find worryingly fascinating. One need only look at the viewing statistics for high profile programmes and reality television, to realise that people actually love misery as long as it is not their own. In Known to Social Services they can, for a short time at least, step into this engrossing world of social work, mental health, and psychology, experiencing it through the eyes of Diane Foster and the lives of the children she strives unceasingly to protect.

I sincerely hope that you will enjoy the book as much as I enjoyed writing it.

Freya