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June 2026

I am drawn to write about families because, as a child, I was told by my own parents that what happens in the family stays in the family: We don’t wash our dirty linen in public!

That was the attitiude of most families I knew when growing up. Which meant if something happened within the family that caused upset, confusion or pain, the family member affected did not, and could not, know if this was ‘normal’. Often, that family member felt alone, even ashamed.

The result is secrets. And if the family as a whole keeps secrets, then individual family members may learn to hide certain thoughts - and actions.

Scratch the veneer of happy families and the chips in the varnish are not far from the surface. There is no shame in that - we are, after all, merely human.

As societal conventions have loosened over the years and talking about family issues with friends is something which does not feel disloyal, common experiences are shared and one is not feeling alone. Shame is consigned to the bin.

Unless, of course, there is something within the family that is so dark that its members not only feel shame but also guilt…

Debut novel: Silent Truths, Spoken Lies

Book 2: on its way!