One Small Word

Biographies & Memoirs

synopsis

Synopsis

Fifty-year old social work student, Frankie, is on work experience when she is suddenly triggered, and finds memories flooding back into her mind of the childhood sexual, physical, and psychological abuse she suffered at the hands of her father, which she had long suppressed. She seeks counselling and takes readers with her on the journey through the painful and heart-breaking recollections of her childhood experiences that come to light as she speaks to her therapist. She remembers some good times, but the raw emotions that surface as she recalls the many instances of the abuse that she suffered, overwhelm her at first. Each time, she goes away, analyses, and learns from her experiences, gradually understanding the ways the abuse has and continues to affect her adult behaviour. She then finds ways of turning around her negative experiences into positivity, healing and hope for the future, so that she can become the good social worker that she wants to be. The author’s writing is honest and impactful, and the use of imagery throughout this memoir really puts readers into the author’s perspective, providing a whole new understanding of those affected by childhood abuse. You will feel the raw emotions that went into the writing of this evenly paced and engaging story. This memoir is a powerful read not to be missed - a remarkable story that needed to be told.

bio

Author Biography

Gloria, born in London just after WW2, grew up on a council estate where she was physically and sexually abused by her father. She now lives on the south coast of England and enjoys her three children and five grandchildren. When she first retired, she started to write and illustrate phonics-focused picture storybooks for small children, designed to help children learn to read in a fun way. She has so far published 37 of the 42 books needed. As a child when abuse was hidden, not believed, and not acknowledged, Gloria’s experiences resulted in an emotional life sentence. She managed to turn this around and wrote her two-part memoir to assure other survivors that there is hope of recovery. Book 1 is entitled ‘One Small Word – Surviving childhood abuse’. Book 2 is entitled ‘NO – sequel to One Small Word’. Gloria, now writing her first adult fiction book, is still passionate about uncovering social issues that are not talked about enough, thus stigmatising survivors. She wants to change this for those who’ve suffered enough already. She also wants them to know that, like her, they can find peace through a personal faith in God, who unconditionally understands, accepts and loves us.

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Author Insight

How it all began

Frankie, a mature student on placement in a social work team, experiences a life changing memory trigger.

Book Excerpt

One Small Word

“I really wanted to slowly strangle that old man, strangle him until his eyes popped out,” says Frankie, with tears running down her cheeks.

Her manager looks mildly alarmed, as well she might. It’s not the sort of thing a mature social work student should be saying about a client’s husband. Frankie knows she is acting more like a fifteen-year-old than an adult of fifty, but she has just had the worst experience of her adult life and is trying to make sense of it.

“You know you’ll need to sort this out before you can continue with your career, don’t you?” says her manager gently as she hands Frankie the box of tissues from the corner of her desk.

Frankie is still trembling. Not exactly appropriate behaviour in the learning disabilities team. Her placement had been going well, and now this! She is embarrassed but still can’t stop the tears.

“I truly wanted to see him struggle for breath until he could breath no more,”

she continues. “The old pervert had caused such fear and pain. I know it was years ago, but I wanted him to know what was happening, to experience some of what he had done.”

The manager looks across the desk. Her large, kind eyes travel over Frankie’s face. She doesn’t comment about the smears on Frankie’s glasses, or the tracks of mascara snaking down her cheeks.

“What happened?” she asks.