Ivy’s story

I’m so excited to announce the release of Ivy—A Forgotten Australian, now called: From State Ward to Survivor: A shocking story of strength and resilience.

I’ve been so privileged to meet Ivy, who went through horrific abuse during an era in which complementarianism (biblical patriarchy) determined the fate of women. She endured extreme hardships at the hands of people who could only be called abusers. After leaving the institute, her self-esteem shattered, she underwent devastating domestic violence, as many of us do who have been convinced that we’re not good enough. But Ivy rose above all and not only survived but thrived.

I must admit, writing her story last year was tough. So much of her story reflected my own experiences despite three decades passing between us. And sadly, I believe many people would still relate to her experiences. Evidence of how little has changed.

The key takeaway from Ivy’s story is the strength of love.

And how love offers resilience and inner strength to endure and overcome maltreatment and exploitation. This is a book for those who believe in social justice and enjoy reading Australian history, and who are intrigued by what makes people tick.

I wrote this book about systemic and institutional abuse to expose how perpetrators remain under the radar thanks to government policies and attitudes of the day. Attitudes, which include ignorance that an abuser is among them, an attitude supported by the ideology of innocent childhoods.

I was fortunate to attend a Varuna Fellowship to support the writing of this novel. The first question I was asked was why I was the best person to write it. For those of you who have read my previous blogs, you’ll know the answer—

abusers change little; they use the same manipulations, mistreatment and vilification to crush their victims

—something, sadly, I’ve experienced firsthand as well.

Big Sky Publishing will publish From State Ward to Survivor, which is due for release early next year. Look out for the cover reveal, coming soon.