RAISED BY COMMITTEE

Can a committee raise a child or replace a mother's love? Follow Gail's roller coaster emotional ride as she rails against the restrictions put on her life and struggles to fill the void left by her parents. Raised by Committee is set in 1960's England against a backdrop of Beatlemania and the sexual revolution.

Set in Devon, England in the 1960’s, Raised by Committee tells the story of an abandoned and abused young girl’s journey as she struggles to make sense of her past. At age 12, Gail is made a ‘ward of the courts, as being in need of moral protection’. She is placed under the care of the ubiquitous Children’s Committee and sent to live in a children’s home. Set against a backdrop of Beatlemania and the sexual revolution, Raised by Committee chronicles Gail’s roller coaster emotional ride as she rails against the restrictions put on her life and struggles to fill the void left by her parents. As much as she resents the interference of the Children’s Committee, deep down she realizes that she needs their protection - from herself as much as anyone. Gail has a wild streak in her fuelled by hurt and anger, and a searing anguish which threatens to consume her. From runaway, to thief to top student, Gail’s life runs the gamut from despair to hope. Just when she thinks everything is fine, it blows up in her face again and again.

Born in Devon, England, Carollyne worked as an editorial assistant on London's famous Fleet Street before emigrating to Canada in 1970. Her previous writing experience includes a regular newspaper column on the Lower Mainland, report writing, newsletters and press release preparation, as well as various articles and short stories, including 'Bless You' which was read on CBC's North by Northwest radio show. Carollyne's working career was mainly in health care administration. She is now retired and lives on Vancouver Island with her husband Jim where she devotes her time to writing, croquet and the pursuit of happiness! Carollyne has been playing with words in one form or another all her life and continues to make music with her first full length novel, RAISED BY COMMITTEE. Carollyne is currently working on her next novel, A MATTER OF ISSUE, due to be release 2012.