Anna’s story is followed by a final chapter where the author, a specialist in addiction, discusses & analyses events and theories. This is a work that will be invaluable not only to students of the various social and psychological disciplines, but also to those who have endured similar ordeals to Ms Cooper’s.
The names of people and places have been changed in order to protect their identities.
Goodbye to Lovely
The harrowing true story of a woman’s struggle with urban poverty, domestic violence and addiction.
Born into a poor working-class family in London’s inner city, the cards are stacked against Anna Cooper from the start. First, as a victim of her parents’ dysfunctional relationship, she endured periods of her early life in care. Then when she meets Billy, she thinks that all of her dreams have come true. Unfortunately, she is instead catapulted into a nightmarish vision of psychopathic control, sexual abuse and domestic violence at a time when women’s rights and domestic violence are barely recognised. Will she find a way to escape her predicament and what are the long-term consequences of her situation likely to be?
Available to buy : Kindle and Paperback
Red Wine and Dark Chocolate
Here I turn my attention to the subject of love. But don’t expect any sweet romances.
This is a collection of stories for those who, one way or another, have lost in love. They ask the question ‘Is it real?’ … ‘Does it last forever?’ … or ‘Is it just a delusion?’
How many of us truly experience this emotion? And what are the consequences for those for whom it goes wrong? This is a book for those who have felt love’s bitter sting and have lived to tell the tale.
Ubiquitous Masquerade
Available to buy : Kindle Paperback
A collection of short stories from the Do Not Feed the Clowns series, exploring the themes of alienation, the search for personal authenticity and the ultimate nature of humankind. The tales frequently give the impression of supernatural events unfolding, using them as a metaphor for wider significances. With their supernatural imagery, brooding melancholy and bursts of grotesque, wry humour, one might describe them as a collection of fairy tales for the modern age.
In the Court of the One-Eyed King
Available to buy : Kindle Paperback
Book 2 from the ‘Do Not Feed the Clowns’ series. This is the story of one man’s journey to find truth and meaning in a world with seemingly little genuine regard for either. Confronted with one existential revelation after another he is eventually forced to take a deep look into his own psyche as well as that of those around him.
Do Not Feed the Clowns
Available to buy : Kindle Paperback
The final book in the series of the same name, this is about a woman who is plagued by a deep and debilitating fear of clowns. Frustrated by the lack of competence and personal authenticity in those around her, she struggles to come to terms with her condition in the face of obstacles presented at work, at home and by her friends. She finally enrols in a revealing course of psychotherapy in a desperate attempt to find peace and a resolution to her condition. And who exactly are the clowns? I’ll leave you to decide.
Circus of Charades
Available to buy : Kindle Paperback
This volume combines the three books in the series ‘Do Not Feed the Clowns’ so that you can enjoy them as originally intended, all in one go. It comprises a collection of tales that explore some of the darker aspects of human existence . . .
. . . characters, often on the edge, are searching desperately for meaning in a meaningless world full of dishonesty, self-interest and incompetence. These tales lay somewhere between post-surrealist existential horror and psychological drama and explore what makes life so difficult, frustrating, and unfulfilling whilst also hinting at what the consequences may be for the future of humanity. Is it the system that’s at fault? Is it politics? Is it religion? Or is it something deeper and darker that lies within all of us? If you enjoy having your nose rubbed in allegory – this is for you.
And who exactly are the clowns? I’ll leave you to decide . . .
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