Redbridge author launches first novel at home (From East London and West Essex Guardian Series)

Redbridge author launches first novel at home

12:04pm Tuesday 15th May 2007 in Search By Megan Reynolds

AN ILFORD mum is breaking down perceptions about disability in her new novel 'Marilyn and Me'.

Shanta Everington, 34, will launch the book at a Redbridge Book Festival event at Redbridge College in Little Heath on Thursday.

The story is narrated by a young woman with a learning disability named Jane, who models herself on Marilyn Monroe, and begins to reflect on her life after being left for dead at a bus stop on new year's eve.

Mrs Everington said: "The book draws parallels between the lives of the two women who are complex, vulnerable and misunderstood. One is institutionalised and one is celebrated, yet they both share a loss of identity and a loss of control over their lives."

Mrs Everington, a former pupil of Woodbringe County High School, was inspired to write the novel when working as a disability support worker in community care, and finished it during her Creative Writing MA for which she received a distinction. The novel was shortlisted for the Cinnamon Press first novel award and has now been published by Cinnamon Press.

Mrs Everington said: "When I worked in community care one of my clients did get raped, and one died, and a lot of tragic things happened which made me question a lot of things about the system.

"The story is based on a reality, that these things do happen, and society needs to make a judgement about whether we do enough to protect vulnerable people.

"Disability in general isn't really portrayed very often in books or media other than in a negative way. I thought it would be a good thing to give disability a voice and hopefully let other people who would not encounter that kind of world gain understanding."

Shanta Everington will read extracts from the novel and answer questions at the book launch at 7.30pm on Thursday.

For more details contact Mark Etherington at Redbridge Council on 8708 2855.