Author(s): Susan Norman

Biography & Memoir

Susan Norman's disturbing childhood and violent marriage left her with learning and writing difficulties that she has spent her life overcoming. Using guile, good humour and a fair dollop of native intelligence, she endured extreme domestic violence and misfortune, yet always managed to spring off the back foot and bounce back.

Hardworking and forthright, Susan has negotiated successful careers as a prison officer, hostage negotiator and businesswoman. Her trademark of an infectious sense of humour, loyalty, compassion and kindness to others is a tribute to her authentic self.

Her narrative tracks her life from early childhood in the downtrodden streets of the East End of London, her marriage to a violent pimp and her struggles to bring up her children in appalling living conditions. Despite being unable to write, Susan became a prison officer in the notorious and dangerous corridors of Boggo Road Prison. Eventually, after many years of outstanding service, work stress overcame her, forcing her to leave.

Embarking on a successful business venture with her husband, and trusting that her daughter, Ivy, would never hurt her, Susan encouraged her daughter's involvement in the day-to-day running of the company. Manipulated and blackmailed by Ivy into losing control of the company she worked hard to establish, Susan was locked out of her company office and left in despair and penniless.

Written with the help of a ghostwriter, this is a story of tenacity and strength in adversity and - despite suffering the worst form of betrayal, from close family - the fortitude to rise above it, laugh and bounce back.