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WHO AM I AND HOW DID I BECOME AN AUTHOR?

My name is Jan Garsden and I was born in Oldham, Greater Manchester. I now live in Macclesfield Cheshire with my husband Peter. I have 2 daughters, Lexi, and Vanessa. I have always wanted to write a book but have never got round to it until we gave up fostering, and I had more time on my hands. I had always made notes of the funny things that our foster children did and said, so I decided to create a book, whilst always hiding their identity, of course

The book also has bits in about my life as a Catwalk Beauty Queen, and my career as an interior designer running my own business. It principally concerns, however, the family's experience of fostering children

MY LIFE ON THE BEAUTY CATWALK

From age 16 to 27

I realised in my late teens that I could use both my looks and my brains to make a living. I wasn't especially pretty but after entering a contest at holiday camp I realised that there was far more involved than appearance. I learned how to walk and stand correctly, how to smile and to make eye contact with the judges. I also learned that great hair, make up and a false tan were essential. I could become a model too and earn a decent living on the catwalk, relying on my intellect later on. I was fortunate to have a mum who supported and helped me, and I made friends within the "beauty" world.

You can look at some of the pictures by clicking the button below

BEAUTY PHOTOS

MY LIFE AS AN INTERIOR DESIGNER

I spent 22 years designing people's houses

I was married to my first husband in 1982, and had my daughter Lexi in 1985. I'd done quite a lot of sewing alterations and curtain making for my then in-laws whilst I was pregnant, improving an old hall which they were converting into a nursing home. Following my divorce a few years later I needed to work from home as Lexi was only 2 years old. I came up with the idea of sewing in my back bedroom and so I put leaflets through doors in the area offering my services as a curtain maker. The business took off and I was able to support us, alone, through my efforts, often sewing late into the night when Lexi was asleep in bed. I began to offer advice about other aspects of a room too and was soon putting together schemes and mood boards for many customers, who passed my details on to their friends. The business lasted for nearly 23 years and was a joy.

MY LIFE AS A FOSTER CARER

I spent 10 years as a foster carer for many children

In 2005 I had a serious skiing accident, and following back surgery I was forced to give up my interior design business. I was soon bored of doing nothing, and had for a long time harboured a desire to help children. My husband Peter was, and is, a child abuse lawyer, fighting for the victims of historic child abuse. I felt that I wanted to help too but with no legal qualifications that wouldn't be possible. So we began fostering in 2007, and spent the next 10 years looking after around 30 children. It was often challenging, it made us laugh, cry and get angry, but it was extremely rewarding.

MY LIFE AS AN AUTHOR

I always wanted to write a book, but never had the time to get round to it, until my husband and I gave up fostering

DATE OF PUBLICATION: 16th DECEMBER 2022

I feel a bit of a cheat calling myself an author, I progressed only to A-level English at school, and like my other various jobs, I just wanted to have a go. The book about my experiences as a foster carer took me about 5 months in total to write. I thoroughly enjoyed the process, needing to record all of the events, primarily, for my own benefit. The book would need editing to improve the grammar, spelling, punctuation and syntax, and I knew that I'd be unable to undertake the task because I'd reached the limit of my abilities. Gareth stepped in, providing me with help, advice, support, guidance and the knowledge and ability to make coherent sense of my ramblings. I hope that the result does not offend, upset or challenge anyone. I have recounted only true events, but changed the names and details of those people featured within the pages of "Part of the family", in order to protect them.

To see a fuller version of my journey, read my blog post here

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