Deborah Thomson

Deborah left Wayne after seventeen years of his violence, taking their children with her.

She thought they were now free from abuse. Not so.

Whose Life is it Anway - Leaving a Violent Abuser  is the sequel to Whose Life Is It Anyway - Recognising and Surviving Domestic Violence.

Deborah looks closely at the pitfalls of the Family Law Court as experienced by an abused parent, while attempting to keep her children safe from harm. It is a story that will resonate with every parent engaging in a fight for the rights of children. Does the Family court act ‘in the best interests’ of the child?  You be the judge.

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I  have  lived  experience  of  domestic  violence.  I  detailed  this  experience  in  my  book  Whose  Life  Is  It  Anyway? - Recognising  and  Surviving  Domestic  Violence.  Since  its  publication,  my  first  book  continues to be used as a resource for counsellors and students on practicals across Tasmanian domestic violence services. 

This second book focuses on my experiences after our escape from the abusive relationship in 2003.

It  will  outline  the  journey  as  I  navigated  police  systems  and  family  law  court  proceedings  relating  to  my  and  my ex-husband’s  children.  Some may find the book a rather detailed read. The comprehensive inserts regarding personal court appearances and court documents may prompt the reader  to  wonder  at  their  relevance  for  those  not  currently  going  through, or have gone through, Family Court proceedings. 

I  have  included  court-related  items  en  masse,  in  an  attempt  to  convey  the  massive undertaking  I  was  presented

with  when  dealing with contact and custody issues. A mother (and I make no apologies for my  use  of  gender  as  this  is

statistically  reinforced)  faces  dangerous  bias  against  her  when  family  violence  is raised.  The court has expectations that she will provide reams of material supporting her claims of abuse, while simultaneously discounting the material as fabrication or a likely product of a vindictive female’s imagination.  

 Although  I  went  through  the  family  law  system  over  a  decade  ago,  it  appears  that  little has changed;  therefore  my  experiences  are  currently  relevant  and of interest to parents battling in court today. 

SAMPLE OF THE INTERIOR

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I ask you to support the publication of Whose Life is it Anway - Leaving a Violent Abuser by chossing a reward.

Deborah Thomson ~ Author

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PROJECT DISBURSEMENTS

TOTAL BUDGET $2,000

Design $1,360

Initial Print Run $570

Marketing $70

Any sums raised in excess of $2,000 will be used to help make the book more widely available.