By Casey Neill
Gemma Frances wrote her first book when she was nine years old.
The Beaconsfield author and mum of three has come a long way since penning Tom’s Farm, illustrated by her artist dad.
Gemma rediscovered the lovingly preserved book during a recent trip to her country of birth, the UK.
She read it to her daughter, “who laughed and said it was boring and could she please choose something else”.
“With the benefit of having written continuously for the past ten years, I can see where I went wrong,” Gemma laughed.
“As someone who has always struggled with self-esteem, writing is one of the things I feel most confident about.”
Gemma just released her third novel, Fractured, based on her experience working in child protection in the UK and Victoria.
It follows the Season children and their mother, Lisa, as they navigate involvement with child protection services, from an initial report through to court proceedings.
Lisa was exposed to family violence in childhood and mirrors this dynamic in her own adult relationships, exposing her children to similar experiences.
She loves her children and is terrified of losing them, but she’s unsure how to move forward.
Fractured explores the choices she makes and their impact on her eldest daughter.
Gemma hopes Fractured humanises those involved in the child protection system, from the children to their families, carers, and protective workers.
“We all live within shades of grey and require the empathy, support, and grace of others from time to time,” she said.
“Since becoming a parent myself, I have developed a lot of empathy for parents who are struggling, particularly those who are isolated and lacking a positive support network, as well as a lot of empathy for children who require more than parents are sometimes able to give.
“I’ve gained insight into the indelible mark trauma can leave upon families and how the impact of trauma can result in damaging patterns of behaviours that are often repeated across generations.
“Becoming a parent is a huge change of identity – it’s simultaneously demanding, exhausting, sacrificial, awe-inspiring, and beautiful.
“It’s the hardest thing I’ve ever done and the most important thing for me to try to do well.
“I’m very conscious when I parent my children of maintaining a strong connection with them.
“My instinct is to prioritise a loving connection, and when I fail – which is inevitable at times – it’s my hope that this is what will prevail and see them safely through to adulthood.
“All three of our children have beautiful, kind hearts and a big heart for others – I’m very proud of them for that.”
Gemma has a 16-year-old stepson, a son, 8, and a daughter, 6.
“My children don’t so much influence my writing as motivate me,” she said.
“I hope I can role model to them in the future that when I found something I loved, I pursued it diligently, worked hard to improve, and didn’t give up.
“I think we all have our own gifts and I look forward to watching my children discover theirs more and more as they grow.”
Her first novel, Meet Me At The Melbourne, follows a young woman who opens a Melbourne-themed cafe in the UK that brings the community together and opens the door to romance – and a hint of danger.
“When Covid hit, I came across a competition hosted by Dick and Angel Strawbridge of the TV show Escape To The Chateau,” she said.
“I submitted my book, and a winner from Dick and Angel’s top six manuscripts would be chosen for publication via a month-long public vote.”
She won, and Meet Me At The Melbourne landed on book shelves in 2021.
Gemma self-published her second novel, The Debutante, and Fractured.
“Publishing has changed a great deal in a very short space of time,” she said.
“Writers are competing within a grossly saturated market where they must not only be able to write books, but market them as well.
“Often, the writer’s ability to market themselves and their work is more likely to secure them a publishing deal than the quality of their writing.
“To me, that is topsy-turvy.
“By self-publishing, I can stick to writing and publishing my books without having to prove that my social media following is stronger than my writing.”
Gemma donates her time to Australia’s Charity Journal, a non-profit that empowers charity leaders, advocates, and ambassadors to share their stories with the community.
She also studies and writes, and, when we spoke, was to start a new social work role that took her out of statutory services for the first time in seventeen years.
“Our youngest has recently started Prep and it feels like we’ve entered a new era in parenting,” she said.
“I’ve started to ask myself what I really want from the second half of my life and begun taking steps to make the changes that will lead me there.”
