Cathy Glass, and other foster carer authors

[BrokenBrit]

My friend and I swapped some books for some lockdown reading and I’ve just finished a coupe of books by Cathy Glass.
I did read some of her work years ago too but didn’t give it much deep consideration then. Having read the books, a very easy to read style, though upsetting subjects, I have felt quite uneasy and it has brought up many questions in my mind.
These ‘stories’ surely belong to the children, and it should be up to them if they get put into print and into the public eye? Is it ethical to publish such intimate details of a child’s life when you are caring for them in a professional capacity? The stories seem to all fit a similar story arc, with a drama in the middle and a happy resolution at the end. This also doesn’t tie in with my knowledge of foster carers and looked after children’s typical experiences.
So, I guess I’m wondering are the stories actually true, or a work or fiction? And if they are true am I over thinking, or is it perhaps not ethical to sell such stories? I’m sure the lady and her family must be pretty identifiable to many people. I don’t take away from the incredible job this lady and other foster carers do.

I'm sure there's been a few threads on this in the past where people have said they don't believe she's real.
I don't have any experience of fostering myself
But I really like her books, read loads.
They are really easy to read I read them in 2 days which never happens!

@purpleme12 oh yes she is certainly very talented at creating easy to read books.

It states in the books that details have been changed to protect identities - I've always imagined some of those changes might be quite significant, e.g. a boy changed to a girl, a child's ethnicity changed and so on.

I was reading an interview with a writer of autobiographical true crime and he mentioned quite casually such things as merging two people into a single character, so I'm guessing in the industry it's accepted that it will often be events rather than people that are true to life.

I've always enjoyed Cathy's books - although they're harrowing, the picture of the well-ordered and sensible Glass household is very soothing.

I was, however, disappointed by the thriller she wrote as 'Lisa Stone' - I hope she sticks to the fostering world in her future writing.

Isn't she a social worker? And she's writing about typical situations, many people will recognise elements from their story, but they won't recognise themselves.

I think lots of details were changed

She's definitely a foster carer not a social worker

(unless they are lies, but then I'm not a cynical person)

Surely it's just a mash up of details to create a fictionalised account? So 'Ellie' is actual a mix of Jacob, Mike, Tyler and Lois if you see what I mean.

They don’t read as if they are mash ups, each child /story generally has a particular issue/ theme (grooming gang, parent passed away/ obesity etc) and on her website she gives updates on how the children are doing, if they have kept in touch.
Don’t get me wrong I think she is an amazing person to have helped all the children like she does and her family does indeed sound lovely. I was just pondering the ethics/ accuracy of it all.

I'm glad you asked this, I've reread some during lockdown and have been wondering the same thing. I get that her adopted daughter 'Lucy' can give her consent to her own mother - but what about the rest? And surely social services would look unfavourably on her doing it??