Clare Francis-Slater

Clare started to write her ‘Little Book of Balm for the Broken Soul’ after having being diagnosed with breast cancer in 2018 and recovering. It was the kind of book she would have wanted to read to support her recovery and help her cope with the trauma she had experienced.

It deals with themes of mental health, well-being and post-traumatic growth; how we can support our own recovery with self-help, nature and our relationships. It also discusses issues of identity, race and belonging.

After Clare recovered from her cancer treatment, she went on an uplifting personal journey that helped her embrace her ‘whole’ self and take on new and exciting projects and challenges. Clare is also the founder of an educational consultancy organisation, ‘Diversity Days Everyday’. The aim of the organisation is to support the embedding of diversity in schools, so that every child growing up in the UK can see themselves in their educational experience, feel valued, and understand how their story fits into the history of Britain.

The Little Book of Balm for the Broken Soul is illustrated by Lynne Hollingsworth. She is a Derbyshire based award-winning artist and Clare’s friend. They have collaborated closely on this project for a year and a half. Lynne consulted with Clare closely on all the illustrations for each chapter and the front and back cover as she wanted to get the feel of the images right and for the colours to be authentic for Clare.

Clare Francis-Slater lives in Derbyshire with her family, husband, two children, dog, two cats, and chickens. She is a primary teacher, educational consultant, associate lecturer, and a writer. She has taught mainly in primary schools and other educational settings for over twenty years. She is now a freelancer.

Clare Francis-Slater: www.diversity-days.co.uk Follow on Instagram @clarefrancisslater and @diversitydayseveryday

Lynne Hollingsworth: www.hdart.co.uk Follow on instagram @paintingtheroom