Making Lemonade

How does an eight-year-old child begin to understand and navigate the world around her when she, and those closest to her, are regularly being subjected to disproportionate measures of rage, brutality, and violence at the hands of those who are meant to protect her?

Could she be the one to blame for the fear and chaos that characterise her family life? What will she do with the ‘lemons life has given her?’

Making Lemonade is a compelling, poignant account of one such child, who chose to not be defined by the errors and failings of her biological guardians. Raw, transparent, and painful in parts, this powerful memoir explores the inevitable, painful consequences for children being raised in a dysfunctional home.

Liana Shaw is an established magazine editor and publisher, based in South Africa. Having enjoyed a long and successful career in magazine publishing, she eventually decided to document some of her painful childhood experiences into printed work with hopes that some of the obstacles she had to overcome as a child might inspire others. ‘Making Lemonade’ is her debut memoir.

She currently resides in Johannesburg, with her husband. She has two children who are both studying abroad, in the USA and Europe.