Beginner’s Pluck: VANESSA DIFFENBAUGH

Vanessa was raised in Chico, California, in a hippy community. After College she worked with homeless and foster children and loved it.

She was especially interested in the redemptive power of art.

“I did a minor in creative writing in college, but I didn’t start writing until I stayed at home with my own children.

“I based my debut on a teenager we’d hoped to adopt. She’d had an intense time and had trouble trusting people and connecting.”

Who is Vanessa Diffenbaugh?

Date of birth: January 20th 1978 in San Francisco.

Education: Stamford University. English degree and Masters in Art Education.

Home: Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Family: Husband. Two biological children Chula, 5, and Miles, 4. Two foster children of 19 and 21.

The Day Job: Starting a non-profit organisation www.camellianetwork.org, to help foster children make the transition to independence.

Hobbies: “Every second I have spare, I’m with my kids.”

Favourite Writers: “I love Toni Morrison and Jeanette Winterson. The Passion is my favourite book.”

Second Novel: “I’m starting one but I’m not giving details yet.”

Top Writing Tip: Rewrite.

Web/Twitter: www.vanessadiffenbaugh.com Twitter: @vdiffenbaugh

The Debut The Language of Flowers. Macmillan: €12.99; Kindle: €8.16.

Leaving the foster system at 18, Victoria sleeps in the park until she finds a job helping a florist. It becomes clear that Victoria has a talent for choosing flowers for others, through their meanings.

Victoria falls in love, but doesn’t believe she’s worthy of happiness.

“I wanted to write with emotional honesty and tell a story people could connect with. And I wanted people to know how the foster system in America fails children; and how, at 18, they fall through the cracks. Then we can all work together and give support.”

The Verdict: Mind bogglingly good. A mesmerising book that will haunt you, and change the way you view the world.