Valerie’s first novel The Clamour of Silence, centres on a relationship involving a profoundly deaf character. It is a contemporary love story set between two different cultures – the deaf world and the hearing world.

Sydney stud Ryan, living and working in the noisy cut and thrust world of the stock exchange, was emotionally damaged as a small boy and cannot form enduring relationships. Until he meets beautiful Julia, profoundly deaf, the epitome of calm, love, family relationships.

Ryan soon falls deeply in love and wants to sweep Julia off her feet. However, before their two worlds can merge, they have to overcome many obstacles. Not the least of which is the unhinged callous behaviour of Ryan’s sadistic mother. Julia has her own agenda in that she wants to launch her own business, interior decorating, in the competitive hearing world.

Can profoundly deaf Julia step from her comfort zone, defy all the odds and establish her place in the frenetic hearing world of a large city? She feels she must do this to stand next to Ryan as a wife and support.

How these two people help each other in their two very different worlds makes an interesting and enjoyable story with many twists until its happy conclusion.

A percentage of sales has been donated to the Royal Institute for Deaf and Blind Children showing how ingenuity and great writing can create new opportunities for mutual benefit.