About The Book

Beyond the Red Door, by Janet Shaw

Copyright: Janet Shaw, 2004, 2007

First edition published by Allen and Unwin 2004

Reprinted by Insight Out 2007
Available in paperback, audio cassette and CD format.

Limited Offer

I still have some autographed copies of the first edition. So get in quick and Order Now

Description

The inspirational true story of an adopted child who strives to be as ordinary as possible despite the onset of blindness but who can’t help accomplishing truly extraordinary things.

Janet Shaw was adopted as a baby. At thirteen months, she was diagnosed as having an inherited condition - a malignant cancer called retinoblastoma and she had one eye removed. With the support of her adoptive parents, Janet learned to negotiate the world with limited vision in her remaining eye, refusing to stay behind the red door of the blind school, determined to be as ordinary as possible.

In this moving account of a young woman’s journey towards self-acceptance, Janet Shaw writes of her struggle to come to terms with the genetic time bomb she was handed at birth. When the desire to find out the identity of her natural parents becomes overwhelming, she sets out to find them, knowing that she could face soul-destroying rejection.

Janet’s story, told with honesty and insight, is inspirational. Time and again her courage is tested but her indomitable spirit triumphs when she succeeds in her quest to become a world-class athlete, winning four medals at the 2002 World Disabled Cycling Championships.

Read A Review

To read a review of ‘Beyond the Red Door’, click here

Chapter Headings

Waiting and Watching
Read Sample
The Colours of Memories
The Red Door
Invisible Scars
Strong Bonds
Running Out of Time
Secrets
Simple Wishes
Keeping Ahead of the Shadow
In the Blood
Time Bomb
Unshakeable Demons
Seeing Through Walls
Epilogue: My Second Life

Read what people have said about my book

“I just finished reading your book. I thought it was wonderful and a real inspiration. I am 16 years old and am legally blind. Throughout your book, I constantly thought ‘wow, I know that feeling’. Your book made me realise that maybe there is something to gain out of being vision impaired, even if I can’t see it at the moment, and life will get better. Thanks for writing about what every blind or vision impaired person feels and thinks, and giving people some light on a disability.”
Jenny Blow

“…thought (your book) was absolutely amazing. I was totally riveted and am extremely impressed with your life and your spirit.”
Christina Saffran Ashford
President of the Board of Retinoblastoma International and the mother of a little girl with bilateral retinoblastoma.

“When I read Janet Shaw’s personal memoir, “Beyond the Red Door” some years ago, I realised that I was reading an outstanding account of an extraordinary life’s journey.

Being an adopted person myself, I have read a great deal of literature, both contemporary and historic, relating to identity loss and family relationships when touched by disconnection through adoption or a similar life experience. Although each account is unique, there is a commonality to these human stories of separation from birth kin that connects all of our life stories.

Janet’s adoption experience is familiar to those of us who are adopted; but she shares with us the perilous journey of losing her vision. Without a trace of self-pity; she takes us with her on this perilous journey. Unlike most adoptees, Janet has experienced two forms of darkness in her lifetime. The darkness of unknown birth origins; and the physical darkness of encroaching blindness. I knew when I finished reading her wonderful book, that one day…I must meet her.

In January of this year, while visiting Perth, I arranged to meet Janet and Lucy, her beautiful labrador seeing eye-dog.

Meeting Janet was a truly wonderful, enriching occasion!! We talked for many hours about those experiences that connect adoptees with each other.

Her gentle humility, her kindness and her strength are inspirational.

I would unhesitatingly recommend Janet, her book, and her mature understanding of adoption issues to anyone seeking a deeper understanding of adoption.”
Pauline Ley, Melbourne, Australia.

Brief Chapter Summaries

I’m posting chapter summaries on my blog. You can get to them by clicking on the following links:
Summary of Chapter 1
Summary of Chapter 2
Summary of Chapter 3
Summary of Chapter 4
Summary of Chapter 5
Summary of Chapter 6
Summary of Chapter 7
Summary of Chapter 8
Summary of Chapter 9
Summary of Chapter 10
Summary of Chapter 11
Summary of Chapter 12

Where Can I Buy It?

Right here!

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To get the audio cassette or CD version, go to the Louis Braille website.

To get the e-book version, go to the e-books website.

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