Title: God, the Devil and Me
Subtitle: the chronicles of a seeker of God
Description: Valerie Georgeson was a very successful writer and actress, always interested in religion and spirituality. 
  She was on the original writing team of *EastEnders* and appeared in *Coronation Street* and other drama series before writing adult novels (*The Shadow of the Elephant* quartet) and well-loved childrens' TV (*Jonny Briggs, Simon & the Witch, Animals of Farthing Wood*). But her spiritual journey was cut short after she unwittingly fell into the control of a group whose charismatic leader wielded god like power and control over her followers. 
  Coming out of a cult is always difficult. In **"God, the Devil and Me"**  Valerie explains how she got caught up with the Sahaja Yoga movement and how it affected her career and inflicted long term psychological trauma. She began writing *God, the Devil and Me* to raise money for a court case against the cult, but when they backed off, she realised that the book might in fact be what God had always meant it to be: a guide to help others in a similar crisis. In the aftermath of their escape and disappearance, the shared experience of the reality of God's presence helped her and her husband to move on. Hopefully it will answer the difficult questions people have in such situations; as it indicates, neither religious nor humanist organisations seem to recognize the all encompassing nature of the spiritual struggles of true seekers.
  This book is a chronicle of that seeking, showing the pitfalls and the helpful indicators on that stony path. Acknowledging the power of the spirit to learn and evolve through trial and error. and the importance of forgiveness, *God, the Devil and Me* turned out to be itself an important part of the battle it describes, a book about writing a book, as well as a deeply researched piece of investigative journalism.
Subjects: spiritual journey, escape from a cult, Real Presence
Places: Geordie land
People: Valerie Georgeson
Time periods: mid-80s to present day