Local author Melanie MacDonald launched her first book, Send Someone to Love Me, at the Old Borough Arms on Mermaid Street on 16 May.
A trauma survivor who now works with children and teenagers affected by trauma, Melanie uses the book to share her experience of surviving childhood abuse while also exploring the lasting effects of complex PTSD.
Speaking about what led her to write the memoir, she explained, “For a long time, I didn’t understand why I felt the way I did. Writing this book was part of making sense of my own experiences and how they shaped me.” Over time, she said, the process became “a way to give a voice to parts of myself that had been silent for a long time.” Her main hope is that the book may help others “feel less alone in their own experiences.”
The title itself reflects what Melanie describes as “the longing to be loved safely, without fear or pain.” While rooted in a childlike hope that someone might come and make things better, the book ultimately centres around the search for safe and genuine connection.
It was fitting that the launch took place in Rye, where Melanie has lived for the past 26 years. “It’s a place where I feel a deep sense of calm and connection,” she explained. “Launching it here felt like the right way to share something so personal, in a place that feels grounding and supportive.”
Guests arriving at the Old Borough Arms were greeted with a glass of prosecco as the venue quickly filled ahead of the 3pm start. Surrounded by flowers, friends and supporters, Melanie spoke warmly and openly about the themes behind the book. Rather than reading a heavy extract, she chose to share something that had helped her better understand herself — a tone more suited to the celebratory occasion.
Part memoir and part guided reflection, Send Someone to Love Me also includes practical tools and insights that Melanie hopes may support other survivors while helping open conversations around trauma and healing.
Readers should be aware that some themes discussed in the book may be triggering for certain people.
The book will be available from 9 June on Amazon. To find out more, visit her website or contact Melanie on social media (Instagram or Facebook)
Image Credits: James Macdonald , Clare Loach .