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dragon statue decorates the staircase at Linh Ung Pagoda in Da Nang in Vietnam in Asia

Let's have a peek into an amazing book titled 'The Spirit Dragon's Keeper' (book 1 in The Polar Saga Series) we had the pleasure of editing with Swedish born author, Catarina Lilliehöök. "I have two immediate problems. The first is my hair. It’s cut short, like that of a boy. The South China sun is bearing down on my neck like a flaming beast.&nbsp; “Tamen laile!” Beyond the curtain of swaying bamboo, excited voices announce our arrival. My throat tightens. How old will the boys in there be? And how many? I have dreaded this moment for nine long moons, and this is my second problem. Long Si, the Dragon Temple, is not for girls, especially not nine-year-old foreign girls. With twitchy fingers, I follow my master. Curved rooftops dance in my side vision, and tall mountains tower menacingly around us. How did I get from reindeer herder to this? Everything is still unreal. I have not seen a motorcar since we crossed the border; we have no horses, and Master Li’s money has dwindled along the way. The long walk has left me bone weary, and fear spikes in my system in front of the imposing gate. We enter, and I nearly stumble into my master as he halts in the lower courtyard. Buildings, mounted stone tablets and sculptures of lions and turtles surround me. My eyes instantly pick out the grand structure beyond the stairs and the upper courtyard: the Blooming Lotus Flower’s Palace Hall. I know it from Master Li’s drawing. He made me memorize it all. For a suspended moment, everything in the courtyard stops. Next, a flurry of boys surrounds us, gawking, drawing near in tighter and tighter circles. Five feet away, they stop. Their gazes strip the meat off my bones, making my heart beat wildly. Pressing my lips together, I try to hide the toe peeking from my worn left shoe. “It is good to have you back, Abbot Superior.” An old woman with a laundry basket nods in greeting. “Ah, Mei. I hope the washing is not too hard on your joints.” A second woman, wearing an apron, hurries across the upper courtyard brushing flour from her arms. “You’re back!” “Cook Ma,” Li sharpens his gaze, but at her almost imperceptible headshake, disappointment flits across his face. The crowd quickly melts away as a man with broad shoulders pushes through. His face has a carved quality, and the ends of his long black moustache nearly dips into the forked beard below. “Master Li,” he nods curtly as he comes to a stop.&nbsp; “Master Gang.” Li offers a tight-lipped smile. “How are your fighting classes?” “Very good.” He puffs up his chest, nodding at a boy with square cheeks and hard eyes. “Yong Da’s excelling. As you know, ta ai chi ku.” The boy eats bitterness like sweets. Yong Da rakes me with his gaze. I can tell what will come will not be pleasant, so I bow my burning face. A big cockroach scuttles between the throng of black canvas shoes. “Ta shu she.” The boy spits out my birth year: Snake. Master Li told them? Shock prevents me from glancing at my master. “She won’t be able to fight any warlords.” Fight warlords? Despite the heat, I shiver to my toes. Apart from the two boys flanking Yong Da, the others look away, embarrassed. I’ve learned it’s not the Chinese way to be so direct. Yong Da does not care. “Nüwu,” he snorts: witch. They know I’m a girl. My short hair is fooling no one. Or did Master Li tell them this also? I am not a witch.Anyone born in the year of the Snake can have many good qualities. Master Li taught me about China. “Xiao long,” says a little boy no more than five or six, staring from under somebody’s arm. “It’s not snake; it’s xiao long.” One of the masters pats his head. “That’s right, Xiao Wei.” He adds the prefix for little. “Little dragon is what she is.” In the Chinese zodiac, Snake comes next to Dragon, and to soften unpleasant connotations, Master Li told me that it is common to call oneself small dragon instead of Snake. How can a birth year matter so much? And why did he tell people in the village I’m an orphan? I heard him. Guer, tai kelian le. I had bitten my lip in anger. Liar! I am not an orphan. I am Mila. My parents are reindeer herders in the wild lands far above the Polar Circle. Master Li stole me and gave me a new name: Lu Mi La. In China, the surname comes first, and Lu means reindeer, so now I am Mila Reindeer. But that was many moons ago, and my memory is hazy. “Off you go,” the master gives Little Wei a gentle push. “All of you, back to your chores.” He turns and smiles. “I am Master Peng, teacher of scripture. I will show you to your room.” My room—as though this is home. Home is so far from here that my throat tightens. Home is Sápmi, the northern part of Fennoscandia, a region stretching over four countries of arctic territory: Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Russia. Temperatures often go below thirty, and the sun in winter does not even reach the horizon. Where it’s wild and free, where life moves with the seasons and the migrating herd, and where you learn to observe. I have been here less than five minutes, but already I know three things: Cook Ma bears a secret, Master Li has something Master Gang wants, and Yong Da hates me. Teeth cutting into my lip, I keep my eyes trained on the ground. The cockroach has advanced further into the throng of feet.."*Catarina's book is available to buy on Amazon and in selected bookstores globally.&nbsp;

From Chapter 1, The Spirit Dragon's Keeper by Catarina Lilliehöök

As it's Thursday morning, let's have a peek at the second short story from the book, 'Where's Mum? Stories of Love, Loss and Menopause' by Dr Michael Meyer&nbsp; <figure id="figure-k0a1zrn10jmeb8um0s"><img id="k0a1zrn10jmeb8um0s" src="https://media.gettyimages.com/id/2196838395/photo/valentines-day-message-frame.jpg?b=1&amp;s=2048x2048&amp;w=0&amp;k=20&amp;c=OhHFRErQxuE3xh8CcgWE_AfWb2DSYllpiVBnOIknays=" alt="Valentines day message frame." title="Valentines day message frame." class="object-cover bg-gray-100 " style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://media.gettyimages.com/id/2196838395/photo/valentines-day-message-frame.jpg?b=1&amp;s=2048x2048&amp;w=0&amp;k=20&amp;c=OhHFRErQxuE3xh8CcgWE_AfWb2DSYllpiVBnOIknays=" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure>Marriage Counselling "JP had calmly entered the kitchen a few hours earlier, cleared his throat, and made deep eye contact with Maggie. He quietly stated, “I've been thinking about our relationship for well over a year. Anytime I’ve tried to talk to you, you’ve shut me down.” “Don’t be daft. What on earth are you talking about?” Maggie responded as she glanced up from her computer. She was watching RTE News and obsessed with social media, as always, and didn’t fully register what he was saying. “If you have a long, hard think about how you’ve treated me and everyone close to you the past couple of years, I’m sure you’ll figure out what I mean,” JP quietly replied. “I’m sorry it's come to this, but I can’t see any other way. I understand you are going through a type of living hell on some days, and I hate to see you like that.” “What do you mean?” Maggie interrupted in an aggressive but shaky voice before JP had finished talking. JP continued, “I’m too young not to have pleasant conversations with a companion in the future.” “I don’t have the slightest idea what you’re on about,” she countered. “You do,” he finished. He handed Maggie an envelope and picked up his small suitcase. He turned and walked slowly out of the kitchen. Maggie heard the front door quietly close before opening the large manila envelope and was shocked to the core by its contents. The divorce papers were spread out before her on the table and her cup of tea had long gone cold..."<figure id="figure-wq6ecw7kovmeb8vp6x"><img id="wq6ecw7kovmeb8vp6x" src="https://media.gettyimages.com/id/2170428685/photo/divorce-settlement-agreement-document-with-wedding-ring-and-pen-on-table-top-for-legal-and.jpg?b=1&s=2048x2048&w=0&k=20&c=MC8unpnlWa2e-kjBJ9uJIEOh4W1M6ukFu-0dRFp3r2k=" alt="Divorce Settlement Agreement Document with Wedding Ring and Pen on Table Top for Legal and Financial Context in Family Law" title="Divorce Settlement Agreement Document with Wedding Ring and Pen on Table Top for Legal and Financial Context in Family Law" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 " style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionX="undefined" data-positionY="undefined" data-fullWidth="false"/></figure> #bookmarketing #newbookalert #menopause #bookhubpublishing*Michael's book will be launched in The Latin Quarter, Redcross, Wicklow on Saturday August 30th 2025. &nbsp;

Where's Mum? Stories of Love, Loss and Menopause' by Dr Michael D Meyer

Global virus and disease spread, coronavirus

Global Anxiety Post Pandemic

Why I do what I do If you’ve ever cradled a tomato warm from the sun, or dug your hands into damp soil after a stressful day, you already know what science is beginning to articulate; growing your own food doesn’t just feed your belly. It feeds your soul. The concept of “from plot to plate” has become a quiet revolution in modern living. Gardening is now widely understood to be more than a charming hobby, it offers tangible benefits for both physical and mental health and the evidence is robust. I know because I’ve moved from the plot to the office and back comparing my empirical findings (my husband has long used this word in his own research!).<figure id="figure-t8dxtsjsgmmd31idyu"><img id="t8dxtsjsgmmd31idyu" src="https://media.gettyimages.com/id/2176506155/photo/delicious-italian-bruschetta.jpg?b=1&amp;s=2048x2048&amp;w=0&amp;k=20&amp;c=uH-JsxUDhuRzElCkdXffVbcDZp0uiAhDLQ2u0Ca_daY=" alt="Delicious Italian bruschetta." title="Delicious Italian bruschetta." class="object-cover bg-gray-100 " style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://media.gettyimages.com/id/2176506155/photo/delicious-italian-bruschetta.jpg?b=1&amp;s=2048x2048&amp;w=0&amp;k=20&amp;c=uH-JsxUDhuRzElCkdXffVbcDZp0uiAhDLQ2u0Ca_daY=" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure>A Gym Hiding in Your Garden Tending a garden counts as moderate-intensity exercise. Pulling weeds, planting seedlings, carrying a watering can; all these movements work your muscles, improve flexibility, and get your heart rate up. Research shows that just 30–45 minutes of gardening burns about 150–300 calories, depending on the task (Zick et al., 2013) so this is often better than the gym where all-too-many people haven’t a clue how to use the various apparatus. Regular gardeners have lower rates of obesity, improved cardiovascular fitness, and reduced risk of type 2 diabetes (Park et al., 2009). Go us!<figure id="figure-e51ckn2uimd31j7co"><img id="e51ckn2uimd31j7co" src="https://media.gettyimages.com/id/2164767324/photo/senior-woman-gardening.jpg?b=1&amp;s=2048x2048&amp;w=0&amp;k=20&amp;c=y6vwXjKIAM5VmyOR6PpiXCFCQRLHWo0MXO7RuvkCHvo=" alt="Senior woman gardening" title="Senior woman gardening" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 " style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://media.gettyimages.com/id/2164767324/photo/senior-woman-gardening.jpg?b=1&amp;s=2048x2048&amp;w=0&amp;k=20&amp;c=y6vwXjKIAM5VmyOR6PpiXCFCQRLHWo0MXO7RuvkCHvo=" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure>More impressively, people who grow at least part of their own food tend to eat significantly more fruits and vegetables than those who don’t. Sometimes up to 40% more (Alaimo et al., 2008). That means higher fibre, more vitamins, and a real shot at lowering your blood pressure and cholesterol. And let’s be honest. Kale tastes better when you grow it yourself. In fact, I’d argue all foods do even if they don’t have the ‘expected’ look of supermarkets.Therapy in the Soil Then there’s what a garden does for your mind. In a world fuelled by constant notifications (aggghhhhhhhh), gardening offers a rare antidote: slowness and off screen time. Numerous studies have documented its effect on reducing symptoms of anxiety, depression, and even trauma (Soga et al., 2017). One meta-analysis found that gardening interventions reduced depression and anxiety scores by an average of 18–25% (Clatworthy et al., 2013).<figure id="figure-c5fjk1ibtmd31jzh4"><img id="c5fjk1ibtmd31jzh4" src="https://media.gettyimages.com/id/2181897384/photo/holding-puzzle-piece-shaped-like-brain-with-sunlight-background.jpg?b=1&amp;s=2048x2048&amp;w=0&amp;k=20&amp;c=gEKRB3FrtnSfLMEb7PPg7g91KkIC5nH_UzLrM1cUhpQ=" alt="Holding Puzzle Piece Shaped Like Brain With Sunlight Background" title="Holding Puzzle Piece Shaped Like Brain With Sunlight Background" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 " style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://media.gettyimages.com/id/2181897384/photo/holding-puzzle-piece-shaped-like-brain-with-sunlight-background.jpg?b=1&amp;s=2048x2048&amp;w=0&amp;k=20&amp;c=gEKRB3FrtnSfLMEb7PPg7g91KkIC5nH_UzLrM1cUhpQ=" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure>Some of this magic comes from exposure to nature; what psychologists call “biophilia.” But digging into the dirt itself has been linked to mood-boosting effects, possibly because of beneficial soil microbes like Mycobacterium vaccae, which can trigger serotonin production in the brain (Lowry et al., 2007). Working in a garden is, well, grounding.Growing Connection Beyond the individual benefits, gardening often fosters connection with family, neighbours, and community. Sharing your surplus courgettes or swapping seeds at the gate creates bonds that, in turn, improve mental well-being. Community gardeners report higher life satisfaction and lower feelings of loneliness than non-gardeners (Hawkins et al., 2011).Start Where You Are The best part? You don’t need acres of land to reap the rewards. A few pots on a balcony, a raised bed in the back garden, or even a sunny windowsill herb box is enough to get started. When you plant a seed, you’re planting much more than lettuce or basil. You’re planting intention. You’re planting movement, fresh air, better nutrition, and perhaps most crucially a moment to breathe. So grab a trowel. From plot to plate, your garden can nourish you in ways the supermarket never will.<figure id="figure-1ob6vf6j8md31kofw"><img id="1ob6vf6j8md31kofw" src="https://media.gettyimages.com/id/2180194887/photo/mature-woman-relaxing-in-deckchair-in-her-garden.jpg?b=1&amp;s=2048x2048&amp;w=0&amp;k=20&amp;c=Tq8ennY-oheMgjYZpB5mLuHjP7hdYlWyRlkmS0drr4g=" alt="Mature woman relaxing in deckchair in her garden" title="Mature woman relaxing in deckchair in her garden" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 " style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: undefined undefined;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://media.gettyimages.com/id/2180194887/photo/mature-woman-relaxing-in-deckchair-in-her-garden.jpg?b=1&amp;s=2048x2048&amp;w=0&amp;k=20&amp;c=Tq8ennY-oheMgjYZpB5mLuHjP7hdYlWyRlkmS0drr4g=" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: undefined undefined;"></figure>*Susan McKenna is a keen gardener and holds qualifications in horticulture in addition to social care. She is the Director of Book Hub Publishing based in Ireland with offices in Athenry and Limerick. She is currently completing edits on her latest book; surprisingly on the theme of gardening!&nbsp;&nbsp; References Alaimo, K., Packnett, E., Miles, R. A., &amp; Kruger, D. J. (2008). Fruit and vegetable intake among urban community gardeners. Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, 40(2), 94–101. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jneb.2006.12.003Clatworthy, J., Hinds, J., &amp; Camic, P. M. (2013). Gardening as a mental health intervention: A review. Mental Health Review Journal, 18(4), 214–225. https://doi.org/10.1108/MHRJ-02-2013-0007Hawkins, J. L., Mercer, J., Thirlaway, K. J., &amp; Clayton, D. A. (2011). “Doing gardening” and identity: A study of older adults in Wales, UK. Ageing &amp; Society, 31(5), 841–857. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0144686X10001185Lowry, C. A., Hollis, J. H., de Vries, A., Pan, B., Brunet, L. R., Hunt, J. R., … &amp; Rook, G. A. W. (2007). Identification of an immune-responsive mesolimbocortical serotonergic system: Potential role in regulation of emotional behaviour. Neuroscience, 146(2), 756–772. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroscience.2007.01.067Park, S. A., Shoemaker, C. A., &amp; Haub, M. D. (2009). Physical and psychological health conditions of older adults classified as gardeners or nongardeners. HortScience, 44(1), 206–210. https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI.44.1.206Soga, M., Gaston, K. J., &amp; Yamaura, Y. (2017). Gardening is beneficial for health: A meta-analysis. Preventive Medicine Reports, 5, 92–99. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pmedr.2016.11.007Zick, C. D., Smith, K. R., Kowaleski-Jones, L., Uno, C., &amp; Merrill, B. J. (2013). Harvesting more than vegetables: The potential weight control benefits of community gardening. American Journal of Public Health, 103(6), 1110–1115. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2012.301009

Guest Blog on the Benefits of Gardening by Susan McKenna

<h3>You Are Not Alone: Breaking the Silence Around Fertility, Loss, and Love</h3>When I started writing about my fertility journey, I made myself one promise: I wouldn’t pretend to have all the answers. This isn’t a guidebook, and it’s certainly not a medical manual. It’s just me, one person, trying to make sense of what I went through, and hoping that in putting it into words, someone else out there might feel less alone. Because the truth is, this is messy, it’s complicated, and it can feel impossibly lonely. If you’re somewhere in that silence now, please know: I’ve been there too. &nbsp; When Grief Feels Too Awkward to NameThere were long stretches of time when I didn’t dare speak about what I was going through. Sometimes, it was because I thought it would make others uncomfortable, that my grief was somehow too heavy or embarrassing for them to handle. Other times, it was because I felt like I was too much. Too emotional, too broken, like everyone else was quietly moving on with their lives while I was stuck in this strange, private sadness I couldn’t seem to shake.It’s a peculiar kind of loneliness, being surrounded by people yet feeling utterly alone in the room. I told myself grief was something to keep small, to whisper about in safe corners, to tidy away before anyone saw. But here’s what I’ve learned, the hard way: grief doesn’t have to shrink to fit other people’s comfort, and it certainly doesn’t need to be whispered to be real. If you’ve ever sat there feeling invisible, unsure if you’re allowed to say what’s on your heart, this is for you. You are allowed, you matter, and you are not alone. &nbsp; Presence, Not Prescriptions In those early days, people didn’t seem to know what to say, so many of them defaulted to advice. Practical tips or clichés like “Everything happens for a reason,” “At least you can try again.” But what I needed wasn’t advice, I didn’t need someone to solve it, I just needed someone to stay. A hand, held out without me having to ask. A hug that lasted just long enough for me to believe it. A quiet voice saying: "This is awful, and I’m here. That’s all. I’m here." It’s not easy to ask for that kind of presence when you feel like you’re already a burden. And I didn’t always feel like I deserved it. But I know now that asking, or even just hoping, isn’t selfish. If you feel like nobody sees how much you’re carrying right now, please hear me: you don’t have to carry it all alone. When It Feels Like Nobody Notices I never imagined I’d find myself sitting in that waiting room, again and again, feeling like help was just out of reach. There’s a particular kind of loneliness that comes when you’re waiting, for answers, for support, for someone to really see what you’re going through, and it doesn’t seem to come. During that time, I wrote a lot. At first, just for myself, but slowly I realised how many of us carry the same quiet ache, feeling like we’re slipping through the cracks, unsure if our pain even registers with those around us. If that’s where you are right now, if you’ve felt invisible, or as though nobody quite knows what to say to you, &nbsp;I want you to hear this clearly: it is not your fault. You deserve care. You deserve kindness. You deserve people who really listen and sit with you in it. And you are absolutely not alone. &nbsp; Partners Carry It Too One thing I hardly ever hear anyone talk about is how much this journey weighs on the people standing beside you. Whether it’s your husband, wife, partner, sibling, or closest friend, they live it too. They just don’t always show it in the same way. For me, it was my husband. There were moments I didn’t recognise myself anymore, moments when I was angry, withdrawn, broken in ways I didn’t know how to explain. And I wondered, more than once, whether he’d grow tired of me. But he didn’t, he stayed. He showed up even when I pushed him away. He held space for me when I couldn’t hold it for myself. This book is also for the partners, the ones who carry the grief differently but just as deeply. You matter too, your hurt counts too, and you’re not forgotten here. &nbsp; Breaking the Silence Together Fertility struggles, pregnancy loss, grief — these things have a way of convincing you you’re the only one. Like the world is moving on without you, and you’re stuck, silent, and unseen. But you’re not the only one. Every time someone shares their story, every time someone says “me too,” a little more of that silence breaks. And that’s how we find each other, in those quiet moments of honesty and connection. If you’re in the thick of it right now, or standing beside someone who is, &nbsp;please don’t forget: you are not alone. Not now. Not ever. Final Words There’s no neat way to wrap this up, because this isn’t the kind of story that ends cleanly. But if there’s one thing I hope you take from this, it’s this: you don’t have to hide what you’re feeling. You don’t have to apologise for being in pain. You don’t have to shrink to make others comfortable. You deserve to be seen, to be cared for, to feel held, even in your darkest moments. So let’s keep breaking the silence together. Let’s keep holding space for each other, even when we don’t know the perfect words. Because you’re not too much. And you’re not alone. &nbsp; - Laura&nbsp; &nbsp;

You Are Not Alone: Breaking the Silence Around Fertility, Loss, and Love

We've a catch up Zoom with the wonderful Isabel Kelly this afternoon so figured a little reminder is in order. Her book, titled 'IS-Abel: An Inspiring Story of Survival and Hope Through Northern Ireland’s Care System', is a memoir detailing the author's experiences growing up in Northern Ireland's care system. Born in 1971 and placed in care at four months old, Isabel recounts her challenging childhood in institutions and foster homes, marked by trauma, abuse, and neglect, yet interwoven with moments of kindness and resilience. The narrative also covers her journey to higher education, personal relationships, the struggles of starting her own family after multiple miscarriages, and her eventual reconciliation with her past through forgiveness and faith. The book concludes with a reflection on her resilience, her work to help others, and interviews with key figures in her life, offering a multifaceted view of her path to belonging and overcoming adversity. It is a wonderfully positive book because, in it, she explores several profound and interconnected themes, primarily centred on her experiences within Northern Ireland's care system and her journey towards healing and self-discovery. Here are the key themes as I see them: • The Harsh Realities and Systemic Failings of the Care System Isabel's story is fundamentally about the challenges of being brought up in Northern Ireland's care system. Isabel was abandoned by her mother at four months old and, along with her siblings, surrendered to the State's embrace at just four months old by her overwhelmed father. A major theme is the early abandonment and separation from her biological family, which Isabel describes as "early-life adversity". • She endured physical and emotional abuse during her time at Nazareth Lodge, a children's home. She recalls being frequently punished, including being hit and having lights turned off as punishment, exploiting her fear of darkness. Mealtimes were challenging, with children often underfed and undernourished. The system also demonstrated failures in maintaining accurate personal details, such as the incorrect spelling of her name (Isobel vs. Isabel) on her passport, which had a "lifelong effect" on her identity. • A significant systemic failing was the lack of support and help for care leavers transitioning to independent living. Isabel highlights that she was "offered no help and support" when she left foster care at 23, facing financial difficulties and housing instability. She also reveals that the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust failed to inform her of her mother's death for nearly two years, and later admits "failings of the Health Trust" regarding communication. Isabel reflects on the system failing both her and her mother. • Profound Emotional and Psychological Trauma. The instability and early disruptions in Isabel's life resulted in "a series of traumatic emotional reactions throughout her childhood, teen years and into adulthood". She experienced "profound anxiety and emotional detachment" and lived in a constant state of "hyper-vigilance, vulnerability, fearfulness and worry". She struggled with "insecurity, rejection and jealousy", leading to "lingering feelings of low self-worth, loneliness and deep sadness". • Isabel found it "incredibly difficult to process her emotions" and lacked emotional regulation skills. She carried the "burden of bitterness, anger, and resentment" for a long time. She also found it "incredibly difficult to show love and affection" because she was never given it herself. This changed. • The Search for Identity and Belonging A central and recurring theme is Isabel's "struggles for identity and belonging". The misspelling of her name deeply impacted her sense of self, as she felt her name gave her "identity and attachment to a family I was estranged from". She intensely struggled with the concept of belonging, feeling "wedged out" from her foster family as it grew and experiencing a "desperate feeling of emptiness and needing to belong" after leaving care. She felt stigmatized as a "foster child", leading to feelings of "shame, rejection and embarrassment". • Resilience, Courage, and Transformation. Despite the immense challenges, Isabel's journey is one of "resilience, courage and hope" and the "human spirit's indomitable will to thrive". She emerged stronger, more resilient, and determined to carve out a life filled with hope and possibility. Her "unwavering determination prevailed". Even after failing her O' Levels and GCSEs twice, she became the first foster child in the Down and Lisburn Trust to graduate at university level. Her "unwavering determination and zest to do well" eventually paid off. • Isabel actively sought to understand and manage her trauma through counselling, self-reflection, and changing her mindset. She made conscious efforts to relearn emotional expression, such as showing affection and accepting praise. She "transformed her life once filled with uncertainty into one of purpose and fulfilment". • The Power of Forgiveness and Faith. Isabel's narrative highlights the "transformative power of forgiveness". She carried the "burden of bitterness, anger, and resentment" for decades and wished she had "forgiven her abusers and detractors sooner". Through counselling and a renewed connection with faith, she learned that forgiveness is about "releasing them to God and letting go of its hold on us". This process helped her to "feel better about myself, physically, mentally, and spiritually, and to have healthier relationships". • Her journey also includes a return to faith, which she describes as God literally reaching into her life and telling her to return to Mass. This rediscovery of faith provided her with hope and purpose, helping her to let go of anger and resentment towards those who caused her suffering. She actively engages in her faith, finding it an integral part of her life. • The Importance of Love, Connection, and Family (Biological &amp; Chosen). Isabel had a deep longing for a mother's love and comfort. Her attempts to connect with her biological mother were often disappointing due to her mother's severe mental health problems. Similarly, her efforts to forge a relationship with her biological father were thwarted by his alcoholism and detachment. She grieved the absence of both parents in her life and her children's lives. • Despite these challenges, Isabel found love and built a supportive family with her husband, Roy, who became her "absolute rock" and source of "inspiration, encouragement and influences". She learned to navigate trust issues in her relationship with Roy, understanding their roots in her childhood trauma. She prioritised creating a "secure, nurturing and loving environment" for her own children, compensating for what she lacked. The book also highlights the importance of "chosen family" and friends who provided unconditional acceptance and support. In essence, Isabel Kelly's "IS-Abel" is a testament to overcoming profound early-life adversity and institutional trauma through unyielding resilience, a tenacious pursuit of self-improvement, the transformative power of forgiveness and faith, and the enduring strength found in building loving and supportive relationships, both blood-related and chosen. What a book! -Conor MacGiolla Bhuí, MSc. ShadowScript Publications. ©

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