Kettering author turned 'a year of hell into a year of hope' with latest empowering book

Cassandra Farren has published a series of books featuring 42 women
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A Kettering author and professional ghost writer will publish volume three of her empowering series of personal stories by women who have overcome adversity on Time to Talk Day 2021.

Cassandra Farren has so far put out two volumes in her 'The Girls Who Refused to Quit' series - each book containing the stories of women but also featuring one chapter per book penned by herself.

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The latest volume will be published on February 4 - Time to Talk Day - Each book has a chapter written by a defferent female author telling their personal stories of challenges they have face in life and how they dealt with it.

Cassandra Farren with her latest book 
Copyright main photo Kate Sharp PhotographyCassandra Farren with her latest book 
Copyright main photo Kate Sharp Photography
Cassandra Farren with her latest book Copyright main photo Kate Sharp Photography

Cassandra, 41, who wrote about her own mum's dementia diagnosis in volume three, lost her mother Linda to the disease aged 74 just before Christmas.

She said: "I turned a year from hell, into a year of hope. The Girls Who Refused to Quit volume one was published in February 2020, volume two was published in September and volume three will be published on the February 4 on Time to Talk Day 2021.

"In that time I have mentored 42 women who have each written a chapter about how they have overcome adversity. My chapter in the latest volume is called Time to Say Goodbye, which shares the devastation of the living grief that I experienced whilst mum had dementia. Sadly mum passed away a few days before Christmas, but I promised her that I would continue to make a difference and help as many other people as I can."

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The life-affirming books detail experience of everyday women who have lived through challenges including divorce and separation from children, estrangement, addiction and serious accidents.

Cassandra Farren has written seven books.  Copyright Kate Sharp PhotographyCassandra Farren has written seven books.  Copyright Kate Sharp Photography
Cassandra Farren has written seven books. Copyright Kate Sharp Photography

Mum-of-two Cassandra said: "Trudi Jones, another author from Kettering, has written in volume three about the challenges she faced when her daughter was born with Apert Syndrome as well as receiving the devastating diagnosis of her mum having early onset dementia.

"From the advanced reviews that are coming in our stories are already making an impact and giving a lot of people hope. One chapter is by an ICU nurse who took a review copy to he colleagues and they after reading it they felt they had permission to release their pent up emotions."

"The message is important that they not alone - you can move forward. Each chapter ends with each writer sending a letter to their younger self. It's reassuring that although they have been through this adversity they are OK. I hope it can help other people"

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The Girls Who Refused to Quit series is available from Welford Publishing or via Amazon priced at £10.95.

The Girls Who Refused To Quit front coverThe Girls Who Refused To Quit front cover
The Girls Who Refused To Quit front cover

Time to Talk Day 2021 takes place on Thursday, February 4 with the aim to get people to start conversations about mental health and help end the stigm, break down barriers end the isolation, shame and worthlessness associated with mental health problems.

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