One Drop Holds The Sun is a powerful and emotionally gripping novel that explores motherhood and loss, healing and redemption, and the resilience of women in the face of overwhelming adversity.
Hope, a mother separated from her children by the family court system, embarks on an extraordinary time-travel adventure that takes her across centuries—from the Roman Empire to the future world of 2035. Each era she visits offers a lesson, a challenge, and a glimpse of the strength she must find within herself to reclaim her identity.
Blending historical adventure with raw, contemporary struggles, this novel is a moving journey of self-discovery, love, and transformation. Readers who appreciate social justice storytelling and emotionally charged narratives will find One Drop Holds The Sun both heart-wrenching and inspiring.
If you love stories about women’s resilience, the fight for justice, and the power of hope, this book is a must-read.
Reviews
“Whatever our past, taking responsibility for our future is what matters. That can take huge courage and effort. These women have done exactly that, changing the course of their own lives, and in the process inspiring others to do the same.”
THE RT HON PENNY MORDAUNT
"These stories offer a rare, raw but beautiful attempt to reconcile life's highest price -
to lose a child.
A should-read for all families and professionals involved in child protection."
MIKE BLOWS, CHILD AND FAMILY PYSCHIATRIST & EXPERT WITNESS
"A raw and transparent insight into what it feels like to somehow have to find the will to keep going when your heart has been ripped apart."
SHUNA MCCAHON, COUNSELLOR & CO-FOUNDER BEAM
"A compelling account of loss, grief, guilt and hope."
SONIA SIMMS, BARRISTER & FOUNDER OF ADVOCACYTUTOR.COM
Occasionally in life you experience something that moves you in a way that you did not think possible: ‘One Drop Holds the Sun’ caused me to look at the work I do and the way I do it in a very different way. It is a sweeping, poetic book that is both beautiful and tragic that seamlessly weaves biography with dreams and fantasy. ‘One Drop Holds the Sun’ is not an easy read but is compelling and it is important, and it has caused me to reflect on my practice. I think perhaps we all need to hear the message of forgiveness. My colleagues, family and friends may get tired of me quoting from it, ‘I will not simply survive, I will love.’ I want to thank all the women who contributed…’I still have a long way to go but with your help I know I can do this. God bless you.’
DAVID WILSON, SOLICITOR OF FAMILY LAW & CHILD PROTECTION
One Drop Holds The Sun
Imagine being told your child is being taken into care and you have nowhere to turn. Thirteen mums have found the courage to write about their heart-rending moments by creating the story of a young mum just like them.
One Drop Holds the Sun follows Hope’s devastating loss and her journey to healing.
“When your baby or child is taken away. You wonder all the time about their safety, welfare and whether they feel the same nagging heartbreak and loneliness of separation,” said Shelly. “We hope it will help others in the same situation.”
One Drop Holds the Sun is published by BEAM, the peer support charity which supports birth mothers without their children. Author Dr Helen Jacey, from East Sussex, approached BEAM after she read an article about the charity. She offered to run workshops for the mothers.
Helen said, “At the start, many of the mums felt unsure about writing. But soon their imaginations were flying and they crafted these emotionally gripping stories. I have had the great privilege of working with BEAM who support birth mums who have lost care of their children; on a National Lottery Funded Project supported using public funding with Arts Council England.
Over a year long series of creative writing workshops that I ran, the mums created a story about a young birth mum who has lost care of her three children and who goes on a journey of healing from her devastating loss and trauma.
The book is absolutely moving and the writers are rightly proud of their achievement. I loved every minute of helping the mums create their stories and craft a book that will help other women like them, but equally professionals working with families as it will shine light on the birth parents’ experience."
The workshops took place online with mothers participating from Suffolk, Essex, Devon, Cambridgeshire, London and Merseyside. Tracey said, “I had such a negative experience at school but being creative has really helped me in my journey.”
BEAM’s founder Cherie Parnell, a former family barrister, said: “Thirteen of our mums found the courage to write their stories and three others helped illustrate the book. They found it cathartic. Beam is a friendly support group where birth mums can share their feelings, find confidence and take part in artistic projects in which they can express themselves. We are so proud of what they have achieved with this lovely book.”
Following on from recent revisions to birth families’ role in their removed children’s lives by the Lord Chief Justice of the Family Division, the book comes at a time when the birth parent voice is gathering momentum.