Hello, My name is Hannah, I am the author of Waves. I am excited to share my project with you. This website, and my social media presence, is being built steadily over time as I launch the book and share my story, so please keep checking in and follow me on social media for updates!
The Waves Story
This book is the culmination of my desire to help other people process the grief of losing a baby in a relatable and practical way. I was seven months pregnant with our baby daughter when she passed away. Particularly in the early stages after our loss, I found it very difficult to read the books people kindly sent me about grief. Even though they may well have helped me, the vast amount of text and information felt overwhelming to me. As a result,
I have tried to create something a little different with Waves.
Waves looks like a photo book, and features over sixty incredible images of the sea, surfing and waves in all their splendour. The images mirror the pattern of the books' content. My hope is that the reader is taken on a journey of feeling the power, restoration and peace that nature can provide us; aiding the relief of trauma without reading many (or on some days any) words. Waves does not focus too heavily on the details of my story, rather the 'aftermath' of loss - what it felt like physically, how it affected me mentally, and what I learnt about how to help my body and mind heal. The book draws many parallels to my love of surfing and the ocean, and explores how being out in nature can aid our healing.
I have always loved writing. When I started writing about the loss of my baby I never imagined it would turn into this book. I have kept a journal on and off since I was a teenager; my Mother encouraged me to do it as a way of processing. When we lost our daughter, I turned to writing as an outlet for my grief. Over time, as I shared my vision for what I was writing, I was overwhelmed by the encouragement I received to share Waves with others who might benefit from it too. It is my sincere hope that this book can help those who have loved and lost a baby to find peace and healing.
A little about me. I am married and we have a wonderful six year old son. I am a Business Lecturer, and also run a small freelance business providing marketing support services for SME's. I spend a lot of time outdoors with family and friends, surfing, mountain biking and hiking on Dartmoor. We live in South Devon, UK.
The way that my husband and I supported our son in his grief isn't featured in Waves. I felt that this was too larger additional subject, and didn't fit with the core theme of the book. However, I have wondered since about writing a second book, (practical again, like Waves), discussing how we helped him navigate his grief. If you think this is a good idea and would like to see it, please do get in touch and let me know. I'd love to hear from you!
Hannah J Thomas
