Untold and Retold: Unblocking the hidden stories that shape our lives (Stories that Heal)

Untold and Retold: The Stories That Shape Us
Stories heal. Stories inspire. Stories reveal who we are.

From the tales passed down through families to the quiet inner narratives that guide our choices, stories help us understand what we stand for—and what we are capable of becoming. Yet some of the most powerful stories are the ones left unspoken.

What hidden stories are shaping your life?
In Untold and Retold, a collective of courageous voices explores the profound role storytelling plays in our lives, and how personal transformation stories can encourage others. Each chapter shares deeply human experiences of challenge, change, healing, and awakening. This book illuminates the importance of acknowledging that seemingley small events can make a huge impact on our lives. You will discover:

• How the stories we tell ourselves shape our emotional world
• Why sharing our truth creates connection and belonging
• The transformative power of perspective
• What becomes possible when hidden experiences are finally given a voice

There are moments that redefine us—moments that test our beliefs and invite us to grow. Holding these stories inside can leave us feeling isolated and afraid. However, when we share our stories, something remarkable happens: we begin to see ourselves differently, and others can recognise their own journeys within ours.

Compassionate, thought-provoking, and deeply inspiring, Untold and Retold is an invitation to listen to your intuition, find the courage to share your story, and honour the stories that make us human.

Because the story you're holding onto may be the very one someone else needs to hear.

Contributing authors: Debs Penrice, Abigail Barnes. Alison Westlake, Angie Hayes, Becky Clark, Caroline Smith-Mclean, Chris Stanley, Em Melrose, Gerwyn Tumelty, Kimberley Vallis, Lisa Edgar-Williams, Richard Sutcliffe, Tor Obermaier

Reviews:

“This forthcoming collaboration reads like a gentle hand on the shoulder at exactly the right moment. From Debs Penrice’s opening pages, the book makes it clear that stories are not just things we tell, but living energies that shape, heal, and reconnect us to ourselves. What makes this book special is its quiet inclusivity: there is no single path to healing here, only an invitation to notice what resonates and leave the rest. The short stories feel intimate and generous, designed to spark recognition, comfort, and hope. You may see yourself in one chapter, or feel nudged by another to honour a story you’ve kept hidden. Ultimately, this book reminds us that meaning is still unfolding, and that every one of us has something valuable worth sharing”. Phil Evans

"The perfect companion to a Sunday. This book took me to places I didn’t expect, feeling things I recognised to my very core. Messages from worthiness to purpose, misguided focus to forgiveness, all rooted in the deepest raw honesty. " Becca Brooks

"I felt like reading this book was a real indulgence, investing time in just reading for pleasure and just thinking about each story and what it meant for me. It offered me space to pause and think and I particularly enjoyed the questions at the end of each story - and liked they weren't always the same.The Reflecting story made me laugh and this was welcome." Faye Banks

Debs is the founder of Story Healing, where she blends solution-focused therapy and writing coaching to help others unblock their creativity. Her career evolved from storytelling in marketing and business, writing client success stories for businesses after listening to their client's feedback, and helping them build trust beyond testimonials. Working for a hybrid publisher, she launched an online writing group and began working with authors across all genres with a special interest in memoirs. Since re-training in counselling and therapy, she now supports men and women to overcome sleepless nights and anxiety, quit unwanted habits, and release emotional and psychological blocks. She helps clients reframe their inner stories to enjoy life more. To support her work, she practises meditation, Reiki, singing and swimming to balance her creativity and energy. Debs lives in Bristol with her husband and their two lively teenage daughters.