Lesley Gorrell said she kept her younger self in mind throughout the process of piecing together her recently published poetry collection.
Gorrell, an Ashland native, said she grew up in a loving, supportive family, yet still struggled with an internal sense of isolation that often accompanies trauma.
Her poetry collection, “The Thread,” is centered around her lived experience with sexual abuse, self‑harm, and identity loss. It officially published on March 20.
A major purpose behind releasing such a personal body of work, she said, was to offer a lifeline to others who have walked similar paths.
“I wanted someone who feels like I once did to be able to hold this book and think, ‘This speaks to what I’ve been carrying,’” Gorrell said. “If it can give even one person that sense of recognition and comfort, that means everything.”
“The Thread” includes 72 poems that guide readers through Gorrell’s journey of trauma, healing, and awakening. It is available through Amazon, Barnes & Noble and other retailers.
Gorrell has two upcoming book‑signing events. From noon to 4 p.m. on Saturday, she will be at RavensCloak Reiki and Treasures, 120 Harding Way West in Galion, as part of the shop’s Author Spotlight Series.
A second signing is scheduled for May 16 from noon to 4 p.m. at Down Dog Yoga & Lifestyle Studio, 2230 Stumbo Road S. in Ontario.
“I’m hoping to connect with people on a deep level about my subject matter and promote healing,” she said.
More about Gorrell’s journey
Gorrell was born in Ashland and moved to Galion at age 16, where she still resides. She has spent most of her career working in Ashland and Richland counties.
The 51‑year‑old said she has known for 25 years that she wanted to write a book to help others, though she never expected it would take the form of poetry.
“About six years ago, I started hearing these poems come to me, and I recorded them as they arrived,” she said. “I did that for a long time — just capturing whatever came through.”
About two years ago, she realized the poems were the vehicle she had been searching for.
Selecting which pieces to include was difficult, Gorrell said, noting she has around 300 recorded in total.
She explained that her healing has taken decades, and the collection is meant not only for those with similar experiences but also for the people who support them.
Gorrell’s husband, Todd Brown, said reading the collection was eye‑opening and important for him as a partner.
“Men need to understand how to be a safe place for the people they love,” Brown said. “The first sections of the book really hit you — the anger, the frustration, the pain she went through. But then you see the shift toward healing, toward finding a way forward.
“She’s incredibly strong,” he added. “She doesn’t always see that in herself, but it takes real courage to put these experiences on paper and share them with the world.”
Gorrell hopes her lived experience can serve as a source of hope for others.
“We all suffer in different ways. We all have our own story,” she said. “Mine happens to be this topic, but we really are all connected.”
She said she wants to help create a community where people feel safe discussing their journeys. She has already received messages from readers who shared experiences they had never spoken about before.
“That’s what it’s all about,” she said. “I just want that momentum to continue.”
