My love, A few years ago I sat down with Caro Giles - newly divorced and finding her voice under a Northumberland sky through incredible writing - to talk about her book Twelve Moons. I was nervous. I needn’t have been … she’s hilarious and now a firm friend. Between her and Claire Venus ✨, they’ve helped me keep the faith in social media, having met through the gram. They’ve both been a huge supporter for my book, How to Divorce Sober, over the years too. When Caro shared a few weeks ago that her latest book, Unschooled, needs to sell 500 more copies for it to make it to paperback I was like… RIGHT, let’s do this. To support her campaign…. I’m giving away FIVE signed copies of Unschooled to women in this community. For a chance to win, please visit this Instagram post and follow the entry requirements. You could win a copy and you'll receive a beautiful bookplate to stick in the front cover with pride. I’m so grateful for all your support and I’ll tell you why ... Caro’s books are incredibly important. I’ve mentioned Caro to so many women in 121s over the years - she writes what we feel and can’t name is the most beautiful ways. If you’ve ever felt like you disappeared a bit when your marriage ended, both of her books are for you. What it is to find yourself a woman outside the norm - divorced, single mothering and supporting your kids in ways you didn’t know you would ever need to. All whilst wondering, who on earth am I now? In Caro’s case, as in many of the women in MDC, she found herself in a situation where the education system was failing 2 of her 4 daughters. Unschooled not only documents this journey of getting adequate education for her Autistic children, but also the one of finding ‘the woman’ and new love in amongst it all. Why it matters One of my biggest reasons (my why’s) for running the Magic Divorce Club is because when I was going through divorce I felt alone, trapped and desperate. I didn’t trust my own instincts and I believed I had a no future beyond my marriage. That I would lose everything. When I made it out the other side, I made a promise to that version of myself that I would write the book she needed in the hope that others would see there is hope and there is light beyond this. As Caro would attest, it’s a wild ride. But it’s our wild ride and we can learn to ride it together. Caro’s work is an integral part of this - she’s living a life that I know many of the MDC girls are too. In the shadows at times, doubting yourself, feeling guilty, hyper vigilant and with very little support. I don’t want you to feel alone in that. Not on my watch. And if we can get her book into paperback, even more isolated families, unpaid carers and single mums, just like you and me, will get that life line. Knowing ‘it’s not just me’ means you can start to rebuild a new, better village from the ashes of the one you thought you’d lost. So please, if you can support Caro’s campaign, that would be awesome. Head here: Ep 40: You’re Not Too Much (And Neither Are Your Kids), with Caro Giles, Author of Unschooled In this week’s podcast, Caro and I cover a lot of ground including the part nobody warns you about … advocating for yourself and your kids once the marriage is over. Caro shares everything she’s learned about this from years of fighting the system: * not being believed by legal representatives, * wishing she’d brought an ally into meetings instead of going in alone, * her kids being seen as “fine” by one parent and struggling everywhere else. Her advice: * find people who believe you, lawyers and allies, * keep a record of everything as you go, * know that it’s allowed to step back from a fight when it’s costing your family more than it’s worth. Magic Divorce Club mums unite! Unschooled came out from a small independent publisher, and for it to come out in paperback (which makes it affordable for more single parents and unpaid carers), let’s help her sell the last 500 copies of the hardback. There’s a few ways you can help: * Buy a new copy Amazon · Bookshop.org (supports indie bookshops) · Waterstones * Can’t buy it right now? Ask your library to order it in. They will, and it still moves the needle for Caro. * Take part in the competition to win a signed copy (you’ll receive a beautiful bookplate to put in your copy) You can find Caro on Instagram @carogileswrites and read more of her writing on her Substack. If you want to hear the very first conversation Caro and I ever had, back when Twelve Moons came out, it’s here: I’d love to hear from you as I know Caro would too - so please do message us both (Caro through IG above) with your takeaways from this episode. You’ve got this. And I’ve got you. Hannah XOX PS I do a version of the cutting the cord meditation in the 7 Days of Calm free reset series Look out for Day 4, which is all about protecting yourself and your energy. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit magicdivorceclub.substack.com/subscribe
