Young divorcee’s memoir of rebuilding after marital abuse showcases the healing power of personal transformation
San Diego, CA – Few things can shatter our hearts like expectations. Sarah expected to live happily ever after. She expected her husband to honor his vows. She expected his military helicopter to land safely. But when the unimaginable occurred and her world unraveled completely, the undoing of her expectations left her on her knees, fighting for her life.
To save herself, Sarah packed her car, and set out to hike across the country. But pain, codependence, and trauma challenged her as she moved forward. Her journey took her from a sailboat to a yoga studio, from a therapist’s couch to a shaman’s ceremony; eventually selling everything and moving into a van, Sarah rebuilt, from the inside out.
“She Journeys” is a testament to the transformative power of healing. From darkness to light, from a marriage ended to a life reclaimed, we are reminded that it never matters how we begin. Only that we do. From wounds to wisdom, She is every woman who must find her way from heartbreak to homecoming.
“She Journeys: A Memoir of Heartbreak and Homecoming”
Sarah May | September 9, 2025 | She Writes Press | Nonfiction, Memoir
Paperback | ISBN: 9781647429621 | $17.99
Ebook | ISBN: 9781647429638 | $12.99
Praise for “She Journeys” and Sarah May…
“…her description of the hard work it takes to ‘heal from the inside out’ will be inspirational to anyone hoping to do the same… A likeable and inspiring chronicle of self-actualization.”
–Kirkus Reviews
“A gripping memoir that reminds us of our ability to overcome the unimaginable.”
–Danette May, author of “Embrace Abundance” and “The Rise”
“Sarah May’s warrior-like courage in the aftermath of trauma is inspiring, riveting and powerful. Storytelling is a soul-retrieving art and ‘She Journeys’ is no exception.”
–Terry Laszlo-Gopadze, editor of “The Spirit of a Woman”
“I couldn’t put this book down. With every word, my heart healed. Sarah’s wisdom is potent and moves mountains.”
–Marina Triner, The Compassionate Somatic Coach
About the Author…
SARAH MAY: is a yoga instructor, Reiki healer, and intuitive. She provides her clients with powerful practices and healing insights from the studio to private sessions, retreats, and women’s circles. Sarah received her Master of Science in Conflict Analysis and Resolution and previously managed a non-profit. “She Journeys” is her debut memoir. In 2020, she and her husband—fellow author Andrew Singer—converted a cargo van and hit the road. They spend their time exploring and writing across America’s public lands. When not on wheels, Houston and San Diego are her homebase. Learn more at: www.shejourneys.us
Follow Sarah May on social media:
Facebook: @shejourneysbook | Instagram: @she__journeys
Interview:
What inspired you to start writing, and how did your journey as an author begin?
I knew I wanted to write about my divorce before the ink dried on the divorce agreement. Writing has been my way of processing and making meaning since I was a teenager confiding in my daily journal. I just never imagined it would take seven years to begin writing the book. At first, I was so numb and still in shock from everything that had transpired. Then I found myself in a relationship where the past felt off-limits. I worked multiple jobs and had little free time. But in 2020 everything changed. My new partner and I decided to buy a van and build it into a camper. I sold all my furniture, left my jobs, my community, and set out for the open road. That road trip became a full-time lifestyle that gave me the space, time, and freedom to finally begin writing. It took another four years to finish my memoir, but I got to do so from America’s glorious public lands: deserts, mountains, forests. Writing She Journeys while experiencing this lifestyle has been one of the sweetest and most incredible adventures of my life.
Can you share a little about your latest book and what readers can expect from it?
She Journeys: A Memoir of Heartbreak and Homecoming is a candid account of the pain of infidelity, abuse, and divorce, and the journey that I took to heal. It chronicles the implosion of my marriage and a ten-year quest to rebuild my life from the inside out. From a cross-country road trip where I hiked, camped, and backpacked alone, to moving in with my parents on a sailboat, to sitting in ceremony with a Shaman, therapy and spirituality, to selling everything, moving into a van, and finding love again; readers can expect a vulnerable story of hope and a testament to the transformative power of healing.
Which character has been the most challenging (or rewarding) for you to write, and why?
My ex-husband, Nick, was the most difficult to write. I really struggled with his character. It’s challenging years after a traumatic marriage to go back and re-write your love story as if you don’t know what’s coming. It was hard to remember all the reasons I fell in love with him, looking back I just see the red flags and warning signs. I tried to portray him (and myself) as best and honestly as I could: wounded kids who got married young and had a toxic relationship. The writing process itself became a way of reconciling who I was, the decisions I made, why I chose who I chose. Despite being painful, ultimately the revisiting was incredibly valuable. I healed on an even deeper level and made peace through writing.
Did you encounter any surprises or unexpected turns during the writing process of your newest book?
Absolutely, the entire process of writing a book can take us to some unexpected and surprising places. It’s so interesting to me how my story became its own entity, how it evolved, and how it ended up being something different than what I initially envisioned. Stories can take on a life of their own. I thought I had healed enough to be able to write this book. What I discovered as I started to look back was that I still had so much healing to do. Reading old journal entries, I barely recognized the girl on the page, I felt shame, embarrassment, and judgement. I was so much more codependent and sick than I realized. There were a lot of triggering moments, especially feeling anger towards my ex-husband all over again. It just goes to show that forgiveness is layered and healing isn’t linear.
How do your personal experiences or background influence your storytelling?
I’ve kept a daily journal for most of my life, so the first draft of my book read more journal style, an account of what transpired. With editorial feedback, it became about showing, not just telling. So, my second draft came to life and it kept evolving from there. Journaling for me is about internal processing, reflecting, it’s a practice I do to feel grounded and clear. Writing a book is an entirely different beast, there is character development, dialogue, arc, flow, etc. All of who I am is reflected in my storytelling: Sarah is hopeful, loving, adventurous, flawed, wounded, insecure. I try to bring as much honesty, vulnerability, and authenticity as I can to the page because at the end of the day, I believe that is what resonates the most with readers.
What’s one piece of writing advice you wish you’d received when you were starting out?
This will be so much more work than you can even imagine, but it will be worth it. It will be worth it because the feeling of personal gratification that comes from accomplishing a dream is unlike anything else. It will be worth it because you will be proving to yourself that you have the discipline and commitment to honor what you needed to create. It will be worth it because in the end, it will be one of the biggest gifts you can give yourself: a reflection of the beautiful journey you’ve taken to come home from the inside out.
Are there any authors or books that have especially influenced your work?
Good writing can be medicine. When something resonates or touches me, it can really move me: emotionally, spiritually, mentally. Certain books have changed my life. For example, Dr. Edith Eger’s books The Choice and The Gift have left a lasting impression and led me to take radical responsibility for my own situation. In terms of literary style, Glennon Doyle and Cheryl Strayed are some of my biggest icons. Untamed and Tiny Beautiful Things are works of art that convey truth that I feel in my bones. Their writing is so raw and honest, it resonates so much because it’s so human and relatable.
How do you balance research and creativity—especially when writing about complex or unfamiliar topics?
Even though I was writing a memoir—where memory is the map—I still needed to do quite a bit of research. Because I was writing several years after the fact (and because trauma can impact memory) I had to re-read old journals, interview family and friends, and dig up old news articles. It was a lot of revisiting the past, creating a timeline, checking facts. The process was triggering and brought up a lot of emotions, however it forced me deeper into healing and to write even more vulnerably. I took that raw emotion and tried to bring it into story.
What do you hope readers take away from your stories?
I hope readers—especially women who may have been through similar situations (betrayal, abuse, infidelity, divorce)—can find a source of support and hope. Pain and grief can be so isolating, so lonely. We may feel like we’re walking a path no one has walked, but the truth is there are so many trailblazers and guiding lights that can help us find our way. If I can be a small part of someone’s journey, what an honor.
Can you give us a sneak peek at what you’re working on next?
Part of my healing journey was creating a Divorce Ritual. Receiving a piece of paper stating my marriage was over didn’t give me the closure I needed at the time. So, several years after my divorce, I went back to the same beach where I was married. I burned the vows my ex-husband and I had exchanged and read new ones to myself. It was a really powerful experience that finally gifted me closure and peace. I’m creating an online course where I provide the tools and resources for people to create their own Divorce Ritual.