Nonfiction
Date Published: March 3, 2025
Publisher: MindStir Media
Childhood trauma leads to perseverance and personal growth in this
empowering memoir.
Born into a world shrouded by multi-generational cycles of abuse and child
marriages, Donna Simmons navigates a harrowing landscape of pain and
betrayal, detailing the challenges that devastated her early years but
ultimately did not define the person she became.
Through poignant storytelling, she shares both moments of despair and the
small victories that fueled her resilience. Each chapter reveals the
transformative process of healing and self-discovery, touching on the
importance of embracing nature, finding solace in creativity, and connecting
with a community. Ashes to Flame recounts a powerful, deeply personal, and
transformative journey from the ashes of childhood trauma to the vibrant
light of purpose.
About the Author
My name is Donna Simmons, and I’m a wife, mother, author, and avid
advocate for breaking cycles of generational trauma and mental health
recovery. As a Governor appointed member of the Kentucky Juvenile
Justice Advisory Board and member of the Bakhita Empowerment Initiative
Advisory Board, I work with public servants and providers across the state
to support a reduction in juvenile system involvement and strengthening
protective factors for high risk youth. My passion for this work comes
from my direct experience as a child abuse survivor, involvement in a
behavioral health facility when I was 14, and resulting grooming and
exploitation by a 29 year old mental health professional who I was married
off to as a child.
In my healing journey, I have recognized that true trauma recovery can only
occur when we are willing to examine the generational cycles that keeps us
bound in harmful patterns. My mission is to help others transform
their trauma into purpose so they can break these cycles and reach their
full potential as individuals and parents.
Contact Links
Instagram- @transformingashes2flame
TikTok- @ashestoflame
Purchase Link
