In her first poetry collection, A Storm in a Shell – The Ebb and Flow of My Storm, British poet Chel O’Hare opens a window into her inner world, a place where fear and hope often live side by side.
The book follows her path through anxiety, loss, and self-doubt toward a quiet kind of peace. These poems aren’t written about survival; they are survival, raw, honest, and full of heart.
When the Mind Becomes a Storm and the Page Becomes Shelter
At the time when the life of Chel was not easy at all, she turned to writing poems as her therapy, relying on words to reach out for and maintain balance when nothing else was certain. What initially was a very private and personal option to deal with the situation expanded gradually into a tremendous and impactful collection that mirrored the lifestyle of the one who was confronting suffering directly.
Her poems talk about depression, addiction, and trauma with honesty and care. In “The Maze” and “Dead Inside,” she shows what it feels like to be lost in your own thoughts. In “The Ultimate Climb” and “Light at the End of the Tunnel,” that same struggle becomes movement, each line a step toward light. Every poem feels like a moment of courage written as it was lived.
The Journey from Breaking to Becoming
As readers move through the book, they feel the shift from sadness to strength. A Storm in a Shell is a story about rebuilding oneself, gradually. In poems like “Don’t Panic” and “Overwhelmed,” the author reminds us to take a breath and let the healing process begin as gently as possible.
Love anchors her through it all. “For My Mum” and “My Strength” are filled with deep thanks to her mother and husband, the two people who helped her stand when she couldn’t. Their support runs quietly under every line like a heartbeat.
“I wanted to leave a map for others to follow,” she writes and that’s exactly what her book becomes: a path from silence to hope.
A Poet Who Writes to Heal and to Help
Chel O’Hare writes from real experience. The source of her writing is the same as the source of her suffering, where pain and hope meet. She reaches out to all those who have encountered such a situation and, therefore, gives them feelings and words when they are hard to carry and express.
She resides in the northern part of England along with her husband, two sons, five cats, and two guinea pigs. Besides poetry, she also loves making things and writing children's stories. She also belongs to a local writing group, Years Ahead, whose encouragement helped her grow from a quiet writer into a confident poet ready to share her story.
The People Who Held Her Up
The book is dedicated to her mother and husband “the two people who carried me when I couldn’t walk.” Chel’s notes at the end of the book thank her family, friends, and writing group for their patience and support, showing that love and kindness often help the words take shape.
Why A Storm in a Shell Speaks to This Moment
At a time when many people are talking about mental health, but few speak about it with honesty, Chel O’Hare’s voice stands out for its truth and simplicity. Her poems don’t dress up pain or turn it into drama, they show what it really feels like, and how healing takes time.
Each poem draws readers closer, offering comfort in shared experience. Chel’s work doesn’t promise escape; it offers understanding. And within that understanding, hope quietly grows.
Availability and Contact
Find A Storm in a Shell – The Ebb and Flow of My Storm on Amazon.co.uk.
Media Contact
Company Name: The Empire Publishers UK
Contact Person: Iris Williams
Email: Send Email
Country: United Kingdom
Website: https://www.theempirepublishers.co.uk/