Jennifer Wilkin Shaw

When my daughter Charlotte died on Dartmoor, it felt like my life was over. Having already lost my husband to suicide I was terrified. But strangely, and without realising it I was slowly becoming fluent in a topic I would never have chosen; grief. In order to move forward I had to accept these metaphorical lemons that life had given me.

It was then I discovered that trauma is like compost. New life and creativity can spring from it. I was compelled to write about the grief in a new and surprising way. This gave rise to a book that doesn't leave anything out: the truth about grief, warts and all, and I mean all!

From this - others who were suffering would have a companion and be spared the shame and aloneness of something we find so hard to talk about.

Born to a sunny Sri Lankan secretary and a Canadian musician in a two room London flat, Jennifer attended one of the capitals finest schools. A risk taker, she has owned/run successful restaurants in Norwich, London and Devon and has worked for Devon's Health Service co-ordinating Smoking Cessation services, creating breakfast clubs and reducing inequalities.

Winner of the Temull cup for English, Jennifer, a History of Art graduate understands suffering. Her constant smile belies her husband's suicide and the sudden death of her only child Charlotte, on Dartmoor, which made international news. She wrote about the grief and ‘A Testament of Grief’ was born. Among the online reviews is the word ‘Masterpiece’.

Having staged her own musical, Jennifer has now finished writing a talk on Spider-Man, trauma and creativity. Her third play- about domestic violence, the protagonist, a 90 year old demented female killer, will have its second read shortly. She is also working on her second book.

Jennifer lives in Frithelstockstone, Devon which you can't say after 10 Gins to a taxi driver. Luckily she survives on tap water and drives an old rust bucket. She often writes in coffee shops with a sharp pencil and a macchiato.

For more information:

A Testament of Grief is available from Amazon.