Shropshire mum published in new book to be released nationwide this March
Emma Bacon is a mum-of-two from Shrewsbury. She has completed writing two powerful narrative nonfiction/memoirs based on peri and postnatal mental health, and a collection of children’s stories. The Shropshire-based author's work will now feature in a new book launching next month - Motherhood Uncensored.
MU Books is proud to announce the release of Motherhood Uncensored: 35 Authors Explore Things Left Unsaid About Motherhood, a powerful and thought-provoking anthology curated by Beverley Pannell, with a foreword by renowned sociologist Professor Tina Miller.
In 2024, motherhood-uncensored.org launched a bold writing competition, inviting voices from all walks of life to share untold truths about motherhood. The response was overwhelming, with hundreds of entries and thousands of readers voting on which stories resonated most deeply. The result is this striking collection of essays and reflections, tackling subjects often shrouded in silence—fertility struggles, loss, inequality, the impact of motherhood on identity, work, and relationships, and the moments of joy that emerge amidst the challenges.
Lucy Jones, author of Matrescence: On the Metamorphosis of Pregnancy, Childbirth and Motherhood, describes the collection as “impressive and moving reflections on motherhood.” Alex Bollen, author of Motherdom: Breaking Free from Bad Science and Good Mother Myths, calls it “a wonderful collection of writing... honest and generous,” predicting it will “resonate deeply with anyone trying to make sense of the experience of motherhood.”
The anthology not only shares diverse and compelling perspectives but also challenges the enduring myths and inequalities that shape the experience of motherhood.
“It’s easy to see why each of the entries included in Motherhood Uncensored would be left unsaid. Each took courage to write and share. But each describes an experience that is more real and more common than the motherhood fairy tale. Each opens a conversation rather than shutting it down. Collectively they make more space for others to say what they’ve left unsaid. That’s why I wanted to run this competition. Words are powerful. They help us clarify what we think, what is true and who we are” said Beverley Pannell, editor of Motherhood Uncensored.
Motherhood Uncensored is more than just a collection of writing—it’s a movement. It’s a call to action for people everywhere to start embracing their stories, no matter how messy, imperfect, or raw. It’s a reminder that no-one meets the motherhood ideal, everyone’s experience is valid, and that we are all in this together.
As an added commitment to support maternal health and well-being, profits from Motherhood Uncensored will be shared with Make Birth Better and PND Awareness and Support (PANDAS).
This essential new book will be available in stores and online from 17 March.
