Peer support volunteer publishes book trilogy

Our wonderful volunteer Mel has been putting her creative writing talents to the test and become a published author, not once or twice, but three times!

Here, she shares her story of how our charity services and fellow volunteers have helped her to fulfil her dream of writing. She recently published the final book in her Captain’s trilogy.

By Mel, Hearing Link Services volunteer

I have had hearing loss since birth and over the years it has declined to severe/ profound in both ears.  While applying for a set of ‘furry ears’ to help in the form of a hearing dog, I discovered Hearing Link Services. 

I found their contact details on a leaflet at The Grange and tucked the leaflet away somewhere safe when I got home. I called their Helpdesk in despair one day, after dealing with a flat tyre at the roadside and the stress of hearing loss in an emergency situation.

It was then that I started a tentative journey to accept my hearing loss. I cautiously volunteered with Hearing Link Services, after being told that I could make a difference to others with hearing loss, like me.  With steady encouragement from my new friends at LinkUp support groups and other events, my confidence started to grow. 

At first,  I always sat at the back of the room, then at the middle with my new found friends and eventually always headed to the front row.  Everyone gently gave me the confidence and courage until there I was standing at the front with a microphone merrily chatting away.

Pursuing my dream

I remember whispering to someone at a Hearing Link Services event,  that one of my hobbies was writing and I was up to chapter 10 of my first novel.  A little while later, I had the courage to tell another of my new friends that I had almost finished my book. 

Immediately they asked me to hurry up and publish it because they wanted to read it.  Others nagged me until I did just that. I published ‘The Captain’s House’ on Amazon a couple of years ago.  I would never have had the confidence to even contemplate publishing without those wonderful people I met along the way while volunteering. 

There are too many to mention by name, but they know who they are.  There may be some that don’t remember their connection to me or my novels.  Although, they may recall obscure questions from me, which were absorbed in the lively chatter of a meal time at a Hearing Link event or a late night chat at the bar! 

A trilogy becomes reality

But it doesn’t end there, for their enduring friendship has continued to encourage me, made me even more ambitious and last year I published the second novel in the Captain trilogy, ‘The Captain’s Folly’. I am thrilled to share that my final book,  ‘The Captain’s Fortune’ was published last month, concluding the trilogy and bringing the story to a close. 

I write as Mel J Wallis and all three novels are available to buy on Amazon.  Many readers have commented that they get so absorbed in the story due to my unique writing style that they lose themselves in the pages of my books.  So it appears that my hearing loss has enriched my writing as I include those extra ‘bits’ that those with, perfect hearing often fail to notice.

I have already started writing my next novel, a true testament to the confidence and friendship that I have found in my Hearing Link Services ‘family’, my tribe…my inspiration.  My heartfelt thanks to you all.