Jade Stuart publishes debut book ‘The Ink In My Scars’

Jade Stuart with her debut book, 'The Ink In My Scars'.

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Jade Stuart, from Rochdale, has published her debut book, a collection of poems entitled ‘The Ink In My Scars’.

Common themes throughout the book, inspired by both Jade’s personal experiences and her experiences of other peoples’ lives, who are not identifiable through the poems, include: mental health related experiences, such as depression, anxiety, trauma, addiction, physical and emotional abuse, and the process of healing.

Jade, who works at Hollingworth Academy as a student key worker, said: “Writing a book is something I always wanted to achieve in my life but it needed to be a book true to me. It had to be about mental health and its effects on people as well wanting to extend a helping hand to others through the power of words.

"My degree is in counselling and psychotherapy, and after working as a counsellor in various situations, I often discovered that people needed to be understood and heard before they could heal.

“I wanted to access more people to help them identify with the words and find parts of themselves within the pages. It was important for me [to write this book] because I needed people to realise they were never alone.”

Jade cites her influences include Rupi Kaur (author of ‘milk and honey’), Pierre Alex Jeanty (author of ‘her’), rapper Tupac Shakur, Warshan Shire, whose material has been used in Beyoncé’s latest album, ‘Lemonade’, Joel Francois, Sarah Kay and Naomie LaMorenita.

When asked about the origin of the book’s title, the 26-year-old explained: “The name came after many late nights of trying to think of a name. It didn't immediately have that title, but it was just the only one that I felt gave some kind of insight into what the book would be about. I did think that It might sound like something to do with tattoos, however whenever I came up with a different name, I always came back to ‘The Ink In My Scars’.”

Jade commented: “The book is only in the early stages of release, however, I am overwhelmed with the feedback I have had from people so far. I've noticed that each person who has bought it has their own favourite poem normally related to their own experiences.

"The biggest compliment I have had so far is when someone over ‘The Ink In My Scars’ social media accounts thanked me for laying myself bare and vulnerable to help others heal. They told me how it had left them feeling raw and emotional. They were only half-way through but they couldn't wait to read the rest."

She continued: “Mental health is something that can affect 100% of people, discriminating against no one and leaving people feeling isolated and unable to open up about how things really are for them. I hope when are reading my book they feel that they can find parts of their identity within them and it can help them in the process of healing.

"I hope to offer people an escape from their day to day lives and they can find parts of their identity within the pages, leaving them feeling less alone and more understood.” 

Jade is currently writing her second book, centred around life-experience poetry but also covering other experiences.

‘The Ink In My Scars’ is available to purchase both in paperback and on Kindle.