By: Jonathyn Lopez
When Alicia Trew sat down to write Losing Michele, she wasn’t just putting words on a page; she was piecing together the shattered fragments of her heart. Less than a year ago (2024), Alicia lost her wife, Michele, to cancer, a loss that felt unbearable at the time. Through the pain, she discovered something extraordinary: writing became not only her outlet but her path to healing. What started as grief on paper transformed into a story of resilience, self-love, and a reminder that even the darkest chapters can lead us to light.
Her journey is deeply personal, but it is not hers alone. She speaks lovingly of Michele, whose presence continues to shape her steps forward, and of her two stepdaughters, Jonni Gibbs and Jessi Walker-Trew, who walked this painful journey by her side. She gives heartfelt credit to her mother, grandmother, closest friend Amanda, and her boss and colleagues, who proved to be more than just coworkers. For Alicia, these relationships became lifelines, reminding her that healing is not a solitary act but a collective strength. The book’s title, Losing Michele, came naturally as Alicia processed the weight of her journey. “The worst thing that could have happened to me became the best thing for my healing,” she reflects. In sharing her story, she invites others to see that while grief is inevitable, healing is a choice, and choosing it means choosing yourself. She describes her memoir as heart-wrenching yet laced with dark humor, brutally honest but deeply transformative. Above all, it is proof that healing is a form of self-love.
Alicia’s professional life as a project manager at the world-famous Kennedy Space Center may seem far removed from the intimate pages of her memoir. Yet the same skills that make her effective in her career, like organization, perseverance, and problem-solving, have also guided her through the writing process. As a veteran of the United States Air Force with two master’s degrees in Business Administration and International Affairs, Alicia knows discipline. This book, however, demanded more than structure. It required vulnerability, courage, and the ability to embrace imperfection.
Alicia also found an irreplaceable ally in her publisher, Maddox of Maddox Publishing. To her, Maddox is far more than a publisher; she is a friend, mentor, and partner who saw the best in her when Alicia struggled to see it in herself. Their connection, sparked by a shared appreciation of the book Journey of Souls, became a foundation for growth and storytelling. Alicia often says Maddox is on a mission to convince people of the actual value of their stories, and Losing Michele is living proof of that mission in action. Through grief, Alicia has discovered her voice not only as a writer but as a speaker. If allowed to stand before an audience, she would speak about resilience, not as a polished concept but as the effort to emerge stronger from life’s most brutal blows. True to her Leo spirit, she approaches life with a mix of humor and blunt honesty. “Self-love begins with owning your mistakes and weaknesses,” she says. “What you’ve done is what you’ve done, but moving forward, you can process things differently.”
In the upcoming weeks, Alicia is determined to see Losing Michele through to completion, with plans to release it on Michele’s birthday, November 6, 2025, a date that carries immeasurable meaning. She envisions her book reaching book clubs, community groups, and anyone navigating grief who needs to hear that healing is not only possible but powerful. Beyond the launch, Alicia hopes her story will open doors to conversations, events, and opportunities where her words can bring comfort and strength to others.
At her core, Alicia is a stepmother, a friend, an advocate for the underdogs, and a proud veteran who has given eight years of service to the Air Force. What sets her apart in her niche is not simply her credentials but her ability to embrace pain instead of pushing it away, and then transform that pain into something hopeful, motivational, and empowering. Her publisher describes her writing as breathtaking in its quality, raw in its honesty, and even humorous in its treatment of complex topics. That balance makes her work not only relatable but unforgettable.
For readers, Alicia hopes her book becomes more than just a story. She wants it to be a reminder that loss does not end our story; it shapes it. By choosing healing, we choose love again, even if it first comes in the form of self-love. To those reading her words, she extends an invitation: visit maddoxpublishing.com, connect with her journey, and allow her story to be a guide in navigating your own. Because healing, as Alicia Trew has discovered, is not just survival, it is transformation.
