Shannon Brown: Breaking the Silence on Childhood Abuse | Because of MaddieShannon Brown: Breaking the Silence on Childhood Abuse | Because of Maddie
J Hirtle The Last Storyteller
Shannon Brown talks with J Hirtle about her books *Because of Jane* and *Because of Maddie*, showing how music and storytelling helped her process childhood abuse. She explains her careful, age-aware approach to writing about trauma and her aim to offer hope and advocacy to children and survivors.
29:19•6 Nov 2026
Shannon Brown on Saying “Enough”: Childhood Abuse, Music and Finding Her Voice
Episode Overview
- Music can give children a language for emotions they can’t yet name and support long-term healing.
- Shifting from a toy narrator to Shannon’s own voice mirrors her growing understanding and courage as a teenager.
- Trauma can be written in ways that are honest but not graphic, reducing the risk of triggering readers.
- Even in abusive environments, positive memories and relationships can coexist and later support recovery.
- Sharing personal stories of abuse can help others feel seen, build advocacy, and encourage generational healing.
“She needed to dream. Dreaming kept her alive.”
Curious about how others navigate their sobriety journey and wider healing from trauma? This conversation between host J Hirtle and author Shannon Brown centres on breaking childhood silence, using stories and music to turn pain into purpose. Shannon talks about her Survivor’s Anthem series and how songs became emotional lifelines long before she had the words for abuse: power ballads for strength, sad tracks for tears, and even rage songs for anger she couldn’t safely show.
As she explains, music “gave me language at a young age that I didn’t have for feelings that I was feeling”, and those playlists now help others process their own histories. The heart of the episode is Shannon’s second book, *Because of Maddie: The Girl Who Said Enough*. J highlights a line from the earlier book *Because of Jane* – “She needed to dream.
Dreaming kept her alive.” – as a key to understanding Shannon’s journey from secret-keeping child to outspoken advocate. The new book marks a shift from a toy narrator to Shannon’s own voice, mirroring her developmental move from confused child to a teenager who realises something is very wrong and begins to stand up for herself.
You’ll hear about domestic violence, sexual and psychological abuse, court-ordered visits to unsafe homes, and a teenager trying to fit into a private school while feeling utterly broken. Shannon explains why she chose age-appropriate language and refused to sensationalise trauma, saying some things “shouldn’t be written down”, so survivors can read without being overwhelmed. Alongside the darkness, she stresses good memories, supportive figures like “Papa”, a teenage crush that survived into adulthood, and generational healing with her mum.
Her work with children, her blogging for anti-violence organisations, and future books show how telling difficult stories can spark hope and advocacy. If you or someone you care about has carried silent childhood pain into adult life, could Shannon’s story and Maddie’s courage help you feel less alone and more ready to say “enough” too?
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