{"id":611938,"date":"2026-09-04T17:12:29","date_gmt":"2026-09-04T17:12:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.olympiajournal.com\/news\/story\/611938\/author-tess-brooks-releases-debut-memoir-leading-light-to-a-small-girl-in-a-big-world.html"},"modified":"2026-09-04T17:12:29","modified_gmt":"2026-09-04T17:12:29","slug":"author-tess-brooks-releases-debut-memoir-leading-light-to-a-small-girl-in-a-big-world","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.olympiajournal.com\/news\/story\/611938\/author-tess-brooks-releases-debut-memoir-leading-light-to-a-small-girl-in-a-big-world.html","title":{"rendered":"Author Tess Brooks Releases Debut Memoir “Leading Light To A Small Girl In A Big World”"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\"Author<\/a><\/div>\n
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Leading Light To A Small Girl In A Big World By Tess Brooks<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
Kentucky author Tess Brooks has published her debut memoir, “Leading Light To A Small Girl In A Big World,” covering childhood bullying, family estrangement, a cervical cancer diagnosis, and financial hardship. The book is available now through Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Walmart, and other retailers.<\/div>\n

SHEPHERDSVILLE, Ky. – September 4, 2026 – <\/strong>Kentucky author Tess Brooks<\/strong> has published her first book, Leading Light To A Small Girl In A Big World<\/em>, a memoir covering childhood bullying, family estrangement, a cervical cancer diagnosis, and a period of financial hardship that included bankruptcy and job loss.<\/p>\n

Brooks was born to a teenage mother and raised between two households. She writes that bullying and family instability during her early years affected her sense of identity, and that she carried a period of anger into adolescence. She went on to become a National Honor Society member in high school and later earned a college degree.<\/p>\n

A central section of the memoir covers Brooks’ cervical cancer diagnosis and treatment. She writes that doctors told her she would be unable to have additional children afterward, but that she became pregnant again; her second son was born with complications. Brooks describes this period as among the most difficult covered in the book.<\/p>\n

The memoir also addresses a stretch of financial hardship, including bankruptcy and repeated job loss, during which Brooks writes that her family relied on support from extended family and their broader community.<\/p>\n

Each chapter of the book is organized around a guiding idea that Brooks used as a starting point for the events she describes. She said the structure grew out of personal journals she kept during different periods of her life her school years, her cancer treatment, and the years following her sons’ births over several years of writing.<\/p>\n

“I wanted each chapter to be tied to something specific I was holding onto at the time, not just a general theme,” Brooks said. “That idea was the anchor for how I organized the events.”<\/em><\/p>\n

Brooks said she wrote the book with readers who have experienced bullying, family instability, health crises, or financial difficulty in mind, and that she hopes it resonates broadly with readers navigating hardship and searching for a sense of purpose. She has described the intended audience as readers age 12 and up.<\/p>\n

Brooks was raised in Louisville, Kentucky, and now lives in Shepherdsville with her husband of 20 years and their two sons. Leading Light To A Small Girl In A Big World<\/em> is her first published book.<\/p>\n

Availability<\/strong><\/p>\n

Leading Light To A Small Girl In A Big World<\/strong> is available now through Amazon<\/a>, Barnes & Noble<\/a>, Walmart<\/a>, and other major booksellers.<\/p>\n

About Tess Brooks<\/strong><\/p>\n

Tess Brooks was raised in Louisville, Kentucky, and now lives in Shepherdsville, Kentucky, with her husband of 20 years and their two sons. Leading Light To A Small Girl In A Big World<\/em> is her first published book. More information is available at tessbrooksauthor.com.<\/p>\n

Connect With Tess Brooks<\/strong><\/p>\n

Readers can connect with Tess Brooks through her official website at tessbrooksauthor.com<\/a>, follow her on Facebook under Tess Brooks, and find her on TikTok at @tess.brooks4.<\/p>\n

Media Contact<\/span>
Company Name:<\/strong> Brooks Craft Publishing<\/a>
Contact Person:<\/strong> Darek D’Souza
Email:<\/strong> Send Email<\/a>
Phone:<\/strong> +12132246630
Address:<\/strong>1 Seneca St.
City:<\/strong> Buffalo
State:<\/strong> New York
Country:<\/strong> United States
Website:<\/strong> https:\/\/brookscraftpublishing.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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