For The Sender by Alex Woodard is unlike anything I’ve ever read before. Through letters, prose and songwriting, Woodard reveals how he unravelled his own journey of growth and healing by trusting the process and listening to other voices telling their stories.

The letters from Emily, Kim, Alison and Katelyn cover a myriad of feelings – loss, everlasting love, faith and the sheer beauty of humanity. The songs they inspire are stunning and the CD which accompanies the book is a testament to this. Woodard has gathered together unique and gorgeous voices to produce easy listening yet powerful music.

In the heart of this book, however, is Woodard’s own attempt to cope with loss – he loses his dog, his old home and the woman his Grandmother once was. Yet, his words resound with hope and when he writes about what comes from the ashes, I believe him.