SHEFFIELD AUTHORS

Tracey Ford is a Sheffield-based writer, author, and lived-experience advocate who believes in the power of storytelling to heal, connect, and inspire change.

 

After overcoming addiction and rebuilding her life in recovery, Tracey discovered writing as a way of making sense of her experiences and finding her voice. What began as personal journalling evolved into a passion for sharing stories that challenge stigma, encourage reflection, and remind people that change is always possible. You can read more about her writing journey in this downloadable zine.

 

​Alongside her memoir, Tracey writes poetry, blogs, reflective pieces, and collaborative projects inspired by resilience, identity, and the strength found in everyday lives. Her poem Don't Underestimate a Woman in Recovery was adapted into an award-winning short film of the same name, which won the 2024 Recovery Street Film Festival. She also wrote It's OK Not to Be OK for LensGo Media, a powerful piece exploring vulnerability, mental wellbeing, and the importance of reaching out for support.

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Tracey is the founder of Have a Word with Yourself,  a writing and wellbeing initiative that encourages people to use journalling and self-reflection as tools for personal growth. Through workshops, speaking engagements, filmmaking, and creative projects, she helps others discover the value of their own stories and find confidence in their voices.

 

She is currently co-creating Whispers from the Heart  with Dr Mulka Nišić, an international anthology that brings together contributors from around the world in a unique 365-day collection of reflections, stories, poems, insights, and messages of hope. Rooted in themes of resilience, recovery, courage, compassion, connection, personal growth, and the shared experiences that unite us, the anthology celebrates the wisdom found in everyday lives. Through diverse voices and lived experiences, Whispers from the Heart offers readers a daily reminder that they are never alone in their struggles, dreams, or aspirations, and that even in life's most challenging moments there is strength to be found, hope to be shared, and meaning to be discovered.

 

Drawing on more than three decades of professional and personal experience in the fields of addiction, recovery, and social justice, Tracey brings authenticity and heart to everything she writes. Her work is rooted in real life, real people, and real hope.

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Proudly based in Sheffield, she continues to write, facilitate workshops, and champion the belief that everyone has a story worth telling. Whether through memoir, poetry, film, or collaborative writing projects, her aim is simple: to encourage honesty, spark connection, and remind people that even the most difficult chapters can lead to new beginnings.

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