When Don Mackenzie sat down to write his memoir The Unwanted Gift: Journey from abused child to martial art master, he wasn’t aiming for bestseller lists or accolades. What he wanted was something far more profound: release.
For decades, Don had carried the burden of unspoken truths. “I had all this stuff in my head my entire life,” he admits. “Nobody knew what was going on, and I hadn’t talked to anyone about it. Writing it down finally gave me closure I never thought possible.”
The process wasn’t always easy. There were moments when the words poured out so fast Don hardly recognised them as his own. At other times, his CPTSD made the writing journey feel like walking a tightrope. But with encouragement and guidance from The Book Whisperers, Don found the confidence to keep going. “Mary told me at the start it would be therapeutic, but I had no idea what a game changer it would be. The support was always there, even when my brain was not in a good place.”
That support, coupled with Don’s relentless honesty, has created a memoir that’s already resonating deeply with readers. Just one week after launch, The Unwanted Gift hit Number 1 on Amazon in two categories – a remarkable achievement for a debut author. But for Don, the true victory lies in finally being able to put his story in order: “In my head, it was swirling thoughts. In my book, it is a sequential process which I can handle much better.”
Now, when he picks up his book and reads a page, he no longer feels trapped by the past. “The most profound thing I’ve learned is that the things I thought were shameful weren’t. The real shame was being made to believe that silence was my only option.”
Don’s advice to other writers is simple but powerful: believe in yourself and just start writing. As he says with a smile, “If someone told me years ago I could write a book, I would have laughed in their face. But here I am, holding one in my hands. It gave me a shiver down my spine.”
The title of Don’s memoir reflects this transformation. The trauma he endured as a child was never wanted, but it shaped the man he became. Over time, he came to see that even the darkest experiences had given him the drive, resilience, and empathy to build a life of meaning. The Unwanted Gift is about turning pain into strength — a story of resilience, healing, and hope that is already lighting the way for others.
The Unwanted Gift is available now on Amazon worldwide. https://amzn.eu/d/c6uQz79