Returning to Yourself: An Author Q&A with Nicole Hendrick Donovan
Author Nicole Hendrick Donovan
Some books invite us to turn the page quickly. Others ask us to slow down, listen, and make room for what is unfolding within us.
In Letters to the Woman I Became: Poems and Prayers for the Journey Back to Yourself, Cape Cod writer Nicole Hendrick Donovan offers a deeply personal collection of poetry, prayers, letters, and reflections exploring grief, motherhood, spiritual questioning, and the journey toward a more authentic life.
Rooted in the natural world and shaped by years of journaling, meditation, and personal discovery, Nicole’s writing invites readers to release inherited expectations, reconnect with their intuition, and rediscover the wisdom within.
At Sea Crow Press, we believe in stories with strong voice, deep heart, and a connection to the natural world. Nicole’s book reflects that spirit, offering a contemplative companion for anyone navigating change, seeking renewal, or learning to come home to themselves.
We asked Nicole about the origins of her book, the role of nature in her writing, and what she hopes readers will carry with them after turning the final page.
An Author Q&A with Nicole Hendrick Donovan
1. What inspired you to begin writing Letters to the Woman I Became, and when did you realize it had become a book?
In 2018, I began a morning practice of yoga, meditation, and journaling. Over the course of five years, I accumulated stacks of journals, filled legal pads, and had folders of random slips of paper. I had a profound shift during this time and decided to revisit, shape, and edit the pieces of writing that spoke to me. As I did, I felt inspired to share them. My first thought was that it should be a “how-to” book, with poetry and letters to bolster the teachings. But the harder I tried to create it, the spirit of the book pushed back. I asked for clarity and it became clear that this book was not that. It was an open invitation for the reader to soften into their own discoveries – their own magic of living a spiritual life.
2. The book explores “returning to yourself.” What does that phrase mean to you personally?
I believe that returning home to oneself is a practice of being alive. The tide of life will come in and pull us away from shore, and we lose our footing. The phrase returning home is simply a reminder to be in the present moment. No matter what is happening, finding a way to be in my body and connected to the experience is the goal. It is also reflective on shedding outdated beliefs and finding the courage to discern what is mine. To listen to my inner wisdom and anchor into my truth.
3. Grief, motherhood, identity, and change are woven throughout the collection. How did writing help you navigate those experiences?
Since I was a young child, I have used writing to organize my thoughts and feelings. In this collection, the reflective essays were a catalyst to sift through the parts of myself and enabled me to discern what was mine. I say “mine” because I, like all of us, was born into a system of inherited beliefs and social constructs which were given to me. As I stood back and viewed these ways of thinking from a different perspective, I found clarity. As I navigated the grief of letting go parts of myself, I was held with tenderness and compassion. Writing gave me a place to encapsulate this time in my life. It helped me to understand and to grow with a freedom I hadn’t known before.
4. Why did you choose poetry, prayer, and the form of a letter as the ways to explore these deeply personal subjects?
They felt distinct in the nature of them – when I was addressed by a spiritual force, an energy, I noted it as a Letter of Divine Compassion. I felt as though the words took form without much assistance from me – a free-flowing message, teaching, or validation of something I had been working through. When I wrote prayers, the intent was to surrender my will, open my heart, and allow myself to be held and guided. Poetry was probably the biggest leap, as I have never considered myself as a (classical) poet, and have a bit of impostor syndrome around calling myself one. But here we are. I am at a point in my life where I get to decide what labels I want to align myself with (if any) and poet feels pretty darn good.
5. The book encourages readers to slow down and listen inward. What have you learned about your own intuition through writing this book?
My intuition, for the most part, is quiet. If I am moving too fast – pushing through – staying in my mind for too long – it’s hard to access. To hear inner wisdom, I need to listen. I need to surrender and soften my mind so I can hear the whispers of the heart. The heart knows. For so long, I was taught not to trust my heart, that my mind – making logical decisions – was the best way, the only way to become successful. I no longer subscribe to that belief. The heart knows and the mind brings things into form. Today, I listen so I can create and bring things into being.
6. Nature plays an important role in the book. Are there particular places, seasons, or natural images that influenced your writing?
I live in a coastal town on Cape Cod in Massachusetts. My playground is marshlands, beaches, ponds, and rivers. The delight I feel when spring arrives is palpable. To witness life returning through vegetation, migration, and the process of coming alive is awe-inspiring. It has brought me deep joy, but also comfort. As I walk along the wooded trails, I am living with the seasons – the wheel of Mother Earth and the teachings of this land we call home. All of it inspires me. The earth is a living prayer, one that returns to us over and over again. How can one not be inspired?
7. What do you hope women recognize about themselves—or give themselves permission to do—after reading this book?
My deepest wish is that women recognize that they have the divine right to lean into different ways of living a full and beautiful life. That they have the power to wield the sword of discernment and choose how, and who they pray to, if anything. I hope that they give themselves permission to slow down and listen to their heart’s song and lay down what isn’t theirs to carry any longer. That each one of them is a sovereign being and can cultivate meaningful practices that bring them comfort, joy, and a sense of belonging.
8. If you could sit down with the woman you were ten or twenty years ago, what would you tell her now?
I would tell her that there is plenty of time. Smell the flowers. Kiss the baby. Laugh out loud. Let yourself be uncomfortable – it’s only temporary. You will survive and thrive. It’s all here for you.
Discover Letters to the Woman I Became
Letters to the Woman I Became: Poems and Prayers for the Journey Back to Yourself is an invitation to slow down, listen inward, and reconnect with your own inner wisdom. Through poetry, prayers, letters, and reflections, Nicole Hendrick Donovan explores the tender work of letting go, healing, and becoming.
A gentle companion for healing, reflection, and becoming.
Book details
Author: Nicole Hendrick Donovan
Publisher: Sea Crow Press
Publication date: October 6, 2026
Format: Paperback
Length: 176 pages
ISBN: 978-1961864641
Price: $19.95
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