Books published by Steel Rose Press

When the government quarantines her village, 17-year-old Em learns what it truly means to be trapped. Will she pursue her desire for freedom, at all costs, or do what's best for the people she loves? Inspired by the true story of the Eyam plague village, this is a contemporary tale of becoming an adult-and falling in love-in the midst of tragedy.

"What if I never get to be a mother?" When this doubt first takes hold, it can knock you completely off your feet. You feel cheated, frustrated, and no longer sure of your place in society, your family, or your circle of friends. Now...imagine you could spend time with someone who really understands how you feel, who lets you express all the things that once seemed whiny, self-indulgent, or just plain crazy, and who confides that she once felt that way too. Life Without Baby founder, Lisa Manterfield, once stood where you are and not only survived, but thrived. Now she shares what she learned from her own experiences and from the women of the community she created. She'll help you: - Know when it's time to cut your losses and let go of your dream - Give yourself permission to grieve the loss that few others can truly understand - Learn some emotional aikido moves to handle social challenges, such as baby showers, Mother's Day, and the dreaded "Do you have kids?" question - Rediscover your passion and find joy again, without enduring a complete life makeover - Get pragmatic about aging without children and building a new kind of family Based on her small-group workshops and popular ebook series, this book offers a combination of hard-won lessons, gentle queries, and real-world suggestions. Manterfield is a comforting and supportive companion who will guide you gently down your own path to making peace with being childfree-not-by-choice and thriving in a new happily ever after.

Lisa Manterfield was a sensible 32-year-old when she met The One - a man who sparked a passion for tango, an urge to break down closed doors, and a deep-rooted desire to reproduce. Five years later she was a baby addict, hiding her addiction, plotting a maternity ward heist, and threatening anything that got in her way, including her beloved husband and his pesky practicality. In this gritty and honest memoir, Manterfield traces her spiralling route from rational 21st century woman to desperate mama-wannabe. She examines the siren song of motherhood, the insidious lure of the fertility industry, and the repercussions of being childless in a mom-centric society. But this isn''t just another infertility story with another miracle baby ending, nor is it a sad introspective of a childless woman; this is a story about love, desire, and choices - and ultimately about hope. It is the story of a woman who escapes her addiction, not with a baby, but with her sanity, her marriage, and her sense-of-self intact.