My name is Lildonia and I am raising funds to republish my book “Back Yourself: A Wellbeing Guide to Healing from Racial Trauma” after my publisher unexpectedly collapsed.

Here’s my story:

My book was published in April 2025. It took two years to write, one year to find a publisher, and a further 18 months to reach market. Four years in total!

I wrote it with deep intention — drawing on my lived experience, my wellbeing practice, and the cultural knowledge that exists within our communities.

There was (and still is) a huge gap in the self-help space for people of colour and for those who have experienced racism. My aim was to create a supportive, accessible resource for Black and global majority people navigating racial trauma.

“This is the life-manual I wish I’d had in my teens.”

— Saskia

“There were so many moments where I felt seen and held in the space Lildonia created for understanding and healing.”

— Shauna

The response was incredible but then my book disappeared!

A few months after the launch, the publishing company unexpectedly collapsed. There was no communication to authors, no royalties, and no support.

Overnight, my book disappeared nearly everywhere — the eBook, print-on-demand and international distribution were all switched off. I suddenly had no access to my own files or the systems that kept the book available. 4 years of hard work gone in seconds!

Although the words are mine, the design and production files legally belong to the publisher. That means if I want to keep Back Yourself alive and accessible, I need to completely rebuild and republish it from scratch.

Why I’m Fundraising

I can cover some of the costs myself, but not all of them. Your support will help me get the book professionally redesigned, reformatted and released again so it can continue reaching the people it was written for.

This includes:

Re-listing the book nationally and internationally: £1,200

(Professional setup to ensure the book is correctly listed and available across online stores)

ISBNs: £200

(Required to legally republish the book under my own imprint)

Cover design: £500

(A brand-new, copyright-safe cover — the original design cannot be reused)

Interior typesetting: £400

(A new layout and formatting for both print and eBook editions)

It’s a big task — financially, emotionally and logistically. But I’m not willing to let this book disappear. I’ve seen the impact it’s had and I know how necessary these conversations and tools are in our communities.

“This book held me and reminded me I will never be the only one experiencing this.”

— Rakhi

If it helps, here are some suggested donation amounts

Please give whatever feels right for you — any support, at any level, is deeply appreciated.

£10 – A gesture of community support

£25 – Contributes towards reformatting and production costs

£50 – Helps cover redesign and relaunch expenses

£100 – Supports a significant portion of the republishing costs

£125+ – Includes a 1:1 mini wellbeing session as a thank you (limited spaces)

This book has already helped so many people

Readers have shared how Back Yourself has helped them feel validated, less alone, and more resourced to navigate racism, identity, colourism, belonging and healing — not from a distant or academic place, but from lived experience, care and cultural understanding.

“As a woman of mixed heritage, I feel seen. Not only did Lildonia put words to my experiences — she offered practical, holistic ways to support myself.”

— Jaz

“Learning how to deactivate my stress response was a powerful takeaway for me.”

— Nicole W

“This book is going to change lives.”

— Natasha

Your support

Even if you’re not able to donate, sharing this page or holding the work with care is deeply appreciated.

Thank you for reading, for your support so far, and for helping me ensure Back Yourself continues to exist in the world.

With love and gratitude,

Lildonia x