COSTA MESA, Calif., Dec. 18 /PRNewswire/ -- Valerie Paget-Wilkes shares the tragic but inspirational story of her emotional recovery after the untimely death of her teenage daughter in her new book, "The Eggshell Path: A Story of Survival" (now available through AuthorHouse).

Eighteen-year-old Megan was just three months from high school graduation. A gifted swimmer with Olympic aspirations, Megan would have attended Clemson University in the fall on a full swimming scholarship.

Megan traveled to Daytona, Fla., for a pre-graduation spring break celebration with some friends. What should have been a fun-filled end to her high school career took a tragic turn of events when, returning to Orlando, the car veered off the road at 9 a.m. after an all-night celebration. Megan and the driver suffered fatal injuries. Three passengers in the back seat were also injured. No drugs or alcohol were involved in the crash, but police surmise that the driver, Megan's friend Heather, may have fallen asleep at the wheel.

The story that follows centers on Paget-Wilkes' struggle to overcome the grief of losing her young daughter. "While there is never an end to grief, there is an end to the misery of it," she says. "This true story of love reveals one woman's gradual return to a new way of life with stronger spirit and the promise of restored faith."

As Paget-Wilkes struggled with her own grief, she also dealt with the collapse of her 25-year marriage, as well as the grief of her two older daughters. Soon afterward, her beloved springer spaniel Thatcher was hit by a car and killed, followed by the sudden death of her older brother in England.

Paget-Wilkes shares her experience with the five stages of grief, as well as her personal journey to recovery. Infused with a personal touch of British humor as well as candid thoughts and emotions that can only be explained by a parent who has suffered the devastating grief accompanying the loss of a child, she helps others who've suffered this type of tragedy to realize they are not alone. She also provides an element of understanding to readers who have never experienced the nightmare.

Born in England, Paget-Wilkes completed nursing training in Bristol. She worked as a nurse in Zambia in 1970. She and her family traveled the world, living in places such as war-torn Zimbabwe, Belize and Costa Rica. In 1984 she settled in Florida with her husband and three daughters. She now lives in California. "The Eggshell Path" is her first book. She is currently working on her second book, a true story about her time as a nurse in Zambia.

AuthorHouse is the premier publishing house for emerging authors and new voices in literature. For more information, please visit http://www.authorhouse.com.

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