Tameside mum turns daughters struggles into two inspiring new books

A Tameside mum has turned years of navigating selective mutism, autism, and school challenges with her daughter into two heartfelt new book releases, hoping to offer comfort, understanding and a vital communication tool to families facing similar struggles.

Kirsty Combs, a qualified early years educator, says the inspiration for both books came directly from her daughter, 15-year-old Maisie, who has lived with selective mutism and autism her entire life. While Maisie can speak freely at home in moments of comfort, Kirsty explained that for much of her childhood, her body simply “wouldn’t allow her to speak” in school or around extended family, even when she desperately wanted to.

“She struggled all her life with her mutism,” Kirsty told the Reporter. “People who weren’t around her didn’t understand it. She comes across as shy and quiet, but inside her head it was racing. She was anxious, masking all day, and by the time she came home she was physically and mentally drained.”

Kirsty’s first release is a reflective journal designed for children and teens who find it difficult to voice their worries out loud. The idea came from the method she relied on for years to communicate with Maisie when speech wasn’t possible.

“I used to write prompting questions on paper and give them to her,” Kirsty said. “She wanted to talk, but her body wouldn’t let her. So, writing became our way of connecting. It sometimes took hours, but eventually she’d write things down and let me read them.”

The journal gently prompts children with questions like What happened? How do you feel? What would you like me to do? and reassures them that it’s okay to share at their own pace, or not at all.

Kirsty says it’s not just for children with selective mutism.

“There are a lot of children and teens who don’t feel they can open up face-to-face with parents,” she explained. “It’s also for mums and dads who feel helpless or disconnected. This method helped me so much with Maisie. If it helps even one child and gives one parent some relief, then my purpose is served.”

Kirsty’s second book is a heartfelt children’s story based on a typical school day for Maisie, from the sensory overload of busy corridors to the quiet panic of being asked to speak in front of others.

The story follows a younger Maisie as she navigates the build-up of worries at home and the challenges she faces at school, alongside the comfort she finds in her cat, Panther, and the calm support of her grandparents.

“There’s a part about show-and-tell day where she’s really worried about having to speak,” Kirsty said. “But we reassure her she can just show her picture; she doesn’t have to talk. And when she finally stands up, everyone is supportive. It shows how understanding makes all the difference.”

The book aims to help children who experience similar struggles realise they’re not alone and to give classmates and teachers a window into what selective mutism and sensory overwhelm really feel like.

“I would have loved Maisie to have a book like this when she was younger,” Kirsty added. “Something that said, ‘There are other children who feel like you.’”

Maisie is now 15 and home educated after finding mainstream high school overwhelming, though Kirsty describes primary school as “amazing” with their support and creativity, including mood bands that allowed Maisie to signal distress without speaking.

But as she reflects on their journey, Kirsty’s voice fills with emotion.

“It breaks my heart watching her struggle and knowing there are so many children like her who go under the radar because they’re ‘quiet’. People think quiet means fine, but often their mind is the loudest place.”

With both books now released, Kirsty hopes they will shine a light on children whose struggles are often unseen and give parents, carers and teachers the tools to better understand them.

Kirsty’s children’s story and her communication journal are available now, with links shared on her social media channels. She will also be donating copies to local schools in the coming weeks.

You can purchase Letting out my loud silence: https://amzn.eu/d/5f3N1ds