A deeply personal debut explores insomnia, loss, resilience and the search for lasting contentment.
London, United Kingdom (PRUnderground) June 24th, 2026
For more than twenty years, Dublin-born author Alan McDonald balanced a successful professional career in London with private struggles that included chronic insomnia, grief and emotional exhaustion.
Writing became a refuge.
Now, after years of personal reflection, McDonald has fulfilled a lifelong dream with the publication of his debut poetry collection, The Rooted Soul: A Journey from Struggle to Joy.
Structured around five interconnected stages, The Rooted Soul follows a journey from struggle and uncertainty through reflection, reconnection and ultimately towards contentment. The collection explores themes of loss, self-discovery, family, friendship and personal growth through poems inspired by McDonald’s own experiences.
Born and raised in Lucan, Dublin, and now living in London, McDonald spent much of his adult life balancing professional responsibilities with an inner world shaped by personal challenges, reflection and the search for meaning. While writing remained a private practice for many years, The Rooted Soul transforms those reflections into a published collection for the first time.
Through honest and reflective poetry, McDonald explores experiences that many readers may recognise within their own lives, including grief, uncertainty, resilience, self-acceptance and hope. The collection emerged from years of reflection and a desire to better understand experiences that had shaped his journey.
“There was a time when I thought I would spend the rest of my life exhausted and struggling,” said McDonald. “Writing became a way of making sense of experiences I had carried for years. The poems are personal, but I hope readers may recognise parts of their own journey within them.”
At the heart of the collection is the idea of becoming “rooted” in one’s own sense of contentment. Throughout the poems, McDonald reflects on gratitude, personal growth and the belief that difficult experiences need not define a person’s future.
While rooted in McDonald’s personal experiences, the collection was written with broader themes in mind. Loss, identity, resilience and renewal are experiences that transcend individual circumstances, and early readers have responded to the collection’s emotional honesty and relatability.
Through themes of grief, uncertainty, resilience, self-acceptance and hope, The Rooted Soul reflects on experiences that many readers may recognise within their own lives. At its core is the belief that our struggles may shape us, but they do not have to define us.
The Rooted Soul: A Journey from Struggle to Joy is available in paperback and Kindle editions through Amazon, Waterstones, Blackwell’s and other major online booksellers.
ABOUT ALAN McDONALD
Alan McDonald is a Dublin-born author living in London. After more than twenty years working in financial services, he fulfilled a lifelong ambition by publishing his debut poetry collection, The Rooted Soul: A Journey from Struggle to Joy.
His writing explores resilience, self-reflection, loss, hope and personal growth, drawing upon experiences that shaped his own journey towards contentment.
For interview requests, review copies, media enquiries and speaking opportunities, please contact:
Alan McDonald
Email available upon request
MEDIA OPPORTUNITIES
Alan McDonald is available for interviews, features, podcast appearances, literary events and speaking engagements on:
- Resilience and recovery through creativity
- Living with chronic insomnia and emotional exhaustion
- The role of writing in processing grief and personal change
- Mental wellbeing and personal growth
- Pursuing a lifelong creative ambition later in life
- Finding purpose and contentment after adversity
About Grand Publishers LLC
Grand Publishers is a specialised author-assistance firm that supports independent writers through every phase of the book-creation process, from manuscript refinement to global distribution. Their model has maintained a high 95% client satisfaction rate, with 75% of authors returning for subsequent projects, and their marketing strategies have helped elevate over 300 titles. Rated highly on Trustpilot, they are recognised for providing a transparent, professional alternative to the traditional ”Big Five” publishing route.
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