Featuring You - Author Spotlight - Meet Melissa Hull

Introducing Dear Drew: Creating A Life Bigger Than Grief

At Best Ever You, we’re honored to highlight voices that help us heal, grow, and live with greater meaning—and author Melissa Hull is one of those powerful voices. As a speaker, creative visionary, and now the author of the upcoming book Dear Drew: Creating A Life Bigger Than Grief, Melissa brings a rare blend of vulnerability, strength, and grace to the page.

In this deeply personal and moving work, Melissa shares her journey through the loss of her son, Drew, and the path she’s taken to create a meaningful life beyond grief. Her story is one of transformation—of turning unimaginable pain into a message of love, resilience, and purpose.

Dear Drew, which releases in August 2025, is not just a memoir—it’s a compassionate companion for anyone navigating loss, reminding us that while grief never fully leaves us, it can evolve into something far greater: a new way of loving, living, and leading.

In this exclusive interview, Melissa reflects on what inspired her to write the book, how she navigates the emotional impact of sharing her story, and what she hopes readers will take away from the experience. Her insights are a gift to anyone who has ever struggled with loss, storytelling, or the courage to keep going.

Read on to learn more about Melissa Hull and the heart behind Dear Drew.

What inspired you to start writing? 

 Writing has always been a way for me to process my emotions and make sense of the world. I was especially drawn to it after experiencing the loss of my son Drew in May of 2000. It became both an outlet and a means of healing. I realized that putting words to emotions helped not only me but also others who were navigating similar experiences. That’s why I wrote Dear Drew; Creating A Life Bigger Than Grief, which comes out in August 2025. I wanted to share my journey and show that while grief changes us, it doesn’t have to define or limit us.

How long have you been writing? 

I’ve been writing in some form for most of my life—whether journaling, writing essays, or jotting down thoughts. As a kid, I filled notebooks with stories and reflections, never really thinking of myself as a writer, just someone who needed to put thoughts into words. But my writing took on a deeper meaning after experiencing loss. That was when I started writing with purpose, using words to process my grief and make sense of emotions that felt impossible to express.

I truly embraced writing as a serious pursuit when I began working on Dear Drew. This book wasn’t just about writing, it was about shaping my experience into something that could help others. The process of writing it showed me how powerful storytelling can be in helping others feel seen and understood. Through Dear Drew, I realized that words have the power not just to capture grief, but to guide us through it, and that realization has changed the way I approach writing forever.

Have you always wanted to be a writer? 

I don’t think I always knew I’d be a writer in the official sense, but I’ve always felt a connection to words. Even when I wasn’t writing with a specific goal, I was journaling, processing, and finding comfort in expressing myself through writing. The idea of being a writer really took hold when I saw how much my words resonated with people, especially when talking about grief, healing, and resilience.

What advice would you give to a new writer, someone just starting out? 

 Write honestly. Your story, your voice, matters, and someone out there needs to hear it. Don’t get caught up in making it perfect right away; the real work happens in the rewriting. Also, don’t be afraid to be vulnerable. If something feels personal or even a little uncomfortable to share, it’s probably the thing people will connect with the most. And most importantly, keep going. Writing isn’t just about talent, it’s about persistence.

Writing can be an emotionally draining and stressful pursuit. Any tips for aspiring writers? 

Writing, especially when it involves personal loss, can be emotionally exhausting. When I was working on Dear Drew; Creating A Life Bigger Than Grief, I had to be mindful of how much I was asking of myself emotionally. Some days, writing felt like reliving the hardest moments of my life, and I had to remind myself to step away when it became too overwhelming.

My advice to aspiring writers is to listen to yourself. Don’t force yourself to push through emotional exhaustion, take breaks when needed. Writing doesn’t have to happen all at once. Small, intentional sessions can be just as powerful as long stretches. Also, surround yourself with people who support you. Having a trusted friend, mentor, or even a therapist to talk to can make a huge difference.

Most importantly, keep your “why” at the center of your writing. When it gets difficult, remind yourself why you started. For me, knowing that my words could help others move through grief kept me going, even on the hardest days.

How do you deal with the emotional impact of a book (on yourself) as you are writing the story? 

Writing Dear Drew was an incredibly bittersweet experience because it required me to go back and remember painful moments in vivid detail. I could take myself right back to those experiences, feel the depth of that pain again, and that was something I had to be very aware of. But at the same time, revisiting those moments gave me a deep sense of gratitude for my healing journey. I don’t live in that pain today, and writing this book allowed me to see just how far I’ve come.

That’s what made Dear Drew so important for me to write. I wanted others to know that life after loss can—and in my opinion, should—be filled with gratitude. Gratitude for what was, and for what life still can be. That perspective helped me balance the emotional weight of writing this book. I didn’t want to just tell a story of grief; I wanted to show that healing is possible, and that joy can exist alongside loss.

How do you handle literary criticism? 

I know that not everyone will connect with my story, and that’s okay. Writing about something as personal as grief means that people will have different reactions—some may relate deeply, while others may not understand my perspective. What I focus on is the impact my words have on the people who need them.

Criticism, when constructive, is a gift. It helps me grow as a writer and ensures that my message is as clear and meaningful as possible. But I don’t let negativity define my work. When I started speaking publicly about my journey, I saw firsthand how sharing my story helped people. That’s what matters most to me.

At the end of the day, Dear Drew isn’t about seeking universal approval, it’s about offering hope. If it helps even one person feel less alone in their grief, then it has served its purpose.  

Can you share with us something about the book that isn’t in the blurb? 

One of the things that isn’t in the blurb is how much Dear Drew explores the transformation of grief—not as an endpoint, but as a bridge to a new way of loving. The book goes beyond my personal loss and delves into the idea that love doesn’t stop when someone is gone. Instead, grief is love’s way of stretching beyond the physical, calling us to recognize its presence in new forms. It challenges the common belief that grief is just love with nowhere to go and instead offers the idea that love still has somewhere to go—we just must be open to experiencing it differently.

Are there any secrets from the book (that aren’t in the blurb), you can share with your readers? 

A deeper layer of the book is how I started recognizing the ways Drew was still present in my life. I don’t just talk about the pain of losing him, I also share the moments that made me realize he was never really gone. There were signs, dreams, and unexplainable moments of connection that made me rethink everything I had been taught about loss. One of the most profound realizations I share in the book is that love is not bound by the physical world. It doesn’t end when a person is no longer physically here. If we are open to it, love continues to communicate with us in ways that go beyond what we’ve been conditioned to believe.

Can you share a snippet that isn’t in the blurb or excerpt? 

Absolutely. Here’s a passage from Dear Drew that captures one of the most powerful shifts I experienced in my grief journey:

"For so long, I searched for Drew in the places he used to be. His bedroom. His favorite chair. The quiet spaces where his absence felt the loudest. And each time, I walked away feeling the weight of loss press deeper into my chest. But then, something changed. I stopped searching for him in the past and started opening myself up to where he might be now. That’s when I began to notice the signs. The flicker of a light when I spoke his name. A song playing at just the right moment. A warmth that wrapped around me in my loneliest nights. It wasn’t a coincidence. It was a connection. It was love reminding me that it had never left."

What was the inspiration for the story? 

The inspiration for Dear Drew was my own journey through grief and healing. When I lost my son, I felt like I was drowning in pain, and I wasn’t sure if I would ever find a way to live a meaningful life again. I kept hearing the phrase, "Grief is just love with nowhere to go," but that never sat right with me. My love for Drew had not disappeared, and I refused to believe it had nowhere to go. Over time, I realized that grief wasn’t an end—it was an invitation. An invitation to understand love in a way I never had before. And that realization changed everything. That’s why I wrote this book—to share that journey, to help others who feel lost in their grief, and to show that love never truly leaves us.

What is the key theme and/or message in the book? 

The core message of Dear Drew is that grief is not proof of love’s absence, it’s proof of its presence. Love doesn’t disappear when someone we love is no longer physically here. Instead, grief invites us to expand our understanding of love, to recognize its presence in new ways, and to allow it to continue shaping our lives. This book is about learning to live with loss without being consumed by it. It’s about choosing to honor love, not just through sorrow, but through gratitude, connection, and a willingness to keep moving forward.

What do you hope your readers take away from this book? 

I hope readers walk away with a new perspective on grief. I want them to see that loss doesn’t mean the end of love, it means love is asking us to experience it in a different way. I hope this book helps people feel less alone in their pain and reminds them that joy and grief can coexist. Most of all, I want people to know that life after loss is not just possible, but meaningful. That we don’t move on from love—we move with it.

What is the significance of the title? 

The title Dear Drew comes from the countless letters I wrote to my son in my darkest moments. In those letters, I poured out my pain, my questions, and my longing to feel connected to him.

Writing to Drew became a lifeline—my way of navigating grief when nothing else made sense. Over time, those letters became more than just a place for sorrow; they became a reflection of my journey toward healing.

The subtitle, Creating a Life Bigger Than Grief, speaks directly to the heart of why I wrote this book—not just for myself, but for anyone who is yearning for healing. I want readers to know that grief, as heavy as it is, does not have to be the end of their story. There is hope inside of grief, and there is a way forward that doesn’t erase the love we’ve lost but allows it to keep shaping us. My deepest desire is that this book helps someone embrace their healing, find meaning in their pain, and step into a life that is still filled with purpose, connection, and even joy.

What books or authors have most influenced your own writing?

Many authors have profoundly shaped my writing, especially those who explore grief, transformation, and the human experience with unflinching honesty. Joan Didion and Frank McCourt, in particular, have influenced my approach with their raw, unvarnished storytelling. They don’t try to make loss more palatable or tie it up neatly, and that kind of truth has been essential in shaping how I wrote Dear Drew.

Gary Zukav and Catherine Ponder have also had a deep impact, each offering wisdom on the power of thought and spiritual transformation. Their work helped me see beyond pain, showing that even in grief, we have the ability to shape our reality and find deeper meaning.

Dr. Michael Bernard Beckwith’s teachings on consciousness and purpose have reinforced this, guiding me to view life’s challenges—including loss—as opportunities for growth rather than limitations.

Paulo Coelho’s books, particularly The Alchemist and The Fifth Mountain, have influenced my understanding of resilience, destiny, and the idea that even our most painful experiences serve a purpose. The Fifth Mountain speaks to how suffering can shape us into something greater than we imagined—a theme that resonates deeply in my own journey.

Elizabeth Kübler-Ross has been another profound influence. Her groundbreaking work on grief and the afterlife taught me that loss is not an end, but a transition. She helped me understand that grief is not something we merely endure; it can transform us if we allow it to. Similarly, The Body Keeps the Score expanded my perspective on how grief manifests—not just emotionally, but physically—reminding me of the importance of intentionally working through our pain.

Books like A Course in Miracles have also challenged me to see love and connection beyond the physical world, a perspective that is central to Dear Drew. Each of these authors has, in their own way, shaped my understanding of grief, healing, and the enduring power of love. Their work has helped me articulate my own journey, and I hope my book offers that same sense of comfort and perspective to others.

Who is the author you most admire in your genre? 

I deeply admire Joan Didion for the way she writes about grief—not just in The Year of Magical Thinking, but throughout her body of work. She doesn’t try to make grief poetic or overly sentimental; she allows it to be what it is—chaotic, disorienting, and deeply personal. I also admire Frank McCourt’s ability to turn his pain into storytelling that is both heartbreaking and deeply human. Both of them have shaped the way I think about writing as a tool for processing life’s hardest moments.

Favorite quote

"We tell ourselves stories in order to live." — The White Album

This quote has stayed with me because it highlights the power of narrative—not just in writing, but in how we make sense of our lives. In grief, the stories we tell ourselves can either keep us trapped or help us heal. Dear Drew explores this deeply, encouraging readers to question and reshape the narratives they hold about loss and love.

Favorite book/story you have read as an adult? 

I have two distinct reading habits—one for pure pleasure and one for professional insight.

For pleasure, I love historical fiction, and Philippa Gregory is one of my go-to authors for escaping into another time. Her storytelling is rich, immersive, and deeply researched, making history feel alive in a way that captivates me. I’m also drawn to memoirs, especially those that blend heartbreak with resilience. Angela’s Ashes by Frank McCourt captured my heart with its raw, unflinching look at poverty, loss, and survival. His ability to find humor and beauty even in the hardest circumstances left a lasting impression on me.

When it comes to books that have influenced me on a deeper, more professional level, The Year of Magical Thinking is one of the most profound I’ve read as an adult. Joan Didion perfectly captures how grief warps our perception of reality—the way the mind clings to what was, rewriting events just to make them bearable. I resonated deeply with her descriptions of the instinct to hold on, to believe that somehow the person you’ve lost will walk back through the door.

Alongside that, The Body Keeps the Score has given me an even deeper understanding of grief—not just emotionally, but physically and psychologically. And perhaps no one has shaped my understanding of grief more than Elizabeth Kübler-Ross. Her groundbreaking work redefined how we view loss, showing that grief is not just an ending but a process of transformation. Her insights into the emotional stages of loss have deeply influenced how I write about healing in Dear Drew, helping me articulate the nonlinear, deeply personal experience of grief in a way that others can relate to.

What do you like to do when you are not writing?

When I’m not writing, I love staying active and creative in different ways. Tennis is one of my favorite ways to clear my mind—it’s both a physical challenge and a great way to stay present in the moment. Traveling is another passion of mine; experiencing different places, cultures, and perspectives always inspires me, whether in my writing or just in how I see the world.

Spending time with my children, family, and cherished friends is one of the most important parts of my life. Whether we’re sharing meals, laughing over stories, or simply enjoying each other’s presence, those moments ground me and remind me of what truly matters. I also love cooking, especially when I get to prepare meals for the people I love. There’s something so special about creating something from scratch and then gathering around the table to enjoy it together.

Painting is another creative outlet for me—it allows me to express emotions in a different way than writing does. And, of course, I adore spending time with my four dogs—my French bulldogs Palmer, Posie, and Beatrice, and my chihuahua, Cito. They bring so much joy, humor, and unconditional love into my everyday life. Whether I’m playing with them, taking them for walks, or just relaxing with them nearby, they are constant reminders of life’s simple joys.

Are you working on anything at present you would like to share with your readers about? 

Right now, my focus is on making Dear Drew a success and ensuring it reaches the people who need it most. This book is incredibly personal, and I want to give it the time and attention it deserves as it makes its way into the world.

That said, I am working on a few new book ideas that I’m really excited about. While I’m not quite ready to share details yet, I will say that they continue exploring themes of resilience, love, and personal transformation.

🌟 Stay Connected

Melissa Hull’s story is our reminder that heartfelt sharing can light the way for others. Dear Drew offers hope, transformation, and living proof that grief and growth can coexist.

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With warmth and purpose,

Elizabeth & the Best Ever You Team