From the fragments of heartbreak, Melissa Sharman built something extraordinary.
At first glance, Melissa had it all – a husband, children, a suburban life. But behind closed doors were years of violence.
When she escaped, Melissa did more than survive: she helped change laws, founded a support organisation, and helped bring 22 babies into the world through egg donation and surrogacy.
Told with grace, honesty, and unexpected humour, The Beauty of Broken Things is a luminous story about how what breaks us can become our greatest offering.
Melissa Sharman is a writer, advocate, and domestic violence specialist whose life is a testament to resilience and transformation. Once trapped in an abusive marriage, Melissa found the courage to break free, later using her voice to help change Queensland’s domestic violence laws by speaking in parliament and presenting a petition signed by nearly 100,000 Australians. Beyond her advocacy, Melissa has given hope in the most personal way imaginable – helping create twenty-three babies for fourteen families through egg donation and surrogacy. Her work as the founder of Egg Donation Australia and Australians Against Domestic Violence has provided support, education, and community to countless people navigating trauma and infertility. Melissa’s writing is shaped by lived experience, raw honesty, and unexpected humour. Featured on The Project, The Today Show, ABC Radio National, Australian Women’s Weekly, and international media including Cosmopolitan USA, she continues to speak out for those who feel unseen.
* Melissa advocated for new domestic violence legislation in Queensland in 2015, speaking in parliament and presenting a petition with nearly 100,000 signatures. She is the founder of Australians Against Domestic Violence and Egg Donation Australia, demonstrating a lifelong commitment to giving voice and hope to others. She speaks annually at conferences such as the Surrogacy Australia conference. (EDA has 16,000 members, 11,000 on Facebook. Australians Against Domestic Violence (AADV) has 6,000, The EDA Website has over 6,000 unique visits a month.)
* Melissa has been featured in national and international media, including The Project, The Today Show, ABC Radio National, Australian Women’s Weekly, and Cosmopolitan USA. She is recognised as a thought leader in domestic violence and donor conception advocacy.
* She is the winner of the QWC/Hachette Manuscript Development Award and an experienced freelance writer published in various national media outlets.
Publicity:
* Melissa has received pledged support for her book's release from Australian journalists across TV, radio, print and podcasts.
* Author touring podcasts, libraries, bookstores and festivals before and after release.
* Hawkeye’s publicity team: socials (Tiktok, Instagram, Facebook), paid advertising, reviewers, national media release.
* Book trailer on youtube.
