Image 1 of 1
Available Summer 2027
Description
The Other Side is a candid, faith-centered memoir of addiction, motherhood, trauma, redemption, and purpose.
Susan Connelly-Wright recounts becoming a mother at fifteen, raising children amid poverty and domestic violence, and carrying unresolved pain into destructive relationships and substance abuse. After an early conversion to Christianity, she begins rebuilding through sobriety, education, work, and church community, only to relapse following devastating loss. Meth addiction eventually leaves her homeless, separated from her children, entangled with the legal system, and nearly without hope.
The turning point comes through her son’s nightly prayer and her decision, on April 26, 2016, to remain in treatment. From there, recovery unfolds through humility, discipline, faith, and repeated acts of showing up. With little more than spray paint and determination, she starts Christian Curbsiderz, painting house numbers on Phoenix curbs while rebuilding her reputation, supporting herself, and sharing hope with others in recovery. Her journey expands from supervised visits and sober housing to restored custody, marriage, higher education, corporate leadership, and ministry.
Yet the memoir does not present redemption as effortless or complete. Connelly-Wright confronts the lasting wounds her choices caused her daughters and emphasizes accountability, reconciliation, and generational healing. The book culminates in The Other Side Ministry, outreach to treatment centers, and a vision for sober living support in Kenya. Honest, emotionally direct, and unapologetically Christian, The Other Side offers encouragement to readers facing addiction, shame, broken families, or spiritual despair, affirming that no life is beyond grace, restoration, and meaningful service, and a renewed future.
Book Details
Publication date: July 13, 2027
Pages: coming soon
Binding: paperback
ISBN (print): 978-1950057580
ISBN (ebook): 978-1950057641
Author: Susan Connelly-Wright
The Author
SUSAN CONNELLY-WRIGHT is the Chief Executive Officer of Chrysalis Domestic Violence organization in Arizona, a transformational leader, speaker, and advocate whose life reflects the power of resilience, faith, and second chances.
A survivor of domestic violence, addiction, and homelessness, Susan has transformed personal adversity into a life of leadership and service. After rebuilding her life from the ground up, she earned degrees in criminal justice and organizational leadership and built a successful career spanning higher education, business development, and corporate leadership.
In 2016, Susan found herself starting over once again, painting house numbers on curbs to make ends meet. During that time, she received support from St. Joseph the Worker, an Arizona nonprofit helping individuals overcome homelessness through employment. Today, she serves on its Board of Directors—a full-circle testament to her journey.
In 2025, Susan brought her professional expertise and lived experience together when she was selected to lead Chrysalis, a pioneering trauma-informed domestic violence shelter. She is passionate about helping others move beyond survival to rebuild their lives with dignity, hope, and purpose.
Susan holds a master's degree in Organizational Leadership from Western Governors University and an undergraduate degree in Criminal Justice and Corrections. She is the proud mother of four children, three stepchildren, and six grandchildren.