About the Book

Always With You is a spiritual story inspired by Shannon M. Melde’s daughter, Maddie, who passed away in the summer of 2022 at the age of fourteen. Rather than telling the story only through grief, Shannon writes from Maddie’s perspective in Heaven, creating a tender and hopeful experience for families who are missing someone they love.

The book follows Maddie as she describes the ways she remains close to her mom, dad, and brother. She visits them in ordinary family moments, from baking cookies and listening to music to watching Brandon play video games and joining family vacations. Through these simple scenes, the book turns loss into a message of continued love.

This is not a clinical guide to grief. It is a personal story from a mother who wanted to keep her daughter’s memory alive and offer comfort to others who may be walking through similar pain. Shannon’s hope is that readers will feel less alone and begin to believe that love can remain close, even after a loved one has moved to Heaven.