Penny Lane's memoir, "Redeemed: A Memoir of a Stolen Childhood," has been honored with the 2025 Independent Press Award in the Memoir category, recognizing its narrative of survival and healing. Lane, a lifelong reader and survivor of child and church abuse, transformed her harrowing experiences into a testament of resilience and hope.

For years, Lane's story, a stark contrast to her confident demeanor, prompted those around her to encourage her to write. "Penny, you need to write a book," they urged. Thirty years after escaping her traumatic past, she finally did, driven by a desire to help others heal and find the courage to speak out. "Since books saved me during my ordeals," Lane explains, "writing my story is the greatest way I know to honor my life and story, and give back to others."

Lane credits her journey to the unwavering support of friends who validated her experiences and the courageous voices of authors who dared to share their own stories of trauma. Writers like Dorothy Allison, Tara Westover, Jeannette Walls, Augustin Burroughs, Stephanie Foo, Maggie Smith, and Mary Karr provided inspiration and validation.

Dorothy Allison's "Bastard out of Carolina," a semi-autobiographical novel about childhood abuse, particularly resonated with Lane, opening a path to her own healing.

She expresses profound gratitude to Brooke Warner and her writing community at She Writes Press, as well as to her husband, son, and the many individuals who supported her throughout the writing process.

Lane describes her writing style as "clear, crisp, direct and honest," a reflection of her commitment to authenticity. "Redeemed" is a testament to this honesty, offering an unflinching portrayal of her past while illuminating the path to redemption.

Lane extends her heartfelt thanks to the Independent Press Award for recognizing her work, a powerful story of survival and the transformative power of storytelling.