You Found This Before Everyone Else.
Welcome to The First Wave.
On February 9th, 2027, my memoir will be published by Penguin Random House. I’m excited to share that the title is, ‘If I Had Known Then: A Memoir of Sexual Assault, Hope and My Battle to Re-Imagine Justice’
It's the story of my sexual assault, the three years I spent fighting a criminal legal system that re-traumatized me at every turn, and how I became one of the first sexual assault survivors in North America to experience a Restorative Justice outcome through the courts. It's also a book about what justice and healing can look like - if we are brave enough to imagine it differently. Themes include: Restorative justice, healing after trauma, disordered eating, coming out and queerness, re-defining masculinity, sexuality, rape culture, reclaiming our belief in transformation, refusing dehumanization and so much more.
The First Wave is for the people who want to be part of this before it goes wide. Scroll down & drop your email to join now and you'll receive two things no one else gets.
What First Wave members receive
An exclusive video recording: Before the book is in anyone's hands, I'm recording something I've never shared publicly: the story behind the story. Not the polished version. The real one - what it cost me to write this, what I needed you to understand that didn't fit on the page, and why I believe this book matters right now. You'll receive this the moment you join. No one else gets this.
A private virtual conversation with me - before launch.
In January 2027, I'm hosting a 60-minute Zoom conversation and Q&A exclusively for First Wave members who have pre-ordered. Ask me anything. Hear what I couldn't say in the book. Be in the room - even if it's a virtual one - before this goes into the world. This is the only event like this I'm doing.
*Both of these are real - not marketing language for a mass email list. The First Wave is small by design.
Why This Matters:
When I escaped the scene of my assault, a nurse gave me two options: report the crime or go home. No one told me there was another path. No one told me that a different kind of justice was possible.
Changing that reality is just one part of the mission at the heart of this book. But, it’s also about more than that. It’s about survivors right to meaningful justice pathways. It’s about seeing the world through a nuanced and empathetic lens in which we refuse dehumanization. It’s about disrupting patriarchy and remembering our right to live beautiful lives beyond restrictive binaries and divisive systems. If you are dreaming of a world that prioritizes healing over punishment. If you need to feel hope again. Or if you or a loved one have been impacted by gender-based violence - this book was written for you.
And that's why being part of The First Wave isn't just about getting early access to a memoir - it's about being a part of a movement and joining a wider call to break cycles of violence and ignite ones of healing.
If We Haven’t Met Before, Hi!
I’m Marlee - I’m a somatic educator, RSW, and queer sparkle-loving feminist. I’m the founder of the Survivors 4 Justice Reform global coalition and through over a decade of advocacy, I’ve supported +100,000 people in healing trauma, violence prevention, re-imagining justice and cultivating skills for empathetic leadership and courageous self-advocacy.
I’ve shared my story on +100 podcasts and my work has been featured in Forbes, Huff Post, Buzzfeed and the Mel Robbins Show. As an award-winning speaker, I’ve delivered talks for: National Sexual Assault Conference, Vanderbilt University, University of Toronto, Action Trauma Summit, Women's Mental Health Conference at Yale and more. I’m the subject of the documentary, ‘The Limits of Forgiveness’ directed by Kelsey Darragh. You can follow my work and learn more at: @marleeliss and @survivors4justicereform
‘If I Had Known Then: A Memoir of Sexual Assault, Hope and My Battle to Re-Imagine Justice’ is published by Penguin Random House Canada, February 9th 2027.
Join the First Wave:
Enter your name and email below. You'll receive your exclusive video recording immediately, and I'll be in touch with everything you need to know about the January event and pre-orders when the time comes.
I’ll be real with you too: Even if you don’t care about the recording and January event, you can still support this book, advocacy & mission by signing up below! Pre-orders help determine whether years of writing will translate into far-reaching impact or if it will disappear into an unseen void. It would mean the world to me if you could help make the former a reality!!
⬇️ Sign up below: No spam or noise - Just the things that matter, when they matter.