What’s in your shoebox?

Many of us have one — a place where we store mementos that remind us of an earlier period in our lives — either happy or sad. Those ties to our past are commonly found in a similar place, hidden in a shoebox buried at the back of a closet shelf. It's called The Shoebox Effect —where you "forget", intentionally or unintentionally, about the contents of the box and what they represent.

Marcie J. Keithley's shoebox contained a secret, one she kept for decades, one released when her shoebox was unexpectedly revealed in a moment of grief. A flood of memories and emotions were unleashed when the lid was knocked off. No longer able to deny what she had sequestered away in her closet and in her spirit, the revelation created challenges for Marcie, but it also did something positively unexpected.

Releasing the truth began a cascade that resulted in a freedom Marcie did not know was possible. The Shoebox Effect: Transforming Pain into Fortitude and Purpose chronicles the dramatic story of this long-kept secret that will both intrigue and enthrall you.

But Marcie doesn't just make her story all about her. Now known as The Shoebox Sherpa, she helps people unpack their own shoeboxes, and teaches us how to face our truths, heal our pasts, and find the freedom we deeply desire.

The Shoebox Effect gives you the steps you need to face your truths, heal your past and find the freedom you deeply desire. You’ll see how you can transform your pain into purpose and fortitude so you can embrace and live to your fullest potential.

Are you ready? Now lift that lid off and clean out your shoebox. The freedom you hunger for is hiding in plain sight — it’s called the truth.

Buy the Book

"The Shoebox Effect is an amazing story of love, sorrow, loss, redemption, and triumph. Through Marcie’s beautiful and heartfelt writing, she takes you on a journey that tugs at your heartstrings. This engaging story keeps you turning the page, wondering what will happen next. What’s makes it even more incredible is that this powerful story isn’t the product of some great fiction writer. It’s a true, unembellished story that continues to unfold. This is a must read."
~ Vanessa Collins; Author, Publisher, Writing and Publishing Coach

“The Shoebox Effect explores the question of whether or not behavior, like an heirloom, can be passed from one generation to another. Marcie J. Keithley uncovers a multi-generational family pathology of mothers leaving their daughters in her family memoir, The Shoebox Effect. The secrets found inside the family shoebox is where the typical adoption story begins . . .and ends.”
~ Patti Hawn, Entertainment Publicist, Author of Good Girls Don't, sister of legendary film actress, Goldie Hawn

"Safekeeping in any type of “shoebox” is okay as long as it isn’t harming you or anyone else . . . but what if it is? Marcie Keithley writes with compassion and passion as she explores what it is like to hold in life-long secrets and why truths must be told in order to feel free and complete. Her goal is to guide the willing reader away from shame and feeling manipulated toward transparency, dignity and self-acceptance.”

~ Paige L. Adams Strickland, Teacher, author of A Memoir of Adoption and Identity & After the Truth

“This book is a powerful story and lesson about dealing with some of life’s toughest moments. The author does a fantastic job of weaving her own story while providing lessons and techniques for readers to manage their own setbacks. The personal stories the author uses really make the book unique. These stories help make the author human when a reader can see that they went through similar ordeals.”

~ Writer's Digest