Author Tricia Jacobson

Praying for Clean

A Memoir of Sisterhood, Survival, and Second Chances

By Tricia Jacobson

Gone is the song of our family’s happiness. Gone is the kitchen chatter, the laughing cousins, the energy of love. Something horrible came in and swept away the security and life we knew.

Tricia Jacobson and her sister Pam grow up in a close-knit family in rural Missouri. But when their parents divorce, the once inseparable sisters take very different paths—Pam, the star student and athlete, begins to spiral into addiction, while Tricia learns to bury her emotions and press forward.

While Pam fights a devastating battle with drugs, mental illness, and self-destruction, Tricia watches helplessly as her sister loses everything—her future, her safety, and even the ability to care for herself.

Through heartbreak and resilience, Tricia builds a life of her own, navigating love and loss along the way. But her story is forever intertwined with Pam’s. When Pam becomes pregnant, she asks Tricia to adopt her baby. It’s a chance for a new life, a new beginning—but Pam’s struggles are far from over.

As Tricia fights for her sister, she discovers her true purpose: to advocate for those society too often forgets.

A powerful memoir of sisterhood, survival, and second chances, Praying for Clean is a deeply moving testament to the unbreakable bond of family.

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International Impact Book Awards 2021

Firebird Book

Awards 2021

Young Adult WINNER
Female Empowerment WINNER
Coming of Age 3rd place winner
Young Adult Fiction 3rd place winner

Nova

The Courage to Rise

By Tricia Jacobson

with Marie Bestwick Arthur

How many stars are up there, Aurora?

Too many to count, Stella.

More than a million? You should know. I’m just the big mouth.

Okay, maybe a billion. You’re not that loud, Stella.

Who are we, anyway?

Sometimes I wish I was a star. And everything was a restart.

Sometimes I wish I hadn’t been born.

Stella don’t say that. Hey, can I tell you a story?

Mmm-hmm.

Once upon a time, high in a tree, in a small park in a big city …

So begins the camping adventure and inner quest of down-to-earth Aurora, who grew up in the foster system, and quirky Stella, raised by her grandfather.

A cast of characters—real and inanimate—influence them as they answer questions like: What does self-worth mean? What are positive self-talk and body image? Self-love for young women?

A story of coming of age, NOVA explores community, friendship, and faith, and how thinking differently about the past can build a meaningful future.

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About Tricia

Beyond her writing, Tricia has spent over two decades advocating for vulnerable populations. As the founder of 816 Loved, a nonprofit dedicated to empowering disadvantaged teen girls, she works to instill confidence, resilience, and self-worth in the next generation. Her commitment to advocacy extends deeply into the world of mental health and addiction recovery, where she champions improved housing, better treatment options, and policy reform to support individuals battling addiction, and their families. She collaborates with local leaders to repurpose vacant properties into mental health facilities, ensuring long-term, sustainable care.

A proud mother to four daughters and a grandmother, Tricia understands the profound importance of faith, resilience, and unconditional love. She lives in Kansas City, Missouri, where she continues to write, speak, and advocate with the firm belief that even in our brokenness, beauty and hope can rise.

"There is great relief and freedom in opening up and talking about our experiences with loved ones caught in the clutches of addiction. Not only is it cathartic; it might be the way communities can achieve appropriate care for our loved ones. This is the only way to provide them the dignity they deserve."

— TheresaTricia Jacobson