Sharing was my way of releasing my grief, but the response was truly amazing.

Numbered Days was completed in November of 2019, after which Madden posted some of the poems on on social media.

“Sharing was my way of releasing my grief, but the response was truly amazing. So many people told me that what I had written helped them process their own losses and see the grace in daily life.”  

As a result, Madden was approached by friend and colleague, Stephen Sachs of the Fountain Theatre to see if she would adapt the poems for the stage. After the pandemic shut down the Fountain for months, Sachs and Madden decided to create an audio version of the play… and then Madden published the book.