Holy shit people, my book is on Amazon.
This, for me, is beyond huge. Getting this work out into the world feels crucial, and yet, getting it out into the world means telling my story out loud.
Funny thing about this: folks say YAY! what's your book about?
and I choke.
I am happy. I am sad. I am complicated and complex. This is a heart wrenching and yet cathartic and healing thing to do, to offer, to expose.
So. I am being gentle with myself, and hoping that the book finds its way into the hands that need it, and that my words, my journey, somehow offer solace to someone else.
***
A Field Guide to Grief: If you’ve lost your partner to suicide
Losing a partner or spouse
to suicide is shattering. This small book speaks directly to the
survivor, starting from the beginning of the grief journey. Offering
compassion and acknowledgment, survival tools and suggestions, these are
kind and wise words from someone who’s been there.
“if you have lost a partner to suicide, you will find a new friend
named kate in these pages. out of the hard-won wisdom of her own loss,
she offers you this field guide. a field guide, truly, as the pages feel
like a field… breathable, open, + paradoxically peaceful. the rhythm of
it all works beautifully between the ebb of uncluttered white space +
flow of helpful words… a needed + good book for anyone walking through
this heart-rending loss.” –rachel awes, psychologist, author, + art
playgroundist rachelawes.com
“…a lovely resource for folks who are fresh into big pain. I’ll be happy to recommend this [book] to my clients.” –Dr. Martha Jo Atkins honors the deeply spiritual experience of death by providing compassionate witness to the dying, and support for healing transformation to the bereaved. marthaatkins.com
“…a lovely resource for folks who are fresh into big pain. I’ll be happy to recommend this [book] to my clients.” –Dr. Martha Jo Atkins honors the deeply spiritual experience of death by providing compassionate witness to the dying, and support for healing transformation to the bereaved. marthaatkins.com
My note to you: This is a
difficult book. A sad book. A real book informed by love and
understanding that in grief, there is no time to sift through case
studies and anecdotes. I get right down to the core. It is about acute
grief and navigating the immediate experience of loss. It is about
living with grief and living with loss and the loss of identity. It is about self protection and
permission. It is about survival. My own experience was one of
breath-by-breath choices, to keep moving forward, to not lose myself, to
choose to heal and go on, over and over and over again. If you need
this book, I am so sorry. But if you need this book, I am so glad you
have found your way here, and I hope beyond hope that my words offer
you solace.
If you are not in grief
and want to support me by buying a book, please do (and thank you!).
Please consider donating it to an organization or individual who works
with folks in acute grief. A funeral home, for example… I could have
used this book the second day if not the first. Someone else may too.
