Published: 2022
Skill Set: Writing
Title: Gummy Bears for the Soul: A Collection of Life Lessons That Are Easy to Swallow But Hard to Digest as Told Through A Cacophony of Stories About My Dad That Are Definitely All True*
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WHAT’S IN THE BOOK
Fourteen essay-style, autobiographical short stories centered on my relationship with my dad ranging from lighthearted anecdotes to deep dives into the heavier topics of domestic violence and religious deconstruction. Also, the ending is really neat and will simultaneously punch you in the heart and brain. And your guts, for good measure. ’Tis a punchy book.
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THE “WHY”
To capture my father’s distinctive talent for distilling arcane truths into deceptively accessible life nuggets, the likes of which have a unique way of burrowing into one’s mind, imprinting on one’s soul, and irrevocably altering the course of one’s life.
TARGET AUDIENCE
Ex-vangelicals.
The center of gravity in this book is the story of time I let go of my need for the answers Christianity always claimed to provide. My hope is that by the end of this book, any questioning Christian will feel at ease about their doubts, and find comfort in seeing what life could possibly look like a little further down the road.
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Survivors of Domestic Violence.
It’s made very clear in this book that my father was physically violent to my brother and me for the first eleven years of my life. People with similar experiences might find it triggering, but will hopefully feel seen, and at the very least, find solidarity in my story. I felt alone; my hope is that this book will show them they’re not.
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Those with deceased loved ones.
Like many traumas we face as humans, the loss of a loved one is something you must endure to understand. Finding voices that hit that nerve without causing pain is a rarity. I’d love for this book to gently and compassionately hold space for those who have lost loved ones to give their grief expression in a way that feels like joy and gratitude.