June 4, 2024
What if you came home one day and found your husband dead in his favorite chair? This grief memoir explores the author’s experience of the unexpected death of her husband from sudden cardiac arrest a mere three months after his doctors had pronounced him hale and healthy. The author shares her experiences in the immediate aftermath of the abrupt shock of discovery, reminisces about the details of the couple’s late-in-life courtship and marriage, and imparts other experiences she has had along the grieving road in the years since becoming a widow.
This is the promotional introduction to my newest book, a grief memoir called That Day and What Came After: Finding and Losing the Love of My Life in Six Short Years. This book has been a long time coming. When Skip died, I could not write cogently about that event for a very long time. Then, once I did decide to write about it (more than personal journaling, that is), it took time for the story to find a shape, an overarching structure. Finally, thanks to the encouragement of friends and the wonderful and useful critiques from my amazing women writers group, I had a manuscript I was ready to submit to my publisher. Long time readers of this newsletter will remember that the book was originally scheduled to be released last year, but changes at my publisher (things specific to them combined with industry-wide trends) caused yet more delay.
As I wrote last time, the editing was complete by early March of this year. The cover design (featured below), based on a photo I had taken a few years ago, was finalized in early May, and the terrific book designer (I’ve worked with her on all three of my Sunbury books…she’s the best!) finished her work before the Memorial Day holiday weekend. So, now it’s finally ready to be out in the world! Today is the official release date. You can order your copy directly from the publisher here. The print and Kindle editions should be available on Amazon later this month (usually takes one or two weeks after the publisher’s release date).
One of the things many authors do prior to publication, yours truly included, is to submit what are called beta copies of the manuscript in process to advance readers in hopes of having those readers write “blurbs” (short promotional pieces often added to the book jacket or other publicity materials and, in this case, to be included in the opening pages of the book itself). I was privileged to have four wonderful folks—a fellow widow, now a certified grief counselor; an old friend who is also a pastor; a licensed mental health counselor; and a fellow Sunbury author—read the manuscript in draft and provide generous and thoughtful blurbs to be included in the opening pages of the book. A few selected excerpts from their generous praises and longer reviews are below for you to peruse, which will hopefully stimulate your interest in the book itself.
Back when my world collapsed and I felt completely alone and terrified, I needed the soothing and validating words that Daniels provides as she gently and lovingly walks us through what it’s like to be suddenly widowed. I needed to know, by reading this book, that I would get through this, and that I was normal in feeling changed forever by the experience.
—Kelley Lynn, author/speaker, widow, and certified grief counselor.
Rebecca Daniels invites us into her story of falling in love later in life, her husband’s sudden death, and ten years of evolving grief. Daniels’ memoir is a helpful companion for people who are grieving, especially for women who have lost their husbands suddenly. While each person’s love and loss is different, this memoir serves as a reminder that they are not alone.
–Theresa Mason, retired pastor/chaplain
This memoir, rich with details and imagery from her marriage with Skip, comes together to craft a work of genuine love that delights in their relationship and extends that joy to its readers. As a culture we tend to discuss death so infrequently that Rebecca Daniels’ unflinching and brave decision to wade headlong into that subject is like a balm for those of us looking for catharsis and to make sense of the unimaginable.
–Jay Sefton, licensed mental health counselor
In this memoir, Rebecca contemplates deeper questions and chronicles navigating the minutiae of day-to-day life after losing her beloved partner. Heartbreak and loneliness are tempered by found family and precious memories. By turns sorrowful, hopeful, and reflective.
–Natalie Pinter, author
Now that the editing and design process are complete for the print edition, I will begin a series of in-person author talks in my local and regional area this summer. And I’m beginning the process of working with a terrific organizer who will arrange a virtual book tour for me in the early fall. I will also be starting work on the audio book version next, so if you want me to read my latest book to you, you will have to wait for that second release, which should be coming soon, possibly in the fall or early winter.
This image, taken just months before it happened, is the one I posted on Facebook to announce Skip’s death. It also became the image on his funeral card. To finish today’s news update, I’m also including the book’s dedication.
To
SKIP STOUGHTON
(7 November 1947 – 9 October 2010),
my beloved and my friend,
whose unconditional love while we were together
gave me the courage and strength to write about
his loss when the unimaginable happened
and his big heart stopped unexpectedly.
His memory sustains me always.
Rebecca Daniels 