Illness & Grace, Terror & Transformation

In this contemporary anthology of personal memoirs, stories, and poetry contemporary writers explore themes of illness and trauma and the wide variety of ways in which we respond to them. Authors ponder the impact of cancer, ALS, stroke, juvenile diabetes, dementia, chronic fatigue syndrome, anorexia, accidental death, schizophrenia, PTSD, domestic and sexual abuse on them, their families, friends. The collection will be of special interest to people who have experienced or are experiencing illness or trauma themselves or in those close to them and would like to explore the meaning of these life-challenging experiences further. The book is designed to be read by the general public, and also in reading groups, writing groups, and support groups. It includes an opening essay on how we as readers can listen faithfully to these stories and a closing one for people who would like to explore the ways writing can help us order and integrate powerful life-changing events.