The Story of Here

Dear Friends,

It's been an exhilarating few days since announcing the preorder release of Love You Hard. Thanks to everyone who has shared and reshared about the book. To reach #1 on Amazon new releases within 24 hours was an unexpected thrill! The path to becoming a published author has been long and fascinating, and, if I'm being honest, I still can't quite believe I'm here. Those of you know me know the premise of the memoir: six years ago I was living a perfectly nice life as a teacher in Washington, D.C. I had a one-year-old son, a five-year-old spaniel, and I was married to the love of my life - the man I met on a sticky July night in Southern Maryland when I was only twenty-two.

An act of violence nearly took that man from me, and, in the process, shattered every pillar that supported the foundation of our lives. We were 30-years-old, just about to dive into the richness of adulthood, when we were kicked to the back of the line and forced to start over.

I won't say too much more, but for those of you looking to read some of my early writings about those hard days, I've recently reopened my original blog, Love for the Maslins, to catch you up. I do so reticently, somewhat embarrassed by the raw, unpolished quality of my writing during that difficult time. But if you have someone in your life who is dealing with brain injury, I hope these words offer some comfort, as well as the essential reminder that no human being is living this life alone. Whether your heartbreak is of the ordinary or the extraordinary type, we all draw from the same well of emotions: despair, grief, sadness, and profound joy.

If brain injury content is what you're looking for, please, please head on over to Brainline.org, the website I turned to for invaluable help during the early days of TBI. I now write a blog for Brainline.org called Reinventing the Family, in which I share the long haul realities of navigating a life with brain injury.

But my own site is the place where I hope to engage in other conversations - reflections on staying connected in this complicated and divisive world, how we can devote a life to purpose and building empathic relationships, and basically, just how to keep at becoming a decent human being. 

If you're interested in joining the dialogue and staying updated about the book (currently in the process of forming a volunteer launch team!), please subscribe for updates.

My heart is full and overwhelmed these days as I absorb all the goodness that surrounds me. Thank you, thank you for your warm and loving energy.

XO