9 Comments

My biography I would have to say is my is my favorite. It was and still is a labor of love. The book itself needs some editing and perhaps a professional touch. In my mind it is my very southern voice narrating my story. It was a coming out of sorts. It is called “Broken to Beacon”. It is a very southern book about my Mama having undiagnosed

mental illness. She would go in to have 13 suicide attempts, 4 different violent relationships and 28 hospital stays in the psych ward. She was also neglectful and abusive it my sister and me. I tell our story and how we reconciled through Mama’s terminal cancer diagnosis and the love shown to our family at Hospice House. I would love to share it with you if I could.

Expand full comment

That is a book I would love to read. Mental illness peppers my family tree and I have had my own bouts with severe depression, anxiety, and PTSD. I hope you publish it. Your voice needs hearing.

Expand full comment

It is published if you are interested.

Expand full comment

I am definitely interested.

Expand full comment

I love reading. I think I majored in journalism in college and work as a freelance writer and journalist now because of my love of books. Lately, I read a lot of spiritual books. Richard Rohr, Thich Nhat Hanh, Pema Chodron, Max Lucado, Brennan Manning, T.D. Jakes, Thomas Keating, and Anne Lamott are some of the writers who have helped me through this pandemic. Recently, I finished a book called What Happened To You by Oprah Winfrey and Bruce Perry. Anyone who survived trauma should read that book.

Expand full comment

Years ago when I only knew of Dave Eggers from The Onion, I picked up a copy of AHWSG. It truly was genius. His little brother is now older than I was when I first read the book!

Expand full comment

Well, for me ‘Love in the Ruins’ by Walker Percy.

Expand full comment

I love books too much—I love Preparation of the Novel by Roland Barthes, A Thousand Plateaus by Deleuze and Guattari, Power of Horror and Revolution of Poetic Language by Julia Kristeva, The Fold by Deleuze—and so many other books. I love Welty.

Expand full comment

Dear Allison,

Thank you so much for your beautiful and thoughtful response. I can talk books until the sun goes down too. I also love to be surrounded by them - it's why I've worked in libraries for 22+ years. :) I can't wait to read your faves. Here are some of mine:

She's Come Undone by Wally Lamb

The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh

The Speed of Light by Elizabeth Rosner

The Other Typist by Suzanne Rindell

Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier

Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris

Running with Scissors by Augusten Burroughs

The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt

11-22-63 by Stephen King

The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou

Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling

Anything by Catherine Ryan Hyde - Pay it Forward is my favorite

Anything by Ruth Ware

Anything by Jonathan Kozol - Amazing Grace: The Lives of Children and the Conscience of a Nation is my favorite

Thanks again. Have a great day!

<3,

Patty Ann

Expand full comment