YOUNG WOMEN WRITERS
What Makes Them Different?
I’m so impressed with two young women writers I know personally that I’d like to use my blog today to share some excerpts from their works. Their writings are so realistic – so raw, so honest. I am sure they will touch your heart as much as they do mine.
EMILY ALSPACH , only 37 years-old, recently published her powerful memoir – Summer of Cancer Wife. Mother. Survivor. Almost immediately, her story became the #1 Release in Memoirs and Short Reads on Amazon. I love the way Emily describes her battle, dotting it with expletives just like a woman warrior would plunge a knife into a charging beast. Her honesty will save a lot of women’s lives.
“He {my husband} noticed the lump on the right side of my right breast. He mentioned it to me, I started poking around. Using the two-finger method they teach women to use for self-breast exams. Soft circles, a little firmer circle, and even the super firm almost to the chest wall two finger circles. I could feel it, what the fuck is it, and why is it in my boob?
…I just repeated the words, invasive ductal carcinoma, invasive ductal carcinoma. That is what the doctor told me, that is what I have. No emotion, just the words came out, until K put his arms around me, and I fell into his chest. It is the safest place I know. The place I go to release everything, the place that I crave when I need help, my sanctuary. I buried my face into my husband’s chest, and I cried. I cried a river of tears, sad tears, angry tears, terrified tears. It was March 29th 2021, and I have breast cancer.”
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BRITTNEY WALTON is a young wife, mother of 5, and a nurse, who suffered a heart attack in her 40’s. Brittney is extremely popular on Facebook where she shares her insights on life. Her unique style of fragments, run-ons and repetition creates a passion for life that is contagious.
“It hurt to feel. It hurt to not feel. It felt cripplingly weak and I was drowning in anger and had blown way past hopelessness into despair….Despair…it was the loneliest place I had ever been in my life. I tried all-the-things….I tried to be grateful—counting my 1000 gifts, I exercised daily—sometimes for hours, I took vitamins and read books, gave myself an affirmation/ positive thinking pep-talks and I prayed for humility and tried my best to view my circumstances as far less tragic than others—-I mean, I didn’t live through the death of a child and I didn’t have cancer—-so anything less than that should pale in comparison, right? Why was I feeling like this??? I told myself I was just being selfish. And ingrate who clearly didn’t have any reason to feel this way. So I decided I would try to “fake it til you make it”….because that’s what you have to do right? And the despair still came for me... And you can’t pull yourself out. Someone has to come find you. Someone has to see. Someone has to pick up on the missing-of-you…even if you are not physically missing…the parts of you that are. And sometimes it takes a human crowbar to come in, uninvited, with the kind of force that is hellbent in proving You. Are. Not. Alone. The single greatest four words that a person in needs to know. Sometimes we have to be uncomfortable enough with someone else’s discomfort to crowbar our way in so that they can begin to feel the three greatest words toward preservation….I. HAVE. HOPE….”
I love these two young women for being authentic – for not being afraid to share their “scars & bruises.” Their courage gives me HOPE. If you would like to read more, you can find Emily’s book on Amazon and Brittney’s page on FB.
It’ll Be OK.
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“A woman is like a tea bag – you can’t tell how strong she is until you put her in hot water.” ~ Eleanor Roosevelt
Suffragist Frances Willard at National Statuary Hall — US Capitol Bldg.
COMMENT: Emily & Brittney are both Subscribers to That’s Good To Know. If you would like to Share with them, please feel free to comment below. Thank You!
Thank you so much for sharing Jan, they both sound like exceptional strong women. I'm sure their books will continue to sell well.
I love that these two young women share so openly about their experiences in a way in which others can relate. How brave and beautiful! It's wonderful to see them writing their stories at what I consider young ages. It took me a lot of years to get to reinventing my writing and sharing it. I hope both Emily and Brittney will continue to write their feelings and experiences. We need voices like theirs in the world today. Thank you ladies, for being open and honest and brave! And please......keep writing!