We are thirteen mothers who have been writing together since October 2002. You will meet us on this blog as we continue to write, and now you can also meet us in the newly published book Farther Along: The Writing Journey of Thirteen Bereaved Mothers.
Twice a year, we meet for writing retreats usually in the mountains or at the sea. We cry together, we laugh, we eat, we run or walk or swim. We share soup and solace and the words of our hearts. We write together surrounded by foggy mountain skies and the iambic meter of the ocean.
Among us, we have lost fourteen children. Without their deaths, we probably would not have known each other; our lives were disparate (and maybe desperate too), yet we have found solace and healing connections as we have continued to write.
We recently marked ten years of writing together by traveling to a château in France for a week of writing. We are ready to share some of our stories both in this blog and in the book, Farther Along: The Writing Journey of Thirteen Bereaved Mothers.
Use the menu at the top of the page to find pages on our site or the links that follow.
- Click on About Us to see updates about the thirteen writers in our group.
- Choose Blog Posts or Prompt Writing to read some of our pieces.
- More About the Book includes links to news articles about the book, reviews and purchase information.
- Book Events keeps an updated list of events: symposia, readings, signings and sales for the book.
- Or click on Writing Workshops to find events using the book’s reflective writing either as events open to the community or as ongoing workshops.
- Choose Wise Words to see thoughts about our journeys or Recipes to share some of our comfort food or Art Works to see art that we have created.
- Sisterhood of the Traveling Sign starts a once-in-a-while serial story of the travels of a special sign.
- To read all of the work of a specific writer on the blog, you can go to About Us and click on the link within each writer’s bio. Most recent writings appear as links with the writer’s name in WRITERS IN OUR GROUP on the left sidebar on each page of the site.
Kay, what a wonderful thing you mothers have done. It is so rewarding to see what others can do with grief. Congrats on the book and enjoy the upcoming trip to France!!! Love you, Helen
Thank you, Helen.
Congratulations on your book. I just finished reading it. I wish I had kept in touch with you and gotten to meet Elizabeth. You taught me so much and continue to do so. Have a wonderful trip!
Looking forward to having you with us in Zeta Chapter/DKG. Will forward this to all your soon-to-be Zeta sisters, when I figure out how to get it to my new Zeta group gmail. Have a ball in France, take lots of pics. See you July 31 to read for TIRS and lunch w/ Susan.
I have just finished reading this awesome book of: Farther Along, The Writing Journey of Thirteen Bereaved Mothers! A wonderful revelation of healing to grieving hearts by sharing their innermost feelings and putting this in writing. Being the great grandmother of little Abigail Sechrist, I congratulate the author, Carol Henderson, and each contributor, for a well written book.
A must for any mother to read that has lost a child by death.
There at the library, in between the mysteries, was Farther Along. It has been 24 years since we lost Greg but I somehow knew this was a book I should read. As I picked it up and began to browse I saw the group’s favorite song was also my grandfather’s favorite song and then another surprise, the arrangement they favored was written by John Starling. John’s grandfather and my grandmother were brother and sister. And then, I realized the young woman sitting across from me in a bible study group was one of the Thirteen, Beverly.
I have read and reread, renewed and rerenewed the book, each time discovering something else bereaved mothers have in common. Thank you Moms, you touched my heart and soul.
Sandra D. Rogers
Thank you for your response, Sandra. I hope our paths cross soon.
Amazing connections. I hope the book brings you solace and hope.
I am interested in buying your book for an elderly friend of mine who would need it in large print. Is that available, and how much is the book?
Joyce,
Unfortunately, at this time, the book is not available in large print. It is available at all the book events mentioned on the Book Events page ( a signing at Muddy Creek Cafe in Bethania on Dec. 1, for instance–or at the Bethania Mill shop or see http://fartheralongbook.com/book-events for more events). Most of the mothers from the book have copies available, SECU Family House next to Hospice and Palliative Carecenter of Winston-Salem has copies, and the book can be ordered from Amazon and other online book sellers. ( A link to Amazon appears at the bottom of the More About the Book page on this site, http://fartheralongbook.com/more-about-the-book/. Let me know by email if you cannot find one from one of these sources: kehwindsor1 at gmail dot com. The book usually sells for $20 and proceeds go to the SECU Family House in Winston-Salem.
Congratulations on publishing your book! Great to know that 13 mothers can come together and publish a book.Very encouraging! Have a lovely week!
Thank you Liz for your comment, and for viewing our blog site. I enjoyed your blog site very much. Keep up the great work and I plan to visit your site often. Hope you have a great week, too. Sincerely, Monica
I lost my son, my only child Garrett on January 5, 2013. He was only 24 years old and left behind a 2 year old little girl. His loss was very sudden. A car accident late one night then having to give permission to remove him from life support the next day. I cannot fathom how any of you could get your thoughts together enough to talk about your children, much less write about them and your loss at the time that you started this project. I just cannot get past all this. I have not had the chance to get or read the book yet, but I have been looking for something to read that would speak to me and to my grief. I haven’t found anything yet. Congratulations on the book. I hope to get the energy to order it and the courage to try to read it soon.
Sherri
Sherri,
We hope that the stories of our own grief journeys and the reflective writing that has become a lifeline for us can offer you hope, comfort and some solace too. And even if our thoughts seem to be together sometimes now in the writings we do, please know that we have also been where you are on this path. We are beside you too. You have already started by writing those facts in the comment you left. Keep writing. Peace and comfort to you,
Kay