“We Become a New Story”: An Anthology from 48 Writers Healing from Cancer
I collaborated as co-editor, designer, and publication consultant on this anthology with writing circle facilitator Dawn Thompson and OHSU Knight Institute Patient & Family Services Director Susan Hedlund. Attending the book release celebration to meet many of the inspiring contributing writers and organizing a community reading to enjoy their voices in real-time were heart-full highlights of early 2023.
We Become a New Story: Writing from Women, Men & Young Adults Healing from Cancer
AVAILABLE @ BOOKSHOP.ORG + OTHER BOOKSELLERS
Paperback | 202 pages | January 2023
Edited by Dawn Thompson & ash good
Directed by Susan Hedlund
Published by Knight Cancer Institute, Oregon Health Sciences University, Portland, Ore.
Rick M. Cook provided copy editing for this project; Deborah Brod provided illustrations; and the cover features a photograph of Outbreath of Beauty, a quilt made by Marti Price Morton.
FROM THE BACK COVER
For over 10 years, Patient & Family Services at the OHSU Knight Cancer Institute has been offering free, on-going weekly writing groups for women, men, and young adults. Director of this program, Susan Hedlund, says, “It is our hope that by offering supportive services that attempt to ease the fears and burdens of the cancer experience, that we are helping to heal the ‘whole person.’”
The 48 writers in this collection are representatives of a much larger group of individuals healing from cancer who have spent time in these writing circles. We give our thanks to them for sharing a glimpse into what happens when pen meets page in the supportive company of other cancer survivors. Their words will inform you, inspire you, and raise your awareness of how the opportunity to express our stories connects each of us to our unique voice and to our shared humanity.
“I did not anticipate how meaningful the group would become or how central to my healing. Our cancer stories are shared without drama or expectation—woven into our life anecdotes—therefore integrated into our very beings, healing our very selves, healing our very souls.” —Sandra C.
“The writing circle has been the single best way for me to process the emotional side of living with cancer. Something profound and sacred happens when this group comes together.” —Hillary H.
“Finding my voice again has been like returning home and setting off on a great journey all at once.” —Elena W.
AN ANTHOLOGY OF WRITING FROM
Stephanie Balik - Brianna Barrett - Mary Ellen Boles - Deborah Brod - Sandra Clark - Trish Coffey - Rick M. Cook - Marty Crouch - Reina Sofia de la Luz - Kelly Everett - Lois Flores - Bonnie Folick - Sally Foster Rudolph - Susan Gladstone - Hillary H. - Caralynn Hampson - Hesykhia - Sean Hoover - Robbin Isaacson DeWeese - Stella Jeng Guillory - Bija Gutoff - Susan Johnson - Sona Joiner - Judith Kleinstein - Hannah Kimberly - Brenda Marks - Ginny McCarthy - Francie Meyers - Deborah Colette Murphy - Amy Moore Paterson - Sabrina Norris McDonald - Linda Omar - Juliana Person - Kate Redmond - Tyler Roulette - Ruth Selid - Kelly Selis - Alpen Sheth - Elizabeth Shippen Ames - Denise Sirchie - Louise Smith - Cynthia Speckman - Margie Ann Stanko - Lena Traenkenschuh - Kelly Ann Walsh - Robin Welsh - Deb Wesloh - Elena Wiesenthal
