Emerging: Stories from the Other Side of a Cancer Diagnosis, Loss, and a Pandemic – Coming Soon!

Well, it’s happening! Finally. My new book, Emerging: Stories from the Other Side of a Cancer Diagnosis, Loss, and a Pandemic, is coming soon!

Update: It’s here!

It’s only taken me three+ years to bring it to you, but who’s counting? (How some authors churn out books every year, and even more often sometimes, is beyond me. Oh well.)

I’m excited to tell you a little bit about Emerging!

Here’s the synopsis:

Once again, refusing to jump onto the “everything happens for a reason” bandwagon, Stordahl tackles tough topics like cancer, loss, and the COVID-19 pandemic with unflinching honesty and dismantles the “back to normal” myth. She reminds us we needn’t pressure ourselves to emerge from these, or any life challenge, as new and improved versions of our former selves. Instead, she shines light on a gentler path forward from adversity. Emerging is a refreshing, encouraging read for anyone who has struggled, or is struggling, with a life-altering challenge.

More reasons to think about reading Emerging:

• At 120 pages, Emerging is a short read. I don’t know about you, but sometimes I like to sit down and read a book in one, maybe two sittings. My attention span isn’t what it used to be. Is yours?
• To be clear, emerging doesn’t mean that whatever you’re emerging from is over. Adversity doesn’t have a neat and tidy end date. Life doesn’t work that way. Still, emerge we must, even if slowly and/or reluctantly.
• Society wants us to move on from things like cancer and grief. I say, forget that. It’s not possible anyway. Moving forward — now that we can try to do. Emerging might help you figure out how to do that.
• Sure, Emerging tackles serious stuff, but there is humor injected in there. At least I think so! 😅 You decide.
• Although my book’s focus is on the aforementioned three life-altering challenges, it is meant to relate to any sort of difficult life experience. After all, no one lives a fairy-tale life free of adversity. No one I know anyway.
• Resilience is another one of those hot-button topics. I mean, we get tired of being resilient, right? And yet…well, you’ll have to read the book.
• Emerging doesn’t offer one-size-fits-all solutions, but it does offer validation, a dismantling of the “back to normal” myth, grief observations meant to help you in your grief — no matter where you are in your grief experience, and ideas for how to figure out your own path forward (not on) from cancer, loss, the pandemic, or whatever challenge you’re dealing with.
• Emerging also talks about aging, pet loss, self-acceptance, and offers a gentler, simpler way to look at ourselves, as well as the world.
• After reading Emerging, I hope you will feel emboldened to share your stories, too.

I’m excited, pleased, and oh-so grateful to have kind “words of praise” from some fine folks included in, and on my book’s back cover. These folks include Carolyn Thomas, Dr. Deanna J. Attai, Lisa Valentine, Gogs Gagnon, and Sue Robins.

Today, I’ll share “words of praise” from friend and fellow blogger at “Heart Sisters”, Carolyn Thomas, author of A Woman’s Guide to Living with Heart Disease:

In the irresistibly no-nonsense fashion beloved by her Nancy’s Point blog readers, Nancy crafts an engaging personal narrative. It includes her own dramatic story but also her wise perspective on the universal themes of grief, loss, aging, and making tough decisions. All this, plus humor and joy. This is ultimately a hopeful book.

Thank you, Carolyn. I’m humbled by your words.

I took special notice of Carolyn’s final sentence.

From time to time, I’ve been called grumpy, negative, and/or angry. Not that I care. I’m actually fine being called those things. But Carolyn’s supportive words validate what I’ve always tried to do: encourage others while keeping it real.

I find healing, comfort, and hope, too, in realism. In sugarcoating, not so much.

What about you?

I’ll end with an excerpt from the introduction of Emerging

It’s my hope that me sharing stories about how I continue to emerge from the other side of a cancer diagnosis, loss, and a pandemic helps you emerge from your challenges, whatever they might be.

After all, it’s in the sharing of our stories that we come to not only understand others better, but also ourselves. If we’re willing to take off our “masks,” at least some of the time, and allow others to truly see us — flaws, vulnerabilities, and all — we might discover we aren’t alone and that, in fact, we never were. Perhaps these simple realizations are the essence of emerging well from whatever life throws our way.

I’m hoping I’ve peaked your interest and that you’ll want to get your hands on a copy of Emerging.

When Emerging is officially available, I’ll let you know!

In an upcoming post, I’ll share more excerpts, endorsements, details on purchasing options, and how you can be part of my book launch/publicity team. Because I can’t do this without you guys. Seriously, I cannot!

So, stay tuned.

Thank you for reading, sharing, and helping to spread the word about Emerging!

What is a life-altering challenge you have experienced, or are experiencing now, that impacts your life every day?

What helps you handle adversity?

Are you weary of being resilient?

What do you think — have I sparked your interest in Emerging?