Smorgasbord Bookshelf – New Book on the Shelves – #Cancer – The Winding Road: A Journey of Survival by Miriam Hurdle

It is my pleasure to share the news of the latest release by Miriam Hurdle… a memoir The Winding Road: A Journey of Survival. On preorder for August 26th.

About the book

In the summer of 2008, Miriam Hurdle was diagnosed with melanoma-an aggressive and invasive cancer in her internal organs. The survival rate before 2008 was low. Besides risking harsh treatments for a slim chance of survival, Miriam had hoops to jump through. By the time she received treatment at the beginning of 2009, her cancer had progressed from stage II to stage IV. It was a rough and uphill winding road. But alongside her was support and encouragement. Accompanied by the love of her family and community, this is Miriam’s journey of faith and miracle. It is a heartwarming story of resilience, courage, and the will to live.

Head over to preorder the book for August 26th: Amazon US – And: Amazon UK

Also by Miriam Hurdle

One of the recent reviews for Songs of Heartstrings

Elizabeth Gauffreau 5.0 out of 5 stars Deeply Contemplative Poetry Reviewed in the United States on July 1, 2022

Reading Miriam Huddle’s poetry collection, Songs of Heartstrings: Poems of Gratitude and Beatitude, I was immediately struck by the poems’ depth and breadth of reflection. The maturity of these contemplative poems brought to mind educational reformer John Dewey’s definition of reflective thinking as a meaning-making process by which individuals learn and society advances. This meaning-making process is very much in evidence throughout the collection–as is Huddle’s strong religious faith.

The collection is organized into thematic sections, like suites of music. Taken together, they form the rich symphony of a life well-lived, including the inevitable discordant notes.

Huddle employs of a range of of forms in the collection, including free verse of varying lengths, acrostic, and prose poem, thereby demonstrating her sensitivity to the relationship between form and content. She chooses the form of poetic expression that will best communicate to readers what is in her heart.

Along the same lines is her use of repetition and rhyme. The inclusion of her own photography and artwork further strengthens the bond between form and content.

The two standouts of the collection for me are the opening poem, “Echo of the Earth,” and the closing poem, “Life’s Symphony.” Both of these poems rely on metaphor for their meaning: nature and music respectively.

Endure the suffering as
stones engraved as carvings.
Remember kindness as
the dried field once flooded with rain. (“Echo of the Earth”)

Pianissimo whispers to your ears
the faintest sob,
breathes the darkest secret
only to you. (“Life’s Symphony”)

Readers who are looking for affirmation of life’s blessings during troubled times–or celebration of life’s blessings during happy times–are sure to enjoy and appreciate Heartstrings: Songs of Gratitude and Beatitude.

Read the reviews and buy the books:Amazon US – And:Amazon UK – – Goodreads: Miriam Hurdle – Blog: The Showers of Blessings – Twitter: @mhurdle112

About Miriam Hurdle

Miriam Hurdle is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI). She published four children’s books at twenty-six years old. Her poetry collection received the Solo “Medalist Winner” for the New Apple Summer eBook Award and achieved bestseller status on Amazon.

Miriam writes poetry, short stories, memoir, and children’s books. She earned a Doctor of Education from the University of La Verne in California. After two years of rehabilitation counseling, fifteen years of public-school teaching and ten years in school district administration, she retired and enjoys life with her husband in southern California, and the visits to her daughter, son-in-law, and granddaughters in Oregon. When not writing, she engages in blogging, gardening, photography, and traveling.

 

Thank you for dropping in today and I hope you will be leaving with some books.. Sallynbsp;