Losing a baby is an unimaginable heartache affecting one out of five expecting parents. In the new, deeply moving and vulnerable memoir, Expecting Sunshine: A Journey of Grief, Healing and Pregnancy After Loss [April 2017, She Writes Press], award-winning author, artist, filmmaker, and public speaker Alexis Marie Chute opens her heart about her own loss and subsequent journey toward healing while also encouraging bereaved parents to find peace through creative expression and storytelling.
When her son, Zachary, died in her arms at birth, Chute disappeared into what she called a “year of distraction,” where she couldn’t paint, write, or express herself. Her marriage was tested, her faith questioned, her identity lost. She could only mourn the baby she lost and his future she once imagined. It is only when Chute learned she was pregnant again that she set out to find healing and rediscover her identity―just in time to welcome her next child.
Expecting Sunshine is told in a beautiful, poetic, and warm voice, with each chapter representing a gestational week. The book is divided into three sections, mirroring the three trimesters of pregnancy. Chute explores themes of personal identity, acceptance, and learning to live again. She also touches on the different ways men and women process loss and how this can affect marriages. And she explores the seasons of grief and how nature plays an important role in the healing process. Most importantly, Chute offers a roadmap for bereaved parents who may be experiencing similar heartache. She becomes a mentor to walk alongside parents during an unthinkably difficult time and offers sunshine when only clouds are in sight.
Expecting Sunshine is an honest and raw memoir that will comfort bereaved parents, especially those considering a second pregnancy. It will also appeal to anyone experiencing the death of a loved one and is looking for answers and comfort to the challenging aftermath of loss.
“Pregnancy after loss is an important topic. So many families get pregnant again and are not prepared for the wave of emotion and fear that follows,” says Chute. “I want to bring awareness to this topic. I also want to offer hope, that even in the face of all the worry, good can come in the end.”
About the Author:
Alexis Marie Chute is an award-winning writer, artist and filmmaker and has set herself apart for her bereavement advocacy. She is a leading expert in creativity and healing. She has become an advocate in supporting and educating others on how to process their grief in creative and authentic ways, promoting healing through the arts and sharing stories in community. She received her Bachelor of Fine Arts in painting and photography from the University of Alberta, and her Masters of Fine Arts in creative writing from Lesley University in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Chute is a highly regarded public speaker and has traveled around the world presenting on art, writing, and the healing capacities of creativity. Her documentary film, also called Expecting Sunshine, subtitled, “The truth about pregnancy after loss” follows her second pregnancy after loss. She is widely published in anthologies and magazines, and her artwork has been exhibited internationally with critical acclaim. She lives in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada with her husband and their three living children. Expecting Sunshine: A Journey of Grief, Healing and Pregnancy After Loss will be available on April 2017 through She Writes Press wherever books are sold. Learn more about her book and documentary, Expecting Sunshine: The Truth About Pregnancy After Loss, at www.ExpectingSunshine.com.
Connect with Alexis Marie Chute on Facebook, LinkedIn Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Tumblr, YouTube, and at www.AlexisMarieChute.com, www.ExpectingSunshine.com, www.WantedChosenPlanned.com, www.AlexisMarieArt.com, and www.AlexisMarieWrites.com.
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This book would be a big help for my Doula career
Thank you for the chance to win a copy of this book. My toddler son passed away in 2011. It has been a difficult journey. I am looking forward to reading Alexis Marie Chute’s book.