I'm Back!

Thanks for checking in. After I get over what it means to be on a book tour I plan to return to the stories of Blowing on Embers and the stories that others tell me and send me.

I have been on a whirlwind tour of readings about "Blowing on Embers". The book has just been chosen as one of the top nonfiction books for this fall. Here's the review:

http://www.insidebayarea.com/bayarealiving/ci_7211972

Top fall book selections offer a wild mix of titles, local authors
By Kathleen Grant Geib, STAFF WRITER

LOCAL LITERATI shows off a particularly eclectic voice this edition. New poetry by Robert Hass shares space with children's books, Robert Reich offers an intelligent perspective on capitalism and democracy and television's "Creature Features" host John Stanley pens a vibrant book.

"Blowing on Embers: Stories for Hard Times" (Llumina Press, $15.95) by Ellen Pulleyblank Coffey of Berkeley. Surviving difficult life challenges from six women's perspectives.

Check out the site. Some of the other books listed look really interesting.

Another review of the book reads:

Blowing on Embers:Stories for Hard TimesEllen Pulleyblank Coffey
Reviewed by Debra Gaynor for ReviewYourBook.com, 10/07 Posted on Amazon

Some people break when hard times come into their life; others grow stronger. Ellen Pulleyblank Coffey shares the stories of women that faced adversity and how they survived. Despite differences in culture all people face difficulties. It is through sharing these stories we learn to cope.
As a child Ellen’s family avoided discussing things that were unpleasant. Perhaps that thought they were sheltering and protecting her. Such experiences though painful, prepare us for the tragedies of life. Ellen’s husband died of ALS. He lived on a respirator for several years until he turned it off.

Zepa was in her early seventies, living in war torn Kosova. One day the soldiers came and murdered her husband and sons. Zepa assumed the role of a leader in a culture where only men lead. Her strength held her family together. Even in her grief, she showed the tenacity to take action and save her family. Her story inspired Ellen to listen to and record the many tales in Blowing On Embers. The stories are divided into categories: Keepers rely on history and traditions of their families for strength and a source of resources that assist them to survive adversity. Seekers “focus on the present and search across age groups and cultures to find alternatives that strengthen their sense of independence. “Teachers connect their personal suffering with the suffering of others.”

We need to be prepared for disaster, for every one of us will face it in some
form. There are three phases of a catastrophe: “Crisis the unexpected events in our lives that leave us “overwhelmed and unable to think straight.” Life as we know it changes forever. In our struggles we want to withdrawal from others into a world of isolation, but we discover that we need people. Renewal is a time to go forward with new possibilities.
Blowing on Embers: Stories for Hard Times by Ellen Pulleyblank Coffey is a book we can all learn from. Regardless of whether we are facing a catastrophe now or will face one in the future, "Blowing on Embers: Stories for Hard Times" is a book that will strengthen you and will warm your heart.

I found this book to be both touching and supportive. Ellen has a talent for describing the situations I found myself drawn into the midst of the story. I found myself wiping the tears out of my eyes. I enjoyed this book. It is with honor that I highly recommend it to all for we all face adversity in our lives.

From Ellen: Hope you get a chance to read the book and if you do please send me your comments and stories .

Starting next time I am going to return to the stories of Keepers, Seekers and Teachers looking for the pivotal moments in their lives when they show us how they work to rewrite and strengthen their life stories of resilience. I'll be back soon. Keep in touch