From the Lake House: A Mother’s Odyssey of Loss and Love by Kristen Rademacher
Publisher: She Writes Press (July 21, 2020)
Category: Memoir, Grief, Motherhood
Tour Dates August and September, 2020
ISBN: 978-1631528668
Available in Print and ebook,237 pages
Description From the Lake House by Kristen Rademacher
Dizzy with grief after a shattering breakup, Kristen did what any sensible thirty-nine-year-old woman would do: she fled, abandoning her well-ordered life in metropolitan Boston and impulsively relocating to a college town in North Carolina to start anew with a freshly divorced southerner.
Dismissing the neon signs that flashed Rebound Relationship, Kristen was charmed by the host of contrasts with her new beau. He loved hunting and country music, she loved yoga and NPR; he worried about nothing, she worried about everything. The luster of her new romance and small-town lifestyle soon―and predictably―faded, but by then a pregnancy test stick had lit up. As Kristen’s belly grew, so did her concern about the bond with her partner―and so did a fierce love for her unborn child. Ready or not, she was about to become a mother. And then, tragedy struck.
Poignant and insightful, From the Lake House explores the echoes of rash decisions and ill-fated relationships, the barren and disorienting days an aching mother faces without her baby, and the mysterious healing that can take root while rebuilding a life gutted from loss.
Advance Praise From the Lake House by Kristen Rademacher
“Over the course of this book, in well-structured, descriptive prose, Rademacher effectively leads readers through a gradually withering romantic relationship that culminates in a tragedy . . . Some of the most painful sections of the book are her loving letters to the little girl whom she held for but an hour, and whom she named Carly. It soon becomes clear that these missives helped to lead her back from a precipice of despair, so that she could finally face her future. A poignant and painful remembrance with comforting messages for the grieving.”-Kirkus Reviews
“Kristen Rademacher’s achingly honest memoir about her losses of place, partner, and much-anticipated baby daughter Carly resonates with courage and an abiding gratitude for the preciousness of life. A truly tender reflection about loss that illuminates the devastating experience of baby loss.”-Janel Atlas, writer and editor of They Were Still Born: Personal Stories about Stillbirth
“From the Lake House is an intimate, inspiring story of surviving in a world where blessings and tragedy walk hand in hand. Written with tender honesty and luscious language, it is a joy to read, even amidst the pangs of heartache and loss. As a bereaved mother, I found myself nodding in agreement with so many of Rademacher’s experiences of life after the death of a child . . . This book is for memoir-lovers and anyone who finds themselves in a turbulent relationship or who has said goodbye to a dearly loved child . . . Rademacher champions solitude for its healing capacities and the wholeness birthed from dogged, hard-earned resiliency. Perceptive and endearing, it is a moving saga of motherhood.”-Alexis Marie Chute, award-winning author of Expecting Sunshine: A Journey of Grief, Healing, and Pregnancy After Loss
“In this beautifully written and poignant memoir, we learn that though people and dreams die, relationships don’t. If we’re attuned, the dead can transform our lives, offering enduring love and guidance―and hope.”-Carol Henderson, author of Losing Malcolm: A Mother’s Journey Through Loss and Farther Along: The Writing Journey of Thirteen Bereaved Mothers
From the Lake House- A book review by GudReader
Different people struggle with feelings of grief differently some embark on hitting the road to new places thus finding an entirely new way of existing in this world. For book lovers there tends to be no question that books about grief can be an essential path to healing.
'From the Lakehouse' is just an exceptional memoir that tackles the grief of losing a child and the heartache and loss that comes along with it. The memoir which is written with sheer honesty and luscious language gives an account of a 39-year-old woman, Kristen Rademacher who happened to have a connection with the September 11th terrorist attack. This coupled with a sour break-up from her then-boyfriend forces her to hit the road leaving behind her past life and teaching career in Boston to a college town in North Carolina where she settles with a freshly divorced southerner named Jason.
Though the new couple has their differences owing to Jason's conservative nature and Rademacher’s liberal nature the two get along well, at least at first. It doesn't take long before she realizes she is pregnant. With time, she and Jason start feeling overly excited about the unborn child. Later tragedy strikes again this time so moving witnessing so many tragedies within a short time what does fate hold next for Rademacher?
True to the life coach nature in her Kristen Rademacher narrates about her losses in an encouraging way. Here she explores her evolving ideas about life, loss and death. In this poignant personal memoir, Kristen does a wonderful job of exposing to readers how one can give way to some transformative healing power of love while also recognizing the love that remains after a loss. 'From the Lake House' is one of the go-to reads for anyone who enjoys kicking back to a beautifully written memoir and also a powerful story. This memoir really reads like a novel which keeps the reader glued from page one!
About Kristen Rademacher
(c) C Clemons
Kristen Rademacher has lived in Chapel Hill, North Carolina since 2002, which is when she began writing. FROM THE LAKE HOUSE is her first memoir. With a Master’s Degree in Education and a Professional Coaching Certification, Kristen is an Academic Coach and ADHD Specialist at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She also leads trainings and presentations at national conferences on the topic of academic coaching.
Website: https://kristenrademacher.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kristenrademacherauthor/
Interview With Celtic Lady
Please tell us something about the book that is not in the summary.
One theme in From the Lake House is identity loss. After losing my baby girl, my relationship with her father soon fell apart, too. There I was, a relative newcomer in the town I'd relocated to for what became a doomed relationship, starting over on my own while grieving my daughter's death. As a nearly 40-year-old woman, I had to reimagine a life for myself. I was single again, I would likely remain childless, and I was scraping together an income after I'd lived comfortably as a teacher for years. I couldn't quite figure out where I fit in because I'd always pictured myself married with children. So in the book, I explore what I felt like navigating the loss of my identity and how I began to carve a new path.
What inspired you to write your memoir?
Overall, I wrote From the Lake House as a testament to my daughter, who was born still. I also wrote the book to give voice to stillbirth's unique grief, an often taboo subject. My writing group deserves a lot of credit in keeping the flame lit under my inspiration to complete the book. Early on, I'd discussed details of my loss with only a few people, but once I began meeting regularly with a small group of women writers, I shared more openly. I'd bring them 'test essays,' and they always wanted to hear more about that time in my life. After a while, they encouraged me to write the entire chronology of my story from start to finish, hinting that I might have a memoir in the making. So, my writing group supported me to develop the book and convinced me that my story is a good one to publish.
What does the lake house represent?
To me, the lake house represents a physical sanctuary and a rich and intense period in my life. In many ways, I was a shell of my former self when I'd crash-landed at that beautiful apartment situated on a peaceful lake. Because the lake house's surroundings were so lush and quiet, it was a perfect place to heal, take stock, and figure out how to put myself back into the world anew. I'd lived at this lake house for less than three years, but they were significant because of how much I grew and recovered during that time.
What is your favorite scene in the book? Why?
Toward the end of the book, I write about finding my footing. In one favorite scene, I'd dropped off a bunch of children's books at the local Ronald McDonald House to commemorate the anniversary of my daughter's birth (and death). Then I treated myself to a cup of hot cocoa at a favorite coffee shop. As I sipped my drink, the sun poured in through the windows and lit up my table, and I watched birds flitting from tree to tree. I felt peaceful and hopeful and imagined how my daughter's memory would live on through the books at the Ronald McDonald House for years to come. The simple act of taking myself to the café also felt like a small victory as I'd been walking the hard road of grief. I like this scene because it demonstrates how grace and healing show up in unexpected, ordinary moments. I also like this scene because years later, I still visit this café. It's one of Chapel Hill's iconic spots—a funky café tucked in the woods.
How long did it take you to complete?
Far too long! But to be fair, I didn't set out to write a memoir. The seeds of the memoir were planted back in 2005 when I'd started writing essays about the time of my life laid out in my book. It wasn't until 2010 that I actually started drafting the memoir in earnest, and in 2015, I completed the final edits. But then, I needed a few additional years to convince myself to publish. All told, I've been involved with From the Lake House in one form or another for fifteen years! If I write another book, my process will be much faster!
Tell us about your cover. Did you design it yourself?
I did not! My publisher, She Writes Press, has an incredible design team. Based on a detailed set of questions I'd answered about the themes and tone of my book, the designers drafted several cover designs. The process is very collaborative, and I fell in love with the version that became my final book cover. The singular chair facing trees across a small lake is very similar to the vista from my actual lake house. In addition, the cover design evokes the peaceful serenity of the lake house, and it reminds me of that restorative time in my life.
What is the most important message you wanted to convey to readers?
My book is most certainly about loss and grief. But, the larger message I wanted to convey is that gifts can be found on the other side of pain, such as redemption, resilience, and hope. To be human is to make mistakes, grieve, and feel lost at some point; through much of the memoir, this was very much my state of being. However, I did emerge from that difficult chapter with greater strength and compassion and the ability to feel more easily contented. My hope is that readers will be inspired by my memoir's overall message of hope.
What was the reaction of your family and friends when you told them you were writing your memoir?
Friends and family have been uniformly supportive throughout the writing and publishing process. In fact, when it came to publishing, they really played a significant role in nudging me forward.
Now that you published your memoir, could there be more published works in your future?
Yes—I will always write! I'm actually a fan of essays and admire the likes of writers like Anne Lamott and David Sedaris. I can see myself returning to writing essays. I have scores of unfinished compositions stuffed into folders on my laptop: I'd like to resurrect them and flesh out new ideas as well. One wouldn't necessarily know from reading From the Lake House, but I enjoy humorous writing and would like to share this other side of myself with readers.
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Giveaway From the Lake House by Kristen Rademacher
This giveaway is for 1 print copy for 3 winners and is open to the U.S. only. This giveaway ends September 19, 2020,midnight pacific time. Entries are accepted via Rafflecopter only.
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