NPR's "Here and Now," and NY Times & AJN Columns
Plus, RIP Jill Kneerim, my literary agent
Hi Everyone,
It’s been awhile since I sent out a HEALING Newsletter. I was busy on book tour, but also needed some healing myself from laryngitis. It wasn’t Covid, but I was still pretty sick. My health has almost completely returned and I have many things to share.
I’m on NPR’s “Here and Now”
Due to my lifetime love of NPR it feels extra-special to be on one of the fabled NPR shows. For THE SHIFT, it was “Fresh Air,” and for HEALING, “Here and Now.” I really enjoyed doing this interview. Hope you enjoy listening to it: 'Healing' explores the journey of an oncology nurse turned patient Theresa Brown.
Two new columns
I am pleased and proud to share a new New York Times Opinion “Guest Essay” co-authored with friend and colleague Gabriel Winant: When Health Care Workers Are Protected, Patients Are, Too. The column argues for “Labor Peace” as a way to bring better working conditions to health care facilities by forcing employers to work with staff. It has historical precedent. Give the column a read and leave a comment below or write back to me.
I also have a new column out in the American Journal of Nursing, this one on the importance of nurses taking care of ourselves: A Time to Heal: Taking a Break from Nursing After a Cancer Diagnosis. As a bonus, I did a podcast about Healing with Shawn Kennedy, the Editor-in Chief of AJN, and it is attached at the bottom of the column. One of my favorite quotations about health care workers and the struggle to look out for ourselves while caring adequately for patients is in the graphic below.
I’ve done quite a few interviews and podcasts, but don’t have a simple way to send out the links. Following me on twitter @TheresaBrown is probably the best way to find out about them. Also, my publisher, Algonquin, is doing ads for Healing this week in The New York Times in honor of Nurses’ Week. It’s a bit of a “Where’s Waldo” thing because we don’t know exactly who will see them, or when, but if you do, send me a screenshot and I’ll post it on Instagram (and give you credit!). I’m on IG as @TheresaBrownRN2021.
Jill Kneerim dies of bladder cancer
Jill Kneerim was my agent and my friend. She was diagnosed when I was writing Healing and learned she had metastatic disease right around when I finished Healing. Her death came at the end of my first real week of book promotion. I emphasize the timing because it seemed eerie—why should someone I care about so much, who was so much a part of my new book, be dying of cancer right as the book comes into the world? There is no good answer to that question and Jill herself would probably not want me to dwell on it. She would encourage me to work hard on launching the book and grieve her death when I have time—for the most part, that is exactly what I have done. You may enjoy reading about her on her agency’s website. Scroll down to see book acknowledgements used as memorials: Celebrating the Life of Jill Kneerim.
Webinar this Thursday (it’s Canadian!)
To celebrate Nurses’ Week I’m doing a webinar this Thursday evening at 7:30p ET via the “Nurses Thrive Club.” You can read about it and sign up here: “Healing Nurses After Covid.” The idea is to talk Healing—the book and the task—not lighting yourself on fire to keep someone else warm, and whatever nurses want to discuss. Please come.
All three of my kids just got Covid, one after the other. America may be done with Covid, but Covid is still here, like an unwelcome guest who won’t take the hint. Stay safe, everyone. On a positive note—my daughters’ Ultimate Frisbee team here at U Pitt just qualified for the National Tournament in College Ultimate. Milwaukee here we come!
It’s sunny and warm here in Pittsburgh today. Hope it’s lovely where you are, too. A reminder that you can buy Healing wherever books are sold. Also, I would love to zoom into your book group. Invite me here: Book Club Guides.
Hugs,
Theresa
Theresa, congratulations on all of the props you're getting for your book. Can't wait to dig into the book. And I'm so so sorry about your agent, Jill Kneerim.
I’m so sorry to hear about Jill’s death. I know you had been expecting it, but it must have been such sad news. I’m sending a hug.
Congratulations to M and S and the whole team!