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"Rebecca Spiegel is working as a teacher in New Orleans when she learns of her sister's suicide. Only after the funeral does shock give way to grief--and to many questions. How could Emily do this to herself? How could she have abandoned all those who loved her? And what could have been done differently to prevent this devastating loss? In the days and weeks that follow, Spiegel embarks on a search for answers. She unpacks family history, documents the last traces of her sister's life, and questions what more she could have done to prevent her death. What she finds instead is that there is no narrative on the other side of grief like this. There is no answer, no easy resolution--only those that leave and those that keep living. Unflinchingly honest, visceral, and raw, this courageous elegy lays bare the hard realities of surviving the loss of a loved one."--
About the author
Rebecca Spiegel teaches writing in Philadelphia, where she lives with her family.
She holds an MFA in creative writing from the University of North Carolina Wilmington, and
Without Her is her first book.
Summary
“What is comfort but a filament between past and present with some sort of future implied? In other words, safety. In other words, care. I know it is possible to find these things without her—I know they are there. But it can be so hard to ask. So much is unknown.”
Rebecca Spiegel is working as a teacher in New Orleans when she learns of her sister’s suicide. Only after the funeral does shock give way to grief—and to many questions. How could Emily do this to herself? How could she have abandoned all those who loved her? And what could have been done differently to prevent this devastating loss?
In the days and weeks that follow, Spiegel embarks on a search for answers. She unpacks family history, documents the last traces of her sister’s life, and questions what more she could have done to prevent her death. Unsparingly honest and resistant to simple solutions, “This clear-eyed reckoning offers a path toward understanding what always exists on the other side of grief: the joyful fact of a deep and abiding love” (Camille T. Dungy).
Foreword
- National media campaign, including television, radio, podcast, and print and online interviews, features, profiles, original essays, first serial placement, and op-eds
- National radio campaign, including national and regional NPR
- Widespread galley distribution, include Goodreads giveaways
- Comprehensive Indies Introduce campaign
- Consumer advertising campaign at publication targeting top literary sites
- Online and social media campaign, including giveaways, and digital graphics
- Dedicated bookstagrammer and influencer galley mailing
- Extensive library and academic marketing including galley giveaways
- Author book launch in Philadelphia
- Outreach to national mental health organizations for partnerships including Suicide Prevention and Awareness Month (September)
- Newsletter promotion via the publisher to readers, sales and academic lists of more than 70K contacts
