Q1. Hello, can you please introduce yourself? Readers would love to know more about you.
My name is Mal and I’ve been in healthcare for nearly 30 years. Prior to that I worked in marketing and advertising where I designed marketing materials and NHL and NFL memorabilia. I’m married and have two fur babies. In 2006 my only child Brittany passed away at the age of 17. This changed the trajectory of my life and I had to make a choice to live a life of loss or live a life that honors my daughter. I’m a blogger and for the most part the topics have been about my own personal grief journey.
I love football, both college and professional. My favorite teams are the Indianapolis Colts and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Q2. What were the key challenges you faced while writing your book “Grief Blessings”?
Because this is a memoir about my personal grief journey, I had to revisit moments that were painful. The memories were hard to face at times and I found I had to deal with some of the feelings such as anger and forgiveness in order to move forward.
Q3. What books or authors have most influenced your own writing?
Susan Duke and Hope Edelman both inspired me to write about my own experience. Susan’s book Grieving Forward resonated with my own personal experience and I’ve sent that book to many people I’ve met along the way. Hope’s book helped me tremendously after the death of my mom.
Q4. What’s your favourite spot to visit in your own country? And what makes it so special to you?
Florida is my favorite spot to visit. Specifically the beach as for me, I find it spiritually healing to sit and meditate or just simply enjoy the peace and quiet and the way the waves sound as they crash the beach.
Q5. Is there lots to do before you dive in and start writing a book?
Yes, while my book is based on my blog, My Soul Speaks, I researched other books on grief and explored grief support groups to find out how others managed their own grief.
Q6. How long did it take you to write your book ‘Grief Blessings’?
Ten years.
Q7. On what platforms can readers buy your books?
Book Baby the publisher: https://store.bookbaby.com/book/grief-blessings
Amazon or Barnes and Noble – on-line
For signed copies, I’m happy to provide a signed copy if a reader would like.
Q8. Tell us about the process of coming up with the book cover and the title ‘Grief Blessings’?
I designed four versions and had friends and family choose which one they like. I created the book cover designs so that my readers/followers from my blog My Soul Speaks would quickly identify it as it is similar to the blog. The name is also from the blog.
Q9. When writing a book how do you keep things fresh, for both your readers and also yourself?
I infused the story of my daughter and the experience of losing her with my personal journey through the grief process. Providing resources and how I used them to help heal my broken heart. That is still a work in progress for me. I learn something new every day from many people I meet.
Q10. What is the most valuable piece of advice you’ve been given about writing?
I found that over time keeping a journal would come to be the very thing I needed to record my thoughts and feelings and get them out of my head/heart and onto paper where I could measure my progress. It became the foundation of my book. The thoughts and feelings I was having at any particular moment or holiday were written without regard to punctuation or writing style – it was purely me pouring out my heart and pain onto paper.
I recommend journaling as a means to “clean out” the thoughts and help define the future and purpose of your life.
Grief Blessings by Mal Moss on Amazon
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