March 15, 2010 issue
Author publishes book about grief
By Landis Homes staffLITITZ, Pa. — After her husband’s death, Janelle Shantz Hertzler began writing poetry for herself.
Janelle Shantz Hertzler
“I did not set out to publish when I started writing these poems,” Hertzler said. “I set out to find healing through writing. The poems express raw emotion. And I found that as I wrote them, emotion that seemed frozen within me began to thaw.”
But when she was finished, her writing became Seasons of Solace: A Story of Healing Through Photos and Poems.
She will give a poetry reading and sign her book at 1 p.m. March 25 in West Bethany Chapel at Landis Homes.
Hertzler describes her journey through grief after the loss of her husband in 2005, while they were serving in Thailand along with their 1-year-old son.
Seasons of Solace places narrative and poetry alongside nature photos that metaphorically speak to the emotions.
Hertzler was born in Alberta. She spent eight years in Thailand teaching English and working in leadership development. She and her son live in Akron.
Hertzler writes in the preface of the book: “Though these poems and photos are an expression of a journey through grief, my hope is that they will be meaningful to people in all seasons of life. Loss is something we all face, and I hope that you will be encouraged to find your own way to give expression to your journey as you read mine.”
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