Why I Explore Grief

When I began writing The Grief Trilogy, I wanted to explore the multifaceted journey of grief through three distinct stages: acceptance, anger, and regression. Each book features different characters, but a common thread of loss connects them all. The first installment, Flower, originally started as a screenplay in 2017. Unable to secure the funding to tell the story at the caliber it deserved, I pivoted to a novel format. This was the first of the three facets of grief I wanted to explore: the journey towards acceptance.

Flower is my attempt to find comedy and absurdity in dark times, a coping mechanism I often turn to. Bradley Wales, the protagonist, is a reflection of this approach. He’s an ordinary man living a mundane life, suddenly faced with an extravagant, bizarre diagnosis that threatens his normalcy. He is the invisible figure drifting through life with nothing profound to say, and that's okay. However, this way of life is turned upside down when a bee string causes sunflower petals to grow from his face. He is forced to tackle a significant health issue in the public eye, all while balancing a struggling marriage, a manipulative medical professional, and more.

This setup allowed me to explore vulnerability, not just in Bradley and his wife Jessica, but in myself as a writer. I held onto these characters for so long that completing the story felt both necessary and heartbreaking. It was weird to say goodbye to these characters. While The Grief Trilogy continues on, Bradley's chapter ends with Flower. In a way, I had to grieve that as well.

While I initially intended for Flower to have a darker conclusion, I realized that ending on a note of hopelessness was the wrong message. Grief often brings a sense of despair, but it’s up to us to find a way to work through it and make the best of our situation. Thus, The Grief Trilogy aims to end on a positive note, reflecting the resilience that we all can find within ourselves, even in our darkest moments. Readers (including myself) seem relieved by the ending, and I'm happy for that.

Through The Grief Trilogy, I want to illustrate that while grief may initially feel insurmountable, there is always a path forward. This trilogy is not just about the pain of loss but about the human capacity to adapt, cope, and ultimately find hope again. Flower sets the tone with Bradley’s unique, almost absurd battle—facing a bizarre condition while yearning for a normal life. His journey is emblematic of the broader human experience: dealing with unexpected challenges, navigating emotional turmoil, and discovering that, even in our darkest times, there can be light.

Writing this trilogy has been a deeply personal journey for me. Just as Bradley is vulnerable in facing his condition, I am vulnerable in sharing these stories.

The Grief Trilogy will continue into 2025, with the next of the series releasing in Fall 2024.

I hope readers will see themselves in these characters and find comfort in knowing that while grief may change us, it does not have to define us. My goal is to provide a narrative that resonates with anyone who has experienced loss, reminding us all that even in grief, there is always a glimmer of hope.

Flower is currently available exclusively on Amazon.