Thirteen months after my Dearheart’s death, I had a sudden thought: maybe I’m ready to think about writing another book.

Now almost two years after that fleeting thought, I’ve submitted the manuscript for my new book to my publisher, and I’m ready to share the title and cover with you:

I love the deep teal of the cover with its gold lettering, the turbulent waves of grief, and the lighthouse beacon shining hope. More than any of my other books, this one holds my heart between its covers, for in it I share my journey of early, middle, and present grief.

Thank you, dear readers, for being part of this journey with me. I offer this book to you as a witness to faith and hope beyond our sorrows, as my prayer for all who are weary and weighed down by grief. It’s a prayer for God’s rest in body, mind, soul, and spirit, a prayer for God’s goodness and mercy to raise up those who are struggling, encourage the downcast, and work healing and renewal for all.

This is the copy from the back cover of the book:

When a shattered dream breaks your heart, how do you learn to hope again?

When April Yamasaki and her husband married, they were 21 and full of dreams. After almost 45 years of marriage, those dreams fell apart as April found herself grieving the death of her husband. How could life go on without him? Yet even in the depths of her sorrows, she experienced God’s goodness and mercy—big enough for her soul’s lament, longer and deeper and wider than our laments can ever be.

Whether you’re grieving the loss of a loved one, a job, a marriage, a church community, or a dream, you too may find yourself wondering, How can I go on? What hope is there for the road ahead?

Whatever loss you’re living with, you will find comfort in these short, easily digestible readings, accompanied by prayers and practices of hope, from a seasoned devotional writer. Grounded in Scripture, personal experience, and a pastoral heart, Hope Beyond Our Sorrows invites readers to journey with grief, find a new way forward, and live with faith and hope beyond their broken dreams.

Hope Beyond Our Sorrows: Learning to Live with Life-Changing Grief is scheduled for release by Herald Press on June 24, 2025, and it’s already listed on Amazon!

Over the next months, I’ll have more to say about launch plans, book giveaways, and all the other fun things that are part of publishing a book. And for some of the-behind-the-scenes story of my book’s journey, please check out my new Substack—it’s a great place for readers and writers, and you can read and subscribe for free. I’ve published just three posts there so far:

Writing as a Spiritual Journey: On the Way or at a Way Station?

When Your Editor Leaves and Doesn’t Come Back (and no, this bump in my writing journey wasn’t my fault—honest!)

On Finally Being Finished: Is a piece of writing ever really finished, and how do you know?

Thank you, dear readers, from my heart to yours.