The Irony of Asking for Support on Blackout Friday
But here's why I'm doing it anyway
Today is Blackout Friday. Protesters are calling on Americans to skip shopping at big businesses on Fridays to show just how much power consumers really have.
Meanwhile, I am sending a newsletter about pre-ordering my book.
Yes, I see the irony of this.
**Caveat** I recognize Blackout Friday is less about me--debut author...publishing with a small woman-owned publishing company--Writing Brave Press...seeking to connect with and support local indie bookstores...(thank you Aaron’s Books and Pocket Books Shop for having my book available for pre-order.)
And YET--I would be remiss if I didn't name this reality.
I still ask YOU to"consume" something from me. I ask YOU to promote this book within your networks, including social media. I ask YOU to help me leverage algorithms that my Gen-X perimenopausal brain doesn't get. These are a lot of asks…or invitations.
The World Needed A New Path Yesterday
You see, this week, I had several reminders of why I wrote this book, founded a New Path, and do the work that I do. Last Saturday, a grieving person, lost in their pain, returned to the ICU where their loved one had died, taking staff hostage. By the end of it, two more lives were lost. This incident is close to home as the hospital is in the neighboring county, and I know the chaplains there. On the surface, some see one tragic incident. I see evidence of a system that doesn’t tend to healthcare providers, staff, or the patients and families they serve. Too often care providers are expected to work miracles, be perfect, and have no emotions. Too frequently those receiving care feel alone, misunderstood, unseen, unheard. You get the picture.
Wednesday, I attended a local connection group lunch where I announced the pre-order for A New Path. After lunch, five women approached me to learn how to order the book because they were or had a person who was…different versions of my story. Women who felt alone, misunderstood, unseen, unheard, or unsure what to do, seeking something…anything to speak about how we face life and all the logistics when the people we love begin the dying process or have died.
Later Wednesday, I held space for a friend as she disclosed that a dear friend of hers, and an acquaintance of mine, died by suicide earlier this week. As I held space for my friend’s grief, I felt mine rise. I thought about the additional pain and compounded suffering that the “settling affairs process” brings and how it often exacerbates the grief that survivors feel.
All these things led me to write and put this out here TODAY.
Our collective fear of mortality and grief illiteracy have been blacked out for too long
In the marrow of my bones and the essence of my soul I believe that our collective fear of mortality and grief illiteracy play ENORMOUS parts in what ails us as a we. The systems that grievers must engage after death are arduous. The more out of order the death, the more onerous, long, and convoluted the road. Too frequently survivors hear variations of “this is just how it (the system) works/is. “ And I get that. The moral injury and pain those serving in the trenches of the systems face and feel is very real.
Well, friends—we make up the system. We created it. Death is a part of life. How we are with ourselves and one another in the process of dying and after death—we can change. The change may begin by identifying what happens inside us when we face death and feel grief, educating ourselves about how the systems work, and building connections with one another so that in times of crisis and loss, we are less alone.
This seemed too important not to send—even on Blackout Friday. I ask you to pre-order A New Path, share the word about it on all your socials, shine a light on this topic, and join me in making space for grief outside the therapy room.
What does support for me look like?
Share Social Media: A post, story, or quick shout-out would mean so much. The more people see your post and learn about the book, the better. Why not take a photo of yourself with the book and a cup of coffee, write a short post about one thing you learned, or share the pre-order link? I encourage you to be creative and have fun with this! Here is a link to a few graphics and a draft caption you can use while posting.
Pre-Order: Pre-orders help get a book noticed, especially for a first-time author like me! Please consider ordering a copy for yourself or anyone you think might benefit.
Leave a Review: Once the book is out, reviews on platforms like GoodReads and Bookshop.org can help boost visibility.
Request the Book at Your Local Library: By asking your library to carry A New Path, you’re helping to make it more accessible to those who need it.
Talk About the Book: Word-of-mouth is so powerful! If you know someone who might be interested in the book, sharing it with them would be fantastic.
Invite Megan: Are you part of a community that would benefit from learning about or discussing these topics? I'd love to come to you! We could host a workshop, book signing, or event that fits your group well.
Thank you all for being here. If you’ve read this far, thank you for pausing with me and allowing my words into your mind and world.
Take good care.
With you on the journey,
Megan
A.K.A. The Accidental Matriarch
