Blog Tour and Giveaway: Grief Exposed: Giving a Voice to the Unspeaking by Mike Sollom

About the Book

Book: Grief Exposed: Giving a Voice to the Unspeaking

Author: Mike Sollom

Genre: Non-fiction / Grief

Release date: March 15, 2022

In those dreadful early days and nights after Mike’s son died, the only thing he could think to do, when he collided with the morbid memories of his son’s suffering and the unbearable ache of Jim’s absence, was to find some way to describe how he was feeling. So, he found a spiral-bound notebook and wrote. And wrote and wrote and wrote.

Mike believed if he could assign words to the grief and pain, he might find a way to endure them.  If he could bring those words into the light, it might make the whole thing bearable.   Many of the words were dark and raw and angry and did little more than chronicle ten interminable years of wrestling and railing. But there were island of hope and yes, there were words of light.

Through the gentle and generous encouragement of friends, Mike came to wonder if those words of light, which he discovered in the darkest of nights, might also help someone else endure the unbearable realities of their grief and loss—that they might become someone’s guide.  If they could, then how could he keep those words buried in a stack of spiral-bound notebooks?

 

Click here to get your copy!

 

About the Author

Mike Sollom is a hard-working, Midwest-born, farm boy married to his high school sweetheart. He and LuAnn have raised four children.

Mike is the son of a father who died of cancer at a young age. He is the father of a son who also died of cancer at an even younger age.

In the consequences and aftermath of their son’s death, Mike and LuAnn lost nearly everything. They are “houseless” and living the challenging and adventurous life of modern-day nomads and pilgrims. You can follow their journey at www.mikesollom.com.

 

More from Mike

My “One Day” Has Come

“One day you will tell the story of how you overcame what you went through and it will become someone else’s survival guide.”

I don’t know who wrote that.  I saw it on a poster with no credit given.  But it’s a good description of how this book came to be and what I hope will be its outcome—its path and its purpose.

Here’s the truth of it: I didn’t set out to write anything. Much less a book.  I still don’t see myself as a writer.  Yet, here I am.

I went somewhere I didn’t want to go.  I went through something I never dreamed I’d have to go through.  I didn’t have a choice.  I went there.  I went through it. And now I’m telling my story.

My first-born son died of cancer.

In those dreadful early days and nights after Jim died, the only thing I could think to do—when I collided with the morbid memories of his suffering and the unbearable ache of his absence—was to find some way to describe how I was feeling. So, I found a spiral-bound notebook and wrote. And wrote and wrote and wrote.

I believed if I could assign words to the grief and pain, I might find a way to endure them.  If I could bring those words into the light, it might make the whole thing bearable.   Many of the words were dark and raw and angry and did little more than chronicle ten interminable years of wrestling and railing. But there were islands of hope and yes, there were words of light.

Through the gentle and generous encouragement of friends, I came to wonder if those words of light, which I discovered in the darkest of nights, might also help someone else endure the unspeakable realities of their grief and loss—that my voice might become someone’s “survival guide.”  If so, then how could I keep those words buried in a stack of spiral-bound notebooks just because I didn’t see myself as a writer?

I’m taking a huge risk by plunging back into that bottomless pit of loss and dragging myself through that incessant slog of sorrow once again, unclear of the worth or usefulness of the outcome. I’m exposing my most intimate grief, with all its messiness and vulnerability, uncertain of its reception or the consequences it will bring. I’m giving a voice—my voice—to the unspeakable pain of death and suffering, unaware of who will hear me or how they will respond. Yet, in the face of all of that, I’ve decided it’s a risk I’m willing to take.

“One day you will tell the story of how you overcame what you went through and it will become someone else’s survival guide.”

I guess my “one day” has come.

Blog Stops

Inklings and notions, April 15

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, April 16 (Spotlight)

Artistic Nobody, April 16 (Author Interview)

Locks, Hooks and Books, April 17

Guild Master, April 18 (Author Interview)

Texas Book-aholic, April 19

For Him and My Family, April 20

An Author’s Take, April 21

Stories By Gina, April 22 (Author Interview)

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, April 22

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, April 23

deb’s Book Review, April 24

Spoken from the Heart, April 25 (Author Interview)

Miriam Jacob, April 26

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, April 27

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, April 28

Giveaway

To celebrate his tour, Mike is giving away the grand prize of a signed copy of the book!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/1cc7f/grief-exposed-celebration-tour-giveaway

My Review

I have to admit as the first anniversary of my beloved husband’s passing nears, Grief Exposed: Giving a Voice to the Unspeakable was not an easy book to get through. However, I appreciate Mike Sollom’s courage to tell his story. His words really spoke to me. I understand what he was meaning as he navigated through the tragedy of losing his son. So many who have never had such a profound loss, will never understand the grief and impact of the survivors’ lives. Even though my loss was not a child, but I could relate to his despair, not wanting or knowing how to go on, and those well meaning people who only make the feelings even worse. Thank you, Mike, for sharing your beautiful son. 

Grief Exposed: Giving a Voice to the Unspeakable is getting a very well deserved five plus stars from me. I highly recommend it for readers who are unfortunately part of the grief club. It would, also, be excellent book to read for those who know of someone who is grieving. It will help them on what to do and not to do on what the griever is experiencing. 

I received a digital copy of Grief Exposed: Giving a Voice to the Unspeakable from the publisher, but was not required to write a positive review. This review is one hundred percent my own honest opinion.