Below, Stephanie Sprenger tells the powerful story below of how she and Jessica Smock met and then came together to publish an original anthology, The HerStories Project, full of tales of female friendships. The way she talks about their journey is rich, poignant, and will touch your heart.
I am so in awe of what they have created together. As I said in my review, “The thing I love most about this anthology is that it embraces the truth of the female friendship, something so rare and beautiful. It’s the kind of book I want curl up with over a cup of hot tea. Kind of like meeting a friend for coffee but in my own living room–and in my cozy pajama pants, of course. It’s hug on paper from a very talented group of ladies.”
In short, HerStories needs to become your stories. As in, buy and read ASAP!! Now I’ll hush up and let Stephanie fill you in on this gorgeous work. And don’t forget to enter at the bottom for one of two copies of this book that are being given away here!
************************************************************************************
All women’s friendships tell a story: these sacred bonds define us, and contain our history within walls that are both fragile and powerful. The girlfriend who held your hand during a time of intense grief. The best friend who broke your heart. The woman who helped you find your footing and retain your sanity as a mother. The friendship that turned toxic. The person you don’t think you could survive without. The bonds of female friendship are among the most essential and distinct of all relationships. The friendships in the life of a woman serve as mirrors, reflecting who she was, how she has evolved, and revealing what she needs and craves in her life.
In February 2013, we—Jessica and Stephanie—met in a Facebook group for bloggers. Recognizing common interests, shared favorite authors, and a kinship in spite of stylistic differences, we reached out to each other through blog comments, Facebook posts, and eventually email. An idea was born. After we both read Susanna Sonnenberg’s book, She Matters: A Life in Friendships, we felt inspired to reflect on the friendships that had been most formative in our own lives. Feeling stirred up by this thought-provoking memoir, we realized that other women would most definitely want to share their own stories of friendship, and read the stories of others.
HerStories began as a series of blog posts, evolved into a new website, and eventually became a book — The HerStories Project: Women Explore the Joy, Pain, and Power of Female Friendship— a collection of essays about women’s friendship. We are thrilled to announce that as of today, the book is available!
In this book, 50 women writers paint real pictures of friendship; in addition to paying homage to the beauty and power of their relationships, they share the gritty details of bitter friendship breakups and uncomfortable life transitions. This anthology will enable readers to find their own stories in the words of others, cause them to reflect on their own unique friendship history, and perhaps even inspire them to rekindle connections with women who have shaped them. The authors of this book share their stories of friendship loss, enduring bonds from childhood, navigating the transition to motherhood, and renegotiating the role of friendship in their adult lives. The diverse essays in this collection will evoke tears, laughter, and a deep recognition and appreciation for the friends with whom women everywhere share their lives.
At the beginning of this book, you will find several chapters devoted to understanding friendship. Friendship experts Shasta Nelson and Carlin Flora help to illumine the nature of female friendship and why it is so significant in women’s lives.
Because so many women associate specific times of their life with different friendships, we have organized the book into four sections. In “What’s New,” we explore adult friendships- in real life and online. In “What’s Old,” you will read stories about childhood friendships as well as the relationships between sisters, mothers, and daughters. The “What’s Changed” section is devoted entirely to stories about friendship and motherhood. Our final section of the book, “What’s Lost,” includes stories of grief, loss, and friendship breakups. Whether you identify with the new mother who struggles with loneliness, the woman who looks forward to her social media notifications, the challenging and complex relationship of sisters, or the stories of friendships that have drifted apart, we believe you will recognize yourself somewhere in the pages of this book.
Each essay shines a light on a different aspect of friendship; Julie Burton and Kate Hall write about their relationships with their sisters; Dana Hemelt and Rose Townsend mourn the loss of dear friends; Kristi Campbell and Samantha Brinn Merel share their vulnerable stories of friendships that have drifted apart; Christine Woodruff and Lindsey Mead reflect on the women who helped them through their transition to motherhood.
Compiling this book–and building a new working friendship– has given us both a renewed appreciation of the importance of women’s friendship, which can be just as intimate as marriage and essential to emotional health. The essays in The HerStories Project reflect the multiple layers of women’s friendship- the joy, the pain, and the power.
You can learn more about our project and our fantastic contributors here, and our book is now available on Amazon!
************************************************************************
Okay, readers, I know you are now dying to get your hands on a copy of this treasure! Enter the Rafflecopter below for you chance to score one of two available copies. As long as you are 18 or older and a resident of the continental U.S., you are eligible to win!
Latest posts by Meredith (see all)
- Here One Moment Book Club Discussion - November 8, 2024
- Create Fun Halloween Decor with a Decoupage Pumpkin Craft! - October 21, 2024
- Slow Dance Book Club Discussion - September 13, 2024
Leave a Reply