Guest Blogger, Carole Geithner, author of If Only
Author and clinical social worker Carole Geithner has recently re-released her coming-of-age novel, If Only, shining a realistic light on navigating grief in adolescents. Moving and sometimes humorous, If Only tells the story of 13-year-old Corinna’s first year struggling with the aching loss of her mother to cancer while having to navigate the more typical coming-of-age dilemmas, with all their awkward intensity.
Sadly, the COVID-19 pandemic has elevated grief to a new level of consciousness in our homes and schools. If Only takes place before COVID-19, but its relevance to bringing grief out of the shadows in homes, schools, neighborhoods, and extended families is especially important for readers today.
“While we all experience grief differently, it is my hope that through Corinna’s story, those who are supporting a loved one may develop new understandings. And for those experiencing grief themselves, it is my hope that they find solace and a new friend in Corinna on their journey,” said Carole.
Excerpt from the book
It’s confusing how I want people to acknowledge my mom’s death, but I don’t want to have to talk about it if I’m not in the right mood or place, which is a lot of the time. I think that my father would call that an oxymoron or a conundrum or some other fancy teacher word. Someone should invent a signaling system for awkward but important topics. Green for “It’s a good time,” and red for “It’s not a good time; try again later.” Maybe that’s how I’ll make my million bucks.
About the Author
The emotional power of If Only is informed by Carole’s more than twenty years of experience as a clinical social worker, working with scores of children who have had a parent die, as well as adults whose childhoods were shaped by parent loss. In addition to her clinical practice, Carole leads Writing to Heal workshops for non-profit service organizations. She previously served as an Assistant Clinical Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at George Washington University School of Medicine.
For more information on the book and links to purchase, please visit: Carolegeithner.com. Also, be sure to follow If Only on Facebook!
We will be giving away a copy of If Only to one lucky winner.
Choose one or more ways to enter:
- Sign up for email notifications at ChildLifeMommy.com and leave a comment below.
- Facebook: Follow Child Life Mommy and tag two friends.
- Facebook: Follow If Only and leave a comment.
- Instagram: Follow @ChildLifeMommy and tag two friends in the post.
- Twitter: Follow, Like, and RT the post to @ChildLifeMommy
Good luck, the winner will be chosen by 5/1/21. Open to U.S. and Canada residents.
