"Sara My Sara" by Florence Wetzel
Manage episode 438040820 series 3351993
Florence Wetzel was born 1962 in Brooklyn, NY. Her latest book, “Sara My Sara: A Memoir of Friendship and Loss,” was released in July 2024. Florence’s novels include “The Woman Who Went Overboard: A Thriller” and “The Grand Man: A Swedish Mystery.” She has also authored a horror short story collection, a book of poems and memoirs, and co-authored jazz clarinetist Perry Robinson’s autobiography.
You can learn more about Florence Wetzel and her work on Link Tree at: https://linktr.ee/FlorenceWetzel
TOPICS OF CONVERSATION
- About "Sara My Sara" and the inspiration for writing the book.
- Writing a memoir/biography in lyric prose.
- Balancing grief with levity.
- The grief process and change of perspective.
- Writing to assist the healing process.
- Unexpected insights, realizations, and gifts.
- What's next for Florence Wetzel?
An intimate and moving exploration of friendship, unexpected loss, and the gifts revealed in grief’s aftermath.
Author Florence Wetzel is delighted when her elderly mother Marion develops a close bond with Sara, her new housekeeper. When Marion falls ill, Florence and Sara work together to take care of her, forging their own warm friendship in the process.
Eighteen months after Marion’s death, Sara is diagnosed with an aggressive brain cancer called glioblastoma, with no more than two years left to live. Florence does her best to enjoy the remaining months with Sara, while at the same time watching helplessly as her beloved friend disappears.
When Sara dies, Florence finds herself mute with grief. Amid the chaos of the global pandemic, she embarks on a journey throughout Europe, trying to find a place in the world after her many losses.
Laced with humor and filled with beloved dogs, strong coffee, and even a touch of Botox, Sara My Sara is an honest exploration of a warm friendship, the devastation wrought by cancer, and the unexpected gifts in the middle of grief.
179 episode