Amazon Bestseller the Bereaved on Mother's Day

Anthology Helps Grieving Mothers Cope During Mother's Day

- Ironton, MO, May 7, 2013

The newly released Amazon Bestseller, Joy: Interrupted: An Anthology on Motherhood and Loss, helps grieving mothers cope during Mother's Day, according to editor Melissa Miles McCarter.

Joy, Interrupted: An Anthology on Motherhood and Loss has hit a chord for the bereaved, landing number five on Amazon's hot new releases list in the category of Grief and Bereavement. The book is on this bestseller list even though it has only been available for pre-order. The book will be available for purchase on Tuesday, May 7.

The editor, Melissa Miles McCarter, believes the early success of the book has to do with the upcoming Mother's Day. "Mother's Day is a difficult time for grieving mothers," said McCarter, "even if the loss was years ago. You want to celebrate the joyous experiences of mothering, but often you are only reminded of how that joy was interrupted."

The interruption of joy is a common theme in the anthology. Over fifty internationally acclaimed authors and artists contributed works having to do with motherhood and loss. Their contributions focus on many different types of loss, including adoption, estrangement, death of child, miscarriage, and infertility.

McCarter conceived of the book as a way to cope with the loss of her daughter to SIDS in 2003, an ectopic pregnancy a year later, and secondary infertility for the last nine years. "My joy of motherhood was interrupted and I wanted to read about other women who have had similar experiences," said McCarter.

The book is uniquely structured around the five stages of grief, mirroring the grief journey many go through. McCarter explained, "I wanted to show the process we often go through when coping with loss. I felt it was important to demonstrate all of the ways we try to process our grief."

Mother's Day is often trying for mothers who have had losses. In fact, the national organization RESOLVE, which supports women struggling with infertility, suggests sending a card to women who aren't able to conceive or have had pregnancy losses. Cathi Lambert, a blogger for "Open to Hope: Finding Hope After Loss" pointed out, "A parent's love needs to be acknowledged and celebrated" even after the death of a child.

McCarter thinks giving Joy, Interrupted: An Anthology on Motherhood and Loss to the bereaved is a great way to acknowledge a mother's love. "I really wish I had read the anthology before my first Mother's Day after my daughter died," McCarter said,"It would have helped me heal and feel less alone."

Joy, Interrupted: An Anthology on Motherhood and Loss can be preordered until May 7, when it is available for purchase, at the publisher's website fatdaddysfarm.org for a discounted price or on Amazon

Joy, Interrupted: An Anthology on Motherhood and Loss

Editor: Melissa Miles McCarter

Publisher: Fat Daddy's Farm

Release Date: May 7, 2013

ISBN: 978­0985235604

Price: $29.99