Author Talk and Book Signing: Emily Bracale “Our Last Six Months: an Illustrated Memoir about Death, Cancer, End-of-life Care, Love, Family, and Forgiveness”

Description

Author and artist Emily Bracale recounts the last six months of Aubrey Bart’s life in her memoir “Our Last Six Months: an Illustrated Memoir about Death, Cancer, End-of-life Care, Love, Family, and Forgiveness.” Join her at the Jesup Memorial Library on Wednesday, May 30 at 7 p.m. as she talks about the memoir, her creative process and more. Bracale also will lead a memoir writing workshop at the Jesup on Saturday, June 2 at 11 a.m.
 
“Our Last Six Months” follows Bart as he reveals to his ex-wife and 13-year-old son that he has Stage 4 cancer. The book weaves together the story visually, through hundreds of cartoons, comics, and painted illustrations, and through text. It follows the path the family takes as Bart comes to terms with his own mortality and his experiences with hospitals, nursing care and end-of-life decisions. While this is one person’s story, it also showcases what millions of people in the U.S. go through when dealing with end-of-life choices and healthcare, the governmental and health insurance bureaucracies and the profound effects of poverty on health. It also highlights the generosity of Aubrey’s family, friends and community which made a profound difference.
 
 “This is more than a memoir-it is an essential guidebook for others in similar difficult situations,” says Jeanie Smith, board president of The Whole Heath Center. “The author gives us a direct and true account in an honest and openhearted way, never maudlin or sentimental. Illustrations help to tell this story with warmth and humor. This is a gem of a book.”
 
Bracale is a lifelong artist and educator. She is a graduate of the Interlochen Arts Academy and College of the Atlantic. Her professional experience includes classroom teaching at public and private schools, art education for children and adults, graphic design, landscape design, watercolor landscape painting and nonfiction writing. She is the author and illustrator of “In the Lyme-Light: Portraits of Illness and Healing” and the revised edition, “In the Lyme-Light II: Portraits of Illness and Healing.”
 
Books will be on sale that night and both events are free and open to the public. For more information about “Our Last Six Months” visit www.ourlastsixmonthsbook.com and for more information on either event contact mrice@jesuplibrary.org or 207-288-4245.