Cathy Sosnowsky's poems stand testament to a grieving mother's love for her son who died in an accident just days after his seventeenth birthday. Although these poems began as therapy, 'poetic medicine' for a wounded heart, the book is ultimately a celebration of the art of making, of the ability to find joy even in despair. A former college instructor of English, the author now works with other bereaved parents and gives workshops on writing as a means of healing.
After teaching poetry as a college instructor for many years, Cathy Sosnowsky turned to writing for solace after the loss of her three children, one to a fatal and tragic accident and two to addiction. Her poetry collection, Holding On: Poems for Alex (Granville Island Publishing, 2001), traces her passage through grief and her memoir, Snapshots: A Story of Love, Loss and Life (Granville Island Publishing, 2010), includes the story of losing her two adopted children to addiction. Cathys writing has also appeared in the Vancouver Sun, the Globe & Mail, the Georgia Straight, and Pacific Yachting. She has presented about grief and writing worldwide, conducts writing workshops, and is the chapter leader and newsletter editor of the North Shore Compassionate Friends, a parents bereavement group. Her latest book, Finding Heartstone, is a testimony to the healing power of writing, home cooking, and nature. Cathy lives in North Vancouver, BC.