It has now been six months since Californians closed schools, stayed home and went remote. No surprise, but I haven’t posted a blog update in all that time. Granted, I’ve had early elementary school learning, canceled summer camps, my own losses/grief, and applying for and starting a new full-time job to keep me busy. But there is another reason I haven’t written a blog post since then…
In the early days of the pandemic, when school closure looked like a two-week extension of spring break, a publisher approached me to write a book on postpartum depression. They saw a need in the market for a therapy based workbook for PPD and thought I would be the best fit to write it. They requested a fast turn around, but estimated that I could write it in 7-9 hours/week over 6 weeks. I had one day off each week during the week when my kids were at school, and figured I could use that day. Well, we all know how that worked out…
After long nights, early mornings and no days off, apart from birthdays and Mother’s Day (I easily put in 3x the hours they estimated), not to mention additional weeks of editing and revisions, I finally have a manuscript I am proud of. It is my absolute pleasure to announce it to the world today.
And guess what!? As of today you can purchase the book via pre-order on Amazon. Tip: click on “see all 12 images” on Amazon to preview not just the cover but some of the interior pages. The designers did an amazing job! Let me know what you think!
We’ve never needed a postpartum depression workbook more
All enthusiasm for pretty colors aside, the need for this postpartum depression workbook has never been higher. Before the pandemic, the incidence of PPD was 1 in 5 women. Now, rates of perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs) have doubled and tripled. Parents that identify as Black, Indigenous and other people of color have always had higher rates of PMADs and less access to appropriate treatment. Today, BIPOC parents suffer even higher rates of PMADs as they juggle racial battle fatigue and the disproportionate impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Priced at US $15.99, I am optimistic that this workbook will be an accessible way to increase support and healing for many.
What are your thoughts?