Publications
​At heart2heartnc, we witness and honor the personal stories of those who are navigating dying time, death, and the survivors' path of loss, grief, and renewal. As a lifelong keeper of stories, founder and director Cathy Brooksie Edwards has published two anthologies—each a collection of powerful stories told by contributors from many walks of life. With her understanding of the healing power of storytelling, she weaves a tapestry of real-life experiences and celebrates the strength of community and the resilience of the human spirit.
Heartspace
Real Life Stories on Death and Dying
heart2heartnc's first anthology is a moving collection of personal stories about grief, loss, and love in death and dying. Nineteen contributors invite you into their lives and hearts as they share their most intimate experiences in tending to the loss of a child, a spouse, a parent, a friend, and a beloved.
These stories demonstrate the strength of community, the importance of ritual, and the resilience of the human spirit. You will be reminded that we are not alone in what we feel; and that dying time gives us the most precious gift—an awakening and a deepened appreciation of life.
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Heartspace is available for purchase on Amazon. All proceeds support heart2heartnc's events and services.
Heartspace II
Real Life Stories on Loss and Renewal
The second anthology features stories from twenty-two contributors who share their journey of turning loss and grief into growth and healing.
From the heartache of losing a loved one to the expanded grief of losing one's entire childhood, culture, birthplace, birth mother, homeland, or homestead, the storytellers share their devastating losses, the darkness of pain and suffering, and the healing that comes from walking through the fire. Each of these unique stories illustrate the vastness of heartache and path to renewal.
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Heartspace II is available for purchase on Amazon. All proceeds support heart2heartnc's events and services.
Welcome to Death Faire:
Love, Loss, and Healing in a
Small Southern Town
Born from heartbreak and a community transformed by grief, Welcome to Death Faire is a collection of powerful stories, essays, poems, and rituals—all woven together with hauntingly beautiful images. It speaks to the courage of celebrating life, embracing death, and all that lies between.
Curated by Tami Schwerin, this 160-page book is rooted in the spirit of the decade-long evolution of Death Faire—an annual event in the small town of Pittsboro, North Carolina, that was inspired by the devastating loss of Schwerin’s son, Zafer. Welcome to Death Faire brings the meaning and essence of this beloved event—and our shared human experience—to the page in words and images. ​​​Learn more about this collaborative, community-rooted book.​
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Welcome to Death Faire is available for purchase. Proceeds from sales go to supporting Death Faire and other grief projects in Chatham County, NC.
