Laura Fletcher is the author of The Grace in Grief: Healing and Hope after Miscarriage .
Fletcher, a certified birth and fertility doula, uses her personal experience and professional expertise to explore the need for a massive shift in how we approach fertility, pregnancy, and postpartum care. The Grace in Grief details her journey through four earth-shattering miscarriages after the birth of her first daughter. Fletcher’s transparency and authentic prose highlights the depths of her suffering and her path to healing, providing a relatable tale that will resonate with and bring comfort to millions of women who have endured their own challenges with fertility.
“Writing this book has been cathartic for me, and I hope to shine a light on the unfortunate realities of miscarriage and recurrent miscarriage. I want to help women find answers and overcome their struggles through tangible actions and mindfulness.” —Laura Fletcher
This is Laura’s interview:
What is your book about?
The Grace in Grief is about my struggle to overcome multiple miscarriages and the eventual birth of my second daughter.
What do you hope other people will take away from reading your book?
My hope is that individuals suffering infertility or miscarriage find a sense of solidarity, understanding, and hope. For those not directly suffering, I hope they take away a sense of urgency regarding the necessary change in standard of care surrounding reproductive medicine.
Why did you want to write this book?
So that others felt less alone in their grief and so that those suffering could find actionable steps to regain control of their fertility journey.
What was the most difficult part about writing the book? The most rewarding?
The most difficult part, by far, was deciding to publish it. Many of my most intimate thoughts and experiences live within the pages and it was terrifying to put that out into the world. The most rewarding part has been the unanimous positive feedback from readers sharing that The Grace in Grief has helped them.
If you could tell your younger writing self anything, what would it be?
You can do hard things.
How long did it take to write your book?
The Grace in Grief covers a decade of my life written at various stages and with various degrees of urgency.
What was the biggest challenge in writing your book?
The timeline jumps around so making sure that was clear to the reader was a challenge.
Who are your favorite authors (and why)?
I love Wally Lamb. His characters speak deeply to me as they often rise after great pain and loss. His writing is raw, real.
What is your favorite book in the same genre as your work?
“I Had A Miscarriage” by Jessica Zucker.
What does literary success look like to you?
At risk of sounding redundant, success for The Grace in Grief is in knowing that even one person feels less alienated, shameful, or alone in the experience of pregnancy loss.
What’s the best writing advice you ever received?
Sally Garland, from Greenleaf Book Group, told me: “Write it all! And if you don’t like it later, send it to me.”
What do you know now that you wish you’d known at the beginning of your writing journey?
Dictation is a wonderful tool, don’t get fake nails when you’re on deadline because it’s hard to type with extended nails, autosave fails (a lot), and your story is important.
What do you do when you are not writing?
I spent time with my children, I travel, I cook, I watch the water and the stars. I read, I take long baths, I ask a lot of questions. I talk to multiple women a week through my company Selah Fertility where I help them navigate their fertility options with their eyes wide open.
What’s next for you?
I’ll continue to work in the space of fertility, birth, labor, and postpartum support. I have started an outline for my second book which I’ll take my time flushing out so as not to rush away the overwhelming joy of having published my first book.
How can our readers get a copy of your book?
They’re able to purchase The Grace in Grief via Amazon or Barnes and Noble.
What is the best way for our readers to connect with you?
Via my website (selahfertility.com), or Instagram (SelahFertility)
