Welcome! Today's guest is Emily Johnson, an author and mother of 1 from Raleigh, North Carolina, USA.

Emily grew up with a creative mother, spent many years dancing ballet and playing golf, and enjoyed numerous trips to see The Phantom of the Opera with her mum.. Emily grew up to study journalism and marketing and now runs her own business,

When Emily was 13 her mum was diagnosed with advanced stage Ovarian Cancer. Statistically, she had very little time left and shortly after, she began writing a novel entitled Bird of Paradise, She lived for another 17 years.

Shortly after her mum's passing, Emily opened her mum's laptop and found her unfinished manuscript, and a letter from her mother requesting that Emily finish the book for her. It took Emily 8 years to complete this epic task, and along the way the process took her through emotional ups and downs, processing grief, learning more about her mother and at the same time creating legacy for her family.

Bird of Paradise was finally published on what would have been her mother's 71st birthday.

**This episode contains discussions around grief and the loss of a parent, having a baby without your mother in your life and anxiety.**

Purchase the book - Bird of Paradise

Read the article by Rachel Harris that inspired Emily

Connect with Emily

Podcast - instagram / website

Music used with permission from Alemjo, Australian new age and ambient music trio.

When chatting to my guests I greatly appreciate their openness and honestly in sharing their stories. If at any stage their information is found to be incorrect, the podcast bears no responsibility for guests' inaccuracies.