Episode 189 - Fern Schumer Chapman.

Dan Sterenchuk and Tommy Estlund are honored to have as our guest, Fern Schumer Chapman.

Critically acclaimed Chicago-based writer Fern Schumer Chapman has written several award-winning books. Her recent book, Brothers, Sisters, Strangers: Sibling Estrangement and the Road to Reconciliation is part-memoir, part research. An earlier memoir, Motherland — a Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers selection, a finalist for the National Jewish Book Award, and a BookSense76 pick — is a popular choice for book clubs. Two of her other books, Is It Night or Day? and Like Finding My Twin, are used in middle school classrooms. In 2004, the Illinois Association of Teachers of English (IATE) named Chapman the “Illinois Author of the Year.” Twice, Oprah Winfrey shows have featured her books. The Junior Library Guild named her two most recent books, Stumbling on History and Three Stars in the Night Sky, as August 2017 and August 2018 selections. Recently, she published two picture books, Happy Harper Thursdays and The Return of Happy Harper Thursdays. She gives dozens of presentations each year at schools and events.

New book: Brothers, Sisters, Strangers: Sibling Estrangement and the Road to Reconciliation

Fern understands the pain of sibling estrangement firsthand. For the better part of forty years, she had nearly no relationship with her only brother, despite many attempts at reconnection. Her grief and shame were devastating and isolating. But when she tried to turn to others for help, she found that a profound stigma still surrounded estrangement, and that very little statistical and psychological research existed to help her better understand the rift that had broken up her family. So she decided to conduct her own research, interviewing psychologists and estranged siblings as well as recording the extraordinary story of her own rift with her brother–and subsequent reconciliation.

Brothers, Sisters, Strangers is the result–a thoughtfully researched memoir that illuminates both the author’s own story and the greater phenomenon of estrangement. Chapman helps readers work through the challenges of rebuilding a sibling relationship that seems damaged beyond repair, as well as understand when estrangement is the best option. It is at once a detailed framework for understanding sibling estrangement, a beacon of solidarity and comfort for the estranged, and a moving memoir about family trauma, addiction, grief, and recovery.

Buy book: https://www.lakeforestbookstore.com/book/9780525561699?

Fern's website: https://fernschumerchapman.com/

Fern is also co-host with Ali-John Chaudhary of the Brothers, Sisters, Strangers Podcast on YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hrYnLlBEddg&list=PLGy0-oL_AxZ4HHNPZanWxDRYFHkvOfAm6

Note: Guests create their own bio description for each episode.

The Curiosity Hour Podcast is hosted and produced by Dan Sterenchuk and Tommy Estlund.

The Curiosity Hour Podcast is listener supported! The easiest way to donate is via the Venmo app and you can donate to (at symbol) CuriosityHour (Download app here: venmo.com)

The Curiosity Hour Podcast is available free on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, Soundcloud, TuneIn, iHeartRadio, Stitcher, Podbean, Overcast, PlayerFM, Castbox, and Pocket Casts.

Disclaimers: The Curiosity Hour Podcast may contain content not suitable for all audiences. Listener discretion advised. The views and opinions expressed by the guests on this podcast are solely those of the guest(s). These views and opinions do not necessarily represent those of The Curiosity Hour Podcast. This podcast may contain explicit language.

The Public Service Announcement near the beginning of the episode solely represents the views of Tommy and Dan and not our guests or our listeners.