Floating Underwater was inspired by Tracy’s own personal history, past work experience, and sheer imagination. Having suffered through two miscarriages herself, Tracy wanted to write about how a character deals with that particular loss. Motivated from her past work as an intern at a psychiatric center, she also wanted to explore what it’s like for a daughter when her beloved mother has severe schizophrenia. She added in the narrative element of magical realism and otherworldly events because she believes loss and grief can make our day-to-day reality too difficult to bear without the hope that something magical is just beyond this realm. She created these extraordinary experiences for her protagonist, readers, and for herself to help us all feel as if everything in this crazy, upside-down world (and beyond!) will somehow, someday be okay.

Tracy Shawn: Floating Underwater

At Love & Loss we aim to shed light on pregnancy and infant loss.  We talk with parents and specialists in the loss community as they give us insight to their experiences and expertise.  Love & Loss is not a substitute for clinical therapy.   We encourage all grieving families to seek council from a specialist.

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Mary Toland Shaw is a certified Spiritual Life Coach, a HeartMath Resilience Mentor, a Healing Touch Practitioner, a Life-Cycle Celebrant, and soon to be ordained Interfaith Minister.  Her second son, Michael John, transitioned from life, 38 weeks in the womb in July of 1991.  Mary also experienced 3 miscarriages at between 3-4 months in the womb. Mary has 3 wonderful adult living children, and a stepdaughter.  No stranger to the pain experienced by infant losses, Mary’s passion is to help others find comfort and healing through compassionate, personalized ceremonies and meaningful rituals that honor their beloved child(ren).  Mary also helps women who are experiencing any kind of inner turmoil, owing to relationship heartache, to recapture their sense of joy, meaning and connection to the Divine (her website is www.sacred relationship.com).  She resides in Chattanooga, TN with her husband Mike and their maltipoo, Gracie.  @marytolandshaw

Mary Toland Shaw: Michael John's Story

Melinda is an Intuitive Health Practitioner, bereaved mother, maternal death survivor, registered nurse (RN), adoptive mother, and entrepreneur. She is the founder of Scarlit Coaching, a integrative health movement for women to find joy and true healing through reconnecting to the wisdom of our bodies. Despite adequate prenatal care, Melinda lost her son Oak and almost her life in 2014 at 25 weeks due to a missed ectopic pregnancy. Through her journey of regaining strength and channeling grief, Melinda was called to nursing, volunteering, and publicly sharing what she experienced in her near-death experience. She was Board Chair of RTZ: HOPE, a nonprofit for bereaved families, and is still an active volunteer with the organization. Prior to becoming a nurse, she worked as an environmental scientist. Melinda lives in Fort Collins, Colorado with her husband, toddler daughter, and poodle.

Melinda Peterson: Oak's Story

Growing up in a family that had a passion for writing and drawing, Kirsten was influenced by generation after generation of writers and artists. She has shared these passions since childhood, but did not self-publish her first book, rearranged, until her late twenties. She was moved to share her work after going through loss, grief and healing. In writing, she experienced light after loss. Her first book, rearranged, encompasses her journey to healing and was the winner of the Indies Today’s 2022 Best Poetry Award. Her second book, I Love You From Heaven, is a children’s book about angel babies and children in Heaven. When not writing, Kirsten can be found spending time with her husband and two children. She is active in the pursuit to find wholeness and soaking up as much family time as she can, whether that be at their family cabins or snuggled up with a blanket and a good book at home with her kids. She believes in sharing hope for others who may be struggling, and has a captivating vulnerability to her work. 

https://kirstenhopfensperger.com/

Kirsten Hopfensperger: Theo's Story

RTZ HOPE is a national non-profit organization that provides holistic support, resources, and community for all people who have experienced unimaginable loss during the journey to parenthood.

No matter if your loss is recent or in the past, RTZ HOPE is dedicated to empowering parents to seek whatever paths to healing are right for you.

We come alongside anyone who would otherwise suffer in silence. As impossible as it may feel right now, we want you to know there is hope. You will never forget your baby, but you will find meaning and experience joy again.

https://rtzhope.org/

RTZ Hope

Natasha de Sousa is a mother, wife, avid reader, and aspiring author. In 2013, she lost her son Leo at 23 weeks of gestation. Since Leo's passing, she has been actively involved in the pregnancy and infant loss community by volunteering for various organizations. She is currently the Board Chair for RTZ Hope (@rtzhope), a national non-profit organization that provides holistic support, resources, and community for all people who have experienced a loss during the journey to parenthood. Originally born in Brazil to Indian parents, Natasha grew up in Canada and currently lives in Seattle, Washington with her husband and 3 living children.

Tracy Shawn: Floating Underwater

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