Coming May 10th, the book that wasn’t meant to be a book.
“Grief has no handbook, but this comes close. Full of insight while capturing what typically cannot be put into words. Barlow validates that there is no “correct” way to grieve.” – Rev. Lyn Whitley Harding, Hospice Chaplain (retired)
Hi, Honey! follows the nine months before and the year after my mother’s death, following a bitch of a battle with dementia. What started as an assignment from my therapist turned into a book about grief, saying goodbye, and losing someone who is still very much in the room.
For decades, 4 p.m. meant one thing to me: a phone call to my mom. And then one day, it was gone.
For decades, I talked to my mom every single day, without fail. On most days, it was fairly simple. On others, it meant a phone call from the school pick-up line, arriving late to a meeting, or even navigating time zones while traveling. When dementia took away my mom’s ability to operate the phone, it also took away that daily touchpoint.
When my therapist suggested I put my pen to paper and write her letters, I thought it was a really stupid substitution. I did it anyway.
“Such an important book as so many enter this life stage. A must-read.” – Dr. Frazier Crane, my therapist. I can’t share her actual name because she knows where the bodies are buried.
Those letters allowed me to continue the conversation with my mom even when she was no longer an active participant. They were never supposed to be a book. In fact, after my mom died, I wasn’t sure I’d ever write professionally again. Then one day, as I sat staring at my computer and a blank page, a door opened, and I saw exactly what direction I was meant to go.
Hi, Honey! A Dementia Diary will be released on May 10, 2026 – Mother’s Day, of course, because there is no better day on the calendar. Pre-Order your digital copy here and add a reminder to your calendar to grab your hardcopy on May 10th.
“An honor to read, though my shirt is soaked with tears.” | “So raw. As hard to put down as it is to read. As important as it is heartbreaking.” | “I can think of at least ten people whom I’d suggest this book to right now.” – Advanced Reader Copy reviews