Letter from the editor

Pre-order coming soon!

As the editor of this deeply introspective and unflinchingly honest memoir, I had the privilege of walking closely with Theda Kokoneshi through the landscape of her story — a journey that spans continents, identities, inner ruptures, and, ultimately, healing and renewal.

What struck me most while working on this manuscript was the seamless fusion of personal narrative and therapeutic insight. Theda doesn't just recount her experiences — she offers them as a mirror for the reader's own reflection and transformation. Her voice is warm, intelligent, and courageous, bringing humor and vulnerability even to the darkest corners of her life. From the immigrant experience to navigating academia, surviving mental health crises, and finding her way into the role of a healer, Theda’s storytelling is both intimate and universally resonant.

Each chapter is framed not only with vivid storytelling but also with gentle, thought-provoking journaling prompts — a format that turns the book into both memoir and guided reflection tool. It's rare to see a narrative that invites the reader into such a co-creative experience.

Editing this book was as much a professional endeavor as a personal one. I found myself pausing frequently — not to correct or revise, but to absorb and reflect. That’s the power of Theda’s writing. She has an uncanny ability to name the quiet things, to articulate emotional truths that so often live in silence.

This is a book for seekers, for survivors, for anyone who has ever been lost in the dark and looked inward for light. I am proud to have helped shape its final form and even prouder to recommend it.

— Editor Anne Quinn