Brenda H. Greene grew up in a large family. Being the last of seven children, she represents the love and values that being part of such a close-knit family entails. She has experienced the grief of losing both parents, a brother, a sister, but as she writes in her book From My Son’s Garden “never so difficult a grief as to lose a child. It is the most unnatural and unfair loss I have yet to experience” even though five months prior to her son’s death, Mrs. Greene’s mother passed away. As she said, “It was as if I was jumping from one grief to another.”

 

Brenda Greene needed to address her journey of grief by recording the details of emotional shifts that she endured after her son’s sudden death. This cathartic release from her overwhelming grief produced her first book From My Son’s Garden: A Personal Story of Growth and Healing After the Loss of a Child which was completed in hope to help others who experiencing similar losses.

 

Though it was a painful process, Brenda Greene with the collaboration of one of her sisters -  Cheryl H. Hahn - a professional artist from Yakima, WA, as well as her son’s Godmother. “The joining of forces” made this book project more purposeful, successful, and meaningful. The new edition of From My Son’s Garden has grown into a symbol of growth and healing. Working with her sister, Cheryl H. Hahn, supported the need for family support and love. In fact, the cover design of this second edition of From My Son’s Garden is the duplication of one of Ms. Hahn’s actual artwork piece, ironically called Magic Garden which was shown in an April 2018 Art Show at the Columbia Center for the Arts in Hood River, Oregon. These connections between author and illustrator are bonds that go beyond the sister admiration but also their respect for each other’s artistic trade.

 

From My Son’s Garden has received many positive reviews and the underlying thought of responses received from her book is best stated in one of her reviews: “an honest account of the grief that comes with the loss of a child and most of us who have experienced such a loss, can relate to her thoughts.”

 

The catalyst for Mrs. Greene’s second book Dog Gone: Boomer’s Story was the loss of their family dog Boomerang.  Most of us as individuals experience our first grief normally through the loss of a pet.  Her book Dog Gone presents a very real story for the young teen reader to better understand this grief process. Because of Mrs. Greene’s educational and teaching background, she also created a Teacher Activity Packet that accompanies this small paperback for the fifth-grade level. After publication, several schools adopted her book (along with the activity packet) into their curriculum. Again, Brenda Greene’s sister offered to illustrate this second book. Her numerous illustrations are based on actual events and the actual dogs owned by the Greene family.

 

More projects are in store for this writer and she hopes that her readers will continue to follow. Her website offers a place where not only her readers can share their own grief experiences but also for others to gain tips and ideas to help promote a healthy new normal life after a loss of a loved one.

 

She will keep you updated about new projects and ever-changing ideas of grief, pet loss, and other creative writings.