‘Rare Bird’ author to speak about book, finding hope

New York Times best-selling author Anna Whiston-Donaldson will talk about her book “Rare Bird: A Memoir of Loss and Love” and finding hope in impossible circumstances on Friday, Sept. 18 at Grove City College.

At 4 p.m., the Department of English hosts Whiston-Donaldson in the Pew Memorial Room in the Pew Fine Arts Center on campus for “Brave Enough to be Vulnerable: How Sharing Your Messy Story Ministers to Others.” A reception will follow.

Whiston-Donaldson will also speak at 6:30 p.m. in Harbison Chapel on campus about “Exploring the Mystery of God in Hard Times.”

Whiston-Donaldson is a popular blogger and author whose heart-rending, New York Times best-selling memoir “Rare Bird” chronicles the raw, early grief of losing her 12-year-old son in an accident. It was selected one of Publishers Weekly’s Best Books of 2014. Her appearance on campus coincides with its publication in paperback. It will be available for sale at both events, and Whiston-Donaldson will be signing copies after her Chapel talk.

She is a dynamic teacher and speaker who explores – with unfiltered honesty, humor and grace – themes such as community, faith, vulnerability and survival when the life you expected to have didn’t pan out. Encouraging and motivating, her passion and eloquence show how sharing our stories can stave off the isolation of life.