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The Burning Light of Two Stars Beams Enlightenment

FROM OUR Journal of Expressive Writing PRODUCER & HOST
KELLY DUMAR

I’ve been enjoying Laura Davis' authoritative and authentic voice in my ear all week, telling me her story while I walk in the woods, run errands in the car, and lie in bed at night. Even as I drift off to sleep, the Audible recording of Laura narrating her new book, The Burning Light of Two Stars––A Mother Daughter Story, keeps enchanting me. In the morning, I backtrack over chapters I slept through. Last night, I finished her book before falling asleep and dreamed about Laura visiting me––adult me––in my childhood bedroom. Since she's our Featured Author for the Journal of Expressive Writing Open Mic this Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2022, my dream enacted a meeting with Laura to prep for our time together. It felt like I was connecting with a soul mate I’ve been wanting to meet for a long time.

Why my childhood bedroom? Probably because I first “met” Laura Davis in 1988 where millions of women met her, by reading her first book, co-authored with Ellen Bass, The Courage to Heal: A Guide for Women Survivors of Child Sexual Abuse. I was a psychotherapist working with adult women survivors of child sexual abuse, and the Bass and Davis book became like a “bible”––a tool for recovery for women survivors. The book gave women––and therapists and allies––a map for emotional recovery from trauma. It offered a most urgent necessity: a sense of hope, as one survivor quoted in the Courage to Heal writes:

“I know you're in a world of pain, but that pain will lessen. At the beginning you can't see that. You can only see your pain and you think it will never go away. But the nature of pain is that it changes— it changes like a sunset. At first, it's this intense red-orange in the sky, and then it starts getting softer and soften. The texture of pain changes as you work through it. And then one day, you wake up and realize that life isn't just about working through your incest; it's about living, too.”

Laura’s new memoir about her relationship with her mother takes us on another powerful journey that so many of us, survivors of abuse or not, can deeply relate to: resolving emotionally challenging unresolved conflicts in a relationship with a parent as that parent ages and needs caregiving. Laura fiercely challenges her mother to grow and change––yes. But, she also delves into her own shortcomings and mistakes, determined to light up the darker aspects of her own character. What’s most riveting in Laura’s memoir is her emotional honesty and responsibility for her part in the journey toward reconciliation:

As the stresses of caregiving reawaken Laura's rage over past betrayals, her intention to ‘finally love my mother without reservation’ is threatened, and she must learn what it means to be truly openhearted before it's too late. Part love story, part psychological mystery, at its core The Burning Light of Two Stars is an intimate and unforgettable story of reconciliation at the deepest level. [From the publisher]

I’m full of eager anticipation to meet Laura on Zoom this Wednesday, Feb 2 and to hear what pieces of her book she selects to read to us. I’m eager to ask her questions during our discussion, and to give you a chance to ask questions too. And then, as always, I’m looking forward to hearing the 20 voices in our OPEN MIC line-up who will read poetry, memoir, fiction, and prose. It promises to be a deep and meaningful connection we will make with one another. I look forward to seeing you then.

Lastly, I really want to recommend reading Laura’s memoir in print if that suits you. But you’ll be quite riveted by Laura’s skillful narration if you choose to listen on Audible, and find that the addition of Becky Parker reading the voice of Laura’s mother (and others) creates an exceptionally produced experience. And, if you’re like me, you can enjoy listening to Laura all night long.

See you soon!
Kelly

REGISTER NOW to attend/hear Laura Davis followed by our OPEN MIC with 20 writers who will read their work for up to 3 minutes each.

All OPEN MIC events are FREE to attend and OPEN TO ALL, but you do need to Register through Eventbrite here.

The Journal of Expressive Writing OPEN MIC is produced and hosted by Kelly DuMar.

The Journal of Expressive Writing is Founded & Edited by Jennifer Minotti



Read about our upcoming featured authors on our OPEN MIC page.

Kelly DuMar

Kelly DuMar (she/her/hers) is a Boston based poet, playwright, and daily blogger who has been a leader of creative writing organizations—in person and online—for 30 years. Kelly’s passion for personal development and writing as a practice of art and healing, grow from her love of literature and drive to help all individuals embrace a creative practice as a foundation for a meaningful life. Her philosophy about teaching and coaching is simple: Your stories are not only meaningful, they are beautiful, and they deserve to be written, crafted and shared.