FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
In her deeply moving debut collection, Illumination: a griever’s journey through the darkness, author and grief counselor Shaleem Dzon shares an intimate account of her journey through profound sorrow and healing. Following the untimely loss of her husband, Brad, to cancer, Dzon channels her grief into poetry, offering readers a heartfelt exploration of love, loss, and the resilience of the human spirit.
Dzon, who has been a registered nurse for over two decades, began writing the night her husband died. Her poignant words not only served as a therapeutic outlet but also as a testament to the enduring power of love.
Illumination is divided into three parts, each capturing a distinct phase of Dzon’s emotional landscape. The first part chronicles the heart-wrenching period following Brad’s death and her subsequent pilgrimage to scatter his ashes at Illumination Rock, a cherished spot on Mount Hood. Dzon’s writing resonates with anyone who has faced the crushing weight of grief, illuminating the universal struggle to find solace in the darkest moments.
In the second part, Dzon opens up about her attempts to find love again amid heartbreak and the challenges of starting anew. This segment reveals her vulnerability as she navigates a world filled with broken people, mirroring her own emotional struggles. It culminates in the devastating loss of her beloved dog, reinforcing the themes of loss and loneliness that pervade the narrative.
The third part of the book delves into Dzon's renewed hope as she finds love once more. Tragically, this new relationship is cut short when her boyfriend suffers a fatal cardiac arrest during a journey to Illumination Rock, where Dzon planned to honor both her husband and her dog. This shocking turn of events propels her into a deep retreat, where she confronts her pain and trauma through writing.
