Jennifer Allen

In hard times, people hunger for real-life stories. They help people make sense of their own lives and find hope in difficult situations. With the depth of raw honesty applied to the universal human experience of transformation in the face of life challenges, BONE KNOWING leaves readers deeply satisfied and, yet, curious. What happens next is answered in the sequel, UNFOLDING.

BONE KNOWING is a love story about the consequences of following intuition and risking loss for the sake of living fully. It combines the truth-telling of memoir with the readability of a good novel, lending itself well to book clubs and discussion groups.

As a professional psychotherapist, I understand the value of story in people's lives. While BONE KNOWING is an adult read about a slowly losing a spouse to cancer and UNFOLDING is about remarriage and blending families after losing a spouse, children also need real-life stories told at their level to help them face life challenges. CINNAMON ROLL SUNDAYS is a picture book I'm writing for children experiencing the serious illness of a parent.

This writer is looking for an agent.

Please go to www.jenniferallenbooks.com for more information and sample chapters of BONE KNOWING

"BONE KNOWING is about the intuitive wisdom we all have, but don't always heed. In Jennifer Allen's painfully honest account of her husband's struggle with cancer and his dying process, readers witness Jennifer's efforts to tune in and listen to her inner voice. There we find beauty and transformation, as well as selfishness, anger, old wounds, and guilt. Embracing all of those qualities allows Jennifer to be wholly present for one of the most challenging times in her young life. By viewing Jennifer exposed, 'to the bone', readers reap essential lessons on love and loss, relationship and renewal."

Lisa Gebo
Cancer survivor and former senior editor for Wiley Publishing

“Jennifer Allen's BONE KNOWING is a powerful account of how families cope with the specter of life-threatening illness and live meaningful, even wonderful lives, under its shadow.”

Kenneth J. Doka, PhD Professor, The Graduate School, College of New Rochelle
Senior Consultant, The Hospice Foundation of America

“This beautifully written, vivid, and deeply satisfying memoir takes us on an intimate journey into the lives of Jennifer and Tom. Theirs is a passionate love story of two people who want to live full out, even in the face of Tom's looming death cloaking all that they do. We see the courage of both of them, as Jennifer takes us through the last days of Tom's life. Those final days are so vivid that we are right there with them.
It is a remarkable experience to read this book.”

Judy Tatelbaum author of The Courage to Grieve and You Don’t Have to Suffer

“BONE KNOWING will touch those who are experiencing a loved one's serious illness as well as those who have suffered a loss. The author shows great courage by inviting us into her personal life, revealing emotional and practical aspects of caregiving.

Vicki Nelson
Executive Director
Compassionate Care Alliance www.CaringResources.org

“This is a “must read” for anyone working with dying patients, their families and for anyone passionate about living.”

Richard Ingle, Bereavement Services Coordinator
Hospice of the Central Coast, Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula

Curriculum Vitae

Career

• Private psychotherapy practice (2002-present)
• Facilitator for children's grief support groups at Community Hospital of Monterey Peninsula (1999- present)
• Therapist intern at Family Service Agency & school based program (1998- 2003)
• Therapist intern private practice (1996-1998)
• Director of Healing Arts at Salinas Valley Memorial Hospital (1996-1999)
• Hospice social work at Hospice of the Central Coast (1996- 1997)
• Photographer: fine art, weddings and commercial assisting (1989-1996)

Education

• M.S. Marriage, Family & Child Therapy and Art Therapy California State University, Sacramento, CA
• B.F.A. Maine College of Art, Portland Maine & Student Art Centers International, Florence, Italy

Presentations
• Planned workshops using book exerts and writing exercises to explore end-of-life issues. Sponsored by Compassionate Care Alliance (scheduled for 3/09)
• Co-facilitated workshops on using art to help children in response to natural disasters. Sponsored by Big Sur Arts Initiative and national non-profit—Community Healing Through Art (10/09)
• Television interview for Compassionate Care Alliance’s series: Aging Well on setting up support networks for seriously ill loved ones (2006)
• Ongoing trainings for Hospice on using art to support children’s bereavement (1996-present)
• CEU Professional CAMFT presentations on children’s bereavement & art therapy
• Presenter for Hospice-sponsored program: Grief and the Holidays (2003)
• Ongoing art therapy presentations for professional and lay groups (1996-present)

Affiliations and Memberships

• California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (state and local chapters)
• American Art Therapy Association
• Northern California Art Therapy Association

BONE KNOWING: a true story of coming to life in the face of impending loss — Completed manuscript available in book format. Proposal available.

UNFOLDING - manuscript in progress

CINNAMON ROLL SUNDAYS - manuscript in progress