A Journey of Family, Loss, and the Lifelong Vow to Never Forget
Do you really know the backstory of your family history?
In, From the Other Side of Maybe, P.M. Draper crafts a poetic memoir. For her granddaughters. In six chapters, she outlines her life story couched in her poetry. In so doing, she weaves a tale that carries the reader through unimaginable happenings and heartbreak. Each chapter begins with a letter to her granddaughters, hinting at what they'll soon read.
Growing up with an impaired mother. An absentee father for ten years, before tragedy brings him back. An exercise in survival.
P.M. Draper does just that: survive, despite losing her brothers and sister to untimely circumstances. She puts together her saga in such a way that not only tells what happened but illustrates the strength and beauty of the human spirit.
Early Praise:
In her arresting and haunting hybrid memoir, From the Other Side of Maybe, P.M. Draper explores the lifelong reverberations of family dysfunction and tragedy. Through an expertly woven tapestry of poetry, letters and traditional narrative, Draper shines a bright light on what it means to endure unthinkable trauma and loss-and move to unearth ways to build a life filled with meaning and beauty. A richly layered and powerful work of literature, brimming with humor and love, From the Other Side of Maybe stays with the reader as an inspiring reminder of the human spirit's stunning capacity for resilience.
-SKIPWITH COALE, writer/poet
This heartwarming collection comprises unposted letters addressed to a latter generation, filled with family history, words of advice and a lovely collection of poetry relating the author's experiences, transitions and growing up into her full realization of life. Stories and verse within are appended with such tragedy, hardship, switchbacks, and loss along her course that one might wonder how she arrived at all in such a place to proclaim to her beloved granddaughters: You are my unbound joy, my prayer for every tomorrow. / We are family-you make me believe in second chances./ I write from the other side of Maybe.
-SEAN SEXTON, author of May Darkness Restore and Portals
P.M.Draper will wrench your heart out of you, but she'll do it in such a way that you don't realize it at first. So, you will keep reading: what is the feeling growing in me? Where is the center of the heartbreak in this story? Draper unwinds slowly, subtly, with all the drama and pacing of a mystery novel. You simply must read on as I did-until the very last page for its filled with the understanding of the healing-even the energy and love-that can come from heartbreak.
-BONNIE MACDOUGALL, PhD., Columbia University, author of Those Who Live and Curtain Call
P.M. Draper is the literary pseudonym Patricia 'Pat' Draper uses for her writing life. She has lived on the Treasure Coast of Florida since 1978. A semi-retired nurse-practitioner, she joined a local writing group in 2018. Her previous books of poetry include The Tao of Hibiscus (Rebel Magic Books, 2019) and her chapbook After Pyre (The Poetry Box, 2022). Her poem "A Time Like This" won second place in the Covid competition sponsored by the Laura (Riding) Jackson Foundation. She has an MFA in Creative Writing from Queens University in Charlotte, NC. She is the current Poet Laureate of Indian River County. In addition to writing, she enjoys cooking and triathlon training with her husband Tom. And they both enjoy lounging with Oreo, Boston Terrier extraordinaire.
