Jean D. Stouffer - Author

What a wonderful surprise to see an article about my book in this week's Valencia County News-Bulletin. Julia Dendinger did an awesome job in turning a short phone interview into a riveting article. I'm am beyond thrilled!

Local author experiences healing through writing - Valencia County News-Bulletin The day she wondered if she could take off her seat belt, open the door and jump from a moving car was the day Jean D. Stouffer knew she needed to make a change in her life.

I'm so excited to be a part of an Arts & Crafts Festival being held at UNM's Continuing Education Conference Center (on University Blvd NE) this Saturday, November 19. The Southwest Writers have a table of books by the members, including yours truly!!! I'll have copies of SOMETIMES I CRY: MY PATH TO HEALING, and will be available to sign copies from 10:00 to 11:00. What an honor!!! The Festival runs from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

I'm sorting through things and cleaning out/throwing out things I no longer need, and came across a bunch of old photos, including this one of my grandmother and me. It must have been Easter Sunday when I was 10 or 11 years old. She was "Grandmother" in the book, but she looks pretty benevolent here. I know she was only trying to help but we kids didn't experience it that way. Poor Grandma. Poor (already fat) Jeannie.

I’ve been asked about my relationship with my mother after that tumultuous childhood, and if I hated her for the childhood I’d had. No. Just no! My mother was one of the warmest kindest people I know. Her alcoholism was, as we now recognize, a sickness and not a character flaw. Sadly, she never saw that. Her own upbringing (think Grandmother in my book) left her with a feeling of being unloved, and she was sure that her bout with alcoholism was an act of evil. She would never talk about it, and that makes me so sad, even today, even after all the years that she’s been gone. I loved her then, and I love her now, and am so grateful I got the chance to know her as a kind loving adult with a killer sense of humor. Miss you to this day, Mom!

Adding to Molly's story . . .

When Molly was about five, somebody threw a little dirty ratty puppy over the fence at the stable where I boarded my horse. Not unusual — people dump unwanted dogs all the time. This puppy was a sweetie, but one of her front legs was injured and she had raging diarrhea. I helped get her cleaned up and assured the owners, that no, I did NOT want to take her home.

Fast forward to several weeks later when the owners arrived home from showing their prize quarter horses only to discover the puppy had eaten the whole side off their brand new leather recliner. In the interests of saving that puppy’s life, I took her home. I was not greeted warmly by either Dan or by Molly, although my kids were instantly in love. That puppy became known as Muffin.

Muffin became a huge and supportive part of my children’s lives as they grew, and they loved her unconditionally. Not so much Molly, who didn’t appreciate being tromped on or charged over by two rambunctious kids — and the feeling was mutual. Muffin lived to be 14, and died of congestive heart failure during the time when Dan and I were separated. Unlike Molly’s death, we were all there to be with Muffin in her final moments.

Is it too early for Christmas shopping? Maybe not, not with the shipping delays we're facing. So I have a number of books here at my home, and would be happy to personalize them and send them off in time for Christmas. Just PM and let me know! https://smile.amazon.com/Sometimes-Cry-Path-Healing-Memoir/dp/B0932G8JNQ/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3QC6UUZO04348&keywords=jean+stouffer&qid=1636389733&qsid=133-3922460-9478905&sprefix=jean+stouffer%2Caps%2C207&sr=8-1&sres=B0932G8JNQ%2CB006AELH66%2CB07WG9XJDX%2CB00140Z5DW%2CB09BZT2CMH%2C1469423057%2CB00B048LR4%2C0738549339%2CB0738C7RXF%2CB0014DYGPW%2CB07M7PQDH3%2CB00072L6IQ%2CB08STXPF1G%2CB08HVZG31L%2CB06Y3BKFG3%2CB0855S5NDB

Sometimes I Cry: My Path to Healing: A Memoir Sometimes I Cry: My Path to Healing: A Memoir

I am beyond excited!!! Amazon just dropped more $$$ in my checking account from sales of Sometimes I Cry. I've been remiss in marketing, so this is just a wonderful surprise. Thank you to all who have bought and read my book. And if you'd like to leave a review on Amazon, it apparently bumps it up on the list and I can reach more poeple. Thank you! https://smile.amazon.com/Sometimes-Cry-Path-Healing-Memoir/dp/B0932G8JNQ/ref=sr_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=sometimes+I+cry&qid=1630337299&sr=8-3

Sometimes I Cry: My Path to Healing: A Memoir Sometimes I Cry: My Path to Healing: A Memoir

You gotta love Amazon - I got my delivery of books for Saturday's book-signing at Weems Gallery, and they labeled the box "HEAVY." Really? Twenty-plus pounds of book and it needs a label? Looking forward to a wonderful time at Weems on the 19th!!!

So excited to be doing a book signing this Saturday from 1:00 to 3:00 at Weems Gallery and Framing at their new location in the North Towne Plaza (NW corner of Wyoming & Academy). I'll be there with my pen and a box of books! Hope to see you there!!!

Thanks to Kathie Dolce for this amazing review that she posted on Amazon for Sometimes I Cry!

Beautiful metaphors and lovely poetry made this book a real treat to read. At the same time, it touched me deeply. Jean Stouffer has done every woman a huge favor by putting into words the struggles so many of us have shared to one degree or another. Thank you, Jean, for your gift to womankind. ❤️

Somebody asked me for a little background on Molly. I actually got her by accident when I went to a pet store to “look at books about dogs.” Right. The store had a couple of mixed-breed puppies that someone had brought in to sell. One was a small yapping poodle puppy, and the other was a beagle-basset cross. I picked up the beagle-basset puppy and walked around the store, just looking, you understand. The puppy licked my hand — and that sealed the deal. I brought her home. I don't think everyone was as thrilled as I was at the time.

I'm really excited to learn that people are buying Sometimes I Cry: My Path to Healing. Thank you all! If you're so inclined, a review on Amazon or Goodreads would be most helpful to boost sales. I need to get more familiar with how I can promote the book here, and would welcome any ideas or advice. But reviews are always so helpful! Here's a link to the Amazon site. https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B0932G8JNQ/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Sometimes I Cry: My Path to Healing: A Memoir Sometimes I Cry: My Path to Healing: A Memoir

Here's my annual tribute to my beloved Molly -- her old water bucket filled with flowers. I put some of her ashes in the bottom of it after her death, and I plant flowers in it every summer. She's never far from my thoughts. 💕

Here's a drawing of Molly, my first "heart" dog. Her death set in motion events I could never had predicted. The drawing was done by the talented pastel and pencil artist Elizabeth Montgomery.

Can excitement and fear exist in the same space and time? I think they can! With a bit of trepidation, I’m announcing the publication of a memoir, based on my experiences some years ago when Dan and I were separated for a short time. It was an exhilarating and terrifying experience, and one that I wouldn’t change for the world. Anyhow, Sometimes I Cry: My Path to Healing - A Memoir will be available soon on amazon.com, both as a paperback and an ebook. I invite you to walk with me during those sometimes tumultuous times — and I hope you enjoy the read!