2022 RED RIBBON WINNER Wishing Shelf Awards 2022 BEST BOOK AWARD FINALIST for American Book Fest 2023 SPEAK UP TALK RADIO FIREBIRD BOOK AWARDS WINNER "A compelling family drama. A RED RIBBON WINNER and highly recommended." - The Wishing Shelf Book Awards "An often vivid family saga, centered on a satisfyingly complex matriarch." - Kirkus Reviews "An original, thought-provoking, memorable and poignant story of healing from emotional injuries." - MBR (MidWest Book Review) Small Press Book Watch General Fiction There is nothing ordinary about the journey we take in life, or the people in it. A tale of starting over and an unforgettable odyssey of healing. How We Healed follows Drunetta Brown, an oppressed black housewife desperate to escape her drunkard husband and small-town southern life. After fleeing with her youngest children to New York City in 1957, she finds unlikely friendship with Sister Rose, a church secretary, and Miss "Raycie" Rayceen, a boisterous bar singer. These women prove to be the right friends at the right time as they help Drunetta navigate her journey of self-discovery. With a determination uncharacteristic of her time, Drunetta ultimately learns what's worth sacrificing-and, more importantly, what isn't-to secure her place in a changing world.