“As I turned each page, I found myself immersed in a whirlwind of emotions: grief, longing, happiness, and hope. The letters were written with such honesty and vulnerability, each revealing the struggles and triumphs of navigating life after loss. It is a reminder that healing is not a linear process, but a journey filled with ups and downs, moments of despair, and glimmers of hope.”

— Iman Williams Christians, PhD, Director of Solace House Center for Grief and Healing

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“Deborah Shouse’s Letters from the Ungrateful Dead is compelling, heart-wrenching, and beautifully written. She poignantly demonstrates that love is stronger than death.”

— Robert Brumet, author of Finding Yourself in Transition.

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“Letters From the Ungrateful Dead is a captivating and heartwarming glimpse into the never-ending bond between mothers and their children. I laughed and shed more than one tear as I was transported inside their unconditional and loving relationship, knowing that their communication was authentic. A must-read for grieving parents seeking confirmation of their child’s continued existence after bodily death.”

— Julie Ryan, Psychic Medium and Medical Intuitive

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“Letters From the Ungrateful Dead is an emotional roller coaster shining a light on the pain of life, loss, and love. Deborah’s writings are honest, raw, and share such deep and debilitating emotions mixed with humor in the depths of processing grief. This book will help many process the good, bad, and ugly that life can hand us; guiding us to find the deep riches of our authentic connections, no matter how imperfect we thought they were.

— Lori La Bey, Thought Leader and Founder of Alzheimer’s Speaks and Dementia Map, Host of Alzheimer’s Speaks Radio, and Author of Betty the Bald Chicken – Lessons in How to Care.

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“Deborah Shouse has blessed us with her brave and compassionate conversations with her daughter, Hilee, who died of a drug overdose. Thanks to the profound advice of her grief therapist, Deborah decided to write to Hilee and listen for her responses. These conversations are at once astounding, unbelievable — but believable — and also heartwarming and very hopeful.”

— Jane Murray, MD

 

“At once a therapeutic exercise, a cathartic act, and an exceptional work of art, Shouse’s book is a worthwhile read for anyone who’s experienced the sudden and senseless demise of someone they dearly loved.”

— Ronald-Stéphane Gilbert, Author of Conversations with my Mother, A Novel of Love, Hope, and Dementia on the Maine Coast

 

“This gripping collection of letters to and from Shouse’s deceased daughter, Hilee, grabbed my attention on page one and held it until the very end. I read the book in one sitting! This sometimes humorous, sometimes heartbreaking book will undoubtedly help many other parents who are experiencing the grief of losing a child.”

— Marie Marley, PhD, hospice volunteer and author of Come Back Early Today: A Memoir of Love, Alzheimer’s and Joy.

 

“Can we connect with our beloved dead? You won't forget Deborah Shouse’s lovely, lyrical, often funny, and always heartfelt and heartbreaking quest to do just that. Don’t be surprised if you are inspired to begin your own quiet correspondence with those you have loved and lost.”

— Andrea Warren, author of Enemy Child: The Story of Norman Mineta, a Boy Imprisoned in a Japanese American Internment Camp During World War II.

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“Whether one is a believer or not, death may end a life but it does not end a relationship. This book is a spiritual testament to many truths. By writing to, and receiving letters from, her dead daughter, Shouse discovered in their relationship a kind of healing truth.”

— The Rev. Vern Barnet, DMin minister emeritus, The World Faiths Center for Religious Experience and Study