MEET THE WIDOW - MELISSA GOULD

When my beloved husband died unexpectedly of Multiple Sclerosis and West Nile Virus, I didn't know how I would survive. A friend suggested that I start writing about my loss and once I did, I couldn't stop. 

My essays can be found in The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times,The Washington Post, AARP, The Hollywood Reporter, Kveller, The Huffington Post, and more. 

Even with all of those essays, I still had more to say, all of which can be found in my first book, Widowish, A Memoir.  The "ish" came about because early on I realized that I did not fit the idea of widowhood. I often felt like I was failing at grief because I didn't look like a widow (too young), or act like a widow (I found love again) but I felt like a widow. I still do and I'm not sure that will ever go away.

I have been the keynote speaker for various organizations including Soaring Spirits International and Forest Lawn Memorial Parks. I've also lead workshops for Camp Widow, Faith & Grief ministries, as well as my own workshops for healing and connection. 

My conversations about loss have taken place at seminars lead by renowned grief expert David Kessler, The Ed Asner Family Center for Mental Wellness,  as well as with grief expert and author, Claire Bidwell Smith.