Showcase Griffin's Heart- Mourning your Pet with No Apology- Interview with author/actress Reagan Pasternak

 Welcome to 2021 I hope you all had a good Holiday Season. Now let's get back to work!
For the first post of the year I've chosen Griffin's Heart by actress Reagan Pasternak, a sort of grief guide she wrote when she couldn't find any help when she herself lost her beloved dog Griffin. This book will resonate with anyone who loved and lost a pet.
Enjoy!

ISBN-13: 978-0578704463
Publisher: Creatures Align Press; 1st edition
Release Date: 01-01-2021
Length: 242 pp
Buy It: Amazon

ADD TO: GOODREADS

Overview:

A Memoir, Healing Journal and Keepsake

Losing a pet can be devastating and isolating. The trauma and grief that ensues is often trivialized or misunderstood by friends and family but it is unyielding and must be attended to. Griffin's Heart is an interactive guide to loss and navigating the grief process. Through journaling, healing exercises, and contributions, readers will find an outlet for their pain while creating a keepsake filled with beautiful memories. Reagan’s own story unfolds as the pages progress, reminding readers that they are not alone in their sorrow and that hope exists for all of us. Griffin's Heart teaches us to embrace and explore our darkest feelings and transform them into wisdom and strength while commemorating the pet we loved so much.

My Interview with Reagan:

 

Regan welcome to The Reading Frenzy. I hope to start reading your debut soon.
Tell my readers a bit about your new book Giffin’s Heart.

 Griffin's Heart is part memoir, part interactive grief guide. It is meant to walk you through your mourning process while creating a keepsake full of memories and tributes to your animal that has passed. 

You said in your video that when your Griffin died you couldn’t find the resources you felt you needed to help you get through your grief.
Did that surprise you?

I'm not sure it surprised me -- it just left me in the same painful place I had been since losing Griffin. The books that I found seemed to academically describe pet loss rather than grasp the many aspects and reasons why an animal dying can leave us unable to heal properly. I wanted Griffin's Heart to address and explore what it means to grieve your specific pet. I wanted it to leave the readers feeling a sense of closure and peace. 

The loss of a pet is a very traumatic experience for all family members adult and children.
Is your book meant for all family members?

Griffin's Heart is definitely more of an adult book. You can, perhaps, enlist younger family members to participate in some of the more keepsake aspects, but the notions and shared anecdotes are more mature in nature. That said, Griffin's Heart is about allowing all of our feelings and memories to exist. It's about not denying ourselves the right and privilege of honoring our pets. I believe, as a mother to a young son, that these are positive lessons that can be passed down to our children.

Also in your video you mentioned that on Instagram at @griffinsheartbook you have started a sort of community for people who have lost pets to share memories or just communicate feelings.
That is a very good use of social media, thank you.

Yes! I wanted to make sure people were aware that they were not alone in their feelings of grief -- Because they aren't. The amount of stories I have heard about people of all ages suffering because of the loss of their animal is overwhelming. There is comfort in finding like minded people and I hope to help facilitate that.

Was writing the book cathartic for you?

Writing this book was incredibly cathartic and satisfying. Don't get me wrong, there were moments I had to take breaks and plenty of tears were shed. But there was also laughter and so many wonderful memories too. I knew I was creating something that could really have the potential to help people and that felt really good. 

I remember when we lost our cat Gabby in 2005 and decided that our next pet would be a rescue dog but only after we retired.  I’m happy to say that Pippa has been with us for almost 6 years, we adopted her when she was 5 and she is such an integral part of our lives. So many people especially this year have relied on the love of their pets.
Did you just recently lose Griffin or why did you decide now to release Griffin’s Heart?

I love hearing that you rescued your dog. It's such a two-way gift isn't it? If there is a silver lining to the pandemic we are all living through, it might be that the animal shelters and rescues have never been emptier! People are finding solace and joy in pets. My little family wouldn't be complete without our two cats and three dogs. They are a source of unconditional love and give us purpose during these difficult times. 

I lost Griffin almost 10 years ago now! I started writing the book shortly after that but had many stops and starts throughout the years. I lost other pets and the relevance and pull to write never went away. About two years ago I made the commitment to finish it. Looking back I think the timing was perfect. I learned so much about grief during all of those years and had more to offer and share with the readers. 

Now that you’ve written your first book will there be more?

Haha! I'm not sure! I know it might sound corny, but Griffin's Heart was a book that lived in my bones. I HAD to write it. Once I committed to finishing it, it really just flowed out of me. If I ever feel that pull and need to communicate something that authentically again, then I guess it's a possibility!

 

Regan thanks from a pet lover for this incredible book, and thanks for taking the time to answer my questions. Good luck with the new book.

Thank you for your interest and time!

 

Griffins Heart - Welcome from Reagan Pasternak on Vimeo.

About the author:

Author Reagan Pasternak’s own story unfolds as the pages progress, reminding readers that they are not alone in their sorrow and that hope exists for all of us.

Reagan J Pasternak is a Canadian-born actress, singer, and writer. She currently lives in Los Angeles with her husband, son, and five rescue animals.

ReaganPasternak.com