Dear Orchid - by Carol Van Den Hende (Paperback)

About the Book

True stories and new beginnings-through letters that speak from the heart about the messy beauty of friendship, family, disability, and belonging.

Book Synopsis

"Powerful, haunting, and precise. Each of the essays and stories in Van Den Hende's collection-whether a three-page reverie of childhood's joys and tragedies or a candid peek into the life of a wounded hero-land with a piercing clarity." -FIONA DAVIS, New York Times bestselling author of The Stolen Queen

Dear Orchid opens the heart in unexpected ways: through true stories and new fiction that explore loss and love, silence and recovery, and hard-won resilience.

This collection is an Asian American author's homage to Mary-Louise Parker's Dear Mr. You, through letters to a girl newly freed from East Berlin, an aunt lost to Communist-era borders, and Purple Heart-decorated heroes. These intimate portraits explore the messy beauty of friendship, family, disability, and belonging.

You'll meet a wounded hero who jokes through his pain, a beloved cat with a crayon note taped to his back ("HELP ME"), and people who refuse to be defined by what they've lost.

The final chapter brings a fictional reunion with the unforgettable characters from the Goodbye Orchid trilogy, offering healing, closure, and second chances.

Told in a lyrical, letter-style format, this collection blends memoir and imagination in a deeply personal exploration of grief, identity, and human connection. It's a window into private moments that echo something universal, especially for those who have ever felt unseen, misunderstood, or left behind.

Underneath the heartbreak and humor runs the quiet pull between star-crossed lovers, whose stories unfold across time, distance, and impossible odds. These tales include elements of multicultural and medical romance and unforgettable moments of vulnerability and hope.

Whether you're drawn to true stories of survival or fictional narratives filled with tenderness and truth, Dear Orchid offers an emotional journey that celebrates love in all its forms.

A collection for anyone who's ever loved, lost, or longed to understand the emotional truth behind the quiet moments that shape us.

These aren't just stories.

They're letters to everyday heroes.

For you. For us. For the moments that make us human.

Review Quotes

"Powerful, haunting, and precise. Each of the essays and stories in Van Den Hende's collection-whether a three-page reverie of childhood's joys and tragedies or a candid peek into the life of a wounded hero-land with a piercing clarity."

-FIONA DAVIS, New York Times bestselling author of The Stolen Queen

"Prepare to be inspired, moved, and to find echoes of your own life within these pages. A truly remarkable read!"

-REBECCA ROSENBERG, Champagne Widows series

"Dear Orchid reminds us that tragedy can also open hearts and souls to lives fully lived

in unexpected circumstances."

-SUSAN CUSHMAN, author of Pilgrim Interrupted, John and Mary Margaret and Cherry Bomb

"With unflinching honesty, unexpected humor, and a voice both tender and fierce, Carol Van Den Hende reveals the complicated, beautiful ways we adapt, endure, and sometimes even thrive. Dear Orchid will linger in your mind long after the last page, like a bruise you keep pressing-not to hurt, but to remember you're still here."

-CHRISTINA CONSOLINO, award-winning author of The Marriage Debt

"A delightful medley of memories and stories connected to the creative surprises and inspirations for her celebrated Orchid series. For fans of Van Den Hende's novels, Dear Orchid cannot be missed."

-SARAHLYN BRUCK, author of Light of the Fire

"A soulful collection of essays and reflections blending truth and imagination, Dear Orchid is a heartfelt exploration of how youthful wonder naturally matures into genuine wisdom. Through a captivating tapestry of essays, Carol takes readers on an inspiring journey of awakening, growth, and self-discovery, capturing life's rawest emotions with authenticity. Whether you've been on these paths or simply recognize the feelings they evoke, this book speaks to the universal human experience."

-HOPE GIBBS, author Where the Grass Grows Blue

"It's an honor to know Carol Van Den Hende. We have shared incredible life experiences. She has a rare gift for turning that richness into authentic stories."

-SGT. BRYAN ANDERSON, author of No Turning Back: One Man's Inspiring True Story of Courage, Determination, and Hope