About the Book

The bestselling author offers readers an intimate glimpse into the early years of her journey as both writer and spiritual seeker. This selection of personal reflections and essays is organized around 13 spiritual motifs that creates a narrative of the authors spiritual awakening.

Book Synopsis

From the bestselling author of The Secret Life of Bees and the new novel The Book of Longings comes a thoughtful, revelatory book of writings on self and spirit

Before she won an international readership with her novels, Sue Monk Kidd was best known for her smart, passionate spiritual writings. Now many of those early stories and essays (most of which first appeared in Guideposts) are collected in one volume, organized around thirteen spiritual motifs. In Firstlight, Kidd charts her emergence as a writer and seeker; reflects on her roles as wife, mother, daughter, nurse, and artist; and assesses what she has learned in settings as far-flung as Africa and her own home. The result is an intimate, uplifting book, filled with moments of recognition and discovery.

Review Quotes

"Kidd's lovely prose, passion for the spiritual life, and early instincts for telling a compelling story should help this book attract a wide readership."
-Publishers Weekly, starred review

"Thoughtful, moving, often luminous meditations on faith, family, death, and love; on compassion, solitude, and grace."
-Booklist

About the Author

SUE MONK KIDD is the author of the novels, The Secret Life of Bees and The Mermaid Chair, and the memoirs, The Dance of the Dissident Daughter, When the Heart Waits, and Firstlight, a collection of early writings. The Secret Life of Bees has spent more than 125 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list and was adapted into an award-winning movie. The Mermaid Chair, a #1 New York Times bestseller, was adapted into a television movie. Each of her novels has been translated into more than 24 languages. The recipient of numerous literary awards, Sue lives in South Carolina with her husband.