Reconfigured - by Barbara Wolf Terao (Paperback)

About the Book

"When Barbara Wolf Terao makes her home in Washington, two thousand miles from her husband in Illinois, she doesn't know when--or if--she'll ever live with him again. Discovery of breast cancer three months later, however, changes both of them in ways they never imagined. As Barbara learns to listen more deeply to her heart and intuition, her husband and her adult children show up to help her through a year of medical treatments. Nestled in her Whidbey Island cottage and nurtured by Douglas fir forests, the Salish sea, and her community, she changes her life from the inside out. After reconfiguring her body, mind, and spirit, Barbara finally has words for what she wants to say--and the strength to be a survivor"--Back cover.

Book Synopsis

When Barbara Terao moves into a new home in Washington, two thousand miles from her husband in Illinois, she doesn't know when--or if--she'll ever live with him again. Her diagnosis of breast cancer three months later changes both of them in ways they never imagined.

In the ensuing months, Barbara's husband and adult children show up to help her through a year of difficult treatments and surgery, and Barbara, in her Whidbey Island cottage, learns to listen to her heart and intuition. Nurtured by Douglas fir forests, the Salish Sea, and her community, she changes her life from the inside out. Her journey, she realizes, wasn't about leaving her husband so much as finding herself. Reconfigured in body, mind, and spirit, Barbara finally has words for what she wants to say--and the strength to be a survivor.

Review Quotes

2023 Chanticleer International Book Awards Winner in the Journey Book Awards
2023 Sarton Awards Shortlist: Memoir

"In her memoir of seeking and finding, Barbara Wolf Terao invites readers into her circle of friends, family members, doctors, nurses, ferry boat personnel, and shoe salesmen. It's a big, beautiful circle on Whidbey Island and one I did not want to leave. With no recriminations, she tells the story of her stalled marriage and her diagnosis of breast cancer, both of which demand 'reconfiguration.' She approaches all her challenges with wit, grit, and a belief in nature and spirit that inspires and warms. One of the many strengths of this book--and its author--is that Terao never asks, 'Why me?' but instead, 'What's next?'"
--Sharon Fiffer, author of Imagining America and the Jane Wheel mysteries and coeditor of the memoir collections Home: American Writers Remember Rooms of Their Own; Family: American Writers Remember Their Own; and Body

"To read Reconfigured by Barbara Wolf Terao is to be transported via the unlikely vehicles of a failing marriage, a cancer diagnosis, and an enchanted desert horse to a place of understanding of what it means to be alive. Changing her karma with every challenge, Barbara literally turns her medications from poison to medicine, and she figuratively does the same with her new life on Whidbey Island. I couldn't put it down, and I couldn't help but cheer her on her way!"
--Nancy Slonim Aronie, founder of the Chilmark Writing Workshop on Martha's Vineyard and author of Memoir as Medicine and Writing from the Heart: Tapping the Power of Your Inner Voice

"This insightful memoir takes readers on a journey of courage and endurance in the aftermath of a terrifying diagnosis, celebrating self-discovery and the circles of love and support necessary to surmount unexpected obstacles."
--James McKusick, author of Green Writing: Romanticism and Ecology

"Barbara Terao weaves a clear-voiced narrative that braids self-determination, marriage, and cancer recovery. Her story illustrates how the healing of one life challenge can become a healing for all, and her style invites readers to reflect on their own lives while reading. This awareness of our common struggles and triumphs is the gift of memoir."
--Christina Baldwin, author of Storycatcher: Making Sense of our Lives through the Power and Practice of Story

"I greatly appreciate Barbara's transformative memoir--written with honesty, vulnerability, and courage. She faced life challenges of cancer, marriage issues, and relocation with grit and grace. Her Buddhist perspective reminds me of the analogy of the lotus flower: out of adversity she reclaimed her authentic Self."
--Susan Wisehart, MS, LMFT, holistic psychotherapist and author of Soul Visioning: Clear the Past, Create Your Future

"Barbara Wolf Terao has written a beautiful account of her journey with marriage, motherhood, cancer, and finding her own place in the world. Those who have sustained or hope to sustain long-term relationships will be grateful for the honesty about what they entail."
--Michael Lerner, president and cofounder of Commonweal and cofounder of CancerChoices.org and Healing Circles Global

"Barbara is one terrific writer! What I find remarkable is her way of interweaving 'things spiritual' with nitty-gritty aspects of dealing with cancer. She gave voice to much of what I felt going through my own cancer experience. Since reading her memoir, I often find myself thinking of what she wrote."
--Bradford Garton, composer and professor of music at Columbia University

"Reconfigured is a deeply moving and absorbing chronicle of Barbara Wolf Terao's cancer journey, but even more of her path to find wholeness, home, and her authentic self. This beautifully written book reminds us all to listen to and trust not just ourselves but also the universe."
--Donna Cameron, author of A Year of Living Kindly: Choices That Will Change Your Life and the World Around You

"Stirringly inspirational. . . . The memoir's power is in its message that suffering 'carves out space' in our hearts 'for more compassion, ' and illness provides an opportunity for us to discover our better selves."
--Kirkus Reviews

"What a compelling story, filled with spirit! As a breast cancer survivor, I received guidance, affirmation, and inspiration from this book. The ways Barbara Wolf Terao copes with her 'reconfiguration' can benefit anyone going through changes."
--Kathleen Hudson, PhD, poet and author of Telling Stories, Writing Songs: An Album of Texas Songwriters and Corazón Abierto: Mexican American Voices in Texas Music

"Reconfigured is a lesson of 'turning poison into medicine' in the truest sense of that. Barbara Wolf Terao is the epitome of grace and triumph and transformation. Her life is a gift; her memoir is the gift we get to share."
--Amy Ferris, author of Marrying George Clooney: Confessions from a Midlife Crisis

About the Author

Barbara Wolf Terao was born and raised in Northfield, Minnesota, and now lives on Whidbey Island in Washington. Besides taking on way too many janitor jobs, Dr. Terao has been a teacher, psychologist, Land Ethic Leader, television host, newspaper columnist, book reviewer, and editor. She happily adds mother and now grandmother to that list. Her articles, essays, and reviews have appeared in Orion, The Seattle Times, Art in the Time of Unbearable Crisis, Cabin Life, AHP Perspective, and Realize and on her Of the Earth website (ofthebluepla.net). She lives in Freeland, WA.