“Her poems touched my heart and helped me realize that I'm not alone in my grief.” – Kathleen Pitt

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When Larada Horner-Miller's father died in 1996, her mother told her, "Everyone grieves in their own way."
Horner-Miller took these words to heart when her mother passed away in 2013. She discovered that writing poetry was the best way of working through her fresh grief. Eventually she penned dozens of intimate, heartfelt poems about her parents' lives and legacies and her deep sorrow and gradual recovery. Now she has gathered those verses into her first collection, A Time to Grow Up.

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Horner-Miller discusses the emotional challenges of caring for her parents at the end of their lives. Her words will strike a chord with any worried caretaker or child watching over ailing but fiercely independent loved ones.

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As Horner-Miller explores the nuances of bereavement through her poetry, she provides inspiration and comfort for readers coping with the same burdens. While many of her poems explore the depths of her anguish, others exude humour and warmth--a reminder that there is still always light in the world.
In addition to her poems, Horner-Miller includes biographical sketches about her mother and her father, as well as appendices that provide coping tips, suggested activities, and resources for others dealing with intense bereavement.

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A TIME TO GROW UP

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“A beautiful experience to read this heartfelt book.” – Tanisha Williams

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About the Author

Larada Horner-Miller received a bachelor’s degree in English, with a minor in Spanish, and a master’s degree in education, with a speciality in integrating technology in the classroom.  She spent thirteen years as a beautician and twenty-seven years as an educator.  She now co-manages her family ranch with her brother.

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In additional to A Time to Grow Up, Larada is the author of This Tumbleweed Landed and When Will Papa Get Home? Both were finalists for the 2016 New Mexico-Arizona Book Awards.

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Larada currently lives in Tijeras, New Mexico, with her husband, Lin, and cat, Jenne.  Lin and Larada love to square and round dance all over the USA.

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“The author's words are so descriptive that I felt her pain, her love and her loss as she described her experiences.” – Gale Askren

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A TIME TO GROW UP

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What Words Capture My Loss?
What words capture
my loss?
Mom – dead!
Two small words –
Two words that shouldn’t
be spoken together

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My world altered forever!
I cry!
I live!
I cry!

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Will the tears end?

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Will the pain stop?

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Where are you?

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How are you?

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I so need to talk to you
to touch you
to hear your voice
Once again.

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Never again!

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“Horner-Miller's prose is beautifully written. You get the feeling she is sitting right next to you talking to you. Her open sharing of her grief is inspiring.” – Mary Jane

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Sitting At Your Grave – Six Months Later
Who am I today?
Six and a half months
Without you

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I miss
your giggle
our morning talks
your advice
care
concern
pride in me
My eternal cheerleader

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I miss
your familiar smell
bouncing my life off of you
your stubbornness
determination
Independence

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I miss
future fun-filled possible trips
to unknown sights
talks about the Broncos
or Giants

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Are we going to win again this year?
a jitterbug with you
trying to recapture
Dad’s unique step

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I miss you, Mom!

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