The book A Rumor of Angels: Quotations for Living, Dying and Letting Go, which collects more than 400 sentiments by philosophers, poets, literary masters, and everyday people who have known loss or are in the midst of it, has been revised and republished. Unlike other volumes of compiled quotations that are randomly put together, authors Gail Perry Johnston, a graphic artist, and Jill Perry Rabideau, MHA, MS, OTR/L, have arranged A Rumor of Angels so that readers can either find courage and encouragement by reading just 1 or 2 quotes from notables such as C.S. Lewis, Madeleine L'Engle, E.B. White, Annie Dillard, Anne Lamott, or Elisabeth Kubler-Ross or, if desired, read from cover to cover. The authors structured the book so that quotes flow from one to another to lead readers through their emotions and experiences toward a place of peace and release.
* Living, the first chapter, discusses living amid desperation by maintaining one's spirit, setting goals (no matter how short-termed), giving to others in any way still possible, loving more immediately, recognizing inner beauty (not the weakening physical condition), and embracing memories.
* Dying, the second chapter, reveals the human responses to loss, including denial, affront at its timing, fear, a desire to blame someone, the tendency to suffer quietly or out loud, and the need to find some form of healthy expression for one's emotions.
* Letting Go, the last chapter, gently directs a reader to see life with an eternal perspective. Quotes encourage a person to forgive, say goodbye, and consider the possibility of life after death. For survivors, quotes touch upon learning to live with regret and redirecting one's energies.
The title, "A Rumor of Angels," refers to Andrew Greeley's speculation that the hope at the center of our soul is "a hint of an explanation, a rumor of angels, the best insight we have into what human life is all about." A Rumor of Angels was previously published by Random House in 1989. Johnston recently formed Cupola Press in order to republish the book with a more contemporary design and market it through bookstores and to end-of-life care givers and their patients. For more information, visit http://www.cupolapress.com.