Most of the poetry contained within this book was conceived during a period of intense grief. The author’s life was blown apart by the tragedy that precipitated this book. Julie’s life and the life of her family changed forever after her brother Glenn died due to a workplace truck accident in 1993. Soon after, Julie left her then-husband and recommenced study towards a Bachelor of Science, started some fourteen years earlier. The prevailing sentiment in her heart was that ‘Life is too short to be dreadfully unhappy.’ That was the only way she could reconcile how she was feeling.

While finishing her science degree at the University of Tasmania in 1997, Julie became divorced, then lost majority custody of her children due to moving them away from their father. During her honours year, Julie lost her best friend from high school Tracey to cervical cancer and had another failed relationship. Following this, Julie’s PhD application was rejected, and she became unemployed. The effects of all these events started Julie on a spiritual journey, which took on an intellectual dimension with the commencement of studies in Philosophy at the University of Tasmania in 2000. Julie was awarded an arts degree in Philosophy in 2005.