I met Jen Collins in 2018 when she attended one of my CCAC writing classes. A few months later, she contacted me and we met for coffee,which is when I learned that she had been diagnosed with Stage 4 metastatic breast cancer and was seriously considering writing a memoir about her experience. I was thrilled when I heard the news in 2019 that One Idea Press was going to publish her book, and I was quick to pre-order The In-Between is Everything before its release in October 2020.
This is how Jen describes her book:
The In-Between is Everything is a memoir about navigating life through the ups and downs. A cancer diagnosis derailed my plans, but my faith (and a pretty amazing support system) allowed me to keep moving forward and living my life, even when things got hard.
Not everyone had cancer, but everyone had something, right?
I wrote this book to share what I learned and to help people see the good stuff, the REALLY GOOD STUFF, was found not in the big moments, but in the little moments ‘in-between’.
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Jennifer Lilley Collins’s beautifully-written and gut-punching memoir deeply affected me.
It surprised me how much I felt her pain and fear. It was visceral. At the beginning of every chapter, she recounts various conversations or comments that she has heard over the course of her illness. These snippets are often shocking and cringe-worthy, like this inexpressibly offensive remark: “Boy, people are making you dinner and giving you gifts? Maybe I should get cancer.” I found myself feeling embarrassed for humanity and I vowed to strive to be conscientious and self-aware in everything I say.
It also surprised me how completely invested I was in her diagnosis, her marriage, family, and business worries, and her friendships. I wasn’t only rooting for her, I was learning from her. By observing her struggle with cancer, I experienced a strong desire to want to emulate the grace, compassion, and faith that characterizes her life.
I don’t know what greater compliment I can give than to say that reading The In-Between is Everything made me a better person.
I hope you read it.