Hard Things and the Hope of Recovery
Award-winning writer and storyteller

Mimi Snow Photography
What I do
I write about things that are hard: physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual, and how I use my experience to show up with grace and find hope.
My experience includes: multiple 12-step recovery programs (18 years), traumatic brain injury survivor (8 years), the LGBTQ community (let’s just say a lot of years!).
Everyone in and out of recovery, from tie-dye to black tie, can understand and relate.
TL;DR: inspirational memoir shorts sprinkled with spirituality and a bit of humor.
The Way to a Will
For years I went to bed crying because I couldn’t write my book. Not couldn’t, per se, more like wouldn’t. Or is it fair to s [...]
The Continuance of Courage
I’m supposed to speak at a 12-step meeting tomorrow, and I don’t know what to say. "Speaking” at a meeting means that you sha [...]
Grace from a Gecko
Of all the things, I never expected a tiny gecko to appear in my kitchen sink. It’s HOT here in the desert, extraordinarily s [...]
The Presence of a Small Parrot
“I miss her, God,” I said aloud, my heart filling up with a familiar aching. I had just arrived home from work and my thought [...]
Ascertaining Autonomy
Breakups don’t get easier with sobriety, they get different. Last week I wrote about the decision I needed to make (see previ [...]
The Conundrum of No Contact
“Do I have to go no contact?” I asked my sponsor 10 days ago. I was reviewing what needed to be discussed with my girlfriend [...]
Featured in the book Surviving Brain Injury: Stories of Strength and Inspiration
A collection of stories by almost 90 brain injury survivors from across the world.
These stories offer strength and inspiration to fellow survivors and help others understand the journey they go through.
Midwest Book Award finalist.
“Smart, Fresh, Inspired and Thought Provoking.”
“Her raw honesty speaks to all humans, experiencing all of life’s challenges and joys and leaves one feeling connected. She has a talent for pulling the covers off the struggles we all face and taking away their illusive power by sprinkling them with a bit of levity and humor. Simply refreshing!”
Noelle G., Operations Manager
“The strongest themes deal with humility and recovery. The silly notes are much more subtle. She plumbs the depths of darkness with a ladylike sweetness.”
“Amy’s writings have become welcome guests in my life. Her stories have all of the comfort of coffee with an old friend, one that knows me and my struggles.”
“Amy writes highly sensorial, descriptive, and even poetic slice-of-life scenes, often with an underlying inspirational message.”