Local author publishes a second book, out next week

Breeda Miller’s second book, “Take a Break Before You Break,” will be released on Amazon and in local bookstores starting March 22.

Breeda Miller is all about taking breaks. Coffee, a nice spot of Irish tea, or just a break on her comfortable screened porch with a tall glass of water. You name it, she’s ready to take a break. And she’s learned about that the hard way.

In 2017, she published a small book called, “The Caregiver Coffeebreak,” and included 76 practical tips designed to support caregivers, primarily family caregivers. “It was the book I wish I’d had when I was my mom’s caregiver,” she explains. “Short, sweet, and light-hearted. Its small size makes it easy to access and not overwhelming.”

But don’t let the book’s compact size fool you; it’s filled with distilled wisdom and great ideas. Breeda’s new book is a variation on the theme of self-care. “It’s perfect for anyone who is feeling exhausted and overwhelmed and just too tired to actually take care of themselves. We all know we should do it, but it’s hard to figure out what to do and how to do it. This is the book that helps move you forward and gives you good reasons to take the time to take care of yourself.”

So, while this second book is also primarily designed to support caregivers, it can also help any of us who might be feeling a wee bit burned out, discouraged, and too overwhelmed to take the time for self-care.

The new book, “Take A Break Before You Break,” will be available on Amazon starting March 22 as a print book and a kindle version. It will also be distributed as a companion to Breeda’s new series called CareBoost for health care professionals. And, it’s available on her website (print only), BreedaMiller.com

Locally, the River Raisin Mercantile owned by Sue LaRocque will carry the book, and Breeda is also in contact with several other local booksellers to carry “Take a Break Before You Break.”

The book offers easy access to clever solutions, inspirational ideas, and great resources. Like the Caregiver Coffeebreak, it’s small and easy to read for anyone who needs to find quick and easy ideas and suggestions. Good things do come in small packages and this book is just the ticket to help prevent burnout and enjoy your life.

Breeda reminds us that “Recognizing that the caregiver requires care is difficult and may seem selfish; yet, it is essential to being able to continue in the role.” She gives her readers permission to take that all important “Break Before You Break” with practical suggestions for anyone confronting burn out, weariness, or exhaustion. Perhaps you are confronting the incredible demands of caregiving, or perhaps you know of someone navigating an uphill battle in this role. Her book, Take a Break Before You Break, may actually keep you, or another caregiver, whole and in balance before it’s too late!

An author, speaker, and trainer, Breeda has used her professional experience serving clients in health care organizations, corporations, academic institutions, and non-profit communities. A skilled storyteller, her video stories have gone viral and she has appeared on The Moth Story Hour on NPR. But there’s always something new on the horizon for this energetic woman.

“My favorite thing to do is to tell stories, mostly about my family and life experiences,” she says. “I am Artistic Director of the Big-Hearted Stories event on May 27 produced by the University of Michigan; this event benefits five local agencies supporting older adults in Washtenaw County.” Last year’s virtual event was a huge success and included Breeda and five other storytellers sharing touching stories of getting older and caring for others.

Now, she says, “I’m in the midst of writing a different kind of book — a collection of my stories that will one day become a one-woman show. My plan is to present the show as a fundraising event for non profit organizations looking for a fun and different way to support themselves. By the time it’s ready for production, I’m confident it will be safe to gather in groups and we will be looking for opportunities to get out of the house and do something different.”

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by Marsha Chartrand

Marsha Johnson Chartrand, a founder, writer, and copy editor with the Manchester Mirror, is a 50-year resident of Manchester. She has a long history of volunteer and community involvement.