Skip to Main Content

One Ripple at a Time

A Mother's Story of Life after Loss

Published by She Writes Press
Distributed by Simon & Schuster

About The Book

Written especially for women who have struggled with the death of a child under age thirteen, One Ripple at a Time describes one mother’s guidance of her family and herself through grief, with practical advice for embracing new horizons of growth and self-confidence, as well as surprising connections.

A parent should never outlive their own child, yet this is the position Janice Jensen found herself in after the drowning of her nine-year-old son. In the aftermath of this tragedy, Janice dedicated herself to her roles as mother to her surviving daughter and wife to her devastated husband even as she grappled with her grief.

As a non-swimmer, Janice experienced water’s unforgiving power through the loss of her son, but as time went on, she also learned to appreciate its redemptive and healing properties. She sculled symbolic and real rivers, taking the necessary side channels to find waves that soaked peace and happiness into her body, mind, and heart. She learned to sail. And she fell in love with ballroom dancing, a passion that eventually led her back to the very place where she lost her son.

A poignant, heartfelt story that takes readers through the everyday ups and downs of life after a tragedy and highlights the need to view each person’s grief journey and timeline as unique. One Ripple at a Time comforts readers and, through decades of the author’s personal quest, imparts a crucial message: The best of you is just around the bend.

About The Author

While working as an educator and author in Syria, Colombia, Saudi Arabia, Oregon, and Washington, Janice Jensen embarked on a decades-long journey to glean insights from parents who had lost children. While traveling solo to seventy countries, she examined the grief experiences of several cultures and identities, leading her to embrace a vast range of strategies for overcoming tragedy. One Ripple at a Time incorporates the best of her brain and heart wisdom, and today, she lives in Oregon and volunteers with groups to give informal grief recovery support and pass on strength for a thriving life.

Product Details

  • Publisher: She Writes Press (October 15, 2024)
  • Length: 200 pages
  • ISBN13: 9781647427955

Browse Related Books

Raves and Reviews

“A moving debut memoir . . . Jensen is a gifted storyteller whose writing style is confident and wise.”Kirkus Reviews

"Pensive, heartbreaking memoir of losing a son in a tragic accident."Booklist

“This beautiful memoir is a tribute to the author’s son—rich with comfort, solace, and hope to help people who have experienced great loss. As Janice’s dance instructor, I saw the profound effect that learning to dance had on Janice and how it became her final catalyst for healing.”—Laura Taylor, Dance Instructor, Dance With Us!

“Living demands that we deal with the unimaginable, accept the past, and honor the beauty of having been part of that being who is no longer with us. One Ripple is about loss but also how to move into the future, how to gather what is left and forge forward.”—Marisela Rizik, author of Forgotten Times

“When I read Janice’s book, I cry. Tears spring from the unimaginable tragedy she endured but also from the inspiration the story holds. Her journey to reclaim her lost child and the love they shared is filled with tenderness and courage. This book glows with strength and wisdom.”—Mary Bauer, author of Mercury, Miko, and Me

“What appears to be a heartbreaking story turns out to be one of resilience and triumph over unspeakable tragedy. This book will help you see that life can still be beautiful after your worst nightmare. I highly recommend it.”—Jillian Smith, M.A., Life Coach & Author

One Ripple is a soul gift—poignant, heartbreakingly beautiful, and filled with wisdom and hope. Through an unflinching examination of her pain and the healing journey that followed the tragic death of her son, Janice offers a buoy of light to every person feeling adrift in waves of grief.”—Rebecca Ivanoff, Lawyer & Professional Coach

“This story might break your heart, but it will fill it again. Rich in detail, deep in meaning, with an intimate and embracing voice.”—Sandra Scofield, author of Mysteries of Love and Grief

Resources and Downloads

High Resolution Images