Introducing Ella’s Debut Book
Reclaiming Joy: a primer for widows
It is possible to rediscover hope, contentment, and joy after the death of one’s spouse. In her inspiring, encouraging, and practical new primer for widows, Ella Prichard tells how she emerged from the overwhelming cloud of grief to reclaim joy.
Kindle edition now available at Amazon
Upcoming Events
April 7, 2019 – Speaking during worship services, 8:45 and 11 a.m., Shiloh Terrace Baptist Church, Mesquite Texas.
April 10, 2019 – “Claiming Easter Joy,” 6:15 p.m., Seventh and James Baptist Church, Waco, Texas.
April 13, 2019 – “Claiming Easter Joy,” 10:30 a.m., women’s event, Shiloh Terrace Baptist Church, Mesquite, Texas.
October 3, 2019 – Keynote speaker, Self Symposium, Stark College and Seminary, Corpus Christi, Texas.
A list of previous speaking engagements can be found here.
In the Media
December 31, 2018 – Guest of Mark Elfstrand on “Let’s Talk,” WYLL Chicago, 4–6 p.m., listen at AM 1160 or online at 1160Hope.com.
November 16, 2018 – Ella discusses coping with the myriad business issues that confronted her immediately after her husband died with Fred Tromberg on “Life, the Law and Legal Matters.” Listen to full interview
November 1, 2018 – “Author of New Book for Widows Offers Help for Getting Through the Holidays,” PRWeb. Read full article here
October 28, 2018 – Ella describes her life before Lev, during 46 years of marriage and as a widow with longtime Phoenix broadcaster Pat McMahon on the God Show. Listen to full interview
October 23, 2018 – Ella discusses how Paul’s letter to the Philippians spoke to her during her journey from grief to joy on the Georgene Rice Show, KPDQ-AM & FM, 6:30–7 p.m., CDT, Portland, OR. Listen to the podcast here, skipping past the news segment at the beginning.
October 21: Longtime Amplify host Msgr. Ron Lengwin discusses the lessons learned in Reclaiming Joy with Ella, focusing on the role of faith in moving through grief. Listen to full interview
October 9: “Communication is everything [in holding the family together]. along with transparency, openness and honesty. This is where advisors can help.” Ella’s interview with Adrienne M. Penta, “Reclaiming Joy with Ella Wall Prichard,” Women & Wealth Magazine. Read the full interview here
October 7: Ella talks about Reclaiming Joy—the despair of early grief, her spiritual journey from grief and the joy she found on Nantucket—with Scott Widmeyer of Cross Current on WNCK, Nantucket’s NPR station. Listen to full interview
October 4: “I wanted my life to be more than merely keeping on keeping on. I wanted a purpose in my life. I wanted to reclaim joy.” – Ella Wall Prichard, “How It’s Possible to Reclaim Joy (Even in the Grief of Widowhood,” Crosswalk.com. Read full excerpt here
September 25: Ella talks about why she wrote Reclaiming Joy, the role of faith in her life and the black hole of aloneness, along with advice for those who are still half a couple, in a local NPR interview with Stuart Jacoby of KEDT. Listen to Full Interview
September 24: “Truly, it’s a challenge to get out of bed in the morning. It’s a challenge to put one foot in front of you. It’s a challenge to go to the cemetery and pick out a grave stone. Who wants to do that? All of that takes courage.” Norman James, Baptist News Gobal. Read Full Article
September 22: “Ella Prichard Talks Grief, Acceptance, and Her New Book.” Baylor Line Foundation. Watch the Video
September 15: “I suspect grief counselors in churches and elsewhere around the country will find this book a must-have.” Bill Tammeus, “Faith Matters,” blog about religion and ethics. Read Full Review
September 4:
The Baylor Libraries invite you to attend the launch of “Reclaiming Joy: A Primer for Widows,” written by proud Baylor Bear Ella Wall Prichard on Friday, Sept. 14. The event will begin at 3:30 p.m. in the new Active Learning Lab in Moody Memorial Library. Read Full Press Release
September 2:
“In ‘Reclaiming Joy,’ Prichard untangles the spaghetti on the widow’s plate, compartmentalizes each topic and examines her grief while presenting a touching yet practical guideline offering hope for a positive outcome for any widow navigating her own loss.” – Ted Talley, book review, Her Magazine/Texarkana Gazette, summer issue. Read Full Review on pp. 36, 37
September 1:
“What separates Reclaiming Joy from any similar books is that it is aimed not just at the eight million widows in American life, but also their children, their siblings, their friends, and their churches. No death impacts only the partner who has been left behind. The ripples and recovery extend far and wide in both time and space.” – Robert F. Darden, book review, The Baylor Line, summer issue, p. 17. Read Full Review
August 17:
“Ella Prichard wrote Reclaiming Joy as a practical guide for widows—the book she needed but could not find when her husband of 46 years, Lev, died in 2009.” – Ken Camp, managing editor, Baptist Standard. Read Full Interview
August 15:
“As widows we can live on our memories of the past, or we can create opportunities to live with joyful anticipation—always one more thing on the calendar to look forward to. When we throw a party, we share that gift of anticipation with our friends. We can take those very events that are our sinkholes—holidays, anniversaries, long weekends—and turn them into keenly anticipated and enjoyed moments. And as we practice hospitality, we nurture strong relationships that enrich our lives and the lives of those around us.” – Ella Wall Prichard, “What I Wish People Knew About Grief,” Guideposts.org. Read Full Article
July 9:
Reclaiming Joy makes the Publishers Weekly list of recommended nonfiction books on religion and spirituality.
“Baylor Univ. Reclaiming Joy: A Primer for Widows by Ella Wall Prichard (Sept., hardcover, $24.95, ISBN 978-1-4813-0848-9). explores the Apostle Paul’s letter to the Philippians, a letter that features joy as a source of comfort and hope, as she grapples with the death of her husband.”
Jun 15:
Memoirs of Faith Seek to Find the Right Path
Religious and spiritual memoirs guide readers in search of inspiration
Featured in Publishers Weekly
May 29:
“A focused look at widowhood, this book is drenched in honesty and wise insights as she continues to move through stages of grief while adapting to new realities.”
– John D. Pierce, executive editor/publisher, Nurturing Faith Read Full Review
