I’m an author, memoirist, and freelance writer.
Writing is how I work things out.
It’s an exploration, a movement within that allows me to see the world with greater nuance. I’m always curious to see what I will find.
Even if it’s uncomfortable.
Writing is an opportunity to connect and observe with fresh eyes.
When I put pencil to paper and begin to write, something cracks open, and the light shifts.
Shortly after I turned to writing full time, Alan Pesky, the founder of Lee Pesky Learning Center, asked me to help him write his memoir. I’d never published anything before.
More To Life Than More is the result of our collaboration.
At the age of thirty, just as everything was falling into place for him, Lee Pesky died of brain cancer. For his father, Alan, grief came with the realization that he had lost the chance to love Lee as he was, not as he wanted him to be. Ambitious, successful, and always striving for more, Alan had a hard time relating to a son who struggled with learning disabilities at a time when there was little understanding or help for the kids who had them. Their relationship was complicated, and suddenly, Lee was gone.
More To Life Than More is Alan’s exploration of misunderstanding, loss, and learning. A memoir that will resonate with those who have lost a loved one, with anyone who has been impacted by learning challenges, and with parents who have struggled to understand a child.
What people are saying about More To Life Than More:
“At times this well-written, gut-wrenching memoir reads like a thriller. At other times, a labor of love… The writing is flawless.”
— Ridley Pearson, New York Times bestselling author of over 60 novels
“There is an abundance of wisdom and inspiration for us all in Alan Pesky's story. Particularly for parents of kids who learn differently, More To Life Than More is a must-read.”
— Dr. Robert Ballard, life-long explorer and discoverer of the Titanic
“Alan Pesky’s memoir … soars with emotion, hard lessons, and zippy writing. It’s a compelling story of learning from our most difficult loved ones and healing from loss with a dedication to public service that anyone would enjoy…
— The Idaho Press
More about More To Life Than More
Credit: Ready Rey
Writing the book: how two first-time authors came together to publish a book that Kirkus Reviews has called, “An articulate, unflinchingly honest, and touching account brimming with joy, heartbreak, and love.”
Other work
Credit: Ready Rey
Much of my writing has been for individual clients and for corporate use in marketing, training, and client service. Here are the published works I’ve authored and/or contributed to.
Freelance
Credit: Ready Rey
I ghostwrite articles, compose marketing and communications copy, write website content, and more. Most of all, I love helping others share their experiences, thoughts, and stories — whether through full-length memoir, op-eds, personal essays, legacy letters, narrated photo books. Even cookbooks. I welcome collaborative and freelance projects that are grounded in a spirit of inquiry.
I’d love to hear from you about my previous work or to discuss new projects.