Jennifer Cramer-Miller is a multiple award-winning author, speaker, and gratitude advocate.
Her debut memoir, Incurable Optimist: Living with Illness and Chronic Hope, received a starred review from Publishers Weekly, an International Impact Award in Family + Medical, and a Book Excellence Award in the Family Category. Her speaking engagements span Fortune 500 companies to non-profits, and she has appeared on TV, radio, and podcasts. Her writing is featured in national and international publications including: HuffPost, Brevity Blog, The Sunlight Press, The Star Tribune, and Minnesota Physician.
Jennifer also serves as the Board Chair for the Minnesota National Kidney Foundation, a Donate Life ambassador, and a patient advocate. She helps people manage uncertainty, move forward with hope, and find joy.
This one-on-one interview shares Jennifer’s background and experience writing Incurable Optimist: Living with Illness and Chronic Hope.
Tell us about Incurable Optimist.
At twenty-two, I had my whole life ahead of me—a new job, charming boyfriend, and Seattle apartment.
Then I received a devastating autoimmune diagnosis.
Suddenly, my bright future evaporated. I found myself soaking a hospital pillow with tears and grappling with the word “incurable.” I had unwillingly crossed over from wellness to chronic illness—from thriving to kidney failure.
My survival hinged upon the expertise of doctors, the generosity of strangers, and the benevolence of loved ones. But what kind of life would that be?
Spanning two-plus decades, Incurable Optimist is my deeply personal memoir that explores loss and acceptance, the miracles of kindness, and the gift of being alive.
Four kidney transplants later, I am here to shine a light on resilience in difficult times, with a story that will make you want to hug the humans you love. Because sometimes it’s the sorrows that threaten to pull us apart that ultimately unite us in hope.
What inspired you to write Incurable Optimist?
First, my daughter Liza. When she was younger, I worried (as moms do), what if I get hit by a bus and she never knows she’s a miracle? Given my health history, I feel so lucky to have a healthy child.
Then, randomly, a conversation between Madonna and Ellen (on the Ellen Show) fueled my urgency. Madonna had encouraged Ellen to share her coming out story, underscoring that she was the only one who could. I’m far from Ellen-level famous, but I felt that singular pressure to share the story that only I could.
It’s an honor to spread my message of hope to lift others who face challenges. I believe that the most idiosyncratic of experiences hold universal themes, and we find ourselves in the story of others.
How did you feel when you found out you received a Book Excellence Award?
The minute I started writing Incurable Optimist, I realized it was a family love story. So, to be recognized as a winner in the Family category of the high-profile Book Excellence Awards was an immense accolade.
In addition, the award’s multiple categories and global reach are professional and impressive. So, after pouring my soul into this memoir, winning a Book Excellence Award uplifts me with a wonderful sense of achievement and validation for my efforts.
How did your background and experience influence your writing?
The confluence of my personal life experience and professional expertise led me to write in the memoir genre.
For many years, I worked for a family custom home business and enjoyed corporate copywriting and brand management. My marketing materials evoked welcoming, comfortable scenes of home. Custom home building immerses you into people’s lives, and I loved working with families and learning their dynamics.
When we sold the business, my time was freed to focus more on my own family and the art of memoir. Oodles of life experience (and a boatload of journals) called out to me, like clay begging to be sculpted.
An acclaimed author and book coach, Kate Hopper, guided me. On the last lap before publication, high-octane cheerleader and NYT bestselling author Linda Sivertsen helped nudge Incurable Optimist over the finish line. When the lauded author Delia Ephron called Incurable Optimist “…an inspiration…”, I felt jubilant about my deep dive into the memoir genre.
What is one message you would like readers to remember?
Everyone faces something, and we all manage uncertainty. My wish is that Incurable Optimist will inspire readers to embrace hope, live fully, and no matter what, keep moving forward.
Purchasing the Book
Incurable Optimist has received positive reviews from well-known literary organizations, authors, and reviewers around the world. Book Excellence writes, “Jennifer’s story is a testament to the unbreakable power of the human spirit. Her unwavering optimism serves as a beacon of hope to others facing hardship and reminds us that there is always reason to believe in a brighter tomorrow.”
The book is available for sale on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Apple iBooks, Kobo, Nook and the Google Play store. Readers are encouraged to purchase their copy today: https://www.amazon.com/Incurable-Optimist-Living-Illness-Chronic-Hope/dp/1647425271
Connect with Jennifer Cramer-Miller:
https://jennifercramermiller.com/
https://www.instagram.com/jennifercramermiller
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