A strong woman embraces life on her own terms.
Berthella Stevens is shaped by childhood adversity in an impoverished, fatherless home during the Great Depression. As an unconventional adult ahead of her time, she’s inspired by natural living, flower gardening, writing and raising her family. But when she dares to be herself in her rural Indiana community, she endures ostracism and loneliness, finding solace in her faith.
Berthella’s story is expressed through the seasons of her life, rooted in Kerry Stevens’ childhood in the 1960s. He shares an intimate portrait of his mother in a fusion of her poetry and prose with his story of their relationship. While revealing the joys of living life to the fullest, Kerry discovers her pain and a new admiration for his maverick mom.
Forever Herself will warm your heart, challenge your mind, and renew your spirit.
“The memoir recounts Stevens’ childhood memories, but it’s truly about Berthella, with each chapter painting another stroke in a portrait of an exceptional woman. Stevens...has a gift for describing ordinary things in beautiful, artistic ways... Each chapter draws the reader in.”
- Kirkus Reviews
“Forever Herself is a son's stirring tribute to his Indiana mother.”
- Philip Gulley, author of the
Harmony series
“The words maverick and mother are not usually synonymous, but in FOREVER HERSELF, Kerry L Stevens’ “love letter” to his mother,...Stevens beautifully fuses memories of his childhood with Berthella’s strength, poetry and essays. The combination inspires the discovery of our individual uniqueness and the courage to be our own person.”
- Sylvia Dickey Smith, award-winning author of the
Sidra Smart Mystery Series, A War of Her Own, and Original Cyn.
