A mother's advice to her daughter--a guide to daily living both practical and sublime--with
full-color illustrations throughout. One sleepless night while she was in her early twenties
illustrator writer Hallie Bateman had a painful realization: her mom would die and after she
died she would be gone. The prospect was devastating and also scary--how would she navigate
the world without the person who gave her life? She thought about all the motherly advice she
would miss--advice that could help her through the challenges to come including the ordeal of
losing a parent. The next day Hallie asked her mother writer Suzy Hopkins to record
step-by-step instructions for her to follow in the event of her mom's death. The list began:
"Pour yourself a stiff glass of whiskey and make some fajitas" and continued from there
walking Hallie through the days months and years of life after loss with motherly guidance
and support addressing issues great and small--from choosing a life partner to baking a
quiche. The project became a way for mother and daughter to connect with humor openness and
gratitude. It led to this book. Combining Suzy's wit and heartfelt advice with Hallie's
quirky and colorful style What to Do When I'm Gone is the illustrated instruction manual for
getting through life without one's mom. It's also a poignant look at loss love and taking
things one moment at a time. By turns whimsical funny touching and above all pragmatic it
will leave readers laughing and teary-eyed. And it will spur conversations that enrich family
members' understanding of one another.
