“Across the Kitchen Table: A Mother and Daughter Turn Tragedy into Peace” is published today!

Carla Seaquist
2 min readJan 14, 2025

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Well done, Carla!

For Carla’s many readers: Across the Kitchen Table: A Mother and Daughter Turn Tragedy into Peace, is out today. Distributed by Simon and Schuster, you can find three versions on Amazon, through your local bookstore, or wherever you buy your books. In addition to the paperback and e-book, there is also an exceptional Audiobook. Professional actor Natasha Soudek brilliantly captures Carla’s voice, illuminating her “scenic sentences.”

From the Publisher: “For readers suffering from family estrangement or hoping to repair broken familial bonds, this mother-daughter memoir, written in a unique letter format, touches on the timely theme of politically divided families.

“Fans of Jennette McCurdy’s I’m Glad My Mom Died will love this true story of a damaged primal bond between mother and daughter that, after decades of estrangement, was finally repaired. The conflict began when Carla, as a preteen, stepped in to defend her father against what she perceived as her mother’s harsh treatment — a move that destroyed the warm love she and her mother had for each other and began an “ice age” between them.

“Forty years later, determined that this mother and daughter not end as tragedy, Carla uses every tool available to her — psychology, diplomacy, humanity, wit, patience — to try to repair their bond. Finally, over her mother’s kitchen table, they melt the ice and find their way back to laughter and closeness.

“Too often today, problem relationships are labeled “toxic,” with the idea it is “healing” to offload a relationship no longer serving you. This loving, grounded memoir shows that rebuilding a primal bond is doable — and will prompt readers to ask themselves, Could I do the same? What if I reached out, today?”

From Carla’s husband and First Reader, Larry: Carla was exceedingly proud of this book. As you read her and mother Millie’s life stories and track the love-work each invested in reconnecting. you’ll also get a portrait of small town, post-War America.

Early readers say: “I couldn’t put it down,” “especially good for a book group,” and “I know two people who will really appreciate this story.” It will be especially good as a gift to a young person starting to shape their character and life.

Please let me know what you think. I’d love to hear you thoughts when you have read it.

Please buy one, give one — we want to help build a national readership for Carla.

Thank you and Truly Well Done, Carla!

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Carla Seaquist
Carla Seaquist

Written by Carla Seaquist

Carla (1944-2024) examined life at the crossroads of politics, culture and the American character. New book "Across the Kitchen Table." www.carlaseaquist.com.

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