Pen Jar Productions Archives - Alison Garwood-Jones Alison Garwood-Jones

Summer Book Tour

Originally published in July 2025 in Blog, Books on Grief, Pen Jar Productions

“Inking Your Grief” is a public talk by Alison Garwood-Jones that uses her illustrated portraits to show how grief affects every day life.

Upcoming Burlington Library Talk

Originally published in June 2025 in Blog, Grief, Pen Jar Productions

Join Alison Garwood-Jones for her talk, “Inking Your Grief” at the Burlington Public Library’s Central branch. Saturday, July 12 from 2:00 – 3:30 pm. 2331 New St, Burlington, ON L7R 1J4

Saskatchewan Librairies

Originally published in April 2025 in Blog, Books on Grief, Grief, Pen Jar Productions

Do you have a rapacious view of success? This story will slow you down. I MISS MY MOMMY is now available in libraries across the province of Saskatchewan through Saskatchewan.Overdrive.com Since January, I’ve been rising with the sun and pitching one collections librarian at a time to carry my book. Yes, I have a map […]

Gan Arts Fest

Originally published in September 2024 in Blog, Books on Grief, Books on Parental Loss, Gift Ideas, Grief, Pen Jar Productions

This past weekend, I took the train up to Gananoque, Ontario and introduced I MISS MY MOMMY— both the book and six framed portraits from its pages — to this historic town during its annual Gan Art Fest, part of Ontario Culture Days.

Book Gets Kirkus Star Rating

Originally published in September 2024 in Blog, Books, Books on Parental Loss, Grief, Pen Jar Productions, Toronto Illustrators

I MISS MY MOMMY, Alison Garwood-Jones’ illustrated novel about orphaned adult grief, gets a Kirkus star rating.

What is your grief story?

Originally published in June 2024 in Blog, Books on Grief, Books on Parental Loss, Grief, Pen Jar Productions

I Miss My Mommy takes you right to the heart of the five stages of grief through 150 portraits, some grim, some funny, but all relatable.

Father’s Day

Originally published in June 2024 in Blog, Books on Grief, Books on Parental Loss, Gift Ideas, Pen Jar Productions

My new book is called I Miss My Mommy, but fathers are just as integral to the story for orphaned adults. For Father’s Day, here’s a preview of how dads, now gone, weave in and out of the stories of their adult kids’ lives.

Summer Giveaway

Originally published in June 2024 in Blog, Books on Grief, Books on Parental Loss, Gift Ideas, Grief, Pen Jar Productions

Let’s start a conversation about grief. I’d love a short social media review of my book (up to 150 words written or filmed) from you:

Press for I Miss My Mommy

Originally published in June 2024 in Blog, Books on Grief, Books on Parental Loss, Grief, Pen Jar Productions

Anne Bokma’s compelling Mother’s Day column in today’s Hamilton Spectator shows how fraught Mother’s Day can be for adult orphans, particularly women. Bokma cites I Miss My Mommy by Alison Garwood-Jones as a resource for middle agers struggling with the five stages of grief.