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In the Heart of Life: A Restless Soul, a Search for Meaning, and a Bond That Death Couldn't Break
A Mother Loses Almost Everything Before She Discovers True Joy
In 1977, Kathy Eldon moved with her husband and two children from England to Kenya, where she found freedom as she had never known it before and was ready to push back from her old, restrictive life. Diving into this tumultuous new world as a journalist and writer, she embraced the energy and creativity of Kenyans, both black and white. But her world collapsed when her twenty-two-year-old son, Dan—an artist and photojournalist on assignment for Reuters—was stoned to death by an angry mob in Somalia, killed by the very people he was trying to help. Kathy's journey through this tragic loss was deeply spiritual as she discovered that, in many ways, Dan was still ever-present in her life.
This gripping international saga includes a passionate love, a dangerous coup in Kenya, and a compelling glimpse into a woman on the brink of self-discovery. After her son's murder, Kathy began to publish his art, which gained popularity worldwide and—together with her daughter, Amy—launched a global foundation celebrating Dan's work as a creative activist. Throughout Kathy's exploration of profound tragedy, we find the secrets to not only surviving, but being truly, gloriously alive.
In 1977, Kathy Eldon moved with her husband and two children from England to Kenya, where she found freedom as she had never known it before and was ready to push back from her old, restrictive life. Diving into this tumultuous new world as a journalist and writer, she embraced the energy and creativity of Kenyans, both black and white. But her world collapsed when her twenty-two-year-old son, Dan—an artist and photojournalist on assignment for Reuters—was stoned to death by an angry mob in Somalia, killed by the very people he was trying to help. Kathy's journey through this tragic loss was deeply spiritual as she discovered that, in many ways, Dan was still ever-present in her life.
This gripping international saga includes a passionate love, a dangerous coup in Kenya, and a compelling glimpse into a woman on the brink of self-discovery. After her son's murder, Kathy began to publish his art, which gained popularity worldwide and—together with her daughter, Amy—launched a global foundation celebrating Dan's work as a creative activist. Throughout Kathy's exploration of profound tragedy, we find the secrets to not only surviving, but being truly, gloriously alive.
384 pages, Hardcover
First published September 24, 2013
43 people are currently reading
506 people want to read
About the author
Kathy Eldon
34 books18 followersKATHY ELDON- SHORT BIO
Kathleen Knapp Eldon was born and raised in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and educated at Wellesley College, Kathy has worked as a teacher journalist, author and film and television producer in England, Africa and the United States.
Kathy is the author of 17 books, including "Angel Catcher", "Soul Catcher", and "Love Catcher" (Chronicle), a series of popular self guided journals written with her daughter Amy Eldon, which help people negotiate loss and grief, find their purpose and introduce more love in their lives. She edited the “Journey is the Destination: The Journals of Dan Eldon" (Chronicle) which has sold more than 130,000 copies.
Together with "Journey", the "Catcher" series was featured on The Oprah Winfrey Show and has sold more than 250,000 copies. Kathy has also written a variety of popular cookbooks, tourist and eating out guides and children’s social history books. Kathy has been featured on many television and radio programs globally and a segment in Oprah's "Producer's Favorites" continue to air about Kathy and her daughter.
She is the founder of the Creative Visions Foundation, a global organization that supports “creative activists”, to use their creative talents to change the world around them. CVF was inspired by the life of her son Dan Eldon — artist, adventurer and activist — killed in 1993 while on assignment for Reuters News Agency in Somalia.
CVF has assisted more than 220 artists, filmmakers, playwrights, leaders of other social movements and others who use media and the arts as vehicles of social change.
Through its for-profit sister organization, Creative Visions Productions, launched by Kathy in 1992, she has produced award-winning television and film projects, including “Lost in Africa”, a family film about elephant conservation distributed by internationally Columbia Pictures, the acclaimed PBS series “Global Tribe,” about grass-roots social entrepreneurs, the Emmy nominated Turner Broadcasting documentary "Dying to Tell the Story," that profiles journalists who risk their lives to do their jobs, "Soldiers of Peace: A Children's Crusade," a CNN documentary about the Colombian children's peace movement, and "Extraordinary Moms," featuring Hillary Clinton, Julia Roberts, Christiane Amanpour and Rosie O'Donnell about the power of mothers to change the world.
Kathy is the producer of "Journey," a feature film about her son Dan Eldon that stars Ben Schnetzer as Dan. Maria Bello plays the role of Kathy in the film. The film is slated for release in late 2016 or early 2017.
Kathy has been profiled in a number of books, including Arianna Huffington's "On Becoming Fearless", Katherine Martin’s "Those Who Dare: Real People, Real Courage"; and Mary Ann Halpin's "Fearless Women". Kathy was named one of MSN’s “10 Amazing Women You Have Never Heard Of,” together with Nobel Peace Prize winners Wangaari Mathai and Jodi Williams. She has received Pvblic's Media for Social Impact Award," an award for social impact from Unite 4 Good and was nominated as a "Point of Light" by Kweku Mandela. She was also presented with the Euro-American Women’s Council’s Artemis Goddess Award, the Wayuu Taya Foundation’s Award and named a Purpose Prize Fellow. She and her daughter Amy received the “Young Audiences New York Children’s Award” for their work with youth.
Kathy is married to designer Michael Bedner and lives in Malibu, California.
Kathleen Knapp Eldon was born and raised in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and educated at Wellesley College, Kathy has worked as a teacher journalist, author and film and television producer in England, Africa and the United States.
Kathy is the author of 17 books, including "Angel Catcher", "Soul Catcher", and "Love Catcher" (Chronicle), a series of popular self guided journals written with her daughter Amy Eldon, which help people negotiate loss and grief, find their purpose and introduce more love in their lives. She edited the “Journey is the Destination: The Journals of Dan Eldon" (Chronicle) which has sold more than 130,000 copies.
Together with "Journey", the "Catcher" series was featured on The Oprah Winfrey Show and has sold more than 250,000 copies. Kathy has also written a variety of popular cookbooks, tourist and eating out guides and children’s social history books. Kathy has been featured on many television and radio programs globally and a segment in Oprah's "Producer's Favorites" continue to air about Kathy and her daughter.
She is the founder of the Creative Visions Foundation, a global organization that supports “creative activists”, to use their creative talents to change the world around them. CVF was inspired by the life of her son Dan Eldon — artist, adventurer and activist — killed in 1993 while on assignment for Reuters News Agency in Somalia.
CVF has assisted more than 220 artists, filmmakers, playwrights, leaders of other social movements and others who use media and the arts as vehicles of social change.
Through its for-profit sister organization, Creative Visions Productions, launched by Kathy in 1992, she has produced award-winning television and film projects, including “Lost in Africa”, a family film about elephant conservation distributed by internationally Columbia Pictures, the acclaimed PBS series “Global Tribe,” about grass-roots social entrepreneurs, the Emmy nominated Turner Broadcasting documentary "Dying to Tell the Story," that profiles journalists who risk their lives to do their jobs, "Soldiers of Peace: A Children's Crusade," a CNN documentary about the Colombian children's peace movement, and "Extraordinary Moms," featuring Hillary Clinton, Julia Roberts, Christiane Amanpour and Rosie O'Donnell about the power of mothers to change the world.
Kathy is the producer of "Journey," a feature film about her son Dan Eldon that stars Ben Schnetzer as Dan. Maria Bello plays the role of Kathy in the film. The film is slated for release in late 2016 or early 2017.
Kathy has been profiled in a number of books, including Arianna Huffington's "On Becoming Fearless", Katherine Martin’s "Those Who Dare: Real People, Real Courage"; and Mary Ann Halpin's "Fearless Women". Kathy was named one of MSN’s “10 Amazing Women You Have Never Heard Of,” together with Nobel Peace Prize winners Wangaari Mathai and Jodi Williams. She has received Pvblic's Media for Social Impact Award," an award for social impact from Unite 4 Good and was nominated as a "Point of Light" by Kweku Mandela. She was also presented with the Euro-American Women’s Council’s Artemis Goddess Award, the Wayuu Taya Foundation’s Award and named a Purpose Prize Fellow. She and her daughter Amy received the “Young Audiences New York Children’s Award” for their work with youth.
Kathy is married to designer Michael Bedner and lives in Malibu, California.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
August 19, 2016
It's All About me
This is a sad story about a selfish woman who deemed it necessary to find herself well into a marriage wrecking havoc with her children's developing personalities and bringing sorrow to all of them including her husband. I found the story so sad. There are heroes in this story but she isn't one of them.
This is a sad story about a selfish woman who deemed it necessary to find herself well into a marriage wrecking havoc with her children's developing personalities and bringing sorrow to all of them including her husband. I found the story so sad. There are heroes in this story but she isn't one of them.
March 5, 2017
This seemed like a lengthy justification for a lifetime of bad behavior.
August 25, 2016
Most people tend to exaggerate the goodness of their loved ones after they die. Maybe Cathy did, I don't know. Her son Dan, by her account and by many other people( possibly also biased) was a remarkable human being that truly did make a difference in this crazy world we live in. Am I convinced of her after life communications, no, but I don't disbelieve them either. Some things can't be rationally explained, like God and faith. Maybe she really did have communications from him. I'm glad she wrote this book because I would never have known about him if she hadn't been brave enough to share their life stories.
Read
November 6, 2013I've known Kathy (and Amy and Alison) for many years and always found her to be an inspiring, big-thinking, larger-than-life woman. This autobiography is incredibly brave in its honesty, forthrightness, and unflinching presentation of her imperfections. Kathy shares her personal trials and demons and admits that she doesn't have it all figured out, but you admire how she gives it her all to move forward. Kathy doesn't do things by halves. I applaud her for having the courage to write and share her story. I really enjoyed In the Heart of Life.
October 5, 2016
A very emotional and at times gut wrenching read. I couldn't put the book down.
February 27, 2023
Torn between 2 and 3 stars. I feel a lot of ways about this book. I mostly agree with others that it’s way too long and probably could have been cut in half. I also think I’m less inspired by it because I live in Washington, DC and have done the whole “try to save the world” thing. I’m very jaded by the white lady, Africa-is-home mentality. It also rubbed me the wrong way how so many of Kathy’s opportunities seemed to fall into her lap. Oh, you want to write a book? Here’s a friend who can publish it for you. You want to make movies? Well, this man you never seem really attracted to can bring you along on his film career. I feel less strongly than others that the author is self-centered. But I never really connected with her. Her family having traveled to basically every country in the world might have something to do with it too.
February 27, 2023
A remarkable story of adventure, self-discovery, grief and resiliency. A tell-tale sign that a book will end up on my VIP shelf is when I close it and pet the cover. This one really moved me. Eldon is raw and vulnerable, teaching us how to move through terrible tragedy with resolve and grace. It's also a rollicking high adventure tale of Eastern Africa replete with wildlife encounters and an insider's view of Nairobi ex-pat life. My favorite part about this book, though, is the intimacy and portrayal of a woman's self-discovery and devotion to her own highest calling, no matter what. This book is a gem.
April 1, 2021
I didn't expect to like this as much as I did! The author's journey was frustrating at times, but also understandable. Her descriptions were vibrant, and she doesn't hold back when discussing grief. While it might seem like a depressing book, I felt it was uplifting in the end, and was sorry I had held off reading it for so long.
April 25, 2021
This was 2 stories, one about her vibrant son who was an activist & tragically murdered which could have been a 5 star story but marred & dragged down by this self-centered, expat as unaware of her privilege in a poor country as her sexual self (CRINGE)
Should have been way better
Should have been way better
July 30, 2019
Kathy Eldon is raw, honest, and incredibly brave. An intimate and heart wrenching tale of motherhood and self discovery, this book changed my life.
September 22, 2016
Good thing I'm not an editor -- in my opinion this book was too long, but heaven help me if it were up to me which parts to leave out. No one should lose his life at age 22, and Dan, Kathy's only son, was living his life with passion, bravery and a great affection for his adopted continent of Africa and its people. Sadly, as Dan and three other photo-journalists ran to cover a U.S.-sanctioned explosion in Mogadishu, the crowd turned on them and stoned them to death. Flashback to Kathy, a middle-class kid growing up in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, who meets and marries Mike, a Brit, and ends up having two children and moving around between England and Kenya, where she leaves her heart. To write this book Kathy has to make some bold confessions, and good for her; she also has to revisit Dan's growing up and coming of age, which must have been both triumphant and painful. There's a lot in this book -- it's descriptive, didactic and even disingenuous at times. You might believe in mediums (I won't commit until I sit for one sometime and find they're real); you might get mad at the U.S.A. (I am, for various reasons, including what happened in Mogadishu); you might wonder about all this living on the edge. Not exactly a happily-ever-after story, but undoubtedly a memorable one, and I wish I knew these people...what they've done in Dan's name is impressive and powerful.
March 4, 2015
This took me a long time to read through but very impressive and influenced me a lot.
Before reading this book I couldn't understand at all why journalists and photo-journalists go to battlefield where they might lose their lives. Now I knew Kathy and her son Dan, who was killed in Somalia, and their stories, and felt it is us the readers and viewers waiting in home countries now need to change. How we receive, feel, and act to the stories the journalists tell has a chance to change the world, make more smiles and peace.
Kathy's life and feelings as a worker, a wife, a mother, a woman, and a human who experienced a great pain gave me a lot of hints. Great book to read.
Before reading this book I couldn't understand at all why journalists and photo-journalists go to battlefield where they might lose their lives. Now I knew Kathy and her son Dan, who was killed in Somalia, and their stories, and felt it is us the readers and viewers waiting in home countries now need to change. How we receive, feel, and act to the stories the journalists tell has a chance to change the world, make more smiles and peace.
Kathy's life and feelings as a worker, a wife, a mother, a woman, and a human who experienced a great pain gave me a lot of hints. Great book to read.
January 5, 2015
this book was huge surprise. It was just another book i picked up at the library, looked like it had a twist or two, like other transformational stories that are out there - just set in Africa this time. Instead, as I dove into it, i found myself in a story of real people who had real things happen to them, and they had to make really tough decisions. In the end, how this mother comes to terms with her own life decisions and the grief in her family is compelling and empowering.
April 15, 2017
This book touched me on so many levels
Kathy Eldon is an excellent writer whose descriptive abilities enable the reader to practically feel as if he/she is right there with the action. I felt as though I actually knew her son, Dan. And, I definitely felt her pain at his death. The only thing I would change is the book title. I do not believe it does the book justice. I strongly recommend reading this book.
Kathy Eldon is an excellent writer whose descriptive abilities enable the reader to practically feel as if he/she is right there with the action. I felt as though I actually knew her son, Dan. And, I definitely felt her pain at his death. The only thing I would change is the book title. I do not believe it does the book justice. I strongly recommend reading this book.
January 17, 2014
This memoir is by the mother of Dan Eldon, a photojournalist who grew up in Kenya and was killed in Somalia. She tells of her life story as she moved from Iowa, on to England, and to Kenya, where she and her husband raised their two children. She tells of her own struggles before Dan's death and how she grew to understand herself after his death. The writing is honest and clear.
January 15, 2016
I have heard wonderful things about Kathy Eldon's book In the Heart of Life, and I am really looking forward to enhancing my Self-awareness and "alive-ness" by reading it. Forgiveness is such a key in my life - I have a strong sense that Kathy's work will open new doors to my heart & participation in life,
October 23, 2016
Opening your soul
In this moving memoir , the author opens her heart and soul to bravely tell her life's story.. Whether one can accept, or be open to her metaphysical experiences, there is much to be admired and inspired as she shares all that life can be --- both unmercifully punishing and remarkably joyful.
In this moving memoir , the author opens her heart and soul to bravely tell her life's story.. Whether one can accept, or be open to her metaphysical experiences, there is much to be admired and inspired as she shares all that life can be --- both unmercifully punishing and remarkably joyful.
January 24, 2017
This is possibly one the greatest books I have had the pleasure of discovering. Kathy and her family are an inspiration. Their display of courage, strength and resilience is incredible. I've learnt many things from reading this book, and I am eternally grateful to Kathy for sharing her story.
October 29, 2013
Beautifully written and wonderful insights into such tragedy. Highly recommendable.
January 18, 2014
A heartbreaking memoir written by a remarkable woman, about her journey as an individual, a wife and a mother.
November 19, 2014
I enjoyed this memoir. Kathy had a painful experience with the loss of her son. My heart goes out to her. She was honest about some poor choices she made in life. It was interesting reading.
November 23, 2014
From the cover, "A restless soul, a search for meaning, and a bond that nothing could break". Kenya is the background for this fascinating memoir.
January 20, 2015
I love that it was a memoir of an amazing mother, but unfortunately found the book terribly boring.
March 8, 2015
I loved the messages in this book. well worth reading.
March 9, 2015
Fantastic book
Read the entire book in one sitting. Cried and laughed. It is brutefully honest and beautiful. I never do this but I will re-read it
Read the entire book in one sitting. Cried and laughed. It is brutefully honest and beautiful. I never do this but I will re-read it
August 13, 2015
Loved this book.
January 21, 2017
Wow! What an inspirational memoir and amazing family. My emotions were all over the place and I feel different after reading this uplifting albeit sometimes heartbreaking story. A definite 5/5.
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews