Teresa Renda Carlson
Teresa lives in Lexington, Massachusetts, with her husband, Thomas, and spends much of her time enjoying her daughter, Licia, and grandson, Julian, in nearby Arlington.
In addition to For We Speak of Living, the Oddyssey trilogy and follow-ups, Teresa co-authored Needleleaf, a magical and heart-warming story about the lives of Christmas trees, for readers of all ages and inspiring year-round.
In addition to For We Speak of Living, the Oddyssey trilogy and follow-ups, Teresa co-authored Needleleaf, a magical and heart-warming story about the lives of Christmas trees, for readers of all ages and inspiring year-round.
Books by Teresa Renda Carlson
For We Speak of Living: A Journey Through Breast Cancer
Teresa Carlson was diagnosed with breast cancer at age 29, as the young mother of a 17-month-old daughter, in 1972–when treatments were devastating; chances of survival, grim; and the subject, taboo. By age 35, Carlson had survived two bouts and a double radical mastectomy, and wrote this inspirational memoir as both an act of catharsis and an invitation to break the destructive silence surrounding breast cancer. As Carlson observes, it is only when we acknowledge and share our suffering that we can begin to heal and move forward. More than three decades later, Carlson’s story and sage strategies for coping with loss and facing mortality prove as timeless as the classic literature that is beautifully woven throughout these compelling pages. May her journey be your guide.
Author's proceeds from this book go to meet basic needs for cancer patients such as babysitting, meals, and housekeeping. Meeting these everyday needs is indispensable for healing to take place. Teresa was blessed to have the full support of family and friends, and is dedicated to helping those less fortunate.
Author's proceeds from this book go to meet basic needs for cancer patients such as babysitting, meals, and housekeeping. Meeting these everyday needs is indispensable for healing to take place. Teresa was blessed to have the full support of family and friends, and is dedicated to helping those less fortunate.
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Oddyssey
Born in 1942 under a bridge in a small war-torn village in southern Italy, Teresa Renda spent the first 17 years of her life searching for the truth of how she came into the world—a secret that no one in her village would speak of—while navigating the only universe she knew: one of bombings, soldiers, famine, and terror, but also one filled with the joys and simple pleasures of tight-knit communal life, with its ceremonial feasts and ritual processions, wine making and olive oil pressing, set against a lyrically painted scenic backdrop. Just before leaving her little village for a new world in Canada at age 17, Teresa finally discovers the gut-wrenching circumstances of her birth, a secret of her own that she would carry onto the harrowing transatlantic journey, and for decades to come.
Author's proceeds from sales of all three Oddyssey books go to the old ladies of Capistrano, some of whom are centenarian and have lost their entire family.
Author's proceeds from sales of all three Oddyssey books go to the old ladies of Capistrano, some of whom are centenarian and have lost their entire family.
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Oddyssey, Part 2
In 1958, Teresa Renda’s world grew cold, dark, and very peculiar, as she left behind everything she knew in Italy to join her family in Toronto. In this second part of the Oddyssey trilogy, 17-year-old Teresa faces the complicated reality of an immigrant seeking acceptance and comfort on strange soil, where meaningless sounds surround her in school and horrifying things happen in “cinemas.” While adjusting to her new setting, Teresa soon becomes enamored with the Canadian way of life, the English language, and the diverse stories of its inhabitants. Meanwhile, we travel back in time to witness the incredible stories of her own ancestors—stories of courage, miracles, misfortunes, and great sacrifices made in the name of loved ones. Oddyssey, Part 2 offers a unique glimpse into the often-opposing forces that shape not only a single life but generations behind it, binding some families together, ripping others apart, and defining the humanity that connects us all.
Author's proceeds from sales of all three Oddyssey books go to the old ladies of Capistrano, some of whom are centenarian and have lost their entire family.
Author's proceeds from sales of all three Oddyssey books go to the old ladies of Capistrano, some of whom are centenarian and have lost their entire family.
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Oddyssey, Part 3
After losing her father in 1966, Teresa’s grief was soon coupled with a newfound liberation from the oppressive patriarchal traditions of the Old World. Now free to date to her young heart’s content, Teresa discovers that with liberation also comes the chore of breaking hearts. In this third, often comedic chapter of the Oddyssey trilogy, the author must contend with suitor after suitor who won’t take goodbye for an answer—even after she’s met the love of her life, whom she ends up marrying after only six encounters. It’s a love story for the books. The young couple must spend their first wedded years in Fort Knox, Kentucky, where Thomas is stationed during the Vietnam War. Under the constant threat of the daily levy sending more troops to the front lines, and her attendant flashbacks to World War II, Teresa’s days are nevertheless lightened by family visits, road trips, and the magical powers of a chili dog. Soon after settling down in Michigan, the family of two turns into three, but on the heels of jubilation lurks a tempest.
Author's proceeds from sales of all three Oddyssey books go to the old ladies of Capistrano, some of whom are centenarian and have lost their entire family.
Author's proceeds from sales of all three Oddyssey books go to the old ladies of Capistrano, some of whom are centenarian and have lost their entire family.
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In My Misfortune, I Am Most Fortunate
Teresa Renda Carlson is no stranger to tragedy. Between an endless cascade of health crises starting in 1972, and her front-row seat to the myriad horror shows that mankind inflicts upon itself, Teresa has spent a lifetime practicing the art of coping. Not only did she cope, but truly made a heaven of hell.
In this follow-up to her Oddyssey trilogy, Carlson shares an inspiring account of one woman summoning beauty amid ugliness, art amid chaos, generosity amid human destructiveness, and above all, joy amid the barrage of adversities that life has bombarded her with. In these times of uncertainty, may Teresa's stories of a relentless zest for life despite it all remind us that it is ultimately we who create our own fortune.
One hundred percent of author's proceeds from this book go to Lawrence O'Donnell's K.I.N.D. Fund to purchase desks for the children of Malawi. As Teresa says, "I have dedicated my life to teaching kids and adults, and I know the importance of a desk."
In this follow-up to her Oddyssey trilogy, Carlson shares an inspiring account of one woman summoning beauty amid ugliness, art amid chaos, generosity amid human destructiveness, and above all, joy amid the barrage of adversities that life has bombarded her with. In these times of uncertainty, may Teresa's stories of a relentless zest for life despite it all remind us that it is ultimately we who create our own fortune.
One hundred percent of author's proceeds from this book go to Lawrence O'Donnell's K.I.N.D. Fund to purchase desks for the children of Malawi. As Teresa says, "I have dedicated my life to teaching kids and adults, and I know the importance of a desk."
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The Many Faces of Women
In this heartfelt tribute to the most inspiring women in her life, Teresa Renda Carlson reveals how one life can be powerfully shaped by the collective influence of others. With the threads of support and positive examples set by the ladies profiled in these pages, Teresa has weaved a life of survival, generosity, beauty, and inspiration to so many others in turn. And through her gratitude for the gifts that each woman has shared with her, Teresa gives us a gift in return. The Many Faces of Women serves as a profound reminder of our interconnectedness, and its power to lift and sustain us no matter what hardships life may inevitably deliver.
Author's proceeds from sales of this book go to food pantries in Boston and Detroit.
Author's proceeds from sales of this book go to food pantries in Boston and Detroit.
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