ABOUT
Welcome to Books By Shaleem
This is a space for readers to discover Shaleem's literary works and delve into the enchanting world of her poetry and storytelling. You can explore published and upcoming books, including.
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1. ILLUMINATION - a griever's journey through the darkness
Her premier autobiographical book of poetry and prose.
2. NIGEL AND THE YELLOW RIBBON - how a grieving seagull finds healing
Her groundbreaking children's book which explores the importance of friendship and commemoration.
3. THE EMPOWERED GRIEF JOURNEY: 23 Stories of Grief That Carved A New Path Forward.
Her collaboration with 23 other authors who talk about the challenges of grief and the growth that comes from carving a new path forward.
4. MISS LILA RINGTAIL - a story of pet loss and life celebration
Her upcoming children's book, which covers the important topic of pet death.
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Author Bio
Shaleem Dzon is a registered nurse, a skier, a mountain biker, a poet, a nature admirer, a dog lover, a believer, an author, and a griever. She has been touched by tragedy’s blaze more than once. She lives in Bentonville, Arkansas, where she is a certified grief counselor.
Shaleem wrote her first poem the night her husband died of cancer.
Fifteen months earlier, she married the love of her life, Brad. He was handsome, successful, fit, and fun. And more than that, he had a zest for life like none she had ever met, for he had faced childhood cancer, and knew as well as anyone how precious each day was.
On their one-year anniversary, after a sudden weight loss, they faced the worst oncology appointment anyone can face. Zero treatment options, zero percent chance of survival, 3-6 months, and 3 months later Brad died.
The first poem written the night he died, lead to a series of poems that began to chronicle the landscape she traversed emotionally, contemplatively, and spiritually as she moved through the darkness of grief and despair toward the light of healing.
Little did she know that six years later, on the journey toward Illumination Rock to scatter their beloved dog’s ashes in the same place she had scattered Brad’s ashes, tragedy would strike again. This time it was her boyfriend, her new love, and yet, once again, it was fatal.
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Shaleem channeled her love, grief, and growth into helping other's navigate their own losses.
You can find out more about her and her work as a Grief Counselor at: