A New Book By

Dava Guerin and Terry Bivens

Healing After the Pain

Her cousin and I were high school classmates and ski buddies in college. I met Dava Guerin at a fund raiser. I found her to be fascinating and incredibly generous. Almost a decade later, Dava continues to amaze me with her philanthropy, undaunted spirit, and overwhelming heart for people; particularly, veterans.

Dava Guerin is driven. She is resilient. She is passionate. She is fashionable. She loves her family, her friends, and those she has yet to meet. In 2019,  Dava managed immense personal tragedy in the loss of her husband, Terry Bivens, by suicide. She gives back in spite of her broken heart.

Whether caring for her elderly mother, pampering  her adorable doodles, or considering how to bring light to a dark subject, she is an inspiration not only as an author but through her life.

With an extensive literary  and people background, Dava holds an M. Ed. in organizational behavior from Temple University. She studied journalism as an undergraduate at Goddard College, and attended summer programs at Rutgers University and the University of London for history and literature programs. She has held editor positions; has been a freelance rewriter, an advocate and a public speaker; and is President of Guerin Public Relations, Inc.

A polished author, her sixth book, The Eagle on My Arm, will be released on October 13. Dava and Terry are co-authors. “This was our second book together,” said Dava. She told me that writing together was effective because, “Terry loved writing about the wilderness and Vietnam. I am a history fan. We read and edited each other’s work.”

In The Eagle on My Arm, wounded Vietnam Veteran, Patrick Bradley, spent three years in the Canadian wilderness with just a backpack and a month’s supply of food. His psychiatrist, a falconer, had told Patrick, “ I discovered a research grant for someone to spend three years alone in the Canadian wilderness, studying the migration and numbers of bald eagles in the wild.” Desperate to heal his PTSD, Patrick accepted the challenge. His journey beyond Canada is extraordinary.

William Tecumseh Sherman said, “War is hell.” Survivors are changed and many are damaged for life. It is what one man did with his damaged life that today, brings hope and healing to many. The Eagle on My Arm  tells the compelling story that healing comes through giving. The reader is deeply engaged in the compassion, the trust building, and the incredible generosity of spirit that evolves as Patrick’s story is so eloquently told.

The rehabilitation of majestic birds (all manner of raptors, not only eagles) combined with the restoration of the human spirit makes for a heartwarming reading experience. The beauty of this book is that it gently transports the reader  to places they might never have considered and returns them with greater understanding and empathy for both people and beasts. To tell more would deny the reader the privilege of discovery. I have read and reread the book. Every time new layers are revealed. Very worth the read. To get your own book, visit University Press of Kentucky .

***NOTE: All photos curtesy of University Press of Kentucky, unless noted otherwise.