Tanja's Room of Her Own

Support your local writer by helping her build a she-shed and get a room of her own! 
#roomofherown

Once upon a time, publishers paid writers a living wage for their books. Before that, we had patrons. These days, most writers support themselves with other work. That’s my challenge, too. Although my book The Secret Life of Grief recently won a Nautilus Silver book award (an award celebrating books that inspire and connect us as individuals, communities and global citizens) and the memoir is helping people shift the way they express grief, I continue to balance my own writing with book coaching and supporting other writers. 

Healing through writing is my passion, and my goal in my writing (as well as my book coaching) is to show other folks that they're not alone. Our stories matter.

After 12 years of working from home alongside my work-from-home husband and our high-energy boys, I’m at a crossroads. I’m feeling pulled to do more, but have been held back by my chaotic work/home/space. As I support more and more writers in telling their own stories, I’m finding it essential to be grounded in my own. Because of that, I'm looking into building a simple she-shed in our backyard where I can write and coach my clients in peace and quiet. 

My next book is starting to percolate, and I’m dreaming of a calm, quiet space where that book can be born. Right now, this memoir-in-progress explores the issues of familial and cultural identity as well as the challenges of growing up in a deeply patriarchal culture—issues I’ve long grappled with as the daughter of Yugoslav immigrants, all the more relevant in our current political culture. What does it take to heal the complex and painful bonds we inherit so we don’t pass them on to the next generation? How do we heal? And how do we reclaim ourselves?

If you’d like to help support my writing and my work supporting other writers, please consider donating a few dollars below. To make this more fun, I’ve added a few different levels below, but appreciate any and all help. Thanks so much for your patronage and your support!

Much love,
Tanja

$10 – An email thanking you

$25 – A card thanking you 

$50 – Signed copy of The Secret Life of Grief, and all of the above
( If you already have a copy, I'll donate yours to a hospice or organization of your choice. )

$100 – Celebratory party (wine and apps) at the new she-shed, plus all of the above

$500 – Your own writing weekend retreat at the new shed! (Plus all of the above)

$1000—The opportunity to adopt Tanja or become her new BFF for life :)

Here's my official bio: 

The author of The Secret Life of Grief: A Memoir (winner of the Nautilus Silver Book Award) and 9 Steps to Heal Your Resentment and Reboot Your Marriage, Tanja Pajevic has taught at the University of Colorado Denver, the Community College of Denver and Indiana University, as well as in the larger community. Her writing has appeared in The New York Times, Huffington Post, mindbodygreen, Gawker and Scary Mommy, as well as in literary reviews, such as Shenandoah and Crab Orchard Review.

Tanja currently helps heart-centered writers, leaders and entrepreneurs write their books. She is the recipient of a Nautilus Silver Book Award, Fulbright Fellowship, Hemingway Fellowship, Kraft Fellowship and a faculty award from the University of Colorado Denver for her project “Writing as Healing.” 

Here's a link to my website, if you'd like to learn more about my memoir and nonfiction book coaching work:  https://www.tanjapajevic.com/ 

Here's a photo of me with my family: 


And here's a photo of what a memoir-in-progress looks like: 



Thanks so much for your support.  Sending you and your loved ones lots of love!