Loving others is a blessing and caregiving is just one of the paths to knowing and living a fuller and more loving life. That’s the philosophy of the author Daphne Simpkins in this newest collection of stories about caregiving: Blessed. Daphne developed her point of view by being a lifelong caregiver and as a Christian who takes that story about the Good Samaritan to heart.These stories celebrate the aspects of loving and giving care that include child raising, parent tending, being a good neighbor, and seeking help with assisted living establishments and respite ministries which she believes are active and invaluable care partners in our society. If you are an unrepentant caregiver and don’t think loving others is a condition that needs to be named as a symptom and cured, this book is for you.About the author: Daphne Simpkins has been living in and writing about life in the South for most of her adult life. Her short stories and essays have been published in a variety of periodicals including The Chicago Tribune, The Atlanta Constitution, the Miami Herald, the Baltimore Sun, the Detroit Free Press, The Christian Courier, The Christian Century, Style, Tropic, and dozens of others. She is the author of nine other books which range in topics from Nat King Cole, memoirs about growing up in the South, being a caregiver of an Alzheimer’s patient, and fictional stories about the secret and glorious lives of Southern church ladies. Her Mildred Budge books are popular with as many men as women and so far, that series has two collections of short stories and two novels. She has also written a heartwarming Christmas story set in a fictional city in Alabama. The titles of her books are: The Mission of Mildred Budge, Christmas in Fountain City, What Al Left Behind, A Cookbook for Katie, Mildred Budge in Embankment, Mildred Budge in Cloverdale, Miss Budge in Love, The Long Good Night, and Nat King Cole: A Life of Music. Previously an English teacher, Daphne Simpkins now writes full-time. To receive news about what’s coming next sign up for her newsletter at DaphneSimpkins.org.