In her insightful and unconventional memoir, It Takes a Lot of Sh_t to Grow Beautiful Flowers: A Gardener's Guide to Life, author Deborah Holmen teaches us that the challenges and strife - or rather the sh_t we face in life -- are there to make something beautiful out of it.

Holmen shares a unique perspective on life based on her experiences as a daughter, sister, parent, and teacher. She demonstrates how even the most challenging and unpleasant situations can be transformed into something beautiful and meaningful. This book is filled with her wisdom and wit, offering readers key takeaways to cultivate a beautiful life.

Just as a flower can thrive with proper care and attention, every person should have the opportunity to succeed regardless of their circumstances.

"Ironically, the word 'shit' makes me cringe. I never used curse words to emphasize my meaning or stance on things- there are better words to describe a person's feelings than profanity. However, I realized that when talking to many trauma survivors, this term was used frequently. It was like it represented the worst situation, feeling, or moment that summed it all up, and only those types of words fit precisely and said it all. ." Deborah Holmen, It Takes a Lot of Sh*t to Grow Beautiful Flowers: A Gardener's Guide to Life