In The Press

"Brettschneider turns life experiences surrounding her mastectomy into a delightful and interesting read chock full of humor, honesty, emotion, and wisdom. Her similes and cultural references create distinct pictures that will cement the ideas into your mind. 'Weeding became more than weeding,' she writes. 'I discovered myself clawing and stabbing at the earth with my trowel, gritting my teeth as I unearthed the roots of invasive, unwanted plants like so many cancer cells.' Pure gold."- Janet Sheppard Kelleher, Amazon Best Selling Author of Big C, little ta-ta: Kicking Cancer's Butt in 7 Humorous Stories "I loved the humor and self reflection in this well-written memoir! Brettschneider takes us on a very relatable journey of home, hearth, career and WHAT'S NEXT? As she handles the curves thrown at her, she moves from a place of doing and striving to a place of acceptance and being. I loved the way she compared this process to the work in a garden. Looking for more contentment and calm in your life? This book is for you!"- Anna Whiston Donaldson, New York Times Best Selling Author of Rare Bird: A Memoir of Loss and Love In Blooming into Mindfulness, Martha Brettschneider takes us along on her rollercoaster ride from left-brain economist, to reluctant suburbanite complete with minivan carpool, through breast cancer, and ultimately to transformation into the mindfulness she didn't know she was seeking. Instead of being just another tale of how surviving cancer changed one woman's life, this eloquent memoir gives the reader a roadmap for taking our own path toward finding a more joyous life. The story is universal, but the author's expressive writing made it relevant to my own journey. I found myself highlighting large passages and stopping often to search the links to the mentors and resources the author includes. I am typically not a fan of memoir, but this excellent book goes far beyond one woman's story to become a study in the blossoming of self-awareness that's well worth reading - and rereading.- Carol M. Olmstead, Feng Shui Master Practitioner, author, speaker, and owner of Feng Shui For Real Life "BLOOMING INTO MINDFULNESS is a warm and wonderful story from Martha's own life. Her words fill my senses and her images lead me out into my own [very weedy] garden for a closer look for hidden wonders. I can smell and feel the clammy rain-soaked earth as she tries to finish a night-time planting in the rain with 'swamp monster paws'. Her wry sense of humour and willingness to share her vulnerabilities connects me to her journey, and I feel lighter for it. Thank you so much for sharing yourself. I love the book and will definitely be buying extra copies for girlfriends' birthday gifts this year."-Melanie Mayell, Photographer, Artist & Author, Winner of 2014 Living Now Book Awards Gold Medal, Founder of Thankyou Project