Coming soon
From Booklife Publishers Weekly:
“The author of Z is for Zen invites readers to walk alongside her as she battles to discover meaning in life, through an enticing narrative chronicling her steps towards practicing Zen, set against the larger context of history and its enduring impact on her journey. From America’s terrifying entrance into the Vietnam War to Mueller’s experience gambling at a casino with a Buddhist Roshi, readers will be riveted.
The stories entertain, provoke deep thought, and gently encourage readers to implement the author’s wisdom when reflecting on their own life journeys. She strikes a nearly-flawless balance between spiritual discovery/meaning and the traditions of this world.”
This is the story of what happens when a lost twenty-something meets the uncompromising world of traditional Zen Buddhism. From the mountains of Colorado to monasteries in Japan and silent halls in New York City, Z is for Zen offers an honest, illuminating portrait of awakening in the modern world. Equal parts memoir, spiritual reflection, and cultural commentary, this book is a testament to resilience, presence, and the mysterious quest for enlightenment. Think Eat Pray Love meets Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind, with historical texture and literary depth.
Woven with personal narrative, Zen history, and poetic vignettes, this memoir offers an intimate look at spiritual practice over time. Readers of Natalie Goldberg, Peter Matthiessen, and Ruth Ozeki will find familiar terrain—a woman’s story of spiritual grit often missing from traditional Zen literature.
The author was fortunate to practice with one Zen master, the Roshi, for thirty-five years until his retirement. But as the #MeToo movement cast new light on long-standing power dynamics in spiritual communities, she was forced to confront the shadow side of her teacher and the tradition she revered. In the end, she had to let it and her Zen teacher go amidst a scandal that threw the ancient tradition into a modern world. It was a last great lesson that ultimately led to deep understanding.
“Your journey is truly inspiring from cooking on a tugboat to leading in the Internet world, and now bringing Zen and artistry into your writing. I admire how A Taste of Heaven and Earth and The World in a Bowl of Tea blend food, photography, and spiritual practice into something that feels alive and deeply meaningful.
It’s rare to find someone who captures both the heart of Zen and the beauty of the everyday in such an accessible way.”
– Elizabeth Morison