BATH — "I am a reluctant expert on navigating unexpected change and loss, finding humor in even the most tragic of circumstances, following your heart, and re-creating your life with passion and creativity," said author Sandi Amorello. "Sharing my own stories, and hopefully bringing a fresh perspective into the lives of others is what lights me up inside." Amorello will be reading from and signing copies of her memoir, "The Irreverent Widow: Shockingly True Tales of Love, Death and Dating — with Children in Tow" at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 29 at Patten Free Library.

“Losing my husband Drew to pancreatic cancer propelled me headfirst on a journey into grief, single parenting, and perhaps most tragic of all ... mid-life courtship.  I give voice to things others may think about saying but often aren’t brave enough to express. Or confess,” wrote Amorello.

Amorello received her B.F.A. in illustration from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia. Prior to being widowed she worked in a variety of positions as a designer and then ran her own business creating one-of-a-kind invitations for events in the private and corporate sectors for a decade. Up until December 2012, she wrote a bi-weekly column called “No Sugar Added” for the Forecaster newspapers in southern Maine. She owns Silver Crayon Studios, the company through which she founded and managed two projects designed to provide connection, inspiration, education, entertainment and a good dose of laughter.

Amorello has been a widow since 2002 and is the mother of three children. Besides being an author, she is an artist and a humorist who speaks about unspeakable tragedy. She lives in Cape Elizabeth in a vintage house by the sea and wakes up each day happy to be alive and still laughing. This program at the library is free and open to the public.