Author Bio
Sherry Sidoti is an award-winning author and a steward of memoir writing experiences, and believes that writing is a spiritual, sacred, and brave practice of self-awakening with great potential for healing. She hosts weekly online writing series and leads in-person yoga + writing retreats globally.
Her debut memoir, A Smoke and a Song (She Writes Press/Simon & Schuster) received 2024 Readers’ Favorite Gold Medal for Non-Fiction/Inspirational, 2023 Living Now Book Awards Gold Medal for Inspirational Memoir, 2024 Eric Hoffer Book Awards Grand Prize Winner Honorable Mention and Finalist for the da Vinci Eye Prize, and 2024 Finalist for National Indie Excellence Award.
She lives on the island of Martha's Vineyard with her husband, cats, chickens, and adult children (when they decide to pop home for a visit).
A Smoke and a Song
Faced with the looming loss of her mother as her second-chance life is blooming, Sherry Sidoti forges forward with self-awareness to answer life’s most elusive question: is freedom found in letting go, or is it found by digging our heals deeper into the earth and holding on to our humanness?
Written with tenacity, tenderness, and wry New York City humor, Sherry stumbles toward self-actualization, spiritual awakening, and despite it all, love. This is a story steeped in art and spirituality that explores the complexity of womanhood, transgenerational bonds, and leaning into our wounds to find the wisdom.
Editorial Reviews
“A Smoke and a Song is a winning book! Sherry Sidoti’s prose is absolutely gorgeous—lyrical and tender, moody and insightful, mystical and relatable. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry. A memoir told with such nuanced self-awareness; you’ll find yourself needing to put the book down at moments just to pause, take in her reflections, and make meaning of your own story through hers.”
Nancy Slonim Aronie - author of Writing from the Heart and Memoir as Medicine
"A Smoke and a Song will have you crying, laughing, and shaking your head in amazement as you follow along and become a part of Sherry’s story as the words draw you into her reality... This is a must-read for women from all walks of life who are looking for answers to the frequently asked question: Who am I, and what is my purpose? Please do not pass up this book, but put it on the top of your reading list as you will not regret it."
Readers’ Favorite Reviews: 5-Stars
"A stylish and substantial remembrance with poignantly memorable characterizations."
Kirkus Reviews
"Sherry Sidoti’s wisdom and compassion are a powerful gift that she generously shares in this achingly beautiful story of loss, survival, and healing."
Jeannette Walls, #1 New York Times best-selling author of The Glass Castle
“Inspiring and reflective, A Smoke and A Song should be required reading for anyone looking within and beyond. Sherry Sidoti weaves us through a journey of self-discovery, heartbreak, and self-actualization. She brings to life each part of ourselves—the parts we know and the parts we have a harder time listening to—all in the name of self-love.”
Chelsea Handler - #1 New York Times best-selling author, comedian, and Dear Chelsea podcast host