Donna Morrissey and her four siblings were reminiscing over drinks when she had a moment of realization. In their upbringing in Newfoundland, Morrissey and her sisters were often indoors with their mother, while her brothers engaged in outdoor activities with their father. This family dynamic persisted into adulthood, leading to Morrissey discovering a side of her late father that she had not known before.

Inspired by this revelatory evening, Morrissey penned her latest book, “Tell It to the Water: Five Siblings Tell of Their Father’s Grief and His Struggle Back to Hope.” While the focus is on their father’s grief following his wife’s passing due to cancer, the narrative also delves into other tragic events such as the loss of Morrissey’s brother, Ford, in a workplace accident decades ago.

Reflecting on the process, Morrissey expressed how the experience of writing a memoir, unlike her fictional works, exposed her to raw emotions. She shared, “Some of it made me cry. My voice is quivering now, just saying that.” Despite drawing from personal experiences for her novels, Morrissey found it challenging to create characters capable of conveying these profound family stories.

The book unfolds through chapters narrated from the perspectives of Morrissey and her siblings, with each chapter clearly attributing the viewpoint. Bringing these intimate stories to fruition required extensive discussions and probing questions among the siblings, occasionally leading to minor tensions that were swiftly resolved.

Dr. Simon Sherry, a psychologist at Crux Psychology in Halifax, emphasized the ongoing nature of grief in relationships, even after a loved one’s passing. He noted that people maintain emotional connections with those they have lost, shaping how they perceive and remember them over time.

Morrissey hopes that “Tell It to the Water” prompts readers to reflect on their own family dynamics and serves as a guide for those wishing to document their family history. While the book encapsulates numerous tragedies endured by her family, Morrissey highlighted how it has further strengthened the bond among her siblings, emphasizing the ongoing nature of their shared experiences.

As Morrissey and her siblings navigate their past and present challenges, she emphasized the evolving nature of their stories and the deepening connection that sustains them.