Cara Stoddard presents ‘Spirography: A Memoir of Family, Loss, and Finding Home’

Writing from ten years after her father’s death, she traces her experiences of becoming a stepparent, carrying on her dad’s legacy, and, in unimaginable ways, bringing him back to life.

Third Place Books and the North Cascades Institute present Cara Stoddard as part of our Spring 2025 Nature of Writing series! Stoddard will be discussing their debut memoir,  Spirography: A Memoir of Family, Loss, and Finding Home, a coming-of-age memoir about the bond between a father and daughter, their intertwined illnesses, and the enduring love that persists even after death. This memoir follows Stoddard’s intersecting experiences of cancer, grief, and sexuality, rooted in the suburban Midwest of the late twentieth century—where idyllic lake life, water sports, NASCAR, Christian rock, and a willful ignorance around queerness define the landscape. This event is free and open to the public.

This event is co-sponsored by the North Cascades Institute, a nonprofit conservation organization working to inspire environmental stewardship through transformative learning experiences in nature. Learn more at ncascades.org.

For important updates, registration is highly recommended in advance. This event will include a public signing and time for audience Q&A. Sustain our author series by purchasing a copy of the featured book!