HUMBOLDT — Bridge Street Books in Humboldt will welcome Kansas author Amber Jewell this Sunday at 4 p.m. for an afternoon of hope and healing. Jewell, a licensed clinical social worker from Le Roy, will share insights from her nationally published book, “Finding Hope: 12 Keys to Healing Hardship, Hurt & Sorrow,” released in 2021 by Hatherleigh Press.
The event will feature Jewell speaking about her book and her personal and professional journey. Tickets to the event are $30 with a copy of the book included or $15 without the book. Jewell is expected to speak for about an hour, with time afterward for questions.
Bridge Street Books owner Sarah Hart said she believes Jewell’s message will resonate with many.
“The book is really good for people who have depression and anxiety,” Hart said. “Sometimes you can’t see the light at the end of the tunnel. These keys are very simple things you can practice in everyday life that make seeing the end of the tunnel a little easier.”
JEWELL’S story of resilience and hope is rooted in her own childhood. She grew up in and out of foster care, experiencing extreme neglect, abuse, and long-term trauma. For years, she said she believed the misconception that “life was meant to be easy,” a mindset that stalled her healing.
“The real truth is that inevitably life is tough, but so am I,” Jewell said. “The same is true for you.”
Now, she has turned her experience into a mission. For every 10th copy of her book sold, Jewell donates one to a foster care center or agency.
“My book is intended for anyone who has experienced challenges in life,” she said. “It doesn’t have to be read straight through and can be applied daily. I don’t find hope for people — instead I help them discover their own.”
Jewell is the founder of Finding Hope, LLC and provides therapy services through her private practice clinic. She also serves as a school social worker in the Southern Coffey County school district. Her credentials include being a Trust Based Relational Intervention Practitioner and a certified Accelerated Resolution Therapist.
In 2021, she was a featured speaker at the “13 Reasons to Fly SEK,” mental health awareness and suicide prevention event in Iola.
IN ADDITION to her professional roles, Jewell is a wife, mother, and foster/adoptive parent. She and her husband, Mike, live in Le Roy with their two children, where they enjoy family life, their faith, and pets.
Jewell said her goal in speaking and writing is to inspire and motivate others. “I explain a mindset shift that allows a person to move from surviving to thriving in their lives,” she explained. “I use my relatability of having been there to explain why not to stay there — and how to move.”
Hart described Jewell as “so full of joy” and said her positivity radiates despite the hardships she’s endured. “It’s good for people to see an example of someone who has experienced trauma that a lot of us couldn’t even imagine and come out on the other end with the mission and purpose to help others,” said Hart.
Tickets can be purchased through the bookstore’s website at BridgeStreetBooks.net.
