Michelle Joy has lived through heart-crushing times of loss, beginning with the death of her twin and closest person on Earth to her when they were 21 years old.
 
In her new book, Joyfully Star-Mapping Through Life’s Dung Piles, Michelle writes about finding her way through her wrenching sadness. She compares her journey to that of the dung beetle. While the glittering stars help the little poop-tourist find his way along, the dung balls that he creates from the manure pile he’s been visiting, keep him nourished.

With an open heart, deep love for her readers, and a sprinkle of humour, Michelle writes about what she has learned about “getting through her own dung piles.”

She lists “bright stars of promise” - the biblical promises and truths that have meant the most to her in her worst times of grief.
 
“Navigating by God’s bright stars of promise hasn’t steered me clear of life’s manure heaps. But it surely gets me through them!” Michelle writes.
 
Michelle has also found that actively doing even just the tiniest thing helps her cope day by day with her grief. She calls those little actions “dung truffles of resistance.”
 
She would like people to put down her book, reflecting, “If God can help her, after all she has gone through, He can help me. I will survive.”

Joyfully Star-Mapping through Life’s Dung Piles was short-listed for the 2025 Word Guild Awards in the Best New Manuscript Castle Quay Manuscript Category.
 
"Michelle's book offers a transparency with the losses in her life as she shares some excellent insights and reflections. Her memoir paints a vivid picture of the heartache of her grief and yet the hope of eternity for believers. Excellent Scripture references throughout as well as other resources that were well used." The Judges of Castle Quay Books and The Word Guild
 
Michelle Joy’s e-book is available for free. Let us know your email address, and we'll forward a copy of the book at no charge.