Today we’d like to introduce you to Kenise Bridgers.
Kenise, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
My journey started from a place of deep loss—but also deep love. In May 2023, my 4-year-old daughter lost her dad to cancer. Just one month later, I lost my own mom unexpectedly. Our world changed overnight. I was grieving my mother while trying to support three children—especially my daughter—as they faced a pain no child should have to carry.
In the midst of the pain, something beautiful began to unfold. My daughter and I started noticing signs—bluebirds that reminded us of her dad, red birds that made us think of my mom. These moments brought comfort and sparked meaningful conversations about love, loss, and connection beyond the physical world. I realized that these small signs were helping us heal, and that maybe, they could help others too.
That’s when I started writing. What began as personal reflections turned into children’s books designed to support kids through grief. Whispers from the Sky was inspired by the signs we started seeing—red birds that reminded us of my mom, and blue birds that felt like they were sent from Kaylie’s dad. Those small, quiet moments gave us so much comfort, and I wanted other families to feel that same sense of connection. When I Miss You the Most was born from one of the hardest parts of our day—bedtime. For the first year and a half after her dad passed, Kaylie cried for him every night. That book was my way of helping her—and other kids—feel safe, seen, and loved during those quiet, lonely hours when grief hits the hardest.
From there, I created my Instagram community, A Hug from Heaven, and started doing pop-up shops and events to share our story, connect with others, and let grieving families know they’re seen, supported, and understood.
This journey isn’t one I ever expected—but it’s one I now walk with purpose. Every story shared with me, every child who finds comfort in a book, every bird photo someone sends—it’s all a reminder that even in loss, there is love, and that love can still find its way to us.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Not at all—it’s been anything but smooth. Grief doesn’t follow a straight line, and trying to create something meaningful while living in the middle of it has been incredibly hard. There were days I felt completely overwhelmed—navigating my own heartbreak, helping my children through theirs, and trying to show up for life when I barely had the energy to get out of bed.
Writing about something so personal brought up a lot of emotions. I questioned if I was doing it right, if anyone would connect with it, or if I was even strong enough to keep going. I was also learning how to publish, promote, and share my story—all while working and parenting through grief.
But I think the biggest struggle has been learning how to carry the weight of loss while still choosing to create something from it. There’s no manual for that. There were moments I had to pause, cry, regroup, and remind myself why I started. It wasn’t just for me—it was for my kids, and for every family who’s ever felt this kind of pain and needed a little hope.
So no, it hasn’t been smooth. But it’s been real. And somehow, through all the struggle, there’s been so much healing.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I write children’s books that help families navigate grief—especially the kind that shows up early in life, when kids are still trying to make sense of the world. My work is deeply personal, inspired by my own experiences of loss and the journey my children and I have walked together after losing my daughter’s dad and my own mom just a month apart.
My books—like Whispers from the Sky and When I Miss You the Most—are designed to comfort children, spark healing conversations, and remind them that they’re never alone, even when someone they love is no longer physically here.
What I’m most proud of is turning something so painful into something that can help others. Every time a parent tells me their child connected with one of my books, or someone shares a photo of a red or blue bird they saw and thought of their own loved one—that means everything to me. It reminds me that the love we carry for those we’ve lost doesn’t end; it just finds new ways to show up.
What sets my work apart is that it’s not just written for children—it’s lived with them. These stories come from real moments: bedtime tears, backyard bird visits, honest conversations with a 4-year-old who just wanted her daddy back.
Through my books, my Instagram community A Hug from Heaven, and local pop-up events, I’ve been able to reach families who often feel like no one understands. And my hope is always the same: to remind them that even in grief, there’s still connection, still comfort, and always, still love.
We all have a different way of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
For me, success isn’t about numbers, sales, or how far my books reach—it’s about impact. If one grieving child feels a little less alone because of something I wrote, that’s success. If a parent finds the words they couldn’t say, or a family starts a healing conversation after reading one of my books together—that means more to me than anything.
I define success as showing up with purpose, especially in the hard moments. It’s using my own story—not once it’s all cleaned up, but right in the middle of the mess—to help others feel seen and supported. It’s being able to turn pain into something meaningful, something that brings comfort and connection.
And honestly, success is also letting my kids see that even after the hardest losses, we can still create something beautiful. That love doesn’t end, and we can keep sharing it in new ways.
Pricing:
- My books are $15.00 and available on Amazon.
- You can also purchase directly from my personal inventory by emailing me at [email protected].
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected].
- Instagram: ahugfromheaven
Image Credits
Alicia Hill JC Penny
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