Nerissa Balland’s books explore creativity, resilience, identity, and the ways we make meaning from our experiences. Through personal stories, reflection, and accessible creative practices, each book offers a different invitation to slow down, notice what matters, and connect more deeply with ourselves and one another.
Canvas of Courage shares the stories of young mothers facing cancer and explores healing, hope, gratitude, and the role of creativity during life-altering experiences. The Curious Curator expands that exploration beyond illness through guided creative practices designed to encourage curiosity, reflection, self-discovery, and personal growth.
Featured Books
Canvas of Courage
The Art of Healing, Hope, and Gratitude for Young Mothers Facing Cancer
🏆 WINNER — 2026 NYC BIG BOOK AWARD · CANCER
Canvas of Courage brings together the voices of 19 women navigating cancer during motherhood, alongside author Nerissa Balland’s own experience with metastatic melanoma.
Through deeply personal stories of diagnosis, treatment, motherhood, identity, fear, hope, and what comes after survival, Canvas of Courage explores not only what these women endured, but how they learned to carry their experiences forward.
What does healing look like after life changes forever?
Drawing from conversations with more than one hundred young mothers facing cancer, Canvas of Courage shares nineteen deeply personal stories exploring creativity, gratitude, motherhood, identity, and resilience. Through intimate storytelling and reflective insights, the book looks beyond diagnosis and treatment to the emotional experience of navigating illness—and making meaning from what remains.
The Curious Curator
The Art of Curiosity, Creativity & Discovery
What might you discover when you slow down and notice what has been there all along?
The Curious Curator is a guided creativity workbook designed for artists and non-artists alike. Through 50 accessible creative invitations, reflections, and exercises, it encourages you to slow down, notice more deeply, explore new perspectives, and use creativity as a tool for reflection, self-discovery, and personal growth.
No artistic experience is required—only curiosity and a willingness to notice.
Looking for speaking engagements, book clubs, workshops, or healthcare partnerships? Click here to WORK WITH ME
Amazon Reviews
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BROOKE LOEBL ★★★★★ “Each story felt real, authentic, and deeply personal. This is more than a book of stories. It is a celebration of courage, hope, and the power of the human spirit.”
—Verified Purchase · Amazon Review
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ALEX V ★★★★★ “Nerissa’s form of storytelling is truly art. The book is a tapestry of women’s cancer journeys, standing out not just as a medical narrative, but as a masterpiece of empathy.”
— Verified Purchase · Amazon Review
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BEVERLY RODRIGUEZ ★★★★★ “Beautifully written compilation of impactful personal stories sharing pearls of wisdom from individual struggles... from the ‘Closing Reflections’ and actionable ‘Grace Notes’ at the end of each story.”
— Verified Purchase · Amazon Review
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DJ VALERIE B LOVE ★★★★★ “This book is a MUST read for young moms facing cancer and also their loved ones to help you feel like you are not alone. Nerissa shares her powerful story along with the stories of strength, creativity, and courage of so many other young mothers.”
— Verified Purchase · Amazon Review
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SHAUNA C ★★★★★ “This book is a great reminder that while every diagnosis/story is different no one in this journey is alone. Whether read at once, a story at a time, or even a quick glance at each chapter’s ‘Grace Notes,’ this is a great resource for any young mother facing cancer.”
— Verified Purchase · Amazon Review
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READ MORE REVIEWS
Want to hear from more readers? Read all reviews of Canvas of Courage on Amazon.
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