LOOK INSIDE: Hidden Flowers by Keiko Honda
A sneak peek of an illuminating memoir by a Japanese-Canadian author, coming October 21st 2025.
An illuminating memoir of Keiko Honda's journey through motherhood, loss, disability, and the transformative power of artistic self-expression exemplified by the Japanese concept of "Hidden Flowers," which emphasizes the beauty of unexpected moments.
“Honda’s watercolours and poetic prose are rooted in her deep appreciation for nature. Moving through the changing seasons of life, she reflects on impermanence, motherhood, aging and becoming an empty nester. Framed by her cultural heritage and Japanese sensibilities, she curates a vivid portrait of nuance, introspection and artistic expression.”
—Suzanne Hartmann, author of The Nail That Sticks Out: Reflections on the Postwar Japanese Canadian Community
“Hidden Flowers is a vulnerable and poetic meditation on the inevitability of time and loss, and the possibilities of joyful connection with self and others. This compelling hybrid of memoir, art, and philosophical musings is personal but also deeply resonant with anyone seeking to find creativity and hope in uncertainty. “
—Dr. Tara Lee, UBC lecturer in writing and literature, University of British Columbia
“A deeply moving memoir of finding hidden beauty and surprising threads of connection within the ceaseless flow of life. An inspirational gift to all of us.”
—Lynne Kutsukake, award-winning author of The Art of Vanishing
“Hidden Flowers weaves motherhood, selfhood, art, and love into a tender memoir. Reading this book is like being in a garden: it is sweet, it is quiet, it is absorbing, and most of all, it asks the reader to notice how the world around us keeps growing. A peek into the honest and achingly affectionate heart of a mother, Honda moves gracefully through grief, family, and the fuzzy soreness in the heart, asking "How do we continue growing?"
—Kyo Lee, poet and author of i cut my tongue on a broken country
“Hidden Flowers is a pleasure to read; a touching memoir of transitions and challenges, written in lucid prose and with lovely illustrations.”
—John MacLachlan Gray, award-winning Canadian writer-composer-performer for stage, TV, film, radio and print.
