ANN IS CONVINCED SHE IS A GOOD MOTHER until her teenage daughter admits to suicidal thoughts. In a desperate attempt to rescue her child, she gathers wisdom from therapy, the 12 Steps, and Buddhist teachings, yet she finds her greatest solace from an unlikely source: the Greek myth of Demeter and Persephone.

Connecting this ancient story to her experience as a traumatized mother, Ann is vindicated in her desire to save her child but also learns the secret to returning to herself. A memoir about honesty, compassion, and trust, Craving Spring explores the pain and beauty of mother-daughter bonds and celebrates the universal desire for renewal.

“A masterful storyteller, Ann Batchelder takes us deep into the heart of a mother’s love while demonstrating the power of myth to illuminate a path toward healing. Craving Spring is a gift to anyone trying to navigate the complexities of the mother-daughter relationship.”—ANITA JOHNSTON, Ph.D., psychologist and author of Eating in the Light of the Moon

"...circles around the question of what it is to be a parent... Incredibly moving."—NICK FLYNN, award-winning author of Another Bullshit Night in Suck City

"Rich, layered, and insightful. An impressive work both of writing and spiritual reflection."—KEVIN GRIFFIN, author of One Breath at a Time: Buddhism and the Twelve Steps

"Batchelder's compelling story is an irresistible page-turner. This is memoir writing at its best."—LAURA CATHCART ROBBINS, podcast host and author of Stash

"...extraordinary with relevance and profound teachings. Craving Spring is a story of triumph. I highly recommend it.”—TOMMY ROSEN, founder of Recovery 2.0

"Exquisitely written...I will be suggesting Craving Spring for many years to come."—HANNAH SWARD, author of Strip: A Memoir