Discover the power and pleasure of writing from your life.  We all have stories to tell, and this book can help you bring them forth.  Sometimes all it takes is a single word to spark a strong memory. Bicycle. Snowstorm. Washing machine. By presenting one-word prompts and simple phrases, author and writing teacher Patty Dann gives us the keys to unlock our life stories. Organized around her ten rules for writing memoir, Dann’s lyrical vignettes offer glimpses into her own life while, surprisingly, opening us up to our own. This book is a small but powerful guide and companion for anyone wanting to get their own story on the page. “ This book is a testament to why writing continues to be one of humankind’s most essential superpowers." - Laraine Herring.  "Refreshingly modest and gently profound, The Butterfly Hours is a treasure.”— Elinor Lipman.