Jennifer Cramer-Miller

Writer + Speaker + Author of

Incurable Optimist:

Living with Illness & Chronic Hope

Order now!

receive my monthly newsletter!

light yellow with red center and blue border illustration

Incurable Optimist book cover, blue background with half a lemon and red & white striped straw

Hi, I'm Jennifer. Thanks for joining me! Through my writing and advocacy, I explore how individuals manage uncertainty, move forward with hope, and find joy.

My new book, Incurable Optimist: Living with Illness and Chronic Hope, is available now, wherever books are sold. Yay! I'm delighted Publishers Weekly provided a starred review, calling it ". . .a knockout memoir. . ." And Kirkus Reviews called it ". . .unfailingly entertaining. . ." I call it my heart and soul bound into a book. Thanks to an autoimmune kidney disease and four kidney transplants, I've learned that life is an uncertain mix of beauty and bummers.

Here's the main question—how do we let go of the life we've planned and accept the one we have? I hope Incurable Optimist inspires readers to deepen their compassion for themselves and others and marvel at the power of people helping people. We're ALL in this together. And sometimes, it's the sorrows that threaten to pull us apart that ultimately unite us in hope and love.

I serve as the board chair for the National Kidney Foundation (serving Minnesota), as an ambassador for Donate Life, and an advocate for donor awareness and education.

My work is featured in: Zibby Mag, Brevity Blog, The Sunlight Press, Star Tribune, Grown & Flown, Mamalode, The Erma Bombeck Blog, The Kindness Blog, and Minnesota Physician. I'm also a PEER Mentor for the National Kidney Foundation, an ambassador for Donate Life, and a wellness advocate (Joy Scouter) to support people who manage uncertainty.

Because we all have stories and I believe they matter.

jennifer

WRITER & SPEAKER

Specializing in stories of hope.

MENTOR & JOY SCOUTER:

I mentor patients to help them carry on with uncertainty and find joy. My coping/hoping journey pairs with research-backed positive psychology tools. And as a self-proclaimed joy advocate, I try to spread it all around through my @joyscouter instagram page.

AUTHOR:

Incurable Optimist:
Living with Illness and Chronic Hope

Now available in print, e-book, and audio book formats! Wherever books are sold.

Uncertainty

Uncertainty is a sure thing. That's why we must accept the unacceptable and embrace what it means to be human. I hope this story becomes a companion to all who toggle between life's good and bad. And a reminder to savor simple joys.

Survival

At twenty-two, I felt full of promise. After a sudden diagnosis, I found myself soaking a hospital pillow with tears as I unwillingly crossed over from wellness to illness. My survival hinged upon doctors, kind strangers, and devoted loved ones. But what kind of life would that be?

Chronic Hope

Spanning 2-1/2 decades, this family love story explores loss, acceptance, and surviving with hope. Shining a bright light on people helping people in difficult times, this story will inspire you to live fully, and hug the humans you love.

Order Now!

Questions + Answers

Q. Are you available for speaking events?

Yes! My previous speaking topics include moving forward with uncertainty to find joy, employee empowerment and connection to purpose, and the road to resilience. I have spoken to Fortune 500, health care and pharmaceutical companies, international conferences, medical schools, and nonprofit organizations. If you’d like to inquire about booking me as your speaker, let me know via email. I’d love to learn more about your event!

Q. What is the first thing you say to people struggling with difficult situations?

First off, I never deny difficulties and suggest, hey, just be happy! That doesn't work. It isn’t helpful to suggest we can happy away our hardships. I suggest reserving a special notebook (or section of your notebook) to vent. I call this a dammit dump. Spill the noisy contents in your head. Write them down. Exhaust their energy. This helps to untangle your difficulties a bit to free up valuable mental space.

Q. Is your glass half empty or half full?

Q. What helps you stay positive with a chronic illness?

It's a process to strive for acceptance, savor small joys, and hang on to hope. I have tremendous gratitude for the people who've helped me, so I channel that back into the kidney health community. This advocacy boosts me.

I'm thrilled to serve as the 2023-26 Board Chair for the local National Kidney Foundation, work as a National Patient Mentor, and help kidney patients share their stories. Besides that, it's a bonus that my daughter makes me laugh at the drop of a hat, my husband is my steady Eddie, and my pup Penny wags with delight every time I enter the room.

Q. When will your book be available for pre-orders?

Play Video

“Wonderful! I started crying so many times as I read… engaging, moving, funny…”

Kate Hopper

Author of Ready for Air: A Journey through Premature Motherhood and Use Your Words: A Writing Guide for Mothers.

“If ever you want to read an inspirational book, and occasionally laugh out loud, I encourage you to read Jennifer Cramer-Miller's memoir. It is uplifting and gives new meaning to the word Hope.”

Herta Feely

Author of Saving Phoebe Murrow, winner of 2018 National Indie Excellence Award, and 2016 New Apple Award.

“This book is an inspiration. Read it to find your own bravery or salute the bravery of Jennifer Cramer-Miller."

Delia Ephron

Author of Left on Tenth: A Second Chance at Life, and screenwriter for Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants and You've Got Mail.

“. . . a knockout memoir . . . openhearted. . . . There's plenty of wisdom in these pages.”

Publishers Weekly

Starred Review

“Incurable Optimist reminds us of the incredible power of positivity, hope, and never giving up. No matter what challenges one faces in life, readers of Incurable Optimist will be moved to find a path forward and embrace each and every day.”

Jessie Diggins

Olympic gold medalist and author of Brave Enough

“. . . energetic, well-observed prose . . . unfailingly entertaining . . . . A touchingly personal memoir. . .”

Kirkus Reviews

"A raw, heartfelt and transformational read for anyone needing levity in the face of adversity. I love how Jennifer's humor-laced resilience beautifully encourages the reader to always make room for joy and hope!"

Julie Burton

Author of The Self-Care Solution--A Modern Mother's Must Have Guide to Health and Well-Being and owner of ModernWell

“Generously infused with humor and hard-won wisdom, Incurable Optimist reminds us that hope—and human connection—can help us overcome insurmountable odds An insightful, inspiring, and joy-filled read.”

Laura Whitfield

Author of Untethered: Faith, Failure, and Finding Solid Ground

"This book! Omg! The triumph of this journey! . . . a JOYOUS story. . ."

Linda Sivertsen

Author, co-author, and ghostwriter of eleven books including two NYT bestsellers, and host of the Beautiful Writers podcast

"Jennifer Cramer-Miller's optimism is born of living with reality, with the operative word being living. Anyone dealing with disappointment, hopelessness, or fear, will be inspired by Jennifer's infectious optimism."

Betsy Graziani Fasbinder

Author of three books, including Filling Her Shoes: A Memoir of Inherited Family, and podcast host of the Morning Glory Project

"Beyond inspiring—a page turner that reveals the resilience of the human spirit surrounded by unconditional love and support. Great read."

Amy S. Peele

Award-winning author of a medical murder mystery trilogy, Cut, Match, and Hold.

". . . exceptional! . . . I trust this book is going to help so many of us incurable optimists!"

Susie Rinehart

Author of Fierce Joy

incurable optimist excerpt icon of a book

Wanna sneak a peek at Chapter One of Incurable Optimist?

Download a Discussion Guide for Incurable Optimist

“There are always flowers for those who choose to see them.”

-Henri Matisse-

"I believe in kindness. Also in mischief. Also in singing, especially when singing is not necessarily prescribed."

- Mary Oliver -

If you fancy keen quotes like I do, follow my @joyscouter account on Instagram!

Download your free excerpt from Incurable Optimist