OXBOW — Oxbow resident Cassandra Madsen wears several titles — wife (to Brad), mother (of Rose, Scarlett and Gordon), community professional and volunteer. Now she has added another: author.
Madsen has always loved writing. As a child and teen, she often wrote stories for herself and foresaw the day she would write fiction. But becoming a published author was a dream that lay dormant for many years.
In the years following COVID, Madsen experienced deep loss. Her “soul sister” died of an overdose, and five other friends passed away unexpectedly. To cope with her grief, she turned to writing, pouring her feelings and thoughts onto the page.
One day, while sharing her writing with a friend, she was encouraged to publish her words to help others understand that grief is real and painful. The suggestion rekindled her long-held dream.
Madsen took an independent approach to publishing. She handled the entire process herself, with the exception of some proofreading by friend Alaina Kinder.
The result is In a Year, an 82-page memoir released in July 2025 that reflects on her year of grieving and serves as a tribute to the six people she lost. It also features a gut-wrenching poem she wrote during that time.
To help launch the book, Megan Andersen, branch librarian in Oxbow, invited Madsen for a reading and signing at the library on Aug. 21.
Madsen read the introduction to her book and, at the audience’s request, shared more, including her poem. Though emotional, she said she was grateful for the chance to connect with listeners.
Afterward, attendees asked questions about her writing and life before lining up for signed copies.
In a Year is available as a softcover or digital download through Amazon. A copy has also been ordered for the Oxbow library collection.
