Author Talk with Jennifer Crystal: “One Tick Stopped the Clock: A Memoir”

It’s tick season! With tick populations on the rise here in New England and beyond, it’s important to be aware not just of Lyme but of all tick-borne diseases. Once considered a “woods of New England” problem, Lyme disease has now been reported in every state except Hawaii, with 476,000 new cases every year—more than HIV and breast cancer combined. Author Jennifer Crystal learned the hard way what can happen when you miss a tick bite. Join Crystal as she reads from her memoir, “One Tick Stopped the Clock,” explains the signs and symptoms of tick-borne illness, and gives tips for safely enjoying the outdoors.

Registration is recommended - please register at tinyurl.com/tick-memoir. Following the reading and talk, Crystal will answer your questions, and copies of her book will be on sale.

Bitten by a tick at age 19 but not diagnosed with Lyme and other tick-borne diseases until mid-twenties, Jennifer Crystal fell from the pinnacle of post-college momentum to the precipice of despair. Sidelined from her dream job as a ski instructor in the Rocky Mountains, Crystal fought not only for her health but also for validation and support. She struggled with the identity loss that occurs when you can no longer fulfill expectations or do what you love. “One Tick Stopped the Clock” is a narrative of resilience and perseverance that demonstrates what it means to refocus broken dreams and create a new normal. Blending medical mystery with wit, sensitivity, and a sharp understanding of the human experience, “One Tick Stopped the Clock” offers hope and inspiration for anyone who can’t go back but instead must move forward at a new pace.

Jennifer Crystal is now a local author, educator, and writing coach. She runs the Writing to Heal Immersive Program at Grub Street Creative Writing Center. For more than a decade, she has written a weekly column for the Global Lyme Alliance. She is a Senior Writer for Harvard Health Publishing, where she also served as the Patient Experience Representative for the Lyme Wellness Initiative. Crystal’s story has appeared in many outlets including anthologies, webinars, and podcasts. She is happily back on her skis. Learn more at www.jennifercrystal.com.