Author and yoga instructor Karen Taylor Bass will discuss her debut novella, “From Bitter to Better: A Chocolate Momma’s Journey to Self-Discovery” on Sunday at the township library.
It can often feel like second nature to expect the worst and wait for the other shoe to drop. But what if we woke up each morning anticipating that something wonderful will happen instead?
That’s exactly the mindset that Karen Taylor Bass hopes women from 30 up acquire after reading her debut novella, “From Bitter to Better: A Chocolate Momma’s Journey to Self-Discovery,” which she’ll discuss and read excerpts from on Sunday from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Cherry Hill library.
Bass’ self-discovery journey began unexpectedly in 2019, when she found herself feeling stuck. After 35 years in corporate America as a media strategist with a focus on entertainment and sports, she felt she had outgrown her circumstances.
“Life changed. I was changing. My husband and I were changing,” acknowledged Bass, who moved three years ago from Long Island to Cherry Hill. “And I just started to journal what was happening. But I realized I was also becoming bitter, hence the title, and I had to take a moment to reflect, like, ‘Why was I becoming bitter?’
“I didn’t know what to do about it. How do you get unstuck in middle age?”
After speaking to a number of her female friends, Bass realized that a lot of them were feeling exactly the same. So she began meeting with like-minded women over potlucks that included chocolate and wine, and formed the Chocolate Momma’s Club, a safe space for women of all backgrounds and ethnicities trying to find their spark again.
“I wanted to have a space for women to feel ease, to be able to unburden, to be able to grow,” Bass explained, “but also know that it’s okay to reshape and pivot.”
Inspired by the club she created, Bass began compiling members’ stories – with their permission – into what would become “From Bitter to Better: A Chocolate Momma’s Journey to Self-Discovery.” The novella is simultaneously humorous and raw, since life isn’t without its moments of heartbreak and darkness. But what’s key in those dark times, Bass emphasized, is that pivot.
“I keep using pivot because Ross from (the sitcom) ‘Friends’ is in my head,” she admitted with a laugh. “But you’ve gotta pivot because when it does get messy, when you do get broken, you can either stay in there or leave. And so for me, I left Long Island and moved here. We sold our family home.
“And so, it’s about being okay no matter what age you are to go on a transformational journey.”
The novella, released in summer 2024, currently boasts a five-star rating on Amazon, much to Bass’ excitement. She reflected on how, at past author events, readers approached her in tears to inform her that it made them feel seen for the first time.
“I’m so ecstatic,” Bass noted. “Who knew a 57-year-old would be on this journey. It was not on my bingo deck. I am humbled and I am overwhelmed, and it just reaffirms that I’m doing the right thing.”
Bass is particularly excited for her township library event, which takes place during Black History Month in a collaboration with the Cherry Hill African American Civic Association, whose president will host. Bass’ discussion – which she promised will be over before the start of Sundy’s Super Bowl – will include an author reading, Q&A, book signing and a meditation.
“All of my talks so far have been a space where people come, they relax, they breathe, then I read,” Bass explained. “And we make it very engaging. I’m not here to read to you. I want to get your feedback. But I also want to offer a space that, when you leave, you feel more charged, more empowered to go on this new journey of yours.
“I always say, as long as you have breath, there’s room for you to do something new. We generally just flow with the audience and see what’s needed.”
Through yoga, Karen Taylor Bass helps others heal. Her go-to song during class is Michael Jackson’s “Human Nature.”
Outside of meetings on her novella, Bass still helps others tap into their inner strength as a yoga instructor at Katz JCC, keynote speaker and corporate wellness trainer.
“This is something that happened to me at middle age, so this for me is where you really cement your roots in this third quarter of life,” she noted. “Every time I’m around others, I heal also as a person, as I’m able to offer them action steps to be able to be better for themselves.”
Looking ahead, Bass is excited for 2025, which she has deemed her “year of yes.” One month into the new year, Bass has already said yes to serving as the wellness correspondent for Philadelphia station WURD-AM’s “Reality Check,” which allows her to write scripts, speak to guests and lead listeners through a meditation first thing in the morning.
“You have to show up in life, but you also have to let life happen to you,” Bass insisted. “The one thing I learned is, be okay with the yummy. I think in life, we look and anticipate the floor falling underneath us. How about if we just enter the day expecting something yummy to happen? It doesn’t have to be monumental, but it’s just a shape shift.
“Get up expecting the best to happen. That’s what ‘Bitter to Better’ is. It’s really expecting the best to happen on this journey called life.”
Register for Karen Taylor Bass’ appearance at chplnj.libcal.com/event/13615016.
