On a New Kids on the Block cruise, Emma Straub found a way past grief

Author Emma Straub processed profound personal grief through her creative work and an unexpected pop culture experience, writing her 2022 novel "This Time Tomorrow" as her father's health declined and later finding solace on a New Kids on the Block fan cruise. The novel, which explores a woman's time-travel journey to reconnect with her younger, healthier father, served as a literary tribute to her relationship with her own father, acclaimed horror novelist Peter Straub, who passed away just months after the book's publication. In a recent reflection, Straub revealed that the writing process for "This Time Tomorrow" became intertwined with her real-life experience of caring for her aging father. The novel's central premise—a daughter getting the chance to revisit her father in his youth—emerged directly from Straub's desire to capture and preserve the essence of their bond as she confronted his mortality. This creative endeavor allowed her to explore themes of love, memory, and the inevitable passage of time while navigating her personal anticipatory grief. Following her father's death, Straub discovered an unconventional form of healing during a New Kids on the Block themed cruise. Surrounded by the exuberant nostalgia of 1990s pop music and fellow fans, she found temporary respite from her mourning. The collective joy and carefree atmosphere of the cruise provided a contrasting emotional space where she could momentarily set aside her grief, highlighting how unexpected sources of community and nostalgia can offer comfort during difficult life transitions. This experience underscores the varied and personal pathways through which individuals process loss, blending artistic expression with pop culture escapism.