Trina Machacek - Life After a Death

9/29/2023

Trina published her first book, They Call Me Weener: 55 Short Giggle-Producing Chinwags, in 2020 with the help of Emerging Ink Solutions. Years of cultivating a strong following with her weekly columns that appeared in newspapers across the nation set her up for success. When her beloved husband died in 2018, Trina fought to process his sudden absence. Only after the success of her first book did she feel empowered to write Life After a Death, a roadmap for wives who had recently been widowed. The memoir was published in 2022.

Since the release of her two books, Trina has appeared at local events across Nevada, including Arts in the Park. She writes, “That weekend, I think I finally realized how my book about becoming a widow had touched so many lives. Life After a Death brought tears and smiles and laughter galore. People I’ve never met suddenly knew me and wanted me to know that they knew me! My words helped so many people through some rough times.”

Following the popularity of Life After a Death, Trina began appearing at speaking engagements to encourage others to find humor and love in their lives, especially after a death.

Because of her meteoric rise, Trina was led to start her own local newspaper, The Eureka County Star. “Some people wanted an online paper,” Trina writes, “but my heart, head, and soul led me to have a printed, hold-in-your-hand, snap-it-open paper-paper. It was a judgment call.” Along with its 1,094 weekly readers, Trina’s new newspaper has 84 subscribers thus far, including the governor of the State of Nevada and the Nevada State Library and Archives.

“I don’t know how things happen,” Trina continues. “But after looking for an editor for that silly first book (They Call Me Weener) and being blessed with [Kara’s] work and friendship, my feet have not touched the ground! Truly, life is a hoot and a half.”