<p><strong style="color: rgba(34, 34, 34, 1)">2024 Independent Press Award Distinguished Favorite</strong></p><p><em>Emptying the Nest: Getting Better at Goodbyes</em>, is about change, identity, and mental health. When Morgan Baker's daughter, Maggie, left for college and Baker also parted with nine puppies from a litter the family raised, she collapsed into a deep depression. She eventually adjusted and, with a lot of help, did better when her younger daughter left for school. By the time Maggie graduated from college and moved to LA with her boyfriend, Baker was ready. She prepared by focusing on herself, and what she wanted. Her identity shifted. While Baker will always be a nurturer, she is more than a mother.</p>