Shapeshifter is an interactive memoir that weaves Amy Putney Koenig’s personal narrative with original art and creative exercises. The book highlights how inherited grief stemming from the traumatic childhood death of the author’s aunt Susan cast a shadow over generations. Putney Koenig tells her story in flash essays interspersed with both haunting and inspiring images. She explores the impact of Susan’s devastating accident on her own childhood and how its echoes influenced her approach as an artist, mother, and death care worker. Anchored in the art of remembering, the slim volume offers an unflinching view of one woman’s addiction, rebellion, recovery and forgiveness. Each chapter ends with prompts designed to help readers cope with loss by harnessing their own creativity.

Amy Putney Koenig is a celebrated local artist who has painted engaging murals across Des Moines since 1992. You have likely seen her inspiring murals on Ingersoll Ave or Highland Park, Metro Waste Recycling Facility, Big Acai, Power Life, and several schools, to name a few. She recently retired from a 30-year career as an artist and designer for Sticks Object Art and Furniture creating custom one-of-a-kind folk art inspired heirloom pieces. Amy works out of her Drake neighborhood home studio, making paintings, collages, and illustrations. She has hosted thought-provoking solo exhibits telling a family story of tragedy and healing with art. The positive reception and conversations around these exhibits on themes of grief, death and recovery inspired her to put it all together and write her first book, with art prompts and pictures. Amy is also a hospice volunteer and an End-of-Life Assistant and loves to roller skate.