Kurmasheva Dana

Dana Kurmasheva is a writer, poet, speaker, and host of the Impromptu Stories podcast. Born in Kazakhstan and now based in Alberta, Canada, she weaves themes of love, loss, healing, and resilience into her work—shaped by personal transformation and cultural depth. Her debut book, FIVE A.M. The Silence After Goodbye, is a poetic tribute to her late brother and a reflection on the quiet strength discovered through grief. Dana is also a passionate mental health advocate and supports marginalized communities through her service-based agency, RISE Together. Her work is rooted in the belief that words can offer healing, connection, and courage through life’s most difficult moments. To learn more about Dana’s work, visit www.danakurmasheva.com or scan the QR code below to explore her podcast, social media, and current offerings via Linktree: https://linktr.ee/author_dana_k

Articles:

The Silence After Goodbye: My Brother’s Suicide and the Gifts He Left Behind

Drastically, his mental state had deteriorated.  Now I see it clearly: my brother was incredibly strong for holding on as long as he did. He carried the weight for over a decade, ever since I left him behind when I immigrated to Canada.  Conditioned to live by abandoning his own needs and silencing his own dreams, he poured all his energy into everyone else.  Facing my own suicidal thoughts became the heaviest burden of all. Only later did I learn from Dr. Alan Wolfelt’s The Wilderness of Suicide Grief: Survivors of suicide loss are at high risk themselves. It’s not just […]

Read More