Amy J. Hammer

AMY J. HAMMER believes in humble methods and solid tools that help readers celebrate and cultivate glorious flavors and meaningful lives. Her work focuses on reproductive health, nourishing food, movement, and the environment. She is fascinated by ecology and her writing explores the relationships between humans and their environments and the impact of this relationship on overall health. Her background in teaching yoga and movement, journalism, environmental studies, and as a registered nurse give her a unique and dynamic approach to health and wellness. Amy lives in the Great Basin Desert with her family, including one husband, two children, one brother named Bob, two cats, and ten chickens. In this arid landscape, they cultivate a thriving garden and forge meaningful connections to the land and their community. When she’s not writing, Amy enjoys doing all of the things she writes about: moving her body, gardening, making food, playing outside with her family, and living life with deep pleasure and always, a sense of humor.

Fatima Bravo

FÁTIMA BRAVO is a graduate of the University of Oporto and Barcelona University Design Center. She works as a freelance illustrator and graphic and game designer, collaborating with many companies on design and illustration work.

"Amy Hammer separates menstrual facts from fiction in a way that is both friendly and approachable. Packed with crucial information you may have missed in health class, Cycles gives you everything you need to reclaim and embrace all the seasons of your cycle." —Amanda Laird, registered holistic nutritionist, author of Heavy Flow: Breaking the Curse of Menstruation, and host of the Heavy Flow Podcast

"For menstruators, learning about our biology and the intricacies of our menstrual cycle is a crucial part of unlearning the stigma we’ve lived through and the misinformation we’ve maybe been exposed to. Periods are powerful, and with a deeper understanding of our bodily changes, we can make informed decisions to maximize our energies and capabilities according to our menstrual cycles. I love that this book is one step to help do that!" —Nadya Okamoto, author of Period Power: A Manifesto for the Menstrual Movement

"In Cycles, Amy J. Hammer has written a remarkably thorough, comprehensive, and accessible guide to the reproductive and sexual health of humans who menstruate. She situates menstrual cycles in context of cycles of life and seasons of nature in a way that enhances our understanding of menstruation. The text presents a finely tuned balance of the complexity and variety of individual cycles with commonalities across cycles and menstruators, with many helpful illustrations. Hammer explains medical terms for anatomy and for physiological processes clearly and concisely, without getting weighed down by jargon. Cycles can be read straight through or in sections of interest, then kept on the shelf as a reference for life." —Elizabeth A. Kissling, PhD, professor emerita of Gender, Women’s, and Sexuality Studies, Eastern Washington University

"Amy Hammer’s Cycles is a modern update to understanding our menstrual cycles. The blend of history with modern-day science and thoughtful illustrations makes Cycles as interesting as a good novel." —Halley Strongwater, clinical herbalist and founder of Loam Earth

"Cycles is the book you always wish you had about your cycle that breaks down the science and history behind menstruation and beyond in an accessible, easy-to-digest way, while offering no-nonsense tips to improve not only your menstrual health but overall health as well. After reading the book, it struck me just how little I knew about something I experience every month." —Auri Jackson, producer at Buzzfeed and writer, director, and producer of The Spot

"Amy J. Hammer has written a truly comprehensive and compassionate guide to reclaiming your menstrual cycle. Cycles provides women with a ton of insight into how their bodies work and most importantly how to align their daily lives with their menstrual cycles. This is revolutionary information that will help women cultivate optimal health throughout their lives. Definitely one to have on your shelf!" —Nicole Jardim, certified women's health coach and author of Fix Your Period