The Invisible String Origin Story
I am honored to tell you the backstory of how this little-book-that-could came to life. The Invisible String was born in 1996, when I was a full-time working single mom. As I dropped off my son, Elijah, at preschool each morning, he would cry so hard that it broke my heart. And so I told him what was obvious to me: that an Invisible String made out of love always connected us. In fact, not only would it connect us all day long, but forever and ever—no matter what!
Voilà! Once he knew about the String, his separation anxiety stopped, his face lit up in wonder, and his tears dried. The story brought him (and then his friends, who begged to hear it, too) immense comfort with the realization that they would never be alone, because the Invisible String connects us not only to our loved ones but also to the whole wide world.
When I saw the reaction that the Invisible String was having on these children, I knew I needed to “tell the others.” I went to a small independent publisher to see if he was interested, and he released the original hardcover edition in 2000. Slowly, I began to receive the most powerful and profound letters from readers about how The Invisible String had affected them and the people with whom they had shared the book. My heart could not have felt more full.
Several years ago, though, I noticed a new phenomenon beginning. The Invisible String suddenly started to move, then sprint—and the next thing I knew, it took off and soared, becoming a bestseller. In addition to receiving countless testimonials from the general public, I continue to hear weekly from schools, bereavement groups, psychologists, military personnel, hospitals, camp counselors, therapists, hospices, funeral homes, adoption and foster organizations, divorce attorney’s offices, prisons, and parenting classes about how The Invisible String is being used to guide, comfort, and heal. Beyond assisting children and adults with any type of loss or separation issues, readers tell me they appreciate how it offers a tangible understanding of what the abstract concept of love is. For the science-loving fans, I like to say it’s “String theory made easy!” Even adults are giving the book to each other for birthdays, shower gifts, and going-away presents for family, friends, and spouses—any time they want to share the love! No one is too young or too old to know of their Invisible Strings.
While there is only a single word on one page in the book that alludes to separation by death, it has been astonishing to witness how it has opened up the possibilities for the story to be used for coping with grief. That word, heaven, is not meant to impart any particular religious affiliation in mind, heart, or meaning, for my readers come from all faiths, spiritual paths, and walks of life. It is a word that for so many readers open-endedly suggests “the other side” or “the great beyond” or the indefinable mystery of permanent physical departure. For those that feel uncomfortable with that word, it is easily amended with whatever phrase feels more comfortable for each family, and can be used as a springboard for further discussion. And remember that there is nothing more healing than conversation with a child, if questions arise.
We live in tumultuous times, to say the least. But what affects one of us, affects the whole of us. One of my greatest hopes is to see world leaders coming to the realization that we are ultimately one family. I know that can happen because love really is that powerful, and the Invisible String is the realest thing that there is. It transcends time and space, reaching across the planet and beyond. Where all of our Invisible Strings intersect, we find ourselves in the real “worldwide Web” that collectively forms the nest that holds us close. The more love, the more Invisible Strings, and the more Strings, the stronger our Invisible Web.
My vision is that one day, every child on earth will be comforted by knowing of their own Invisible Strings. One heart at a time, I believe that day will come sooner than we realize.
To that end, if you feel moved by your Invisible Strings, please “tell the others”! With all my heart and all that I am, and wherever in the world this book has found you,
I send love from my end of the Invisible String, over to you . . .
Copyright 2026 Patrice Karst