six to carry the casket and one to say the mass

“The essays that follow in this book emerged when, after personal and professional burnout, and trapped in quarantine with little else to distract me, I started to weave old practices of reflection with new voices. I excavated old relationships and experiences, in part to get a better perspective on what shaped me, and in part to discern how my life so far had prepared me for whatever would come next. Reflecting this way, I hoped, would help me to cultivate openness and maybe even hopefulness. My goal was never to be exhaustive or expert. Instead, I sought to deconstruct how the world shaped me, reconstruct a foundation for the person I want to become, and find the fuel I need to move forward.”

Coming to bookstores this summer!

what people are saying…

  • "In the spirit of David Sedaris and Dorothy Zbornak, Bill Hulseman's witty debut offers a masterclass in learning to take pride in one's family, faith, and identity."

    — Terry Babcock-Lumish, PhD

  • "A radiant, heartfelt mosaic of life’s deepest intimacies and tiniest quirks. Hulseman’s essays shimmer with truth and humor, inviting readers to stitch their own stories with meaning."

    — Ezra Bookman, ritual designer, artist, and founder of Ritualist

  • "A beautiful set of reflections on what it takes to be known and a reminder that we are all worth knowing."

    — Shalini Vajjhala, PhD, Executive Director of PRE Collective

  • "Six to carry the casket is the story of how love wins, lessons gleaned from the past, and how to actively build a more just and loving future, especially for those whose survival and thriving have previously not been centered. This book gifted me with moments of joy and a grounding in hope."

    — Lauren Brownlee, educator and Co-Leader of the Quaker Coalition for Uprooting Racism

  • "Six to carry the casket and one to say the mass masterfully distills wisdom from life’s diverse experiences. Bill’s compelling storytelling invites readers to remain attentive and embrace the abundant lessons life offers. With narratives that resonate deeply with your own life, he inspires you to explore your deepest curiosities, making the journey both personal and transformative."

    — Glenn Llopis, CEO at GLLG, Author, Make Reinvention Your Superpower, and Forbes Leadership Strategy Contributor

  • “Six to carry the casket is a celebration of life’s messy, beautiful contradictions: the way grief and joy intermingle, how family can be both a source of frustration and profound love.”

    — Books That Make You Editorial Book Review

  • "Six to carry the casket speaks to our times. When so much of the contemporary essay narrows focus, finally, with Hulseman, we have an essayist brave enough to broaden, to broach the manifold issues of the day by a sweeping portrayal of where public and private, spiritual and secular, and international and domestic merge. Moreover, Hulseman manages this by intimate account. His prose rings with the relatable humor and warmth of a dear friend. Though he has left the world of professional education, he nevertheless remains our educator of the heart, and we would all do well to follow his lead."

    — Taylor Strickland, author of Dwell Time

  • "You’ll be transported to vivid moments: Marks & Spencer in Belfast during a bomb threat, a confounding sleepover with a neighbor, a 10-year-old announcing he’s a pacifist, a smile during a sitcom that opens a door to understanding. Bill’s writing is a cross between Frank Bruni and David Sedaris: honest commentary, vivid storytelling, and humor–a lot of humor. These thought-provoking, comforting, and inspiring pieces on humanity, individuals, and society did more than move me. It’s as though the window I peer through to understand the world became a little less dusty (a film of dust I didn’t even realize was there!)."

    — Alice Moody, writing instructor & discussion facilitator, owner of Platinum Pen Consulting

  • "A tour de force, entertaining and timely journey of exploration, discovery and acceptance, of ourselves and of those we love most. Making sense of the world around us and the world beyond with the noble purpose of grounding ourselves in the here and now, this book helps find meaning in the gifts and obstacles the universe unapologetically and unrelentingly sends us slicing through the loud everyday noises of our busy world, staring us in the face for honest answers."

    — Adnan Kifayat, former Secretary of State John F. Kerry’s Special Representative to Muslim Communities, Founder of Blueprint Strategies, LLC, and Adviser to the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies

about bill

Bill Hulseman is a Virgo sun, Aries moon, rising Capricorn, a dragon, an INFJ, a 1w9, and a youngest child. He’s an autumn, and his favorite color is blue. He is also a ritual designer and wedding officiant.

Previously a teacher, campus minister, program director, and middle school principal in independent schools, he holds a BA in religious studies from Fairfield University, an MTS in the comparative study of religion from Harvard Divinity School, and an EdM in education leadership from the Klingenstein Center at Teachers College, Columbia University.

Bill lives in Seattle with his husband, Jonathon. Six to carry the casket and one to say the mass is his first book.