What began as a deeply personal collection of poems never intended to be widely shared has become a book about finding hope, meaning and even joy in the face of life’s greatest challenges.
Meet Me at Sunset, written by first-time author and longtime poet Joe Conway, pairs original poetry with custom paintings by artist and cancer survivor Becky O’Toole. Published November 12, 2025, and now in its second printing due to popular demand, the 66-page hardcover book is both a tribute to Conway’s late wife, Caroline, who battled ovarian cancer, and an offering of hope to anyone navigating loss, illness, grief or personal change.
Each poem is paired with an original painting created by O’Toole specifically in response to Conway’s poems. Her artwork reflects her own interpretation of the poems while drawing from her personal experience as a breast cancer and leukemia survivor and her decade-long commitment to “painting with a purpose.”
“These poems were never meant to become a book,” says Conway. “They were simply part of my own journey through caregiving, loss and grief. Over time, I began to see life differently and experience my own healing. Sharing the poems became a way to honor Caroline, but also a way to offer something helpful to people who may be walking through their own difficult journey or loss.”
Rather than focusing solely on cancer or grief, Meet Me at Sunset explores the broader human experience—love, loss, nature, beauty, healing, reflection and the search for meaning. The poems and paintings invite readers to pause, look at their own circumstances differently and discover moments of hope and joy, even during difficult times.
For O’Toole, the project represents another expression of her belief that creativity can play an important role during times of trauma and healing.
A breast cancer and leukemia survivor, O’Toole has spent the past decade using her artwork to give back. A portion of the proceeds from her coastal paintings is donated to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and MUSC Hollings Cancer Center. She also speaks about the importance of creativity during difficult periods and encourages others to find their own creative outlets.
O’Toole’s philosophy is simple: “If you're not helping, you're not helping.”
The collaboration between Conway’s poetry and O’Toole’s paintings gives Meet Me at Sunset a visual and emotional dimension that extends beyond the written word. Together, the poems and paintings tell a story about what can emerge from profound loss: perspective, gratitude, connection, hope and a renewed appreciation for life.
The book is now available on Amazon.