Read Midstream, a life remade in 50 swims by Kate Washington

coming July 7, 2026

Preorder now:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop.org‍ ‍
East Village Bookshop | Walmart | Target


Join Kate at launch events!

  • East Village Bookshop,(Sacramento), July 7. Reception with refreshments at 6:30pm; reading, signing, and conversation at 7pm. Register here!

  • The Avid Reader Bookstore, (Davis, CA), July 9, 6pm

  • Mrs Dalloway’s Bookstore (Berkeley, CA), June 11, 6pm. Register here!

  • Book Passage Corte Madera (CA), July 12, 11am. Register here!

  • The Bookstore, Chico CA, July 23 (preceded by optional creekside launch party!)

  • Davis (CA) Public Library, July 26, 1pm

  • Napa Bookmine, July 29, 6pm. Register here!

  • Yoga Shala Arden (Sacramento), book talk with restorative yoga session, August 16, 2-4pm. Register here!

  • West Sacramento Library, August 22

Praise for Midstream

“[An] openhearted memoir. . . .Funny, heartbreaking, and inspirational, it’s an invigorating account that will strike a chord with readers of all ages who are looking to refresh their lives.”                                           —Publishers Weekly

“Washington crafts a winning narrative of a woman reaching her prime, guided by a road map for joy. A poignant portrait of a woman stepping into her power in middle age.” 

Kirkus Reviews (*starred*)

In her “wrenching debut,” Kate Washington tells the story of her struggle to care for her seriously ill husband, offering a revealing look at the role unpaid family caregivers play in a society that fails to provide them with structural support. Available in hardback, paperback, audio, and ebook editions, Already Toast: Caregiving and Burnout in America (Beacon Press, 2021) shows how all-consuming caregiving can be, how difficult it is to find support, and how the cultural narratives that have long locked women into providing emotional labor also keep them in unpaid caregiving roles. In a starred review, Booklist called Already Toast "an eye-opening account from a full-time caregiver...a timely and crucial appeal."

Already Toast, Caregiving and Burnout in America by Kate Washington

 

Photo of author Kate Washington

Kate Washington is a writer in Northern California whose first book, Already Toast: Caregiving and Burnout in America (Beacon Press, March 2021) has been called "an eye-opening account from a full-time caregiver...a timely and crucial appeal." Her second book, Midstream: A Life Remade in 50 Swims, will be out July 7, 2026.

Kate is a frequent speaker on the systemic challenges facing family caregivers and recovery from burnout. She also appears regularly on podcasts and is available for interviews and to meet with book clubs. For her availability or to learn more, please contact her.