Westfield authors Danyele Easterhaus & Michelle Merritt release new book “Emergent Power”

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Westfield authors Danyele Easterhaus and Michelle Merritt are marking the release of their second book together, Emergent Power: Midlife Women Redefining Love, Health, & Work, out today, Oct. 14.

The pair first partnered as contributing authors on the 2025 Amazon No. 1 bestseller Empathy Impact, and each is now a two-time bestselling author. To coincide with the launch, both women are also introducing new podcasts: Easterhaus’s On the Mic with D and Merritt’s The 2 a.m. Circle.

In her chapter, “One More Thing,” Easterhaus writes a raw account of caring for her father through his final months and the honest work of grief and rebuilding that followed.

“This chapter came from the hardest year of my life,” Easterhaus said. “On the Mic with D grew out of that same need, a place for honest, unscripted conversations about what midlife actually feels like.”

Merritt’s chapter, “The Posse,” is about the three friends who have carried her through career reinventions, cross-country moves, and family crises for more than three decades, and what she has learned about not reinventing ourselves alone.

“Every person needs a posse – people who show up without being asked twice,” Merritt said. “Bringing The 2 a.m. Circle to life is about giving others permission to build that same kind of support system.”

The two chapters sit alongside essays from 11 other women writing about health, identity, and reinvention in midlife.

The book’s release also marks the debut of two new podcasts. Easterhaus is launching On the Mic with D, featuring candid conversations on relationships, culture, and leadership. Merritt is launching The 2 a.m. Circle, a show about the friendships people can call on at any hour. Both shows carry the themes of each author’s chapter into an ongoing conversation with listeners.

About the Authors
Danyele Easterhaus is an author, speaker, and relationship-centered consultant based in Westfield, where she works with leaders and mission-driven organizations to strengthen culture and connection. She is co-author of the bestseller Empathy Impact and writes from the honest place between grief and growth. Learn more at DanyeleEasterhausConsulting.com.

Michelle Merritt is a senior people executive, keynote speaker, and board director based in Westfield, where she serves as President of the Westfield Police Merit Commission. A Guinness World Record holder, she is co-author of the bestseller Empathy Impact and believes no one reinvents themselves alone. Learn more at c3indy.com/michelle.