The Book of Joann is a powerful story of darkness and light-defeat and victory -hope and faith. Joann, my mom, wanted her story to be told.As her daughter, I promised her that one day I would share her story with the world, and people would finally understand the true meaning of what mental illness can do to not only the person who is struggling, but to a whole family and beyond. Our goal is to help people understand the reality of mental illness. Not only will this story educate others, but it will offer a voice for all who continue to struggle silently.Lisa Zarcone is currently the Massachusetts National Ambassador for NAASCA (National Association of Adult Survivors of Child Abuse). She is dedicated to spreading awareness for child safety/abuse and mental health illness/stigmas. She is committed to educating people and promoting change in a very flawed system as too many children continue to fall through the cracks. This is her passion, mission, and goal to break the silence.Lisa was honored in the "2023 Women of Impact" by Business West Magazine.
"It is in sharing our struggles and vulnerabilities that we connect with others and inspire change in them. Empathy and experience are some of our most powerful connecting points. By offering my own personal struggles, I hope to let others know that they are not alone, and that there is always hope, even in the darkest of times."No one should ever feel ashamed for struggling mentally. Going to therapy for mental health should be as normal as going to a doctor for a broken leg. No one is a lost cause, and no one should ever be made to feel that way. Each and every human being on this planet should be given the opportunity to experience love and be given opportunities to turn their lives around. We never truly know what someone has gone through in their personal life. If we want to truly help someone, the most important thing we can do is listen to them. It doesn't matter where you come from or what you have been through, you can become anything you set your mind to. I hope you overcome the struggles you tell no one about."This world needs the healed and healthy version of you."Herb Stepherson founded Genesis of Recovery, an intervention firm that helps any and all who suffer from the disease of addiction. Since beginning his own recovery and healing journey, Herb has authored two books, given a TEDx talk, founded a domestic non-profit organization, and given his heart to God.Though he will undoubtedly struggle with mental health issues for the rest of his life, his mission is to make this world a better place.For more information, visitGenesisOfRecovery.comJunkboxdiaries.com
Prince Royce was banished after standing up for his father's honor. Upon meeting the cursed princess, their separate paths became one as they worked to bring justice for the Zuzax Tribe and to unite their fractured societies.Ben Hall is a writer by day and reader by night. He has authored the St. Noir comic book series that cover the adventures of Captain Cobalt, the Sonic Sleuth and the Mysteries of the Muze.After serving 8 years with the Marine Corps infantry, Ben continues to utilize those skills and serve his community by volunteering in Search and Rescue. When he isn't out in the Rocky Mountains, Ben enjoys entertaining friends and family with cooking that draws upon his past career as a chef.You can follow all of his writing adventures at:www.worldofnom.com
In this gripping psychological thriller, Benjamin J. Burton presents a modern horror classic that takes readers deep into the dark recesses of the human psyche.Set in Miami, Paradise of the Wolf follows Chelsi Villanueva as she struggles to find herself after the tragic death of her mother. But when she starts to have disturbing visions, strange occurrences begin to happen around her, and her life turns upside down. Unable to trust anyone, she soon finds herself consumed by a mysterious and deadly entity known as "The Beast" that seems to have taken over her dreams.When Chelsi finally discovers what "The Beast" truly is, she must learn to find the courage to fight it and come to terms with her past before it destroys her future.Paradise of The Wolf is a haunting journey through the mind of a young woman as she deals with grief, loss, abandonment, and ultimately acceptance.Benjamin J. Burton is the author of Paradise of Wolf, his debut paranormal crime thriller. Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Benjamin received his Bachelor of Computer Science from Morgan State University. After University, Benjamin enlisted in the US Army, where he served as a paratrooper and at various assignments around the world. Benjamin was awarded numerous medals and commendations during his time in the military, including the Meritorious Service Medal and Bronze Star Medal for Meritorious Service. After leaving the military, he worked for the Department of Defense and the private sector before retiring to become a full-time writer. Benjamin resides in Miami, Florida, where he writes about his favorite subject: murder!
Part mystery and part romance, The Legacy is a commentary on the legal profession as well as a vivid picture of a city that has always been divided between an elite upper class and waves of aspiring immigrants. While unraveling the puzzle of an oddly worded Last Will, Adam Chauncey and Sally Warren seek to uncover the secrets of the legacy left by an enigmatic Chicago financier. Their search for answers takes them from the elite mansions North of the city to the Latino neighborhoods of the South Side. What they discover is a dysfunctional family troubled by a strange adoption and a second family related to the deceased. As they explore one lead after another, they begin to realize the complicity of the senior partners of their law firm in a cynical cover-up. Whether or not they reveal the existence of a second, more recent will, presents them with a desperate choice.James GilbertAfter an academic career during which he authored ten works on modern American History, (one of them a New York Times notable book), James Gilbert turned to fiction. He has now written a book of short stories and five novels, three of them a mystery series set in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.The Legacy is his sixth published work.He has twice won awards from the annual F. Scott Fitzgerald short story contest.Born in Chicago, he grew up in a small suburb just to the south of the city. He graduated from Carleton College in Minnesota and earned a doctoral degree in history at the University of Wisconsin. While a professor at the University of Maryland, he taught at several universities in Europe and Australia as a visiting professor. He currently resides in Silver Spring, Maryland.
A once tight family is not the same after an unexpected tragedy. The curveball life has thrown at them brings a weight of sadness to the family. Siblings find themselves with a new set of expectations, responsibilities, and a drastic change in their lives. The relationship between them is pushed to new boundaries. Envy, jealousy, rivalry, and fear work together, slowly trying to destroy what was once a happy nuclear family.What happens when the patriarch of the family goes through a life-changing illness, putting even more stress on the siblings? Those left behind find themselves losing touch, growing apart, each processing the loss in their own way. Expectations change, misunderstandings accrue, and one sibling turns to deceit as the answer.After each setback and adversity, Kaleigh finds herself leaning on an old friend. Trying to stay positive through it all, she finds herself needing him more, but jealousy has turned him away. Feeling trapped in her sorrow, will Kaleigh be able to pick up the pieces and find the strength to move on? Will the siblings be able to forgive each other? Will they have the chance to rebuild their relationship? Will they each find, their path to happiness?Author Jennifer DeutschI am a Reading Intervention Teacher who lives in upstate New York. I have a hard-working husband who supports all of my endeavors, and two beautiful children who are growing bigger by the day. I work to balance this thing we call life, and it is not always easy. I am constantly looking for easier ways to do things, ways to save time, and stay organized. I work with inner-city students who have so much resting on their shoulders, but who deserve the same chance at becoming great readers and having amazing teachers as any other child in America. I work to show my students how many doors will open for them when they learn how to be great readers. I try to teach my students and my own children that good things come with time, dedication, and hard work. My family stretches far and wide across the country, and whenever I have the chance to see them, it helps me to remember how precious our family, our life, and our story is.I consider myself a champion of kindness, and I work everyday to show my kids how to make this world a better place. Life is difficult. I have had my share of curveballs thrown my way. There are things that happen in our lives that try to take away the joy that can be found all around us. Even with all of the trials and roadblocks, I continue to believe in the power of positivity. My own path has been rocky. For so many years I was stuck. I couldn't see where my path might be heading. We may not know for many years why certain things happen and where our path is headed. Our life may seem to be stuck in darkness for so long, but when we come to an overlook, and can see behind us, the purpose of events that happened, the reason certain people entered our lives, that is such a sweet moment. That is a theme in this story, a theme I hope that you can relate to.My wish is that all of you find your . . . Path to Happiness.
Life had always been hard on me. It kept playing with me and tormenting me, making me anxious and scared at every step of my life. Nevertheless, I did not lose hope and surrender myself into its evil trap. I freed myself from the hold it had on me.My life in Bosnia was so gruesome that I don't even want to think of it anymore. It scares me to death when the episodes of my life in Bosnia flash before my eyes. I am no longer trapped there, but the memories linger on. As I share my harrowing journey with you, I admit it won't be easy for me to talk about it, but I have to face my fears and past demons and free myself. That is something I have learned by going through hell for years.I have learned the hard way that in difficult times, people rarely come forward to help you. They fancy insulting and mocking you rather than sympathizing with you. All the hardships I went through were frightening and full of mishaps and anguish.I am ready to tell you my life story, hoping it will inspire you to be bold and courageous and take control of your life.Amra Podrug Kratina was born in Foca, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
"There were twelve people, alive and breathing, on this submarine yesterday. Today, there are ten."When Elijah Smith, an acclaimed Navy recruit, was given the opportunity to board a real submarine with nine other recruits to test their mental, physical, and tactical prowess, he was ecstatic. Even better, his best friends, Rohan and Laila, had been selected as well! After months of dedication, it seemed like things were finally going his way. Hours later, however, as he and his friends go to investigate a disturbance, they begin to realize that they are trapped with a murderer . . . ten-thousand feet underwater.As events continue to unfold rapidly, alliances and rivalries are made and torn as crewmates discover clues, attempt to fix sabotaged hardware, and figure out a way to communicate with the surface. Relationships between siblings, friends, and past mentors are put under tremendous strain. Questions and accusations are thrown around for the killer's identity. Losing faith in those around him, Elijah struggles with his own personal questions of sanity and insomnia. What can he do if he can't even trust himself?Only one thing is clear. As the death toll increases, the survivors must find a way to work together. Otherwise, the beautiful vessel they were so excited to board may soon become their coffin.Tanay Pant is a student who lives with his family and dog in Illinois. He has been writing for as long as he can remember, starting out with scrappy comic books made out of notebook paper before completing Connection Terminated, his second published novel. In his spare time, he enjoys writing for the school newspaper, playing sports with his friends, or listening to music a bit louder than he should.
Sukelov ignored the small figure on the ground, knowing that the rifle's fire would do no damage but he stopped smiling when he saw the vapor trail from the M-72 as it launched its rocket. Forty years later, Dillard Ross looked out of the airliner's small window. The reflection showed an old man staring back at him, and he wondered why he couldn't see himself. With blue eyes and silver hair, the tanned face looked back at him and seemed to say, Why are you doing this? Suddenly called back into service and put on a plane to the Ukraine, Chief Warrant Officer Dillard Ross (Ret.) had to wonder how good this decision really was.Jan R. McDonald has over the past thirty years founded and managed several high-tech companies operating in the newspaper publishing industry. He has written dozens of articles for both print and Internet-based publications, and he has traveled extensively in Europe, the Middle East, Asia-Pacific, the U.S. and Mexico. He has written several fiction novels, a non-fiction short story, and several children's books. He is now retired and lives with his wife in Florida.For more information, visit AuthorJanRMcDonald.com
It's a year after Hong Kong's reversion to China. Aaron and Kellie's dual purpose Hong Kong trip for business and pleasure descends into chaos when Kellie fails to deliver the blueprint Chinese entrepreneurs seek in hopes of greater riches in the U.S. market. After a day-long meeting, she awakes the next morning across the border in southern China without her travel documents. Aaron, while waiting for Kellie's return, is attacked in his hotel room. He panics.Helpless, Aaron enlists the aid of Roger, a retired Customs attaché in Hong Kong. Roger questions the nature of the contents of millions of containers leaving Hong Kong and wonders how he can profit from it. Aaron and Roger cobble together a group of people to rescue Kellie from across the border. This small group of government and non-government people engage in questionable tactics to find Kellie.Can the group come together to save Kellie or will their personal ambitions prevail?Timothy Trainer, an attorney, was born in Japan. He worked in multiple federal government agencies and in the private sector. His non-traditional legal career included significant time focused on international trade issues. His work required extensive travel around the world, including numerous trips to China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. His experiences led to him co-authoring a legal treatise for fifteen years, penning the novel, Pendulum Over the Pacific, and authoring a non-fiction book The Fortunate Son: Top, Through the Eyes of Others, about men who served in Vietnam with his father.For more information, visit TimothyTrainer.com
When King Arawn of Rhodareen was betrayed by his youngest son, who claimed his right for the throne, the main ally of the king, the lord of mystical creatures named centenarians, declared war on all human beings. The war started between two kingdoms engulfed almost the entire world and could destroy the very life itself.The main characters of the book are five people with different backgrounds and status who lived during the period of great recession and unrests, when people suffered because of wars, famine, religious and political crisis, witch-hunting, and many other troubles. In different circumstances, their paths converge, making them either friends or enemies. All in all, while fighting for their own survival, these characters are unaware that their actions may have significant influence on the outcome of the war.The main story of the novel occurs in the years of 1644-1645. The major events in it happen on the territory of the Ottomans' Empire, in France, on Crete, and two fictional kingdoms, Rhodareen and Alassoud.Born into a family of writers, Dilobar Ortiqova has a passion for literature from the early ages. Her previous works mostly included poems and short stories. Living in different countries, starting from Central Asia to Japan, Singapore, and USA, they ultimately shaped who she is now and how she perceives the world. Exposure to different cultures' languages, cuisines, and traditions revealed an unique and remarkable style of life for the author. Currently, Dilobar lives in America with her family.
Messages From The Mercy Seat is a collection of meditations born from time in the presence of the Lord, words of encouragement drawn from studying the scriptures, and gleanings from the sermons and sharings in our congregation, Global Truth Ministries. Hopefully it will strengthen your conscious knowledge of the righteousness that Y'hoshua (Jesus) purchased for you on the cross. It is designed to be one additional source of the sort of truth that renews the mind and brings you further into the fullness of your holiness. I hope you not only enjoy them but that they lift up your heart to the Lord.LeRoy Thompson is the Senior Pastor of Global Truth Ministries in Springfield, Virginia. He is a gifted Bible teacher with a passion for revealing the truth of the innocence that Jesus provided to us by his death, burial, and resurrection. He and his wife Rita have served as missionaries in Kenya, Uganda, Mexico, and Haiti. LeRoy is a much sought-after national and international conference speaker, award-winning author, radio, and television personality. At Harvard University, he received a Bachelor's degree in English and American Literature and Language, and a Master's degree in Finance and International Business from Columbia University Graduate School of Business. LeRoy received his Doctor of Divinity from Master's International School of Divinity and his Ph.D. in Biblical Studies from Trinity Theological Seminary. For more information on:Global Truth Ministries Rev. LeRoy Thompson, Ph.D.www.globaltruth.us
In 1999, a terrified three-year-old hides and listens while his neighbors are being murdered. Soon after, the young boy escapes from Chilapa, Mexico with his parents under the wooden bed of an old truck. Arriving illegally in El Paso that night, his father gives Alex three marbles saying that they are very important and that someday he would understand why. That same night, his father disappears.At age five, Alex doesn't yet understand his environment. At age six, his mother dies, and he is left on his own. At age seven, Alex learns how to hide from the older street boys who beat him for sport and at age nine, Alex stops hiding.Julia lives with a group of orphaned kids on the streets of El Paso. She is curious about Alex because he's a loner and acts different than the other kids she knows. Julia is in the basement the day Brian, Randy, and Eric corner the smaller boy and decide to give him a beating. After witnessing what Alex does to the older boys, Julia becomes afraid of him and vows keeps her distance. Now, three years later, Julia again meets up with Alex. Although they have had little interaction over the years, they both realize that some type of bond exists between them, even if they don't understand what it is.This is the story of a Hispanic boy and girl; forgotten children growing up together in a world with no welcome mat. Preyed upon by drug dealers, immigration agents and their own peers, Alex and Julia find a way to survive and finally leave the streets of old El Paso.Jan R. McDonald has over the past thirty years founded and managed several high-tech companies operating in the newspaper publishing industry. He has written dozens of articles for both print and Internet-based publications, and he has traveled extensively in Europe, the Middle East, Asia-Pacific, the U.S. and Mexico. He has written several fiction short stories, a non-fiction short story, and several children's book. He is now retired and lives with his wife in Florida.
Nyles Bagwell, a popular principal, has a humongous secret he is keeping from everybody, including his loving wife, Jenny. He loves her dearly and is afraid of losing her trust. Nyles doesn't want Jenny to find out that he has a gambling problem and a $10,000 debt. Not wanting to withdraw the money from their personal savings account, he decides to "borrow money from the school account until he can pay it back at the end of the school year.COVID-19 shuts down his entire school district much earlier than expected, which catches Nyles off guard. Ms. Reilly, the school accountant, discovers the missing money when closing out the books before Nyles can return the funds. A thorough investigation led by Detective Jackson from the local police department prompts the superintendent of schools to place Nyles on administrative leave. The disgraced principal has to share this bad news with Jenny, who is currently pregnant with their third child.The investigation finds missing money from the rainy day account and three other accounts! Nyles finally admits to taking the missing funds. He opens up to his family about his gambling addiction and asks for help. Unfortunately, he is arrested and is charged with several felony charges, which put him in prison.The change from a family man and caring principal to a prisoner at the state penitentiary may almost be too much for Nyles and his family. One of Nyles's favorite quotes is "Nobody is perfect. That is why pencils have erasers." This experience will show what type of man Nyles is and what he wants to become. God is always by his side. All he has to do is reach out and take His hand to lead the way. Will this traumatic time of his life be the end or the start of a new beginning?
The Neverending Beginning is a book of adventure with deep meaning and wisdom for children and adults. Princess Ala, young and naive, sets out in search of her prince. Expanding over a decade, she discovers her true passion.
A Thanksgiving Tale is the triumphant story of unity in diversity. A small town's successful battle to overcome a factory owner's poisonous pollution, stonewalling, indifference, and legal skirmishes.
A true lover will always find a way to cover themselves with Love. The reason why you should read this book: Open your heart, your emotions to the melody verse of love and what you feel inside of yourself.
Finding the Lost Art of Family Storytelling: A Guide for Parents, Grandparents, and Family Historians is a response to all the challenges for families raising kids in this generation. Experts tell us what to do in order to be the best we can be for our kids. Joe Jekot tells us who to be-ourselves. He is of the belief that storytelling is at the center of all aspects of family life and the formation of personal and communal identity. A good story told in the right way and at the right time can change the direction of a young person's life for the better. This guide empowers family storytellers to weave the tales that will allow young people to grow into purpose-driven and happy adults. Joe teaches a simple four-step process by which a person can take any significant experience of life and transform it into a powerful story. The guide includes more than seventy story prompts and reflection questions that will draw out the hidden tales just waiting to be told.Joe Jekot has a B.A. in Theology and M.Ed. in Community Counseling from the Loyola University of Chicago. He is a certified parent effectiveness trainer and has completed a certificate in narrative healing. He is an active member of the National Storytelling Network, the Northlands Storytelling Network, and Illinois Storytelling Inc.For more information onJoe Jekot's retreats, seminars,and performances, contact himat www.joejekot.com.
Enjoy the adventures of a tiny artist-spider, Michelangela, who discovers romance and herself. Searching for her place on earth, she inspires a prince who copies her intricate designs and becomes world famous.Then delight in the big-hearted heroine, Amore, who is ostracized by her family and townspeople because of her generosity and uniqueness. Follow her to one of the world's greatest cities, where she finds love and appreciation by those who see her as a "swan" rather than as an "ugly duckling." In a witty, alternative ending, a crafty lawyer markets her and enables her to become a world-renowned icon.Dr. Joan Thomson Kretschmer, Artistic Director and founder of the Lyric Chamber Music Society of New York, attended Smith College, graduated from Barnard College, and received her M.A. and Ph.D. in musicology from Columbia University, where she was a Clarence Barker Fellow. A pianist and teacher, she has been a music critic for The New York Post and has written articles about music for The New York Times and other publications. Joan is the author of Yona: Discoveries, Doorways and Musical Superpower.
A Drifter, A Hero, A DreamIn the year of 1882, a small group of individuals shaped part of our nation's history. In the decades that followed, our history books had nothing more than a paragraph detailing these events. Students were left to memorize and immortalize those that had been a canon of truth and righteous. The individuals have long since passed beyond memory, but this tale is what really happened.A drifter with no plan and a great skill with a revolver finds purpose as a hired gun for a mysterious figure. The money is too great to pass up as they travel across the west collecting ransoms, money, and property for the Company. During his travels, he befriends a young woman, and agrees to help her travel to Colorado causing him to question his choices, his humanity, and his life as just another outlaw in the west.Josh Turk is an author who grew up in a northwest suburb of Chicago. He developed a passion for writing and reading of literature during his teenage years after reading John Grisham novels and Ernest Hemingway. Studying economics and finance in college, he began writing short stories during law school as a way to entertain himself and others from the routine of school. It was here where he began writing his first novel and finished it over the course of four years.
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