Slave Narratives Volume IV Georgia Narratives Part 1
Slave Narratives, Volume IV: Georgia Narratives, Part 1 is a foundational installment of the WPA Federal Writers' Project, preserving the firsthand voices of formerly enslaved men and women from Georgia. Recorded in the 1930s, these narratives provide intimate accounts of daily life under slavery, revealing stories of hardship, resilience, faith, family separation, and the struggle for freedom.Part 1 introduces readers to the lived experiences of enslaved individuals across Georgia's plantations and rural communities, capturing regional customs, dialects, and traditions that shaped African American life. These testimonies offer a vivid portrayal of labor, punishment, resistance, and cultural survival, providing insight into the social and historical realities of the South.This volume is an essential resource for scholars, educators, students, and readers seeking authentic primary-source accounts of slavery, the African American experience, and the enduring legacy of resilience and cultural identity in Georgia.
Slave Narratives Volume XIV South Carolina Narratives Part 4
Slave Narratives, Volume XIV: South Carolina Narratives, Part 4 presents another compelling set of firsthand interviews collected by the Federal Writers' Project during the 1930s. This volume preserves the words of formerly enslaved men and women from South Carolina who share their memories of bondage, plantation life, family ties, labor, punishment, spirituality, resilience, and the long path toward freedom.These accounts reveal the deeply personal experiences of individuals who lived under the brutal institution of slavery, offering invaluable insights into the social, cultural, and emotional realities of the era. Alongside detailed recollections of daily routines and treatment by enslavers, the narratives highlight traditions, folktales, songs, and community bonds that helped sustain enslaved people through oppression.Part 4 continues the rich documentation of South Carolina's historical landscape, providing readers, historians, and scholars with rare access to voices often silenced in written history. As a vital primary source, this volume contributes to a deeper understanding of America's past and the enduring legacy of slavery on African American identity and culture.
A Girl Beyond Closed Doors
After 12 years of being trapped in the world of one room by the M.E. Monster, Jessica's dreams start to come true. She's pregnant! But Jessica has to adjust to being a disabled mum in an inaccessible world and face the critics who doubt her abilities. And when the pandemic hits just as they relocate to a new county, isolation takes on a new form, as they learn to adjust to being a family of three in one flat limited by government-enforced restrictions and fear of contracting Covid. Balancing parenthood and chronic illness, expectations versus reality, Jessica discovers alternative fairytale endings are possible... a life beyond closed doors.
A Girl Behind Dark Glasses
Jessica Taylor-Bearman shares her inner-most thoughts and real-time emotions - adapted from her diary growing up as a teenager in South- East England - detailing the terrifying discovery that, aged 15, instead of partying, studying and socialising, she would rapidly become bed- ridden, ultimately unable to move, speak, eat... Despite the odds, Jessica never gave up. Her dream was to become an author, to be able to marry, leave the hospital, and help others through the creation of her own charity. In July 2018, her first book, A Girl Behind Dark Glasses, will be published by Hashtag Press. Jessica has been a Pride of Britain nominee, her charity Share A Star touches lives every day, and she is the star of the Oscar-shortlisted, Sundance award-winning film UNREST by Jennifer Brea, a journalist and filmmaker from New York, who aims to raise awareness about Myalgic Encephalomyletis (M.E.).
The Paper Champ
In the world of professional wrestling, a "paper champ" is someone who holds the title without earning the glory. A placeholder. A disappointment.For one man, that metaphor came to define a life marked by hidden pain, addictive behavior, and spiritual disconnection-until everything broke, and grace came rushing in.The Paper Champ is a raw and redemptive memoir written by an anonymous Christian man-a husband, father, and believer-whose life was wrecked by unaddressed trauma and secret addiction. With vulnerability and courage, the author walks readers through his story: A childhood marked by abandonment and lossSexual trauma that seeded a silent battle with shameA faith community that preached performance over healingThe rise of a pornography addiction masked by spiritual languageThe devastation of betrayal and relational collapseAnd the long, painful road of therapy, accountability, and spiritual restorationTold through emotionally honest narrative and reflection, The Paper Champ invites readers into the real work of transformation-not quick fixes, but deep surrender.With each chapter anchored by a full-color image, this memoir speaks to the heart of any man who has battled secrecy, any family who has endured brokenness, and any person who has questioned whether grace can reach that far down.This is not a story of perfection.It is a story of ownership, healing, and the relentless pursuit of a God who rewrites broken stories.Whether you're struggling personally or walking alongside someone who is, The Paper Champ offers truth, hope, and the powerful reminder: You are not alone. Your story isn't over.
By Way of Buenos Aires
Gwen is in Argentina for the summer when she meets Mauro, and soon they're spending all of their time together-hanging at the antique shop, going to the club, complaining about their relationships. Her senior year of college is looming on the horizon. It's not romantic, exactly, but it isn't not romantic. Hard to say, for both of them, what it is. "Surely," Niekamp writes, "in the 271,476 words that make up our two languages, there is something that fits us, but if there is, I don't know it." A memoir about friendship, men and women, Spanish grammar, and being in your early 20s.
I Will Survive
I Will Survive is a powerful memoir chronicling a young man's extraordinary journeyfrom a small village in Uttar Pradesh to a life-changing cancer diagnosis. Born into afamily that viewed daughters as burdens and sons with quiet acceptance, theauthor's early years were filled with his mother's unconditional love-until her suddendeath from a snakebite in 2008 shattered his world. Forced to adapt to a new life in a CRPF camp and a new stepmother, he found refuge in education, eventually risingto become Head Boy and later a student at Aligarh Muslim University, chasing hisdream of becoming an IAS officer. Just as life seemed to take shape, a cancerdiagnosis-Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma-struck during Ramadhan in 2024. More than astory about illness, I Will Survive is a deeply personal reflection on resilience, grief, and the unbreakable spirit of a boy who has been surviving long before cancer cameinto his life.More than a story about illness, I Will Survive is a deeply personal reflection onresilience, grief, and the unbreakable spirit of a boy who has been surviving longbefore cancer came into his life.
Slave Narratives Volume XV Tennessee Narratives
Slave Narratives - Volume XV: Tennessee Narratives presents a remarkable collection of firsthand accounts gathered by the Federal Writers' Project under the Work Projects Administration during the 1930s. This volume preserves the voices of formerly enslaved men and women who lived in Tennessee, offering deeply personal testimonies of bondage, survival, family, community, and the pursuit of freedom.The experiences recorded here capture the unique dynamics of slavery in Tennessee-a state shaped by both plantation agriculture in the west and smaller farms and mountainous regions in the east. These interviews reveal stories of labor on cotton plantations, memories of Civil War upheaval, encounters with Union and Confederate forces, and the profound transformations brought by emancipation.Rich with dialect, emotion, and historical detail, these narratives form a vital primary source for understanding the lived realities of slavery and its long-lasting effects. They serve as an essential resource for historians, students, educators, and anyone seeking an authentic and human perspective on America's past and the enduring strength of African American communities.
Slave Narratives Volume XII Ohio Narratives
Slave Narratives - Volume XII: Ohio Narratives is part of the landmark Federal Writers' Project collection created by the Work Projects Administration in the 1930s. This volume collects interviews and personal testimonies from formerly enslaved individuals who later lived in or migrated through Ohio, presenting firsthand accounts of life under slavery, emancipation, and the resilience required to build new lives in freedom.Although Ohio was a free state, it played a significant role in the broader story of American slavery-serving as a key region for abolitionist activity, the Underground Railroad, and post-emancipation migration. The narratives in this volume reflect that complex history. Through vivid memories, dialect storytelling, and raw reflections, these interviews reveal the trauma of enslavement, the courage of escape, and the struggles and triumphs of early Black settlement in the Midwest.Meticulously preserved, these primary-source records remain indispensable for historians, educators, researchers, and anyone seeking to understand the personal dimensions of America's past. This volume offers an irreplaceable human perspective on the lived experience of slavery and the long journey toward freedom.
Becoming the Woman I Needed
Becoming the Woman I Needed is a deeply personal memoir about resilience, healing, and the courage it takes to step into the woman you were always meant to be. Jennifer R. Sigman shares her journey from a childhood shaped by silence and survival to a life rooted in strength, self-leadership, and purpose.Through honest reflection and vivid storytelling, Sigman explores how early experiences shape identity, how unspoken wounds influence the way we move through the world, and what it means to choose growth over fear. This is not a story of having everything figured out, but of learning-one step at a time-how to reclaim your voice and redefine your future.Part memoir, part message, Becoming the Woman I Needed speaks to women who have spent years being dependable for others while quietly carrying their own questions about worth, belonging, and identity. With compassion and clarity, Jennifer reminds readers that healing is not linear, strength does not require silence, and becoming whole is a lifelong process.This book is for the woman who has survived more than she admits, questioned her place in the world, or wondered if it's too late to become who she was meant to be. Becoming the Woman I Needed offers hope, reflection, and reassurance that the past does not define us-it prepares us for what comes next.
My American Flight to Egypt
My American Flight to Egypt by Thilo Young is a real and engaging story about a couple's pursuit of God. Maintaining their roots at the forefront of consideration, they recount how God has revealed Himself in their lives and took them by the hand to lead them into the Orthodox faith of Egypt. They colorfully illustrate their experiences and the ramifications of their conversion while suggesting a fair and critical analysis of themselves and their churches. In preaching after Eutropius had been taken captive, St. John Chrysostom taught, "When thou takest refuge in a Church, do not seek shelter merely in the place but in the spirit of the place. For the Church is not wall and roof but faith and life." The Coptic Orthodox Church is beautiful, filled with all the fullness of God. She is a mother and a harbor for those who sorrow or are in distress. She guards the deposit of faith, and through the work of the Holy Spirit, she passes it on to her children throughout the generations. The Church has spirit, faith, and life, and Thilo and Anastasia were able to discover it.
The Man Her Love Built
She built a man without a blueprint, only love. When a boy grows up without a father, love becomes both his teacher and his test. In this unforgettable true story, Noah Kairos traces the laughter, lessons, and quiet strength of the single mother who raised him alone, but never without grace. The Man Her Love Built is a cinematic and deeply human memoir of absence turned into wholeness. With lyrical prose and unflinching honesty, Kairos explores what it means to become a man shaped not by force, but by tenderness; not by example, but by sacrifice. Each chapter illuminates the invisible architecture love builds, foundations poured in silence, walls raised in resilience, and a heart strengthened by a mother's unwavering devotion. For anyone who has ever carried the ache of what was missing, or the miracle of what remained, this memoir offers comfort, clarity, and a path toward becoming whole. If you've ever been loved into strength by a mother, a father, or anyone who stood in the gap, this story will feel like home.
Blood Moon's Media Buzz
Over a span of 30 years, writers from Blood Moon Productions amplified monthly editions of South Florida's Senior Life & Boomer Times with overviews of what was new and pertinent in Show Biz, Politics, and the Arts. Here's an amplified and illustrated anthology of the best of them, a nostalgic overview of The Way We Were.
On The Positive Side
"I wrote this book with the hopes that it will reach at least one person in need of hope, and that this book would give them just that."I prefer to look at the positive side of things. Because looking at the negative side gets depressing after a while. It is hard to believe that over 60 plus years have gone by since I was born, and that so much has happened in one lifetime.I believe that you can overcome any obstacle as long as you know of its existence, and know what you want, or don't want. That you can either decide to become the person you were always meant to be, by designing your life as best as possible.
The Momma Puzzle
In February 1968, Hilary Plattner's mother died by suicide. It was the height of the Vietnam war and Hilary was six years old. Years later, in an attempt to understand the mystery of her mother's death, she studies the items her mother left behind: photographs and a file of papers from the 1950s when Momma worked as a Foreign Service secretary in Saigon. Hilary pores over letters written to her future father, her grandmother, and to her mother's best friend.She dreams of burning the pile of documents in a bonfire, and simply being done with it all. But she continues her investigation and eventually discovers an important piece of the puzzle: her mother's medical records from a psychiatric hospital. Ultimately, she forms an image of who Momma was-and finds a way to release herself from the hold of her family history.
A Cry From the Silent
A Cry from the Silent explores race relations in the United States through the eyes of the author, who was raised in the segregated and Jim Crow South. Edra Jones Chandler lived on the south side of town in Fort Worth, Texas, known as Cow Town, due to its cattle drive. The nineteenth of June was always a grand celebration in Fort Worth for Negroes because that was the only day they could go to the major city park. Juneteenth, a Black holiday, was the day Texas learned slavery had ended. She thought her life was normal until she was old enough to understand what the rules meant - the ones that applied to staying in your place as a Negro and in separate hospital rooms, movies, and public parks. Later, the author would go to Pennsylvania and New Jersey for school, earning a master's degree in special education from Trenton State College (now The College of New Jersey) and studying at majority white institutions for the first time. Join Edra on her journey from a childhood marked by lawful segregation and discrimination to an adult life where the laws have changed, but racial tensions persist.
The Momma Puzzle
In February 1968, Hilary Plattner's mother died by suicide. It was the height of the Vietnam war and Hilary was six years old. Years later, in an attempt to understand the mystery of her mother's death, she studies the items her mother left behind: photographs and a file of papers from the 1950s when Momma worked as a Foreign Service secretary in Saigon. Hilary pores over letters written to her future father, her grandmother, and to her mother's best friend.She dreams of burning the pile of documents in a bonfire, and simply being done with it all. But she continues her investigation and eventually discovers an important piece of the puzzle: her mother's medical records from a psychiatric hospital. Ultimately, she forms an image of who Momma was-and finds a way to release herself from the hold of her family history.
A Cry From the Silent
A Cry from the Silent explores race relations in the United States through the eyes of the author, who was raised in the segregated and Jim Crow South. Edra Jones Chandler lived on the south side of town in Fort Worth, Texas, known as Cow Town, due to its cattle drive. The nineteenth of June was always a grand celebration in Fort Worth for Negroes because that was the only day they could go to the major city park. Juneteenth, a Black holiday, was the day Texas learned slavery had ended. She thought her life was normal until she was old enough to understand what the rules meant - the ones that applied to staying in your place as a Negro and in separate hospital rooms, movies, and public parks. Later, the author would go to Pennsylvania and New Jersey for school, earning a master's degree in special education from Trenton State College (now The College of New Jersey) and studying at majority white institutions for the first time. Join Edra on her journey from a childhood marked by lawful segregation and discrimination to an adult life where the laws have changed, but racial tensions persist.
He's Alive!
A true story about a young man from a small Montenegrin village who crossed the ocean in search of freedom, carrying only his mother's blessing and a vow to guard honor above all. In America, he found a new homeland and became James I. Mestrovitch - a man who loved his adopted country as deeply as the one in which he was born.When the Great War erupted, he was among the first to march to Europe under the American flag. On the blood-soaked fields of France, he became a symbol of courage and brotherhood. Soldiers, officers, even entire regiments spoke of his deeds, turning his bravery into stories and battlefield performances that boosted morale.Wounded and unable to lift a rifle, he fought on with the only weapon he could still raise - a pistol. For his extraordinary valor, the United States Congress posthumously awarded him the Medal of Honor, placing him among the nation's immortal heroes and forever inscribing his name in American history.This is the story of a man who was declared dead three times during WWI - and each time returned, defying death and becoming a legend of courage, loyalty, and unbreakable spirit.He's Alive! - a documentary novel that brings an American hero back among the living.
A Journey Shared
From the crowded streets of post-war Annandale to the steaming jungles of Malaya, A Journey Shared: Mateship, Malaya and Me follows John Meldrum's transformation from a restless Sydney teenager into a disciplined young soldier. Raised in a working-class family shadowed by hardship and a heavy-drinking father, John sought freedom and purpose in the Australian Army. What began as an escape from the confines of home became a coming-of-age adventure - from gruelling training at Kapooka and Ingleburn to the camaraderie and chaos of service abroad with 2RAR. Immersed in the heat, culture and danger of 1960s Malaya, he learned the true meaning of mateship, courage, and resilience - not against an enemy, but against fear, fatigue and self-doubt. Told with warmth, humour and honesty, this memoir captures an era when duty called ordinary young Australians to distant lands, forging bonds that would last a lifetime. Meldrum's reflections on friendship, loss, and the quiet triumphs of post-service life reveal a man who never lost sight of the lessons learned under khaki - self-reliance, teamwork and the importance of giving back. A heartfelt tribute to the forgotten Malaya veterans and the enduring Australian spirit, A Journey Shared is both a soldier's tale and a story of becoming one's own man.
Ashes and Dawn
Some people spend their whole lives searching for a place to call home. Bryn Williams discovered that home isn't a place at all.From the coal mines of Wales to the deserts of Egypt, Bryn carried a quiet need to belong somewhere to someone. He witnessed the cruelty of empire and the darkness people inflict on each other, yet he refused to let that darkness take root in him. Even as a young soldier, he chose integrity over convenience, kindness over indifference, believing somehow that acting with decency mattered even when the world around him didn't.Pursuing a life of service as a Health Inspector in Hong Kong, he finally found what he'd been searching for. Alicia wasn't just beautiful. She was fierce, determined, and strong in ways that complemented his gentleness. She saw him, and together they built something Bryn had never known before: a family, a purpose, a life worth fighting for.Then the Japanese invaded in December 1941. Imprisoned in Stanley Camp with thousands of others, Bryn, Alicia, and their two children faced nearly four years of starvation, disease, and brutality. When Alicia gave birth to their son while desperately ill with diphtheria, and with Bryn at her side, she refused to let herself and her newborn son die, even though survival defied every probability. Based on a true story, Ashes and Dawn is about the triumph of the human spirit, love overcoming despair, resilience overcoming defeat, and family triumphing over everything that tries to tear it apart. It speaks to something unbreakable in us, that stubborn ember that refuses to go dark even when darkness is all we can see. It's a story of a journey to find meaning and purpose in life, fueled by courage and hope that a new dawn can rise from the ashes.
Wormwood Star
In the first-ever biography written about her, Wormwood Star traces the extraordinary life of the enigmatic artist Marjorie Cameron, one of the most fascinating figures to emerge from the American underground art world and film scene. Born in Belle Plaine, Iowa, in 1922, Cameron's uniqueness and talent as a natural-born artist were evident to many of those around her early on in life. During World War II, she served in the WAVES (Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service) and worked in Washington, D.C. as an aide to the Joint Chiefs of Staff and at the Naval Research Laboratory. But it was after the war that her life really took off when she met her first husband, Jack Parsons. By day, Parsons was a brilliant rocket scientist. By night, he was Master of the Agape Lodge, a fraternal magickal order whose head was the most famous magus of the 20th century... Aleister Crowley. Gradually, through the course of their marriage, Parsons initiated Cameron into the occult sciences, and the biography offers a fresh perspective on her role in the infamous Babalon Working Enochian rituals Parsons conducted with the future founder of Scientology, L Ron Hubbard. Following Parsons' death in 1952 from a chemical explosion, Cameron inherited her husband's magickal mantle and embarked on a lifelong spiritual quest, a journey reflected in the otherworldly images she depicted, many drawn from the Elemental Kingdom and astral plane. Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, Cameron became a celebrated personality in California's underground art world and film scene. In 1954, she starred in Kenneth Anger's visual masterwork Inauguration of the Pleasure Dome, stealing the show from her co-star Anais Nin. The director Curtis Harrington was so taken with Cameron he made a film study dedicated to her artwork entitled The Wormwood Star. He then brought her powerful and mysterious presence to bear on his evocative noir thriller Night Tide, casting her alongside a young Dennis Hopper. Cameron was an inspirational figure to the many artists and poets who congregated around Wallace Berman's Semina scene and, in 1957, the authorities shut down a group show held at the Ferus Gallery due to the sexually charged nature of one of her drawings. Undaunted, she continued to carve a unique and brilliant path, although wider recognition only came in the latter part of her life. A retrospective of Cameron's work, The Pearl of Reprisal, was held at L.A.'s Barnsdall Art Park in 1989, and following her death, some of her most admired pieces were featured in the Reflections of a New Aeon Exhibition at the Eleven Seven Gallery in Long Beach, California. Cameron's famous Peyote Vision line drawing made its way into the Beat Culture and the New America retrospective held at the Whitney Museum in 1995; and, in 2006, selections of her work were included in the touring Semina Culture: Wallace Berman & His Circle show. The following year a survey dedicated exclusively to her own work was held at the Nicole Klagsbrun Gallery in New York. With so much of her life and artistry shrouded in mystery, Wormwood Star sheds new light on this most remarkable artist and elusive occult icon
Leap!
"Leap! From Faith to Empowerment" was born of the conviction that every human being has the power within them to activate the honored, often unrealized, creative part of themselves that not only increases the awareness of their unique capacities, but also contributes to the human condition. It is hoped that the essays in this book will provide you with more insight about the important events that have occurred and will occur in your lifetime, aiding you towards expanded empowerment and joy.
Rivers of Passage
Ben was just like any other directionless adolescent - impatient to be independent, pass his driving test, find a girlfriend, and enough work to fund his newfound passion for trout fishing. Except his love of the outdoors took him to more places than just a series of creeks and streams around the New England region of Australia's New South Wales. Rites of passage have been an ancient tradition since the beginning of time, yet for the most part seem to have been lost to time and change. Do they even still exist in modern society? Perhaps so, though not in the ways we might imagine...Set in the wild, rugged and pristine trout streams of Australia's northernmost range, Rivers of Passage is a fly fishing memoir that reflects on the author's unknowing rite of passage from leaving high school through to being a father leading his family through life. Deeply personal, yet intrinsically relatable for fathers and trout fisherman alike.
Lily of Libya
Adventure often ignites fear, but it's that risk you take that spreads your wingspan wider. This true story takes place in the North African oilfields of Libya where Laureen, a young Canadian woman, lived as an expatriate from 1990 to 1993. There, she learned to appreciate the tranquil Mediterranean and adapt to the serene lifestyle of the Sahara Desert Arab, Muslim and Bedouin cultures.However, whispering in the calm desert winds, was controversy between the Arab nations and the U.S. Western allies. Also, a civil uprising was brewing in Libya, where the country's leader Colonel Muammar Al-Gaddafi, who was originally admired by his followers, had developed opposition against him.The Gulf War broke out causing turmoil throughout most Arab nations and Libya had earned a spotlight on the world stage with accusations of terrorist activity. In April 1992, sanctions applied against Libya by the United Nations affected the oil business, travel options and expatriates' lives. Laureen's peaceful introduction to the country had been disturbed and negative incidents planted a seed of unease that perhaps her newfound life would not be as wonderful as originally imagined.The isolation and female suppression became a struggle and although the cultural, racial, and gender differences sometimes resulted in comical incidents, more often they led to danger - such as black market activities, sexual assault, dramatic escape attempts and being interrogated at gunpoint. But by experiencing fear and prejudice, this young, na簿ve woman evolved into a strong, resilient survivor who gained worldly knowledge and was given an incredible story to tell.
He's Alive!
A true story about a young man from a small Montenegrin village who crossed the ocean in search of freedom, carrying only his mother's blessing and a vow to guard honor above all. In America, he found a new homeland and became James I. Mestrovitch - a man who loved his adopted country as deeply as the one in which he was born.When the Great War erupted, he was among the first to march to Europe under the American flag. On the blood-soaked fields of France, he became a symbol of courage and brotherhood. Soldiers, officers, even entire regiments spoke of his deeds, turning his bravery into stories and battlefield performances that boosted morale.Wounded and unable to lift a rifle, he fought on with the only weapon he could still raise - a pistol. For his extraordinary valor, the United States Congress posthumously awarded him the Medal of Honor, placing him among the nation's immortal heroes and forever inscribing his name in American history.This is the story of a man who was declared dead three times during WWI - and each time returned, defying death and becoming a legend of courage, loyalty, and unbreakable spirit.He's Alive! - a documentary novel that brings an American hero back among the living.
Lily of Libya
Adventure often ignites fear, but it's that risk you take that spreads your wingspan wider. This true story takes place in the North African oilfields of Libya where Laureen, a young Canadian woman, lived as an expatriate from 1990 to 1993. There, she learned to appreciate the tranquil Mediterranean and adapt to the serene lifestyle of the Sahara Desert Arab, Muslim and Bedouin cultures.However, whispering in the calm desert winds, was controversy between the Arab nations and the U.S. Western allies. Also, a civil uprising was brewing in Libya, where the country's leader Colonel Muammar Al-Gaddafi, who was originally admired by his followers, had developed opposition against him.The Gulf War broke out causing turmoil throughout most Arab nations and Libya had earned a spotlight on the world stage with accusations of terrorist activity. In April 1992, sanctions applied against Libya by the United Nations affected the oil business, travel options and expatriates' lives. Laureen's peaceful introduction to the country had been disturbed and negative incidents planted a seed of unease that perhaps her newfound life would not be as wonderful as originally imagined.The isolation and female suppression became a struggle and although the cultural, racial, and gender differences sometimes resulted in comical incidents, more often they led to danger - such as black market activities, sexual assault, dramatic escape attempts and being interrogated at gunpoint. But by experiencing fear and prejudice, this young, na簿ve woman evolved into a strong, resilient survivor who gained worldly knowledge and was given an incredible story to tell.
Foundations of Success
In today's fast-paced world, it's easy to get lost in the noise, to lose sight of what really matters, and to forget why you started in the first place. But there's one thing I've learned: clarity of purpose is the compass that guides you through the storm, and resilience is the strength that gets you back on your feet when the winds of life knock you down. When I first started researching Donald Trump, I didn't expect to find a story of perseverance, clarity, and unwavering purpose. I knew of his wealth and fame, of course, but what struck me most was his ability to stay focused on his goals despite the controversies, failures, and setbacks that seemed to follow him at every turn. It's that focus, that clarity of purpose, that has propelled him to incredible heights - and it's exactly why people love him. But this book is not just about Trump. It's about you. It's about discovering your own purpose, learning how to stay resilient in the face of adversity, and understanding how to stay laser-focused on your goals no matter the distractions. As you journey through the pages, you'll discover not just the strategies that have helped Trump build an empire, but the timeless principles that anyone - no matter their background - can use to build their own. What you'll find here are more than just stories of triumph. You'll discover practical, actionable lessons on how to develop the mindset and habits that lead to lasting success. These are the same principles that have helped some of the world's most successful figures not just survive, but thrive, against all odds. Whether you're an entrepreneur, a student, or simply someone looking to live a more purposeful life, this book will give you the tools and insights you need to create your own path to success. This is your invitation to stop letting life's challenges define you and start defining your own life. If you're ready to build the foundations for your own success story, get a copy.
Tales of Spirit Rising and Sometimes Falling
A modern prophet looks back on seven decades of activism.Ask an expert who are the 5 most influential American Jewish leaders of the last century and Rabbi Arthur Waskow will make most of the lists. The author of the original Freedom Seder and legendary social justice activist is now in his 90s, and has recorded significant memories, relationships, and events of the last seventy years. Beginning with an anecdote about Gloria Steinem and the Democratic National Convention in Chicago in 1968, Waskow plunges the reader into the counter-culture that has defined his life and work."But in the summer of 1968, I didn't have the language of Spirit," Waskow writes, and this becomes a chronicle of blending active resistance to tyranny with a gradual discovery of what Waskow calls very simply "Love." Thus comes the title of this memoir, as these are personal accounts and encounters of Spirit rising-in an extraordinary life.
Studs and Spikes
Denis Cussen was perhaps Ireland's greatest ever athlete. Born in Newcastle West, County Limerick in 1901, Cussen was educated at Blackrock College where he captained the school's rugby team to three Leinster Schools Senior Cups. He went on to study medicine at Trinity and with their rugby team he won two Leinster Senior Cups and the Bateman Cup. He was capped by Leinster and Ireland on fifteen occasions, winning the five nations championship on two occasions. In 1923, Cussen was selected to play for a combined Ireland and Scotland team in the historic Rugby Centenary game. Having moved to work in London, Cussen played rugby with Blackheath with whom he played in the first ever rugby 7s game at Twickenham. He also played with St Mary's Hospital and the Middlesex County team.Cussen's athletic capability was not limited to the rugby field. He was a champion boxer and in field athletics he was a particular stand-out. He was the Irish 100 yards sprint champion on four occasions, the 220 yards sprint champion, the long jump champion, the discus champion and the shot-put champion. Cussen became the first Irishman to break ten seconds for the 100 yards and held the national record at 9.8 seconds from 1928 until 1968. He competed for Ireland at the 1928 Olympic Games in Amsterdam and also at the Tailteann Games in 1924 and 1928.A medical doctor by profession, Cussen went on to become a pioneer in sports medicine and was a founding member of the British Association of Sports Medicine and the British Institute of Sports Medicine. He was the Chief Medical Officer for the British Olympic Teams in Melbourne (1956) and in Rome (1960).This book was written from scrapbooks and notes kept by Cussen's mother. It contains an astounding collection of insights uncovered a century after Cussen was Ireland's fastest man.
My COVID-19 Diary
**My COVID-19 Diary** is a powerful narrative that embodies hope and the unwavering companionship of faith. At the heart of this memoir is Dr. Wee's fearless exploration of how the novel virus impacted her daily life and pediatric practice. She skillfully combines her healthcare expertise with personal experiences filled with loss, resilience, and the guiding presence of faith.As the world grappled with fear, panic, and uncertainty, Dr. Wee turned to her daily blog for solace and inspiration. Through her words, she became a beacon of hope to many, offering encouragement when it was needed most.However, her memoir is more than just an account of the challenges she faced during the pandemic. It evolves into an invaluable guide, providing essential advice on maintaining physical health and overall well-being. Dr. Wee delves into managing stress and nurturing mental health, equipping readers with practical strategies to emerge stronger and more resilient.Her motivational prowess shines brightly as she imparts wisdom on resilience and determination. Her message is clear: while adversity may knock a person down, they should never surrender. She bravely addresses the sensitive topic of death and dying, sharing her journey of grief following the sudden and unexpected passing of her husband of 30 years and business partner, Dr. Stephen L. Wee.In **My COVID-19 Diary**, Dr. Wee demonstrates ways to keep moving forward, persevere, and even thrive with God by your side. Readers will embark on a transformative journey, exploring numerous compelling topics that resonate with the essence of the shared human experience. This memoir is an inspiring tale of hope, resilience, and the enduring power of faith in the face of adversity.
Political Girl
From a member of the Pussy Riot collective: An urgent, intimate, firsthand account of grassroots dissent, bravery, art, and spectacle in Putin's Russia Picking up where Riot Days left off, Maria (Masha) Alyokhina takes us through her activist experiences between 2014 to 2022. In vivid, diary-like vignettes, we follow her as she goes in and out of Russian prisons, continually dodges police violence, protests at the Sochi Olympics, flies to Kyiv to stand in solidarity with Ukraine, defends the high-level dissident Alexi Navalny, drops banners at Trump Tower, and--in 2022--flees from Russia in disguise to escape a new prison sentence. Spanning settings from Moscow to London to New York to Harvard, Political Girl has an artistic sensibility, a punk ethos, a deep moral clarity, and an inimitably dry Russian wit. It portrays not only Masha's political activities but also her personal arc: the friends she makes in prison, the woman she falls in love with, her bond with her young son Filip, and her deep passion for art and history. As Trump attempts to bring Putin-style authoritarianism to the U.S., Masha's message to Americans is one of solidarity and hope.
Much to Learn, Much to Give
Born in 1871, married in 1896, Ellen Lawrence was a skilled needleworker and craftswoman. She ultimately turned her facility with handicrafts into a means of financial support. She entered the United States Indian Service in 1915 as a teacher of lace-making to Native Americans in southern California and learned Pueblo embroidery and weaving in New Mexico while living and working among the Native people at Jemez. During the early to mid-1930s, a period of heightened interest in Native designs and techniques, she taught traditional Indian crafts at the Albuquerque Indian School. Despite her position in the flawed federal Indian school system, hers is a story of evolution toward cultural appreciation and preservation. Ellen Lawrence's work had a profound effect on her students at the Pueblos. Among them was award-winning Jemez Pueblo artist Lucy Yepa Lowden, one of Lawrence's students and later her assistant and then her successor at the Albuquerque Indian School. Lowden memorialized Lawrence in a poem which appears on a display wall inside the heritage center at the Jemez Historic Site that includes the lines, "You are also great people / with much to learn, / much to give."
Much to Learn, Much to Give
Born in 1871, married in 1896, Ellen Lawrence was a skilled needleworker and craftswoman. She ultimately turned her facility with handicrafts into a means of financial support. She entered the United States Indian Service in 1915 as a teacher of lace-making to Native Americans in southern California and learned Pueblo embroidery and weaving in New Mexico while living and working among the Native people at Jemez. During the early to mid-1930s, a period of heightened interest in Native designs and techniques, she taught traditional Indian crafts at the Albuquerque Indian School. Despite her position in the flawed federal Indian school system, hers is a story of evolution toward cultural appreciation and preservation. Ellen Lawrence's work had a profound effect on her students at the Pueblos. Among them was award-winning Jemez Pueblo artist Lucy Yepa Lowden, one of Lawrence's students and later her assistant and then her successor at the Albuquerque Indian School. Lowden memorialized Lawrence in a poem which appears on a display wall inside the heritage center at the Jemez Historic Site that includes the lines, "You are also great people / with much to learn, / much to give."
Slave Narratives Volume II Arkansas Narratives Part 6
Slave Narratives - Volume II: Arkansas Narratives, Part 6 is part of the historic WPA Federal Writers' Project collection, preserving firsthand interviews with formerly enslaved individuals living in Arkansas during the 1930s. These narratives capture the memories, emotions, and life stories of men and women who experienced slavery and lived through the transformations of the Civil War, Emancipation, and Reconstruction.Part 6 continues the Arkansas series with an additional group of powerful testimonies that shed light on plantation life, labor conditions, family structures, resistance, cultural traditions, and the harsh realities of bondage. Many interviews include vivid dialect and deeply personal reflections, making them invaluable for understanding the human dimensions of slavery.This volume provides a crucial primary source for historians, educators, students, genealogists, and readers seeking an authentic record of African American history in Arkansas. It stands as a testament to the resilience, courage, and enduring strength of those whose voices continue to shape our understanding of America's past.
Slave Narratives Volume IV Georgia Narratives Part 2
lave Narratives, Volume IV: Georgia Narratives, Part 2 continues the powerful collection of firsthand testimonies recorded during the 1930s as part of the Federal Writers' Project. This volume preserves the voices of formerly enslaved men and women who lived in Georgia, capturing their memories of life under slavery, the hardships they endured, and the moments of strength that carried them through one of the darkest chapters in American history.These interviews recount personal experiences with plantation life, family separations, labor, punishment, faith, community bonds, emancipation, and the long struggle for dignity. The narratives also offer insight into regional customs, folklore, and the daily realities of enslaved people across Georgia's plantations and rural settlements.Intimate, emotional, and historically invaluable, this volume provides an essential contribution to America's collective memory. It remains a vital resource for scholars, students, and readers seeking to understand the lived experiences behind the institution of slavery and the enduring legacy it left on generations of African Americans.
Slave Narratives Volume XIV South Carolina Narratives Part 1
Slave Narratives, Volume XIV: South Carolina Narratives, Part 1 presents a powerful collection of firsthand accounts recorded by the Federal Writers' Project in the 1930s. Compiled from interviews with formerly enslaved men and women, this volume documents the lived realities of slavery in South Carolina-one of the most historically significant states in the institution's development.The narratives reveal intimate memories of plantation life, labor, family bonds, punishments, traditions, faith, and the struggle for freedom. Through the voices of survivors, readers gain an unfiltered look at the brutality of slavery and the remarkable resilience of those who endured it. This volume stands as an essential resource for understanding African American history, the legacy of slavery, and the enduring strength of cultural memory.
Slave Narratives Volume IV Georgia Narratives Part 3
Slave Narratives, Volume IV: Georgia Narratives, Part 3 continues the extraordinary archival work of the WPA Federal Writers' Project, offering firsthand accounts from formerly enslaved people who lived in Georgia prior to the Civil War. These interviews-preserved with their original speech patterns and cultural expressions-provide a vivid, unfiltered window into the daily realities of slavery in the state.Part 3 features a new group of compelling testimonies detailing plantation life, family separation, foodways, spiritual traditions, resistance, and the hardships and hopes carried by enslaved communities. The narratives also describe the profound impact of the Civil War, the arrival of freedom, and the shifting social landscape of Reconstruction-era Georgia.As one of the most significant collections of African American oral history, this volume offers invaluable insights for historians, educators, students, and readers seeking a deeper understanding of Georgia's past and the lived experiences of the people who endured and survived slavery.
Slave Narratives Volume XI North Carolina Narratives Part 2
Slave Narratives, Volume XI: North Carolina Narratives, Part 2 continues the Federal Writers' Project's invaluable preservation of firsthand testimony from formerly enslaved individuals. Compiled during the 1930s, this volume gathers personal recollections from men and women who lived through the era of slavery in North Carolina, offering rare insights into daily life under bondage.These narratives illuminate experiences of family separation, plantation labor, resistance, and the pursuit of freedom. They also capture regional customs, spiritual traditions, and the complex relationships between enslaved people and enslavers. Rich in detail and emotion, this collection serves as a vital historical document, preserving the voices of those too often silenced in traditional histories.Essential for researchers, students, and readers seeking a deeper understanding of American slavery, this volume contributes significantly to the cultural memory of the African American experience.
Fearful in Gaza
What if the place you called home could disappear overnight, and the world simply looked away?In Fearful in Gaza, Abdalhadi Alijla answers that question not with abstractions or ideology, but with the intimate, luminous prose of memory. Born into a family of ten in a Gaza neighborhood where concrete crumbles under airstrikes and childhood dreams blur with nightmares, Alijla tells the story of a life shaped by war, lifted by love, and driven by a hunger to survive and to speak.Told through intertwined voices, his own and those of his mother and sisters, Fearful in Gaza offers a vivid portrait of a family enduring the unendurable. We meet a mother who defies tradition to educate her daughters, who fights daily for dignity in the face of occupation, patriarchy, and grinding poverty. We meet a boy who works street corners and construction sites, sleeps amid gunfire, and ultimately claws his way across borders in search of freedom.But this is not simply a tale of escape. It is an act of witness. With lyrical, unflinching detail, Alijla brings to life the textures of Gaza: the scent of za'atar at breakfast, the sea that both haunts and heals, the aching bond between those who stay and those who go. It is a book about exile and memory, but above all, about the fierce love of a mother and her son, and the stubborn hope that persists when all else falls away.At once a personal memoir, a family chronicle, and a piercing social history, Fearful in Gaza is a profound meditation on resistance, belonging, and the enduring human spirit.
Slave Narratives Volume XVII Virginia Narratives
Slave Narratives, Volume XVII: Virginia Narratives presents a remarkable collection of firsthand accounts recorded during the 1930s as part of the WPA Federal Writers' Project. This volume gathers interviews with formerly enslaved men and women who lived in Virginia, offering deeply personal testimonies that illuminate the complex and often brutal realities of slavery in one of the earliest and most influential slaveholding states in America.These narratives preserve the voices, memories, and cultural expressions of individuals who recount plantation life, forced labor, family separation, acts of resistance, religious traditions, and the profound emotions tied to the arrival of freedom. Their recollections reveal the unique social, economic, and cultural landscape of slavery in Virginia-from Tidewater plantations to rural mountain settlements.As one of the most important primary-source collections on American slavery, this volume provides essential insight for historians, educators, researchers, and anyone seeking to understand the lived experiences and enduring resilience of African American communities in the South.
Give Me a Minute, Sweety
Give Me a Minute, Sweety is a deeply honest and luminous memoir of awakening, a raw account of how trauma, madness, and faith collide to forge transformation.Alison Hodson Robinson takes readers through her lived experiences of postnatal psychosis, PTSD, and spiritual initiation, showing that healing isn't about returning to who you were, it's about remembering whom you've always been.From psychiatric wards to spiritual rebirth, Alison's story blurs the boundaries between mental illness and mystical awakening. With compassion and courage, she reframes pain as initiation, despair as awakening, and the human experience as sacred.For readers of The Choice (Dr. Edith Eger), An Unquiet Mind (Kay Redfield Jamison), and Women Who Run with the Wolves (Clarissa Pinkola Est矇s), this is not just a memoir, it's a modern spiritual odyssey that bridges psychiatry, trauma healing, and the mystical path of self-realisation.
Ocean Dancing
Ocean Dancing is a lyrical and unflinching memoir by Yarrow Sheehan that traces a life shaped by the sea, by silence, and ultimately, by the transformative power of storytelling. Through a mosaic of vivid, interconnected essays, Sheehan invites readers into a deeply personal journey of resilience, reckoning, and reclamation.Born in post-war Australia into a military family, the author grew up between cultures and continents-crossing oceans, adapting to new lands, and navigating a childhood marked by both joy and hidden trauma. Early memories sparkle with sensory detail: the smell of eucalypt, the chittering of lorikeets, the sea beneath a ship's bow, and the cold dreariness of a Midland's winter. But beneath the surface are buried stories-a confusing childhood relationship, family secrets and shame inherited across generations of women.Sheehan's reflections move from girlhood in corseted 1950s Australia to a remote Canadian coastline, from self-reliant motherhood and artistic yearning to the complex terrain of caregiving aging parents. Along the way, she dances and teaches; she breaks and heals. The author confronts the silence around sexual assault, the unspoken weight of postpartum depression, and the grip of an eating disorder as she searches for a name and identity that feel entirely her own.The author's thirty years in education shaped her. She taught in the public school system, both elementary and high school, from grade three to grade twelve. Not only did she become a better teacher over time, but a better person through learning how to nuture, encourage and challenge the young people in her classes. It became clear to the author that building relationships is the key to classroom learning and teaching.Threaded through Sheehan's writing are moments of great tenderness: a ginger cat who mourns absent grandchildren, a student who whispers "thank you" years after leaving school, and a pendant carved from ancient mammoth tusk. These quiet encounters echo the larger themes of connection, loss, and healing that pulse through every chapter.This is not a linear life story, but a constellation of fragments-some sharp, some tender, all deeply human. In telling her story, Sheehan speaks to the reader as a confidante, exploring the complexities of motherhood, womanhood, aging, trauma, and reinvention. With poetic language and unsparing honesty, Ocean Dancing asks: How do we survive the parts of life that feel unbearable? How do we forgive others-and ourselves? And how do we turn memory into meaning?Both intimate and expansive, Ocean Dancing offers a mirror to anyone who has felt adrift, reminding us that healing isn't always a destination-it's a dance. A memoir for seekers, survivors, and those hungry for stories that refuse easy resolution, Ocean Dancing will stay with you long after the last page.Perfect for readers of Cheryl Strayed's Wild, Tara Westover's Educated, or Anne Lamott's Traveling Mercies, this book is a companion for the inner journey-compassionate, wise, and quietly fierce.
Slave Narratives Volume VI Kansas Narratives
Slave Narratives - Volume VI: Kansas Narratives is part of the historic Federal Writers' Project collection, an unparalleled effort by the Work Projects Administration (WPA) during the 1930s to preserve firsthand accounts from formerly enslaved men and women. This volume focuses on interviews conducted across Kansas, capturing the voices, experiences, and memories of survivors of American slavery.These narratives offer deeply personal reflections-stories of family separation, resilience, community, survival, and the search for freedom. Each interview presents an intimate window into the lived reality of enslavement, told in the speakers' own words and dialect. As with all volumes in this monumental series, the Kansas interviews provide invaluable historical insight, revealing both the brutality of the institution and the humanity of those who endured it.Carefully transcribed and documented, this volume serves researchers, historians, students, and readers seeking authentic primary-source testimony. It stands as a powerful reminder of a past that must never be forgotten and a crucial contribution to understanding America's complex social and cultural history.
Slave Narratives VOLUME VII KENTUCKY NARRATIVES
Slave Narratives, Volume VII: Kentucky Narratives preserves an invaluable set of firsthand recollections gathered through the WPA Federal Writers' Project during the 1930s. In this volume, formerly enslaved individuals from Kentucky share vivid memories of their lives under slavery-stories that span plantation labor, small-farm servitude, domestic work, family endurance, and the varied cultural traditions that shaped Black life in the border state of Kentucky.As a state positioned between North and South, Kentucky held a unique social and political role in the history of American slavery. These narratives reflect that distinct context, revealing experiences marked by both deep hardship and remarkable resilience. Interviewees recount the pain of separation, the struggle for dignity, the clandestine pursuit of education, and the overwhelming hope tied to freedom and Reconstruction.Offering some of the most detailed and humanizing accounts of slavery in the Upper South, this volume serves as an essential primary source for historians, educators, and readers seeking a fuller understanding of the legacy of slavery and the enduring strength of African American communities.
Echoes of Her Strength
In Echoes of Her Strength: A Life of Forgiveness and Resilience, Joycelyn invites readers into the intimate story of a woman who has faced life's deepest wounds and still found her way back to grace.From her humble beginnings in San Fernando, Trinidad, to the challenges of rebuilding her life in Canada, Joycelyn's path has been marked by both pain and perseverance. Abuse, betrayal, and loss once threatened to silence her spirit, but through faith, courage, and the transformative power of forgiveness, she rose stronger than before.With heartfelt honesty and the rhythm of Caribbean storytelling, Joycelyn reflects on the women who shaped her, the friendships that sustained her, and the God who never let her go. Her words echo with truth: that healing is possible, that love endures, and that forgiveness is not weakness but freedom.More than a memoir, this is a testimony: a celebration of the resilience that lives in every woman. It is for the mother who keeps going, the daughter learning to trust again, and the survivor who is still finding her way through the dark.Through every chapter, Joycelyn's story whispers hope: no matter where you begin, grace can rewrite your ending.
My COVID-19 Diary
**My COVID-19 Diary** is a powerful narrative that embodies hope and the unwavering companionship of faith. At the heart of this memoir is Dr. Wee's fearless exploration of how the novel virus impacted her daily life and pediatric practice. She skillfully combines her healthcare expertise with personal experiences filled with loss, resilience, and the guiding presence of faith.As the world grappled with fear, panic, and uncertainty, Dr. Wee turned to her daily blog for solace and inspiration. Through her words, she became a beacon of hope to many, offering encouragement when it was needed most.However, her memoir is more than just an account of the challenges she faced during the pandemic. It evolves into an invaluable guide, providing essential advice on maintaining physical health and overall well-being. Dr. Wee delves into managing stress and nurturing mental health, equipping readers with practical strategies to emerge stronger and more resilient.Her motivational prowess shines brightly as she imparts wisdom on resilience and determination. Her message is clear: while adversity may knock a person down, they should never surrender. She bravely addresses the sensitive topic of death and dying, sharing her journey of grief following the sudden and unexpected passing of her husband of 30 years and business partner, Dr. Stephen L. Wee.In **My COVID-19 Diary**, Dr. Wee demonstrates ways to keep moving forward, persevere, and even thrive with God by your side. Readers will embark on a transformative journey, exploring numerous compelling topics that resonate with the essence of the shared human experience. This memoir is an inspiring tale of hope, resilience, and the enduring power of faith in the face of adversity.
Phyllis Bentley
'I want to write'. For the youngest child and only daughter of a Halifax mill owner who had little contact with literature, it seemed to be impossible. But with the assistance of those who recognised her determination, Phyllis Bentley became a novelist with an international reputation. This, however, as a recently opened archive shows, was but part of her story. She was also in demand internationally as a lecturer because of her flair for explaining difficult problems in simple terms. She served on many committees in Halifax and elsewhere, and her wide (and sometimes amorous) contacts with leading figures in the world of literature reveal much about her and their personalities and end speculation about their sexual orientation. Least known of all is the work she did-sometimes at considerable personal risk-during the war. Speaking and writing, she introduced Americans to Britain and the British to America and-using her knowledge of the Dewey Decimal system-she encoded detailed information about the D-Day landing, which was secretly sent in advance to the British Embassy. In recognition of her various achievements, she was invited to both Buckingham Palace and the White House, but hitherto, unlike most of her contemporaries, she has not had a biography.
