This book is to tell the truth about a young girl's life from the time she was ten years old up through adulthood with a mom that beat her and tried every way she could think of to kill her but could not. She wanted others to do it. The law was very crooked and against her side at the time, and she got away from three other men and a woman who murdered her dad. She survived that night of hell, and many others that are going through this can also survive it. Get out of it. The explosion the fire the shot from a fun. I saw my dad murdered and lying facedown on the ground, and I was next.

This is the story of a family starting with the birth of my grandparents in what is today Belarus in the 1880s. It describes details of extreme living conditions in the shtetls of Czarist Russia and documents the contrast of tremendous financial and social success realized after immigration to the United States.

The story evolves with the next generation that was dominated by the actions and narcissism of the firstborn son, Sam. His, for the most part, disregard and disrespect of his father and siblings along with unbridled ambition catapulted him into a position of economic, social, and political power. In short, he was ruthless.

The last born, who was more than a decade younger than Sam, was my father Ray. Ray had "two fathers": Philip and a surrogate-Sam. He was dominated by his older brother and accordingly developed a wide range of insecurities which created challenges in his development. On the other hand and in contrast, Ray was born into the "lap of luxury" whereas Sam was born in Russia and grew up with his father's financial and social success.

It continues with my own generation and gradually becomes more self-centric. Details of my life of sailing adventures, wilderness living in the mountains, entrepreneurial pursuits/experiences across America, Canada, China, India, Mexico, Turkey, the UK and elsewhere on the globe are described as well. My struggles to discover a balance between "adult behaviors" and taking the time to "smell the roses" are also chronicled.

Humor or at least my interpretation of it along with anecdotes and brief philosophizing hopefully make this an enjoyable read.

The highly decorated pilot, Squadron Leader Charles Scherf, returns home to take up his role of father, husband and heir to the wealthy family estate in northern NSW.

It is post-war Australia. A war has been won but for some the battle has just begun. Violent energies within and without infect the whole family and especially the young daughter born when the father was at war. There is a pushback from the snobbish, small-minded community and Charles begins to free fall into a mysterious, early death.

 In this culture of intolerance and misogyny there is no place for unheralded heroes, women left behind or fatherless children. 

It is through the eyes of the daughter, that this gritty, true Australian drama is played out. How far will she go to find the answers ?

"The living must go on.They continue to live in order to make sense of the dead."

RAMBLINGS OF AN OLD MAN is a rare gift as Bill Entrekin presents the same facets of life that we all experience in a wonderful kaleidoscope of "written" fresh perception.

Bill's God-given sense of humor will welcome you into his daily walk with God and give you a view of the joy the love of God brings.

With the sketch of an Outline at the end of the book, you will be caught up in marvelous adventures from brand new grandbabies to great-grandparents, and from peace to war with everything in between.

This is not only the story of one family but of many people from the Southern states, as well as states throughout the United States. In the late 1950s, there were forty million people in the United States living in poverty. This story is about only a few and how they survived the hard times. How they found enjoyment in life, whether it was work or play. It is about the friendship of the communities and church families all working together for the well-being of each other. Survival skills and the willfulness to do whatever it took for the good of each other as well as yourself. Another time, another place, hard times, and good times. Mud pies and fishing holes. Memories that we cherish, such as the only way one would know--the women had brought their children to the cotton fields with them, where you could see their little toehead jumping above the cotton bolls every now and then, and the pleasant laughter or a cry from a tiny one riding on the mother's cotton sack as she pulled it along. These little things brought a feeling of relief rolling down their backs, relief from the heavy load of the cotton sack, and from the hurting back which stayed bent over the cotton row. This is a story about the families all working together as one for the good of their households. A time soon to be the history of life gone by and soon forgotten. Childhood memories only survive in the minds of a few. A few that are chosen to tell the stories of the history of the times they lived.

Are you aware of yourself and what you're made of as a human being? Are you conscious of your inner strength and capabilities? Do you know the reason why you were born on earth at a certain period and place? Are you aware of your journey and purpose in life? Have you ever questioned yourself about the existence of a living God? If yes, do you completely believe (without a doubt) in him?

People like us arbitrarily question God for any trials that come our way. "Why me? Why not others?" are the usual words we utter when faced with misfortunes, and, more often than not, we blame ourselves, regardless. We feel powerless, inadequate, and helpless. We forget that we are our very own weapon against anything that causes us to hunker down. We are made to be strong and powerful. We are a masterpiece of our loving Creator. We were created in his own image, in his own power!

This is a powerful true story about a little girl who got stuck in a more than dreadful situation that was out of control and beyond resolution. A compelling story of unrelenting faith and incontestable belief in the Higher Power. Her (mis)adventures built her up to be a woman of strength, inconceivable resilience, unwavering hope, strong determination, and a firm belief in God, whom she fondly calls her heavenly Father.

Leigh Ann Scott spent many years teaching middle school language arts and enrolled her own children in the same school where she worked. With each year that passed, she saw changes taking place in education, and many of them did not align with her beliefs. After observing the children of friends and family who homeschooled, Leigh Ann began to be intrigued by it and started asking questions. Once the COVID-19 pandemic sent her and her children home to school through virtual means, she saw the need even more and unenrolled her children from public school. As a teacher, this was a conflict of interest, but she followed through and never looked back. This is their story.

Wrought by a childhood replete with trying circumstances and telling experiences (conveyed in Frances Smith's earlier book), and in tandem with resultant beliefs and attitudes she held toward herself and the world she was about to enter, the commencement of legal adulthood also removed any buttressing protection minority provided. Too many confused and self-critical assessments would ill-serve this demoiselle. In time, those same assessments would transform into extremely harmful and life-threatening situations. Surviving would become a lifestyle for the author, which would shape not only her world but that of those whom she held most dear.

Ms. Smith's adulthood was remarkable because of the duality consistently displayed between her professional abilities and achievements and her personal descent into depreciation and decline. This descent was birthed by a mentally imprinted sense of desperation inseminated by prevailing dogma, the flawed conclusions of youthful minds, and unattended hurts and breaches.

This tale is a cautionary account. Similar to the brutality of a gauntlet one is forced to run, a few key choices in the life of this young woman vaulted her into a sort of awful test. Not failing would require overcoming deeply rooted beliefs and fears that sucked her backward in a downward spiral. Failing the test would mean no escape from an existence that was the antithesis of living.

Scores of challenges the author faced in her adult life were nearly fantastical, so grueling and perverse were they. If any hope of victory existed, this woman's constitution must contain an extraordinary will to persevere and survive. Would the author discover that quality within herself, or would defeat ultimately claim her? This narrative relates what could be argued as the predictable plunge the author made into the depths, given the memories, messages, and conclusions in which she was cloaked as she debuted as an adult, already wearied from her life up to that point. This tale also abounds in efforts equally mesmerizing, which the principal made to try to save herself. There is no way to imagine the unspeakable journey that was Ms. Smith's adulthood. This story is simply a must read.

My memoir depicts the outbreak of World War II and the German invasion of my birth town, Suwalki, in northeastern Poland. Fleeing Hitler's invading forces compelled my family to illegally cross the Russian border. My father's refusal to accept Russian citizenship culminated in the arrest of my entire family by the Russian secret police. My family was escorted to a Russian gulag in Siberia. My memoir also includes a description of the living conditions we experienced, including rampant typhus, lice, malaria, dysentery, subzero cold, hunger, and a daily struggle to stay alive. It also details our return to postwar Poland after a prolonged stay in Kyrgyzstan for almost four years. I detail the loss of my mother at an early age and leaving Poland for a second time following the Kielce pogrom. My memoir also includes a description of cataclysmic events during my childhood, which shaped the later portion of my adult life.

As COVID-19 gripped the world, Cassandra Thomas-Clark found herself in an unparalleled vantage point: a packaging buyer for a global food firm. The New Normal: Madness in the Making is her chronicle of a world in chaos.

At first, it was a tale of unity and perseverance, but soon the narrative twisted into one of crises, governmental decisions, and the human psyche's desperate response. This memoir isn't just about facts and timelines; it's an intimate exploration of humanity's vulnerabilities when pitted against an invisible foe. 

From quiet tensions to raging storms, Cassandra unveils firsthand accounts from across the globe, juxtaposing them with the discordant versions served to us. Discover a world you thought you knew and realize the lasting aftermath of decisions made in panic.

An insightful, honest memoir by a remarkable woman.

--Alycin Hayes, Author of Amazon Hitchhiker

An extraordinary book by a person of deep faith and courage.

--Kenneth D. Wald, Author of forthcoming Ghosts on the Wall

Adventures of a Midwife chronicles the journey of a woman with a goal, determined to excel in spite of life's challenges. We cheer for her every stage of her lifelong sojourn.

--Leo Hines, Writers Alliance of Gainesville

Adventures of a Midwife: Finding Joy on the Journey relates the challenges Elsie Wilson had in becoming a nurse-midwife in the mountains of Eastern Kentucky and the rainforests of Congo, Africa. This memoir describes her struggles in surviving abuse, cancer, depression, and fire. Her commitment to missions, which started at age thirteen, grew when she won a nursing scholarship and cared for her dying mother. The doubt and uncertainty that she could be used by God was dispelled as He took her on a journey only He could design, ending in joy.

She never imagined she would be driving up creek beds in a Jeep, crossing over swinging bridges, or examining a pregnant woman with a snake hanging over her head. Delivering babies in shacks with newspapers on the walls and depending on God in life-threatening circumstances developed an inner joy despite these difficulties. God's faithfulness and grace provided the strength to survive the trauma she experienced and led her to become a spiritual midwife.

This book is a collection of writings and reections in which I tell the story of people, places and experiences that shaped my life. This book is divided into three sections: "Seeking, Living and Blessed, Joys and Sorrow".

Section one: "Seeking". I seek to nd my identity, my genealogy from my grandparents, searching for God, church and family. All seeking a meaningful life.

Section two: "Living Blessed". Includes the story of leaving Mississippi. A documentary of African American Nurses and others who stood against great odds, living in the south where legal segregation was beginning to crumble, yet, discrimination and limited opportunities were daily realities. The poem "They Stood" commemorates the history of a group who are not in history books, as women with no claim to fame or notoriety were often overlooked. They have been called Negro, Colored, Black, Afro Americans and African Americans.

Section three: "Joys and Sorrows". Includes the good and bad experiences expressed in poems and prayers. The book depicts events in my life, of many women during the 40's and 50's who lived in the South; nothing sensational or outstanding, but reality.

This is a testament to my children of my faith and trust in God and the stories of ordinary people.

Who are the homeless? These are nameless, faceless people who live in shame, frustration, and regret which is reflected in their daily lives. Often society sees them as drug addicts, alcoholics, mentally ill, and unmotivated. Those factors can be found in those without shelter, yet that alone will not reflect the total sum of challenges which they have faced.

This book shares real stories about real people who were homeless. Some are mothers. Some are children. Some are disabled. Some are gravely ill with chronic conditions. The factors leading them homelessness are multiple. Some factors are of their recent history. Some factors are long term such as climate in their home of origin as children.

This book is not intended to give you all the answers. If anything, this book is intended to share the complexity of the issue in our society. Rather, if it has any purpose, this book is intended to stir the hearts of people of compassionate nature and deep faith into action. There are many lessons to be learned taught by those who have lived without shelter.

It was always my desire to be in a marriage relationship with both parties loving and respecting one another. It was also important to me that both of us have a relationship with Christ Jesus. I thought I had that when I married a man of God who was a preacher, teacher, and deacon of a church. You would think I married the man of my dreams, but it was not so. I stayed in the relationship for a long time, twenty-eight years before realizing it would not get better. After leaving this marriage, I looked for love but only found deception. Now I have recommitted my life to Christ and am allowing him to bring to me Mr. Right instead of Mr. Right Now.

It's only through fear that we become fearless

Young love and a whirlwind romance slowly curdles into a life of shocking abuse, manipulation, and control, made all the more harrowing for the innocent children at its center. This is a tale of a woman trapped on all sides, and her inspiring journey, step-by-painful-step, to freedom, family, and a life finally lived on her own terms.

10,000 Hours of Fear illuminates how the interconnected dichotomy of fear and courage can help anyone navigate challenging, even terrifying, situations with confidence and bravery.

A few of my experiences and exploits are not recounted. This is not through lack of interest but because some part of the incident has eluded me. For example, four of us sailed a whaler into St Brides Bay one very hot summer's day. What wind there had been died and we were becalmed. To our horror, we found there were only three oars in the whaler. Trying to row something as big as a whaler with three oars is like trying to dig a 10-acre field with three gardens spades. It took us 12 hours to return to camp whereupon we were all put on charges for being absent without leave, misappropriating a Royal Naval vessel and being sunburned. In the case of the latter, the Navy's argument is that unburn is a self-inflicted wound and is therefore an offence. We were all badly sunburned. When the first lieutenant saw us, he laughed - quite hurtfully, I considered - and dismissed the charges. The reason why the story isn't included is because, for the life of me, I can't remember where we obtained the whaler nor where we set off from or returned to. Apart from that, the voyage actually took place and should be recorded as the only time I ever went to sea. In other words, I have the distinction of being a sailor who never went to sea in a ship.

Life was going along comfortably; her job and personal and spiritual lives were satisfying, and Laura Pardo was about to enter her seventh decade. When she experienced an unknown neurological event, she embarked on a health journey that would engulf her for eighteen months and become a permanent part of her life moving forward. Being diagnosed with a rare and little-known blood disorder was terrifying. After a visit to Mayo Clinic, the treatment began immediately, and life as Laura knew it no longer existed. Read about her health journey and how her faith and the support of her family and friends led her to reconciliation and recovery.