In Cruelty and Redemption, you recount the trauma of your early life and the journey that led you to protect young people facing struggles similar to your own. What inspired you to share your story with readers?
I started a journey in counseling. One night I couldn’t sleep, so I started free writing, and five hours later I had my book.
The opening chapters are incredibly raw and unflinching. How did you decide how much of your childhood to share, knowing how difficult those memories would be to revisit?
I really didn’t think about what I was putting into it, but I did keep a lot of the more difficult events back. I wanted to include the moments that truly changed me.
You write honestly about gangs, drugs, prison, and violence without glorifying them. Why was it important to present those experiences with that balance?
I simply tried to show them in the true light. Gangs and drugs are an escape for people who are alone and broken, but they are not an answer.
After sharing such a personal story, what do you hope readers carry with them long after they finish Cruelty and Redemption?
Honestly, my message is simple. You only lose when you quit. Keep working for a better life, and you’ll get there one day.
Author Facebook @doug_vantassell_lionspride
Emerging from prison with nothing but determination, he discovers purpose on the football field and strength in the world of powerlifting, ultimately founding a private gym and a nonprofit dedicated to helping at-risk youth. Yet, the battle never truly ends. Through marriage, divorce, custody struggles, and the daily fight to resist old temptations, his story is a testament to the power of hope and the possibility of change, even when the odds seem insurmountable.
This is more than a story of survival. It’s a call to action for anyone searching for meaning, belonging, and the courage to choose a better path.
Posted on July 9, 2026, in Interviews and tagged Cruelty & Redemption, D. Texel, memoir, nonfiction. Bookmark the permalink. Leave a comment.
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