Blog Archives
An Accidental Parisian
In An Accidental Parisian, Juliet Young shares a riveting memoir chronicling her life from childhood to becoming an expat in Paris. Despite her desire to return to Toronto near her parents, unforeseen circumstances led her to stay in a foreign country much longer than she had planned. Young candidly shares the highs and lows of her life journey, including the romantic and tragic moments that shaped her into the woman she is today.
The memoir provides a rare insight into the cultural elements of Paris throughout the 90s and early 2000s. From Young’s early life to her first few visits to Europe and eventually settling in Paris, the book takes the reader on a personal journey. Young’s writing style is friendly, creating the impression of a personal conversation rather than a mere collection of events. In addition, her depiction of French culture is detailed, revealing the city’s patriarchal nature through the eyes of a feminist expat.
Throughout her adventurous life, Young never lost her courageous spirit, whether she was in Toronto or Paris. Instead, she shares her grief openly as she reminisces about her beautiful childhood and loving parents. Despite initially intending to return to her home country, France became her permanent residence, and this memoir details the events that led her to that point.
Juliet Young’s memoir is a captivating and inspiring read that takes readers on a remarkable journey of self-discovery and adaptation to a foreign culture. An Accidental Parisian is sure to engage and inspire readers and is a must-read for anyone who enjoys a compelling memoir.
Pages: 302 | ASIN : B09Z333JQ1
Joseph W. Taylor BORN TO BIRD
Joseph W. Taylor: Born to Bird is an engaging biography penned by Ann Taylor, chronicling the life and passions of her father, Joseph Taylor. The book delves into Joseph’s deep love for birds, nature, and conservation, showcasing his significant impact on Ann’s life. Set against the backdrop of the idyllic mid-20th century, the narrative is captivating and nostalgic, as Ann Taylor’s conversational tone draws the reader into her family’s rich experiences and lessons learned.
Ornithology serves as the book’s focal point, with Ann introducing readers to the fascinating world of birding through her father’s eyes. As the story unfolds, she recounts Joseph’s involvement with the prestigious 600 Club, a birdwatching group dedicated to research, conservation, and the joy of birding. The narrative is imbued with Ann’s admiration and affection for her father as she shares the passion and enthusiasm that fueled the club’s members.
Complementing the vivid storytelling are a collection of stunning photographs featuring color and black-and-white images of Joseph Taylor, his family, and his birding adventures. The meticulously captioned and dated photographs offer a visual journey through Joseph’s life, from his early years to his later excursions to breathtaking locations such as Alaska, Newfoundland, New Mexico, Nova Scotia, and Florida.
Despite Joseph’s challenges in his later years, Ann Taylor’s account of her father’s life is a testament to his resilience, love for nature, and commitment to family. The narrative, interspersed with uplifting moments and valuable life lessons, pays tribute to Joseph’s lasting legacy within the birding community. His dedication to preserving the natural world and treasuring family bonds remains an enduring message that resonates with readers.
With its compelling narration, intriguing insights into 20th-century ornithology, and heartwarming stories, Joseph W. Taylor: Born to Bird is a must-read biography for those seeking a captivating journey into the life of a remarkable individual and the enchanting world of birds.
Pages: 290 | ASIN : B0BWLWNHJQ
Click Click Click
Click Click Click is a fascinating true crime story that delves into the real-life events that occurred in Franklin, VA, during the 1990s. Co-authored by sisters Anne Varner and Karen DeVanie, who also host the Sugar Coated Murder podcast, this book is a gripping account of the murder of Trent Whitley, a high school student who went missing one Friday night. Despite having no leads and no suspects, the case remained unsolved for several years until the police finally made an arrest and brought the culprits to justice.
The authors’ extensive research and investigation into the case, as well as their firsthand experience of covering it in their podcast, have resulted in a riveting and immersive narrative. The reader is drawn into the story from the very beginning, as the authors provide a detailed and vivid portrayal of the town, the victims, and the perpetrators.
The book is structured in an engaging and informative manner, with each chapter providing a new layer of insight into the crime and its aftermath. In addition, the authors’ writing style is compelling, with their prose keeping readers hooked until the very last page.
Click Click Click is an excellent choice for anyone who is a fan of true crime literature or podcasts. It offers a concise yet captivating account of a heinous crime that shocked a community and made national headlines. This book is a quick and absorbing read that can be finished in one sitting. This is a must-read for true crime enthusiasts and anyone who enjoys a well-written and gripping story.
Pages: 108 | ASIN : B0BN43PBNB
my Imaginary Friend an autobiography
My Imaginary Friend an autobiography written by Thomas Wermuth is a unique autobiography that provides readers with compelling insight into the author’s life, expressed through three distinct perspectives. First, the narrative follows the author’s lifelong love of the violin, which began during his childhood and was shaped by a significant event that ultimately led him to become a world-traveling musician. Despite his professional successes, the author also recounts his experiences of marriage, fatherhood, and spiritual awakening, which helped him to better understand the three voices that guide his story.
While this book may not appeal to all readers, those who have an affinity for metaphysical concepts will undoubtedly find the author’s approach both enlightening and engaging. Using three distinct perspectives creates an air of mystery and intrigue, which compelled me to question the identities of the voices guiding the author’s story. At times, the three viewpoints may have led to confusion about the sequence of events. Still, the author’s decision to use these voices proved to be an excellent choice, as they were also responsible for maintaining my interest throughout the narrative. The author’s storytelling is complex and mysterious, and I had to continue reading in hopes that the three voices’ identities would be revealed. The author’s skillful use of this literary device also helps maintain a sense of anticipation, propelling the narrative forward and keeping the reader engaged until the end.
My Imaginary Friend an autobiography, is a captivating autobiography providing a unique perspective on the author’s life. Those who are fascinated by the concept of metaphysics will undoubtedly find this book to be an excellent addition to their reading list, and even those who may not have initially been drawn to the subject matter will be hard-pressed to put this engaging and thought-provoking book down.
Pages: 132 | ASIN: B0BS5STS1Y
Inside Our Minds Is Another Story
It Won’t Hurt None shares your story about healing from childhood abuse and trauma and realizing you have Dissociative Identity Disorder as well as PTSD. Why was this an important book for you to write?
I love to write – and have since I was quite young. Writing is my creative conduit to express myself and so when I sat down and started writing in the depths of my post-surgery decline, it felt like an intuitive part of the healing process. I find expressing myself to family difficult, even today, and writing the book helped me say quite a few things that I’ve not felt safe to say to those around me – particularly my parents. I suppose that not feeling “heard” throughout my life is part of the reason why I needed to write the book. To find my voice and be heard by others, even strangers, after so many years. The response to the book from other writers, and particularly from other survivors, has been wonderful and overwhelming. To know that people have read my story and now my truth is part of a larger discussion helped me remember that the abuse wasn’t my fault. Telling my story put the final piece into my healing journey by giving me a sense of control over my own narrative.
I appreciated the candid nature with which you told your story. What was the hardest thing for you to write about?
I suppose one of the reasons why the book is so candid is that I don’t know how to write any other way – I assume that people want to read a story that sounds like we’re having coffee together. By far the most difficult passages to write were of the interactions between myself and my alters – my personalities. Writing chapters 13, 14, 15, and 18 was made even more complicated by the fact that I was going through a final phase of somatic work while I was writing. That wasn’t intentional but that’s how it turned out. So as I was writing about the conversations with 5, 6, 7, and 13, I was doing powerful healing work with my coach. It was humbling but also exposed some deep emotional scars. The chapter I wrote about my alter 7 was touching and kind. The first draft of the chapter about my alter 13 was not kind at all – I didn’t have any love for her. (My beta reader pointed that out.) I had to learn how to love all of them while I wrote and while I went through the somatic work – it was like swallowing two huge doses of medicine all at once. I wouldn’t necessarily recommend that approach to anyone else – it was complicated to keep my mental health on track at the time – but the end result was transformational for me and the chapters turned out pretty well.
What is a common misconception you feel people have about DID?
People confuse DID with schizophrenia. They’re entirely different. I also think that some mental health disorders get big labels and they confuse people so society tends to create a lot of stigma around DID, Bipolar disorder, etc. because medicine makes them unapproachable – intangible. The fact is people probably meet people with DID more often than they realize. We live perfectly normal lives on the outside – inside our minds is another story.
What do you hope is one thing readers take away from your story?
If you want to heal, you need to take agency of your body and mind and get help. You will be challenged by bad medicine, bad doctors, misinformation, people who tell you to stop talking about it, people who won’t support you – there will be several hurdles in your path to healing. It’s your task to keep going. Do not give up. Find someone – somewhere – who can be your advocate. Someone that will support you through your healing journey and who will also call you out on your nonsense when you get stuck in your own swirl. You only need one – find that person. They can be your friend, neighbor, or someone you meet online who lives on the other side of the world. Everyone needs a cheerleader as they work through their mental and physical health issues. This isn’t a journey you’re designed to take alone. (Can I mention that I also co-authored a journal to start the healing process? It’s called “Hurt No More – Grow a Foundation for Healing”.
Author Links: GoodReads | Facebook | Website | TikTok | Instagram | YouTube | Medium | PodcastsGuests
It Won’t Hurt None is Rebecca E. Chandler’s inspiring memoir that shares how she confronts her past and processes layers of trauma and chronic PTSD. Ultimately, through a combination of self help and several forms of healing, Rebecca releases the trauma locked in her mind and body so she can finally live her life whole and in the present.
Rebecca hopes her story of surviving trauma and healing encourages all readers to tend to their own wounds. She encourages everyone to let your wound open because when it is visible, it’s vulnerable. Look at it, communicate with it, learn from it, and heal it. Rebecca believes we do not have to live broken by shame and in the shadows. She believes we all have the ability to heal.
Buy It Won’t Hurt None today and start your healing journey. Please also purchase Hurt No More – Grow a Foundation for Healing the companion journal to It Won’t Hurt None. Co-Authored by Rebecca E Chandler and Aparna Ramakrishnan, MSW, Hurt No More offers practical insights, steps, and encouragement to stand in your truth.
To Be An Example To People
I Was Dying…Then I Changed My Mind shares your story about dealing with chronic pain and illness for your entire life and how you learned to heal. Why was this an important book for you to write?
I am not the only person in the world who was diagnosed with an incurable disease by doctors and was addicted to drugs. The majority of adults, children, and even pets in developed countries, today, use at least one drug every day, and they are suffering not only from untreated diseases, but also from the side effects of the medications. I shared my story to be an example to people and give them courage to hold on to life, and tell them that they are neither helpless nor hopeless. While people must find the best treatment for themselves, a holistic approach to healing worked the best for me.
I appreciated the candid nature with which you told your story. What was the hardest thing for you to write about?
The hardest thing for me to write was the first part of my book, as I cried a lot for that little girl, the young woman, and devoted mother and daughter I was from my past. Since it was not possible for me to clearly remember my sixty-one years of sickly life, in order to write the first part I had to read my old diaries, prescriptions, medical reports, and my appointment notebooks. Thus many painful memories from the past came to life in my eyes. I had forgotten that period because I am not that woman anymore. While I was writing my book, I was a brand-new woman who had just started to live my life fully in 2017.
What were some ideas that were important for you to share in this book?
I shared the most important ideas I have come up with at a great price: self-love, self-respect, and self-care. The healer is within each of us; there is no need to look for that on the outside.
What do you hope is one thing readers take away from your story?
I want readers to understand that loving ourselves, being healthy, and being happy does not depend on anyone or anything on the outside. Everything we need lies within us. People will treat us as we treat ourselves.
Author Links: GoodReads | Website | Facebook
This is the story of how I made the choice between life and death and found the freedom to heal. This is the story of a woman who spent decades in and out of hospitals, trapped by other people’s expectations; this is the story of a woman who believed sacrificing herself for others was the measure of true love. This is the story of how I made myself a prisoner of duty, acquiescence and sickness. But it’s also a story about liberation.
I Was Dying…Then I Changed My Mind is a story about where to go and what to do in order to be free from debilitating pain. For those who have given up on a healthy life or have fallen into the vortex of pills, prescriptions and addiction, my book shows how complete healing and profound liberation are possible when we open ourselves to radical self-love. By documenting my journey from decades of illness and fear, I Was Dying proves we all have the capacity to heal ourselves.
“Truth” Is Being Sacrified
Forbidden Homeland: Story of a Diasporan is a memoir about discovering your family’s history and roots in Armenian Genocide and Karabakh Conflict. Why was it important to share your story?
We live in a world where “truth” is being sacrificed for geopolitics and power. Mighty nations are not only proving that “might is right”, but they are also rewriting history to suit their narratives. They have the means to bribe, dine, and wine media folk, academics, and politicians to promote their version of facts in order to influence public opinion, or cover up their true agendas. I wanted to share my story, to show that no matter how much truth is suppressed, it still finds a way to be found. I wanted to give a voice to marginalized nations.
I appreciated the candid nature with which you told your story. What was the hardest thing for you to write about?
The hardest thing to write about was my grandmother’s genocide experience. I found out about what had happened to her family during the genocide when I found her relatives here in California. It was only then, that I started understanding the possible signs of trauma I had witnessed in my grandmother while growing up in Lebanon.
What were some ideas that were important for you to share in this book?
Many ideas were important for me to share:
- That America is formed of many Diasporas, and that we have to celebrate our diverse backgrounds, but also realize that many similar reasons have propelled us (or our ancestors) to immigrate to this country. My book has in fact become a talking point and an opportunity to share similar experiences and challenges in our backgrounds.
- We need to get to know each other’s backgrounds in order to be able to understand the foreign policies of this nation. Most of the U.S. foreign policies happen without the knowledge of the American people, however, they are implemented in all of our names and funded by our tax dollars. We should educate ourselves in order to hold the government accountable for its actions or to praise the government for its good deeds abroad. As Americans we value policies that promote freedom, democracy and human rights.
- It was important to share what happened to my family and my homeland over a hundred years ago in order to explain what is happening in Armenia and Artsakh (Karabakh) today. Many things are being taken out of context or fabricated to distract from the truth. A lot of gaslighting. I want my book to raise awareness of the fight between democracy and tyranny happening now in Transcaucasia. Armenia, the only democracy in the region, is being constantly threatened by invasion, by the same perpetrators of the Armenian genocide!
- That the Armenian story is part of the Human Story. We are all connected. The ancient Armenian monuments and churches that Azerbaijan is destroying belong to humanity and to world history, that is why their destruction is called “Cultural Genocide”.
What do you hope is one thing readers take away from your story?
One thing I hope readers take away from my story is that when people are ignorant about facts, they can be easily manipulated at the whim of leaders. Therefore, education is key in order to question where our money and military assistance are being sent to and for what purpose. The new generation, in particular, needs to learn how to look up facts because without facts we cannot have a future.
With this book, I also hope to give smaller nations and victims of genocide a face and a voice.
Author Links: Black and White Version | Color Version | Barnes and Noble | GoodReads
Using personal accounts of diaspora, author Katia Tavitian Karageuzian delves into her cultural past to start solving mysteries about her family history with a focus on the Armenian Genocide and the ongoing Karabakh conflict.
Karageuzian thought her journey started with the discovery of long-lost relatives, but instead, that discovery led to a decades-long search to reveal the extensive history of American involvement in the destiny of her homeland and a buried record of those living with generational trauma.
As she slowly uncovers the answers she is looking for, Karageuzian also discovers surprising truths along the way—and an inspiring resilience that readers won’t soon forget.
Now, for the first time, she shares both her research and the answers she dug up in order to expose the geopolitics that consistently bury those truths and muffle the current ongoing wars in Transcaucasia.
Literary Titan Gold Book Award – Mar 2023
The Literary Titan Book Awards are awarded to books that have astounded and amazed us with unique writing styles, vivid worlds, complex characters, and original ideas. These books deserve extraordinary praise, and we are proud to acknowledge the hard work, dedication, and writing talent of these brilliant authors.
Award Recipients
Rethink Your Financial Health AJ Uitvlugt
Off Kilter by M. Lee Musgrave
A Guide for Aging Heroes: Owning the Second Half of Life in 30 Days by Randolph Harrison
A Murder in Ashwood by Robert Brighton
Visit the Literary Titan Book Awards page to see award information.
LITERARY TITAN 