Blog Archives
You Are Not To Blame
Under the Fig Tree shares your personal story of loss and helps others cope with and prevent suicide. Why was this an important book for you to write?
The book was important to write for several reasons. Firstly, the book was written to give Anna’s art a voice. Many people, who find sharing their feelings challenging, describe their inner self by mediums such as art, writing, music and other creative avenues.
Although Anna has shown fashion designs and illustrations via BBC world service and fashion houses, her graphite work, which speaks of her emotional turmoil, is yet to be exhibited – but can now be seen in this book as an introduction into the complexities of her troubled inner world.
What is one piece of advice that has helped you the most after losing your daughter?
One piece of advice that helped me was to find an outlet for my grief was by speaking with others who had lost a child to suicide. Being alone with your grief is dangerous. You must interact with others and realise you are now part of a bigger picture.
What is a common misconception you feel people have about suicide?
A common misconception – three words – blame shame and Stigma (BSS).
These perilous internal messages that are prevalent in suicide.
You are not to blame. There is nothing shameful about your loved one taking their life.
The Stigma needs to be erased globally.
What do you hope is one thing readers take away from your book?
I hope the reader will take away the above and find meaningful ways of coping via communication whether they are suicidal thoughts or post suicide survival.
Author Links: Website | Facebook
It’s About Time
It’s About Time is a gripping true story that takes readers on a roller coaster of emotions from the turn of the first page. Mickey Bridges has written a riveting memoir detailing the life of a young boy that lived in Compton, California. We live through his experiences growing up as his family struggled to make ends meet. Mickey’s father was in and out of his life and when he was around he was not a good influence. Mickey’s mother did her best to work and take care of her children but she was always sick. With little parental guidance, and living in a rough neighborhood, Mickey is left to explore the streets on his own.
Readers follow Mickey as he grows up and starts experimenting with drugs, which then evolves into drug dealing. He falls in love and becomes a young father but he himself is in and out of jail. After his mother passes away while he is in prison he makes the life changing decision to be a better person.
This is a compelling coming-of-age story of sorts, following a young man who is provided little guidance and set loose on dangerous streets with few resources. This thought-provoking memoir sheds light on the realities of growing up in an unstable environment, surrounded by drugs and violence.
One of the things that I loved about this memoir is the amount of detail each encounter has, and the ability Mickey has to transport readers to that period in time. Mickey describes his emotions so vividly that you feel as if you are teleported to his past. Some examples include the desperation he felt to see his daughter during his incarceration to the extent that he ran away. That was heartbreaking, but I feel like I understood the situation so well that I felt as if I would have done the same thing if I was in his situation. Another vivid encounter is his setup in Gary by Nora, Tut’s girlfriend. I could visualize how terrified he was and yet, he managed to escape.
While I enjoyed this book I felt that the time jumps in the writing can be a bit confusing. Reading through his story, you sometimes forget that he was under twenty-five years old. The story takes leaps through time; one moment he’s sixteen and the next he’s nineteen years old and so much has changed. As a bonus, I was able to look him up and the album he mentioned in the book and I enjoyed every note from that saxophone!
It’s About Time is an illuminating and fascinating memoir. I highly recommend this book to readers who are looking for a raw but inspirational read, especially since the author was able to turn his life around for the better.
Pages: 196 | ASIN: B09ZK4YMRV
Unsung Heroes
Sea Pay is a memoir of life in the US Navy in the late 70s and early 80s aboard the aircraft carrier USS Midway. Why was this an important book for you to write?
Many men and women of our armed forces depart on deployment, work hard, do their jobs, and complete their missions. They are the “unsung heroes” who are never recognized for the price they have paid to protect our great nation.
What were some ideas that were important for you to share in this book?
Most jobs in the military are not glamorous but, they must be performed in order to complete the mission. Somebody must scrub the pots and pans.
What is one piece of advice you wish someone had given you when you were younger?
“Plan for the future”, . . . It will be here before you know it.
What do you hope is one thing readers take away from your story?
Military service is tough in many ways. Many keep their tragic and strain-full experiences compartmentalized to keep moving forward. Never underestimate what a veteran has lived through.
Author Links: GoodReads | Linkdin | Facebook | Website
Dorgan quickly turns his job into an adventure that pays very well. With a general court-martial looming, he and his shipmates continue to add adventure and excitement to their “tour of duty,” both on and off the boat-until one night, when an unexpected turn puts an end to it all.
Mark Victor Hansen – Relentless
Mark Victor Hansen – Relentless by Mitzi Perdue is a captivating biography about the life, successes and failures of the founder and co-creator of the Chicken Soup for the Soul series, Mark Victor Hansen. Perdue’s careful study of the life of Mark Victor Hansen will help readers understand how they can also attain success at any stage of their life.
Though the book’s written about a famous inspirational and motivational speaker, Perdue spoke with Hansen himself and sixty-six individuals who have had personal encounters with Hansen at some point. Through the interviews with the sixty-six individuals, readers will understand Hansen’s personal principles and how they can also apply them to attain success in whatever they want to do.
This is an enlightening biography that provides readers with the truth of Hansen’s life. The book includes his ups and downs, making this a candid and interesting read. The author shares his intimate moments with readers and I enjoyed these moments because it brought a humanity to Mark Victor Hansen’s story and made him more relatable. Hansen also shows readers how one wrong choice can affect your dream in the long run.
Purdue takes a deep dive into Hansen’s life and by the end of the book I felt like I was well informed. There is a wealth of knowledge shared in this biography and I felt inspired after finishing the book. The author includes quotes from Hansen on different pages of the book and chapter summaries titled ‘Learn From Mark’ at the end of each chapter.
Mark Victor Hansen – Relentless: Wisdom Behind the Incomparable Chicken Soup for the Soul by Mitzi Perdue is a motivational and fascinating biography that educates readers about an interesting man that has affected so many people in life.
Pages: 237 | ASIN: B0B52MHYQH
I Am Woman
I Am Woman by author Mrs. Anthony is a powerful memoir that will take readers on an emotional journey. Readers follow Mrs. Anthony from her childhood to her coming of age years when she meets her husband, Tony. Falling in love, they vow to start a life and family together. Tony begins his career while Mrs. Anthony is still trying to start hers. In the early years of their marriage, she spent time taking care of the household while letting her own dreams and career fall to the wayside. She slowly puts off more things that make her who she is to support her husband and his career. She thought she had the perfect love with beautiful children until Tony’s battle with alcohol slowly ruined their marriage. Despite all of the disappointments Mrs. Anthony and her family endured to his disease, they continue to support and love Tony.
I Am Woman: Book One: My Journey, My Tony is an eye-opening read that I found hard to put down. I didn’t expect this book to impact me, but this is a true testament to the author’s ability to infuse emotion into her writing. I felt as though I was reading Mrs. Anthony’s private journal. I was able to experience a true sense of what she was feeling. The disappointment in her husband for not being present in their marriage due to alcohol abuse came through her writing clearly. Mrs. Anthony’s sense of loss for herself because she was focused on her husband and ignored her own dreams was heartbreaking at times.
The author’s life story is one that many women will be able to relate to. The constant need to put family and spouse ahead of themselves makes this memoir especially poignant. As women strive to support their husbands and their careers, like Mrs. Anothony, their own careers and dreams get put on hold. I felt sorry for the author because she felt bad for being angry at her husband for getting sick, and she had to be both a mother and father and take care of their household. The guilt women feel is real, and the author shows how deeply that guilt can run and control how they live their lives. The guilt often turns to anger when in situations like this, the woman is left with no partner and the additional task of caring for the one she vowed to share life with. It seemed her husband did not appreciate the sacrifices she made, and it consumed her in frustration and pain, all while trying to make it appear like things were okay for the outside world and her children.
The author’s writing immersed me into her world, and I could clearly imagine each scene, making this an impactful read. I highly recommend this book to those who enjoy memoirs from women who share the personal journey of self-discovery and balancing an ever-complicated life.
Pages: 328 | ASIN : B09LHBQPWW
Don’t Keep Hiding Your Painful Secrets
Carbon Under Pressure is your memoir of surviving three of the worst years of your life while trying to hold your family together. Why was this an important story for you to share?
Back in 2017 I made a promise that once I supported my daughter through her ordeal, I would do all I could to stop this tragic suicide epidemic we are facing globally.
My story takes you on every step of my journey as I peeled back the layers to reveal a deep, dark secret that had been tormenting my child for longer than I could have imagined. It was not until I discovered her secret that I realised the true impact being silenced has on our mental health. I knew I had to speak out and share my story with real rawness and honesty.
My story lifts the curtain on mental health, suicide, domestic violence, child and sexual abuse. All too often we hear about these topics through reports or statistics, but statistics rarely stir us into action the way a powerful real story can.
What is a common misconception you feel people have about suicide?
I feel the biggest misconception out there is: Talking about suicide will lead to and encourage more suicides.
There is so much stigma associated with suicide which impacts people’s ability to speak out about their suicidal thoughts. When in fact talking about suicide will not only reduce the stigma, but it will also encourage people to speak out about it, to share their story with others and to also seek help.
Discrediting this myth can open our eyes to the fragility of those who soldier on in silence when their world has been shattered. I hope this will encourage us all to support one another to create a more compassionate, respectful, and honourable society.
What is one piece of advice someone gave you that changed your life?
When I was in the middle of living through this nightmare and consumed with guilt and regret, someone shared this quote with me that completely changed my perspective and how I live my life. The quote is:
“It doesn’t matter what has happened to you, it matters what you do with what has happened to you. Life is like a poker game. You don’t get to choose the cards you are dealt, but it’s entirely up to you how to play the hand.” ― Regina Brett
What do you hope is one thing readers take away from your story?
Every reader will possibly relate to a different moment in my story. There are lessons about finding the strength to seek justice, about learning to let go and accept that you cannot control everything in your life, and about realising what a mother’s unlimited love really looks like.
But if you’re looking for one universal lesson, I believe what we can all take from my book Carbon Under Pressure is this: don’t keep hiding your painful secrets. They become burdens too heavy to carry and they hold you back from living fully and freely. Breaking the silence is the bravest and most empowering thing we can do. That’s when things really begin to change.
Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Facebook | Website
Rose thought she had it all, then she discovered her husband’s hidden life. The revelation crushed Rose, and the breakup shattered her family. Battling through heartbreak and betrayal, she thought the worst was behind her, but nothing could prepare Rose for what came next.
In this raw and confronting story, we follow three years in Rose’s life. With a rare honesty, she reveals the painful emotions of a mother watching helplessly as her daughter battles a tormenting secret. It will push her to the edge, but just as the nightmare promises to end, Rose’s family is haunted by a new and more ominous threat. Will the intense pressure tear her apart, or can she find the strength to face her demons and save the ones she loves?
Carbon Under Pressure is based on real events. Rose’s story is shocking, riveting and unforgettable, and what happened to her could happen to anyone.
Bike Riding in Kabul
Bike Riding in Kabul is the story of Jamie Bowman, a woman who works as foreign aid in several post-war countries. The author’s story is a unique take on the travel memoir genre. We don’t just read countless stories of an individual eating world-class dishes and laying on the beach; we watch someone help entire countries find their own peace. Through it all, we learn about the invaluable pieces of wisdom she learned along the way. From learning how to truly help people and understanding how many of these countries found themselves in their situations, there is so much wisdom to devour.
Conversational and thorough is one of the best ways to describe Bowman’s writing style. As she walks readers through her time in each country, she shares descriptions of the surrounding buildings and scenery. Without being long and drawn out, you gain a sense of the exotic locations as if you were there.
I enjoyed reading about Bowman’s adventures navigating the different cities she was in and how she made the best out of some of the most gloomy situations. It was easy to gather how passionate she was about the work she was doing. Even when the air quality in her broom closet-style office was so bad that she had to work on a staircase and stay in some not-so-great dwellings.
One of my favorite parts of this invigorating book is its unique twist on the classic travel memoir. Unlike many travel memoirs, there is a heavy focus on helping others through the author’s travels instead of personal enlightenment. Of course, there were enlightening moments for Bowman as she learns about the world outside of the United States, but that wasn’t the focal point. It was a nice change and made me feel like I wasn’t reading the same stories from memoirs past.
Bike Riding in Kabul by Jamie Bowman was a delightful read with much wisdom amongst its pages. This was a quick and engaging book that I highly recommend. If you’re looking for a unique travel memoir or just a profound story, then this is a book you must pick up.
Pages: 375 | ISBN : 978-1-6337-634-2
Designed Illusions: Via Divine Power
Designed Illusions: Via Divine Power is a fascinating memoir that details the experiences, and designed illusions, of the author beginning from the age of (about) seven. Readers get a fascinating look at profound moments in P J Ricchiuti’s life. He describes these various moments in detail, and they are all accompanied by thoughtful reflections of the events as well as his emotions and thoughts. At the end of each chapter there is a Retrospect section where the author provides personal commentary and a summary of the experience in the chapter.
This is an intriguing memoir that covers moments in the authors life from 1944 in Italy to 2017 in the United States. The author often references the ‘Divine’ throughout the text and wonders which of his memories were scripted by a Divine power, which were illusions and which were real. This made reading this book all the more curious and compelling for me as I too tried to determine the origin of these experiences.
The memoir does not provide a complete picture of the authors life, but from what I can understand from the text I don’t believe the author fully comprehends some events in his life either, and this book is one of the ways that he is trying to make sense of the Divine activity in his life. He asks various questions throughout the book that give readers insight into his own thought process and the things he wonders. This all comes together to make a very compelling memoir that is engrossing and hard to forget.
P J Ricchiuti has written a thought-provoking memoir that will provide readers with a look at a unique individual’s life and the seemingly mystical happenings in his life. I highly recommend Designed Illusions: Via Divine Power to readers looking for a wholly unique experience.
Pages: 110 | ASIN: B092DWCMRP
LITERARY TITAN 