Blog Archives
The Golden Gladiator – Book Trailer
The Golden Gladiator. . . .
Myth? Urban legend? Hero? Antihero?
Myth or urban legend? Not at all. This is the true story of senior citizen Michael Lynch and his inspirational journey back to the gridiron and glory. In his mid-sixties, he played on one of the best semi-pro football teams in America, and was coached by a former NFL veteran.
After seeing his nephew play in a high school All-Star game on Long Island during the summer of 2012, Michael Lynch had an epiphany. He wanted to play football again. In the late 60s and early 70s, he had been a football star in high school, college, and in the semi-pro leagues on Long Island. Forty years later, he decided to turn back the clock and risk life and limb to play football again in one of the toughest semi-pro leagues in America: the Florida Football Alliance.
This is a story of courage, redemption, tragedy, and love as Lynch played for four years in over fifty football games. He was a game captain, an Honorable Mention on the 2014 Florida Football Alliances All-Star team, and was honored at the leagues’ banquet in his final year in 2018 for his inspiration and dedication to the game he loves. He played on two championship teams, in 2015 and 2018.
Michael Lynch was inducted into the Guinness World Records in 2019 as the oldest American football player ever, and the oldest American football player to catch a touchdown pass—which he did at the age of sixty-eight.
Hero or antihero? You decide, but first read Michael Lynch’s epic tale, his Iliad and Odyssey of football journeys—the true story of . . . the Golden Gladiator.
I Put My Soul And Thought In The Book
Can We Talk? tells your story about moving to Canada, the struggle your family faced from the move, and strained relationships with each other. Why was this an important book for you to write?
I moved to Canada 21 years ago with my husband and our two daughters, just like other immigrants first we faced with “no Canadian experience no job, no job no Canadian experience” for years, we didn’t have any option except downgrade ourselves from senior project manger before immigration to sitting in coop courses and doing voluntary jobs.
In the meanwhile our two daughters went through many challenges as newcomers and new students, we were very fortunate they could adopt and achieve their goals after first few years by hard work and working extra hours.
However our daughters could get back to their positions faster than most of immigrants kids ,but it takes 3 years for me and 6 years for my husband to get back to be hired as Engineer, while we thought our life is stable and our days and nights efforts finally took us to what we deserved, our work environment harassment started , it followed by discriminating, racism, genderism, and a hidden competition between those who were born in Canada against successful immigrants who they assumed are stealing their opportunities.
This injustice, negligence and harassment caused me broken long time marriage, job lost, loosing financial stability, a huge distance between me and my daughters and health problems.
Those incidents were just beginning and followed by discriminating, insult, humiliation and harassment every where from doctors office to banks to police stations to stores and even courts and law offices, those mental, emotional and physical abuse made my husband depressed, my talented educated younger daughter without job for 5 years , my smart educated older daughter working 15-17 hours per day for making basic life alone and impacted on me the way one side of my body completely disabled and I almost died.
The main reason of writing this book is letting world knows why in a country that is called free country and are fighting against discrimination out of Canada borders let this happened inside its territory and my 17 years complaint, asking for stopping this harassment not only did not get anywhere but also by misusing and manipulating languages I was tourcherd to death and have been living under extreme interrogation for finding a mystery connection who they created in their unrealistic, abusive world.
I appreciated the candid nature with which you told your story. What was the hardest thing for you to write about?
I am grateful to you and Titan for reviewing my book, since this story is a true story I put my soul and thoughts in the book, going through everything happened to my family and how we went through injustice without doing anything in our fault broke my hear. I lost more than 30 years marriage and a family and home we had built since our early twenty, on top of that losing our respect, our society positions and be treated like a criminal, crazy worthless person by strangers without knowing for which crime we are targeted is something still Canada authorities should answer it.
What is one piece of advice someone gave you that changed your life?
I grew up in a country that has very different values, I had seen revolution, war and those who lost their life for standing for what is important for them besides my parents raised me with principals encouraging us read books and live free , plus I started reading books since I was a teen , I read Gandhi, Dessire and Napoleon, historical, psychological and political books they all helped me when I was struggling , I am thankful for my background and my life history that made me be alive today.
What do you hope is one thing readers take away from your story?
Standing up for their rights, do not give up on taking back what you believe belongs to you and it is taken from you.
Author Links: Twitter | Facebook | Website
Sam, her husband Shawon and their daughters have faced the trials and challenges of finding their feet in a new country. Sam now has a steady job and their daughters’ educations have gone well. Can their newfound happiness come without a price?
No sooner do they think their troubles are behind them when suddenly their life turns upside down. No matter how hard they try under the influence of the environment they change to a new version of themselves to fight for what is not in their control, and in this road they are led to a separated lifestyle and eventually get distance from each other.
In this true story every member of Sam’s family reacts to trauma in their own way. Sam has been doubting unwanted strange changes related to politics and country but her family accuse her with being paranoid and delusional.
Can We Talk?
Can We Talk? by Sam Smith is an impassioned story of a family trying to adjust to life in a new country while dealing with mental illness, racism, and divorce. Based on her life, being an immigrant in Canada, Sam gives the reader a view into her experiences with her husband, Shawon, and her two daughters, Julie and Shanon. Everyone in the family has a different struggle. Sam and Shawon have a strained marriage that was not made easier by their move to Canada. Shawon and Sam live in the same house but no longer sleep together. They no longer act as a married couple, with Sam’s coworkers not believing she is even married. This relationship trickles down to their two kids. Shannon, the younger sister, still lives in the house with both of them. She is often in the middle of her parents’ fights, always consoling her mother after her father says something cruel. Julie lives away at school and has become an independent and self-reliant person who doesn’t ask for much help.
Can We Talk? is a stirring story about how hard adjusting to a new life can be. The author does a wonderful job at conveying her life struggles and hardships in a compelling story that feels real and is relatable.
Sam Smith does a masterful job of creating a story where the reader can feel the struggle of the characters regardless of whether they have felt those same struggles. She does this without creating a large conflict, instead she tells a real story with real people and real problems.
The story never feels like it is about characters in a book, it instead feels like a story about real people living their life and trying to deal with their family struggles. It is easy to empathize with Sam and her kids, because you understand what they are going through and where the problems lie.
Reading about Sam’s relationship with Shawon and her experience immigrating to a new country, you can’t help but to feel for them. Although the reader can recognize that Shawon causes a lot of issues for Sam and their kids, you still understand his motives and actions. The real enemy of their family is the hardships that come with immigrating and not being able to provide for their family.
Can We Talk? is a deeply thoughtful and emotionally resonant memoir about the challenges people face and how that tests us and our relationships. I would highly recommend this book to anyone looking for an insightful and poignant true story.
Pages: 267 | ASIN: B09BRQGLR4
Hidden Truths Needed To Be Uncovered
Inspirations is an inspirational and motivational self-help book that shares your personal struggles and the process you underwent to achieve your success. Why was this an important book for you to write?
This book was vital for me to write because many hidden truths needed to be uncovered by the world. Unstill today, many individuals live in the dark because they are being blind by manipulators and abusers. Those individuals are unable to make informed decisions by themselves. I believe if they had the opportunity to read my book, they would be able to see clearly and lead their lives in a new direction, which would enable them to avoid being ambushed by conspirators.
What is one piece of advice you wish someone had given you when you were younger?
One piece of advice I wish someone had given me when I was younger is developing financial literacy.
What do you hope is one thing readers take away from your story?
One thing I hope readers take away from my story is belief.
What is the next book you are working on, and when will it be available?
The next book that I am working on is the Second Edition of the Book Inspirations: My Vivid Imagination Has Been Transformed into Reality. It will be available in 2024.
Author Links: Facebook | Amazon
A collection of quotes that offer valuable lessons Francois has learned from his experiences in America, Inspirations is arranged by topic. From Sticking to Your Principles to Flexibility and Change Are Necessary for Growth, his goal is to see all people around the world live as happy and productive individuals.
Francois has provided a great deal of stirring, useful information designed to enable to everyone to make better lives for themselves and to better position themselves for success in todays society. His ultimate goal is to help people gain knowledge, achieve their goals, resolve their problems, and enable their success in todays fast-paced world.
Inspirations: My Vivid Imagination Has Been Transformed into Reality fulfills Francoiss vision of enabling everyone to make their future success a reality.
Peterson Francois is a thoughtful individual whose many ideas will cause readers to reflect upon their lives in a way that could likely lead to a more fulfilling life.
Dr. Ralph Norcio, Lynn University
Peterson Francois is a highly motivated person who has been confident in his academic and professional abilities and determined toward achievement and further progress. He takes his responsibilities very seriously and tries his best to achieve the perfection. Paterson Francois is a very friendly person with a positive attitude and respect toward others.
Dr. Farideh Farazmand, Lynn University
A Topic I Know Well; Swimming
Soul of a Swimmer is the true story about a high school athlete that dies in a school shooting and the legacy he left behind. Why was this an important book for you to write?
Many believe that America has come to normalize mass shootings; often the seriousness of the crime is measured by a body count, and that’s it. No matter the breadth or depth of one’s life, every person who passes on in a mass shooting is worthy of their story being told- they were in the process of dreaming, and living for the future when they died. Few stop and ponder “Who were these people who died? What talent is our society never going to realize?”
This was my first book, and I chose to write about a topic I know well; swimming.
I am a lifelong competitive swimmer, and I implicitly understand Nick. We are of the same breed (so to speak), his passing deeply affected me and indelibly rocked swimmers worldwide. Even though swimming is an individual sport, swimmers share a kinship like no other, and myself and countless other swimmers deeply mourn Nick; a lost member of our school of fish.
Shortly after the tragedy I became acquainted with Nick’s story through several memorials and fundraisers for his charity http://www.swim4nick.com. Nick was and still is a phenomenon. I hadn’t planned on writing a book, but Nick found me and I had to tell his story. It was a pleasure and honor to forever memorialize Nick in this way.
Lastly, I came to learn about the other 16 souls we lost in Parkland. They each were remarkable people; I wish I had the bandwidth to write their stories too.
I appreciated the candid nature with which you told your story. What was the hardest thing for you to write about?
By far the prologue was the hardest 2 pages I’ve ever written and probably ever will write. I’m still emotional and often choke up when I think about the interview with Annika, Nick’s mom, which led to the finalization of this passage.
Each interview as hard in its own way. There was always a balance of grief and joy during the interviews. There were lots of tears; yet openness among all of the interviewees. Resounding respect for Nick resonated throughout the interview process.
What is your favorite memory of Nicholas?
During the writing process, every way I turned, there was a remarkable new” favorite” memory. My favorite is when Mitch, Nick’s dad, described Nick secretly teaching his younger brother to drive. Mitch’s facial expressions during this conversation were priceless. The story of Nick comforting his friend Carlos through a family tragedy was profound and unexpected. This is a story which Nick’s parents never knew before I wrote the book.
I love the memory of Nick visiting Daria’s mom, unannounced. I also love the memory of Nicholas consuming most if not all of the “Fika” snacks.
What do you hope is one thing readers take away from Nicholas’s story?
Nicholas Dworet was a remarkable human being. His was a “Life Well Lived.”
Author Links: Amazon | GoodReads
We Lived Every Kid’s Dream
A ball with no points tells the true story of your high school basketball team and the remarkable victory they achieved. Why was this an important book for you to write?
As I explained in book’s Prologue, this story was too special to let it just fade away and be forgotten forever. Our recent team reunion after 46 years made it clear how special those memories still were amongst all of us who made it happen. We lived every kid’s dream…and it was time to share the dream with everyone else.
I appreciated the candid nature with which you told your story. What was the hardest thing for you to write about?
It was describing some of the hardships that many of my teammates endured later in life, and that needed to part of the story. Life is hard, but despite those hardships, our friendships and bonds have remained stronger than ever.
What is one piece of advice someone gave you that changed your life?
“You can’t be afraid of what other people might think of you.” – Jim Valvano
What do you hope is one thing readers take away from your story?
Believe in yourself, and then go chase your dreams.
Author Links: GoodReads | Website
For decades Westfield, NJ has been the idyllic suburban town known for its distinctive homes along tree-lined streets, its classic downtown area, and for having a school system that was the envy of many neighboring towns. During the ’60s and ’70s, the town proudly witnessed the most dominant high school football program in the state under the leadership of head coach Gary Kehler, highlighted by a state record 48 straight games without a loss. Yet in the midst of that streak, the 1971-72 varsity boys basketball team briefly stole the spotlight from their football classmates while accomplishing something that no other WHS hoops team has ever done, either before or since. In a ball with no points, a member of that team recalls a basketball journey, life lessons learned along the way, and one very special season a half century ago.
For anyone who has ever stepped onto a basketball court, played high school sports, or dreamed of being a champion, there is something in this book for you. A ball with no points examines the many facets of basketball familiar to many, as well as a fairy tale season enjoyed by precious few.
If Only I Could Read
If Only I Could Read by Robert Cox is an extremely insightful autobiography of a man that spent almost all his adult life without the ability to read. Life is already pretty hard for most of us, but imagine how things would be if you couldn’t read. From small things to big and important ones, reading is essential to get by in life: to remain in school, get into a competitive job, and even get groceries or reading directions. So the ability to read is necessary. Robert’s book fantastically describes how much of a difference being able to read can impact someone’s life and how this can become a huge setback.
Regardless of his problems with reading, what I enjoyed most about Robert’s description of his life were his perseverance and resilience. He never gave up, and he made the most of his life despite not being able to read. In his story, we get to see the multiple jobs and projects he worked on and the effort he put in to support his family. It wasn’t easy, but he always had a positive attitude. From his childhood, we see the difficulties he encountered that could have negatively disrupted his life; however, he got through it with determination.
The book is fast-paced and is written engagingly. Reading this story was an inspiring journey that allowed me to get a new perspective that I had never considered before. There are many people out there that can’t read for whatever reason or that possess learning disabilities. This book does an excellent job of portraying what it’s like to navigate life with this problem, letting readers worldwide understand the struggle.
Robert felt that there might be something wrong with him throughout his life, feeling unintelligent at times. Nevertheless, he experienced a lot of exciting situations from which he was able to learn. However, his reading problems constantly haunted him and even kept him away from taking advantage of some incredible opportunities that came his way. With time, he had to find a route to overcome his problem and understand it in the first place.
The author perfectly illustrates the journey that a person has to make when they simply can’t read. Through this book, people will gain a better perspective and insight on learning disabilities, maintaining a compassionate and understanding look of those out there that may have some disadvantages in life.
If Only I Could Read is an uplifting autobiography of a man that made it well into adulthood before learning how to read. His remarkable story of getting through school despite his inability to read and eventually uncovering why he could not learn in school is eye-opening. In addition, his struggle is a view into the world of people with learning disabilities and the challenges they face.
Pages: 126 | ASIN : B083HMJT32
Blessed: A Family’s Struggle to Rise from the Ashes
After something traumatic happens, victims end up having their story told for them over and over again. It can seem perverse, like a performance on command for an audience without anything at stake. For the victim, there can be emotional power in determining how their story is told. The victim can center themselves in the story, flip the narrative from one about what happened to them, to one that explains their thoughts and feelings. I believe this is what Dr. Sherri Young was aiming to do in writing her emotionally resonant memoir, Blessed.
In 2018, the house in which Dr. Young, her husband, and their young daughter lived was suddenly destroyed in a propane explosion. Due to a serendipitous midnight wakening and correct emergency response, the three people living in the house managed to escape the blast. But the explosion was just the beginning; Blessed details their struggles with insurance companies, the loss of pets and cherished possessions, and returning to daily life after the trauma. It is a bumpy road, and the reader is given direct access to Dr. Young’s thoughts and feelings about the trauma and its aftermath.
This is a heartfelt story that stands as a great source of inspiration, but I would have enjoyed hearing more of the authors personal introspection and thoughts on this time in her life. This is a work that details the author’s intense (and understandable) feelings of anger, of loss, and of embarrassment, and I wanted to delve deeper into those feelings because what little is given is compelling. At multiple points in the book, she nearly melts with shame over her circumstances, and she never examines why she feels so much shame over something that is clearly not her fault. I think this comes out of the connection I felt with the author due to the fantastic writing. I just wanted to know so much more, and understand her so much better.
Even though Blessed is light on emotional introspection, this impassioned memoir still offers a lot of insight into how someone who suffers a catastrophic loss might feel. I can only hope that being able to tell her incredible story on her own terms is healing for Dr. Young. Overall, Blessed is a good, quick read, especially if you like to read stirring memoirs.
Pages: 124 | ASIN: B084BZKK1Z
LITERARY TITAN 