Blog Archives
How I Became the Real-Life Nurse Jackie
In Lyndsey Kay’s epistolary novel, How I Became the Real-Life Nurse Jackie, readers are invited to traverse the multifaceted journey of a nurse, presented through a series of deeply personal diary entries. The protagonist’s complex upbringing and challenges pave the way for a narrative that is both raw and resonant.
The novel commences with the musings of a nurse who exudes bitterness before diving into the chronicle that marks the inception of her life. Spanning her years as a schoolgirl and a teenager, readers are provided an unfiltered window into her evolving thoughts, experiences, motivations, and passions. The book metamorphoses into an intimate diary, illustrating the passage of time through shifts in thinking patterns and a mosaic of human emotions.
The chosen format for the narrative is remarkably fitting. Diary entries facilitate a closer bond between the reader and the protagonist, enhancing empathy toward her struggles. This style of narration crafts an environment that makes it easy to acknowledge the hurdles she faces. The reader embarks on a profound journey of self-discovery, resilience, and adaptation, guided by a character who plans, recalibrates, and faces life’s many obstacles head-on.
Kay does not shy away from delving into serious and somber themes such as unplanned pregnancies, unstable relationships and marriages, homelessness, and a growing addiction. The narrative beautifully captures the essence of a human being touching the depths of existence and the sparse glimmers of hope to climb out.
How I Became the Real-Life Nurse Jackie succeeds in portraying a stark reality that resonates with many. Despite the dark nature of the topics explored, the prose is accessible and inviting, compelling the reader to immerse themselves in understanding a life path not often articulated. By the end of this stirring read, one is left with a deeper sense of empathy and a greater appreciation for the shared human experience.
This novel is more than just a tale of trials and tribulations; it’s a celebration of resilience and an examination of the human condition. Engaging, heartfelt, and filled with wisdom, How I Became the Real-Life Nurse Jackie stands as a beacon for all those seeking to understand life’s complexities through the eyes of someone who has truly lived them.
Pages: 153 | ASIN : B0C9VXSH4L
Mental Health Mayday
Mental Health Mayday: A Firefighter’s Survival Guide from Recruit through Retirement is a revolutionary work by author Gregg Bagdade that extensively explores the oft-neglected topic of mental health in the arduous field of firefighting. Bagdade, leveraging his profound experiences as a paramedic, firefighter, and trained counselor, illuminates the unseen hardships and psychological tolls endured by these brave professionals.
Bagdade’s personal anecdotes form the core of this literary masterpiece, enabling readers to intimately connect with the author and his peers on a profoundly human level. In a society where we may primarily focus on our health and safety, this book serves as a poignant reminder that the professionals safeguarding our lives are humans, too, subject to the same emotional strains and stressors. Bagdade candidly discusses how the nature of their profession may sometimes leave them at a loss when grappling with emotional adversities.
One particularly affecting account is the tragic loss of one of Bagdade’s friends and colleagues. He poignantly conveys the initial grieving process he and his wife underwent, which gradually evolved into a collective grieving as other couples joined them. They found solace in mutual support, recalling shared memories, and speaking openly about the painful loss. This experience underscored for Bagdade the profound importance of mental health in his professional community, and it catalyzed his journey to becoming a counselor.
Mental Health Mayday sparks an essential dialogue about the significance of mental well-being in professional spheres. This is particularly critical for vocations like firefighting, where individuals regularly encounter the harsh realities of human suffering, loss, and tragedy. The importance of managing these experiences, especially when one’s role is to serve and protect, cannot be overstated. This book, I firmly believe, is a crucial step towards fostering a future of increased awareness and compassion within such challenging fields.
I recommend Mental Health Mayday to anyone aspiring to be a paramedic, doctor, or firefighter or simply seeking a deeply moving narrative. Gregg Bagdade, with this book and his life’s work, has made an immense contribution, perhaps even more than he comprehends. He has equipped his peers with tools to navigate the inherent trials of their professions and has laid the foundation for future generations of firefighters. Bagdade’s unflagging dedication and resilience are indeed commendable. Figures like him, who make a significant difference one step at a time within their communities, are the torchbearers leading us toward a more empathetic world.
Pages: 110 | ISBN-10 : 1957354224
Unique Mythology
The Blood Inheritance Novels Series Two-Book Set: Endow and Resist follows the journey of three friends as they make a dangerous trip through the realms. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
I have loved to write for as long as I can remember and although I can’t recall what exactly what inspired the Blood Inheritance Quartet, I believe one major influence was a paperback which I received called of Legends of the Fire Spirits: Jinn and Genies from Arabia to Zanzibar by Robert Lebling. Shortly after that, I began developing stories around the fictitious world of Sumir, in which the Blood Inheritance Quartet takes place. Like many legends, I find the mythology pertaining to Jinn and Genies fascinating and when creating the unique mythology for the world of Sumir, the Jinn were the main focus to start with. From there the idea continued to grow and before I knew it, I had planned a series.
What were the morals you were trying to capture while creating your characters?
The situations in these books may be fictitious and take place in a fantasy world, but the self-questioning that occurs and the doubt, those are things we face every day. I like to say that the protagonists do the best they can with the information that they are given and have found out, especially as they learn and accept more about themselves and each other.
Regarding these heroines especially, I wanted them to be strong and believable characters that held different behaviors, ideas, and moral beliefs, and I strove to maintain their differences in order to show the distinct ways each young woman thinks.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
Some of the themes that I felt were important to explore were: BETRAYAL, LOSS, FEAR, SURVIVAL, COURAGE, HEROISM, DISCOVERY, POWER, MAGIC, ISOLATION, ACCEPTANCE, IDENTITY, and MORAL DILEMMA.
I hope the series continues in other books. If so, where will the story take readers?
I have a lot of ideas for the world of Sumir, but in regard to the main characters in this series, I would like to explore what would happen if Amanda came face to face with the guardian that she trapped in the space between the realms. The truth is, I am already working on a few short stories that take place in this fictional world. My hope is to include them in my next short story collection.
Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Facebook | Website
Experience the epic fantasy in book three Endow: A Blood Inheritance Novel
Picking up where Lost ended, Endow takes Emily, Amanda, and Kiami on a dangerous trip through the realms. Amanda is determined to prove that the stones they were given are the very ones from the ancient myth. To do so she may have to divulge a few of her dark secrets.
The fate of Sumir is sealed forever in book four–Resist: A Blood Inheritance Novel.
With the end at hand, Amanda seeks redemption. But the myths of Sumir are only half-truths, and the layers of deception go deeper than she ever imagined. After an unknown ally tips her off, completing the puzzle, a bargain is struck, and it’s a race against time.
Once the half-bloods are united, the celestial will come at them with everything he has…
Included short Stories:
Bavmorda Part One: The Journey
Bavmorda Part Two: Lessons
Peace, Love, and Spiritual Revolution
Trippy Hippy follows a young man in 1967, the Summer of Love, who moves to San Francisco and goes on a journey of self-discovery. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
The so-called “Summer of Love” was an especially vibrant period in San Francisco instigated by drugs and rock music. It brought young people from all over the country to descend upon San Francisco along with ideals of peace, love, and spiritual evolution. It was a particularly exciting period to use as a setting for my novel.
Was there anything from your own life that you put into the characters in your novel?
The character Arnie/Gator was based on my own transition from bookkeeper to full-on participant in the lifestyle of the times, but once that transition is made the events that Gator participates in are wholly from my imagination.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
The themes that I think were important are embodied by the slogan “Make Love; Not War.” The use of drugs to attain enlightenment plays a huge role in the book as well as the daily life and interactions of the characters. The idea of “free love” is introduced early in the story when Nola gives Gator a welcome to the Ashram blow job with no accompanying drama. Gator’s love and loss of Eddy brings out the pain that comes with living on the edge. Music, too, plays an important part in the lives of the characters as Gator and Wabash form a band to not only make money but to express their ideals.
What is the next book that you’re working on, and when can your fans expect it?
I’ve written the first draft of a historical novel about two boys growing up in pre-civil war West Virginia. I’m not sure when I’ll go back to it. Right now I’m working on a sort of wild boys story set in the early 1950s in Houston where I was raised. It’s called The Road to Hell, and it’s both humorous and potentially tragic as the young gang members pull off pranks that become increasingly serious in nature. I’m also considering writing a second draft of a story I wrote years ago about a drive through Mexico in an old car with a hole in the radiator called A Hundred Years of Cilantro.
Author Links: GoodReads | Amazon
Trippy Hippy peels back the facade of Adler’s Ashram to expose the daily lives of its occupants. Wabash Jones, musician and future rock star, Nola and Victor Granola, apartment managers and social magnets, Jeepster Joe, adventurer, and teen boy seducer, and Gracie Fontana, Wabash’s doll-like sweetheart. This acid-splashed tell-all by Gator lays bare the hippy lifestyle during that remarkable year known as The Summer of Love.
LITERARY TITAN 