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Every Journey is Valid
In Barely Visible, you share the heartbreaking loss of your daughter and the challenges and victories that come with raising a son with autism. Why was this an important book for you to write?
I was 5 1/2 months pregnant with our daughter when it was discovered that something was seriously wrong. Dozens of tests revealed a very rare duplication of chromosome 9p. We were told that if she survived, she would have no quality of life—yet she would look normal. That struck me hard.
At seven months, we faced the devastating decision to end the pregnancy. I truly believe we were never meant to walk down that path. Even if her physical features appeared normal, our daughter’s disability would have been readily apparent. People would have looked upon us sympathetically. They would have granted us accommodations and leeway because they would have been able to see that it was an unworkable situation. Her behaviors would have been accepted without explanation.
Instead, we were destined to face the challenge of parenting a child whose disability is not readily visible. On the surface, my son looks like every other kid out there, but he interprets and reacts to the world in ways that most people don’t understand. It’s as if he’s trying to navigate an unfamiliar landscape with a map written in a language he doesn’t speak.
As a parent, you want to protect your child—you want to shield them from criticism and discomfort, and for others to see them in a good light. Learning when to step in and advocate for your child, versus stepping back and allowing situations to fall apart so they can learn to navigate on their own, demands tremendous foresight and strength. Watching them be bullied because they are a bit “different” is heartbreaking. Seeing them miss out on opportunities because they “don’t quite measure up” is discouraging. Knowing that it is all beyond their control is devastating.
It was important for me to share it all because living with—and parenting—an invisible disability is often a lonely and misunderstood journey. The world isn’t always kind to those who “look fine” but struggle in ways that aren’t immediately apparent. I wanted people to understand that just because a challenge isn’t visible doesn’t mean it isn’t real, or worthy of empathy, support, and compassion.
Writing Barely Visible allowed me to process my own grief, frustration, and ultimately, pride. It gave me space to honor both of my children, while having the chance to connect with other parents and individuals who are walking similar paths, often in silence. It’s a reminder that every journey is valid—whether it’s clearly marked or barely visible.
I appreciated the candid nature with which you told your family’s story. What was the hardest thing for you to write about?
The failures! There were so many along the way, it seems—a first baby with a severe chromosomal disorder, a second child with a disability, a failed marriage, a decision to ignore our son’s diagnosis, not taking the time to understand the cause of his behaviors once we did accept it, the countless missteps we made because we never educated ourselves—and so on. Granted, not all those circumstances were within our control, but they still felt like failures nonetheless. It’s difficult to acknowledge, not only to yourself, but to the world, that you buried your head in the sand, made poor choices, put your own needs first at times, and stumbled. But to admit anything less wouldn’t help anyone.
Writing about my failures forced me to confront the version of myself I’d rather forget—the scared, overwhelmed, sometimes selfish and stubborn version—the one who made decisions I regret. The minute you relive all those low moments on the page, in full view of others, they become real again in a much greater way. Suddenly, they’re exposed and permanent—and the only thing to do is own them.
Growth doesn’t come from pretending we got it all right. It comes from being willing to look back, acknowledge the hard truths, and do better moving forward. I’ve learned that it’s okay to get it wrong, as long as you keep showing up and you’re willing to learn.
What is one misconception you think many people may have about children with autism?
Because the spectrum is so broad, I can’t speak about misconceptions concerning all children with autism, but I can share from my experience as the parent of a high-functioning son and how that label creates unrealistic expectations—mainly, an assumption of success. People believe that because a child is “high-functioning,” they’ll be just fine, that they’ll somehow grow out of their limitations or eventually learn to manage them.
On the surface, my son looks like every other young adult beginning his journey in the real world. He has a college degree and a job; he drives a car, plays sports, and is even pursuing a modeling career. It gives the appearance that “he’s got this.” But the truth is far more complicated.
The moment he reacts to a situation in a way that falls outside the norm—in a way that isn’t considered socially acceptable—he’s suddenly judged differently. He’s viewed as being rude, poorly disciplined, or lacking self-control. The strengths that make him appear just fine on the surface mask the challenges he faces every day.
High-functioning doesn’t mean he doesn’t struggle and need support. It doesn’t automatically equate to maturity, independence, or the ability to think critically in every situation. What it means is that his difficulties are simply less visible, and people don’t take the time to understand him or make space for him. It’s easier to say, “He’ll be fine,” than it is to recognize the effort it takes for him to get through each day and do the hard work of accepting, understanding, and supporting him. As a result, he ends up vulnerable to judgment and isolation.
What is one thing you hope readers take away from your experiences?
None of us is perfect, and parenting is hard, period. But when you’re raising a child who isn’t neurotypical, the challenges multiply. It’s okay to struggle. It’s okay to feel overwhelmed, frustrated, and exhausted. That doesn’t make you a bad parent; it makes you human.
What I hope readers take away is this: even when you feel like you’re failing, even when you’re taking three steps back, you are still moving forward. You’re still by your child’s side, day after day, doing your best and loving them. That’s what matters most. I want parents, especially those raising high-functioning autistic children, to know that it’s never too late to do better. Get vocal—not just with the world, but with your child. Talk to them. Teach them who they are. Help them understand how their brain works. Instill confidence and empower them to self-advocate. I wish I had done that sooner. I didn’t—and I’m making up for it every day.
Author Links: GoodReads | Facebook | Website | Instagram | Amazon
When your child is diagnosed with autism, a million questions come to the surface and fear sets in. The discovery that they are high functioning comes as a relief—it may enable them to disguise their shortcomings. Or it may create additional problems.
Barely Visible is not a heroic tale of a champion parent. It’s a candid memoir of one mother’s struggle with the gray space between her son appearing one way on the surface, yet being quite different beneath it. Walking that fine line between when to say something and when to bite your tongue, hoping your child can handle life on his own, requires tremendous foresight and energy. How do you convince others to “cut your child some slack” when the kid they see looks like every other kid they know? How do you explain away behavior that, at face value, looks like the result of bad parenting? And how do you prevent others from discriminating against your child once you do disclose their disability?
Chronicling a journey spanning twenty-three years, Barely Visible is a mother’s admission of guilt for choosing to ignore her son’s diagnosis initially; acceptance of defeat, for rarely knowing the right thing to do; and an acknowledgment of love—not only for her son, but also for herself.
Barely Visible: Mothering a Son Through His Misunderstood Autism
Kathleen Somers’ Barely Visible is a raw and often gut-wrenching memoir that tells the story of her journey as a mother navigating the heartbreaking loss of a daughter and the challenging road of raising a son with autism. The book begins with a detailed account of the late-term abortion she and her husband chose after discovering a severe chromosomal disorder in their unborn child. What follows is the story of their second chance at parenthood, a son, Jack, whose development is anything but typical, and whose autism remains invisible to many who interact with him. With honesty and grit, Somers invites readers into the daily struggles, small wins, crushing doubts, and fierce love that shape her life as a mother.
The writing is plainspoken and real, never dressing up the pain or dressing down the joy. Somers doesn’t flinch when describing her darkest moments and emotions like grief, rage, and guilt, but she also doesn’t wallow. Her voice is steady and direct. What I liked was her description of being caught in a kind of no-man’s-land with Jack: not disabled “enough” for sympathy, not neurotypical enough to be understood. That tension runs through the whole book, and it’s heartbreaking. She captures the loneliness of parenting a child who doesn’t fit the mold and the silent battles she fights in parking lots, classrooms, and her own mind.
What I appreciated most was that this isn’t a story wrapped up with a bow. Somers doesn’t pretend to have all the answers. She admits to losing her temper, to doubting her decisions, to questioning herself constantly. But she also shows up for her son, over and over again, even when it’s hard, even when it’s thankless. There’s a quiet bravery in that. And her reflections on how people perceive disability, how a child’s challenges are judged based on how visible they are, stayed with me. She writes with a dry wit at times that cuts through the heaviness, which I found refreshing and relatable.
I would recommend Barely Visible to any parent, especially those who feel like they’re walking a path they didn’t expect. If you’ve ever struggled to make sense of a diagnosis, to advocate for a child who’s misunderstood, or to stay afloat when life doesn’t look the way you thought it would, this book will speak to you. It’s not just about autism or motherhood or grief. It’s about resilience and love and the messy, beautiful, brutal work of showing up.
Pages: 312 | ISBN : 978-1647428822
Employing Courage
Building Men is your tribute to the men and moments that shaped your character, offering twenty virtue-driven stories as blueprints for building a meaningful life. Why was this an important book for you to write?
The lessons of character gifted to me are less available in today’s world. The traits offered by the mentors in the book are digestible and understandable in story form for anyone who longs to improve their character and life’s outcome.
What inspired you to center each chapter around a specific virtue, and how did you choose which ones to include?
The character traits found in Building Men were in a somewhat chronological order according to the time they were experienced. I found myself focused on the stories of impact, and then distilled the character trait as the true benefit that was a natural outcome of the lesson.
Was there a particular story or person that was the hardest or most emotional for you to write about?
Because I have so little understanding of the war experience encountered by my son, Major, the nature of the lesson is more emotional than practical. I will not pretend to have experienced war except through the phone calls that were interrupted by gunfire. While my parental experience was real, the actual person running towards danger was the one who was employing courage.
How do you hope younger readers, especially those without strong male mentors, will connect with this book?
I long for my readers to grasp the low-tuition learning available to them from others. There are many within the community, school, and church settings who have much to offer. Some of these unlikely learning environments are not at first apparent. The lesson classroom in the book happened at virtually every place I found myself willing to watch and listen. While the mentors and stories in the book were all positive, rest assured, I have also learned from negative teachers and experiences as well. It is my active choice to dwell and honor the positive people who helped to form my life.
Author Links: GoodReads | X (Twitter) | Facebook | Website | Amazon
What defines the making of a man?
Jim Tracy didn’t just establish multi-million-dollar family-owned businesses from his humble garage; he, alongside his family, embodied the American Dream. Jim attributes this success to the mentors who helped shape him into the entrepreneur and Hall of Fame inductee he is today.
In Building Men, Jim explores the essence of true character building, sharing stories of pivotal figures who influenced his business acumen, integrity, and leadership. He offers invaluable insights for anyone looking to guide young men toward becoming conscientious individuals who consistently make wise decisions.
From lessons learned from his grandfather to the principles he instills in his grandchildren, Jim provides a roadmap for raising young men in our complex modern world, offering a wealth of inspiration and practical advice.
GenX at Its Best
Be Good, Stay Strong, Love, Dad: A GenX Dad in a Digital World is a collection of heartfelt letters from a father to his sons as they venture into adulthood, sharing life lessons, personal anecdotes, and your reflections from the perspective of growing up as GenX. Why was this an important book for you to write?
Hi folks, it’s the author here. So, a guy in the back is asking why this was an important book for me to write. Lemme address this real quick.
Sir, the truth is, I never intended my personal letters to my boys to become a book. I’m a quiet guy. I had aspired once to be a writer, but that lacked practicality and this stuff was personal. Plus, I had a real job that actually paid real money to go to.
I guess a little background is in order here. The male role models in my formative years were old school. By that, I mean “Pipe down and rub some salt on it” old school. These guys had seen a lot and knew even more. And they never talked about it. Why? Men. That’s why. Loose lips sink ships.
Men in those days didn’t give advice. They paused, leaned back on some very old and scary species of industrial machinery, wiped their hands on a red rag cold with kerosine, considered your issue, and gave not advice but instruction. You didn’t get a politically correct filtered monolog. You just got instruction, and you only got that if you had the balls to approach their grumpy hides in the first place. Sometimes, if you were lucky, you got a backstory.
What’s that? You’d like an example, sir? Only if the group agrees. Folks?
Ok. Here’s a witnessed illustration of young GenX in the workplace. First off, everybody had a nickname, a lot of us had industrial jobs, the school of hard knocks was a thing…
So, Slop thinks he’s come up with a nifty hack to limit his exposure to free-flowing carcinogens during a machine cleaning process. He approaches the foreman Big Puddin’ to tout his idea. Big Puddin’ throws his machine into neutral, grabs his rag, cleans his ear, and hollers across the shop floor.
“Yo Jungle! Juuunnngle! Yo! You remember the time when Smokeshow cleaned the Chief’s ink system with a paintbrush? Well, Slopper here……he wants to try the same thing!”
“Yeah, Pud. I remember ol’ Smokeshow. He was a pisser! We still got his thumb hanging next to the dartboard. Quack found it a few days after the paintbrush trick.”
That’s how we learned.
Now back to business.
GenX was the last generation to have their global outlook, work ethic, and communities forged by prior generations who built and fought for what we have today with their brains and bare hands. These folks never felt like they were owed anything. They built their lives and families and their communities. They fought to protect and grow them in security.
Those lessons are being lost to time and it scares me what is forming our kids these days.
I wanted to translate some of that hard-won knowledge to my boys who, while exposed to plenty, still needed reminding of what was necessary to be a safe, productive, and viable citizen in a world softening before our very eyes and letters were my vehicle.
It turns out my letters documented 2 young people, on their own, each forging a novel path to their own concepts of happiness and success. Using old-school skills. Today, I see people struggling for a purpose let alone a path toward a goal. If this book might provide that path, that’s what makes this book important.
Thank you for the question.
What were some ideas that were important for you to share in this book?
Oh geeze, I mean the book is full of ideas of all sorts; good, nice, funny, highly questionable, downright bad. Suffice it to say that more hard topics, life cheats and uncensored boy humor are highlighted than Granny can shake her stick at. Everyone will likely walk away with something different but helpful in the game.
Allow me to pull a direct quote from a letter to my son while he was away at the military academy.
“I didn’t raise you guys to be victims, sad do-nuthins, or mean-spirited dicks. I raised you to be nice, smart, happy, and helpful.”
I was lucky. They listened. They worked hard. They won. If I could relay the information that hopefully had a hand in making the lives of my boys happy and productive to new generations of parents and kids in general……why not? That’s the idea anyway. The above sounds a little pompous so let me set the bar here. The information in this book making these kids happier was not mystical, cosmic truths, but things like not getting your ass splashed in a Port-o-Jon. GenX at its best. Don’t expect nonsense.
What was the most challenging part of writing your book, and what was the most rewarding?
Holy cow, the guy in back has a lot on his mind. Sir, you asked about the most challenging and rewarding aspects of the book. Let’s start with this.
The reason men don’t talk is the fact that words have repercussions beyond our limited sight. And we’ve all been bit. We wanna be careful. That was the challenge. Honesty is a stone bastard, and I knew releasing this book would be sad to some and flammable to others. More importantly, could there be any future repercussions for my family and friends? In this algorithm, did the downside outweigh any potential benefit? It almost did.
I decided to give my boys and my spouse complete autonomy of deletion, 90 days to read it and consider things from their future perspective. At the end of the process, very little was touched. I would release the book and stand in the face of any blow-back negative or positive and weather the results. Like a man. After all, I gotta believe love and humor will always win the day.
Rewards? Hell, I’ve already won. I hope to see laughter and nods of understanding when others read the book.
Can I get a glass of water?
What do you hope is one thing readers take away from your story?
Let’s make this the final report. The lumbago’s acting up sitting in this church chair under these lights.
One thing, huh. Well, you’ll see in the book that GenX has many talents in many areas. Cutting to the chase is one of them. There’s a final bullet in my personal Code. It’s a couple lines from a letter I sent to Mike away on a deployment, they read.
“It’s easy to be alone and sad. In fact, it doesn’t take any work at all to be a victim. It takes work to be a productive citizen.”
This was a lesson learned and practiced by my kids to their personal benefit and the benefit of their communities. If I can have a new generation of kids learn how not to get their keisters splashed in a Porta Potti? Well, that’s my hope.
Thank you all for your attention.
Now does somebody have a winch to get me outta this chair?
Author Links: GoodReads | Facebook | Amazon
Are you lucky enough to be born between 1965 and 1980? You know who you are. The MTV Generation, The Free-Range Generation, The Forgotten Generation. The last generation to have lived without an email address, a cell phone or a script.
Welcome Generation X!
We were the last generation of undocumented fun. We remember it very well. How? The scars remind us. GenX learned about life early and usually the hard way. GenX is resilient, brilliant, broken, and beautiful. We’re also supremely efficient, scary observant, and quietly calculating. We know at least a dozen places where they will never, ever find you. We know things that our kids and their kids need to know but no one today has the balls to tell them.
Born of personal letters from a GenX father to his sons arrives Be Good, Stay Strong, Love, Dad. This compendium of letters, lyrics and stories relays the lessons learned in our GenX environment and provides valuable information necessary for a smoother ride through life. These are lessons delivered in the hilarious reflection of 2 boys growing up. Be prepared for irreverent life precepts, candid reflection, bold stances, potty humor, and a whole bunch of cusswords. This is GenX. This is Fatherhood. Don’t say you weren’t warned.
The Strength of a Thousand Sons
The Strength of a Thousand Sons: More Stories from My Texas Family is an inspiring and eye-opening memoir written by Melvin E. Edwards. All families have a long history, and some of them possess a past that can only be described as gruesome and heartbreaking. This is the case with the Edwards family. Born into slavery, it was hard to imagine anything good ever-growing from such a soul-draining situation. Melvin Edwards does a fantastic job of portraying the hard path that his family had to take long ago and how with each new generation, new changes started to materialize that led to the evolution of the family dynamics. Social discourse, racism, and the importance of a healthy family are brought concisely in this memoir, giving the reader a history lesson that will broaden their perspective.
From the beginning, the book captures the reader’s attention. After researching for some time, the author was able to compile a collection of stories from his African-American family that ran through multiple generations. This compelling idea made for an incredibly interesting storyline that showcased the evolution of a family as it went along with relevant social and cultural changes. We get to see how everything started: with cruelty and slavery, which directly affects the Edwards family and their interactions with one another, impacting their familial bond. At some point, one of the members realizes that something needs to change in order to nurture the life of the next generations, avoiding at all costs carrying the trauma that was part of the family history.
This is a story of hardships. Even though it’s short, the author gathers in a concise manner a series of relevant events that surround and explain his family’s evolution. Historical landmarks are brought every few chapters, such as the eradication of slavery and Black suffrage. Offering a new perspective and a clear lens through which to view the difficult past of Black Americans in the United States, this book is essential for every reader out there, regardless of age, race, gender, or nationality.
The Strength of a Thousand Sons is a stirring memoir about changing the course of a family’s negative path. The point of view of the author is very clear. He offers his family’s experiences along with some social commentary, inviting the reader to do some introspection and confront the dark past that hides behind many faces out there. Despite the many negative events, the author finds a way to add a positive perspective, hoping for a better future that can only be achieved if society as a whole learns from the mistakes of the past.
Pages: 164 | ASIN : B0B6MF51BZ
LITERARY TITAN 