Showing results by publisher "AudioBook Network" in Biographies & Memoirs

Grace Santangelo was innocent, reserved, and obedient. At 15, she dutifully assisted in the day-to-day operation of her parents' boardinghouse in Illinois. Never in her wildest dreams did Grace imagine meeting and falling in love with boarder number three, Gio Rivia, a handsome Italian immigrant who was eight years her senior.

Stories of Life is a warm, expressive, heartfelt account of some of the major spiritual truths learned by the author over time, spanning some seventy years. There is humor, drama, tragedy, and encouragement to be enjoyed as the author explains the situations that occurred to bring about her spiritual learning and growth. She reveals the struggles and events of a difficult childhood and young adult life, as well as the resulting success that came after commitment to following God's chosen path for her life.

Eddy Beckendorf was raised in a New Orleans home marred by domestic violence. Following the sensational killing of his philandering police officer father by his mother, he descended into an abyss of mental anguish and pain. A failing student and high school dropout, he was a lost soul in a sea of despair who seemed to encounter tragic events at every turn, until he turned to the Lord.

A life recovering from many years of heartbreak and destruction is never perfect or always easy. It's about striving to do better and to be a better person. Rewards outweigh the discouragement. While following God's will, blessings are exponential and more exciting than I ever could have imagined.

The Diary of a Black Railroad Pioneer shares the exceptional journey of Jennette Spencer, the first African American woman Signal Maintainer (Engineer Department) in the United States, a profession historically governed by men yet boldly dominated by a determined female pioneer. In The Diary of a Black Railroad Pioneer, Spencer’s impact on the countless railroad workers she encountered is immeasurable, yet her mission is to reach the masses through her story of perseverance and dedication illustrates a life unlike any other.

It wasn't until I had enough of the life I was living and wanted to take my own life that I cried out to God. The Lord reached out his hand in the pit of my despair and lifted me up. I have been walking with him since that day. I fell in love with Jesus because he loved me first, He says we were worth dying for. He did not allow the devil to take me out before I knew what true love is. I went from hopeless to putting my hope in Jesus. Who am I now? I am loved. I am chosen. I am redeemed. I am free!

Born in a coal camp in Southview, Pennsylvania, to a German immigrant father who was a coal miner for 37 years, my future looked preordained. I was headed to the coal mines or the steel mills in the suburbs of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It was just a way of life in Appalachia, and the measurement of success was just getting a job, eventually getting married, and raising a family--a good life by everyone's standards who worked and lived there.

When my wife Cheryl saw what I was doing, she asked me to chronicle our almost 30-year journey through Alzheimer's. As I began to write and post blogs of the trip, it became apparent that I had a love of writing and an audience for our story. I soon developed a large following, and the blog almost took on a life of its own. The blog has morphed into much more than I ever dreamed. From the comments and feedback I received on many posts, it became apparent that I needed to try and turn this into a book. Many people battling this disease and being caregivers need to know they are not alone.

In Wilderness and Mountain Lore explores the stories and adventures of visiting a mountain wilderness retreat over a 50-year period with a group of friends. We nearly always were able to reserve the only two cabins for the second week of June. Domke Lake is located in the North Cascades wilderness area of North Central Washington State. There is no electricity or phone service of any kind along with little change other than what nature has wrought.

On August 12, 1995, James Abernathy, 15-year-old son of Larry and Diane Abernathy, was playing Marco Polo in a neighbor's swimming pool late one night when he dove into the shallow end, breaking his neck and becoming permanently paralyzed from the shoulders down.

This story takes place in the Mile High City of Denver, Colorado, in the early fifties. Elaine was a happy, playful five-year-old living with her single mom and four older sisters. Then tragedy suddenly struck home. A short time later, her mother was diagnosed with schizophrenia and chronic depression. As a result of her mother’s illness, Elaine and her sisters were separated and placed in foster homes. After several temporary stays with her grandparents and other relatives, she became the property of the state of Colorado, placed permanently into the foster care system.

This historical narrative reveals the life of Linda, a young woman struggling to come to grips with her rudderless existence, of her stumbling back to her hometown after a failed marriage, and having to face the judgments of a stoic Japanese mother. Chieko’s life is in stark contrast, having survived the most horrific last days of World War II, and having come of age in occupied Japan where she made a living working in a hostess club serving drinks and dancing with servicemen. Linda wants to write her mother’s story, and Chieko always says no.

This is the story of Charles Hoffman "Hopper" Kennedy. He became a high school football and basketball coach in the early 1920s. He worked his way up the ladder by working with each of his players to help each of them to believe in themselves to become the best they could be and to help them form into a team.

God has had His hand on the author's life throughout her days. He has never let her go, no matter the depths of darkness to which she has descended. From her early life loss of her birth father to her marriage to the love of her life and her eventual marriage break up to her blossoming as a vibrant Christian witness to God's saving, healing power, this story is a compelling one of God's constant provision for her in all circumstances.

When people mention autism, they often mean children or young adults, and the programs that support them. However, one does not suddenly grow out of being autistic—ASD, ADD, and ADHD. We just grow better at avoiding our trigger areas and developing covering skills.

Musska is the story of a young boy born in Kandahar, Afghanistan. He was raised by his grandparents after his father was assassinated and his mother abandoned her family. His family flees the dangers of Kandahar and continues to move until they reach Karachi, Pakistan, all while evading extremists that are abducting and murdering people that were affiliated with the Afghan government.

I'm currently waiting for the presidential pardon attorney's decision to be made on my tireless effort in exonerating my wrongful conviction as a result of the miscarriage of justice and prosecutorial misconduct malicious act against me. I also plan to continue in pursuing my masters of science in criminal justice with Troy University, for which I have already received a certificate of acceptance.

My book is the written story of the many miracles I experienced throughout my life that helped define the person I am and the faith I have today. It's told where and when I experienced them. The feelings are raw, and the emotional journey is as real as anyone can feel. May its message be translated to an experience that can be felt through its words.

These are some things I have seen and experienced over the first 50 years of my life. My Dad got to be 91, and Mama just gave up the fight at 81. I would like to get to 100 and still be healthy. It is hard to deny something when you see it with your own eyes, or feel it when it touches you.

No Doubting Thomas: "Hawg Whisperer" is my recollection of three years as the first starting African American quarterback at the University of Arkansas, under legendary athletic director Frank Broyles and head football coach Ken Hatfield.