What does a father write to his wife and young children when he's gone to war? Does he explain why he left them? How does he answer their constant questions about his return? Which of his experiences does he relate, and which does he pass over? Should he describe his feelings of separation and loneliness? These questions are as relevant today as they were over 150 years ago, when David Brainard Griffin, a corporal in Company F of the 2nd Minnesota Regiment of Volunteers, wrote to those he left behind on the family's Minnesota prairie homestead while he fought to preserve the Union. His letters cover the period from his enlistment at Minnesota's Fort Snelling in September 1861, to his death in Georgia during the Battle of Chickamauga in September 1863. One hundred of them were preserved and passed down in his family.
A window into the ancestors of anyone of Scot-Irish descent
Clans and Castles is the first book in the Checkmate Series
In 1608, William Neely left Wigtownshire, Scotland for Ulster. He was looking for his place in the world but what he found was the adventure of a lifetime.
Surrounded by powerful clans that had ruled Ulster for more than a thousand years, he came to know some of the most mighty chieftains of the time, including the formidable Cahir O’Doherty, who launched O’Doherty’s Rebellion with the burning of Derry and the killing of Sir George Paulet of His Majesty King James’ service. It would put in motion a chain of events that would transform Ireland and it would mark Cahir O’Doherty as the Last Gaelic Irish King in Ireland.
Whether attending decidedly awkward dinner parties or hayseed weddings complete with karaoke and inebriated attendants, or risking life and limb to aid the impoverished in Belize and Peru (with near-drastic results of misspoken Spanish), there’s a story for everyone in this third installment of Dr. Carroll James’s series of rollicking and touching memoirs.
And Nothing but the Tooth offers up a continuation of bizarre episodes during Dr. James’s forty-plus years of dental practice—including perhaps the worst hires in employment history. On the personal side, we catch a glimpse of some questionable family lineage, a hilarious first ski trip, amateur sheep herding, and a soggy camping trip sure to test a marriage. As always, we get to tag along with young Carroll as he gets into summer mischief with his cousins at his grandparents’ home in the backwoods of Nealy Ridge, VA, this time toying with a treasure chest of found explosives and almost—but not quite—getting away with it.
With only half a canteen of water and one baby bottle, a family of eight fought for their lives in the killing fields and land mines of Cambodia. Heroes emerge in the most unlikely places, under the most dangerous conditions. They are often the most ordinary of people facing extraordinary times. Surrounded by unimaginable adverse forces, one woman would ultimately lead her entire family to survive. Beautiful Hero is an autobiographical narrative told from a daughter’s perspective. The story centers around Meiyeng, the eponymous Beautiful Hero, and her innate ability to sustain everyone in her family. Meiyeng’s acumen in solving problems under extreme circumstances is thought-provoking and awe-inspiring. She shepherded her entire family through starvation, diseases, slavery and massacres in war-torn Cambodia to forge a new life in America. Over two million people—a third of the country’s population—fell victim to a devastating genocide in Cambodia. The rise of the Khmer Rouge posed not merely a single challenge to survival, but rather a series of nightmarish obstacles that required constant circumvention, outmaneuvering, and exceptional fortitude from those few who would survive the regime intact. Beautiful Hero suspensefully unravels the layers of atrocity and evil unleashed upon the people, providing a clear view of this horrific and violent time of the Cambodian revolution. The story highlights the most basic impulses of man: good vs. evil, individual vs. group, democracy vs. tyranny, and life vs. death. It is the ultimate story of love, sacrifice, survival, and redemption. It reaffirms the good in humanity by showing how one family lived and survived with grace and dignity despite being pushed to the limits.
Written by Twylia G. Reid, Broken Wings is a true story of a mother's unwavering love and courage for her son in the aftermath of a car accident. Main character, Mylon, was in all respects a bright young man on track towards the future he imagined when his life changed forever. Reid walks readers through accounts of emotional struggle and moments of despair following the accident. She shares the pain of her son's TBI diagnosis; and her commitment to support him through recovery and learning to live anew. Like Reid's family, many families have been hit with unexpected events leading to the question, "... What just happened?" According to the CDC, "Approximately 5.3 million Americans are living with a TBI-related disability and the consequences of severe TBI can affect all aspects of an individual's life. This can include relationships with family and friends, as well as their ability to work or be employed, do household tasks, drive, and/or participate in other activities of daily living." Despite being a non-fiction, Broken Wings is memorable. It has all the elements of an inspiring read from gripping truths and descriptive imagery to finding hope. This is a story that will leave an unforgettable mark on the minds of readers.
This heartfelt memoir captures the life-changing power of unconditional love and perseverance. Even though this Big Brother/Little Brother match has little in common, they learn how to grapple with life's struggles together. A narrative that by its nature risks sentimentality or maudlin hyperbole never falls over that edge, nor even skates near it. That's a rough task, handled with a sure and compact force that allows the reader to discover the remarkable delicacy that runs through the journey taken by this boy and man.
In this sometimes painful narrative, Douglas finds beauty in unexpected places and relates it in forthright, sometimes blunt terms. His gift for unadorned, wry metaphors lead readers to insights that might be lost under the weight of more customary embellishment, as in the description of his childhood backyard: "filled with plywood cut-outs of Disney characters, painted and nailed like little sacrifices to the redwood-stained fence." Perhaps the most remarkable aspect of the book is the way in which the boy and man reshape each other; from Rico, Douglas draws insight into his own life. In a very complicated fashion, they both end up gaining from each other.
A Miracle at Attu: The Rescue of CG-1600 is an historic nonfiction account documenting the phenomenal rescue of nine survivors from a U. S. Coast Guard HC-130H that crashed on a logistics mission to the remote Coast Guard Long Range Navigation Station on Attu Island Alaska. Be prepared as you are transported back in time to a cold isolated mountain on Attu for a truly remarkable rescue. It is an inspiring and emotional story of human error, courage, bravery, and survival. It takes a special mindset to go into harm's way and fly into the storm so others may live. You will come to know and see the many perspectives of the rescue through the eyes of the survivors, and the crews of the Coast Guard Cutter Mellon, LORAN Station Attu, Rescue-1602, and Rescue-1425.
The author guides the reader to feel the tension, risk, and danger to locate and rescue the downed crew. Alaska and particularly the remote Western Aleutian Islands pose a unique and unforgiving operating environment. Weather is constantly poor with high winds, poor visibility, low clouds, precipitation, and high sea states. High speed vessel transits are extremely risky as there are no navigational aids and near shore nautical charting is unreliable. Helicopter operations are always risky due to low ceilings, limited visibility, high gusty winds, and steep mountains right down to the water's edge. You will feel as if you are right in the cockpit, on the side of the mountain, on the Mellon flight deck and bridge as the rescue team works against all odds to save their fellow aviators and shipmates.
Hans Florine embodies the genius of "and"—collaborative and competitive, fast and safe, audacious and disciplined, visionary and quantitative. The themes that run through Florine's 101 ascents of Yosemite's most iconic route can benefit people who will never climb a rock, indeed anyone inspired by the idea of a passionate, lifelong quest of any type. —Jim Collins, author of Good to Great
Hans Florine is a big-wall climbing legend in his own time. He holds the speed record on the Nose route of El Capitan, a 3,000-foot granite cliff in Yosemite Valley that’s considered the Everest of the rock-climbing world. Ascending the Nose takes most climbers anywhere from 12 to 96 hours. Florine, along with climbing partner Alex Honnold, does it in an astounding 2.5 hours.
But Florine’s story is not one of super-human athletic prowess; it’s one of persistence and dogged determination. In 30 years of climbing, he's ascended the Nose a mind-blowing, death-defying 100 times, more than anyone else ever has, and most likely ever will. In On the Nose, Florine describes the most dangerous, pivotal, and inspirational of those climbs, providing a rare look inside the adrenaline-charged world of competitive climbing in Yosemite Valley. He tells of his very first attempt on the Nose, which ended in failure after 14 hours, his friendships (and rivalries) with climbing’s most colorful personalities, and his battle with Dean Potter to secure the definitive speed record on the Nose—an endeavor that’s been called the wildest competition known to man.
Perhaps most interestingly, Florine attempts to answer the question why. Why would anyone undertake one of the greatest adventure epics on earth 100 times? His answers provide unique insights on how to live a satisfying life, how to achieve big goals, and how an otherwise ordinary guy can become a rock star.
In this delightful essay collection that reads like a memoir Diane Radford draws the reader into the enchanting world of her parents -- her mother Margery, and her long-suffering father Sidney. Margery had a way with words -- she was never lost for them. Recalling her mum's unique turns of phrase, Diane found herself beginning her own sentences with -as Margery would say, - followed by one of her mother's pithy comments. She never realized how much her mother differed from other mothers until she began to quote her, and listeners responded with either a quizzical stare or a peal of laughter. Diane mistakenly presumed everyone had a mother who would demonstrate the Charleston in the middle of doing dishes -- suds flying across the kitchen -- or recite poetry on a walk along the shore. Dr. Radford compiled these -Margeryisms, - and her essays recount the adventures of the Radford family and the circumstances in which the Margeryisms were let loose upon the world.
At times laugh-out-loud-funny, at times poignant, these essays transport the reader to the times and places when Margery's saying would stop all other activity in a room. The coastal town of Troon, in Ayrshire, Scotland forms the backdrop for many of the memories. Mrs. Radford had a wanderlust that left her unsettled; hence, she and Sid moved frequently -- eight homes in all in Troon. This book in divided into parts according to where they were living at the time. The reader happily joins the Radfords on their peripatetic around Troon and shares in walks on the beach; feeding the birds; golf on the narrowest fairways between banks of yellow broom; and the animal adventures of the Radford family.
These reminiscences of her childhood revealed to Diane that she was altogether blessed -- not just her cotton socks. The reader will be too.
Being a game show host isn't all fun and games. It takes skill, talent, and an inherent ability to put complete strangers at ease during what may be the most exciting moment of their lives.
As a corporate entertainer and voiceover artist for over 30 years, Martello has served as the announcer for some of the biggest names in the business. Here's Your Host! takes an in-depth look into the dying art of television hosting and reveals for the first time, the tricks of the trade.
Featuring interviews with ten vastly talented television personalities, Andy compares and contrasts the hosting styles of well-known game show greats. From Joey Fatone to Jerry Springer, Marc Summers to Mark Walberg, and George Gray to the great Todd Newton, Martello explores the science behind game show magic and offers insights into what has kept these extraordinary talents on your television screens for decades.
Discover the beauty, strength and timeless allure of the South's crown jewel.
Foreword by New York Times Best Selling Author Mary Alice Monroe.
This is a different kind of Charleston book. It is a collection of stunning images, essays and stories written by business leaders, writers, artists, musicians and those who have their family trees deeply rooted in soil tended by generations of Charlestonians.
Travel through these page and experience Charleston as you've never seen it. The history, the events and the sheer beauty that continues to shape all who come into contact with her.
Explore the city's historical homes and cobblestone streets, listen for the rhythm of the tides, and paddle past the crash grass fora view of the city's waterfront.
Her historical past gives way to today, still growing and still awe-inspiring.
Charleston Salt and Iron is what this city is about - turn the pages and enjoy the journey.
In 2008 Stef Smulders, his partner Nico and their dog Saar emigrated to Italy to start a new life and set up their B&B Villa I Due Padroni. They sold their home, left their friends and family behind and took a leap into the unknown. Now Stef shares his experiences in a collection of 60 witty short stories.
The book treats the trials and tribulations of an emigration: what it was like to buy and renovate a house, to import a car, to gain residency, and much more. The reader is introduced to a full range of Italian characters, from the trustworthy to the rogue, from the gentle to the shameless, flesh and blood Italians. Some are stereotype, others unexpectedly original. Yet they never fail to amuse and entertain.
Tears in My Gumbo, The Caregiver's Recipe for Resilience is a heartfelt manuscript that speaks personally and passionately to the 44 million caregivers caught up in the silver tsunami sweeping this country and for all of the people who care about the caregiver. The book inspires and supports caregivers as well as the family unit involved in the loved one s care. Through a series of caregiver stories, the book illustrates the ingredients needed for caregivers to maintain resilience and create a soul nurturing gumbo of care. Artfully written by caregiver coach and consultant, Nadine Roberts Cornish, CSA, the book shares her personal experience as a caregiver for her mother, which transformed her life as she becomes a care consultant, care manager, and caregiver coach.
A native of New Orleans, Nadine shares her rich family heritage simmered in the traditions of gumbo preparation, steeped in love and community, seasoned with wisdom, humor and healing, much like a heaping bowl of Louisiana Seafood Gumbo. This book inspires and supports caregivers as well as the family unit involved in the loved ones'care. Through a series of inspirational stories, the book illustrates the ingredients needed for caregivers to maintain resilience and create a soul nurturing gumbo of care. Each story teaches a different lesson, demonstrates varying degrees of know how and courage
For over three hundred years, the modern world discovered, prospered under and extended a foundation of objective fact and objective system. Today that foundation creaks and groans under an overburden of rude accompanying balances. Witness a pervasive drug culture, a denial of any cultural ideals save legality, a denial of any social ideal save business success, a view of nature as purposeless and indifferent, and human life bent upon endless distractions. The Forgotten Balance tells another wider framework of understanding. Both nature and human affairs operate under qualitative balances of Arrow and Lace----two varying, but real, contrary realities. Arrow and Lace balances are told in detail here in a straight-forward exposition proceeding from their rude steam-rollered forms to appropriate forms recognizing what's better and worse. Their balance is told as well in an autobiographical story of homesickness. Homesickness begins with life at a Children's Home but extends to a search for home in the nature of things and throughout the modern world.
