Would You Have the Courage to Search For Your Adopted Child?

Julie McLaughlin was 18 and pregnant - labeled as a 'good Catholic girl' from a good family. She sang in a group at church and was president of the Catholic Youth Organization. She was embarrassed, ashamed, and felt helpless. That was during an era when teenage pregnancy was not easily accepted. The lesson she learned from that experience has supported her throughout life.

Julie is a retired paralegal and first-time author who won numerous awards as a writer. During her interview, she shares how writing can be a healing tool for each of us. Her story may make you laugh and cry but also give you hope.

Her book, The Gift of Time has allowed her the opportunity to meet adoptees, adoptive parents, as well as other birth mothers. 

There is a twist to this story you never saw coming and will certainly give you the courage to never ever give up hope.

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"Do we have any skeletons in our closet?"

That was the question posed to the author's mother-in-law by a niece after receiving a private message through Facebook from a stranger who said, "I think you are my cousin." This led to a shocking phone call on a normal June day, which altered the author's life.

For forty years, Julie had kept a secret from most of the people in her life. A Catholic girl from a good family in the late 1970s, she had become pregnant in her late teens but was not ready to be a mom. With guidance from her parish priest, Julie went away to live in a home for other unwed, pregnant girls and made the difficult decision to give her baby up for adoption. Not for forty years did she know a thing about him--what his name was, what he looked like, where he lived, or what he did for a living. Until that June day in 2018, when he was revealed to be that baby, now a forty-year-old man. Yet she always had faith that her decision was right as she placed her son in God's hands.

Over two years, this birth mother and biological son get to know each other and enter each other's lives. There are interesting twists and turns. Had their paths ever crossed?

This very personal and honest memoir dives into the author's heartache, loss, and guilt. You will laugh, and you might cry. Some who have experienced the real story compare it to a beautiful Hallmark movie. In the end, the hole in the author's heart is filled.

It is the author's hope that this adoption story can bring peace to others who have endured a similar fate.

How to Change from Being a Worrier to a Light Warrior of Influence

Cynthia Encinas-Concordia’s abusive husband of 23 years died of a massive cardiac arrest just four months after his second restraining order.  The worst part was any contact was blocked by his family and she was blamed for his death.

Cynthia lived in that dark bubble for six years. She stopped engaging with people because of fear of rejection, failure as a mom and wife, depression, and lacking value. Her guilt impacted her health, well-being, and relationships. 

Many will relate to her story, and Cynthia wants you to realize that you have value and can live the life of your dreams, regardless of your past.

Cynthia Encinas-Concordia is a transformational life coach, published author, international speaker, podcaster, mother, and grandma. 

As a Human Resource practitioner at the World Bank in Washington D.C., her job involved dealing with diverse groups of people. Her professional knowledge, experience, and skills coupled with her personal life journey led her to share and work with others to create the lives they would like to live.

“I am leaving my footprints so the young generation may be inspired and continue what we are doing – making an impact in this world."

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My Journey Into Becoming

This book is for the ones who have fought great battles without knowing they were indeed warriors.

Immobilized by trauma, Cynthia, the author of this autobiographical page-turner, found a way to break free and move forward.  Cynthia Encinas-Concordia shares her notes on her transformational journey into manifesting her life dream. She has become a force of influence in her career as a life coach. With this book, she intends to expand the horizon of her positive impact. She has laid out a path for those who wish to live a life they love and have fought great battles without knowing they were indeed warriors. They are the ones who kept going even though they felt lost, and the ones who never stopped hoping that days would come when they would prosper and flourish.

"Let us always be that light for others so that others may also spread their light for those who need them."

Dream to Rise Anthology

What would you love to do, have, create, be, and give? Each one of us has had an experience in life wherein we have reached rock bottom, gotten stuck, and felt scared to move to swim back to the surface of the ocean. 

Are we waiting passively allowing this to happen or do we choose to work our way through it to find and reach that light?

Waiting may not be the best way to achieve our goal. We need to put in the work for that light to manifest and that is when wonderful things in our lives begin to work their way into existence.

Dream to Rise is more than a collection of 19 real-life stories; it is a source of motivation, a wellspring of strength, and a reminder that brighter days are coming.

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How Can Cancer Have Humorous Moments?

During Ann Bancroft's first cancer treatment, which consisted of two surgeries, chemotherapy, and radiation, she reached the point of being too weak to lift a light wastebasket or to walk further than a few yards. She was bald, her skin looked gray, smelled like chemicals and her mouth tasted like metal. It felt as if her life was draining away, and she could not imagine a time when she’d look and feel healthy again.

Ann Bancroft is a 71-year-old, two-time breast cancer survivor with a degree in journalism. Her debut novel, Almost Family, was recently published. Ann began writing fiction after a career in journalism and communications. Cancer prompted her to retire from a demanding full-time job to become a writer. 

Ann has been a volunteer mentor to dozens of cancer patients. Many will relate to her story, and everyone will be encouraged. She shares how a second cancer diagnosis, thirteen years later, did not bring the fear that dominated her life the first time. 

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Liz Millanova has stage four cancer, a grown daughter who doesn’t speak to her, 

and obsessive memories of a relationship that tore apart her marriage. She thinks

of herself as someone who’d rather die than sit through a support group, 

but now that she is going to die, she figures she might as well give it 

a go.

Mercy’s Thriving Survivors is a hospital-sponsored group held in a presumably 

less depressing location: Nordstrom’s employee training lounge. There, Liz hits 

it off with two other patients, and the three unlikely friends decide to ditch the 

group and meet on their own. 

They call themselves the Oakland Mets, and their goal is to enjoy life while 

they can. 

Together, Dave, a gay Vietnam vet, and Rhonda, a devout, nice woman who’s hiding

a family secret and finds peace in a gospel choir, and snarky Liz plans outings to 

hear jazz, enjoy nature, and tour Alcatraz. In the odd intimacy they form, 

Liz learns to open up and get close, acknowledge and let go of the dysfunction

in her marriage, and repair her relationship with her daughter. 

They joined forces to have an enjoyable  time—but what they wound up doing is helping 

one another come to grips with terminal cancer and resolve the unfinished 

business in their lives.

 

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How to Find Joy in All Seasons of Life

Yvette Walker left a failed marriage to a man with bipolar disorder but emerged to find joy greater than she had hoped for. She is an author, speaker, journalist and educator who knows how to experience joy in all circumstances. 

Yvette's podcast, Positively Joy, has been an inspiration to many, especially those who relate to loss, a failed marriage, and disappointment. 

Yvette's story is a testament to the power of faith and how it can restore and heal even the deepest of wounds. Yvette speaks of struggles and her journey to finding the faith she had been searching for all her life. Her story is a testament to the power of grace and love that can be found in the Lord, and how faith can bring an even greater sense of peace and joy when all else fails. Yvette's story is an inspiring reminder that even in our darkest moments, faith can lead us to a brighter and more fulfilling future.

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This is a great book for anyone looking to draw closer to God, whether you are a Christian or

just interested in having a meaningful relationship with Him. Yvette's honest and heartfelt devotionals provide a window into the heart of God, and an invitation to enter into conversation with Him. 

The stories, prayers, and exercises are sure to help you find peace and clarity in your relationship with Him. This book of devotions allows you to look at your assumptions and spend time with God.

Follow prayers and exercises to still yourself and come into His presence as you enter into conversation with our Lord.  

• Discover that God is speaking to you
• Choosing joy is an option you must practice
• You can learn to trust Him again
• Allow God to place you where He wants you
• BONUS Multimedia experience: Four original music tracks that add to the 
• devotional encounter.

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"Linda, I know you won't remember me, but my daughter was killed by Mayfield Sherman."
Christian reporter Linda Radcliffe felt like someone kicked her in the gut. Mayfield Sherman? Lord! That monster was put to death several years ago, but not before he killed several women. He'd made a stop in Oklahoma, right on Linda's reporting beat. But she'd left, and Sherman was a big part of the reason. She had read the police files. She had seen the photos. Twenty years later, she's back to help a family she once covered. When she meets her old colleague, now the editor of the town paper, feelings once dampened begin to rise again.

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Song lyrics are poems at heart. Words that come from a deep discovery of the love of God. These poems are song lyrics – some realized, some needing music – that Yvette wrote at the same time as the devotional, Whispering in His Ear, came to life.

We talk to God. Sometimes. But we really don't expect a response. Neither do we look for him in everyday situations. Yvette does, and she tells of her simple but poignant life lessons with God in these lyrics!

Yvette Walker's testimony drives this book of poetry: that you can be a believer all your life without fully understanding the joy that comes from the Father is the very joy that completes you.

Yvette says, "I hope you enjoy these 12 faith-filled poems from my heart, written by the Holy Spirit."

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Do You Worry About How Your Child Will Survive School? Or Life?

Are you feeling panicked about your child's future?

How will your child survive school with low literacy?

Do you question: How will they survive school? Or life?

Lois Letchford has stood in your shoes. Her young son, Nicholas, failed first grade. The prognosis was dire. Replacing the despair, Lois took on his teaching to find her son was not 'slow' Nicholas went from 'failing' first grade to a P.H.D. from Oxford.

Lois Letchford's dyslexia came to light at the age of 39 when she faced teaching her son, Nicholas. Examining her reading failure caused her to adapt and change lessons. The results were dramatic. Lois qualified as a reading specialist using her non-traditional background, multi-continental experience, and passion for assisting other failing students. 

The label provided for her son was not accurate or applicable. Lois chose to change that.

Her story will inspire you and encourage anyone concerned about their child's education.

In 1995, the school diagnostician called a seven-year-old “the worst child seen in 20 years of teaching.” Can a child’s fate be sealed by such a diagnosis? Well, in 2018, that boy received a Ph.D. from Oxford University. 

Do you have a child struggling with reading? What labels has your child been given? How do you feel they will progress through school? This is a story for you.

Every parent has high hopes for their children. When Lois Letchford learns her son has been diagnosed with a low IQ at the end of grade one, she refuses to give up on his future. After thorough testing, Nicholas proves to have no spatial awareness, limited concentration, and can only read ten words. 

Although discouraged, Lois knows things have to improve. After all, her son is young, and every child learns at their own pace. But once Nicholas is labeled "learning disabled," a designation considered more derogatory than "dyslexia," the world of education is quick to cast him aside.

Watch this short video of Reversed: A Memoir 

Determined to prove them all wrong, Lois temporarily removes her son from the school system and begins working with him one-on-one. She has no formal reading education herself, and no one to guide her. But she has hope and the strength of will to persevere. And sometimes that's all you need.

What happens next is a journey—spanning three continents, unique teaching experiments, never-ending battles with the school system, a mother’s discovery of her own learning blocks, and a bond fueled by the desire to rid Nicholas of the “disabled” label.

Reversed: A Memoir is a memoir of profound determination that follows the highs and lows of overcoming impossible odds, turning one woman into a passionate teacher for children who have been left behind. Nothing is impossible when one digs deep and looks at students through a new lens.

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You Can't Change Your Past But Did You Know How It Can Have a Strong Affect On Your Future

Narcissists are masters at creating a perception of perfection to the outside world so no one believes the victims. Dana Diaz was a victim who often felt hopeless during her childhood and as an adult.  It made Dana feel stuck. And she felt dead inside as well.

When she became physically ill as a result of the chronic stress of abuse, she felt a responsibility to create awareness about the effects of abuse on the mind and body.

Educated in journalism and psychology from DePaul University, Dana Diaz’s lifelong experience with abuse makes her an expert in the mental and physical struggles of victims and survivors alike.

In her interview, she exposes the raw truth of emotional, psychological, and physical trauma and a bold testament of survival:

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Some cycles are hard to break.

Forced out of an unhappy home at a young age, Dana S. Diaz swears to make it on her own and never fall victim to the same abuse she witnessed growing up. But that’s before she falls for Darren. It doesn’t take long, however, for Dana to meet the darker version of Darren—a narcissist who seeks to control Dana in every way. Despite her best efforts, she is caught in the cycle of trauma once again. But how can she free herself from Darren’s stranglehold?

In Gasping for Air, Dana invites readers along on her odyssey of healing and empowerment as she breaks free from the grasp of her 25-year-long abusive relationship. She fearlessly delves into old wounds to reveal the truth behind a lifetime of lies and stitches them closed as a new and resilient woman.

An inspiring true story filled with strife and revelation, Gasping for Air exposes the raw truth of emotional, psychological, and physical trauma, and is a bold testament of survival.

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You Can Overcome Insurmountable Odds and Create A Life You Love

Being the target of an organized crime hit, narrowly escaping an abusive cult, and battling breast cancer has caused Kendra Petty to wonder, “How much can one person take?” More, life replied. Much more.

Here is a story of survival unlike any you have heard: Kendra Petty began life by enduring years of childhood abuse, culminating in a stunning breakout from a cult led by her parents that nearly consumed her. Escaping that, she married an abusive drug addict.

The story does not end there.

She successfully climbed the corporate ladder–only to discover she worked for an organized crime family, who tried to murder her. It would take every survival tactic she had learned (and more) to avoid ending up dead.  

And that’s just the beginning. After being diagnosed with breast cancer, she finally realized that the changes she needed to make could only be achieved by exploding the life she had deliberately created.

Listen to her story of how she survived and learned to thrive despite it.

Kendra Petty is a woman who has succeeded in an all-male industry, becoming an executive vice president at two firms, a dynamic public speaker, a powerful negotiator, and a dealmaker.

Far from your typical misery memoir, here is a harrowing page-turner: an inspirational story of resilience, grit, and perseverance and a jaw-dropping thriller that proves some lives are stranger than fiction.

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Have you ever wanted to give up? I have.
You can overcome insurmountable odds and create a life you love. I did.
Just don’t quit.

As if surviving years of childhood abuse and narrowly escaping a cult and my mother’s insanity wasn’t enough, I ended up married to a physically and emotionally abusive woman with a hidden drug habit. I tried to make it work. I really did. Despite my success in climbing the corporate ladder my questionable instincts caused me to stay in a toxic business environment longer than I should have. Because of my warped sense of what was acceptable, and even desirable, I ignored countless red flags. Many times I wondered, How much more can one person take?

After almost dying, I finally realized that the changes I needed to make were so vast and far-reaching that they could only be achieved by exploding the life I had and deliberately creating a new one. For me, it began when I realized that I worked for an organized crime family – who I suspect was trying to kill me for knowing too much. Does this sound impossible? Well, dear reader, I dare you to open the pages of this book, and be the judge. This is my story – the one that I wish wasn’t true but is. Join me on this intense adventure, and here’s a spoiler alert – I’m not dead.

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You Can Rise Out of the Deep Pit of Depression

When Tyler Wittkofsky was 19, he left home and fell into a dark pit of depression. He had been diagnosed with mental illnesses and turned to drugs and alcohol. He attempted suicide and failed. 

Step into the captivating world of Tyler Wittkofsky, an extraordinary talent hailing from North Carolina's enchanting southern coast. As a multi-genre maestro, Tyler weaves tales that sweep you into unforgettable adventures. Beyond his writing prowess, he's a fervent podcaster, mental health advocate, and blogger. With his wife Grace and furry companions Dutch and Belle, Tyler embarks on awe-inspiring journeys across the US, chronicled on the enthralling blog Adventure With Coffee.

Tyler's literary repertoire includes the touching novella (Not) Alone inspired by true events on mental health struggles and the debut romance, The Seeds of Love: Sunflower Kisses - Book One navigating love's complexities through a mentally ill protagonist. His emotionally charged poetry collection Coffee, Alcohol, and Heartbreak, draws from four transformative years.

Tyler shares his mental health journey as a beacon of hope on www.TylerWittkofsky.com. He co-hosts the Cook the Books podcast, delving into writing and publishing. He also leads Tea With Coffee Media, spotlighting untold stories via his indie publishing company. Not just a creative, Tyler excels as an award-winning marketing pro, recognized with accolades like the Wilmington Biz Journal's Top 100 award.

In 2020, he launched The Wittkofsky Company, a non-profit digital marketing and PR firm for positive global impact.

Listen to Tyler's inspiring story of his struggle with bipolar disorder, borderline personality disorder, PTSD, and anxiety - as well as his battle with addiction.

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