The Good, the Bad, the Ugly -- Can there be humor in that?

Barbara Carter is a visual artist, author, and instructor.  Barbara is a memoir writer who connects with her readers to help them understand themselves.  Her stories offer hope and raise awareness about various issues including anxiety, depression, loss, grief, a difficult mother/daughter relationship, alcoholism and other addictions. 

She began as someone who didn’t think she had anything of value to say but through her various struggles has discovered that she has much to offer to the world.

Her art and writing have led her to the importance of healing wounds from the past so that one can live in joy and peace.

Is There Any Hope in the Hood?

Colleen Adams made an impact in the world of fashion, but it was not the legacy she wanted to leave.  After years as a fashion executive, she left the industry to make a difference in the life of urban teens.  Sacrificing her financial security Colleen carved an innovative path of hope by establishing Empowered Youth USA.  

In the depths of inner-city America, poverty and crime shape the lives of underprivileged youth. The children’s role models are drug addicts and criminals. Attending funerals of their friends seems as commonplace as hanging out at the mall and taking out the trash which might result in being shot to death. Electricity and functional plumbing aren’t guaranteed.

By stark contrast, Colleen Adams hailed from the racially segregated south in the 1940’s and climbed her way to the elite end of the social scale. But after accomplishing hollow success as a fashion and publishing marketing executive, Colleen heeded her life’s calling to tackle the hopelessness and despair of disenfranchised inner-city young men.

But could ONE person provide the means for youth from the most crime-ridden and poverty-stricken neighborhoods to actually achieve the American Dream?

Colleen's interview will inspire you and hopefully, challenge you to help bring Hope in the Hood.  She has the unique ability to see the real person inside kids whom society has tossed aside. 

When You Just Want the Pain to End

Lorraine Reguly, B.A./B.Ed., is an author and English teacher-turned-freelancer for hire. She offers 4 different services on Wording Well to help you with writing/blogging, and editing. Lorraine has helped many become published authors and she can help you, too!


In her interview, Lorraine shared her story of how she overcame suicidal thoughts that plagued her for years.  "Deciding what to do when you are suicidal is tough. You don’t know what to do. You don’t know who to turn to. YOU JUST WANT YOUR PAIN TO END."

Lorraine was raped when she was a 14-year-old virgin and tried killing herself when she was 15 years old.  She felt hopeless many times throughout her life.  She was a single mom who got involved with prostitution.  After going to school and becoming a high school teacher she quit teaching to return to prostitution. Her son ended up disowning her and in her pain, she smoked crack cocaine for 10 months. That was when she hit rock bottom.  There was nowhere to go but....up.

After she nearly died from a burst appendix, it was a major turning point for her. She realized she did NOT want to die!  She wanted to LIVE!