Memoirs Books

Book SynopsisAnn is sixty and suffering from celibacy. Going through two divorces has made her skittish; having two children has made her cautious. But finally her longing for sex and romance sends her hurtling out of her comfort zone. Her adventure begins with a very nice transvestite—and gets more interesting from there. Put a divorcee raised in the 1950s into the Internet world, and this is what you get: a comic romp that evolves into a profound and touching experience, complete with some meaty moral questions—and answers. Ranging from Montclair, New Jersey to Harare, Zimbabwe, Daring to Date Again: A Memoir is a compelling, often racy memoir of one woman’s late-life adventures with sex and dating in the modern world.Trade Review“…funny and introspective, filled with compassion and written without an ounce of affectation or disingenuousness.… Her explorations are illuminating. They’re also a kick, with a surprisingly uplifting effect. A candid, breezy memoir that may inspire even the most dating-averse.” —Kirkus Reviews “A wise, witty memoir about a woman of a certain age who boldly and unapologetically seeks—and finds sexual adventure, and surprises herself by discovering love in the process.” —Christina Baker Kline, author of Orphan Train “Women of any age will fi nd inspiration in Ann Anderson Evans’ compelling tale of romantic adventure and self-reinvention. Want to know how not to act old? Live as if your story can still have the happiest of endings.” —Pamela Redmond Satran, author of New York Times bestseller How Not To Act Old “Daring to Date Again is a lively, witty, achingly honest, well-crafted account of one woman’s emergence from twelve years of celibacy to become a sexual enthusiast in her sixties. You’ll laugh—and sometimes worry!—as Ann jumps into bed with her Mr. Right-for-the- Moment parade. She wears her heart on her sleeve—or she wears nothing at all—and we share her adventures.” —Joan Price, author of Naked at Our Age: Talking Out Loud about Senior Sex “Ann Anderson Evans details how a sophisticated lady of the Internet era opens doors to serious relationships [This is] a manual for sexy, smart people of a certain age, of either sex.” —Ford Burkhart, Pulitzer Prize Winner, former editor at The New York Times “Daring to Date Again: A Memoir is a sassy internet dating memoir with an attitude. … One doesn't expect wit along with the wisdom, but it's there. What's also unexpected is the spirit of adventure in a sixty-something who is willing to travel halfway across the world to Zimbabwe to meet an internet contact—but it's there, too. Most surprising of all is the quest for sexuality in older years: something few dating books even discuss. The result is best viewed as a rollicking train ride that leads to a few wrecks, excitement, and a lot of fun.” —D. Donovan, Sr. eBook Reviewer, Midwest Book Review

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Book SynopsisFly-by-the-seat-of-her-pants mom Jennifer Magnuson knew her spoiled suburban brood needed a wake-up call—she just couldn’t find the time to fit one in. But when her husband was offered a position in India, she saw it for what it was: the perfect opportunity for her family to unplug from their over-scheduled and pampered lives in Nashville and gain some much-needed perspective. What she didn’t realize was how much their time in India would transform her as well. A combination of Eat, Pray, Love and Modern Family, with a dash of Chelsea Handler thrown in for good measure, Peanut Butter and Naan is Magnuson’s hilarious look at the chaos of parenting against a backdrop of malaria, extreme poverty, and no conveniences of any kind—and her story of rediscovering herself and revitalizing her connection with those she loves the most. In India, after years of parenting under a cloud of anxiety, Magnuson found a renewed sense of adventure and fearlessness (a discovery that was totally worth the many months of hiding anti-malarial medication in her kids’ morning oatmeal), and started to become the mother she’d always hoped to be. Hers is a story about motherhood that will not only make you laugh and nod with recognition—it will inspire you to fall in love with your own family all over again.Trade Review“In this thoughtful, often hilarious book, Magnuson crosses parenting cultures with her husband and five children, gaining insight into herself, and ultimately finding her tribe. A powerful debut, Magnuson has the gift of conversational prose laced with a quick wit.” —Marcelle Soviero, Editor in Chief Brain, Child: The Magazine for Thinking Mothers “Jennifer Hillman-Magnuson places readers in India through evocative details and scenes, and introduces us to characters who breathe. We journey with her as she navigates mothering five children in this vastly different culture, and it is an entertaining, illuminating and enjoyable ride.” —Erin Byrne, award-winning writer of travel, fiction, poetry and film “Peanut Butter and Naan is equal parts hilarious, moving and inspiring. Jennifer Hillman Magnuson's journey through India with her brood makes me want to hop on a plane with my kids and live life to the fullest!” —Deva Dalporto, MyLifeSuckers.com “Honest, hilarious, heart-warming. Jennifer Hillman-Magnuson avoids a universal set of motherhood do's and don'ts and tells instead a refreshing tale of how far she was willing to go - literally across the globe - to teach her children, and ultimately herself, what it is to live a meaningful life.” —Glenys Loewen-Thomas, contributor to Cup of Comfort book series

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Book SynopsisIn accordance with her Sicilian Catholic family’s unspoken code, Paolina Milana learned at an early age to keep her secrets locked away where no one could find them. Nobody outside the family needed to know about the voices her Mamma battled in her head; or about how Paolina forged her birth certificate at thirteen so she could get a job at The Donut Shop; or about the police officer twenty-six years her senior whose promise to her Papà to “keep an eye on her” quickly translated into something sinister. And perhaps that’s why no one saw it coming when—on the eve of her sweet sixteen, pushed to edge—Paolina attempted to take her own mother’s life. Raw and compelling, The S Word is the true story of a girl who nearly suffocates in the silence she was taught to value above all else—until she finally finds the strength to break free of the secrets binding her and save herself.Trade Review“Emotionally powerful and so evocative of place and time, Paolina Milana’s The S-Word is hard to forget. The drama of the story stays with you long after the last page is turned.” —Samantha Dunn, author of Failing Paris and Not By Accident.

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Book SynopsisWhen Colleen Haggerty lost her leg in an accident during her senior year of high school, she could have retreated from life and let her disability become her defining quality—and no one would have blamed her for it. Instead, she went the opposite way. In the years following her accident, Haggerty explored her physical world with vigor, testing the limits of her body by joining a ski team, playing with a co-ed soccer team, and taking up kayaking and backpacking. She also tested the limits of her heart, pursuing love and passion with restless men. In A Leg to Stand On, Haggerty recounts her life as a disabled woman, from redefining herself as a young woman after tragedy—fierce and able, but haunted by hard choices and suppressed grief—to choosing marriage and motherhood. That choice comes at great cost to the physical freedom Haggerty has fought for, but ultimately she redemption, fulfillment, and self-acceptance in the bargain. No one will read this book without being inspired to accept their past and create the future they always wanted.Trade Review“A profoundly honest, soul-searching book about growth in the shadow of adversity, faith in the shadow of fear. Those who categorize Haggerty’s memoir as ‘overcoming disability’ have missed the point. This book is about the human spirit, about how we can dig into our reserves and not only accept what life hands us, but thrive because of it.” —Victoria Zackheim, novelist, playwright, anthologist “A heart-wrenching and inspiring contribution to the literature of loss and disability, A Leg to Stand On offers the visceral detail, black humor, and grit of a fine novel combined with all the vulnerability of the deepest, most honest memoirs. Colleen Haggerty captures the tender and defiant voice of the 17-year-old she was when she lost her leg in a terrifying auto accident. But the author manages to imbue that voice with the ferocity required of her as she found a way to accept and surmount her disability. Anyone who has ever confronted limitation will be inspired by Haggerty’s story.” —Amy Friedman, author of Desperado's Wife: A Memoir “In the midst of adolescence, when we are all trying to figure out who we are, Colleen Haggerty literally loses a part of herself when her leg is severed in a brutal accident. In the years following, her wounded body makes it impossible to ignore a deeper wound in her spirit. Without self-pity, she confronts her own misgivings and regrets as she moves through a difficult lesson in forgiveness, both of self and others. I was engaged and cheering for her every step of the way on this courageous journey toward wholeness.” —Hollye Dexter, author of Fire Season “A Leg to Stand On is a true shero's tale, not because its author was disabled and bravely carried on, but because she did something even more brave: she opened herself to the transformational power of loss. And in the way of the shero, she has brought back the details of her journey that we may share in the wisdom, growth, and grace that was hidden along the way. Yes, we see clearly here what it is to live without a leg, but more we see what it is to walk with our own becoming. That makes this book more than touching, informative, or inspiring... It makes it alchemical.” —Lyena Strelkoff,storyteller, performer, speaker, and coach “At seventeen, Colleen Haggerty faces the loss of her leg to a tragic and life-altering accident. The path to peace after that moment of trauma is not linear, not easy. When, after many years of trails, she finally finds her own brand of normal, Colleen becomes the mother she’s always wanted to be . . . and becomes an instrument of healing to the other person whose life was indelibly changed that fateful day in 1978 . . . A Leg to Stand On tells of a beautiful and heartbreaking journey of loss, love, long-awaited motherhood, and self-determined healing. I am inspired and heartened.” —Cami Ostman, author of Second Wind: One Woman’s Midlife Quest to Run Seven Marathons on Seven Continents “Colleen Haggerty tells her poignant story with clarity, bravery and a healthy respect for the depth and texture of life's choices. A Leg to Stand On follows a young woman's journey through crashing loss--her leg at seventeen, two abortions and two difficult pregnancies, a long crisis of faith, to arrive at the place where she can share the truth in this courageous memoir.” —Laura Kalpakian, author

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Book SynopsisThis Is Mexico is a collection of essays on the often magical and mysterious—and sometimes heartrending—workings of everyday life in Mexico, written from the perspective of an American expatriate. By turns humorous and poignant, Merchasin provides an informed look at Mexican culture and history, exploring everything from healthcare, Mexican-style, to religious rituals; from the educational role of the telenovela to the cultural subtleties of the Spanish language. Written with a clear eye for details, a warm heart for Mexico, and a lively sense of humor, This Is Mexico is an insider's look at the joys, sorrows, and challenges of life in this complex country.Trade Review“In her touching memoir, Carol Merchasin has captured the colors and chaos, the tastes and the trials that make up life in the city of San Miguel de Allende. In a refreshingly honest voice, Merchasin shows how weapons became fireworks and dangers morphed into kindness. She isn’t afraid to show her naivety at the culture she finds, nor her surprise at how it comes to seduce her. Indeed, her candor is what makes this memoir unique. In her beguiling way, Merchasin draws us into a country open to life, and a people who opened to her, as she did to them.” —Mary Morris, author of Nothing to Declare “Carol Merchasin's essays about Mexico nail the people, the culture, the experience of living here, the tender relationships. Some essays are poignant, some are very funny, all of them are beautifully written and carefully crafted. I want to give this book to all my friends who wonder why I live in Mexico. The essays are accurate, nuanced, entertaining, enlightening. The writing is elegant and ranges from touching to hilarious. If you have any interest in Mexico, don't miss this book.” —Susan Page, Director, San Miguel Writers' Conference and Literary Festival "Carol Merchasin writes about San Miguel de Allende with affection and self-effacing wit, even as she mulls the contradictions and imperfections of her adopted country. This Is Mexico is wise and funny and true.” —Gerard Helferich, author of Theodore Roosevelt and the Assassin “A warm, witty and lively recounting of settling into life in San Miguel.” —Tony Cohan, author of On Mexican Time: A New Life in San Miguel and Mexican Days: Journeys into the Heart of Mexico “With writing that’s as persuasive as a legal brief and as funny as your favorite relative’s best stories, Carol Merchasin captures the daily confusion of living in Mexico, a country filled with local characters reminiscent of Peter Mayle’s rustic French neighbors. Smart. Witty. Warm. Engaging and enlightening, this is a brilliant gem of a memoir.” —Mark Saunders, author of Nobody Knows the Spanish I Speak “In the good-hearted tradition of Jack Smith's classic of the gringo-in-Mexico memoir, God and Mr. Gómez, Carol Merchasin's This Is Mexico recounts a 'recovering lawyer's' adventures and many lessons in learning to live south of the border.” —C.M. Mayo, author of Metaphysical Odyssey into the Mexican Revolution “I am enchanted with Carol Merchasin´s description of Mexico. I have lived seventy of my ninety-four years in Mexico and still wonder whether the plumber's reply to, 'When can you fix it?' ("Mañana") means day after tomorrow, next week, or call another plumber. She captures the chaos, the music, the pure joy of living here.” —Kathryn Blair, author, In the Shadow of the Angel “This is Mexico: Tales of Culture and Other Complications is one more thing to celebrate about living south of the border. Written with wit and humor, rich with insight and incident, it tells the story of one couple’s journey into expat life, with all its accommodations. It is at once authoritative, yet intimate and personal, and blessed with humanity throughout. A valuable addition to the expat literature, it is dependably interesting from start to finish.” —John Scherber, author of Living in San Miguel: The Heart of the Matter “This is a delightful book. It made me ponder, smile, laugh out loud. Merchasin's droll take on the unfamiliar and unlikely is a tonic, and she loves Mexico, and its people, as I do.” —Alice Walker

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Book SynopsisWhen Margaret Bendet is told to interview an Indian holy man, she thinks it’s just another assignment—but after speaking with him, she decides to accompany him back to his ashram, hoping to find enlightenment. In Learning to Eat Along the Way, Bendet enters a world that many have wondered about but few have seen: the milieu of a spiritual master. Subtle experiences prompt her to embark on this journey with “the swami,” as she calls the holy man, and to enter into the ashram—but once there, she deals with a host of psychological issues, including intense infatuation and life-threatening anorexia. “Each person comes to the ashram in order to receive something,” the swami tells her, “something to take with you when you leave—something you can eat along the way.” Bendet finds this to be truer than she could have imagined. Clear-eyed and candid, Learning to Eat Along the Way is an honest and often surprising account of one woman’s experience with spiritual work.Trade Review“Learning to Eat Along the Way is a beautifully written, engaging, and powerfully honest memoir of one woman's spiritual process. Margaret Bendet has shared a powerful personal story of her own awakening to the promise of Spirit, and then revealed how she worked through some of the deep psychological issues that can arise on the journey. A profoundly moving and helpful addition to contemporary spiritual literature.” —Sally Kempton, author of Meditation for the Love of It and Awakening Shakti “A fascinating and honest depiction of one woman’s reach toward enlightenment.” —Erica Bauermeister, author of The School of Essential Ingredients and Joy for Beginners “The journey of self-discovery is every bit as perilous as a quest to foreign lands and fire-breathing monsters, and those readers exploring inward and those hesitant to try will find much to enjoy and learn in Margaret Bendet’s thirty-five-year spiritual and psychological progression. This memoir is smart, heartfelt, perceptive and instructive, like a letter from an old friend.” —William Dietrich, author of The Barbed Crown and Natural Grace “Bendet describes her dissatisfaction with her busy job at the Honolulu Star-Bulletin and what she comes to realize is a failing marriage. She begins taking yoga and meditating, which leads her to join the pack of followers of an unnamed swami. Ultimately, she accepts help from her spiritual community to heal.” —Publishers Weekly “It was a great delight to savor the reading of Margaret Bendet's exquisite and fascinating memoir. With a deft and tender touch, and with a fierce honesty, Margaret weaves a tale of life adventures, discoveries, and personal struggles. She generously allows us to peer into her encounters and interactions with her meditation teachers. She candidly tells the important story of what it actually took for her to sustain her immersive affiliation with and service to a large spiritual community. Learning to Eat Along the Way makes many valuable contributions, not the least of which is that it adds to the literature of personal encounters and experiences with traditions of Indian spirituality and practice. I really loved this book!” —Paul Muller-Ortega, founder of Blue Throat Yoga “The incredible impact of Eastern spirituality on American culture in the 1970s and beyond is far from adequately documented—and Margaret Bendet's book gives us insight into this formative period from a first-person perspective. Even more importantly, it is honest, raw, warm, funny, and real, and everyone who has committed to deep spiritual work with a living teacher can relate to this story and benefit from Margaret's company in the form of this wonderful book.” —Christopher D. Wallis, author of Tantra Illuminated “This is a candid, insightful and courageous autobiographical narrative of Margaret Bendet’s encompassing spiritual yearning and continuing process of awakening. This book will encourage, inspire, and give support to readers as they reflect on the meaning of their own stories.” —William K. Mahony, author of Exquisite Love

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Book SynopsisLydia Slaby was 33 years old and had everything she believed would make her happy: three fancy private school degrees, a successful husband who was in the inner circles of Barack Obama’s presidential campaign, a high-paying job as an attorney—even an enviable yoga practice. But under the surface Lydia’s life was in free fall. Her new marriage was one argument after another, she had a job she never wanted, and for some reason she had begun to rapidly lose weight, eventually turning a strange shade of yellowish-green. When she made a doctor’s appointment to talk about the toll of extreme stress, she was instead admitted with a diagnosis of lymphoma. As a cancer survivor, Lydia tries to piece back together her marriage, her career, and her own worth. It’s an imperfect rebirth, but perfection is something she must abandon if she is to find a new, calm, healthy life.Trade Review"Tender, funny, and deeply uplifting, WAIT, IT GETS WORSE is about more than facing the unexpected; it's an everywoman's guide to living a life that matters." Arianna Huffingon, Founder & CEO, Thrive Global"It was Lydia's GI Jane buzz cut and soldier spirit that captivated me when we first metand she's just as captivating on the page. WAIT, IT GETS WORSE is a book for discovering, for learning to let go, for laughing and crying and laughing again. It's a book for anyone who's ever asked, 'Am I enough?' And it's a book that answers, 'Yes. Yes you are.'" Sophia Bush, Actress and Activist"Lydia Slaby shows that the power to change is within every one of usonce we give up the illusion of control. We don't control much of anything in life, but we do control how we react to change. You'll cry, you'll laugh, you'll cheer her on, but mostly you'll realize what it means to live a life fully in control of your true self. Lydia's story points the way." Beth Comstock, author of IMAGINE IT FORWARD & former Vice Chair, GE"This powerful memoir shows us a path for potential transformation in our own lives and I am grateful that she has shared her journey with the hope of impacting others. The optimism that jumps off the page is infectious." Doug Ulman, President and CEO of Pelotonia and former President and CEO of LiveSTRONG" WAIT, IT GETS WORSE is one of those stranger-than-fiction stories that keeps readers on the edge of their seats. This perfectly-paced, well-told memoir of a journey no one wants to take is filled with fierce honesty, humor, and exuberance, delivering hard-won wisdom that uplifts and inspires hope." Susan Wiggs, #1 New York Times bestselling author

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Book SynopsisWhen her husband was appointed by President Barack Obama to be U.S. Ambassador to Spain and Andorra, Susan Solomont uprooted herself. She left her career, her friends and family, and a life she loved to join her husband for a three-and-a-half-year tour overseas. Part memoir and part travelogue, Solomont learns the rules of a diplomatic household; goes on a culinary adventure with some of Spain’s greatest chefs; finds her place in the Madrid Jewish community; and discovers her own voice to create new meaning in her role as a spouse, a community member, and a 21st century woman.Trade Review"In these pages, Susan Solomont has shared an exhilarating story of the challenges and the special joys of representing America abroad, which will inspire, educate and delight. This powerful portrait of perseverance and courage is a great gift as we navigate new changes and challenges in our life's journey." Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the House"Susan shows us with her memories of traveling around my homeland the importance of cultural and culinary diplomacythat one of the best ways to understand and connect with a country and people is through their food." José Andrés, Chef"In Lost and Found in Spain , Susan Solomont makes the patriotic expatriate life her own and reminds us that an Ambassadorship is a family calling." John Kerry, 68th US Secretary of State"A vivid, honest, and loving account of life behind the scenes in one of the most coveted and dazzling institutions that represents the United States. That Susan and Alan Solomont quickly got labeled 'Team Solomont' among the diplomatic circles in town is a testimony to Susan's brilliance, easy charm, and delightful wit, which find ample expression in her book." H.E. Ana de Palacio, Former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Spain"In Lost and Found in Spain , Susan Lewis Solomont provides the rare gift of revealing the world of diplomacy. She takes us behind the walls of the US Embassy in Spain and we get a portrayal of life through the lens of an entrepreneurial woman. She offers an in-depth tour into the world of protocol and the role that spouses make for themselves in this mysterious yet intriguing world. And did I mention the food? That alone is worth the ridebut there's far more in this fascinating book." Randy Susan Meyers, Author"Useful reading for those in a similar position, whether in the public or private sector, and a strong case for better defining the roles of diplomatic spouses, to say nothing of paying them for their work." Kirkus Reviews"An inherently interesting memoir that is exceptional for its candor and retrospective informational insights, Lost and Found In Spain: Tales of An Ambassador's Wife will prove to be an immediate and enduringly popular addition to both community and academic library Contemporary American Biography collections." Midwest Book Review

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Book SynopsisNEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER WALL STREET JOURNAL BESTSELLER Now with a new foreword by the author celebrating the five-year anniversary of her sweeping, inspiring memoir. The world had doubted Greece's ability to successfully stage the 2004 Olympic Games. In rescuing the Athens Olympics and delivering what IOC President Jacques Rogge called an “unforgettable dream games,” Gianna Angelopoulos also delivered a new Greece, a modern can-do nation, a Greece worthy of its illustrious heritage. Little did she know that a few years later her country would abandon the lessons of the Olympics and become embroiled in a political and economic crisis that would devastate Greece and threaten the economic security of Europe. My Greek Drama captures the burning ambition of the rebellious girl from the island of Crete who ''lit'' the Olympic torch. Her story should help rekindle the spirit of the Greek people, and of every person who has ever struggled to change the world.

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