Rethinking Race

Rethinking Race: A Memoir was written as an act of compassionate antiracism. The book invites people to better understand their role in fighting racism by calling them into the struggle rather than calling them out. It is the true story of everyday challenges and triumphs that an African-American mother and her husband, who is identified by most as white but is a citizen of an Indigenous tribal nation, encounter as they try to help their son develop a positive multiethnic identity. Rethinking Race illustrates how one person’s thinking evolved from taking race for granted, as an immutable part of our identity, to seeing it as a very impactful illusion. It is a story of how we can move beyond the false dichotomies of black and white, shaming and blaming to better articulate our rich individual uniqueness while acknowledging our common humanity. The book raises the possibility of becoming aracial, not through colorblindness, but rather by examining racism more closely and coming to understand how each of us creates race every day.

Eyes Shut, Mouth Closed

This is the true story of my two-year journey to escape Vietnam, seven years after the end of the Vietnam War. At just nine years old, I was a naive village boy, knowing little beyond the only home I had ever known. Along with 27 others—including my father and older sister—I set sail on a small, overcrowded fishing boat, embarking on a perilous voyage that would ultimately lead me to America. The journey was marked by immense hardship, uncertainty, and sacrifice.

Our family was torn apart. My mother and two younger siblings remained in Vietnam, separated from us for 15 long years before we were finally reunited. The pain of that separation shaped me in ways I could never have imagined. Though I did not endure it alone, I learned to transform hardship into resilience, using each challenge as a stepping stone toward a better future. Along the way, strangers—some of whom I will never forget—offered help in ways I could never have expected.

My father’s courageous decision to flee with my sister and me was driven by hope—a belief in the promise of greater opportunities and a brighter future. But even after reaching America, our struggles were far from over. We battled language barriers, cultural isolation, and economic hardship, fighting to rebuild our lives from nothing. And after years of longing, we finally pieced our family back together.

I invite you to join me on this journey—a story of perseverance, hope, and the unbreakable human spirit. Through these pages, I seek to honor the voices of the countless Vietnamese "boat people" who perished at sea, never reaching their destination.

In sharing my experiences, I hope to inspire others to keep moving forward, to grow stronger with each challenge, and to uplift those who can no longer speak for themselves. No matter the obstacles, we must press on, turning pain into purpose and hardship into hope.

Perspective

Perspective: Wouldn’t you rather live in more than three dimensions?

There has to be more, right? A way to do it all, have it all, be it all – and, most importantly, to smile at the true beauty of life as you discover your unique place within it.

The key lies in understanding perspective: its definition, application, and significance in every situation you encounter. Life is a delicate balance, and finding that balance in how we interpret, establish, and maintain perspective can transform everything. A shift in perspective might just be the key to unlocking a better, more fulfilling life. No downside to that, is there?

Join me as we explore the pervasive role of perspective in the pursuit of the good life.

Journey to Freedom

Journey to Freedom is the compelling true story of a family’s quest for prosperity across three continents. First, as refugees from Indonesia, an island chain in Southeast Asia, to Holland, a tiny country on the continent of Europe, and finally as immigrants to the United States, a world power country in North America. These exceptional people, made strong by the horrors they survived during Indonesia’s War for Independence, passionate by their optimism and fearlessness to create new beginnings, were the backbone of my Dutch-Indonesian family and the significant influence of my childhood and identity as an adult.

Journey to Freedom is a tribute to my mother and grandmother whose sacrifices and bravery gave my sister and me resilience, determination, and the best of everything in life.

Although the dates may sometimes not be historically accurate, the experiences are true, and consequently, the deep emotion with which I composed these chapters was genuine and gut-wrenchingly heartfelt.

Season of Need

Some stories spring from pure imagination, mere reflections of an author’s perception of reality. Others, like this one, are forged in the mud and misery of actual conflict. In the decaying jungles and fetid rice paddies of South Vietnam, a diverse band of soldiers and civilians endures a harrowing year of combat that will continue to haunt them for more than three decades. Their season of need reveals not only the horror of war, but also the possibility of finding solace and purpose in the most unlikely of places.

In 1970, Captain Book arrives in Ba Xuyen Province of the Mekong Delta, supremely confident in his mission to help bring the Vietnam War to a swift conclusion. There, he meets his Vietnamese counterpart, Captain Nguyen Van Tranh, and a bond forms between them as they work side by side to restore public confidence in the South Vietnamese government. Surrounded by a unique cast of allies, they confront violence, heartbreak, and moments of profound humanity that lay bare the fragile fabric of human relationships. In the crucible of combat, their friendship becomes a testament to selflessness and sacrifice. Even in the darkest moments, solidarity and hope can rise from the ashes of war.

Lokpanta

Lokpanta is compilation of short stories inspired by true events all set in the unique little town of Lokpanta located in the middle of three Southeastern states of Nigeria. Readers will be left with the nostalgic feeling of childhood memories, and the intrigues of village life. The stories are told in a way that makes it relatable to the reader. Be prepared to binge on the book till the very last page.

Highway to Holiness

For God and country, after trying holiness in the seminary, I enlisted in the Navy. There, I protected others and my country while serving God. I discovered that both serving God in the seminary and serving my country in the military could lead me to heaven after my life here on earth. Both taught me about loyalty, courage, discipline, and putting the needs of others before oneself. At my old age, nothing stops me from finding my destiny with my Lord Jesus Christ as long as I follow my Highway to Holiness.

For a Greater Good: The Tom Swann Story

I wrote this book because you and I both need some inspiration from time to time in a tough world. I came out of the closet in 1992 as a gay Marine Corps veteran and civilian worker with a secret clearance for the Department of the Navy. I was assaulted and faced discrimination and retaliation from Navy officials. I was living with advanced AIDS. I suffered and persevered while the ACLU represented me in litigation against the Navy. I am the last federal employee to have his access to classified information challenged by the government based on being a member of the LGBTQ+ community.

Our historic successful ACLU litigation against the Navy prompted the Navy Secretary to add sexual orientation protection to the Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) policy for all civilian employees. The Navy added this protection more than four years before the other branches of the military. Now DEI and the EEOC are being shut down, and we seem to be going backwards. My story will shed light on how difficult work was before DEI and why these programs are so vital for our nation.

The fact that the ACLU and I accomplished this is inspiring. It means you can persevere through adversity and your hopes can be fulfilled. First, have faith in a higher power, and second, believe in the person you see when you stand in front of a mirror. You must never give up hope or give in to discrimination.

The Last Ordinary Life

In The Last Ordinary Life, debut author Cynthia Bowers invites readers on a deeply personal journey, recounting her life-altering decision to donate one of her kidneys to a critically ill 11-year-old boy at Phoenix Children’s Hospital. Registered on the transplant list and running out of time, the boy’s only hope came from a woman he had never met.

This story is not just a recounting of the incredible events that led up to an unprecedented organ transplant between two strangers but a transformative narrative that explores the profound impact of spiritual growth and self-discovery.

The Last Ordinary Life is more than a memoir; it’s a testament to the power of selflessness, the importance of overcoming our deepest fears, and the transformative possibility for success that unfolds when we reconnect with our true selves. Cynthia’s journey serves as an inspiring reminder that within each of us lies the potential to live extraordinary lives.

Call of the Raven

This true story takes readers on an unforgettable journey into the untouched wilderness of southern Prince of Wales Island in Southeast Alaska – a land of breathtaking beauty, where towering mountains meet the vast expanse of the North Pacific Ocean.

It offers a rare glimpse into Haida culture and the experiences of a young white couple from the Midwest as they navigate life in a Native American community. Arriving in Hydaburg as teachers, they soon realize that they are the ones being taught.

Through their experiences, they learn profound lessons – patience, the value of listening over speaking, what it truly means to be a minority, and how to let the word honkey roll off their backs like the ever-present rain. Most importantly, they come to understand the power of accepting people for who they are, rather than who we expect them to be.

You are invited to share in the trials and tribulations that changed their lives forever.

Tayoltita, las Minas de San Luís

Fresh out of the University of Colorado with a degree in geology, the author found himself embarking on an adventurous first job as an exploration geologist for Minas de San Luís, situated in the quaint pueblo of Tayoltita in Durango, Mexico. Nestled under Bolaños Peak and in the heart of the Sierra Madre Occidental, the mine was a remote gem accessible only by a solitary road winding 3,000 feet up the mountain.

Beyond his duties at the mine, he was charged with the thrilling task of scouting the surrounding wilderness for new gold or silver deposits, offering potential expansion for the company. It’s in these explorations, traversing rugged terrains always on muleback, never horse, where the story truly unfolds.

His narrative richly details the culture, courage, intrigue, superstitions, wisdom, and escapades of the local inhabitants he met along the way. These encounters add a colorful depth to his experiences in Tayoltita.

Set against the backdrop of the early days of the drug cartels, this memoir not only recounts geological explorations but also captures a pivotal moment in history. After his return to the United States, the role of Exploration Geologist at Minas de San Luís remained unfilled, marking the end of an era in this secluded part of the Sierra Madre Occidental.

Concrete Flower

This memoir recounts a childhood marked by maternal abandonment, a mentally ill father’s emotional torment, and an alcoholic stepfather’s physical abuse. Left to raise younger siblings with scarce resources or adult guidance, the author navigated profound neglect. Despite these circumstances, relentless determination led to financial independence and homeownership by her early twenties, establishing a foundation built against difficult odds.

Yet, hardships persisted through challenging romantic and family relationships, resulting in several crises throughout her life. Faith and self-belief provided the strength to endure, even when faced with losing her home to her mother and an attempted physical attack by her father.

This account details a journey toward forgiveness, breaking cycles of abuse, and finding positivity, resilience, and love, embodying the author’s description of herself as a ‘concrete flower,’ finding light amidst difficult ground.