Raised by Children

Raised by Children is a story about the impact of childhood trauma and PTSD, and a young woman’s resilience as she finds her voice and carves her own path.

Stepping beyond the suffocating backyard of her factory town in Kentucky, she discovers just how vast the world can be.

When There Are Two Patients in One Body

In When There Are Two Patients in One Body, an experienced Labor and Delivery nurse shares a collection of birth stories, some joyful and others harrowing, that reveal profound life lessons from one of the most intense human experiences. While babies arrive either by vaginal delivery or caesarean section, each birth unfolds uniquely, whether as a momentous and thrilling event or an unexpected and life altering ordeal.

This book follows the author’s career, presenting a chronological journey through a diverse array of births, from routine and uneventful to tragic, each story interwoven with her personal reflections. Readers are drawn into the delivery room to witness the intimate details and drama of the birthing process, revealing the complexities of patients’ lives and circumstances.

As these stories unfold, readers gain insight into how factors such as healthcare access, race, culture, socioeconomic status, and education profoundly shape each birth experience. Beyond the joys and challenges, the author reveals that being a Labor and Delivery nurse is far more than just ‘a great job where you get to cuddle babies.’ It is a vocation that demands resilience, empathy, and an unflinching dedication to supporting patients through life’s pivotal moments.

Endorsement:

“Twenty-six years ago I was a brand-new intern on labor and delivery. The nurses rightfully didn’t trust us newbies.

Over the next four years, I became an OB/GYN under the direction of the attending doctors and hands-on nurses. In our first two years as fledgling doctors, we quickly learned that the nurses knew more than we did, and could make or break our experience. As we became part of the team, we all supported one another through the best days and the worst, for our patients and for us. I still hear some of their voices and advice.

Steph’s is one of them. Her stories are written just as they would sound over a beer or cup of coffee.”

– Jeanette Thomas, MD. Author of the blog Healing Is Hard. (www.healingishard.net)

My Grandpa

With meticulous detail, the author paints a vivid portrait of an intellectual family grappling with the complexities of modernization, globalization, and the clash of ideologies. As the narrative unfolds, you are invited to ponder the universal truths about family, education, life, and death, that transcend time and borders. You can also see the influence of Western culture, especially the U.S. culture in China during the early 21st century, while gaining insights into China’s miraculous rise and the forces that shape its destiny.

What did the heart and mind of an ordinary CCP member, a physics teacher, look like? How would a political dissident growing up in his family think of the government? What did Shanghai look like in the late 1990s and early 2000s, and how was it different from Shanghai in the 1930s? Why did the country embracing globalization and democracy collapse back to autocracy and totalitarianism in less than fifteen years, under Xi Jinping’s rule?

You can also witness the transformation of China from the 1920s to the early 21st century, as is seen through the lens of a CCP member’s experiences, as well as a political dissident’s narratives. Prepare to be swept away on an unforgettable voyage of discovery, as you uncover the hidden truths that lie at the intersection of family, culture, and history.

Memoirs of a Fun Life

A cheerful tale of a lucky life. While intelligence can be useful, a touch of silliness often leads to more adventures and fun. Starting life with no grand ambitions or expectations means you’re never disappointed – instead, you’re regularly delighted to find yourself in fascinating situations.

Life sometimes feels like tubing down rocky rapids, where, with only the occasional use of a paddle, you somehow arrive in calm waters – unscathed and grinning from ear to ear.

Dad: A Son Remembers

Dad was a proud member of the Greatest Generation. A navigator in the U.S. Navy during World War II, selected for his mathematical skills, he was assigned to transport ships plying the South Pacific Ocean. Even as a youth, his son quickly realized that Dad viewed the world as a place full of challenges and difficulties – interminable adversities that had to be anticipated, grappled with head-on, and surmounted. As a result, he had no patience for complainers, excuse-makers, or shirkers of responsibility. But more than anything, he couldn’t stand liars, prevaricators, or connivers; like many of his generation, Dad believed that “a man’s word is his bond.” He often said, “If you don’t give me ammo, I can’t fire the gun.”

Above all, he expected full effort in every action and could instantly tell if one of his children wasn’t giving their best. Throughout his 84 years, his staunch Catholic faith guided him, and by both example and word, he steadfastly imparted those principles to his six children.

The CHI Brown Girl

Adrienne Plummer seeks to motivate, inspire, and uplift Black people. She fell in love with writing in the 4th grade after reading a book report aloud to the applause of her eager peers. This started her spoken word journey, which had been a long time coming. Throughout her early years and adolescence, she perfected her craft, culminating in the publication of her first poem in 1984. With Vanessa Williams’ crowning as Miss Black America as a backdrop, Adrienne drew inspiration from proud Black women.

When she later went to Fisk University in Nashville, Tennessee, she joined a college poetry club and majored in English. As her professor read feminist poetry, Adrienne’s activism was sparked. She learned about prominent activist figures and interviewed student leaders. Years later, during the height of a social justice reckoning, she read Becoming by Michelle Obama and Jenifer Lewis’ autobiography. Upon hearing two other prominent Black women speak on overcoming struggles, Adrienne was inspired to reignite her voice. Often a quiet and ‘Chi’ Brown girl, she is vocal in her poetry. These powerful poems will help readers hear the cry of a Black woman.