Live and Be Counted

In a poignant and hopeful memoir, Alfons Sperber’s courage, strength and unwavering faith shine through as a testament to the resilience of the human spirit during one of the darkest periods in history. Alfons has rarely spoken about his harrowing experiences during World War II – until now.

When the author’s 11-year old son, Eli, is assigned an immigration project for school, his Papa reaches deep into his past to unearth long-buried memories. Alfons begins to share his personal story with his great-grandson recounting how he came to America in 1948 – a journey that started at a parade in Vienna, Austria in 1938 when he too was just 11 years old.

As they talk regularly over Zoom, Alfons’ memories resurface with increasing clarity, and the depth of his story grows with each conversation as he describes his narrow escapes from the clutches of the Nazis through Vienna, France and Switzerland. In opening up about his past, Papa expresses fear that soon there will be no survivors left to share their experiences, and that the horrors of the Holocaust and stolen childhoods may be reduced to a mere footnote in history. Live and Be Counted stands as a testament to the power of strength and courage, faith and optimism, and above all, the love of family.

Man, God, Religion, and State

Man, God, Religion, and State, is a reflection on our physical, philosophical, and political, past, present, and possible future. This book may challenge the religious views of some readers, but it is not my intention to cause offence to any religious believer. We are all living in a time of anxiety and insecurities, which may prevent us from embracing our humanity. But we should never allow either the pain and sorrow of the past or the threats and fears of the present to obscure our vision of what is just and truthful. Our present socioeconomic relationships are based on injustice and falsehood, which is unsustainable. We must therefore adjust our level and rates of consumption before we cross the line of no-return. In this sense, Man, God, Religion, and State is a warning to us all.

Me, Myself & I Remember Decatur (and Beyond)

This fun, engaging memoir is about a clever, strong-willed, mischievous, creative gutsy gal who was always out of the box. She proclaims she never saw that silly box! She has always questioned societal norms and injustices, insisting life should make more sense. This resulted in interesting, amusing experiences with fascinating people from diverse walks of life and cultures. For seventy-seven years when the world said ‘No’ she persevered with a resounding ‘YES!’

She has retained a childlike wonder and delight for life that is bold and entertaining. She has tried to make her planet kinder, especially for the downtrodden. Difficult setbacks only made her more determined to enjoy life to the fullest with meaningful lifelong relationships. Often, she’s had to pick herself up and dust herself off! Shunning bitterness, clinging to faith, she has showed the world real love. An encourager gifted at teaching, she has quick wit and is great fun.

Men in Pink Collars

What is it like to work in a sometimes literal ‘no man’s land’?

For decades, countless books, theses, and articles have explored what happens when women bravely cross gender lines in employment, taking on roles as lawyers, firefighters, or coal miners. But what about men who venture into traditionally ‘pink collar’ jobs?

Inspired by Studs Terkel’s seminal oral history Working, Men in Pink Collars delves into the lives of men who have embraced so-called ‘women’s work.’ This fascinating collection of interviews features male nurses, social workers, librarians, flight attendants, early childhood educators, stay-at-home dads, office workers, dental hygienists, nannies, midwives, interior designers, and musicians who play stereotypically ‘feminine’ instruments. It also highlights male cheerleaders, baton twirlers, synchronized swimmers, and even two men who could only publish their romance novels under female pen names.

The book examines why these men chose their careers, how they navigate their professional spaces, and the challenges they face from stereotypes and assumptions, both on and off the job. It also explores the unique advantages and limitations their gender brings, offering a compelling look at the dynamics of gender, work, and identity.

Mikey Speaks Out

On the day of my birth, my mother had already decided that she wanted to give me away. She had made this decision even though she had not yet known the extent of the problems that would confront me. As it turned out, there were many, including the fact that I was not born a beautiful baby.

Actually, I was considered to be quite ugly, disfigured by a cleft lip and palate that left a gaping hole in the middle of my face. In addition, I was born deaf, covered with bruises, and showed signs of haemophilia, an ancient life-threatening hereditary bleeding disorder.

I longed to be hugged, kissed, and cuddled in my mother’s arms, but that was not about to happen. Instead, I spent months in a hospital crib, as I recovered from complicated facial surgery. Following the surgery, I was placed in a dark room of a foster home, and left to languish in loneliness for several months.

On a dark snowy night, shortly before Christmas, a man and woman arrived at the home of my foster parents. They had driven five hundred miles through a blizzard, and requested to see me… see me! No one had ever before asked to see me! My only previous visits away from the foster home were trips to the hospital for painful medical procedures.

Mind of a Mixed State

Have you or anyone you’ve known suffered through the depth of depression or mania? What about both at the same time? Mind of a Mixed State follows the thoughts and emotional tribulations of a young woman riding the waves of a severe Bipolar mixed episode with psychotic features. Take a journey through the mind of someone struggling to find their voice as they navigate the nation-wide issues that plagues many of us: mental illness.

Miss Sweetblack's Cupcakes

In the 1950s, the cupcake was a very fashionable cake made by housewives to celebrate family events. Despite its success at the time and its incredible cuteness, the cupcake has gone largely underappreciated. It has come to be seen as a simple household pastry. And although it is finally integrated into certain establishments specializing in cake design, unfortunately it still suffers from a rather bad reputation. It is certainly considered aesthetic — cute, even — but also too fatty, too sweet, and without real taste, sophistication, or refinement.

Here is a book that will deconstruct all your received ideas about the cupcake and make you see and appreciate them like real pastries; those you like to see in French patisseries or restaurants, presented in lovely and delicates plates. Yes, the time has come finally to elevate cupcakes as integral part of pastries thanks to the recipes of the one and only pin-up pastry chef, Miss Sweetblack!

Modern-Day Palmistry

Palmistry can tell you many things about yourself, others, and the world around you.

Discover:

• - if you will marry
• - how many kids will you have
• - what kind of person would suit you as a partner
• - your career path
• - what kind of work would give you the most satisfaction
• - how to get the most happiness and success out of your life.

All of this and more inside of Modern-Day Palmistry!

More than Just Caregivers

More than Just Caregivers shows how the interplay of early childhood champions and stakeholders makes the field stronger to secure the infinite future for the youngest members of Guyanese society. As a memoir-documentary, it captures the how and why of specialised training needed to raise the professional status of the Guyanese early childhood workforce. Key takeaways include illustrations about how successful outcomes hinge on dedication, collaboration, and willpower, and why sustainability becomes possible with public buy-in, funding, and support.

Mourning Bands On

Mourning Bands On is an accessible journey into the hypersensitive world of today’s American law enforcement. The reader is brought into the law enforcement world through an introduction to the history, function, and development of the American police model. With an understanding of policing’s role in American society, the reader is then immersed into the raucous and contentious cultural upheaval which American policing is currently experiencing.

Using well-known examples, the reader is challenged to consider how American culture is affected by critical incidents and the portrayal of those events in our media intensive world. The reader will review the cases in the deaths of Trayvon Martin, Michael Brown, Breonna Taylor, and George Floyd, as well as others. The cases are presented as a narrative of events supported by the findings and legal conclusions of the U.S. Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigation. Each incident is reviewed with a view of how the incident effected American society and brought change to American culture and thus policing.

The reader will experience how American policing has changed through legislative, societal, and cultural pressure resulting from the reviewed critical incidents. With an appetite for more, the reader is encouraged to further explore the relationship between societal norms and American policing.

The work concludes with a final challenge to the reader. How do we, as a society, reform American policing to move forward after this unprecedented period of cultural change? The author offers several possible reforms to enact, what can you add to the conversation?

My Father Called Me Bobby

"Not only a memoir, but a love letter to rich and memorable relationships that gives hope that there can be sweetness after loss, humor in remembrance, and stories to hold our joys past and present."

– Melissa Febos, author of Whip Smart, Abandon Me, and Girlhood.

My Father Called Me Bobby is an intriguing memoir detailing Bobby’s experiences growing up in an Italian family in the ’50s and exploring the sexual revolution a few decades later. The first-person narrative welcomes readers into his childhood and his initial experiences with God, faith, and religion, all tied in with the influences and antics of his Italian family. His initial decision to join the seminary and become a priest will not come as a surprise. Determined to be a priest, he spends almost four years in the seminary until the sexual revolution of the 60s turns his world upside down and he leaves the Church. He begins to experiment with his sexuality with women and then with men during one of the most infamous times in New York City. His descriptive writing style paints a vivid picture for his readers, allowing them to relive his experiences at his side, maintaining their attention page after page. His relationship with Beryl will warm the hearts of the readers and as events unfold, will shake them to their core. My Father Called Me Bobby will remind readers to live their lives to the fullest – full of love and passion and laughter – and is sure to leave readers enthralled until the very last page.

My Journey Through Hip-Hop

In My Journey Through Hip-Hop, experience the pulsating beats and soulful rhythms of the genre’s history through the lens of a Chicago native. This debut collection chronicles hip-hop’s evolution, from the groundbreaking beats of DJ Kool Herc to the lyrical genius of J. Cole. Seamlessly weaving album titles, song references, and lyrical snippets, this anthology paints a rich tapestry that both celebrates and demystifies one of music’s most dynamic genres. More than just a retelling, each poem dances to the rhythm of hip-hop, blurring the lines between lyrical cadence and poetic structure. Dive in for an immersive experience that educates and resonates, but be warned — this journey comes with its own parental advisory.