Maria Mansfield suffered for years from depression, anxiety and bipolar II disorder.  Her book "Life is Worth Getting Better" is her inspirational journey to health and well-being.  Now a life coach, Maria talks about the various therapies that helped her medical team wean her off drugs and medications to enjoy a restored life.  She now volunteers at the hospital and is active in NAMI as a recovery coach.  Since her first book, Maria has also written "Honoring Your Recovery" which is a workbook and also available in Spanish.  Her message:  People do get better.  When you find purpose, you get a second chance.  Check out NAMI.org where there are free resources to help you get started on your own journey or help someone else get started on theirs.  

Fern Jackson went through all the stages of grief when she learned her son had a pervasive development disorder that we commonly call autism.  She was in total disbelief, denial, bargaining with God, and all the other negative emotions.  Then one day, she realized that other children have problems.  Why not her son?  And in that moment, she accepted the situation.  It's an awesome and inspirational story. 

Human beings come with a number of irritants that God doesn't like.  God can rub those out while he's rubbing in more joy and peace.  He can do both.  

Abuse is an ongoing problem throughout the world.  Part of the reason it continues in spite of the light we cast upon it is the code of silence that prevents victims from speaking up.  Maxine Rifenburgh was a victim of abuse, however, she was awakened by her angels so that she could learn to heal.  

Peter Hall wrote his comments about his trip to Morocco on the back of a pocket notebook, then compiled his photos and those he researched to create an historical story of Morocco, centered on the places he visited.  The book has been translated into Arabic. 

Percy Brown grew up in some tough neighborhoods.  He also determined he had to be able to defend himself so his mom enrolled him in Tai Kwan Do.  He never stopped training.  Now a 5th degree working on his 6th, Percy teaches martial arts in Alabama.  He shares his thought that he has learned there is value in trying to be a good person.  His Korean grandmaster put it a different way.  Life is more than being a good and better fighter.  It was to be a great man.  Tai Kwan Do has kept him to that path.  

Being a student in Ollie Marshall's class must be fun.  Using phonic play, characters and symbols, she created an ABC character builder.   She has gone on to write other books, most recently "Scatter Changes, Step Ladder Changes."  This book is receiving global attention.  

Timothy Murray has created a new world Thumar where the central characters touch the wrong button in a time machine and find themselves in a time loop.  There are treacherous, simple, interesting curves and turns, including meeting themselves.  There are magical other worldly creatures and adventures, all of which make for a engaging story.  

Joseph Valencia will never forget the summer of 1977 when four separate fire storms swept through California -- Honda Canyon Fire, Sycamore Canyon, Vandenberg and Bakersfield.  He captured the events in his book, "Beyond Tranquillon Ridge." Years later, he and two others brought their memories together to create a documentary The Fire Storm 1977.  The fire department studies these fires in the classroom and at stands in the field and Valencia's book contributes to the safety of the community.  

Vernon Lucas grew up in the music world during the 1970s.  That put him right in the middle of the mix of musicians and drug dealers at that time, made more complicated by a diagnosis of a bipolar disorder.  It took a great deal of work, but he is doing well.  He has a talent acquisition business in New York City and a non-profit to promote mental wellness.