Violet Grayson was born in the 1930's.  It was a time when women didn't expect to do more than graduate from high school, take an office job until they married and had children.  No careers.  No adventures.  However, Violet's life has given her so much more, none of it expected. 

Alycia Wright is a nurse and a writer.  Her life experiences taught her that writing is a coping skill and now she writes books that help children cope.  Combined with a love of rhyme and poetry, as well as a sense of humor, these books are a real service to children who don't understand what is going on around them.  They are both educational and fun.  Whey you share her books with children, you make a difference in their lives.  

In Patricia Davis' book, "Gifts from the Spirit," she explains what the 9 gifts are, how they function, why we need them and how we can acquire them.  As you study, it helps you see where you may have a gift.  

Karen Johnson comes from a long line of storytellers,  It is a verbal tradition that harkens back to a time without computers, pen and paper.  It takes us back to the oral traditions that precede written history.  In her book, Baba the Farmer, we see an example of a working song.  Baba uses his working song to teach his boys how to live.  He sings it to the boys every day as he works through his day while they listened and watched.  There were no instructions.  Baba sang and worked.  When they needed to step in for Baba, the boys were able to do it by just remembering what Baba did.  The boys had learned the tasks and the routine by listening to Baba.  

Stephen Peterson is a student of military history, the Bible, and an author.  He studied 8 languages while in the service and is an officer. It's fun to spend time with Stephen as he has such a diverse background.  

"Growing Up Sassafras", Hurting Little Hearts" and other titles help children deal with separation and loss through stories.  Denise draws from her training in psychology as well as life experience to craft each tale. 

There is a touch of nostalgia for those who look back on the life of a hippy.  That was the life of sex, love, drugs, rock and roll in the 60s.  Take off in a van, live in a hippy ghost town in Arizona, make enough money to travel on and see the world -- Mexico, Morocco, Europe.  But it isn't all an adventure.  At some point, even hippies have to face the real world and it isn't necessarily a pretty picture.  Madlyn Harwell faced her dark night of the soul and it changed her whole life.  

Kiana Hamilton's book "Soul Inspiration - A Journey for the Divine" is a collection of poems written down when problems came.  They kept her strong as a spiritual person.  They were lessons, instructions from God to guide her on her journey.  She had to hurry and write them down, and put problems in God's hands.  God gives it all to her.  As a matter of routine, Kiana finds a moment or two to reflect and talk to God each day, often singing poems when she talks to him.  With God in her corner, she is stronger than the things that try to break her.  She is filled with faith and confidence.  

Robert Kershaw knew he wanted to help from the time he was a young boy and witnessed a young boy with Downs Syndrome being bullied.  He didn't know what that was, but he felt it was wrong.  He built his desire into his activities in high school, in community activities and his work.  He became a caregiver and after many years has captured what he learned about caregiving into his book: If I Die Before I Wake: A Caregiver's Journey.  

More and more, young people are stepping out of the shadows of mental illness to increase the conversation about it.  They want to remove the stigma that is often associated with schizophrenia and bi-polar disorder.  James Lauderdale uses poetry and essays to help improve the health system in this area.  It ranges from recognizing symptoms at an earlier age to ideations and lack of control, being unable sleep or taking medications that put him to sleep so he couldn't study or attend classes.   He is active in programs to improve his community and in support groups.  James is full of ideas, including creating a television series on mental health.  It takes courage to step out of the shadows to share your experiences and courage he has, one step at a time.