Finding Myself

THE INSTANT SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER 'A mind-blowing and emotionally honest tale of survival against all odds.' BERNARDINE EVARISTO 'A breathtaking memoir...I was so moved by this book.' Oprah 'It is startlingly honest and, at times, a jaw-dropping read, charting her rise from poverty and abuse to becoming the first African-American to win the triple crown of an Oscar, Emmy and Tony for acting.' BBC News THE DEEPLY PERSONAL, BRUTALLY HONEST ACCOUNT OF VIOLA'S INSPIRING LIFE In my book, you will meet a little girl named Viola who ran from her past until she made a life changing decision to stop running forever. This is my story, from a crumbling apartment in Central Falls, Rhode Island, to the stage in New York City, and beyond. This is the path I took to finding my purpose and my strength, but also to finding my voice in a world that didn't always see me. As I wrote Finding Me, my eyes were open to the truth of how our stories are often not given close examination. They are bogarted, reinvented to fit into a crazy, competitive, judgmental world. So I wrote this for anyone who is searching for a way to understand and overcome a complicated past, let go of shame, and find acceptance. For anyone who needs reminding that a life worth living can only be born from radical honesty and the courage to shed facades and be...you. Finding Me is a deep reflection on my past and a promise for my future. My hope is that my story will inspire you to light up your own life with creative expression and rediscover who you were before the world put a label on you.

Think Michele Guinness meets Bill Bryson. Finding Myself In Britain is a witty, insightful look at faith, identity and the quirks of British life by a stranger-turned-friend. With a conversational style, this book explores rooting our faith in Christ to weather any storm and flourish in the sunshine. It helps readers look at Britain and its culture with fresh eyes while finding Jesus in the midst of it. "You don't have to be an American to enjoy this book. Or British. Or a vicar's wife. You just have to be somebody who has found themselves in an unusual place, felt a bit out of their depth, and wondered where God was in all of that. That's most of us, I think." Bob Hartman.

Sometimes it feels like life has dealt us a bad hand, and our aspirations can seem more like pipe dreams than achievable goals.To onlookers and even to herself, it looked like the odds were stacked against Crystal Robinson from the moment she came into this world. Born into a poor family in rural southeastern Oklahoma, Crystal had to grow up fast to help take care of her younger siblings and provide for them while also navigating racism and her own sexual identity. Today she knows that these adverse circumstances gave her the perseverance and strength needed to make it into the world of competitive sports.Basketball was Crystal's salvation. It wasn't always easy, but on the court, she forgot about all of her problems and channeled them in her unshakable will to succeed. Now, her peers speak of her not only as a remarkable player but, first and foremost, as an extraordinary person. Her humility, selflessness, and refusal to let the world bring her down have been an inspiration to everyone around her.If you've ever felt like the weight of the world was crushing your will to achieve your life goals, this book is for you. The sheer determination that transpires through these pages is delightfully contagious.

A search for the past. An identity reclaimed. This moving memoir by speaker, educator, and entrepreneur Sam Thiara documents his seemingly impossible quest to find his grandfather's village--armed with little more than a faded photograph. Sam vividly recounts his adventure through India's crowded roads--a journey filled with mishaps and surprising encounters, and a growing sense of purpose. Drinking in the beauty of the Taj Mahal and the Golden Temple, he finds himself connecting more deeply with his Sikh faith, while confronting the ugliness of the country's poverty and injustice. Along the way, Sam also wrestles with his sense of self. A British-born Indian, living in Canada, whose parents came from Fiji, he questions: Am I Indian? Am I Canadian? Am I Sikh? Who am I? As he begins to piece together the puzzle of his history, Sam realizes he is piecing himself together, too. Touching and inspiring, Lost and Found is a book for anyone who has felt adrift in the world, confirming that what was once lost can be found.

A single mom of newborn twins seeks a path through post-natal depression—while also trying to keep her beauty salon afloat—in this powerful, emotional novel. Kat’s life has become a blur of dirty nappies and sleepless nights. She has moved into the flat above the salon she owns—without Max, the father of her children. To make matters worse, Max has revealed he plans to remarry. With her twin babies taking up all of her time and Max never around to help, Kat feels constantly on edge—and when she’s diagnosed with post-natal depression, she feels more alone than ever . . .This conclusion to the trilogy that began with Holding Myself and Losing Myself is an emotional, uplifting novel about a woman searching for the light at the end of the tunnel and the strength she finds in the people in her life—and in herself. “An amazing character.” —Gemma’s Book Reviews

Although Rebecca O’Connor-Smith is somewhat content, she secretly longs for a more fascinating life. Her dead-end office job bores her, and her husband Jason, while sweet, is more interested in settling down in suburban Toronto than going on adventures with her. So, when an opportunity to be a part of an archaeological dig in southern Israel arises, she takes it. Despite the current hostilities of the country, Rebecca is passionate about the culture, history, language, and even music of Israel. Getting the chance to use her skills and knowledge obtained from her archaeology major in a place she loves is a dream come true. Spending three weeks digging in the treasure trove of the Israeli desert makes her feel fulfilled like never before. However, the dig inspires her to further her archaeological degree despite the financial toll it will have on her marriage. Moreover, Rebecca finds herself attracted to another volunteer who intellectually challenges her in ways her husband never did. Torn between a secure, comfortable life with a man she loves and a challenging, exciting academic career with no guarantees about her future, Rebecca must choose what kind of life she wants to live for herself.

Twenty-something Eva Roberts has struggled to find herself in her boring suburban town. Living in her successful twin brother's shadow, Eva has no career and no future mapp ed out for herself. She job hops endlessly in search of her ideal job, which somehow eludes her. Her love life---or lack of one,is not much better,either,and she spends her weekends on the couch with a carton of Ben and Jerry. That's when Eva decides to move to the big city, thinking she will find her destiny at last and put small town life behind her forever. Of course,Eva's plans for securing true love, a career and happiness are dashed when she falls for an emotionally unavailable, unhappily married playboy who just happens to be estranged from his wife. As for her dream job,Eva ends up as a lowly paid receptionist with a demanding boss that can't stand her. Soon Eva finds out how tough city life can be, and how quickly she must grow up in a dog-eat-dog world while making all her dreams come true.