Walk to Beautiful

The Power of Love and a Homeless Kid Who Found the Way

By: Jimmy Wayne, Ken Abraham - contributor

Narrated by: Gabe Wicks

Length: 9 hrs and 43 mins

Publisher's summary

NEW YORK TIMES BEST SELLER

Imagine yourself a thirteen-year-old hundreds of miles away from home, in a strange city, and your mom leaves you at a bus station parking lot and drives off into the night with her lover.

That’s the real life story of country music star Jimmy Wayne. It’s a miracle that Jimmy survived being hungry and homeless, bouncing in and out of the foster care system, and sleeping in the streets. But he didn’t just overcome great adversity in his life; he now uses his country music platform to help children everywhere, especially teenagers in foster care who are about to age out of the system.

Walk to Beautiful is the powerfully emotive account of Jimmy’s horrendous childhood and the love shown him by Russell and Bea Costner, the elderly couple who gave him a stable home and provided the chance to complete his education. Jimmy says of Bea, “She changed every cell in my body.”

It also chronicles Jimmy’s rise to fame in the music industry and his Meet Me Halfway campaign: his walk halfway across America, 1,700 miles from Nashville to Phoenix, to raise awareness for foster kids.Join Jimmy on his walk to beautiful and see how one person really can make a difference.

ENDORSEMENTS

“If your story could use a better chapter, take inspiration from Jimmy’s.” —Max Lucado, New York Times best-selling author

“It reads like a movie to me, and if so, I’ll be the first one in a seat to see it.” —Dolly Parton

©2014 Thomas Nelson (P)2014 Thomas Nelson

Herein are we all...

Maybe you haven't been an abandoned/neglected child as some of us have. But all of us have felt neglected somewhere along the way...
Powerful, personal, motivating, enlightening. Hard to stop listening and recalling those who informally fostered my sister and me.
"I was thinking of how Jesus felt hanging on that cross but I was feeling sorry for myself too.... I thought of Mary, the mother of Jesus. I looked skyward and asked, 'Jesus, why can't my mom be more like your mom? She was there for you to the bitter end.' Almost immediately he spoke to my heart and mind. I'm not trying to get your mom to be more like mine. I'm trying to get you to be more like me. That placed the emphasis right where it needed to be. On me"
Lord bless those who make up the difference as we become more like Jesus.

Inspiring - Shows the Impact One Person Can Have

Where does Walk to Beautiful rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

This is one of the best books I've ever read or listened to! I literally lost sleep because I wanted to find out what happened next!

What was one of the most memorable moments of Walk to Beautiful?

There was one part of the story that sounded like something out of a horror movie but it was real life to Jimmy and his sister, Patricia. No one should have to experience something like that, especially a child! I don't want to give away the details. It's really amazing that Jimmy and Patricia lived through some of these terrible situations. For all of the bad things described in the first part of the book, they are outweighed by the beautiful love and appreciation that comes through later in the story when Jimmy speaks of Russell and Bea Costner, the couple who welcomed him into their home when he was living on the street.

Which scene was your favorite?

Crowd surfing at the concert at Madison Square Garden - Silly and cool at the same time! How many people can say they've done that? Jimmy completing the walk half way across the country was incredibly inspiring. I can't imagine taking 7 months out of your life to do something like that! It took such dedication to keep going and complete the walk even though it took longer than planned and Jimmy dealt with multiple physical hardships along the way. It was touching how many people reached out to help Jimmy Wayne and support Project Meet Me Halfway!

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

When Jimmy Wayne approached legendary songwriter Skip Ewing with a song idea and they planned a meeting to write together! That took guts and it was the beginning of his career taking off. Without making a name for himself as a songwriter and country music artist in Nashville, he wouldn't have the platform to bring awareness to kids and youth growing up the way he did.

Any additional comments?

It's very fitting that Jimmy Wayne himself reads the Prologue and Epilogue. There is raw emotion in his voice that can only come from someone who's lived the words he's reading. Gabe Wicks does a fantastic job of bringing the story to life. He has just the right tone and inflection to articulate the situations and emotions in Jimmy Wayne's autobiography!

EXCELLENT LISTENING EXPERIENCE!

This is a very touching story! Provides a great insight into a very worthy cause.

fabulous story of hope

please read this book. The story exposes the darkness of children in danger and the need for loving adults to stand in the lives of broken kids. Jimmy Wayne brings hope to the overwhelming stories we often hear of kids in foster care. Warning, this book requires a response...your heart will yearn to do something.

Excellent

This is an inspiring memoir. It helps to remind us of the decency and vulnerability of children, and examine ways we can help others.

touching book

Honestly one of the best books I've listened to. I laughed and been brought to tears. This is a must read!

Inspiring

This book not only was inspiring, providing a 1st person insight into the life of a foster child, but also described the real life ups and downs of a career. Writer should have provided the narration.

This book is life changing!!

I have read hundreds of books and this is in my top 5. After reading this incredible story, I am inspired to do more to help suffering children. Jimmy Wayne is a remarkable individual.

Just couldn't stop listening to this book!!

What did you love best about Walk to Beautiful?

This book has been beautifully written by Jimmy Wayne and Ken Abraham. And the fact that it is the true story of Jimmy Wayne's life made it even more compelling. Tears welled up in my eyes more than once while listening to the telling of this heartfelt story.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Walk to Beautiful?

I will never look at the situations that at risk children find themselves experiencing in the same way again! Envisioning a teenager living in a filthy trailer with no heat in the middle of winter in North Carolina absolutely broke my heart. My perspective has been changed forever!

What does Gabe Wicks bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

I think the narrator was very in tune with Jimmy Wayne's life experiences and gave a believable and empathetic performance

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Nothing.

Any additional comments?

Jimmy Wayne speaks from his personal experiences beginning by taking the listener through the heart-wrenching betrayal, heartbreak and losses he experienced as a child. Jimmy's story then evolves into the acceptance and loving kindness he experiences as an older teenager into young adulthood. And then Jimmy Wayne tells of the success he achieves as a country singer leading to the beautiful walk that begins to fulfill a personal commitment he made to himself to bring attention to the plight of at risk children who sadly age-out of the foster system at age 18. Jimmy Wayne works tirelessly to change this!! I have listened to this audible book 4 times since I made the purchase! I highly recommend this book to everyone!!

Will you walk to beautiful?

A story of determination and transformation that grips you from the beginning and leaves you wanting to take action.