Overcoming Tragedy

1963. Cape Kennedy, Florida. The world is watching the skies— but five women are fighting battles no one sees. When Josephine Booker’s husband is chosen for NASA’s elite astronaut program, she leaves behind snowy Minnesota for a life of sunshine, press conferences, and expectations she never asked for. In Stardust Beach—a brand-new town built to support the space race—Jo is expected to be the perfect wife, mother, and symbol of American grace. But behind the smiles and poolside interviews, her marriage is quietly cracking under the pressure. The danger isn’t just in space. ...

When a bullet pierced a calm August evening, it forced one family into tragedy and fractured lives in the small Oklahoma community. In this powerful memoir, a mom recounts her family's grief, which was ignited by one seemingly harmless decision, resulting in the senseless and violent death of her five-year-old child. Full of haunting foreshadowing and ethereal experiences, this story traverses the barbed and foreign landscape of loss and the quest for justice.It entrenches the power and impact of one choice and of one life. Ultimately, this story is one of human resiliency that is rooted in...

They set out to reach the stars. Now they’re fighting to hold on to what matters most. July 1969. As the nation holds its breath for the moon landing, Jo and Bill Booker are quietly bracing for impact. Bill is on the cusp of making history—he’s been chosen for the most iconic mission of the space race—but the cracks in their marriage may be too wide to bridge. After a decade of sacrifice, secrets, and emotional entanglements neither of them fully escaped, Jo isn’t sure what’s left of the life they once dreamed of. Their children are nearly grown, with strong opinions and hearts ...

She’s mastered the art of hiding. Now she has to find the courage to be seen. Jude Majors seems to have it all: a handsome astronaut husband, beautiful twin daughters, and a house on Florida’s sparkling Stardust Beach. But behind the polished smile and perfect life, Jude is drowning. Haunted by a painful childhood shaped by wartime prejudice, she’s spent decades silencing the parts of herself that felt too different, too broken, too “other.” Now, the cracks are starting to show. Drinking has helped her cope—until it nearly kills her. Faced with terrifying consequences, Jude must...

Everyone thinks Barbie Roman has it all. But this time, being perfect might cost her everything. With her picture-perfect looks, polished manners, and political pedigree, Barbie Roman was raised to play the role of the ideal daughter, wife, and mother. From an exclusive enclave in Connecticut to the sun-soaked shores of Stardust Beach, she’s spent her life smiling, supporting, and staying silent. But now, the stakes are too high—and Barbie’s time as the quiet good girl is running out. Her husband Todd is one of NASA’s rising stars, and with three young sons at home, Barbie should be...

She gave up the spotlight to protect her heart. Now the past is demanding an encore. Once destined for Broadway stardom, Francesca “Frankie” Lombardi left New York—and dancing—behind after a devastating betrayal stole her spark. Reinvented as the glamorous wife of NASA astronaut Ed Maxwell, Frankie plays the role of confident hostess and loyal friend in Stardust Beach. But behind her flawless façade is a woman still aching from loss… and terrified to hope for more. Her marriage is quietly unraveling under the weight of unspoken grief, and the life she’s built feels as fragile ...

She’s always lived by her heart. Now the world is asking her to choose. Carrie Reed has never been like the other astronaut wives—and she’s never tried to be. She gardens barefoot, raises her kids on vitamins and whole foods, and dreams of a more peaceful, just world. While her husband Jay trains for space missions, Carrie’s passion is right here on Earth: protecting the planet, fighting for civil rights, and teaching her children to do the same. But the closer the country inches toward change, the more Carrie feels pulled in opposite directions. Voter registration drives in the ...

Addiction is a preventable, treatable disease, not a moral failing. As with other illnesses, the approaches most likely to work are based on science - not on faith, tradition, contrition, or wishful thinking. These facts are the foundation of Clean, a myth-shattering look at drug abuse by the author of Beautiful Boy. Based on the latest research in psychology, neuroscience, and medicine, Clean is a leap beyond the traditional approaches to prevention and treatment of addiction.

She’s building rockets for NASA— but can she build the life she truly wants? At just twenty-seven, Jeanie Florence is blazing a trail few women have ever walked—as one of NASA’s brightest young engineers. While America races to put a man on the moon, Jeanie is quietly making history behind the scenes, her calculations propelling astronauts into space. But when it comes to love? She’s still stuck firmly on the launchpad. Her heart belongs to Bill Booker—an older, married astronaut whose orbit she knows she has no business entering. But emotions don’t always follow logic, and ...

He’s trained to survive the deadliest conditions in space. But no one prepared him for the silence at home. Lieutenant Colonel Bill Booker is a decorated pilot, a respected astronaut, and a man unraveling by degrees. Beneath the surface of his perfect American life—his rising NASA career, his beautiful wife Jo, and their idyllic home on Stardust Beach—something is breaking. And when his temper flares one too many times, NASA gives him a choice: face therapy, or forfeit his place in the program. Haunted by his past, disconnected from the woman he once loved so fiercely, and quietly ...

Unmeasured Strength is a survivor's awe-inspiring story of how Lauren Manning overcame tragedy and re-created herself as a wife, mother, and woman She was a hardworking business woman, had a loving husband and an infant son, and a confidence born of intelligence and beauty. But on September 11...

With his country on the brink of civil war, Blema Fangamou fears for the lives of his family. God Doesn't Write with a Pen recounts the many miracles the Fangamou family from West Africa has witnessed over the years, despite war and separation from each other. The Fangamous help listeners lift their faith and recognize miracles in their own lives.

Shep Carson got his last warning from Renke Stoltz but Master Carson isn't one to back down. His home, family and friends are being targeted and his patience is wearing thin. When Cody and Johnny are hurt, Shep's cop instincts kick in and he goes after Stoltz.

In a chance meeting, a powerful businesswoman named Ann and a troubled homeless man named Edward take a journey together that is as heart wrenching as it is heartwarming. While Edward battles his inner demons and struggles to stay alive on the streets, Ann relentlessly works to gain his trust and find him a home to call his own. As she fights to save the man she barely knows, she's forced to confront the wounds from her own past. Through the twists and turns of this unlikely friendship, we're taken on an emotional ride that touches the heart and opens the eyes.

Embracing a wide variety of subjects, this choice collection of ten short stories represents the latest from Tanya Angel, her seventh book of short stories. This grand cavalcade of superbly crafted fiction offers fascinating tales of struggles in everyday life and extraordinary situations. It respectfully examines betrayal and results in “Inevitabilityville,” and “Twin Crosses,” inside and outside of marriage. “The Colored Rooms” provides a gripping and controversial tale of how that may be remedied professionally. “That Day At The River” examines life and love in a rural ...

An unexpected journey. An unbreakable spirit. At 26, Non Reyes had it all—a loving family, a promising future, and an adventurous spirit. But in a single instant, everything changed. A devastating accident left him paralyzed from the neck down, forcing him to rebuild his life in ways he never imagined. In An Unexpected Ride, Non shares his deeply personal journey of resilience and rediscovery of purpose after tragedy. With raw honesty and a touch of humor, he reflects on the struggles, triumphs, and everyday victories of life with a disability—offering hope to anyone facing their own ...

The author of Turning Tragedy into Triumph presents her latest book.

Discover Joy in Life’s Quiet Moments Life can feel heavy, monotonous, or overwhelming. Burnout, loss, and everyday challenges can dim our spark—but joy isn’t lost. It’s often hidden, waiting to be noticed, nurtured, and celebrated. Life’s Hidden Light is a guide to uncovering those small, powerful sparks of happiness in the midst of life’s ups and downs. Through reflection, practical exercises, and inspiring insights, you’ll learn to: See silver linings in difficult situations Rediscover wonder in everyday life Release negativity and emotional drains Cultivate gratitude and ...

I’m convinced EVERYONE wants to be happy! After a family tragedy, I spent years just barely surviving. Happiness was not even a target. Remarkedly, I am happy again. Now I want everyone to be happy too. Admittedly, there is no 1-2-3 to avoiding the pain and loss reality throws at us, but I have found a few happiness hacks that work for me. If they work for me, they can work for you! In my little ebook about happiness, I’ll share a bit of my story, 7 happiness hacks, worksheets to help you implement the happiness hacks, plus a few family pics.

Helena "Harvard" Schmitt could not leave her life on the mountain soon enough. A life of academic rigor at Harvard was made possible by her extraordinary athletic gift: running. Thor Himmel was the Harvard equivalent of a movie star: attractive, intelligent, and unattainable. As Helena and Thor run from their demons, their paths inevitably and abruptly cross far from where they ever imagined forcing them to confront the past that might destroy their future.