Let Me Tell You Where Ive Been

Barbara Jordan spoke for many Texas women when she told a reporter, "I get from the soil and spirit of Texas the feeling that I, as an individual, can accomplish whatever I want to, and that there are no limits, that you can just keep going, just keep soaring. I like that spirit." Indeed, the sense of limitless possibilities has inspired countless Texas women—sometimes in the face of daunting obstacles—to build lives rich in work, family, friends, faith, and community involvement. In this collection of interviews conducted by PJ Pierce, twenty-five Texas women ranging in age from 53 to 93 share the wisdom they've acquired through living unconventional lives. Responding to the question "What have you found that really matters about life?" they offer keen insights into motherhood, career challenges, being a minority, marriage and widowhood, anger, assertiveness, managing change, persevering, power, speaking out, fashioning success from failure, writing your own job description, loving a younger man, and recognizing opportunities disguised as disaster—to name only a few of their topics. In her introduction, Pierce describes how she came to write the book and how she chose her subjects to represent a cross-section of career paths and ethnic groups and all geographic areas of Texas. A topical index makes it easy to compare several women's views on a given subject.

Until recently, Iranian literature has overwhelmingly been the domain of men. But the new hybrid culture of diaspora Iranians has produced a prolific literature by women that reflects a unique perspective and voice. Let Me Tell You Where I've Been is an extensive collection of poetry, fiction, and nonfiction by women whose lives have been shaped and influenced by Iran's recent history, exile, immigration and the formation of new cultural identities in the United States and Europe. These writings represent an emerging and multi-cultural female sensibility. Unlike many flat media portrayals of Iranian women—as veiled, silenced—these writers offer a complex literary view of Iranian culture and its influences. These writers interrogate, challenge, and re-define notions of home and language and their work offers readers an experience of Iranian diaspora culture. Featuring over one hundred selections (two-thirds of which have never been published before) by more than fifty contributors--including such well-known writers as Gelareh Asayesh, Tara Bahrampour, Firoozeh Dumas, Roya Hakakian and Mimi Khalvati--the collection represents a substantial diversity of voices in this multicultural community. Divided into six sections, the book's themes of exile, family, culture resistance, and love, create a rich and textured view of the Iranian diaspora. The poems, short stories, and essays are suggestive of an important conversation about Iran, Iranian culture, the Persian and English languages, and the dual identities of many of its authors. This powerful collection is a tribute to the wisdom, insight, and sensitivity of women attempting to invent and articulate a literature of in-betweenness.

For a nation with a long and proud military tradition, one token stands above all others as a mark of recognition for the ultimate acts of individual feats of arms: the Victoria Cross. Awarded for one reason alone--to mark extreme acts of great heroism by British and Commonwealth servicemen in the face of the enemy--it is unquestionably the hardest club in the world to gain entrance to. Its holders--ordinary soldiers, sailors and airmen--are linked by an uncommon bond of exceptional bravery, displayed often at great personal risk and against impossible odds. The VC has been awarded only thirteen times since the end of the Second World War in 1945. Three of these awards were made to recipients who had paid the ultimate sacrifice while demonstrating gallantry beyond the call of duty. Forged in battle, from the shell-scarred hills of Korea, to the windswept marshland of East Falkland and today's counter-insurgency operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, each one of these VCs has a uniquely inspiring tale to tell. This is their incredible story.

The days are long, but the years are short. No matter if it’s your child’s first step, first day of school, or first night tucked away in a new dorm room away from home, there comes a moment when you realize just how quickly the years are flying by. Christian music artist Nichole Nordeman’s profound lyrics in her viral hit “Slow Down” struck a chord with moms everywhere, and now this beautiful four-color book will inspire you to celebrate the everyday moments of motherhood. Filled with thought-provoking writings from Nichole, as well as guest writings from friends including Shauna Niequist and Jen Hatmaker, practical tips, and journaling space for reflection, Slow Down will be a poignant gift for any mom, as well as a treasured keepsake. Take a few moments to reflect and celebrate the privilege of being a parent and getting to watch your little ones grow—and Slow Down. Nichole Nordeman has sold more than 1 million albums as a Christian music artist and has won 9 GMA Dove Awards, including two awards for Female Vocalist of the Year and Songwriter of the Year. Nichole released a lyric video for her song “Slow Down,” and it struck a chord with parents everywhere, amassing 14 million views in its first five days. She lives in Oklahoma with her two children.

Rarely does a book quite like this one come along. Each story is unique. The stories are true insights into an epic journey of life growing up in a small rural town in Northeast Ohio. In addition, the stories include struggles of a little girl growing up in a Pentecostal church from the 1960s to the present years. Also included are stories about a career in teaching that has spanned thirty-five years, two states, and all grade levels and subjects. The variety of stories may include glimpses into a large close-knit family of nineteen people. With a family that large, much was happening all of the time. You will read about struggles, triumphs, laughter, and challenges, and read encouraging words to inspire you to be a better person. Each page will walk through a moment in time. That moment may be happy, sad, or thought-provoking but will always leave you to ponder about your own situation. In the midst of it all, you will find a unique focus on God. As you read the stories and understand the background of the author, you will see why the struggles were real. You will understand that if someone can honestly say they have been in your shoes, these stories represent just that.

The author, a computer science professor diagnosed with terminal cancer, explores his life, the lessons that he has learned, how he has worked to achieve his childhood dreams, and the effect of his diagnosis on him and his family.

Forty years after he wrote his first short story, Charles Keith Hardman shares a collection of diverse tales that explore the unknown, question the future, and create chills. A fledgling musician leaves Lubbock, Texas, not really caring where he is headed. As the Texas red clay dust evaporates behind his car, he only knows one thing: he has to leave. But as he pulls into the deserted parking lot of an icehouse, the man has no idea of what he is about to encounter. When a stranger enters Jamestown, he introduces himself to everyone he meetsbut gives different names and details each time. As a ringmaster parades around a circle in an arena, a crowd goes wild, anxious to witness the unknown. A show of energy is unleashed, and the crowd gasps. They can hardly believe what they see. Let Me Tell You a Story offers an intriguing compilation of writings that tantalizes the imagination and inspires wonderment at what is truly real in the world and what is not.

Over the course of two years, a group of award-winning photographers, filmmakers, painters, and writers trailed and documented the flood of refugees pouring into the West from the Middle East and Africa, recording the refugees' firsthand accounts of who they are and what made them refugees. Spare, haunting, utterly magnificent, and profoundly human, this inspiring collection creates a portrait of the greatest humanitarian crisis of modern history. From the pregnant mother in the dusty warehouse-turned-refugee-camp in Greece to the emaciated child in a mud-filled tent in Bangladesh to the lone Sudanese crouched under an overpass in Italy--the people inside this remarkable volume of exquisite photography and stories of resilience will teach you that the surest way to draw humans together begins with the words "I want to tell you my story . . ."

For 30 years Rob Parsons has travelled widely across the UK and around the world, sharing his own stories of the ups and downs of life, and listening to the stories other people have to tell of their own lives. Tell Me A Story brings together the best of these stories - from heartwarming tales of family life to challenging accounts of coming through heartache and loss, from business success and money worries to sage advice on how to set priorities and find direction for our loves Through them all Rob weaves his spell as a storyteller, so pull up a chair and settle in to enjoy!