The Pettis Norman Story

Dec 6, 2021 | eBook, Print Book

The Pettis Norman Story

Published December 6, 2021

by Pettis Burch Norman

Imagine sitting down with an old-school Dallas Cowboy and hearing tales about the early days – the plays, the teammates, Coach Landry, the Ice Bowl, Super Bowl V, and much more. Then imagine if other players weighed in and gave you an insider view from the field. THIS is precisely what you can expect in Pettis Norman’s autobiography, filled with stories that capture the blood, sweat, and tears that built a legacy on and off the field. Beyond football, Pettis didn’t rest on his laurels or sit idly by during the Civil Rights Movement. He wasn’t a bystander during the tense decades of the ’70s and ’80s when race relations dominated our country. Rather, Pettis was a navigator — the North Star — who forged political alliances with U.S. Presidents and emerged as an altruistic leader pioneering ground-breaking initiatives in Dallas that serve as models across the nation. Untold philanthropies and organizations welcomed him to their boards. His businesses were successful, and he never failed to help others by sharing his entrepreneurial spirit along the way. Pettis was involved – sometimes a lone voice of reason. A trusted voice. People listened and the community is better for it. From the cotton fields of his youth to the academic halls of North Carolina and the skyscrapers of Dallas, Pettis Norman’s journey is filled with love and loss, inspirational coaches and mentors, and a sense of duty that transcends multiple challenges. He begins life on a big stage and selflessly takes us by the hand and leads us through each era, teaching us so that history won’t repeat itself. His greatest dream? That we can all achieve the oneness, the goodness, that we as a people deserve.

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32 Years Apart

Nov 17, 2021 | eBook, Print Book

32 Years Apart: A Mother and Her Child

Published November 17, 2021

by Breinda Crosby-Averhart & Brandi Kneedly

May 09, 1987 was the first time I met Brandi Lavada Kneedly. Tight-fisted and fragile. I could not believe that I was the mother of this bundle of joy. Time progressed, and so did my love for her.
Brandi was a courageous child. She was always telling me, “Mommy make mistakes!” or “Mommy, I can do it!” My family and I began to call her Ms. Can Do.
Hailing from a musical family, I was certain that my daughter would be talented. Her talent showed up sooner than I expected. In first grade, my child was saying words while tapping her little feet. The words and the toe-tapping sounds were rhythmic and steady.
“Suga Mama, where you get those sounds from?”
“Mommy, I did it!” Ms. Can Do does it again.
The past two years have been horrific. All the killings of black people in America were taking up my good space. Then there was the murder of George Floyd, which was an American tragedy that should have never occurred. The way he was killed will stay with me forever and a day. It was an affront to humanity.
Subsequently, COVID-19 came to our shores, taking the lives of so many people. This pandemic invaded every country.
For a long time, I was unable to see Brandi. Therefore, we talked over the phone and texted daily. I am grateful for technology.
Brandi and I decided to write a book together in an attempt to make sense of these times. Until we were able to see one another, we wrote in journals, called one another, and critiqued our work.
We were the inspiration each of us needed to continue our quest.
After getting our vaccinations, we finally came together in person to collaborate on this project. We sat at the kitchen table by candlelight and wrote and shared. Many days passed until our book of poetry was finished.

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One Life Lost, Millions Gained

Sep 24, 2021 | eBook, Print Book

One Life Lost, Millions Gained: The Story of a Flight Nurse Turned MediAire CEO

Published September 24, 2021

by Joan Sullivan Garrett

If you haven’t heard of Joan Sullivan Garrett or MedAire, you are in for a ride! As a flight nurse, all Joan ever wanted to do is save lives. In 1984, the loss of a young patient in the mountains of Arizona compelled her to pioneer global telemedicine – quite a feat in those days. Her book is dedicated to this little boy, Ralphie, whose passing sparked a revolution in remote travel medicine.

As an unlikely CEO, Joan found a way to connect ground-based emergency physicians to flight crews from anywhere in the world in real time, whether 36,000 feet in the air or in the middle of an ocean. This became safety net for you, the traveler, during medical emergencies. Thousands of lives have been saved and millions are safer on air, land and sea because Joan made the jump into the unknown and built a company from the ground up – a rare startup for a female in the male-dominated industries of the 1980s.

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Living with CMT

Oct 30, 2020 | eBook, Print Book

Living with CMT: A Mother and Son Journey through Charcot marie Tooth Disease

Published October 30, 2020

by Dawn Johnson

Welcome to the world of Charcot Marie Tooth (CMT) disease, a rare, progressive and hereditary neurological condition. Author Dawn Johnson takes readers through the physical challenges—the toll on the body, passing the disease on to her son, numerous surgeries, and ongoing treatments. She addresses the emotional toll as well, weighing in on the societal issues of bullying, lack of CMT awareness, giving back and paying it forward.

Dawn Johnson is an author and advocate for CMT awareness. She was born in Maryland and grew up in New Jersey, and navigates the world through the lens of the disease after being diagnosed at age twelve. She passed this hereditary condition to her son and only child, Ryan. Today she is the mother of an angel, for Ryan died on Christmas 2018 at the age of twenty due to complications of lymphocytic myocarditis.

Dawn earned a Bachelor of Science with a concentration in business administration and marketing from Rider University and graduated in three and a half years. She is a successful and experienced horseback riding instructor who is certified to teach therapeutic lessons. She owned Rockin D’s Riding Center from 1992 to 2015 and taught Western, English and therapeutic riding lessons to people of all ages while living with CMT. She also boarded horses and kept abreast of the latest in animal nutrition.

Due to the complications of her disease, Dawn isn’t in the saddle these days (something she misses) and works as an administrative assistant at WFI, a business owned and operated by her family. Her goal in publishing this book is to encourage others who live with CMT, and also speak up for the rights and dignity of those with disabilities. She wants to help people who live with this and other rare diseases and their caregivers in an entertaining as well as informative manner.

Please visit the “Dawn Johnson, Author” Facebook page to keep up with the book, written in tribute to her son Ryan, who was involved in the writing of the memoir until his sudden passing. It offers a very personal glimpse into a courageous mother-child journey.

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The Culture of Research

Aug 30, 2020 | eBook, Print Book

The Culture of Research: Insights from a 45-year practice in the design and execution of multicultural research

Published August 30, 2020

by Edward T. Rincon, Ph.D.

Let’s face it — multicultural research is difficult to do. Research practitioners face tough choices concerning the best methodology to utilize in studies of U.S. Blacks, Hispanics and Asians. Despite the rapidly changing demographic composition of the U.S. population, our research industry has been slow to adapt their practices to these changing demographics. The result? A disturbing number of multicultural research studies include identifiable biases, lower data quality, and low response rates that undermine decisions regarding key programs and policies. Equally disturbing is the corresponding trend by procurement staff that fund these questionable studies by research vendors with little experience in multicultural communities. The goal of this book is to make the difficult easier. The Culture of Research is a needed addition to the acumen of a research industry with historically limited resources to guide the design and execution of multicultural research. Edward T. Rincón, a research psychologist and recognized expert in studies of U.S. multicultural populations, has taught research and statistics courses at several academic institutions and conducted studies for many of the nation’s private and public corporations – thus bringing an academic and practitioner’s point of view that is uncommon in traditional research publications. Using a forensic analytics approach, Dr. Rincón uses his expertise to identify anomalies in the research or measurement process that impact the quality of life for multicultural communities, including mass media, redlining practices, educational testing, crime analysis, site location analysis, trademark infringement, and political polling. While the forensic analytics approach searches for potential explanations of questionable results, it is also used to praise studies that utilize high methodological standards in their studies of multicultural populations. Several of these studies are discussed throughout the book. The Culture of Research does not dwell on the fundamental concepts of conducting research, but rather focuses on the common pitfalls that are likely to be encountered in the design and execution of a multicultural research study. These pitfalls include decisions related to research design, identifying and sampling multicultural populations, adaptation and translation of survey instruments, the limitations of traditional data collection methods, data analytic considerations, the intuitive appeal of mixed mode methods, the value of GIS applications, use of incentives, and the unwanted compromises introduced by procurement decision-makers.Readers will find four additional resources that are useful. For example, the book includes tables from the most recent American Community Survey for 2018 that describe the presence of multicultural populations in the U.S., while selected demographic tables are discussed throughout the book that illustrate the various ways in which Census data are used in the planning, sampling, and analysis of multicultural surveys. Secondly, we have added a chapter on special problems associated with focus groups and multicultural populations. Thirdly, the reader will find our chapter on GIS applications quite interesting in understanding the environments where multicultural communities reside. Lastly, our chapter on procurement practices discusses the various ways in which purchasing staff undermine the quality of multicultural research. In summary, the book is a recommended companion to instructors and students in traditional research courses like business, sociology, political science, marketing, advertising, economics, mass media and psychology; research practitioners who design and execute multicultural research studies; procurement staff that design the specifications for multicultural research; and other individuals who use the results of multicultural research studies for decision making.
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The Original Rolling Stone

Oct 10, 2019 | eBook, Print Book

The Original Rolling Stone: The Travelin’ Riverside Blues of Eugene Powell

Published October 10, 2019

by Brian O’Connor with Melanie Saxton

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A Journey Through Breast Cancer

Aug 16, 2018 | eBook, Print Book

A Journey Through Breast Cancer

Published August 16, 2018

by Breinda Crosby-Averhart

Brienda Averhart is a two-time author of Yellow Scarf: A Bitter Sweet Remembrance and A Journey Through Breast Cancer.

She earned a bachelor of arts degree in accounting and business/management at Dominican University and has worked for thirty years as administrative assistant and coordinator of community outreach at John H. Stroger, Jr. Hospital, the flagship of the Cook County Health & Hospitals System.

As a breast cancer survivor and awareness advocate, her efforts encourage and educate women who are facing similar journeys.

Brienda previously captured her mother’s journey through Alzheimer’s in the book Yellow Scarf: A Bitter Sweet Remembrance, never thinking she’d be writing about her own journey through breast cancer. But here she is, a survivor and advocate, who wants nothing more than to spread awareness and hope to others.

Brienda’s community outreach work at John H. Stroger, Jr. Hospital in Cook County has educated and uplifted her, but also equipped her to educate and uplift others. Follow along as she, her daughter, and her husband reflect on their paths to survivorship, for her battle involved the whole family. May these points of view bless you, as well as the resource section in the back of the book.

Every breast cancer diagnosis is personal and comes with its own set of challenges. Brienda Crosby-Averhart chose to navigate these challenges with an abundance of faith. Truly, God anchored her during her trials.

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Journey to the Heart

Jul 25, 2018 | eBook, Print Book

Journey to the Heart: Book Two of The Awakening Series

Published July 25, 2018

by Eliza Anne McDaniel

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Armstrong Basketball

Apr 23, 2018 | eBook, Print Book

Armstrong Basketball: A Journey Through the Glory Days

Published April 23, 2018

by Ron “Skippy” Hancock

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Behind Closed Doors

Mar 26, 2018 | eBook, Print Book

Behind Closed Doors: Book One of The Awakening Series

Published March 26, 2018

by Eliza Anne McDaniel

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Sideline & Pearls

Mar 6, 2018 | eBook, Print Book

Sidelines & Pearls

Published March 6, 2018

by Erica Barnett

Behind every great coach stands a great coach’s wife. This is definitely true. You may not see us, but we are there. We’ve been there since sports were invented and high school foot-ball became a “thing,” especially in Texas. Yes, Texas high school football is a legend unto itself (more on that later). But regardless of where you live or what sport your husband is involved in, we love our coaches and are proud of them. It takes a lot of hard work to become a great coach’s wife. I come from a line of coaches’ wives (and the men they love), but even I’m thrown for a loop now and then. Thank heavens for my grandmother, fondly referred to as MiMi. She was a coach’s wife for 44 years and involved in the coaching culture for well over 50 years. Just imagine the wisdom she shared with women who became engaged or newly married to a coach—me included! We lost her in May of 2017, and I’m honored to capture her essence in each chapter. It’s a multi-layered manuscript—a primer covering timeless principles and a fresh look at what a modern wife faces daily. It’s a meaningful way for me “pay it forward,” as my MiMi always encouraged me to do. MiMi and her peers (many whom contributed to this book) watched as the world of sports changed over time, but steadfastly advised that duty and dedication are eternal. This book is filled with her insights and those of other notable coaches’ wives as a resource for newly engaged, the newly married, and the veterans of our crazy coaching culture. So buckle up for a roller coaster of highs and lows—and insights across a 50-year arc—and trust that you’ll eventually enjoy the ride. So many wonderful coaches’ wives, coaches’ moms, and coaches’ kids (and one former football player) contributed to this book, which was written to remind us all that we are not alone. As for newer wives, you’ll be a savvy member of our sisterhood in no time!
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Reign of the Antichrist

Feb 11, 2018 | eBook, Print Book

Reign of the Antichrist: Book Two of The Mark of the Beast Series

Published February 11, 2018

by E. Lye

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Protecting Cancer Patients from Rising Drug Costs and the Risk of Financial Catastrophe

Jan 22, 2018 | eBook

Protecting Cancer Patients from Rising Drug Costs and the Risk of Financial Catastrophe

Published January 22, 2018

by R.N. Bhardwaj Ph.D

The soaring costs of cancer drugs and treatment have prompted investigators to examine the underlying causes of declining R&D productivity and design effective strategies to respond to new challenges stemming from recent scientific advances in life sciences. Issues involve paying increased attention to multiple factors such as raising R&D productivity through research collaboration, designing approaches to drug pricing based on the therapeutic value and cost effectiveness of new drugs, considering and evaluating the merits of alternatives to the existing patents system, invigorating the drug approval process with a view to expediting the approval and use of new drugs, and reforming the public health drug benefits plans in order to protect patients and families from financial ruination.

Additional critical issues warranting high priority consideration include exploring ways to fulfill the unmet needs of the people ranked low in social-economic status, including the unemployed, uninsured, poor, and those engaged in non-standard employment contracts.

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Blessings & Love Daily Devotional

Jan 20, 2018 | eBook, Print Book

Blessings & Love Daily Devotional: Living Your Spiritual Awakening

Published January 20, 2018

by Monique Davis Dotson

Begin or end your day with Blessings & Love daily devotional. Each devotion contains biblical scriptures and inspirational messages of encouragement. Intimately spend time with God and you will begin living your spiritual awakening.

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The End Game

Nov 24, 2016 | eBook, Print Book

The End Game

Published November 24, 2016

by Bo Porter with Debbi Taylor

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Keeper of My Soul Testimonials: Look What God Has Done!

Apr 8, 2016 | eBook, Print Book

Keeper of My Soul Testimonials: Look What God Has Done!

Published April 8, 2016

by Multiple Authors

You are not alone. There are times in our lives when we think we are alone and no one knows what we are going through. There are many others going through the exact same trials, tribulations, hurts, heartaches and pains as you are. Keeper of My Soul Testimonials is a book intended to help others so that they can be uplifted by the miracles God has performed in the lives of others. It lets the world know that what He’s done for some, He can do for them.
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For The Love Of Oil

Apr 6, 2016 | eBook, Print Book

For the Love of Oil

Published April 6, 20164

by J. Servais

Rob was born in Holland just after the war, when jobs and food had to be shared with too many people trying everything they could to survive. His family was poor, and everyone worked long hours for a daily meal and bare essentials.

As a young boy he accepted any job to support his family…until the day he was giving a chance to work in the oil industry. He soon experienced how tough it is to be accepted by a drilling crew and to work hard for more than twelve hours a day under sometimes severe weather and dangerous operational conditions.

After years of searching, he finds the love of his life, starts a family and follows his path from roustabout until attaining the position in charge of drilling operations. In the meantime, his closest friends are witnessing and surviving some of the most devastating oil field disasters created by careless human mistakes.

His career leads him from drilling rigs to the Head Office as Operations Manager, where he is confronted with bribes and other intrigues. Managers instilled with honest and fair business ethics are replaced with white-collar criminals, who feel they are above any law. Their only aim is to get rich in the shortest possible time by manipulating the stock market and destroying well-established companies. Rob becomes a witness to his company’s becoming a target of their greed, leading his family to start a new journey in the land of opportunity.

Avoiding human mistakes was always Rob’s most important goal, and he set out to implement his plan to save lives and prevent environmental disasters.

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Like a Roaring Lion (The Mark of the Beast Book 1)

Feb 26, 2016 | eBook, Print Book

Like a Roaring Lion: Book One of The Mark of the Beast Series

Published February 26, 2016

by E. Lye

“The Mark of the Beast” series begins with book number one, “Like a Roaring Lion.” It is a tale of fiction about the end of days that is based on ancient manuscripts. Follow Sam Webber from his idyllic home life in Oregon as he meets and falls in love with the seducing, Staci Blake. Outwardly, Staci is beautiful! But she carries a secret—an evil gene dating back thousands of years. The main character of the series, Mary Jane Scarsdale, leaves the comfort of her small town in Texas for a new career only to run face to face with, what she fears is, the mark of the beast—the mark of the Antichrist. Staci Blake and Mary Jane Scarsdale meet in a time when all of hell is about to break loose.
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Untying The Knots Before Tying The Knot

Feb 3, 2016 | eBook, Print Book

Untying the Knots Before Tying the Knot: Things to reflect on before you take the vow

Published February 3, 2016

by Rose Enyioma

There is no right age per se for marriage, but for it to have a fighting chance in our age, when fifty percent or slightly higher will end in divorce, there has to be a level of readiness for those who want to go into it. There is no perfect individual, and so there will never be a perfect marriage. However, when we walk according to the guidelines of the original author of marriage, it ensures a level of preparedness and safety. This preparation involves identifying those issues in individuals which are like knots. These knots can undermine and actually undo marriage relationships. Most of those proverbial “little foxes that spoil the vine” in marriage are identified in this book and dealt with from Biblical perspectives.

About the Author

Rose Enyioma is a children’s Sunday school teacher and taught Christian youth fellowship classes for several years. She also organizes and speaks at women’s conferences. Her passion is strengthening Christian homes and marriages as well as equipping young adults with Biblical skills for successful marriages. She is a nurse and runs an independent consultant company for home health agencies. Rose obtained her Bachelor’s degree in Nursing from University of Nigeria, and Master’s degree in Nursing Education from Capella University, Minneapolis. She currently lives with her husband and three children in Missouri City, Texas.

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REal Life EMPOWERED

Dec 21, 2015 | eBook, Mobile App, Print Book

REal Life Empowered

Published December 21, 2015

by Bo Porter

I pray the reading of REal Life EMPOWERED daily devotional will educate your mind, enrich your heart and empower your soul. This enlightening one-year devotional will be your guide, every day, as you travel the path of REal Excellence. Having a daily appointment with God is a vital component of mastering our journey with Christ.
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Orion’s Belt: Full Moon Fever

Jun 21, 2014 | eBook, Print Book

Orion’s Belt: Full Moon Fever

Published June 21, 2014

by John Peter Ferris

This book is the third of the Orion’s Belt trilogy. “Full Moon Fever” picks up right where “Baptism under Fire” ends, and is suggested that you read the first two books to fully understand this sequel. The trilogy in itself praises the fighting men and women who put their lives on the line everyday.

“Full Moon Fever” adds to the astounding scientific revolution’s being implemented today. Perhaps through these adventures, we all can live vicariously through the bravery of these heroic characters.

Enjoy the ride everybody. The Cosmos is calling….

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A Look Back: Stories of struggle and survival growing up and out of rural Alabama

Jun 1, 2014 | eBook, Print Book

A Look Back: Stories of struggle and survival growing up and out of rural Alabama

Published June 1, 2014

by Velma Jackson-Wilkins

A Look Back depicts with rich and lively details of growing up in rural Alabama. We survived off the land and homemade medicine. We lived in the woods and labored in the cotton fields. Running water and electricity weren’t available until I was near adolescence – and the same goes for indoor plumbing. Yet any scarcity only served to strengthen my family’s strong heritage, which is far greater than mere material possessions.

Without self-pity, these stories celebrate the human spirit and the triumphant power to rise above any circumstances. What a privilege it is to share these true-life anecdotes of struggle and survival in the Deep South.

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You Are Going to Make It!

Jan 13, 2014 | eBook, Print Book

You Are Going to Make It!

Published January 13, 2014

by Lucille D. Ankum

This book is about a journey of transformation from being married to becoming single as a faith driven woman. From the view of one who walked through, lived the life and became victorious, this book will take you to a place deep within yourself. If you have gone through any struggle in life, you will find yourself within these pages.

This compassionate and touching story uncovers the feelings and emotions women experience during the tearing and separation of a marriage. When it comes to hurt and pain, we’re all the same (Christians or not), and this is what connects us as women.

The author Lucille Ankum uses her personal experiences to share how she made it through the storms of a rocky divorce. This book will awaken you and provides healing for your soul.

Lucille will capture your heart in a way that’s unforgettable. The book is meant to minister, encourage and help mend the brokenness. It will take you to a place of total surrender, and each step will remind you of its title: You are going to make it!

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Sit It Out or Dance: A Memoir

Jun 30, 2013 | eBook, Print Book

Sit It Out or Dance: A Memoir

Published June 30, 2013

by Sally Gerth

Author Sally Gerth lost both her husband and only child within a two-year span. With this double blow came a “new normal” and many decisions. Sally could either “sit it out” or “dance” into the future—a metaphor for the choices we make as we cope with grief. People wonder how she bears it, and the answer is: She chooses to dance! Her poignant, funny, and gung-ho journey is both a tribute to her departed family members and a resource for those facing the most challenging life and death scenarios. It hasn’t been easy. She shares insights into a perfectly imperfect marriage haunted by a mistress named “alcohol,” and her husband’s life-changing recovery. Written from a mother’s perspective, Sally celebrates her “carbon copy”—a son who lit up her world and produced her wonderful grandchildren. Suddenly both her husband and son were gone. Now what? Refusing to be a victim, Sally honors Lou and Michael by living the life they would want for her, a life full of “Bucket List” moments and new adventures. Sally chronicles the steps she took to blossom into the woman she is today. “My best friends weighed in and pre-eulogized me,” says Sally of this collaborative memoir. “But the true mission of Sit It Out Or Dance is to help others heal.” A sprinkling of faith, a dose of chutzpah and a positive mindset fill the pages. This must-read book is a testament that you, too, can find joy after deep loss. Follow along at www.sallygerth.com. The book is a wonderful resource for anyone facing the unthinkable.
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TOO MANY, TOO SOON: A True Story of the Death of Seven Family Members

Apr 16, 2013 | eBook, Print Book

Too Many, Too Soon

Published April 16, 2013

by Velma Jackson-Wilkins

Documenting the death of my family members has allowed me to free my mind and heal in a way I never expected. It transformed my life. Follow along as seven lives unfold—each unique, each complex. This snapshot into the struggles of growing up dirt poor in Alabama and the subsequent migrations to Detroit and New York gives readers a glimpse into the Deep South and our traditions. As for burying lost loved ones, our traditions may be completely new to you: viewings, wakes, and Home Going services. Funerals are celebrations in the hearts and minds of Christian African Americans. Most importantly, conquering sorrow and leaning on faith are themes woven throughout the book. It truly is a must-read, for my mission is to encourage others as they walk through the darkest hours. Hope and healing are on the horizon.
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