Spoken not Broken: Healing through Poetry is a collection of poetry touching on themes related to Asian-American identity, mental health, and addictions drawn from both my professional experience working with clients but also my personal struggle with identity, cultural shame, and addictions.I was once shrouded in shame as I struggled to fit into America as a first-generation immigrant. There was the shame of being different as an Asian, the shame of not living up to certain cultural expectations, and the shame of living in secrecy with various addictive tendencies. Feeling more than defeated, I believed I was broken to the core.My healing came through the written and spoken word. I had to speak my truth regardless of the shame or pain it generated in order to free myself from the crippling internal vise of negativity, inadequacy, and fear. May these poems dip into the richness of your soul so the beauty of the real you can also speak its truth.

Broken But Not Defeated is a book of relatable life experiences and testimonies expressed through poetry/spoken word. Please understand that this book is written with emotion and not as a general read. It's filled with feelings more than words. We go through things in life, and feel as if we are alone yet many people are having the same experience. Don't be afraid to share your story/testimony with someone else. You just may be the light, faith and or strength they need to push through.

Presents poems by children from more than one hundred families changed by divorce, reflecting such themes as abandonment, being caught in the middle, love, hate, and lessons learned.

"This book is a message from autistic people to their parents, friends, teachers, coworkers and doctors showing what life is like on the spectrum. It's also my love letter to autistic people. For too long, we have been forced to navigate a world where all the road signs are written in another language." With a reporter's eye and an insider's perspective, Eric Garcia shows what it's like to be autistic across America. Garcia began writing about autism because he was frustrated by the media's coverage of it; the myths that the disorder is caused by vaccines, the narrow portrayals of autistic people as white men working in Silicon Valley. His own life as an autistic person didn't look anything like that. He is Latino, a graduate of the University of North Carolina, and works as a journalist covering politics in Washington D.C. Garcia realized he needed to put into writing what so many autistic people have been saying for years; autism is a part of their identity, they don't need to be fixed. In We're Not Broken, Garcia uses his own life as a springboard to discuss the social and policy gaps that exist in supporting those on the spectrum. From education to healthcare, he explores how autistic people wrestle with systems that were not built with them in mind. At the same time, he shares the experiences of all types of autistic people, from those with higher support needs, to autistic people of color, to those in the LGBTQ community. In doing so, Garcia gives his community a platform to articulate their own needs, rather than having others speak for them, which has been the standard for far too long.

AWARD-WINNING and BESTSELLING AUTHOR Parts of this memoir appeared on ESPN and in Rosie. Fractured Not Broken is a true story of loss, faith, and a rare love that only happens in nonfiction. In a sweeping and heart-wrenching narrative, Kelly exposes the truth about what happened after a drunk driver rendered her a quadriplegic. She shares how she found her way back—through faith and pain, her community, her family, and the love of a man she’d prayed for. This book has been a true encouragement to me. Thank you Kelly for sharing your story— the loss and the unexpected joy— so that each reader can be uplifted knowing there is a full, rich life available to those who lean in to our Lord Jesus. —Renee Bondi, Award-Winning Singer and Songwriter Life has its tragic moments of defeat, setbacks, and fracturing for everyone. Kelly's story proves, however, that individual momentum, personal progress, and genuine achievement can still be attained. Her courage and optimism are uplifting. Open these pages and experience the joy of ultimate victory. —Dr. Dennis E. Hensley, Author, Jesus in All Four Seasons This is a real life story of heroic virtue—especially of courage, humility, and generosity—a triumph of faith, hope and love. This story involves the very essence of the human spirit, family, and community. To know Kelly and her journey of miracles is to know that with God all things are possible. —Most Reverend Charles C. Thompson Bishop of Evansville

In this unflinching and inspiring memoir, Jesse Leon tells an extraordinary story of resilience and survival, shining a light on a childhood spent devastated by sex trafficking, street life, and substance abuse. Born to indigenous working-class Mexican immigrants in San Diego in the 1970s, Jesse Leon’s childhood was violently ruptured. A dangerous and harrowing encounter at a local gift shop when he was eleven years old left Jesse with a deadly secret. Hurt, alone, and scared for his life, Jesse numbed his pain by losing himself in the hyper-masculine culture of the streets and wherever else he could find it—in alcohol, drugs, and prostitution. Overlooked by state-sanctioned institutions and systems intended to help victims of abuse, neglected like many other low-income Latinos, Jesse spiraled into cycles of suicide and substance abuse. I’m Not Broken is the heartbreaking and remarkable story of the journey Jesse takes to win back his life, leading him to the steps of Harvard University. From being the lone young person of color in Narcotics Anonymous meetings to coming to terms with his own sexual identity, to becoming an engaged mentor for incarcerated youth, Jesse finds the will to live with the love and support of his family, friends, and mentors. Recounting the extraordinary circumstances of his life, Jesse offers a powerful, raw testament to the possibilities of self-transformation and self-acceptance. Unforgettable, I’m Not Broken is an inspirational portrait of one young man’s indomitable strength and spirit to survive—against all possible odds.

"This is a memoir of George's boyhood in New Jersey, growing up with their brother and two cousins, all under the supervision of their larger-than-life grandmother"--