Supreme Sacrifice Snippet
From Dead Poets Society
"Only in dreams can men be truly free.
Was always thus,
And always thus will be."   

Benefits of Sharing Family Stories

A WSJ article by Sue Shallenbarger details researchers' studies on the importance of sharing family stories with their children. They found that a sense of family history is linked to childrens' self-esteem and resiliency. And it's not the happily ever after stories that made the difference, but rather those stories where relatives who have grappled with sad or difficult events, were able to overcome and be stronger for their experiences. Kids who knew their family history had fewer emotional problems, and gained a sense of self in relation to their position in the family. A teacher, Catherine Schildknecht, noted in the article that "we think it's important that our childrent know their past."
Look for my new website, which is currently under construction, and will be released soon. It will feature "Questions to ask for finding out about your family history and immigration path to the United States".

Children of Alcoholics Week Begins 2/14/2011

                     Children of Alcoholics Week Begins 2/14/2011

One in four youth under the age of 18 lives in a family where a person abuses alcohol or suffers from alcoholism. Remember: You are not alone. Lots of teens are in your situation. Remember Alateen. They hold meetings where young people can share tips on how to make their lives easier when a family member drinks too much or uses drugs. You can find the location of meetings by calling 1-888-425-2666, or by logging onto their Web site at http://www.alateen.org/

Travel to my grandparents' homeland

This summer I will be the guest of the American Embassy in the Slovak Republic. They have recognized the memoir I wrote of my mother's childhood, Goodbye America. I will be touring the country in hopes of connecting with my ancestors' history. My mother's village, Pohorela, will be the ultimate goal of my journey. It has been a little less than a century ago when Anna left her beloved America, and settled in Pohorela following the death of her father. She finally rejoined and reunited with her family in America more than five years later. Her story has been a beacon of strength, love, and  hope in our family for three generations. We rejoice that through her memoir, she continues to touch many lives in America, and now will be touching the lives of Slovak youngsters who will learn about the "other side" of the American immigrant success story.

Memoir Potpourri

TRUE CONFESSION   HARSH REALITY  IMMORTALITY   LIFE'S ONE STORY
                   
         RETROSPECTION       FACTUAL     FAMILY LEGACY      SHARE

THERAPEUTIC    CATHARTIC   BENEFIT THE READER   EMOTIONAL TRUTH

               NATIONAL APPETITE        "THREE WEEKS WITH MY BROTHER"

"ANGELA'S ASHES"     FACTUAL & EMOTIONAL TRUTH        STORYTELLING  

                       ART & CRAFT                       "GOODBYE AMERICA"

Ernest Hemingway

Ernest Hemingway was once challenged to tell a story in only six words:
"For sale: baby shoes, never worn."
Can you tell your life story in six words?
Here's some that got published in AARP:
"Nearing 60, still on Rough Draft."
"Defined at 21. Redefined at 57."
"Sixty. Still haven't forgiven my parents."

Lessons learned from writing memoirs:
-We all have so much in common
-Makes you confront the truth
-It provides new perspectives
-Helps make sense of our lives
-It's cathartic and therapeutic
-It creates a legacy without dollar signs
-Researchers found family history linked to children's self-esteem and resiliency

Like Arthur Hailey writing "Roots", the purpose to writing my mother's memoir, "Goodbye America", was to provide a legacy to our family and assure that her story would never be forgotten.

A memoir is easier and much less intimidating to write than an autobiography. A memoir is just one story from your life whereas an authobiography is laden with dates and facts of your entire life.
-Plot some significant moments
-Identify one pivotal event that stands out more intriguing than the others

Start writing
Good luck

Supreme Sacrifice

Supreme Sacrifice, is my new novel reminiscent of both Death of a Salesman and Eat Pray Love replete with guilt, spiritual awakening, and ultimate redemption. It guides the reader through a garden of life—choked with weeds of addiction, guilt, blame—yet affirms our faith in the human spirit to cultivate understanding and peace in our lives.

April, the child of an alcoholic, is traumatized by her father’s mysterious death at 47 and many disturbing childhood memories. The book follows her personal journey, from the 1960s until the 1990s. The first half of the story is told in flashbacks that bring the family’s disintegration, and April’s belief that she caused her father’s death, to vivid life. The last half of the book follows her spiritual journey reminiscent of Eat, Pray, Love. Like her adopted home of Florida, she is eventually filled with sunshine and possibilities ultimately unlocking the pain of her past and the answers to her father's mysterious accident.