3. Recommended Reading
‘Madness In Memphis’ by Patricia Gordon Stevens - Yes, this is my debut novel. It has received numerous reviews on Amazon and some have described it as a thriller. This is not literary fiction, however, it is a dark and intense story of one mother’s struggle with two children post her decision to flee a turbulent, disruptive, violent marriage. Meet Morgan Sage, the protagonist, her son Ollie, her daughter Opal, and their four legged, furry family member, Dixie, their beloved dog. You will come to know Lee, Morgan’s best friend for life, Kat, her mother, Antonio, Morgan’s brilliant work colleague, and Ash, her new wise, compassionate, and caring attorney. Morgan’s tribe or better known as her ‘circle of support’ are astounded by the horrific terror her estranged husband, known as the monster, concocts on a weekly or daily basis. The monster has no intention of letting Morgan go. Everyone deserves a safe haven…getting there is the unknown. Buy wherever you prefer purchasing your books and I thank you for your support. You will come away with a clear undstanding of what one in four females experience in some of the wealthiest countries in the world. This is a work of fiction loosely based on a brief marriage I experienced and stories of others whom I have had the privilege of listening to throughout my seven decades on Mother Earth and as a practicing mental health counsellor. If there are females in your life you adore - buy your copy today. We never know what goes on behind closed doors.
Let Them by Mel Robbins - This is a splendid read for those of you who think you can control others - through love - or whenever you think you know what is BEST for someone else. A great reminder to allow life…to flow.
Staring at the Sun (overcoming the dread of death) by Irvin D. Yalom - At the core of 99.9% of all anxiety is the fear of death.
Development Through the Lifespan (7th Edition) by Laura E. Berk - This is an academic book and such a great resource to have on hand for parents of newborns, toddlers, teenagers, and elderly parents. I refer to this book more often than I ever thought I would. It is a true gem - a wealth of information. Timelines are provided for ‘around the time’ your child should be meeting milestones; of course, every child does not ‘hit’ every marker but it does provide parents with good indicators.
The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk Redifines our understanding of trauma and how our body ‘holds’ it and how bodies are transformed by trauma - you will come away with a good understanding of how trauma changes brain processes. ‘Only by confronting and accepting the past…can we learn to live in the present.’ NOTE: There is controversy surrounding a former war veteran who commits many atrocities due to the loss of his entire platoon, however, hurt we are - we are still accountable for our actions and many readers do not care for the outcome of this particular veteran’s present life.
