Books by Vashti Ataya

Of her own memories, novelist Ellen Hopkins states, "Now that I have opened that bottle of memories they're pouring out like wine, crimson and bitter sweet." So it is with Vashti Ataya's "MEMORIES, Chronicles of a Grateful Life." As a military dependent, Vashti's formative years were shaped in rural Oklahoma, Germany, and Panama, places and spaces of extraordinary memories. Her "bottle of memories" from early childhood to young adulthood slakes one's nostalgia for a more innocent time as vintage wine satiates one's palate for a choice, carefully selected beverage. Memories bittersweet, poignant, inspiring, and hilarious fill Vashti's decanter. Pop the cork, twist the lid, remove the cap, open the book, savor the stories, and enjoy memoirs of a life well lived, these Chronicles of a Grateful Life. VASHTI ATAYA is an accomplished storyteller, songwriter, and musician. She lives with her husband, Noah LeVia, in Mesa, AZ. She has entertained audiences across the United States in venues ranging from flatbed truck stages to the Center Stage of the Seattle Center. Vashti is delighted to also present her 5-book series of a birth mother's story, "The Story of Verna Louise Williams, OVERCOMING," likewise published by Xulon Press. "...a beautiful picture of life...a clear, expressive, and eloquent narrative that is beautifully written...a woman's journey of embracing the life that God has given her." - Salem Author Services

"A great beginning is sometimes at the point of what you thought would be the end of everything." - Dodinsky "Delight thyself also in the Lord: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart." - Psalm 37:4 Vashti Ataya, author of "MEMORIES, Chronicles of a Grateful Life," is delighted to present her Autobiographical Fiction series, "OVERCOMING, The Story of Verna Louise Williams." Books One through Four introduced Verna and her two young daughters, Veronica and Susanna. Those books followed Verna's journey from fleeing an abusive marriage in Tucson to settling in Orlando, enduring rigors of Welfare, an inexplicable, high-risk pregnancy, nursing school, success of becoming an OR Nurse, a heartbreaking loss of her girls via deceit, the nightmare of catatonia, and her second dismal marriage. Book Five, the final book of the series, joins Verna as she and her new husband arrive in Seattle. It is in Seattle where Verna begins to really bloom and "the desires of her heart" are fulfilled. Triumphantly, Verna overcomes trials and tribulations through her deep Christian faith. Hers is a story of marvels, miracles, and dreams achieved. Her story is compelling and powerful. Her story is one of victory. Her story is a human one, not yet completed. "Throughout her journey of challenges and victories, with strength found in love and faith, Verna finds joy...strong, attention-grabbing chapter titles...creative, well written...a powerful introduction...a strong connection with the reader...brilliant description and detail, creating beautiful imagery." - Salem Author Services "One can never consent to creep when one feels an impulse to soar." - Helen Keller

"Thou, which hast shewed me great and sore troubles, shalt quicken me again, and shalt bring me up from the depths of the earth." - Psalm 71:20 "O! Let me not be mad, not mad, sweet heaven; keep me in temper; I would not be mad." - William Shakespeare Vashti Ataya is excited to present Book Four in her Autobiographical Fiction Series, "The Story of Verna Louise Williams, OVERCOMING." Book One, "Joy Cometh In The Morning," introduced Verna and her girls as Verna fled a horrendous marriage in Arizona to relocate in Florida, navigate the maze of Welfare, and endure a baffling high-risk pregnancy. Book Two, "The Trees Shall Clap Their Hands," took Verna through strict Nursing School, ordeals of Welfare, the distressing loss of her girls via her ex-husband's deceit, and a triumphant graduation. Book Three, "Then Do We With Patience Wait," followed Verna through her nursing functions in Orlando's Orange Memorial Hospital as she cared for newborns, was chosen as an OR Nurse, an unparalleled honor for an LPN, and returns to Arizona. Book Four, "The Valley Of The Shadow," follows Verna as she literally walks through "The Valley of the Shadow." Deeply repressed demons of trauma pull Verna into her "Dark Night of the Soul." Her solid Christian foundation leads her through "The Valley" into her soul's light once more. She continues to overcome obstacles as Angels along her way lead her. Hers is a story of deep sorrows as well as delights, always undergirded by her deep faith. Her story continues. "...an adventure of faith...a balanced, flowing pace...both informative and eloquently written..." - Salem Author Services "Out of suffering have emerged the strongest souls; the most massive characters are seared with scars." - Kahlil Gibran

“Our real blessings often appear to us in the shape of pains, losses, and disappointments; but let us have patience and we soon shall see them in their proper figures.” – Joseph Addison“The secret of patience is to do something else in the meantime.” – Croft M. Pentz “Joy Cometh In The Morning,” Book One of Vashti Ataya’s Autobiographical Fiction “OVERCOMING” Series, introduces Verna Louise William’s story of escaping an abusive, alcoholic husband. With her two young daughters, she flees from Arizona to Florida to be enmeshed in an exasperating Welfare system as well as enduring a perplexing, high-risk pregnancy featuring gestational diabetes. Book Two, “The Trees Shall Clap Their Hands,” follows Verna through rigorous strictures of Nursing School, the deceitful, distressing hijacking of her two girls by their father, and her glorious, triumphant graduation as an LPN.  Vashti is delighted to present Book Three in this Series, “Then Do We With Patience Wait.” We join Verna as she begins her functions in both the Newborn Nursery and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of Orlando’s Orange Memorial Hospital. Truly an unprecedented honor, Verna is chosen as an Operating Room Nurse. She patiently prepares to go to Arizona and fight for her girls’ return. Her deep, Christian faith sustains her through many trials and tribulations as she with prayer and with patience waits to move forward in her life. Her story of overcoming is one of profound sorrows, joys, kindness, and miracles. Her story continues.“Filled with twists and turns as well as captivating characters, the book takes the reader on a journey that shows the resilience of the human spirit…a compelling narrative with rich characters and settings…an important message…” – Salem Author Services“At the bottom of patience one finds heaven.” – West African Proverb 

Book Two, "The Trees Shall Clap Their Hands," takes Verna through the rigors of Nursing School, the ordeals of a single mother on Welfare, and the unbelievable, heartbreaking loss of her girls. Through it all, Verna's steadfast Christian faith enables her to overcome her obstacles and tribulations to triumphantly graduate as an LPN. Verna's story is indeed one of deep faith. It is a story of determination, doubt, resolve, happiness, sorrow, pride, and overcoming. It is a human story not yet ended. "...an enjoyable and captivating reading experience...engages the reader..." - Salem Author Services "Those Who Wish to Sing Always Find A Song" Swedish Proverb Vashti Ataya is thrilled to present Book Two in her Autobiographical Fiction Series of the story of Verna Louise Williams. Book One of the OVERCOMING Series, "Joy Cometh In The Morning," introduces Verna and her girls as Verna flees an abusive marriage in Arizona to relocate in Florida, be absorbed into the Welfare System, experience abhorrent discrimination as "Welfare Trash," and cope with an inexplicable, high-risk pregnancy.

"No matter where you once were, no matter how dark your storm, God doesn't want you to remain there. Overcoming may not be easy, but it's possible when you ask your Father to battle for you." - Dana Acuri, Harvest of Hope: Living Victoriously Through Adversity Verna couldn't believe what she was hearing. "What? Say again, please?" "Your pregnancy. How far along you?" "I can't be pregnant! I'm not even married!" In her Autobiographical Fiction, Vashti Ataya introduces Verna Louise Williams whose story of overcoming horrors of an abusive, alcoholic husband, hardships of a single mother on Welfare, abhorrent Welfare discrimination, and the traumatic shock of a surprise pregnancy with its conundrum of adoption or abortion is a prime example of one's faith overcoming tribulations. Verna's story offers genuine hope that "all will be well," The story of Verna Louise Williams is one of deep faith, unconditional forgiveness, and human kindness. It is a story of miracles and angels. It is a story of great sorrow and great joy. It is a powerful story! It is a human story not yet ended. VASHTI ATAYA, author of "MEMORIES: Chronicles of a Grateful Life," is excited to present "OVERCOMING: The Story of Verna Louise Williams." Book One of her Autobiographical Fiction series launches Verna into a new life after she, with her two little girls, flees a horrendous marriage. "...a full and vibrant story." - Salem Author Services