Books published by Torchflame Books

Motherhood is not what it used to be, as more moms than ever before are having children later on in life.This is the must-have book for all moms who had a child after the age of 35-a group the medical profession not-so-kindly calls-'advanced maternal age.' Sharon O'Donnell writes about the humorous and poignant stories of having a child at 38 and how she discovered that breastfeeding and AARP membership aren't really all that far apart. Sharon says being a mom of a certain age can be tough and rewarding-and rather alarming when you realize that all the TV programs you watch have commercials for incontinence or the Scooter Store.

"e;The most wonderful and amazing thing for me about The Trials of Nellie Belle is that it was written by Nellie's great granddaughter. Sydney Avey calls into vivid existence someone she has never met."e; - Caitlin Hicks, author of A Theory of Expanded LoveThere is power in justice and forgiveness.When her parents marry off Kansas-born Nellie Belle to the ranch foreman, she never questions that motherhood will follow. But at the dawn of the progressive era, dissatisfied Nellie seizes an opportunity to move west and start a new life. Yearning to find a sense of self-worth, Nellie leaves behind her husband and son and takes her two daughters to the Northwest. She charges forward to become the first woman court reporter to travel the circuit in the region.In small-town makeshift courtrooms and growing cities boasting new halls of justice, Nellie's strength touches many lives: independent-minded lawmen, enterprising women, hard-working immigrants, and a number of cads. But when her prodigal youngest returns home with a babe in arms, Nellie must do what she can to pull together the remains of her scattered family."e;This is truly a couldn't-put-it-down character driven narrative that is authentic and riveting. Historical fiction is my favorite genre, and this fully captures why I love the genre."e; - Cheryl, Goodreads"e;"e;If you like inspirational stories of strong women, you will love Sydney Avey's latest novel....She mixes fact and fiction with just the right amount of historical details for an entertaining read."e; - Teresa, GoodreadsEnjoy the beauty of a story by Sydney AveyThe Sheep Walker's DaughterThe Lyre and the LambsThe Trials of Nellie BelleThis historical novel is rich with details of the times, including court cases where Nellie encounters colorful characters whose testimony she transcribes. - Caitlin, GoodreadsThe most wonderful and amazing thing for me about The Trials of Nellie Belle is that it was written by Nellie's great granddaughter. Sydney Avey calls into vivid existence someone she has never met. - Caitlin Hicks, author of A theory of expanded loveI seldom post reviews but this is truly a couldn't-put-it-down character driven narrative that is authentic and riveting. Historical fiction is my favorite genre, and this fully captures why I love the genre. - Cheryl, GoodreadsIf you like inspirational stories of strong women, you will love Sydney Avey's latest novel based on the life of her own great grandmother. She mixes fact and fiction with just the right amount of historical details for an entertaining read. - Teresa, Goodreads

"e;The challenges of identity, assimilation, achievement, and politics that were faced by Lahoma and Cindy are the same challenges our youth are facing today."e; -Jaki Shelton Green, poet and NC Literary Hall of Fame inducteeThe school careers of two teenage girls who lived across town from each other-one black, one white-were altered by a court-ordered desegregation plan for Durham, NC in 1970.LaHoma and Cindy both found themselves at the same high school from different sides of a court-ordered racial "e;balancing act."e; This plan thrust each of them involuntarily out of their comfort zones and into new racial landscapes. Their experiences, recounted in alternating first person narratives, are the embodiment of desegregation policies, situated in a particular time and place.Cindy and LaHoma's intertwining coming of age stories are part of a bigger story about America, education and race-and about how the personal relates to the political.This dual memoir covers the two women's life trajectories from early school days to future careers working in global public health, challenging gender biases, racial inequities, and health disparities. LaHoma and Cindy tell their stories aware of the country's return to de facto school segregation, achieved through the long-term dismantling of policies that initially informed their school assignments.As adults, they consider the influence of school desegregation on their current lives and the value of bringing all of us into conversation about what is lost or gained when children go to school in black and white.

Captives of the Fern Queen is the first in a series of three stories that take place in Montaland, the mountain world. Montaland is a world of mountains: icy peaks, tree-covered ranges, rocky crags, and lowest of all-the grassy hills of the Kingdom of Mount Pasture. Hills shouldn't be in a mountain world, especially not hills covered by smelly sheep. That's what Mt. Pasture's twelve-year-old Princess Janna thinks anyway, and when she tries to liven up her boring kingdom by telling the old stories to younger kids, everyone gets angry at her.Who wouldn't want to hear about the Stalker-or his daughter, the Fern Queen, who tried to take over Mount Pasture long ago?And who wouldn't want to meet one of the Maker's high home animals-a blueflame bird whose song is unbearably beautiful-or a lizard whose jewel eggs have amazing healing powers-or a cream colored horse who speaks like a human?Janna would give anything to get out of her kingdom and see something from the old stories, but when she does get out, it's not exactly what she had in mind. Crawling through a dark tunnel isn't fun and neither is starving as a prisoner of the Fern Queen.

If this little book could only talk!Guiding Missal is based on a true story about a lively prayerbook that accompanies three military men as they live through momentous events in our nation's history.In 1942, George Panko is drafted into the U.S. Army and volunteers to be a forward observer conducting covert operations behind German lines during the Battle of the Bulge. In his combat jacket pocket, he carries a small prayer book, My Military Missal. The little missal provides solace as well as a running commentary on the battle and the deeds that earned George two Bronze Stars.George's son, Butch enlists in the United States Air Force in the 1960's. Before his son leaves for basic training, George entrusts Butch with his tattered military missal. Butch finds himself decoding top secret information in an underground bunker during the height of the Berlin Crisis. He and the little book are praying that WWIII isn't about to break out.Fast forward to 1991: Butch Panko's future son-in-law, T.O Williams, overcomes a debilitating condition to enlist in the U.S.Army. In 1992, the newlywed is grateful for the well-worn prayerbook Butch gave him just before he's deployed to Africa. He and the book find themselves plunged into an unrelenting fight for survival on the streets of war-torn Mogadishu, Somalia, during Blackhawk Down. By God's grace, they both live to tell a miraculous story of deliverance in that hopeless situation.Deftly combining fast-paced action with humor, history, and scenes of family tenderness, Guiding Missal is an inspiring account of God's faithfulness in times of trouble, making it a must-read for history buffs as well as anyone who seeking hope and encouragement for self or others.Nancy Panko's clever tale is as comforting as a guiding missal in one's shirt pocket, tucked close to the heart.Scott Mason, author of Faith and Air: The Miracle List and host of the emmy-award-winning Tar Heel Traveler TV series

Just when the world thought Oscar Pistorius' meteoric rise to Olympic glory and international celebrity had terminated abysmally in prison, Brent Willock's scientific perspective reopens this gripping narrative for an astonishing re-view.Olympian Oscar Pistorius' spectacular assent to fame ground to a screeching halt in the wee hours of Valentine's Day, 2013. Hearing a sound emanating from his bathroom, he grabbed his pistol and he stumbled to the washroom, screaming at the intruders to leave. Fearing someone was about to emerge to harm him and his girlfriend, Reeva, he fired four bullets into the bathroom. Soon he realized he had killed his lover. Horrified, he summoned the authorities. The investigating detective believed this was yet another case of an escalating argument where a man murdered his partner. World opinion is split. Some believe Oscar. Others are convinced he committed a despicable crime of passion.Distinguished clinical psychologist Brent Willock brings an entirely new perspective to bear on these horrific events: that Oscar's horrific actions occurred while he was in a state of paradoxical sleep, also known as parasomnia. Throughout this book, Willock uses scientific scrutiny and legal precedence to resolve the crucial anomalies surrounding the Oscar Pistorius trial. Willock also discusses how mental health experts and the defense team might have overlooked the hypothesis of parasomnia that could have exonerated Oscar.Millions who followed the Blade Runner's astonishing achievements, uplifted and inspired by his triumph over physical adversity, were crushed by his precipitous plunge from grace. They were baffled. Even Oscar himself, in a television interview shortly before his sentencing, achingly asked, "I always think, How did this possibly happen? How could this have happened?" At last, Willock's elegant work responds to these poignant questions that have so plagued and pained Reeva's family, friends, Oscar, and, indeed, the world.

Tess Goodwin''s life in rural Iowa is sheltered and uncomplicated. Although she chooses to spend most of her free time playing chess with her best friend Zander, the farm-boy from next door, her skills as a bovine midwife and tractor mechanic ensure that she fits in with the other kids at West Hancock High. But when her veteran father reenlists in the Army, moving her family halfway across the country to North Carolina, Tess is forced out of her comfort zone into a world she knows nothing about.Tess approaches the move as she would a new game of chess, plotting her course through the unfamiliar reality of her new life. While heeding Zander''s long-distance advice for making new friends and strategizing a means to endure her dad''s imminent deployment to the Middle East, she quickly discovers how ill-equipped she is to navigate the societal challenges she encounters and becomes convinced she''ll never fit in with the students at her new school.When Leonetta Jackson is assigned as her mentor, she becomes Tess''s unexpected guide through the winding labyrinth of cultural disparities between them, sparking a tentative friendship and challenging Tess to confront her reluctant nature. As the pieces move across the board of her upended life, will Tess find the acceptance she so desperately desires?

Take My Hand is a welcome, practical guide for the emotional journey of caregiving.The caregiver's twisting and emotional journey is often bittersweet, combining feelings of exhaustion, reflection, love, frustration, delight, denial, connection, and loneliness. Just as they have taken on hand-holding for a loved one who needs multi-faceted support, many caregivers understandably feel overwhelmed and find themselves wishing for someone to guide them. Take My Hand is that resource. Written by Tia Amdurer, a Licensed Professional Counselor with a background in hospice, bereavement, grief, and loss, Take My Hand is structured into stand-alone chapters that can serve as a practical guide while navigating the different aspects of care for a loved one during the final years. Within each chapter are the witty, insightful, and heartfelt commentaries from Chris Renaud-Cogswell, penned as she took on the role of caregiver for her parents. Pages for note-taking and journaling are formatted to encourage self-reflection along the way.

A book for anyone on the journey to wholeness. A story of toxic religion, sex and celibacy, drinking and depression, and how they led towards self-discovery and spiritual awakening. "e;A compelling testimony to our capacity for spiritual transformation in the face of overwhelming odds. McKenty's story is both inspirational and gut-wrenchingly honest. Highly recommended."e; - Tom Harpur, Syndicated Columnist and Bestselling Author

"Mike Huff addresses a serious issue in the basketball culture changing from an emphasis on the team to an increased focus on the individual. He calls coaches to lead the way in returning the focus where it belongs, which is on the team first. Teamwork: Rediscovering the Essence of Basketball will help any coach who is interested in teaching the game of basketball and important life lessons through basketball." -Mike Kryzyzewski, Former Head Coach, Duke University BasketballBasketball was originally designed to be a team game, but today's players are growing up in a culture that focuses on the individual. In Teamwork, Mike Huff calls coaches and athletes to return to basketball's essence by focusing on The 7 Essentials of Teamwork: communication, leadership, humility, roles, team spirit, a winning attitude, and collective responsibility. The lessons in this book will enable coaches to teach life lessons that help players become winners on and off the court."Building a great team and a championship level culture are two of the biggest challenges a coach faces every season. Using his extensive experience and knowledge as a player and coach, Mike Huff provides valuable insight into the nuances of these important concepts. Every coach should have this book in his or her library." -Greg Dale, Director of Sport Psychology and Leadership Programs for Duke University Athletics

Missionary Biography with many historic photographsStarting in 1875 and covering a span of almost 100 years, three missionary families exhibited bravery, endurance, and sacrifice when their very lives were at risk. William David Powell and his wife, Mary Florence Mayberry Powell, were missionaries to "e;Wild West"e; Texas then Mexico. In the period 1910-1947 (including during Japanese occupation) their daughter Florence and her husband, Hendon M. Harris, were missionaries to Kaifeng, China. Their son Hendon M. Harris Jr. and his wife Marjorie Weaver Harris served as missionaries to Taiwan and Hong Kong. Referencing 55 books and 39 articles, this biography gives numerous firsthand accounts from all three families. Dr. Hwa-Wei Lee, Retired Chief of the Asian Division, Library of Congress says that this text is "e;Rich in historical facts, this biographical work of three generations of missionary work in one family...vividly depicts the courage, endurance, and sacrifice of those pioneering missionary workers in faith. In this well-researched book the author offers a good picture of the true nature of missionary work...For readers interested in the modern history of China during the most turbulent period of its history this book provides useful insights."e;

Becoming a Creative Genius {again} makes the case that we are all born creative and entrepreneurial geniuses, then shows you how to become the most creatively entrepreneurial version of yourself you can be. And is there a part of your life that won't improve when that happens? Those attending Nordgren's workshops comment that his content prepares them to get the most out of: Agile software development, Design thinking, Lean start-up methodology, and Corporate innovation processes. Nordgren's content, organized as The Generative Way matrix, will improve your ability to get the most out of these tools as you grow your creative capacity and develop your entrepreneurial instincts. Tom Triumph, CEO of Orbital Environments says that "e;Becoming a Creative Genius {Again}"e; is important. It reminds us of the inherent ability each of us had as children to imagine, play and create. More importantly, it provides numerous lessons and exercises to help us rediscover and rekindle those likely now underutilized characteristics. In today's dynamic world, our creativity is critical to thriving and contributing. Read this book and rediscover your creative genius {again}.

The story of Neil McKenty, one of Montreal. Canada's highest rated radio talk show hosts.Neil McKenty liked to argue just for the hell of it. During the 1970's and 80s he was one of Montreal's highest rated radio talk show hosts. At the peak of his career more than 75,000 people tuned in to CJAD to hear his show, Exchange. "The basic exchange on Exchange, is not between the listeners and Neil McKenty," he once explained. "It is between the listeners. If the host sets up the chemistry, the show goes on its own momentum, and I am almost on the sidelines. On the other hand, I am in the entertainment business. If I bore my listeners, I'm dead." The material collected in this book focuses on the years he moderated, infuriated, provoked and entertained his listeners.

Enjoy the wondrous landscapes, nature, and life on Oak Island as you learn to create your own photo masterpieces.Whether you are a visitor, newcomer, or native of Oak Island, Discovering Oak Island: Camera-in-Hand will make you love her more and want to know her better. In addition to being an overview of Oak Island's varied offerings, this book provides a practical visual guide for visitors, a beautiful memory book for residents, and an illustrated guide for amateur photographers who seek to produce great images rather than typical vacation snapshots.Appreciate changing landscapesStudy the fascinations of natureWatch the miracle of changing lightLearn to make rather than take picturesWalk suggested island photo routesCreate memorable vacation experiencesHave fun with photography

If there are children in your life, you need Dr. Smolen's research and wisdom!Physically and emotionally healthy children are Great Kids. They are happier when young and thrive as adults. Pediatrician Dr. Paul Smolen identifies five essential parenting elements which help develop happy and successful kids. In Great Kids Don't Just Happen you will learn how to use those elements and nurture the children in your life.The author's observations and advice are supported by scientific studies referenced throughout the book and personal observations from his many years of practice as a pediatrician. The five essential elements and how to apply them are made easy to understand in the warm words of one who knows, practices, and teaches from research, observation, and experience. Learn how to provide:Realistic praiseConsistent limitsA healthy emotional environmentStrong parental commitmentStabilityDr. Smolen's research and wisdom are sure to be of great help for your family and loved ones.

Charlotte Harris Rees is an independent researcher, a retired federal employee, and an honors graduate of Columbia International University. She has diligently studied the possibility of very early arrival of Chinese to America. In 2003 Rees and her brother took the Harris Map Collection to the Library of Congress where it remained for three years while being studied. In 2006 she published an abridged version of her father's, The Asiatic Fathers of America: Chinese Discovery and Colonization of Ancient America. Her Secret Maps of the Ancient World came out in 2008. In 2011 she released Chinese Sailed to America Before Columbus: More Secrets from the Dr. Hendon M. Harris, Jr. Map Collection. In 2013 she published Did Ancient chinese Explore America? Her books are listed by World Confederation of Institutes and Libraries for Chinese Overseas Studies.