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Sangay Glass's Blog, page 9
August 19, 2024
How to Significantly Change Someone's Life?
"When people build their own prisons, they make sure the walls are too high to escape." is a quote from Blue Jeans, a street hustler in the novel Kate, Blue Jeans, and a Single Shot.Blue believed that, on some level, he created his situation, but it's not entirely true. We all know people fall or fail for multiple reasons. I don't need to detail them here.
But after that quote, I added to Blue's thought, "Escape seems hopeless, but dreams can go anywhere."
Everyone has dreams of a better future for themselves and the people they cherish. In the novel, I wanted to bring home the concept that it takes more than money to significantly change someone's life.
My dad lived the role of Jack, Blue's friend and mentor, who finally figured out that his handouts only prolonged Blue's agony. Blue needed a hand up.
What's the difference?
Yes, money and charity make a considerable impact initially, but my dad and Jack took things further.
In real-life, my dad gave chances to good kids and adults caught up in the cycle of crime and poverty. If you worked for my dad, you were not just an employee; you were a part of his life.
He'd bring you fishing on his boat. You were welcomed at gatherings where he'd introduce you to friends and family. He'd take you out to fancy dinners and shows to teach you how to dress and behave in situations way outside your realm. And finally, through example, he would show you that home extends beyond your door and that you keep it clean and respectable.
When my dad retired as a millionaire at sixty, he had set up his mentees in their own ventures. Then my dad, who was dyslexic (like me), got his high school diploma, not a GED, at sixty-two, showing it's never too late to make improvements in your life.
My dad did this because someone did it for him. A wonderful wealthy couple opened a door when they gave him a chance.
As a poor kid in ripped pants and a torn tee shirt, he knocked on their door, asking for work during the depression. They offered him some gardening work, took my dad under their wing. They all remained friends and family until each of them passed many years later.
But their mentorship extended beyond my dad because he paid it forward.
Everyone has a dream of a better life. Even if you lack material resources, you can consistently offer kindness, empathy, and inclusiveness.
What's free for you could mean freedom to someone else.
The character Blue Jeans thought he had nothing. He didn't realize that his freebies greatly impacted the people around him.
Now that you know the impact of real change, you can do the same.
All that said, I hope you'll give my breakout novel a chance. It's a story that explores the complexities of mentorship and personal growth.
However, despite the uplifting ending, I also understand that the subject matter can be heavy and dark. I suggest you read the trigger warnings before diving in. As a psychiatric nurse, I do care about your mental health.
August 17, 2024
Crimes Against Wives: A Crime Against You
In the breakout novel Kate Blue Jeans and a Single Shot (KBJSS), a powerful narrative about the struggles of a woman in an abusive relationship, the character Kate Hill knew what her husband did to her in their bedroom the day before she disappeared was wrong.Like many women, she considered casting the incident aside. What would she say if asked by authorities, "I think my husband r@ped me."
It's taking a while for laws to catch up, but spousal r@pe is a very real problem and a traumatic experience for women across the globe. A study concluded that 10-13 percent of married women have been coerced, shamed, and outright r@ped by their husbands. Further research found that husbands who sexually assault their wives are also more likely to K!ll them.
The sad truth is this issue is rarely addressed. You chose your partner. You willingly participated in sexual relations at some point. But then something changed. You said no, and he didn't listen. He got rough and ignored your pleas to stop. Whatever way it started, you know in your heart it needs to end. Your courage in facing this trauma, right now, is a testament to your strength and resilience.
It's very confusing and frightening, and as an extension of mental abuse, you're left emotionally numb or full of anxiety. You're forced to feed and face this monster every day. You can't get away. Furthermore, as a human being, intimacy is something you still might crave, but you're at odds with yourself and your needs.
There are others who have walked this path and emerged stronger. You can too.You're not alone. I've been there. You can recover. But where to start?
I'm leaving this resource for you to start. It's a comprehensive guide to understanding and recovering from spousal rape. help for women in marital rape situations
You are different from the target audience for the book KBJSS. It might be too much for you, even with a happy ending. I wrote it for awareness. I wrote the book in real-time as it was happening to me. The more people who know about it, the more people will understand what you're going through.
That's the other problem. Friends, relatives, and even your doctor probably won't understand your trauma. But you are not alone. If you need to reach out, I'm here. Take advantage of any opportunity you can to get your life and body back. Continue your search for resources. Remember, seeking help is not a sign of weakness, but a step towards healing and recovery.
Please take the first step towards healing, because things can and will get better when you do.
References:[1] Bergen, Raquel Kennedy, "Marital Rape" on the site of the Applied Research Forum, National Electronic Network on Violence Against Women. Article dated March 1999. (Retrieved February 8, 2005.) [2] Easteal, P. Voices of the Survivors, Spinifex Press, North Melbourne, 1994.
August 16, 2024
Spicy Dark Romanctic Thriller
I'm doing a second Giveaway with Goodreads! I'm running a different promotion on my FB page for reviews. Happy Friday!True power is being the last one in the room who isn't out of control. Now use that power to discover the transformative power of love in a bizarre world that will rip out your heart and replace it with all the feels.
Make sure to read the TWs for this sweet and spicy dark contemporary romantic thriller with a HEA.
It already has a 5 star review "What I would do to read this book for the first time again! Her writing style is top notch!" Ashly Jones
August 13, 2024
Warning: Inspiring and Sad
People who know about my wild and crazy life have asked, "Is this a true story?" No, but the character Blue Jeans was inspired by very real people who were significant in the book's narrative.Two men gave life to the character Blue Jeans. These two men are also near and dear to my heart. I dedicated the book to them as a tribute to their resilience and the impact they had on me. Their stories, though sad, carry a weight that is hard to ignore.
I met the first Blue Jeans when I was thirteen. I was a runaway living in an abandoned shack in the wetlands of Atlantic City, NJ. There, I became friends with a twenty-something bisexual hustler.
He tried to convince me to return home, but I was stubborn. His courage and humaneness, even in the face of his own struggles, are truly inspiring. The word magnanimous is used in the book to describe him. Although what he did for me seemed harsh at the time, it initiated a turning point in my life.
As a naive teenager, I was upset because he turned me in to the police. But he did it out of concern, not malice. He didn't want me to end up like him. There is no doubt that this amazing man saved my life. I don't need to go into detail about how I would've ended up as a young homeless girl on the streets.
I met the second Blue Jeans while working as an registered nurse in a psychiatric hospital. He was a patient who also happened to be a young hustler. It was during the AIDs epidemic. At the time, the state was dumping a lot of street people with HIV and AIDS there.
This man was in the end stages of life, looking for redemption. He wrote me beautiful, long letters describing a fantasy about what our lives could have been like if his life had been different. He was not just a patient, but a kind, smart, and funny individual. Our relationship, though always professional, was filled with my deep compassion for him, and his intelligence and humor made our interactions meaningful.
In his final moments, he specifically called for me. I was terrified because, in all my years, I was lucky enough to have never lost anyone I cared about. I held his hand. It was ice cold. He told me he loved me, and I could not deny him the comfort of knowing his feelings were returned. It still brings tears to my eyes.
Although these kind-hearted but broken men have passed, the character of Blue Jeans lives on in the novel KBJSS. His transformation and the happy ending he finally receives are a testament to the hope that can be found even in the darkest times. It's a reminder that no matter how bleak the situation may seem, there is always a possibility for a brighter future.
Kate, Blue Jeans, and a Single Shot
