Biography, Autobiography, Memoir discussion
Hello and Introduce Yourself!
Julie wrote: "Melissa wrote: "This is my first post as a new member. I finished reading Raised in Ruins last night. It is a memoir of a young family living off the land in Union Bay, located in southeast Alaska...."Thank you. :-)
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Welcome Melissa!
I have loved writing since my early teens.This year I published my memoir on Amazon.
In this book you travel back in time. Discover my ancestors and parents. See events that shaped my life. Who inspired my love for writing. Fun facts like who my first crush was. All while enjoying a collection of my poetry, song lyrics and stories.
My Creative Writing Journey https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09XZJYHYF/...
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This year I published my memoir on Amazon.
In this book you travel back in time. Discover my ancestors and parents. See events that shaped my life. Who in..."
Welcome Donna!
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I am Lincee and I love travel, food and learning. I published my first book and am learning how to navigate this literary landscape. I never thought it would be such an emotional an..."
Welcome Lincee! That is an interesting name.
Hello, my name is Philip Dodd. I am the author of Angel War, Klubbe the Turkle and the Golden Star Coracle, Still the Dawn: Poems and Ballads and Last Flocks of the Geese. In January of this year, 2022, I completed the writing of Harvey's Hutch, a memoir. In it I concentrate on the year 1956, when I was four, and I had a pet white rabbit, called Harvey. One morning my mother led me out into our backyard to show me that Harvey had gone from his hutch. He had been stolen in the night. It was then that I learned, for the first time, that all was not well with the world. There was something wrong. It was the memory of the loss of Harvey that led me to write my memoir. My book also deals with growing up on a council estate, eight miles north of the centre of Liverpool, and ends with a walk back to my childhood home, a few months before my seventieth birthday. I have a degree in English literature from Newcastle University, and apart from reading books, I enjoy singing my own songs and songs written by others on my acoustic guitar.
My name is Gerald Zgabay. And yes, the name sounds nothing like it looks; it’s pronounced: “sky-by.” Been in many accountability meetings, so this feels a little like the start of those introductions. And out of those, I have friends for life, so maybe the same here!I am Gerald, married for over 19 years, and have two children; we are a transracial family meaning both my kids are black and adopted. I am a proud and incredibly blessed father and husband.
My name is Gerald Zgabay. And yes the name sounds nothing like it looks, it’s pronounced “sky-by.” Been in a lot of accountability meetings so, this somehow feels a little like the start of those introductions.
I am Gerald, married for over 19 years, two children, we are a transracial family meaning both my kids are black and adopted. My day job is in the cybersecurity world in the finance industry. My passion is writing books that inspire people in their faith journeys.
I am the author of Hangover to Jesus, and my upcoming book in November, Open. Both are memoirs.
I started writing in 2015 after sitting outside the bank I was working for in downtown Houston. I was journaling, praying and thinking as I tapped my pen on the journal and crunched on a carrot. “Write your story.” It was a field of dreams moment. “Do what? Write my story?”
I had numerous people ask about my faith journey and had shared it with some youth groups and churches. I was also apart of a group that provided accountability groups for those who struggled with pornography dependency and addiction and unwanted sexual desires. Oh yeah, I should mention that I am a recovering porn user, alcohol and drug abuser.
My goal is to inspire people with my story. It’s not the most dramatic story or the most intense but it is a story that has a message that I feel all need to hear that struggle with faith, religion and churches. Hangover to Jesus (HTJ) is the first in my three part serious that is in the works. HTJ tells the very dramatic, intense and sometimes dark story of how I came to faith after hitchhiking in Del Rio one morning.
My second book tackles issues such as church struggles, systematic racism, open adoption, porns affect on my marriage, recovery from that porn dependency, repairing our marriage, and how we started a small church for teenagers who didn’t fit in with the mainline faith communities.
I hope to get to know some of you and please feel free to reach out.
My day job is in the cybersecurity world in the finance industry. My passion is writing books that inspire people in their faith journeys.
I am the author of Hangover to Jesus, and my upcoming book in November, Open. Both are memoirs.
I started writing in 2015 after sitting outside the bank I was working for in downtown Houston. I was journaling, praying, and thinking as I tapped my pen on the journal and crunched on a carrot. “Write your story.” It was a field of dreams moment. “Do what? Write my story?”
Numerous people asked about my faith journey and shared it with some youth groups and churches. I was also a part of a group that provided accountability groups for those who struggled with pornography dependency and addiction, and unwanted sexual desires. Oh yeah, I should mention that I am a recovering porn user and alcohol and drug abuser.
My goal is to inspire people with my story. It’s not the most dramatic story or the most intense, but it is a story that has a message that I feel all need to hear the struggle with faith, religion, and churches. Hangover to Jesus (HTJ) is the first in my three-part series. HTJ tells the dramatic, intense, and sometimes dark story of how I came to faith after hitchhiking in Del Rio one morning.
My second book tackles issues such as church struggles, systematic racism, open adoption, porn's effect on my marriage, recovery from that porn dependency, repairing our marriage, and how we started a small church for teenagers who didn’t fit in the mainline faith communities.
I hope to get to know some of you, and please feel free to reach out.
The Adventurous Nun: Stories My Family Told Me: Biography of Sister Mildred Lungile MadlalaHi everyone, I am happy to be in this group. I am a new South African author. I am looking forward to getting to know the group and enjoy my time here!
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Hi everyone, I am happy to be in this group. I am a new South African author. I am looki..."
Welcome Marcia!
Koren wrote: "Marcia wrote: "The Adventurous Nun: Stories My Family Told Me: Biography of Sister Mildred Lungile MadlalaHi everyone, I am happy to be in this group. I am a new South African aut..."
Thank you!
Hi! I'm Darya. I like to read nonfiction, and biographies/memoir are a part of my reading. Just this month, I read two biographies of Soviet leaders, and I'm currently reading an autobiography of Malcolm X.
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Hi Darya! Hope you enjoy the group!
Darya Silman wrote: "Hi! I'm Darya. I like to read nonfiction, and biographies/memoir are a part of my reading. Just this month, I read two biographies of Soviet leaders, and I'm currently reading an autobiography of M..."Hi Darya, happy reading. I like those too.
Hi everyone,I am Holger, I just finished my memoir that spans more than two critical decades of my thirty years in China.
I am the proud single dad of two daughters, and entrepreneur, author and filmmaker. During my "YA-formative" and ensuing years in China I changed and reinvented myself as many times as China herself did--that's how both me and the nation survived, it seems.
You may visit www.mypieceofthesky.com for a few snippets about my story, and I am looking forward to inspiration from all of you!
Holger
Hello everyone. I'm Dan, and i'm from Rutland, in the UK. I have joined to try and get ideas from like minded readers about memoirs/biographies to read. I'm not particular, but love something a little unusual, and certainly someone that is more mature from an age point of view :-) Recently, I read Brian Cox - Putting the Rabbit in the Hat, and also Agatha Christies Autobiogrpahy, which i found a fascinating read, and I'm told is better than her books :-)
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Welcome Daniel! You came to the right place. I hope you find some good recommendations here.
Hi all love reading autobiography books
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Welcome Deity World! Any kind of autobiography you like best?
Koren wrote: "Deity World wrote: "Hi all love reading autobiography books"Welcome Deity World! Any kind of autobiography you like best?"
Sport and music so far what about you?
I often find some of the less famous people have more interesting biographies, which makes sense. I read the Elton John one last year, and learnt nothing new really. He’s been all over the newspapers for years.
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Welcome Deity World! Any kind of autobiography you like best?"
Sport and music so far what about you?"
Celebrity, history and True Crime but am up for anything!
Good Evening Everyone,I am Kenneth Nixon Jr. I am new to the platform and getting comfortable navigating these types of communal spaces. I will be a debut author on May 2nd, 2023, with my first book, a memoir titled "Born Into Crisis." I use my personal stories (born to a mother with severe mental illness) to highlight the environmental, social, and generational traumas that keep black Americans trapped in generational cycles. I also focus on a call to action on how we can transform the behavioral health system in the U.S.
I am excited to share this space and have great conversations with other avid readers & writers.
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I am Kenneth Nixon Jr. I am new to the platform and getting comfortable navigating these types of communal spaces. I will be a debut author on May 2nd, 2023, with my first b..."
Welcome Kenneth! Your book sounds interesting. Let us know when it comes out.
Good morning fellow true-life story lovers. I'm Dawn and I live in Brixham in Devon, though originally from Birmingham. during lockdown I was able to finish writing my own memoir - a 'profession confession' - when I used to do a rather strange job as a VAT inspector. I'm delighted it has got some good reviews. I love reading memoirs/autobiographies/biographies - especially by people like myself who are nobodies and unknown common people - I find them the most interesting of all.
I'll post a link to my book in case anyone is interested in reading about an 80s/90s nobody doing a strange job!
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Welcome Dawn!
Kenneth wrote: "Good Evening Everyone,I am Kenneth Nixon Jr. I am new to the platform and getting comfortable navigating these types of communal spaces. I will be a debut author on May 2nd, 2023, with my first b..."
hi kenneth - we have similar stories though i am white, female and UK, but my mother was deeply disturbed woman who caused me and others in my family great trauma which never completely leaves, though writing about it certainly helps. my book is called no visible injuries, though I've written many more Open recognition is key to ending these cycles in whatever circumstnaces they occur, just talking about mental health is what is important.
Dawn wrote: "Good morning fellow true-life story lovers. I'm Dawn and I live in Brixham in Devon, though originally from Birmingham. during lockdown I was able to finish writing my own memoir - a 'profession co..."hi dawn, yes i agree us nobodies are often more interesting thant celebs, certainy more real, though there are many fantastic memoirs out there. I write memoir too, amongst other things. xx
I am just an ordinary guy with extraordinary stories about the messy, unpredictable path one’s faith can follow. My memoirs are first-hand accounts of his experiences in the world where I have grappled with faith, a crisis of faith, race, social injustice, and Internet pornography dependences. In my books, I reflect on these issues as a husband, father, and Christian, deconstructing my faith and learning what it’s like to love all people, including myself. My wife Tabby and I live in Waco, Texas, and are theparents of two adopted children of color who have influenced our lives in empowering ways.
Hi my name is Janet. I live in Amherst, MA and spend time in Kapaau, HI and coastal Maine. The latest memoirs I read were "Crying in H Mart" by Michelle Zauner and "What my Bones Know" by Stephanie Foo. I liked both very much. I just wrote my own memoir, "Field Notes on Letting Go" a memoir of truth-seeking, healing and personal freedom. It will be on Amazon, releasing, January 17, 2023. I've hit a roadblock, though. I have a workbook with writing prompts that goes with it. And Amazon has deemed it low content and that means that I can't have them go hand in hand - low content books will not show up in Amazon outside of the US and cannot be distributed ANYWHERE if not using Amazon. I'm trying to get to someone at Amazon and IngramSpark (the printer.) Anyone have experience with that challenge?
I'm looking forward to perusing this group and finding other recommended Memoirs.
Janet
HI Janet , i am a dedicated leting go er - if there is such a thing, and keen memoir reader and writer. Nice to meet you.
Dawn wrote: "Good morning fellow true-life story lovers. I'm Dawn and I live in Brixham in Devon, though originally from Birmingham. during lockdown I was able to finish writing my own memoir - a 'profession co..."hi Dawn yes it is a little unusual to write about life as a tax inspector, but then there is no tax without people and they are always interesting to read about. I like the term profession confession - nice one. xx
I’m working on my autobiography as well, will be interesting to read everyone else’s. Last autobiography I read was Beyond the Wand: The Magic and Mayhem of Growing Up a Wizard
Deity World wrote: "I’m working on my autobiography as well, will be interesting to read everyone else’s. Last autobiography I read was Beyond the Wand: The Magic and Mayhem of Growing Up a Wizard"that looks really interesting
Sylvia wrote: "Deity World wrote: "I’m working on my autobiography as well, will be interesting to read everyone else’s. Last autobiography I read was [book:Beyond the Wand: The Magic and Mayhem of Growing Up a W..."Yes loved it really good memoirs of filming and auditions
Hello, I am new here. This year I published a biography in German and I wonder if I should translate the book and publish it in the English-speaking world. What do you think? The cover text: "During World War II, Walther is assigned to the High Command of the Wehrmacht in military intelligence, his assignment takes him across Europe. Here he has close contact with the people who carried out the assassination attempt on Hitler on July 20, 1944. Wherever he could, he stood up for people who had to suffer at the hands of the Nazis, were persecuted or ostracized because of their political past. But the book is also a look back at his private life, which was marked by his keen interest in art, music and culture." Are there readers for this who would be interested?
possibly not me but i know of people who might be, but i dont know that many people who are so keen on that era of history though i knwo there are many, my husband alwasy likes interesting books on history and wanting more insight into our more recent past - does it have anything new in terms of understanding the 2WW
Hello Sylvia, thank you for your feedback. It is the life story of Wather: he goes to the front as a volunteer in the First World War and miraculously survives. In this war he meets the Saxon Crown Prince, who later will have connection to the resistance against Hitler. In the Second World War, Walther is in counterintelligence. In the foreign office are the most fierce opponents of Hitler in the military. He works with Admiral Canaris and advocates for those persecuted by the Nazis. His direct superior is later called a top spy. So, yes - it's about 2WW
Wolfgang wrote: "Hello, I am new here. This year I published a biography in German and I wonder if I should translate the book and publish it in the English-speaking world. What do you think? The cover text: "Durin..."I'd wait to see how it sells in German first since it's a lot of work and there are many WW I biographies and books out. You don't seem to have it on your page here, either.
HOWEVER, I am not sure how many we have of Germans who work to help those persecuted by the Nazis.
Hi All,I've always been drawn to memoir and narrative non-fiction, using real life stories to share emotions and learning - especially centred of humanitarian work.
After working in the Ebola crisis in West Africa I wanted to share the ethical dilemmas we faced when trying to keep providing medical care, especially for pregnant women.
I wrote Belly Woman, which was published this year, to share a story often left untold.
So far, reviews have been great, Aminatta Forna described it as a "must-read for our times", and Adam Kaye said "it will stay with me for years".
I hope other members of this group will find it a worthwhile read - and I'd love to hear your own reflections and thoughts too.
All the best,
Benjamin
Hello Everyone! My name is Rodney Roby. I wrote a memoir and published it last year. Didn't sell very well, so instead of paying more money to the publisher, I went through amazon and published it. My book is a series of letters that I wrote to my psychiatrist back in the 80s. I wrote them for her during a mental health crisis where I could not speak. When she read them, she told me I should publish them because they could help many people who also have mental health issues and are suffering, or have suffered, or love someone who suffers from mental illness. 30 years later I finally had the courage to write a final letter and publish it.
I joined Goodreads to try and find some support for my book. Find readers, and maybe bloggers. Find people who would understand the struggle that is writing a book. Ironically, I am not a huge reader. But I am working on that.
My book, Paralyzed Emotions, is available in hardcover, paperback, Ebook, and audiobook.
Hi folks, I'm glad to be part of this group. I enjoy reading different types of books. It all depends on my mood, I guess...
I wrote two memoirs. So what are they about? To sum it up, I asked myself the following four questions:
-Have I ever been worried about losing my job?
-Is an ultra-distance bike ride on my bucket list?
-Do I have the desire to write a book someday?
-Do assumed constraints limit my true potential?
I answered yes to all four questions. My story told in Suit to Saddle and the sequel, Forty to Finish
Forty to Finish: Cycling to Victory on the TransAmerica Bike Trail
Suit to Saddle: Cycling to Self-Discovery on the Southern Tier
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Welcome Colin!
Hi everyone. Just published my memoir, Ending Up Creative: My Search for Renewal Through the Arts, and am looking for reviewers. Happy to send a complimentary ebook (Kinde) to anyone who can post an honest review on Amazon or Goodreads, or both.https://www.amazon.com/Ending-Up-Crea...
Happy to answer any questions. my email is landcommentator@gmail.com .
Deena GoldsteinI hope you'll read! At some point, we all navigate the loss and grief of a loved one, uncertain how or if we can regain a sense of normalcy to our lives ever again.OK, Little Bird is a virtual handbook, told through a memoir style, fast moving touching, laugh out loud and deeply feeling father daughter relationship. When you turn the last page, readers will find a way to feel whole again and inspired. OK, Little Bird
Sup everyone, I’m Kang. I recently picked up some biographies to read to see what I can learn from other’s experiences. I haven’t check, but if there is a recommendation topic I’ll check it out.
Kang wrote: "Sup everyone, I’m Kang. I recently picked up some biographies to read to see what I can learn from other’s experiences. I haven’t check, but if there is a recommendation topic I’ll check it out."Welcome! We don't have a recommendation thread per se, but we do have a review thread where you can see people's thoughts. There are older ones, as well. Our current one has been fixed to the top of the page, but if you scroll down this folder you can find more https://www.goodreads.com/topic/group...
2022, for example https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
2021 https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
2020 https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
There are more, but this is plenty to get you started.
Biography, Autobiography, Memoir
Books mentioned in this topic
Dead Versions Of Me: Some versions didn't survive the telling. (other topics)The Story of ABBA: Melancholy Undercover (other topics)
THE MORPH: The Alchemy of the Animal (other topics)
Whispers On The Wind (other topics)
Leaving Pep Band Friends (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Jan Gradvall (other topics)Ron Chernow (other topics)
Deena Goldstein (other topics)
Rich Flanders (other topics)
Rich Flanders (other topics)
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