Local Authors
Chasity Strawder, a Black woman in northern Ohio, recounts her high risk pregnancy and healthcare disparities in this urgent memoir. She also tells stories of kindness, such as when her chiropractor gave her free treatments and herbs to assist with her pain. Her memoir is a powerful call to action for Black women’s maternal health and a universal story of motherhood. Strawder is a well-known advocate for black women's maternal health through Cuyahoga County.
Listen to an interview with Chasity on Lines of Loganberry on Spotify.
Are you a caregiver? Do you feel isolated, frustrated, sad, resentful, angry, or guilty? Do you feel as if no one understands what you're going through or that others aren't pulling their weight? Do you believe that you can't express your true thoughts and feelings to others for fear of being judged? I get it!
I was one of the primary caregivers for my mother, who had Alzheimer's and vascular dementia. During the course of our journey, I learned that the only people who could really relate were those who had similar experiences... but I didn't even feel safe sharing my feelings with fellow caregivers. I didn't want people to think less of me because of my thoughts and feelings. I had no outlet...until God stepped in.
I was led to begin keeping a journal, which I had never successfully done before. I hated revisiting thoughts and feelings by writing them down and resisted with everything within me. But God didn't let me rest until I began to do what He was directing me to do. Once I obeyed, what was initially a chore became a lifeline.
My journal became my trusted friend. I could write things in my journal that I wouldn't dream of verbalizing to anyone else, and I did so without guilt. My journal soothed and comforted me and I believe that whenever caregivers have information that would benefit others, they must share. That's why I created "Caregiver to Caregiver, a Scripture-Focused, Guided Reflection Journal." This is a fifty-two-week journal that was designed with you in mind, from one caregiver to another.
I want to not only encourage you to journal,l but also to share with you the beloved scriptures that sustained me and practical tips including; self-care, preparing to become a caregiver, alternative care settings, hospice care, and more, that I'm hoping will be helpful for you. I have also included guided reflections for those who have trouble getting started.
All caregiving journeys are unique, but there are some commonalities. We all need support. We all have a desire to feel appreciated. We all need a safe space to express ourselves. We all have a responsibility to reach out our hands to lift someone else up. I pray that this journal is the hand that you need.
May God bless you. I thank you for all you do.
Adapt and thrive--this is the way of the Chameleon.
With a less than idyllic childhood shrouded behind her, Nora Horvath finds confidence and strength in the life she's created for herself. Needs, not names, are what interests this self-possessed woman, and that's exactly the way she likes it. Between her hobbies, her work, and her intimate circle of confidants, there is literally nothing Nora desires from the outside world--let alone a long forgotten one.
As a firefighter, Nora knows better than most that heat rises. After a terrifying rescue jostles free the memories of a traumatic and abusive past, Nora is forced to pursue the demons who beckon her back into the shadowy realm of this new trauma. As she ascends into the inferno of her past, she begins to discover just how much heat she can handle.
Feverishly, Nora attempts to maintain her tight grip on the things she holds dear, and considers everything else to be... trivial. After all, a chameleon only changes color when it's frightened, and nothing can rattle the likes of Nora Horvath. Not even the truth.
Stunning, powerful, and complex, Chameleon Girl is a novel so big it occupies dual worlds. Igniting passion and intrigue, this psychological thriller transcends the genre as a champion of emotional intelligence and feminist narrative. Journey into the darkest and most complex aspects of the human experience as you witness this incredible cast of characters change, adapt, and show their true colors in Liz Ferro's bewitching debut novel. Grab your copy today!