Listen to an exclusive 14-minute sample from the new memoir, 'Breaths of Hope' by J.S. Adam.

This emotional clip takes you inside the critical moments of a near-fatal battle for survival and the resilience required to overcome it.

📖 Pre-order or Buy the full book here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0G2HPP356
© 2025 J.S. Adam. All Rights Reserved.

breaths-of-hope-audiobook-sample

101 stories told in exactly 101 words...because sometimes life is too short for long ramblings.

That Costs Extra

The Waiting is the Hardest Part

As a seventeen-year-old officer Aaron Tait was deployed to a war in the Middle East. Far Horizons is the story of what happened next. From war zones to slums, Aaron Tait has travelled to and worked in more than 70 countries across the globe as a military officer, humanitarian and social entrepreneur, and now writes to help people live deliberate lives filled with purpose.

Far Horizons is a globe-spanning coming-of-age memoir of a fighter turned peace-seeker on a vibrant journey of transformation, adventure and love, set against backdrops of the Iraq War, Africa and the world beyond. Fresh and introspective, it will lead you to exploring not only the far corners of the world but also the uncharted aspects of yourself.

In this episode Gregory Dobbs chats to Aaron Tait about the physical and psychological challenges he faced in training as a Royal Australian Navy clearance diver and as part of a non-compliant boarding unit in the Persian Gulf, how he was morally challenged by his experiences of war and what he did about it, and how the love of his life led him to live and work in Kenya and Tanzania in search of redemption

Aaron Tait on his journey from war to peace in 'Far Horizons'

the world you were born in no longer exists

“Jovencito, it’s going to be lonely being different and yet strong in this world,” James Francisco Bonilla’s grandmother told him when he was ten. Born with congenital cataracts, James had limited vision in his right eye and none in his left. At age nine, after a classmate hurled a horseshoe at his face in a racially motivated assault, James’s right eye was injured and he became legally blind. At home, too, he feared physical violence, experiencing the unpredictable outbursts of a single mother suffering from severe mental illness. Throughout his youth as a Puerto Rican New Yorker, James was continually failed by educational systems that exposed him to one abuse after another. Searching for relief and inspiration, he discovered an unexpected solace in the natural world, spiritual encounters with Mother Earth that led him toward both personal healing and advocacy.

At nineteen, a breakthrough in medical technology restored the sight in his right eye, and James recognized his unique perspective on the struggles of the disabled and marginalized in American life—and his intense will to make a difference. Here, James is joined in conversation with Beverly Daniel Tatum and Charmaine L. Wjeyesinghe.



James Francisco Bonilla (he/him) is a New York–born Puerto Rican writer and retired professor of Hamline University in St. Paul. He has written and presented nationally and internationally on diversity, cultural competence, and leadership, especially on how to diversify environmental organizations. 

Beverly Daniel Tatum (she/her) is an award-winning educational leader, best-selling author, expert on the psychology of racism, and longtime social justice educator.
 
Charmaine Wjeyesinghe (she/her) is a consultant and author with 40 years of experience working with colleges, universities, and public and private organizations on diverse social justice areas and organizational change.



REFERENCES:
What My Bones Know: A Memoir of Healing from Complex Trauma / Stephanie Foo
Crip Camp: A Disability Revolution (film)
The Country of the Blind: A Memoir at the End of Sight / Andrew Leland
Peril and Promise: College Leadership in Turbulent Times / Beverly Daniel Tatum
Promoting Diversity and Social Justice: Educating People from Privileged Groups / Diane J. Goodman
Always We Begin Again: The Benedictine Way of Living / John McQuiston



Praise for the book:
“With its intersectional analysis of racism, mental illness, and disability, this memoir brings a fresh and inspiring voice to the world of social justice literature.” 
—Beverly Daniel Tatum

“This memoir is the essence of what I still seek to share with youth in all communities.”
—J. Herman Blake, professor emeritus, Iowa State University

“James Francisco Bonilla shows that hope and healing can be found through advocacy and community.”
—Sue Abderholden, former executive director, NAMI Minnesota

“This inspiring memoir encourages a new generation to confront biases and champion social justice.”
—Madeline L. Peters, disability consultant



An Eye for an I: Growing Up with Blindness, Bigotry, and Family Mental Illness by James Francisco Bonilla is available from University of Minnesota Press. Thank you for listening.

Blindness and blind spots.

Do Not Pass Go

Peter Kay returns with his most entertaining autobiography yet!

The Collector’s Edition: The first hardback print run will feature an exclusive foiled board design. Order now to avoid missing out! 

 ‘Think of this autobiography as a twelve-month subscription to my memories and meanderings across the calendar year. With each month reflecting a different phase of my life, complete with dodgy decisions, bizarre plot twists and more than a few laugh-out-loud moments.’ 

Peter Kay is back – and funnier than ever – with his most heartfelt and hilarious autobiography yet. Take a whistlestop journey through his life, in a year. From hitting the gym in January, falling in love in February and a nostalgic trip to Ireland at Easter, to buying his first house in May. Then it’s summer holidays at Butlins, a September wedding and, before you know it, he’s packing away the Halloween decorations and sipping a glass of Bailey’s in front of the Christmas telly.

With his trademark warmth and wit, Peter offers a unique take on the calendar year – in a way only he can – cementing his place as one of Britain’s best-loved comedians and a true national treasure.

Peter Kay’s Diary: The Monthly Memoir of a Boy from Bolton, By Peter Kay, Read by Peter Kay

'A revealing account of the tricky reality behind TV's glamorous image' Daily Mail 

 In the summer of 1992, Jason Salkey was cast in a role that would change his life forever. Sharpe’s Rifles, a Napoleonic war drama, was to be shot in the Crimean Peninsula. Little did the producers know that they would be sending Jason and the crew to film in a rapidly disintegrating Soviet Union. There they faced near-starvation and danger round every corner as they set about creating one of Britain’s most successful and critically acclaimed television programmes.

From Crimea with Love documents the mishaps, blunders, incompetence and downright corruption that made Sharpe’s Rifles go down in British television folklore for its unique tales of hardship. Follow the cast through intense depravation and constant catastrophe until they become every bit the jaded, battle-hardened soldiers we saw on screen. Tapping into his diaries, photo journals and video log, Jason brings you an eye-opening, jaw-dropping insider’s account of one of the best-loved shows ever made.

From Crimea with Love: Misadventures in the Making of Sharpe’s Rifles, By Jason Salkey, Read by Jason Salkey

In this episode of We Published, Beloved!, Dr. Jenn M. Jackson interviews Shayla Lawson about their book 'How to Live Free in a Dangerous World.' They explore themes of identity, survival, and the creative process, discussing how Shayla's experiences being Black, queer, and non-binary inform their writing. The conversation delves into the challenges of navigating the publishing industry, the importance of community, and the role of art as a form of resistance. Shayla shares their journey of reclaiming their identity and the significance of spirituality in their life, ultimately encouraging emerging writers to embrace their unique stories and contribute to a collective legacy.

S1E9- Shayla Lawson | We Published, Beloved! Podcast

slowly returning to and planting oneself in what originally was.
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The publishing world is overwhelmingly white and the stories that we read reflect that reality. Because of this long-time trend, many new and upcoming Black and queer authors often feel shut out and excluded from the publishing process.

This podcast demystifies the publishing process with a focus on first-time Black and queer authors.

Publishers of award-winning fiction and non-fiction audiobooks for adults and children. Listen to exclusive clips from our books and free audioook extracts here on Soundcloud.

Book talk and author interviews aimed at helping you discover your next favourite read, presented by Good Reading Magazine.

New tracks tagged #MEMOIR