A Life Through Books

Cultivating a Reverence for Life

Date Published: July 31, 2024

Publisher: BookBaby

In For Our Friends the Animals, Robert Echols delivers a stirring spiritual call to action for Christians and all people of conscience to embrace a reverence for life in its fullest form.

Blending biblical truth, compassionate prayers, and the life-affirming philosophy of Dr. Albert Schweitzer, this powerful work urges readers to see animals not as commodities—but as beloved creations of God. In Part One, Echols explores the deep moral and spiritual responsibility we hold toward all creatures. In Part Two, he presents practical steps to confront today's most pressing animal welfare issues—from factory farming to environmental degradation.

Whether you're a lifelong advocate or someone opening your heart to new possibilities, For Our Friends the Animals invites you into a faith-driven movement of empathy and transformation. Through spiritual insight and practical guidance, the book empowers readers to become stewards of compassion, protecting both creation and Creator's intention.

“This book is not just a read—it’s a spiritual pledge. A call to embody Christ’s love by caring for those who cannot speak for themselves.”

Join the movement. Embrace the message. Be the change.

About the Author

  Robert Echols is a spiritual author, thought leader, and passionate advocate for animals and all of God’s creation. As the author of For Our Friends the Animals: Cultivating a Reverence for Life, Echols blends Christian spirituality, biblical wisdom, and the moral philosophy of Dr. Albert Schweitzer to offer a powerful message: we are called to protect and uplift all living beings.

A cancer survivor and U.S. Army veteran, Robert's life journey has been guided by service—to his country, his faith, and now, to the voiceless creatures that share our planet. He is the founder and former president of the For Our Friends the Animals Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to financially supporting animal shelters, rescues, and sanctuaries. Under his leadership, the foundation funded the construction of animal shelters in Florida, putting faith into action and making his life his argument, as Schweitzer once wrote.

Robert frequently shares his message of compassion on LinkedIn, in podcasts, and as a guest speaker throughout the Mobile Bay, Alabama area. With academic credentials from Phillips Exeter Academy, New York University, and Emory University (J.D./M.B.A.), and a past career as an ethics officer and Army JAG attorney, Robert’s voice is both seasoned and deeply principled.

His current writing project is a four-volume spiritual treatise titled For Our Friends the Animals, empowering others to embrace a universal love rooted in Christ’s teachings and a reverence for all life.

“Let my words inspire you to become a steward of the earth and a champion for animals—because the love of Jesus is not just for humanity, but for all creation.”

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Nonfiction

Date Published: March 3, 2025

Publisher: MindStir Media

Childhood trauma leads to perseverance and personal growth in this empowering memoir.

Born into a world shrouded by multi-generational cycles of abuse and child marriages, Donna Simmons navigates a harrowing landscape of pain and betrayal, detailing the challenges that devastated her early years but ultimately did not define the person she became.

Through poignant storytelling, she shares both moments of despair and the small victories that fueled her resilience. Each chapter reveals the transformative process of healing and self-discovery, touching on the importance of embracing nature, finding solace in creativity, and connecting with a community. Ashes to Flame recounts a powerful, deeply personal, and transformative journey from the ashes of childhood trauma to the vibrant light of purpose.

About the Author

My name is Donna Simmons, and I’m a wife, mother, author, and avid advocate for breaking cycles of generational trauma and mental health recovery.  As a Governor appointed member of the Kentucky Juvenile Justice Advisory Board and member of the Bakhita Empowerment Initiative Advisory Board, I work with public servants and providers across the state to support a reduction in juvenile system involvement and strengthening protective factors for high risk youth.  My passion for this work comes from my direct experience as a child abuse survivor, involvement in a behavioral health facility when I was 14, and resulting grooming and exploitation by a 29 year old mental health professional who I was married off to as a child.

In my healing journey, I have recognized that true trauma recovery can only occur when we are willing to examine the generational cycles that keeps us bound in harmful patterns.  My mission is to help others transform their trauma into purpose so they can break these cycles and reach their full potential as individuals and parents.

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Date Published: May 25, 2025

“My long-term survival is doubtful under any scenario. Yet, I already defied the impossible by escaping from a watery tomb and swimming to this very spot. But luck is finite—it always peters out.”

As the island of Kefalonia falls under the harsh occupation of Italian soldiers in 1941, British sailor Oliver Graham washes ashore, desperate to evade capture. Rescued by the fierce and determined Natalía Giannatos, he becomes entangled in a web of love, loyalty, and betrayal.

With her brother and fiancé lost to the conflict, Natalía is driven by vengeance against the occupiers and a deepening bond with Oliver. But when an Italian colonel fixates on her, she must navigate a dangerous game of deception to protect her family and village. As Oliver struggles with his hidden heritage and his growing feelings for Natalía, they are thrust into the heart of the resistance, where every choice could lead to freedom or devastation.

In a story that intertwines love and sacrifice against the backdrop of war, The Weight of Loyalty explores the resilience of the human spirit and the lengths one will go to for love. Will Oliver and Natalía’s connection survive the trials of conflict, or will the brutal realities of war tear them apart forever?

About the Author

 Mike H. Mizrahi and his wife, Karen, reside in Poulsbo, WA. He is a winner of the (indie Reader Discovery Award and a Laramie Finalist in the Chanticleer Book Awards. His other historical novels include The Unnamed Girl, Tattered Coat, and the Great Chattanooga Bicycle Race.

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Children's Book

Date Published: May 28, 2025

Publisher: ‎MindStir Media

📘 Book Description for Grandma’s Bucket of Mercy by Robin Carole

You are never too old or too young to learn life’s lessons.

From multiple award-winning author Robin Carole comes a heartwarming true story that celebrates the power of love, forgiveness, and generational wisdom. Grandma’s Bucket of Mercy is a touching tale of one young girl’s summer with her grandmother in 1960s California—and the quiet but profound lesson that would change two lives forever.

Ten-year-old Carole is sent on a mysterious errand involving her grandmother’s elderly neighbor, not knowing her grandmother is teaching her about the gift of mercy. Years later, Carole finally understands the full impact of that experience when a stranger shares how her small, anonymous acts of kindness transformed a life.

Beautifully written and deeply personal, this story is a tribute to the grit and grace of the women who survived the Dust Bowl and the Great Depression and to the enduring strength of intergenerational bonds. Grandma’s Bucket of Mercy is perfect for readers aged 9–12—and for the childlike spirit in every adult who believes in the quiet power of compassion.

✅ True story based on real-life events

✅ Uplifting themes of family, kindness, and legacy

✅ Ideal for ages 9–12 and meaningful for all ages

🪣 Sometimes the smallest gesture can change everything.

 

About the Author

Robin Carole is a multiple award-winning author and lifelong storyteller dedicated to preserving the legacy of the strong women in her family. A native Californian who grew up in the scenic wine country, Robin spent over 40 years in Deaf Education as a Certified Sign Language Interpreter, working with students from kindergarten through adult education. 

Now retired and living in Spokane, Washington, Robin draws from real-life experiences and the stories passed down from her grandmother, mother, and aunts to write books that speak to the hearts of readers young and old. Her passion for storytelling began as a child, sitting at the feet of her family matriarchs, listening to tales of resilience, faith, and enduring love. 

Her latest book, Grandma’s Bucket of Mercy, is a heartfelt tribute to the power of quiet acts of compassion—and a reminder that even children can change the world through kindness. Through her writing, Robin invites readers to revisit a time when life was simple, values were taught through action, and lessons of mercy could last a lifetime. 

“My education, my work, my goals, and accomplishments are here for only a moment, but my family is a lifetime.” —Robin Carole 

Fun Facts About Robin: 

• Her favorite meal is a classic Southern tomato sandwich 
• She loves gardening, even if it mostly means pulling weeds 
• Oldies music, storytelling, and pets bring her the most joy 
• She still believes in the power of sitting together and sharing stories 

 📚 Explore Robin’s books and discover stories that stay with you—because the lessons we learn from our grandmothers are often the ones we never forget.

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Titanic Tales of Love and Loss, Book 1

Date Published: May 28, 2025

When Maddy weds the wealthy and influential John Jacob Astor IV, she believes she is stepping into a life of privilege, passion, and promise. But beneath the dazzling façade of high society, whispers of scandal, resentment, and betrayal threaten to pull her under. Shunned by New York’s elite for marrying a man nearly three decades her senior, Madeleine soon realizes that love in the gilded age comes at a price.

As the Astors embark on their homeward voyage aboard the RMS Titanic, fate sets a course neither could have foreseen. Amid the grandeur of the world’s most luxurious ship, tensions rise, secrets unravel, and the ocean stretches endlessly before them—along with the chasm widening in their marriage.

But when disaster strikes, will love, wealth, or power matter in the face of the unthinkable? And when the ice cracks beneath them, will the Astors’ love survive—if they do?

Cracks Beneath the Surface is a sweeping historical romance woven with heartbreak, resilience, and the echoes of a love tested by time, fortune, and fate.

Are you ready to set sail on a journey of passion, peril, and the power of a love that dared to defy the tides of time? Get your copy today and discover the story behind the headlines.

About the Author

While her Titanic series is published under her real name, Laura also writes empowering self-help books under the pen name Lamont, including Healing the Rift with Your Adult Child and The Blended Family Guide, which support readers through complex personal relationships.

The second book in her Titanic series, The Last Line, follows First Officer William Murdoch and delves deeper into the lives of both crew and passengers during the ship’s final days.

Laura’s writing bridges the emotional power of fiction with the insight and compassion of her self-help work—offering readers both escapism and emotional resonance. Visit Lauran on her website at www.lmcpublications.com

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Self Help, Study Skills, Study Hacks

Date Published: June 13, 2025

Why This Book Stands Out

Unlike generic guides, The A+ Student Blueprint blends cognitive science, neuroscience, and Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) to transform how you learn. Struggling with focus, retention, or procrastination? This book offers science-backed strategies to study smarter, not harder, helping you excel in any subject.

What You’ll Discover

Real Results, Real Stories

Follow Jack’s journey in case studies as he masters vectors, quadratic equations, and biology tests using these techniques. Step-by-step examples show how to apply strategies to real subjects, making learning achievable.

Why Students, Parents, and Educators Love It

Who Is This For?

Your Journey Starts Here

With The A+ Student Blueprint, you’re building a toolkit for success. Start with one technique today—color-coding or Pomodoro—and watch grades soar. Backed by research and student stories, this is your shortcut to A+ status.

Join the A+ Movement Today!!

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Book 2 in the Kitty in the City Series