Why Father?

Toni Maguire, Gerri Mayo

Summary

A sexual abuse survivor tells her story in this memoir written with the help of the #1 bestselling author of Don’t Tell Mummy and When Daddy Comes Home. 
 
Gerri Mayo was only a young girl when she was first abused by her father. Growing up in a small village in Northern Ireland, in the tumultuous time of the Troubles, she had no one to turn to. He father’s evil acts were followed by abuse from her local priest, arranged by her father. After her mother found out about the abuse, she committed suicide. 
 
Gerri and her siblings were split up and placed in different foster homes. Told that her mother had committed a grave sin, Gerri’s foster parents were far from kind to her. She experienced years of loneliness, feeling completely abandoned. 
 
The abuse Gerry experienced was so extensive it required an operation to repair the damage to her body. When asked who or what had been responsible, she responded “the priest”. But she was not believed in her small Northern Ireland town in the 1960s, where everyone believed a priest took his orders directly from God. After finally meeting her kind and caring husband, Gerry decided it was time for her story to be told. This is her true story of survival.

Available since: 12/05/2023.

Print length: 313 pages.

Other books that might interest you

Keep Our Republic: Your Guide to...

Alistair Voss

Keep Our Republic: Your Guide to Understanding and Action 
Are you eager to advance your knowledge and make a meaningful impact in preserving our democracy? 
Looking for a comprehensive guide that offers everything you need to understand how to safeguard our democratic values? 
Look no further! 
This audiobook is your ultimate companion for deepening your insights, applying your skills, and engaging in meaningful action. With this, you’re equipped for success. 
Updated for the latest perspectives on democratic preservation. 
Key features of this enriched guide: 
- Profound insights into preserving our democracy today 
- Detailed explorations of the principles of democracy 
- Effective strategies for understanding and taking action 
Our guide stands out with its thorough coverage, essential for making a difference. Concepts are not merely glossed over; they are explored with precision. 
Please note that this guide is an independent resource, not affiliated with any official entity, designed solely for your benefit. 
Crafted with a clear structure and easy-to-understand language, our guide ensures smooth transitions between topics. Wave goodbye to complicated jargon and welcome clear, precise, and insightful content. 
So, why wait? Click the BUY NOW button, secure your guide, and start your journey to making a positive impact in preserving our democracy!

Show book

Constantine the Great - The...

Kelly Mass

Constantine I, often called Constantine the Great, was one of the most significant emperors of ancient Rome, reigning from 306 to 337 AD. Born in Naissus, in the province of Dacia Mediterranea (modern-day Niš, Serbia), he was the son of Flavius Constantius, a Roman army officer and a prominent figure in the Tetrarchy, and Helena, a woman of humble Greek origins. His father's position as one of the four emperors in the Tetrarchy was instrumental in shaping Constantine's early life and military career. Under emperors Diocletian and Galerius, Constantine demonstrated his military prowess, initially fighting against barbarian tribes and the Persians in the eastern provinces. In 305 AD, he was summoned to the West to aid his father in campaigns in Britain, where he earned further distinction.
Following the death of his father in 306 AD, Constantine’s soldiers declared him emperor at Eboracum (modern York, England). Over the next two decades, he would overcome rival emperors, such as Maxentius and Licinius, in a series of civil wars, eventually becoming the sole ruler of the Roman Empire by 324 AD. His reign marked a period of significant transformation, both militarily and administratively.
To strengthen the empire, Constantine initiated a series of reforms. He reorganized the imperial administration, separating civil and military powers to create a more efficient system of governance. Acknowledging the need for economic stability, he introduced the solidus, a new gold coin that helped curb inflation. This currency would become the standard for Byzantine and European economies for nearly a millennium. He also restructured the Roman army, creating specialized units that could respond swiftly to internal threats and barbarian invasions.

Show book

Carl Moellenberg's Story -...

Carl Moellenberg

Carl Moellenberg's story is one of overcoming enormous obstacles and changing course to find his passion and his true self to live joyously as a long-term survivor. It is a journey of many transformations: from Midwestern boy most interested in music to a fast-paced Wall Street career; from investment banking to a 13-time Tony Award winner on Broadway; from overcoming several death-defying crises by finding healing, inspiration from a higher being, and deeper spirituality. Carl hopes that his story will inspire others who face seemingly overwhelming obstacles to find their passion, their reason to live and to find love. 
"It's a story of inspiration, truly. Of sadness and joy, of growth and spirituality, and ultimately of acceptance. The blending of worlds, a seeming dichotomy that Carl has woven together into a spectacularly vibrant life. Reading his beautiful book has touched me deeply." —Barbara Manocherian, President of New York Stage and Film 
It is full of heart, told with great honesty, in strong, clear, simple language. His fortitude and optimism in the face of adversity is an inspiration." —Tom Hulce, Actor/Producer 
"Glorious, quiet power of hope throughout this beautiful, utterly relatable memoir reminds us to heed that inner ever present voice urging us onward. Exploding with simple wisdoms with those more complex matters of the heart subtly lurking between the lines." —Mary Beth O’Connor, RKO Pictures/ Lucky Viii Films 
"Carl's willingness to be so open and vulnerable around his survivorship, his spiritual path, his artistic path, and his close friendships allows the reader a sense of honor to be included in his journey. I think this memoir can and will help people (in a universal sense) to feel less alone, and inspire them to follow themselves and their dreams." —Adam Kantor, Broadway actor

Show book

A Knock at the Door

Rob Parsons

‘An incredible read. I laughed, I cried and my heart was truly touched by this beautifully written true story of hope and humanity at its best.’ Rosemary Conley CBE'An extraordinary story. Truly Inspirational' Tim Vine
An astonishing story of kindness, self-learning, pain, unbelievable hope and the sheer power of love to change a life.
Christmas 1975 and Queen’s ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ is riding high in the charts. In a residential street just outside Cardiff, a persistent knocking breaks the stillness of the evening …
When Rob Parsons, a young lawyer, opens his door he finds a man standing before him clutching a bag of belongings and a frozen chicken. Rob and his wife, Dianne, invite him into their home, cook his chicken and offer him shelter for the night. What happens next is an astonishing story of human kindness, self-learning, incredible pain, unbelievable hope and the sheer power of love to change a life.
A Knock at the Door is the true story of Ronnie Lockwood, a homeless man who entered the home of a young couple, became a dustman and lived as part of their family for over 45 years until his death. But this is not just Ronnie’s story – it is also that of Rob and his family. Outwardly the two men’s lives were worlds apart – as Ronnie emptied rubbish bins, Rob flew on Concorde – and yet, they discovered they had similar struggles. Then the day came, at the lowest moment of the couple’s lives, when they turned to the homeless man for help.
But there were also remarkable turnarounds. Ronnie spent much of his spare time volunteering, including at a homeless centre, and ended up having a £1.6 million well-being centre named after him. Rob left his law practice and he and Dianne began a charity that touches the lives of millions of people.
You will have never read a story like this before, but at its heart is a simple message: whether we are a lawyer or a dustman – tomorrow doesn’t always have to be like yesterday.
This autobiography is not just a tale of two men, but a testament to the power of empathy and kindness. It's a motivational and inspirational journey that delves deep into the realms of poverty, homelessness, and the social dynamics that bind us all.
For fans of Harry Benson (Scram!), Richard Foster (The Real Bettie Page), Max Lucado (Jesus), and Bear Grylls (Never Give Up).
HarperCollins 2024

Show book

Beyond the Break - The...

Christo Hall

What can a big wave teach you about living a big life? 
 
 
 
Sharing remarkable experiences from the world of professional surfing, Christo Hall offers a unique perspective on how we operate under pressure. Beyond the Break tells the story of a man finding his path in life—and the surf lessons along the way that shaped his attitude for entrepreneurial success. 
 
  
 
From big waves in Hawaii to swimming with sharks in South Africa, Christo reveals an intimate glimpse inside the mindset and lifestyle of a pro surfer. His journey from sportsman to renowned business mentor interlaces stories of adrenaline-stoked competitions and misadventures in partying with insightful reflections. 
 
 
 
From Christo's stories and practical advice, you'll discover how to handle your own inner critic; understand your limits and pick your battles; overcome failures and move forward to success; hone your mindset and boost your focus; and find your motivation and align your goals with your purpose. 
 
 
 
With Beyond the Break, you'll find the inspirational stories and the tips and strategies you need to take your own adventures to next level—in surf, business, and life.

Show book

Goodbye Russia - Rachmaninoff in...

Fiona Maddocks

In 1940, Sergei Rachmaninoff, living in exile in America, broke his creative silence and composed a swan song to his Russian homeland—his iconic "Symphonic Dances." What happened in those final haunted years and how did he come to write his farewell masterpiece? 
 
 
 
Rachmaninoff left Petrograd (now St. Petersburg) in 1917 during the throes of the Russian Revolution. He was forty-four years old, at the peak of his powers as composer-conductor-performer, moving in elite Tsarist circles, as well as running the family estate, his refuge and solace. Reeling from the trauma of a life in upheaval, he wrote almost no music and quickly had to reinvent himself as a fêted virtuoso pianist, building up untold wealth and meeting the stars. 
 
 
 
Using a wide range of sources, including important newly translated texts, Fiona Maddocks's book conjures impressions of this enigmatic figure, his friends, and the world he encountered. It explores his life as an emigré artist and how he clung to an Old Russia which no longer existed. That forging of past and present meets in his Symphonic Dances (1940), his last composition, written on Long Island shortly before his death in Beverly Hills, surrounded by a close-knit circle of exiles. Goodbye Russia is a moving and prismatic look at Rachmaninoff and his iconic final work.

Show book