Childhood should be carefree, playing in the sun; not living a nightmare in the darkness of the soul.

The Stovepipe is a memoir full of laughter and tears and a moving story of sisterly love as well as their will to survive.

Mother can beat me all she wants, but I haven’t let her take away my will to somehow survive.

There's a lot of Dave mania when I speak.

I'm so alive. As I stand facing the beauty of the never-ending Pacific Ocean, a late afternoon breeze blows down from the hills behind. As always, it is a beautiful day. The sun is making its final descent. The magic is about to begin. The skies are ready to burn with brilliance, as it turns from a soft blue to a bright orange. Looking towards the West, I stare in awe at the hypnotic power of the waves. A giant curl begins to take form, then breaks with a thundering clap as it crashes on the shore.

I know I can be very standoffish . . .

Whatever you do for the sole purpose of having others admire you, your efforts will most likely be in vain.