For lovers of intelligent, nonfictional, dramatic, but inspiring stories. These are encouraging stories about real people and actual events. Excellent reading for anyone going through rough times when dealing with disability, the loss of loved ones, a traumatic experience, or any other misfortune. This book is not about people who were born poor and then became rich. This book consists of true stories about extraordinary human beings, who despite, rather because of, the terrible ordeals that life has thrown at them, achieved personal successes and became healers, educators, advocates for the abused, inspirational speakers, motivational symbols of survival, and achievers of sacred dreams. These tales will encourage people who are dealing with challenges that the ruthless twists of fate present to them. This book will be the most helpful for people who are wandering in a labyrinth of despair, grief, uncertainty, and maybe even help those dreaming of being released from this life. While reading about these incredible earthlings, who found the strength, not only to overcome ordeals, but also to become influential examples for others, you will reconsider your perception of whatever you are facing now. You will stop feeling helpless and lost because these stories will change your mind, clarify your soul and inspire you to stand up and cope. If these people can thrive after terrible traumas, why can't you? The influence of these stories can make a difference in the world by showing paths that our hearts can take. We can become advocates for human rights, stop the abuse of innocent animals, defend helpless children living in third world countries, prevent the destruction of our planet, and do many other things. Like a big river that originates from the merger of small creeks, we can be the little drops that help create a forceful stream of water blasting out of the way hatred and violence. EXCERPT FROM BOOK Hate is one of the most powerful emotion; its tenacious and vicious paws grab the bearer of it, depleting from their vitality and making the person cognitively impaired. I can't give this satisfaction to people who lost their human faces and void of simple moral principles. I forgave them, but I didn't forget, and justice must prevail. I said to myself again, "I refuse to be a victim."
About the Author: I was born and lived in the beautiful city, St. Petersburg, Russia. I have firsthand experience living under a communist regime. In the 1980s, Communist party leader, Michael Gorbachev, started a political movement, called ''perestroika, '' meaning ''restructuring.'' He called for reformations within the communist party and economic system. Those reforms brought chaos into the country by shaking and changing established laws and policies. During this time of the Communist empire collapsing, Russia plunged into a period of unprecedented crime never seen in its history. Explosions and gunshots were part of life. Bandits organized into gangs. They forced every business owner to pay a portion of their income, they controlled different parts of the city, and they knew where businesses were located. Criminals abducted and tortured disobedient entrepreneurs or the members of their families. If that did not convey the lesson, they would kill. My husband and I were business owners. During that violent period, I, along with my husband and daughter, fled to Canada. After four agonizing years of uncertainty, we were granted conventional refugee status. The duration of the immigration process and the hardship of settling in a new country took its toll on our marriage, to the point where my husband and I divorced. I came to Canada, a country unknown in my former way of life, and had to learn all the methods of business conduct and government policies. Despite these obstacles, I managed to educate myself in college and establish a successful business. It was all taken away from me, due to police actions. The most dramatic example of this is my being targeted by the police, counselled to commit murder and then trapped. Prompted by an uninvestigated and nonsensical denunciation, police officers took advantage of my overwhelmed mental state during a period of unbearable duress in my life. They orchestrated an opportunity for me to commit a crime which I would never have considered under less extreme circumstances.