The Harrowing Escape

The Harrowing Escape
Author: T. J. Smith
Publisher: Tate Publishing
Total Pages: 332
Release: 2009-02
Genre: Fiction
ISBN: 1606962752

Within the hexed walls of the fortress, Dan and his companions are plagued with unsettling questions...questions whose answers will require a deeper infiltration into the secret recesses of the centuries-old castle, answers which will involve confrontations with the citadel's animate and inanimate residents, and answers which will entail encounters with the savage beasts of the forest. Is Dan's brother, William, alive and a prisoner of the Reclaimers? Will the travelers survive the spellbinding powers of the half-man and half-serpent creatures? Will the rescuers breach the spatial boundaries of the parallel world and return home? Continue your journey with the travelers as they strategize their escape and unravel the mysteries of the Reclaimers' vulnerability, the invisible warm touch, and a dire potion. After more than two decades serving as a development officer with nonprofit associations, T. J. Smith realized an ambitious undertaking with the publication of A World Away. Smith, a Rocky Mountain resident, is currently working on the third installment, The Sinister Realm, which promises to shatter the boundaries of the reader's imagination.

Coffin Corner Boys

Coffin Corner Boys
Author: Carole Engle Avriett
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Total Pages: 198
Release: 2018-05-14
Genre: History
ISBN: 1621576558

"Gripping…filled with…dramatic escapes, moments of surprising humanity, and acts of bravery." —Publishers Weekly A Story of Adventure, Survival, Loyalty, and Brotherhood Taking off from England on March 16, 1944, young Lt. George Starks and the nine-man crew of his Flying Fortress were assigned to the “coffin corner,” the most exposed position in the bomber formation headed for Germany. They never got there. Shot down over Nazi-occupied France, the airmen bailed out one by one, scattered across the countryside. Miraculously, all ten survived, but as they discarded their parachutes in the farmland of Champagne, their wartime odyssey was only beginning. Alone, with a broken foot and a 20mm shell fragment in his thigh, twenty-year-old Starks set out on an incredible 300-mile trek to Switzerland, making his way with the help of ordinary men and women who often put themselves in great danger on his behalf. Six weeks later, on the verge of giving up, Starks found himself in the hands of a heroic member of the French Resistance—he calls him “the bravest man I’ve ever known”—who got him safely across the heavily guarded border. Similar ordeals awaited the other nine crewmen, who faced injury, betrayal, cap-tivity, hunger, and depression. It was nothing short of miraculous that all ten came home at the end of the war. George Starks emerged from his ordeal with two passions—to stay in touch with his crew whatever the obstacles and to return to France to find and thank the brave souls to whom he owed his life. His enduring loyalty enabled him to do both.

Beyond Belief

Beyond Belief
Author: Jenna Miscavige Hill
Publisher: Harper Collins
Total Pages: 398
Release: 2013-02-05
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 0062248499

Jenna Miscavige Hill, niece of Church of Scientology leader David Miscavige, was raised as a Scientologist but left the controversial religion in 2005. In Beyond Belief, she shares her true story of life inside the upper ranks of the sect, details her experiences as a member Sea Org—the church's highest ministry, speaks of her "disconnection" from family outside of the organization, and tells the story of her ultimate escape. Piercing the veil of secrecy that has long shrouded the world of Scientology, this insider reveals unprecedented firsthand knowledge of the religion, its obscure rituals, and its mysterious leader—David Miscavige. From her prolonged separation from her parents as a small child to being indoctrinated to serve the greater good of the Church, from her lack of personal freedoms to the organization's emphasis on celebrity recruitment, Jenna goes behind the scenes of Scientology's oppressive and alienating culture, detailing an environment rooted in control in which the most devoted followers often face the harshest punishments when they fall out of line. Addressing some of the Church's most notorious practices in startling detail, she also describes a childhood of isolation and neglect—a childhood that, painful as it was, prepared her for a tough life in the Church's most devoted order, the Sea Org. Despite this hardship, it is only when her family approaches dissolution and her world begins to unravel that she is finally able to see the patterns of stifling conformity and psychological control that have ruled her life. Faced with a heartbreaking choice, she mounts a courageous escape, but not before being put through the ultimate test of family, faith, and love. At once captivating and disturbing, Beyond Belief is an eye-opening exploration of the limits of religion and the lengths to which one woman went to break free.

Escape from the Land of Snows

Escape from the Land of Snows
Author: Stephan Talty
Publisher: Crown
Total Pages: 322
Release: 2011-01-18
Genre: Biography & Autobiography
ISBN: 0307460967

The remarkable true story of the miraculous journey that made the Dalai Lama into the man he is today and sparked the fight for Tibetan freedom “A hair-raising tale of daring and escape.”—The Washington Post In the early weeks of 1959, a bloody uprising gripped the streets of the Tibetan capital of Lhasa as ragtag Tibetan rebels faced off against their Communist Chinese occupiers. Realizing that the impending battle would result in a bloodbath and his own capture, the young Dalai Lama began planning an audacious escape to India, a two-week journey that would involve numerous near-death encounters, a dangerous mountain crossing, and evading thousands of Chinese soldiers who were intent on hunting him down. The journey would transform this naïve young man into one of the world’s greatest statesmen . . . and create an enduring beacon of hope for a nation. Emotionally powerful and irresistibly page-turning, Escape from the Land of Snows is simultaneously a portrait of the inhabitants of a spiritual nation forced to take up arms in defense of their ideals, and the saga of a burgeoning leader who was ultimately transformed into the towering figure the world knows today—a charismatic champion of free thinking and universal compassion.

Harriet Tubman: Guiding the Enslaved to Freedom's Light

Harriet Tubman: Guiding the Enslaved to Freedom's Light
Author: Caleb Thompson
Publisher: Daniel O Brien
Total Pages: 64
Release:
Genre: Biography & Autobiography
ISBN:

Harriet Tubman: Guiding the Enslaved to Freedom's Light is a captivating and deeply moving biography that sheds light on the extraordinary life of one of the most influential figures in American history. This compelling narrative delves into Harriet Tubman's journey from a young enslaved girl in Maryland to a fearless conductor on the Underground Railroad, a courageous spy during the Civil War, and a tireless advocate for human rights. The book explores the harrowing realities of slavery, the intricate network of the Underground Railroad, and Harriet's unwavering dedication to liberating her people from the shackles of bondage. Through captivating storytelling and meticulous historical research, you'll witness Harriet's courage, resilience, and unwavering determination as she led over 300 enslaved people to freedom, navigated dangerous routes, and faced constant threats from slave catchers. This book offers a profound understanding of Harriet Tubman's life and legacy, inspiring readers with her unwavering commitment to justice and her tireless efforts to achieve a more equitable world. It's a must-read for anyone seeking to learn about this remarkable woman and her pivotal role in shaping the course of American history.

Stranger No More

Stranger No More
Author: Annahita Parsan
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Total Pages: 288
Release: 2017-11-14
Genre:
ISBN: 9781400207510

There will be pain ahead, and trouble and problems that I won't be able to fix on my own. But in them all, I know God will be there, calling me to look to him. Inviting me to take the next step toward his open arms. And I will say yes. And yes. And yes. Annahita Parsan was born into a Muslim family in Iran and grew up with the simple hope of one day finding a good husband, having children, and doing some good in the world. Married and a mother before she turned eighteen, Annahita found herself unexpectedly widowed and trapped for years in an abusive second marriage that she later fled-discovering instead a God who might love her. Stranger No More is the remarkable true story of Annahita's path from oppression to the life-changing hope of Jesus. Fleeing Iran across the mountains into Turkey, she spent months in the terrifying Agri prison before a miraculous release and flight to Europe, where she and her two children knelt in a church and prayed, "God, from this day on we are Christians." Filled with unthinkable circumstances, miraculous rescues, and the quietly constant voice of Jesus, Stranger No More leads readers deep into the heart of God and draws them toward the same call that Annahita heeds today: using her past to save others from theirs. As the leader of two congregations in Sweden, Annahita has baptized hundreds of former Muslims since her own conversion, has seen firsthand the powerful ways God is at work among those who have left Islam behind, and is reminded every day that saying yes to God is always worth the risk.

From the Inside Out

From the Inside Out
Author: Erik O. Ronningen
Publisher: Welcome Rain Publishers
Total Pages: 0
Release: 2013
Genre: Biography & Autobiography
ISBN: 9781566493840

8:46 AM "... there is something not right, out of order, about the view, Tad Hanc noticed from his 86th-floor windows looking north. Studying the magnificent Manhattan skyline, Tad began to take it in. And then it registered in all its horrifying aspects. Lowering his eyes slightly, Tad saw a large passenger airliner heading due south over Fifth Avenue just missing the top of the Empire State Building, flying very, very fast-heading straight toward Tower One-directly to his office-aimed right at him!" This is but one of fifteen heart-stopping stories the author has included in From The Inside Out Harrowing Escapes from the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center. From the oral accounts of people who began that morning living their normal, everyday lives, this book is a valuable collection of the human experience-documenting that intangible essence of bravery, selflessness, and generosity of spirit that exists, often dormant inside us all, rising to the forefront in times of crisis. Book jacket.

From the Inside Out

From the Inside Out
Author: Erik O. Ronningen
Publisher: Open Road Media
Total Pages: 184
Release: 2024-03-05
Genre: Biography & Autobiography
ISBN: 1504093437

Fifteen survivors of the September 11 attack on the World Trade Center share their dramatic stories of that fateful day. On September 11, 2001, tens of thousands in New York City awakened to a beautiful Tuesday morning. Just like any other day, they completed their morning routines and headed to work. For Erik Ronningen, that was his job with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey at the World Trade Center. Ronningen had a big, career-changing meeting scheduled for 9 A.M. At 8:46 A.M., Erik was on the seventy-first floor of the North Tower when American Airlines Flight 11 struck the building. As acrid smoke filled the building, he made his way downstairs, hoping to get to the Security Command Center in the basement of the South Tower. However, he was unable to reach it and was the last person to exit the South Tower alive . . . In From the Inside Out, Ronningen shares the story of his harrowing escape, along with stories from fourteen other survivors. These gripping accounts chronicle individuals displaying courage and heroism when their ordinary day quickly became a fiery scramble for survival.