Author Joan Engelhardt Nielsen has crafted an immensely emotional tale of love and sisterhood

PRESTON, Iowa- A common issue in the world today is the huge population of orphaned children. From countries like Cambodia to the USA millions of orphaned children suffer and die due to starvation and exploitation. These children are left to fend for themselves in a cold uncaring world without guidance or support of any kind. In "Without Mama'" author Joan Engelhardt Nielsen has written a touching story of four sisters who were orphaned at a very young age and survived despite the harsh realities of life.

"Without Mama" is a true story of survival. It depicts how Helen and her sisters are abandoned by their alcoholic father after their mother's death. Without guidance of either parent, during their childhood they are physically alone, hungry, and needing affection. Geraldyne, 12, is in a wheelchair. Thelma, 9, wants the sisters to always be together. Helen is a mystified five year old who does not understand death, nor what Christmas is all about. Ethel, the baby, is 8 weeks old. This sad yet inspiring story shows the sheer courage it took for these four young girls to live life without parents and the immense effort it took to keep a family together.

This book is based on the true to life story of Helen who was interviewed by the author in her capacity as a nurse. The story is all true and is an accurate depiction of Helen Hunter and her sisters struggle to go on in life. "Without Mama" is a true testament to the strength of the human spirit

For more information on this book, interested parties may log on to www.Xlibris.com

About the Author

Joan Engelhardt Nielsen is a free lance writer and has loved writing since she was a small child. She has done feature articles for newspapers, short stories for a variety of publications, and has written several poems. Working as a nurse she, cared for Helen, who shared her life story with Joan. As she cared for Helen, Joan learned how vibrant and determined Helen was. Some of the obstacles Helen endured were similar to Joan's experiences. Joan has been a type 1 diabetic for 58 years. Like Helen, she had severe problems with her legs and feet.

Without Mama* by Joan Engelhardt Nielsen

Publication Date: October 14, 2011

Trade Paperback; $19.99; 140 pages; 978-1-4653-5281-1

2Leaf Press is pleased to announce the release of British poet A.Robert Lee's fourth poetry collection, IMAGINARIUM: SIGHTINGS, GALLERIES, SIGHTLINES.

New York, NY -- (SBWIRE) -- 11/05/2013 -- IMAGINARIUM: SIGHTINGS, GALLERIES, SIGHTLINES is A. Robert Lee's latest collection of poetry published by 2Leaf Press.

IMAGINARIUM explores the "Sightings," Galleries" and "Sightlines" of one's imagination. The term "imaginarium" refers to a "place" devoted to stimulating and cultivating the imagination, towards scientific, artistic, commercial, recreational, or a spiritual end. In this collection, Lee explores two connecting keynotes: imagination and sight that explores the way we go about imagining as much as seeing reality.

Lee goes about this using an ekphrastic approach by commemorating a dozen or so celebrated visual artists and their works, among them J.M.W. Turner and Frida Kahlo. He extends the usual meaning of the term to include vantage-points like a French archeological cave, and then expertly frames a run of personal encounters within the heights and widths of buildings and landscapes.

Early reviews for IMAGINARIUM are promising. Anne Waldman, the author of more than 40 collections of poetry and poetics, says: "A voyage with the ever present panoramic A. Robert Lee-- poet, cultural historian, critical writer. This collection is a cartography, a call and response, a resonance and a celebration of "meticulous horizontals", "Einsteinian screams" and other luscious optics and beloved poetries. I appreciate the close reading, scholarship, and delight of these imaginariums."

A. Robert Lee is a retired English Professor who has taught in Japan, the U.K. and the U.S. Internationally-known for both his academic works in multicultural literature. IMAGINARIUM is his fourth book of poetry. British-born, he currently lives in Murcia, Spain.

One part biographical and one part historical re-imagining, IMAGINARIUM: SIGHTINGS, GALLERIES, SIGHTLINES is a delightful yet informative collection that invites readers into a two-way exchange, imagination as seeing, seeing as imagination.

IMAGINARIUM: SIGHTINGS, GALLERIES, SIGHTLINES is available in paperback on Amazon.com for $16.99 and other online outlets. An eBook edition will be available in January 2014.

About 2LEAF PRESS
2LEAF PRESS publishes grassroots writers who are injecting new blood into the contemporary literary scene. We have a growing reputation for producing quality work in a wide variety of genres by ethnically and racially diverse authors. 2LEAF PRESS is an imprint of the Intercultural Alliance of Artists & Scholars, Inc. (IAAS), a New York-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that promotes multicultural literature and literacy.

A cross country bicycle trip mired, bolstered by life reflections

INVER GROVE HEIGHTS, Minn. - The autobiography of Thomas A. Reis, "Headwinds: The Dead Reckoning of the Heart" (published by AuthorHouse) is a story of perseverance and overcoming, a journey into meaning and hope.

In 1981, at 22 years old, Reis embarked on a solo, 58-day bicycle trip from Florence, Ore. to Chesapeake Bay, Va covering almost 4,000 miles. The journey within proved much greater than his trip on the bike - it became a journey of the heart and soul. Events along the way triggered flashbacks from earlier times in Reis' life, starting with his birth, when the doctor encouraged his parents to pull the plug, to overcoming his disabilities, to surviving the heart-wrenching loss of his twin boys in a unique way.

Other events occur on the trip that are flash forwards into Tom's current life as a professor and therapist as he leads students into discovering the meaning of life, love and relationships.

"People want to know about how to make relationships work, understand love better as so many are so confused by love and want to know the meaning of life," Reis writes. "This book has all of that as well and more."

The story encompasses his experiences as Reis pedals through unexpected snow storms, climbs over 11,000 foot passes, and crosses the Continental Divide. Along the way he has a near death experience as he struggles to complete his trip, hampered and emboldened by his life reflections.

This is a story of redemption and transformation. In it are lessons of inspiration, sorrow, courage, tragedy, hope and joy. It's a book that has it all: Adventure, Pain, Meaning and Love. "You can't help but become a better person by the time you get to the end of the book," Reis reflects.

"Headwinds: The Dead Reckoning of the Heart"

By Thomas A. Reis

Hardcover | 6 x 9 in | 212 pages | ISBN 9781491819531

Softcover | 6 x 9 in | 212 pages | ISBN 9781491819524

E-Book | 212 pages | ISBN 9781491819548

Available at Amazon and Barnes & Noble

About the Author

Thomas Reis was born in Chicago, Ill. He has graduate degrees in social work and marriage and family therapy. He also worked as a licensed therapist for 12 years. He currently resides in Inver Grove Heights, Minn. He has taught over 5,000 students as a professor in the past 22 years. In 1981, Reis rode his bicycle across the United States, almost 4,000 miles.