Author: David Sharp
Publisher: Wood Lake Publishing Inc.
ISBN: 1773432842
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 133
Book Description
Annie Ruth’s Truths is a collection of the “wisdom, warnings, and wake-up calls” of Annie Ruth Sharp, collected and written by her son, David Preston Sharp. Annie Ruth, having been raised by parents who sharecropped and lived on the same land in Mississippi where earlier relatives were slaves, took in the culture and communication style she heard around her – a style that was humorous and instructive, pointed and playful, serious and serendipitous. She then married it to her own precocious personality. Rarely do we see in print the wisdom and wit of Christian African-American female elders. These expressions are a creative response to the soul challenges of rural country life lived in the American Deep South. Annie Ruth, now in her mid 80s, still amuses and guides anyone within earshot with her quick-witted takes on daily living. But her words are not meant just for entertainment. They are meant to inspire, and to wake people up to themselves so that they can be better people. No one is above her guidance. As the wife of a Presbyterian pastor in Atlanta, Georgia, Annie Ruth found herself in settings ranging from high-powered politics and the wealthy to the marginalized and homeless. She speaks her truth to her family and friends, to those lacking ambition and to those with perhaps too much. Even today, no matter where she goes, Annie Ruth’s “truths” are always at the ready – even if the targets of her zingers are not.
Annie's Truth
Author: Beth Shriver
Publisher: Charisma Media
ISBN: 1616388641
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 248
Book Description
DIV After learning the truth about who she really is, can this prodigal daughter be accepted back into the safety and security of home?/div
Publisher: Charisma Media
ISBN: 1616388641
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 248
Book Description
DIV After learning the truth about who she really is, can this prodigal daughter be accepted back into the safety and security of home?/div
The Truth According to Us
Author: Annie Barrows
Publisher: Dial Press
ISBN: 0812997840
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 530
Book Description
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • From the co-author of The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society comes a wise, witty, and exuberant novel, perfect for fans of Lee Smith, that illuminates the power of loyalty and forgiveness, memory and truth, and the courage it takes to do what’s right. Annie Barrows once again evokes the charm and eccentricity of a small town filled with extraordinary characters. Her new novel, The Truth According to Us, brings to life an inquisitive young girl, her beloved aunt, and the alluring visitor who changes the course of their destiny forever. In the summer of 1938, Layla Beck’s father, a United States senator, cuts off her allowance and demands that she find employment on the Federal Writers’ Project, a New Deal jobs program. Within days, Layla finds herself far from her accustomed social whirl, assigned to cover the history of the remote mill town of Macedonia, West Virginia, and destined, in her opinion, to go completely mad with boredom. But once she secures a room in the home of the unconventional Romeyn family, she is drawn into their complex world and soon discovers that the truth of the town is entangled in the thorny past of the Romeyn dynasty. At the Romeyn house, twelve-year-old Willa is desperate to learn everything in her quest to acquire her favorite virtues of ferocity and devotion—a search that leads her into a thicket of mysteries, including the questionable business that occupies her charismatic father and the reason her adored aunt Jottie remains unmarried. Layla’s arrival strikes a match to the family veneer, bringing to light buried secrets that will tell a new tale about the Romeyns. As Willa peels back the layers of her family’s past, and Layla delves deeper into town legend, everyone involved is transformed—and their personal histories completely rewritten. Praise for The Truth According to Us “As delightfully eccentric as Guernsey yet refreshingly different . . . an epic but intimate family novel with richly imagined characters . . . Willa’s indomitable spirit, keen sense of adventure and innate intelligence reminded me of two other motherless girls in literature: Scout Finch in Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird and Flavia de Luce in Alan Bradley’s big-hearted British mystery series.”—The Washington Post “The Truth According to Us has all the characteristics of a great summer read: A plot that makes you want to keep turning the pages; a setting that makes you feel like you’re inhabiting another time and place; and characters who become people you’re sad to leave behind—and thus who always stay with you.”—Miami Herald “It takes a brave author to make the heroine of a new novel an observant and feisty girl . . . like Scout Finch in To Kill a Mockingbird. . . . But Barrows . . . has created a believable and touching character in Willa.”—USA Today “[A] heartwarming coming-of-age novel [that] sparkles with folksy depictions of a tight-knit family and life in a small town . . . full of richly drawn, memorable characters.”—The Seattle Times “A big, juicy family saga with warm humor and tragic twists . . . The story gets more and more absorbing as it moves briskly along.”—St. Louis Post-Dispatch “Annie Barrows leaves no doubt that she is a storyteller of rare caliber, with wisdom and insight to spare. Every page rings like a bell.”—Paula McLain, author of The Paris Wife
Publisher: Dial Press
ISBN: 0812997840
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 530
Book Description
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • From the co-author of The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society comes a wise, witty, and exuberant novel, perfect for fans of Lee Smith, that illuminates the power of loyalty and forgiveness, memory and truth, and the courage it takes to do what’s right. Annie Barrows once again evokes the charm and eccentricity of a small town filled with extraordinary characters. Her new novel, The Truth According to Us, brings to life an inquisitive young girl, her beloved aunt, and the alluring visitor who changes the course of their destiny forever. In the summer of 1938, Layla Beck’s father, a United States senator, cuts off her allowance and demands that she find employment on the Federal Writers’ Project, a New Deal jobs program. Within days, Layla finds herself far from her accustomed social whirl, assigned to cover the history of the remote mill town of Macedonia, West Virginia, and destined, in her opinion, to go completely mad with boredom. But once she secures a room in the home of the unconventional Romeyn family, she is drawn into their complex world and soon discovers that the truth of the town is entangled in the thorny past of the Romeyn dynasty. At the Romeyn house, twelve-year-old Willa is desperate to learn everything in her quest to acquire her favorite virtues of ferocity and devotion—a search that leads her into a thicket of mysteries, including the questionable business that occupies her charismatic father and the reason her adored aunt Jottie remains unmarried. Layla’s arrival strikes a match to the family veneer, bringing to light buried secrets that will tell a new tale about the Romeyns. As Willa peels back the layers of her family’s past, and Layla delves deeper into town legend, everyone involved is transformed—and their personal histories completely rewritten. Praise for The Truth According to Us “As delightfully eccentric as Guernsey yet refreshingly different . . . an epic but intimate family novel with richly imagined characters . . . Willa’s indomitable spirit, keen sense of adventure and innate intelligence reminded me of two other motherless girls in literature: Scout Finch in Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird and Flavia de Luce in Alan Bradley’s big-hearted British mystery series.”—The Washington Post “The Truth According to Us has all the characteristics of a great summer read: A plot that makes you want to keep turning the pages; a setting that makes you feel like you’re inhabiting another time and place; and characters who become people you’re sad to leave behind—and thus who always stay with you.”—Miami Herald “It takes a brave author to make the heroine of a new novel an observant and feisty girl . . . like Scout Finch in To Kill a Mockingbird. . . . But Barrows . . . has created a believable and touching character in Willa.”—USA Today “[A] heartwarming coming-of-age novel [that] sparkles with folksy depictions of a tight-knit family and life in a small town . . . full of richly drawn, memorable characters.”—The Seattle Times “A big, juicy family saga with warm humor and tragic twists . . . The story gets more and more absorbing as it moves briskly along.”—St. Louis Post-Dispatch “Annie Barrows leaves no doubt that she is a storyteller of rare caliber, with wisdom and insight to spare. Every page rings like a bell.”—Paula McLain, author of The Paris Wife
This Naked Mind
Author: Annie Grace
Publisher: Penguin
ISBN: 0525537236
Category : Self-Help
Languages : en
Pages : 274
Book Description
A groundbreaking and inspiring book that challenges our relationship with alcohol by exploring the psychological factors behind alcohol use and the cultural influences that contribute to dependency. Many people question whether drinking has become too big a part of their lives, and worry that it may even be affecting their health. But, they resist change because they fear losing the pleasure and stress-relief associated with alcohol, and assume giving it up will involve deprivation and misery. This Naked Mind offers a new, positive solution. Here, Annie Grace clearly presents the psychological and neurological components of alcohol use based on the latest science, and reveals the cultural, social, and industry factors that support alcohol dependence in all of us. Packed with surprising insight into the reasons we drink and Annie’s own extraordinary and candid personal story, This Naked Mind will open your eyes to the startling role of alcohol in our culture, and how the stigma of alcoholism and recovery keeps people from getting the help they need. This Naked Mind will give you freedom from alcohol. It removes the psychological dependence so that you will not crave alcohol, allowing you to easily drink less (or stop drinking). With clarity, humor, and a unique blend of science and storytelling, This Naked Mind will open the door to the life you have been waiting for. “You have given me my live back.” —Katy F., Albuquerque, New Mexico “This is an inspiring and groundbreaking must-read. I am forever inspired and changed.” —Kate S., Los Angeles, California “The most selfless and amazing book that I have ever read.” —Bernie M., Dublin, Ireland
Publisher: Penguin
ISBN: 0525537236
Category : Self-Help
Languages : en
Pages : 274
Book Description
A groundbreaking and inspiring book that challenges our relationship with alcohol by exploring the psychological factors behind alcohol use and the cultural influences that contribute to dependency. Many people question whether drinking has become too big a part of their lives, and worry that it may even be affecting their health. But, they resist change because they fear losing the pleasure and stress-relief associated with alcohol, and assume giving it up will involve deprivation and misery. This Naked Mind offers a new, positive solution. Here, Annie Grace clearly presents the psychological and neurological components of alcohol use based on the latest science, and reveals the cultural, social, and industry factors that support alcohol dependence in all of us. Packed with surprising insight into the reasons we drink and Annie’s own extraordinary and candid personal story, This Naked Mind will open your eyes to the startling role of alcohol in our culture, and how the stigma of alcoholism and recovery keeps people from getting the help they need. This Naked Mind will give you freedom from alcohol. It removes the psychological dependence so that you will not crave alcohol, allowing you to easily drink less (or stop drinking). With clarity, humor, and a unique blend of science and storytelling, This Naked Mind will open the door to the life you have been waiting for. “You have given me my live back.” —Katy F., Albuquerque, New Mexico “This is an inspiring and groundbreaking must-read. I am forever inspired and changed.” —Kate S., Los Angeles, California “The most selfless and amazing book that I have ever read.” —Bernie M., Dublin, Ireland
Let's All Be Brave
Author: Annie F. Downs
Publisher: HarperChristian + ORM
ISBN: 0310337933
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 145
Book Description
How often does fear hold you back from living your life to the fullest? Join New York Times bestselling author, podcast host, and speaker Annie F. Downs as she shares a call to embrace the God-given courage living inside you. Annie is the first to admit that she's not exactly the bravest woman in the world. Even now, she still cries sometimes when she leaves her parents' home in Georgia, she's never jumped out of a plane, and she only rides roller coasters to impress guys. But Annie knows that courage resides inside each one of us, and she's on a mission to conquer her own fears while encouraging you to do the same. Let's All Be Brave is more than a book; it's a battle cry. Annie uses honest and often humorous illustrations from her own life, contemporary real-life examples from the lives of others, and fascinating biblical stories to challenge you to: Discover God's surprising answers to overcoming fear, uncertainty, and anxiety Let go of the things that hold you back--relationships, comfort zones, expectations, and more Say yes to both small and big things Live boldly and sacrificially for God and others Hold on to hope, trust God, and be brave no matter your circumstances This book is your call to step into those places that require courage, giving you the help you need to take the next step forward—even when it's scary. Praise for Let's All Be Brave: "There are certain types of people who are capable of nudging us toward courage without making us feel small or insignificant, and Annie is at the front of the line. She has done that with Let's All Be Brave, and before you even mean to, you are putting your YES on the table." --Jen Hatmaker, New York Times bestselling author of For the Love and Fierce, Free, and Full of Fire
Publisher: HarperChristian + ORM
ISBN: 0310337933
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 145
Book Description
How often does fear hold you back from living your life to the fullest? Join New York Times bestselling author, podcast host, and speaker Annie F. Downs as she shares a call to embrace the God-given courage living inside you. Annie is the first to admit that she's not exactly the bravest woman in the world. Even now, she still cries sometimes when she leaves her parents' home in Georgia, she's never jumped out of a plane, and she only rides roller coasters to impress guys. But Annie knows that courage resides inside each one of us, and she's on a mission to conquer her own fears while encouraging you to do the same. Let's All Be Brave is more than a book; it's a battle cry. Annie uses honest and often humorous illustrations from her own life, contemporary real-life examples from the lives of others, and fascinating biblical stories to challenge you to: Discover God's surprising answers to overcoming fear, uncertainty, and anxiety Let go of the things that hold you back--relationships, comfort zones, expectations, and more Say yes to both small and big things Live boldly and sacrificially for God and others Hold on to hope, trust God, and be brave no matter your circumstances This book is your call to step into those places that require courage, giving you the help you need to take the next step forward—even when it's scary. Praise for Let's All Be Brave: "There are certain types of people who are capable of nudging us toward courage without making us feel small or insignificant, and Annie is at the front of the line. She has done that with Let's All Be Brave, and before you even mean to, you are putting your YES on the table." --Jen Hatmaker, New York Times bestselling author of For the Love and Fierce, Free, and Full of Fire
Single Truth
Author: Annie Harton
Publisher:
ISBN: 9780578557076
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 88
Book Description
Single Truth provides a refreshing perspective on singleness from the heart of a single marriage counselor. Two years following an excruciating breakup with her first love, she committed to a year-long dating fast on her 30th birthday to dive deeper into her personal relationship with God, confront her deepest fears, and learn to embrace her season of singleness. She wrote this book during her fast to encourage peers and clients that you are more than your relationship status.
Publisher:
ISBN: 9780578557076
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 88
Book Description
Single Truth provides a refreshing perspective on singleness from the heart of a single marriage counselor. Two years following an excruciating breakup with her first love, she committed to a year-long dating fast on her 30th birthday to dive deeper into her personal relationship with God, confront her deepest fears, and learn to embrace her season of singleness. She wrote this book during her fast to encourage peers and clients that you are more than your relationship status.
Annie, Between the States
Author: L. M. Elliott
Publisher: Harper Collins
ISBN: 0061890952
Category : Young Adult Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 401
Book Description
Annie's home and heart are divided by the Civil War. Annie Sinclair's Virginia home is in the battle path of the Civil War. Her brothers, Laurence and Jamie, fight to defend the South, while Annie and her mother tend to wounded soldiers. When she develops a romantic connection with a Union Army lieutenant, Annie's view of the war broadens. Then an accusation calls her loyalty into question. A nation and a heart divided force Annie to choose her own course.
Publisher: Harper Collins
ISBN: 0061890952
Category : Young Adult Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 401
Book Description
Annie's home and heart are divided by the Civil War. Annie Sinclair's Virginia home is in the battle path of the Civil War. Her brothers, Laurence and Jamie, fight to defend the South, while Annie and her mother tend to wounded soldiers. When she develops a romantic connection with a Union Army lieutenant, Annie's view of the war broadens. Then an accusation calls her loyalty into question. A nation and a heart divided force Annie to choose her own course.
The Brilliant Life of Eudora Honeysett
Author: Annie Lyons
Publisher: HarperCollins
ISBN: 0063026082
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 352
Book Description
USA TODAY BESTSELLER! "One adorably British odd couple . . . Charming." — People “An exquisitely poignant tale of life, friendship and facing death . . . heart-breaking yet ultimately uplifting . . Everyone should read this book.” — Ruth Hogan, author of Queenie Malone’s Paradise Hotel Infused with the emotional power of Me Before You and the irresistible charm of Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine and Be Frank with Me, a moving and joyous novel about an elderly woman ready to embrace death and the little girl who reminds her what it means to live. It's never too late to start living. Eudora Honeysett is done with this noisy, moronic world—all of it. She has witnessed the indignities and suffering of old age and has lived a full life. At eighty-five, she isn’t going to leave things to chance. Her end will be on her terms. With one call to a clinic in Switzerland, a plan is set in motion. Then she meets ten-year-old Rose Trewidney, a whirling, pint-sized rainbow of sparkling cheer. All Eudora wants is to be left alone to set her affairs in order. Instead, she finds herself embarking on a series of adventures with the irrepressible Rose and their affable neighbor, the recently widowed Stanley—afternoon tea, shopping sprees, trips to the beach, birthday celebrations, pizza parties. While the trio of unlikely BFFs grow closer and anxiously await the arrival of Rose’s new baby sister, Eudora is reminded of her own childhood—of losing her father during World War II and the devastating impact it had on her entire family. In reflecting on her past, Eudora realizes she must come to terms with what lies ahead. But now that her joy for life has been rekindled, how can she possibly say goodbye?
Publisher: HarperCollins
ISBN: 0063026082
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 352
Book Description
USA TODAY BESTSELLER! "One adorably British odd couple . . . Charming." — People “An exquisitely poignant tale of life, friendship and facing death . . . heart-breaking yet ultimately uplifting . . Everyone should read this book.” — Ruth Hogan, author of Queenie Malone’s Paradise Hotel Infused with the emotional power of Me Before You and the irresistible charm of Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine and Be Frank with Me, a moving and joyous novel about an elderly woman ready to embrace death and the little girl who reminds her what it means to live. It's never too late to start living. Eudora Honeysett is done with this noisy, moronic world—all of it. She has witnessed the indignities and suffering of old age and has lived a full life. At eighty-five, she isn’t going to leave things to chance. Her end will be on her terms. With one call to a clinic in Switzerland, a plan is set in motion. Then she meets ten-year-old Rose Trewidney, a whirling, pint-sized rainbow of sparkling cheer. All Eudora wants is to be left alone to set her affairs in order. Instead, she finds herself embarking on a series of adventures with the irrepressible Rose and their affable neighbor, the recently widowed Stanley—afternoon tea, shopping sprees, trips to the beach, birthday celebrations, pizza parties. While the trio of unlikely BFFs grow closer and anxiously await the arrival of Rose’s new baby sister, Eudora is reminded of her own childhood—of losing her father during World War II and the devastating impact it had on her entire family. In reflecting on her past, Eudora realizes she must come to terms with what lies ahead. But now that her joy for life has been rekindled, how can she possibly say goodbye?
Annie's Girl
Author: Maureen Coppinger
Publisher:
ISBN: 9781780576046
Category : Adult child abuse victims
Languages : en
Pages : 0
Book Description
Maureen Coppinger's earliest memory is of watching the woman she believed to be her mother walk away and abandon her to the care of the nuns at one of Ireland's notorious industrial schools. She was just three years old. She remained in the orphanage until the age of 16, subjected to cruelty and neglect, and starved of love and affection. One of her closest friends was taken away to an asylum after her spirit was broken by repeated beatings, and Maureen herself faced a constant battle against despair. It was an environment from which no one emerged unscathed. Throughout these tormented years, Maureen dreamed only of escape, and when she was contacted again by her mammy she believed all her dreams were about to come true. Life in the outside world brought its own challenges, however, and Maureen was thrown into turmoil when she discovered that the truth about her past was more murky than she had ever realized. Annie's Girl stands apart as a poignant testimony to the resilience of the human heart. This touching and evocative memoir is the incredible story of an illegitimate industrial-school survivor's profound struggle to overcome a shame-filled past and solve the mystery of her origins.
Publisher:
ISBN: 9781780576046
Category : Adult child abuse victims
Languages : en
Pages : 0
Book Description
Maureen Coppinger's earliest memory is of watching the woman she believed to be her mother walk away and abandon her to the care of the nuns at one of Ireland's notorious industrial schools. She was just three years old. She remained in the orphanage until the age of 16, subjected to cruelty and neglect, and starved of love and affection. One of her closest friends was taken away to an asylum after her spirit was broken by repeated beatings, and Maureen herself faced a constant battle against despair. It was an environment from which no one emerged unscathed. Throughout these tormented years, Maureen dreamed only of escape, and when she was contacted again by her mammy she believed all her dreams were about to come true. Life in the outside world brought its own challenges, however, and Maureen was thrown into turmoil when she discovered that the truth about her past was more murky than she had ever realized. Annie's Girl stands apart as a poignant testimony to the resilience of the human heart. This touching and evocative memoir is the incredible story of an illegitimate industrial-school survivor's profound struggle to overcome a shame-filled past and solve the mystery of her origins.
Nothing
Author: Annie Barrows
Publisher: HarperCollins
ISBN: 0062668250
Category : Young Adult Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 121
Book Description
“Remarkable.”—New York Times Book Review From Annie Barrows, the acclaimed #1 New York Times–bestselling coauthor of The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society and the author of the award-winning and bestselling Ivy + Bean books, this teen debut tells the story of Charlotte and Frankie, two high school students and best friends who don’t have magical powers, fight aliens, crash their cars, get pierced, or discover they are royal. They just go to school. And live at home. With their parents. A great read for fans of Becky Albertalli, Louise Rennison, and Adi Alsaid. Nothing ever happens to Charlotte and Frankie. Their lives are nothing like the lives of the girls they read about in their YA novels. They don’t have flowing red hair, and hot romantic encounters never happen—let alone meeting a true soul mate. They just go to high school and live at home with their parents, who are pretty normal, all things considered. But when Charlotte decides to write down everything that happens during their sophomore year—to prove that nothing happens and there is no plot or character development in real life—she’s surprised to find that being fifteen isn’t as boring as she thought. It’s weird, heartbreaking, silly, and complicated. And maybe, just perfect.
Publisher: HarperCollins
ISBN: 0062668250
Category : Young Adult Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 121
Book Description
“Remarkable.”—New York Times Book Review From Annie Barrows, the acclaimed #1 New York Times–bestselling coauthor of The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society and the author of the award-winning and bestselling Ivy + Bean books, this teen debut tells the story of Charlotte and Frankie, two high school students and best friends who don’t have magical powers, fight aliens, crash their cars, get pierced, or discover they are royal. They just go to school. And live at home. With their parents. A great read for fans of Becky Albertalli, Louise Rennison, and Adi Alsaid. Nothing ever happens to Charlotte and Frankie. Their lives are nothing like the lives of the girls they read about in their YA novels. They don’t have flowing red hair, and hot romantic encounters never happen—let alone meeting a true soul mate. They just go to high school and live at home with their parents, who are pretty normal, all things considered. But when Charlotte decides to write down everything that happens during their sophomore year—to prove that nothing happens and there is no plot or character development in real life—she’s surprised to find that being fifteen isn’t as boring as she thought. It’s weird, heartbreaking, silly, and complicated. And maybe, just perfect.
Annie Ruth's Truths
Author: David Sharp
Publisher: Wood Lake Publishing Inc.
ISBN: 1773432842
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 133
Book Description
Annie Ruth’s Truths is a collection of the “wisdom, warnings, and wake-up calls” of Annie Ruth Sharp, collected and written by her son, David Preston Sharp. Annie Ruth, having been raised by parents who sharecropped and lived on the same land in Mississippi where earlier relatives were slaves, took in the culture and communication style she heard around her – a style that was humorous and instructive, pointed and playful, serious and serendipitous. She then married it to her own precocious personality. Rarely do we see in print the wisdom and wit of Christian African-American female elders. These expressions are a creative response to the soul challenges of rural country life lived in the American Deep South. Annie Ruth, now in her mid 80s, still amuses and guides anyone within earshot with her quick-witted takes on daily living. But her words are not meant just for entertainment. They are meant to inspire, and to wake people up to themselves so that they can be better people. No one is above her guidance. As the wife of a Presbyterian pastor in Atlanta, Georgia, Annie Ruth found herself in settings ranging from high-powered politics and the wealthy to the marginalized and homeless. She speaks her truth to her family and friends, to those lacking ambition and to those with perhaps too much. Even today, no matter where she goes, Annie Ruth’s “truths” are always at the ready – even if the targets of her zingers are not.
Publisher: Wood Lake Publishing Inc.
ISBN: 1773432842
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 133
Book Description
Annie Ruth’s Truths is a collection of the “wisdom, warnings, and wake-up calls” of Annie Ruth Sharp, collected and written by her son, David Preston Sharp. Annie Ruth, having been raised by parents who sharecropped and lived on the same land in Mississippi where earlier relatives were slaves, took in the culture and communication style she heard around her – a style that was humorous and instructive, pointed and playful, serious and serendipitous. She then married it to her own precocious personality. Rarely do we see in print the wisdom and wit of Christian African-American female elders. These expressions are a creative response to the soul challenges of rural country life lived in the American Deep South. Annie Ruth, now in her mid 80s, still amuses and guides anyone within earshot with her quick-witted takes on daily living. But her words are not meant just for entertainment. They are meant to inspire, and to wake people up to themselves so that they can be better people. No one is above her guidance. As the wife of a Presbyterian pastor in Atlanta, Georgia, Annie Ruth found herself in settings ranging from high-powered politics and the wealthy to the marginalized and homeless. She speaks her truth to her family and friends, to those lacking ambition and to those with perhaps too much. Even today, no matter where she goes, Annie Ruth’s “truths” are always at the ready – even if the targets of her zingers are not.