Looking For Normal - Harmon, Karen

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Résumé :
It's been said that we cannot choose our family members, but what do you do when the drama they bring becomes more than you want to deal with? You hop on the train that will take you to the land of promise, an alluring place across the mountains, called British Columbia. Looking for Normal is an account of two people, each struggling to leave the desperate and dysfunctional circumstances of life, to establish themselves in a completely different environment and location. It is a sometimes humorous, sometimes sobering, yet always intriguing true story of family drama, and love found in the midst of heartache, addiction, and mental illness. It takes us through the Depression Era of the 1930s, on through the War and Post-War years of the 1940s and '50s, to the Free Love of the 1960s and '70s. Against all odds, Vincent and Frances find each other in the land of promise, and begin the adventure of creating a new and better family experience, one filled with laughter, hope, and undying love. They find that family is not far behind, and through each new adventure of dysfunction, they create a lasting legacy of strength, hope, and love within their own children. This is a heartwarming true story that will encourage all of us to look on the lighter side and enjoy all that life brings, to treasure our family regardless of the struggles....

Biographie:
Karen Hamon is a wife, mother, fitness instructor and special-needs teaching assistant in the city of North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. However, her more recent accomplishments would include writer and author. Her first book, an awarding winning memoir called Looking for Normal, tells the true story of her parents who both grew up in dysfunctional homes during the depression era. It deals with mental health issues, addiction and raising a healthy happy family against all odds. With over sixty reviews on Amazon, Good Reads and Indigo, the common theme is that her book is heartwarming and heartbreaking. Her second memoir, Where Is My Happy Ending? A Journey of No Regrets dates back to the 1970s, 80s, and 90s and tells the true story of Karen's struggles after leaving home at the age of seventeen. From the disco scene to becoming a single mother her story is relatable and offers insight into the healing process. Karen's storytelling ability, sense of humour and matter-of-fact way of looking at life is enjoyable, refreshing and said by many to be life-changing. Her all-encompassing mantra has always been to inspire and find the silver lining. This is evident from how she instructs fitness, to the many school-age children she has helped over the years, and comes out in both of her books. Karen's hobbies are writing (which she sets time aside for every Sunday) and cycling. She has enjoyed biking with the same friends over the past thirty years as far away as Nova Scotia, Montana and closer to her home on the west coast. With a substantial number of followers on Instagram, Karen enjoys conversing about writing, fitness and living life to the fullest. Please check out Karen's social media sites and visit her website as she would thoroughly enjoy connecting with you.

Sommaire:
Karen Harmon is a Canadian author, public speaker, BCRPA fitness instructor, special education assistant, and mother and wife. Born and raised in North Vancouver, B.C., Karen's early home life was unique and eclectic. Her mother was bipolar, and her father was a fun-loving storyteller who grew up in extreme poverty during the Great Depression.Karen's non-fiction books and blogs are primarily autobiographical. Looking for Normal, Where Is My Happy Ending - A Journey of No Regrets, and Fat and Beautiful - A Story of Love, Pain and Courage are all true-story accounts of family dysfunction, mental health issues, addiction and diversity.Karen's two fiction books, Class of '78 and Class of '56, were written as tributes to the eras in which they take place.Karen's books have won many awards, including the Women's Health Award in 2019, the Five-Star Book Review Award in 2020, and the Amazon Best-Seller Award in February 2021. More recently, Class of '78 received an award for best cover design and was a finalist in the category for Best Chick Lit.Class of '56 is a prequel to Class of '78. Karen had so much fun writing about the 1978 graduates that she was inspired to tell their parents' stories in Class of '56. All four of Karen's books have been featured on the Midday Show with Tanya Cronin and CBC Radio with Shelley Joyce.For inspirational posts on family, fitness and writing, you can follow Karen on Instagram @karenharmonn Or check out her website : KarenHarmonAuthor.com....