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Every so often, a memoir comes along with the power to transcend the events in an individual's life and unite people in a collective movement of inspiration and understanding. The Nature of Shadows is such a memoir. At the risk of painting myself too starkly into the image of Little Black Sambo or Mowgli from The Jungle Book, I was both boys: simple, dark-skinned, born in a hut in the middle of nowhere Africa. A statistic by Western sensibilities, a blip of a headline on the evening news regarding territorial skirmishes over drinking water or an isn't-that-sad health crisis you hope someone will solve before it boards an international flight. All but forgettable. And yet, here we are. You, wondering how such a character from a storybook could flip the page. Me, still trying not to lose myself. So begins the immersive, triumphant story of one discarded boy's journey into manhood against incredible odds. From navigating the often-corrupt Liberian political and educational system to extracting himself from his oppressor's polygamist network at the tender age of twelve, Augustine Sheriff's harrowing passage into adulthood was far from typical. His deeply personal account dares to go beyond the universal trials of adolescence--falling in love for the first time, the complex relationship between fathers and sons, that one surreal adventure with friends that changes everything--to a place of unsurpassed courage on his quest for belonging. And when Liberia's bloody civil war forced young men to choose--kill or be killed--a series of strangers showed Augustine a powerful third choice: love. The Nature of Shadows uses the reverence and self-effacing humor for which Liberians are known to craft a rare and unforgettable coming-of-age story that bears witness to the best and worst of the human condition, no matter the continent.

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9781734023411

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Augustine's love for words began as a way of expressing his feeling and emotions during the tumultuous years he endured in his native land of Liberia, especially in his father's household. His journals often include poetry. At the funeral for a classmate who had died months after high school graduation, Augustine read his poem, The Broken Wing. The encouragement he received after that reading lit a fire inside him to continue with the written word. Until now, he has kept his writing private. After the completion of The Nature of Shadows, Augustine continues to find refuge in writing. He has plans to release his poetry, chronicle his ultimate journey back to his homeland to uncover more about his enigmatic mother, and further explore the intersection between adversity and faith. Visit him at www.augustinesheriff.com Bestselling author L.A. Mitchell published her first story, a time travel short called The Lost Highway, as part of a romance anthology in 2008. Since then, she has published over 25 works of fiction and non-fiction as a ghostwriter. Her works include memoir, business non-fiction, self-help, young adult, women's fiction and, most prevalently, romance. Her personal fiction encompasses her fascination with time theory, conspiracies, and the unreliable narrator inside us all. When not freelancing or binge-watching her way through Netflix, she loves to visit places with historical signifi‐ cance, appreciating vintage vibes and comparing then and now photographs. Though she grew up in Colorado, L.A. makes her home in north Texas with her husband, two children, and two felines who stare at her while she's writing and judge her as if they were Hemming‐ way's cats (minus a few toes). Visit her at www.la-mitchell.com

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