Shortly after Alysa Cummings was diagnosed with breast cancer, she sat down at her laptop computer and began keeping a journal. Over the two years of her cancer treatment, Alysa continued writing as she moved through the healthcare delivery system:

"I fantasized that I could somehow use my computer to craft a story with an upbeat next chapter or fairy tale happily-ever-after ending. Looking back, that's the only explanation I can come up with, why I felt so compelled to create a record of my day-to-day experiences as a cancer patient. The one thing I could control were these words that crowded each other as they quickly appeared on my computer screen; these stories that flowed through my fingertips in such a manic rush; these traumatic adventures that happened to me in a place I began to call CancerLand.

CancerLand: it's this parallel universe, I swear, separate and apart from the rest of life as I once knew it. How did I end up in this wacky Bizarro World filled with freaky language and even stranger rituals? "

Gradually her daily journal entries became vignettes and poems that were published on the OncoLink website. Greetings from CancerLand, a collection of Alysa's writing from 2002-2012, charts one breast cancer survivor's journey as she discovers the power of writing to move her recovery forward.

"Something More" by Alexander Kalenak, M.D. is a remarkable personal history of a WW II childhood, a pioneering career in sports medicine, and a life seeking the true meanings of medical care and spiritual faith.

"On my way to the training room where players were suiting up for the game, I would stop to think about what kinds of emergencies I might have to deal with. I would think about neck injuries, head injuries, broken legs, dislocated hips and what would have to be done quickly. I knew that for the next six or seven hours, I would be in a world of semi-controlled chaos, and I wanted to be sure I was in a frame of mind to deal with any major crisis in front of a hundred thousand people. I would pray that there would be no serious injuries, but if there were, that I would be able to apply my knowledge and my skills to take care of the players. This was my mental preparation for the game."

"Throughout my life I have been certain that the central thing we have been put upon earth to do is to develop and nurture relationships. If you nurture relationships, many rewards will come to you. It's just that simple."

'Long, thin, and cool as hell' was how parasitologist Thomas Platt described the new genus and species of trematode (Baracktrema obamai) he named in honor of the 44th USA president and his 5th cousin, Barack Obama. The story of Baracktrema was picked up by over 200 news outlets worldwide, providing a fitting swansong to an illustrious career revisited in this part-personal and part-scientific memoir.Platt's road to success was not initially smooth. Faced with a brutal tenure rejection at the start of his career, he was told that 'You are not the type of person we want to invest in for the next 30 years.' After a brief stint in the business world, Platt bounced back in spectacular fashion by embarking on a successful 28-year career at Saint Mary's College in South Bend, Indiana. He traveled extensively in search of new species of parasitic worms, from neighboring Costa Rica to the far-flung reaches of Australia and Malaysia. His love of turtles and their parasites led to the discovery of 30 new species, 11 new genera, and international recognition. He provides perspectives on the places and people encountered along the way, details of interactions with wildlife, as well as interesting and accessible insights into parasite behavior in the external environment and with their hosts.SMALL SCIENCE is an inspiring story of an unexceptional high school student's path through college, graduate school, the academy, and a successful research career in 'small science' - the science of parasites, and the science of work accomplished in the margins, in the time carved out from a heavy teaching load, committee assignments, and mentoring dedicated undergraduate women in the joy of scientific discovery.

December 9, 2003, is a day Mary Ann Sheveland will never forget. With the sun just coming up and a fresh pot of coffee perking in the kitchen, she walked into the bedroom she shared with her husband that early December morning and found him dead. Death had come quickly and silently; he was gone.

In Mary Ann's memoir, "Journey of My Heart," she shares a story written with love, humility, and a great amount of faith. It is an account of emotional courage, determination, and the desire to have the best quality of life in our allotted time. She chronicles the challenges faced when caring for a terminally ill spouse and the love that she and her husband shared during the good and the bad times of their crisis.

"Journey of My Heart" also tells how Mary Ann overcame grief using the tools of music, journaling, travel, and the various social activities she depended upon to put her in a positive frame of mind. She hopes to help illuminate the steps along the slippery road of a progressively worsening medical condition. Gradually, with every day, she became stronger, more independent, and at peace with her new life. She emerged from grief a completely different person; she is a survivor.

The 1950s was a time of great prosperity for many Americans. Gerard and Christina van Amstel came to America with many dreams and hopes. They worked hard, educated themselves, assimilated into American culture and raised a family. Gerard and Christina always worked as a team, so they always shared the financial and domestic responsibilities of the family. It was this equal sharing and mutual respect that made them happy as a family and successful as a couple. Gerard and Christina bought several homes during their working life, raised three children, vacationed every summer and looked forward to a comfortable and much anticipated retirement.

Then life delivered a cruel blow: Christina developed Alzheimer's disease. The disease progressed slowly at first with memory loss and confusion, symptoms most people could shrug off as stress related. When Christina lost the ability to complete simple tasks like following a recipe she had used for 20 years, refused to drive the family car because she feared she could not find her way home and began drifting often into the past with little recall of daily events, it was clear the disease had become debilitating.

This is not a story of shattered dreams. It is the story of one couple's struggle with Alzheimer's and a healthcare system that provides marginal care for the elderly and their afflictions. It is also an account of Gerard's attempt to bring care and compassion to people affected by dementia and the millions of elderly trapped in the nursing home industry.

Bill Dye is one of the lucky ones. Like so many of his childhood pals, he dreamed of flying jets or being "a console guy" launching satellites. Unlike so many young boys who wished for a life of adventure amid the romance of space travel, however, Bill's dream became his reality. His boyhood passion for airplanes and rockets, fueled by his parents' encouragement, launched him into an exciting, fulfilling career in aerospace. In Dye's often humorous, entertaining memoir, you'll get the inside scoop on the US space program from an aerospace engineer with more than three decades of experience. You'll discover how a kid who used to win science fairs and fire off homemade rockets ends up directing the design and development of several spacecraft-including IKONOS, an Earth-observation satellite that changed the world. He is proof that even the loftiest dreams are attainable with the right opportunities, the right education, and the right attitude. "As a fellow aerospace engineer, once I started reading "Climbing into My Dream, " I couldn't put it down. Many of us from different backgrounds went on this exhausting but exhilarating journey. Bill Dye was the go-to guy who was fun to be with. His story brought back memories of 'learning the trade.'" -Tom Dougherty, program director (retired), Lockheed Martin

"A valuable book, fresh with insights."

-Pete Earley, author of Crazy: A Father's Search Through America's Mental Health Madness

Until she experienced her first manic episode at the age of seventeen, author Lizabeth D. Schuch had little knowledge of mental illness. From that point on, her life would never be the same.

In her memoir, "More Than Bipolar," she discusses her twenty-five years of experience with bipolar disorder, sharing the wisdom attained to break the hold of stigma, shame, and fear surrounding this illness.

Schuch reveals the full reality of what living with this illness looks like. She shares the truth, from its manic and depressive extremes to the life lessons of understanding and maturity necessary to live well in recovery. More Than Bipolar also provides information about the importance of getting a proper diagnosis, working with the medical providers, trusting your own instincts about your care, and having the insight to know when the warning signs are leading you in the wrong direction.

"More Than Bipolar" focuses on knowledge gained and strength restored on the path of a complete bipolar journey. It shows that living well with bipolar disorder is possible and may indeed be a part of the diagnostic picture.

A Cancer diagnosis is never something you want to hear, but many people have claimed that it's the best thing that ever happened to them. The best? Not as crazy as it sounds when they tell you how cancer brought out a powerful love in themselves and their loved ones that fundamentally changed their lives. That love often can be a key to healing. When Jack Dold's wife of forty-seven years was diagnosed with sarcoma, he vowed to make Mary the center of life for her year of treatment. He has recorded that year with all of its ups and downs-surgery, chemo, and radiation, but also delightful family holidays, the ordinary pleasures of loving grandchildren and the ongoing support from a whole army of friends. Jack watched Mary bloom from the love that surrounded her, even during the darkest days. You Don't Stop Living offers encouragement to families facing cancer by reminding them that illness is only one aspect of their lives. They will still empty the dishwasher, weed the garden, be blessed by the kiss of a grandchild and the love of their children, and strengthened by the hug of a friend. Lovingly told, this book is a reminder that cancer families will still have an abundance of life and warmth to share. Text: Jack Dold has been writing his journal for almost 20 years, a chronicle of his extensive world travels as the owner of Golden Gate Tours, and also of the events, large and small, in the lives of his family and friends. You Don't Stop Living filled his journal writings for the past year, as he describes the successful struggle of his wife, Mary fighting sarcoma cancer, and the therapeutic help she received from her family and friends. Jack recently published his first novel, Crosshairs, and is presently working on a major historical novel. (Picture to be provided)

Dr. Alfred Scherer's path to his true self and calling was not an easy one. His childhood was one of struggle, both personal and physical. Soon, the small, weak child learned to flex his intellectual muscles and curiosity. When a dedicated high school biology teacher took the bright young man under his wing, Alfred's potential took flight. He followed his destiny to become a healer.

When he heard a still, small voice in his head, he knew his life was about to change.

He followed that internal guidance and soon, with God's help and support, became a doctor. "God's Man: The Tales of a Reluctant Doctor" shares the story of Alfred's life, education, love, and career. During his four decades working in hospitals and small towns, he wrestled to forge productive relationships with other doctors and the medical-political system and all its minions. His was an adventure into saving lives, as well as a journey into understanding himself and his relationship with God. His memoir details how God directed his life and created a success out of imminent disaster.

Alfred's story is proof that out of the turmoil is born a man who comes to understand himself.

From the day that Dr. Barber went into the wards as a junior medical student until the day he retired more than forty years later, he was involved in medical care, serving his patients to the utmost of his ability.

As an ophthalmologist, he rarely dealt with life-threatening disorders, but he was able to save and restore vision. He also witnessed firsthand the impact of visual loss on people, many of whom could not have their vision saved.

His greatest joy was that of patient care. Meeting people and being able to help them overcome a disease was always very important. He loves to tell the stories of his favorite patients and how they influenced him. They include:

● A nun who could not wear black;
● A baby with a congenital orbital teratoma;
● A lady who always sat in the dark;
● And many more interesting characters

Discover or rediscover the joys of pursuing a career in medicine, or, if you are a patient, find others who are going through the same problems you might be suffering from in "The Joy of Medical Practice."

Part memoir and part medical history, "Real Life Stories" presents remembrances, personal anecdotes, and stories from the life and career of Paul Emerson. It also shares the harrowing and heartwarming story of a young Filipino boy's struggle for survival.

Paul Emerson was born in a small town in Pennsylvania. He grew up in a close-knit extended family in his grandfather's house. But his upbringing was much like those of other young boys who were born in the 1930s. He was seven years old when the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor, an event that is etched in his mind forever. He shares his memories of growing up and of various events in his adult life.

He also shares the memorable story of Rinor Marcial, a young boy from the Philippines who was badly burned with gasoline during the Christmas holiday one year. After being treated by local medical center, he returned to his bamboo bungalow home, where his sleeping position caused complications. Rinor was discovered by a missionary who was determined to get him admitted to a Shriner's Burns Institute in Galveston, Texas.

His heartwarming story is just one of the many "Real Life Stories" included in this memorable collection from Paul Emerson.