Daughter of Two Worlds: The Face of My Father, my first novel is available as a paperback from Holly Leaf Publishing, and in both paperback and ebook formats from Amazon.
Tightening her fist around a crumpling envelope marked, “Return to Sender,” strong-willed Jo vows to never give up her search for the one person who could forever change her life. Born out of wedlock on the Winding Creek Indian Reservation, Jo is tired of living in fear of her abusive alcoholic stepfather. Secretly, Jo seeks the help of her Grandpa Charlie, who shuffles into his bedroom, returning with an old cigar box, confident clues to their quest lie inside. Before long, Jo finds herself navigating a new life in a wealthy northern New Jersey suburb, where her two worlds clash but also intertwine. Enduring cultural and racial conflicts, Jo becomes torn between her two worlds, struggling to find their common ground, and her own identity within.
Never Give Up: A Journey from Bully to Brave,
Never Give Up: A Journey from Bully to Brave is the memoir of renowned judo sensei, Nagayasu Ogasawara, as told to Nancy Triggiani. From his notes, drawings, and verbal stories, Sensei Ogasawara imparted his life story to Nancy Triggiani, who then crafted Never Give Up: A Journey from Bully to Brave, recounting his fascinating life. Reading almost like a novel, Never Give Up brings every moment of Sensei Ogasawara’s life back to life, fully engrossing the reader along the way.
“Racing through the crowded streets of Osaka, Japan, with his tiny feet pounding the earth as fast as his heart was beating, four-year-old Nagayasu glanced back one last time at the two-story house and general store his family was leaving behind. Tired and sweating, the Ogasawara family boarded a train, bound for a rural mountainous region where the feared B-29 enemy aircraft never flew. With his young life now torn apart by the ravages of World War II, Nagayasu turned into a bully, the terror of the mountainside, until discovering his salvation in the disciplined sport of judo. This fascinating memoir takes you on the remarkable journey of a young tyrant in Japan, to an American immigrant who becomes an inspirational role model, teacher, and coach of thousands of children and adults, including Olympians and a National Hero.”
Never Give Up: A Journey from Bully to Brave is available from Holly Leaf Publishing.
GOOD NEWS! I am in the planning stages of my new book, A Suitcase and A Song: The Immigrant Influence on American Music. This book will explore how immigrants helped create the musical landscape of America by blending their native musical forms with those already developing in the the US. Research for this work will take me to Europe to study the origins and styles of the music of different countries, with a focus on Italy, Austria, Germany and more. I will also incorporate how the history, culture, and traditions of each land molded their music!