Gathering Courage: A Life-Changing Journey Through Adoption, Adversity, and a Reading Disability is an award-winning book about a child who was adopted and then rejected by her adopted family. This child was sent to a foster home at the age of nine because she was dyslexic and struggling to learn. The story goes on to show how walking through the pain and suffering of losses and hurts built a strong faith in the Lord and the courage to be successful.
Award-wining author, T. A. “Terry” McMullin knows as well as anyone that hard times are a part of the journey of life. During Terry’s journey, she was an orphan, an adopted child, and then made a foster child by her parents. Terry learned how to turn rejection into success as she struggled with a reading disability.
As a child in the 1960s, hardly anyone understood the struggles associated with dyslexia. But Terry turned her struggles into strengths as she taught herself how to read while working her way through college.
Terry received two degrees from Texas A&M University while becoming a teacher and writer.
Her life transformed from a broken-hearted child who could barely make out words in elementary school to a distinguished teacher who encourages young people to achieve their greatest aspirations.
At crucial points in Terry’s life, she found people who cared and understood, who became her encouragers. The encouragement from others made Terry’s life better so she vowed to be an encourager for others.
Terry gained great gratification, emotional, and spiritual support by working with dogs and horses. Terry lives on a small ranch in Texas with her horses, donkeys, and rescued Border Collie dogs.
For three and a half years I worked hard writing, re-writing, and praying over the words that would become a sentence. Slowly the sentences formed the paragraphs that stacked together to form chapter after chapter. Pictures were added to bring life to the pages. A glistening mountain river scene, on the front cover, helped draw the reader to the words, Gathering Courage: A Life-Changing Journey through Adoption, Adversity, and a Reading Disability.
The attractive cover was designed but it was the heart-felt message between the covers that I hoped would inspire the reader. My burning desire to encourage and inspire slowly took on a life of its own as it received 1st place in 2015 North American Book Award, 2016 Readers’ Favorite 5 STAR Award, 2016 Readers’ Favorite International Book Award- Honorable Mention, 2016 Best Book Award- Finalist.
Today, I am honored to say, Gathering Courage: A Life-Changing Journey through Adoption, Adversity, and a Reading Disability just received the 2017 Silver - Enduring Light Medals Award for “Christian Thought” as an exemplary Christian-themed book with an enduring message.
My encouragement to you is to never give up on the burning desire in your heart.
Book Excerpt
Gathering Courage
DAILY, I CONTINUETOWRITE from the heart. Perhaps someday, my life story of Gathering Courage will inspire others to write from deep within and encourage others to be the best they can be. To live a life of compassion and purpose is the true meaning of life.
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