What the Tide Brings After the Storm
by Kelly Coughlin

What the Tide Brings After the Storm is a sweeping family odyssey that begins in the famine-stricken hills of Ireland, winds through the coal mines of Pennsylvania, and settles in the salt air of Galveston, Texas. At its core is a single night in June 1941 when a car plunges off a bridge, leaving one young man alive and three others lost.

The story follows Pat and Barney Coughlin—two brothers bound by love, guilt, faith, and resilience—as they chart diverging paths shaped by tragedy. Pat enlists in the Army Air Corps, finding purpose in the complex machinery of the B-29 and in the family he builds in Kansas. Barney, deeply marked by grief and called to serve others, joins the Jesuits and rises to leadership in higher education.

Through generations, the Coughlins endure famine, loss, migration, war, and the constant search for meaning in suffering. Yet, alongside hardship, they discover the enduring strength of faith, family, and the possibility that even in the darkest waters, life can carry us toward the light.

This is a story about survival, redemption, and the invisible ties that bind families across time and tragedy. It asks: is life simply a ledger of winners and losers—or, with enough time, do we all win in the end?

Being a father to a daughter is an honor, a challenge, and sometimes, an outright battlefield. If you’re an Alpha Male Dad {“Alpha Dad”) —a man who is strong, driven, and determined to lead his family with confidence—you’ve likely faced the struggle of wanting to protect your daughter while also preparing her for the real world. You want to keep her safe, but you also need her to grow strong. You want to be the fortress that shields her from harm, yet you know she must eventually venture into the unknown and choose a partner, a path, and a life that aligns with her values and ambitions.

Being the daughter of an Alpha Dad isn’t easy. From her perspective, he’s overbearing, controlling, constantly complaining, and frustratingly mistrustful. He feels more like an out-of-touch, primitive caveman than a loving father—one who seems determined to impose unfair rules and unnecessary restrictions on her life. And of course, he just doesn’t get it. She already knows about the risks, the dangers, and the so-called “threats” he keeps warning her about. She understands the world way better than he does—at least, that’s what she tells herself. But here’s the truth: what she sees as oppression is actually protection. What she interprets as mistrust is actually experience. And what she thinks is paranoia is simply a father’s unshakable instinct to keep his daughter safe from the dangers she underestimates—and the men he sees right through.

This guide is for Alpha Dads who are ready to take an active role in shaping their daughters’ futures—not just hoping they’ll figure things out but ensuring they are equipped to make the best decisions. It is also for daughters who want to understand their fathers better, see the value in strong masculine guidance, and learn how to identify and select a well-balanced Alpha Male rather than falling for weak, toxic, or manipulative men. And for mothers, this book offers insight into the struggles fathers face when trying to balance strength, leadership, and guidance while raising strong daughters in a society that often discourages masculine influence in parenting.

At its core, this book is about balance. Unchecked Alpha energy can be destructive. A father who is all force with no understanding can create a rebellious, defiant daughter who resents his control. But a father who is too passive or detached leaves his daughter vulnerable to weak, aimless, and self-serving men. The key is controlled strength—leading with authority, but also with wisdom and self-awareness.

I’ve always been fascinated by the story of how the early Christian Church transformed the world. It’s a story that begins with a single visionary—Jesus of Nazareth—and a modest management team of twelve apostles. They had no wealth, no armies, no political connections, and no infrastructure. They operated in a Roman Empire that was the epitome of power, wealth, and cultural dominance. Yet, within just a few centuries, the Church overtook and surpassed the Roman Empire, not only in influence but in reshaping its culture and values.

This wasn’t just a matter of religious belief. It was an unprecedented organizational triumph. The early Church succeeded in creating a movement that spread across regions, languages, and cultures, all while enduring relentless persecution. Christianity became an unstoppable force—not because of political power or military might but because of its ideas, strategies, and the resilience of its followers.

While the conversion of Emperor Constantine in 325 AD is often considered the turning point when Christianity became the religion of the state, its acceptance and influence had begun far earlier. By the time Constantine adopted the faith, Christianity had already survived centuries of martyrdom, grown across diverse territories, and built a robust infrastructure of leaders and communities. It had become not just a religion but a movement so compelling that it reshaped the identity of the Roman Empire itself.

What intrigued me most was how this was accomplished. How did a small, marginalized group build something so enduring and expansive? What strategies did they use to thrive in a world dominated by powerful systems and institutions? As someone who works with entrepreneurs, small business owners, and visionaries, I began to see parallels between the early Church’s growth and the challenges that modern businesses face in building a brand, winning followers, and creating communities.

At its core, the story of the early Church is a masterclass in leadership, strategy, and perseverance. It’s about starting with a mission and staying true to it, even when the odds seem impossible. It’s about using limited resources creatively, leveraging existing systems, and building relationships that turn followers into advocates. It’s about creating a product—in this case, spiritual salvation and community—that resonates so deeply with people that they’re willing to share it, fight for it, and sometimes even die for it.