Women Grit

Before she started hosting dinners for Indiana University's Sociology Department, Robbie never imagined scholarly meetings could be so hostile. It's all due to Professor Charles Stilton, who seems to thrive on heated exchanges with his peers and underlings, and tensions flare one night after he disrespects Robbie's friend, graduate student Lou. So when Robbie and Lou go snowshoeing the next morning and find the contentious academic frozen under ice, police suspect that Lou might have killed him after their public tiff.

Discover the stories of 12 women who heard the call to settle the West and who came from all points of the globe to begin their journeys. As a slave Clara watched helplessly as her husband and children were sold, only to be reunited with her youngest daughter as a free woman six decades later. As a young girl, Charlotte hid her gender to escape a life of poverty and became the greatest stagecoach driver who ever lived. As a Native American, Gertrude fought to give her people a voice and to educate leaders about the ways and importance of America's native people.

Women need to know it's okay to be kind and assertive. Between Grit and Grace will show you that success comes when you are comfortable living in the space between grit and grace - grit meaning being resilient and taking charge of your life (socially-acceptable masculine attributes), and grace meaning showing others mercy (socially-acceptable feminine trait).

An escape - that's exactly what Birdie Devaine needs when witches around the world publicly announce their existence. Instead of performing for the sold-out crowd at her world-famous magic show in Vegas, Birdie runs away from the dazzling lights to her hometown in Mississippi. She thinks she has it all planned out - keeping busy with renovating an old beautiful house and eventually fading away from the spotlight. But the house has its secrets, including the haunted cemetery that Birdie is now responsible for. It doesn't help when her nosy neighbor catches on to Birdie's big secret....

In The Relentless Courage of a Scared Child, Tana Amen shares her incredible story of transformation - of growing up in poverty, a bullied latch-key kid raised on sugary cereal and junk food, to becoming a world-renowned food and fitness expert. Her challenging past of neglect, poverty, sexual abuse, thyroid cancer, and bouts of anxiety and depression set her on a path to find healing. Through her remarkable journey, we see more clearly the light that can shine through our own broken places and ultimately heal us: body, mind, and soul.

The American dream continues to resonate with immigrants from around the world. Millions of people hope to come to the United States to build a better life for themselves and their families, often by creating and growing new ventures and companies. While not everyone succeeds, many do. Mei Xu is one of those successes. In Burn, entrepreneur and international business­woman Mei Xu tells her story of ingenuity, determination, and luck.

There is no mistaking that inequality in the workplace is still prevalent in the form of salary inequity and unequal representation in leadership and board positions. Too often conversations about inequality can lead to men and women believing they are alike. Women and men are not the same, biologically or psychologically, and these differences lead to significant dissimilarities in how each approaches leadership situations.

As women, we struggle to feel like we’re good enough because we are bombarded daily with messages that whisper, “Who you are is not okay.” We live in a world that tells us we have to look a certain way, live a certain lifestyle, have husbands who fit a certain mold, and have children that excel in every area of their lives. And rather than thrive in the life we have, we strive to create an existence that impresses others. This impossible treadmill leaves us with deep discontentment and a joyless existence.

Be honest: Who among us isn’t plagued with fears, insecurities, and self-doubt? Popular wisdom says the solution is to simply believe more strongly in ourselves. But award-winning author and speaker Mary A. Kassian explains that the way to combat fear is with more fear - fear of a different kind. In this follow-up to The Right Kind of Strong, Kassian again draws on her vast biblical knowledge to show us a better way to navigate life. She compares the Bible’s definition of confidence with the world’s well-worn self-help formulas and sets us on the right path.

With its gripping narrative and relatable takeaways, The Grit Factor is both inspiring and pragmatic, a book that will energize and enlighten current and aspiring leaders everywhere - whether male or female.

Margaret, Duchess of Argyll (1912-1993) was an international celebrity in her youth. But in 1963, the year of the Profumo Affair, the 11th Duke of Argyll shocked the country when he alleged that his adulterous wife had slept with over 80 men behind his back. The duke won a divorce, and Margaret was abandoned by most of her friends. Lyndsy Spence tells a tragic story of the life and downfall of this fascinatingly complex woman, and shows how she fell victim to a cruel husband, harsh social mores, and an unforgiving class.

Nikki Haley is widely admired for her forthright manner (“with all due respect, I don’t get confused”), her sensitive approach to tragic events, and her confident representation of America’s interests as our ambassador to the United Nations during times of crisis and consequence. In this book, Haley offers a firsthand perspective on major national and international matters as well as a behind-the-scenes account of her tenure in the Trump administration.

Embrace resilience and thrive amid challenges to build a career and life you love. When building a career, navigating the intricate labyrinth of the professional world can leave even the most resilient person feeling overwhelmed, undervalued, and discouraged. Whether you’re driven to build your side business, are spending hours searching “jobs near me,” or are receiving promotion after promotion, burnout and self-doubt can be an inevitable side effects to creating your dream career.

Mary Ferguson has been harboring a crush for years. Her older brother's best friend, Tyler, used to give her stomach butterflies when she was younger. Now in college, little does she know her brother's Bear Shifter Motorcycle Club is going to spring a little surprise on her. Seeing Tyler again ignites something inside her she hasn't felt in a long time. Tyler Lance was feeling cooped up staying in town, and this little road trip with the Club was just what the doctor ordered. Of course, he didn't know they'd be picking up Brett's sister.

Despite her unsavory upbringing, Loriana Simms vows not to let the fast, gritty lifestyle of the hood dismantle her innocence. With dreams of leaving what she calls home behind, Loriana's plans are abruptly placed on hold. While her circumstances have, in some measure, matured the bashful teen, they have also left her in an immense amount of distress. No longer meek to the world around her, Loriana comes into her own as a woman and finds herself caught up in the likes of the young hoodlum, Projex.

To ArcelorMittal Steel, Eliese is known as #6691: Utility Worker, but this was never her dream. Fresh out of college, eager to leave behind her conservative hometown and come to terms with her Christian roots, Eliese found herself applying for a job at the local steel mill. The mill is everything she was trying to escape, but it's also her only shot at financial security in an economically devastated and forgotten part of America. In Rust, Eliese brings the listener inside the belly of the mill and the middle American upbringing that brought her there in the first place.

Two ambitious (and gritty) entrepreneurial women share their experiences and give you tools so that you can realize your dream and start your own business. Graced by Grit shares stories of the incredible and inspirational women the authors met while successfully founding, building, and selling their company. They walk you through the steps required to catapult your business idea into action.

Not all gambles pay off in aces! Now that Paige Murphy has the beachfront book shop she inherited from her aunt back on its feet, she sets her sights on finding a place of her own to live. And the sooner the better after the plumber finds a dead body buried in the book store’s basement. Was sweet Aunt Nora a killer? And just who was the person under the pipes? Paige must roll the dice and bet on herself to uncover the mystery behind this cold case.

Growing up is hard. During the few short years of adolescence, young women are expected to move out, get an education, and support themselves while building skills like managing money, setting goals, and cooking cheap, nutritious meals. It's a lot of pressure, even for girls who have supportive parents and helpful siblings. With Life Tumbled, Malissa teaches you how to make the most of your one shot. The decisions you make, skills you pick up, and wisdom you gather at this special age set the course for the rest of your life. Make it the best it can be. Let's tumble together!

What’s a girl to do if she’s dumped by her husband in her 60s? How about writing a book documenting her journey and collecting role models of inspirational women from their 60s through their 90s? The humorous yet educational memoir of a therapist’s journey and the experiences of her inspiring interviewees - women who’ve been through grief, depression, caregiving, widowhood, retirement, empty-nesting, and physical challenges - Girls’ Guide to Aging with Grit and Gusto is a road map for women who want to thrive (whatever their age or circumstances) as they grow older.