Frances Fuller's life, seen from the outside, is inspiring and uplifting. Hearing the story of her life, told sometimes by Frances in her own words and accompanied by hundreds of photographs, brings a vibrancy and a sparkle to a compelling narrative that is both spellbinding and captivating.
Born in a small town during the depression, Frances went on to direct a Christian publishing house in the Middle East during the long civil war in Lebanon. That part of her story, told in rich detail in her book titled 'In Borrowed Houses' won multiple, high level industry awards. The video, produced by FPFG Productions, covers her early years, her time in the Middle East, and her subsequent return to the US. Now in her 90's, Frances continues to grow and has taken pen in hand to create a new book, “Helping Yourself Grow Old, Things I Said to Myself When I Was Almost 90.” This is a book on aging that is unlike any book on aging available today.
The video is a riveting presentation of an extraordinary life story, lived by a small town girl who, with her husband and five children, found herself in the middle of events that changed the world. Whether dodging bombs and bullets, or dealing with grief and loneliness, Frances is guided always by her Christian faith as she tries to make sense of her own past and to understand her responsibility to younger generations.
“It makes me happy” Frances says, “to realize that, by seizing my opportunities, I opened some doors for my children and grandchildren. I can recognize the ways my generation made the world better and feel grateful, but I can also see a troubled world and ask forgiveness for our failures.”
The video is available at Vimeo at https://vimeo.com/434799970 and on the Roku Channel, 'Stories That Change Lives'.
'In Borrowed Houses', has taken three industry awards. Frances Fuller was the Grand Prize winner in the 2015 '50 Great Writers You Should Be Reading' Book Awards. It received the bronze medal for memoir in the Illumination Book Awards in 2014. Northern California Publishers and Authors annually gives awards for literature produced by residents of the area. In 2015 'In Borrowed Houses' received two prizes: Best Non-fiction and Best Cover.
Critics have praised ‘In Borrowed Houses.’ A judge in the 22nd Annual Writer’s Digest Self-Published Book Awards called 'In Borrowed Houses' “ . . a well written book full of compassion . . . a captivating story . . . ”. Another reviewer described the book as “Wise, honest, sensitive, funny, heart-wrenching . . .”. Colin Chapman, lecturer in Islamic Studies at the Near East School of Theology in Beirut said, “ . . . western Christians and Middle Eastern Christians need to read this story…full of remarkable perceptiveness and genuine hope.”
Frances Fuller’s latest book, 'Helping Yourself Grow Old, Things I Said To Myself When I Was Almost Ninety', is an up-close and very personal encounter with aging. It is an uncontrived and firsthand look at her own daily experiences: wrestling with physical limitations, grief, loneliness, fears, and the decisions she has made about how to cope with these and keep becoming a better person. She faces regrets and the need to forgive herself and others and is determined to live in a way that blesses her children and grandchildren.
Frances deals with many common, universal but sometimes private issues in an open, conversational tone. Her confessions and decisions invite self-searching and discussion. She tries to make sense of her own past and to understand her responsibility to younger generations. In the process she shares her daily life, enriched with memories from her fascinating experiences. Her stories and her voice — fresh, honest, irresistible — keep the reader eager for more. The end result is a book that helps create a detailed map through the challenging terrain of old age.
The result of this intimate narrative is that readers laugh, cry and identify with her mistakes and problems. Reviewers have called the book, “unique,” “honest,” “witty,” “poignant,” “challenging” and “life-changing.”
The book can serve as a primer on what lies in store for all of us, from someone who is working through many of these issues. While the book is a perfect fit for book clubs, there are many other individuals and groups who could benefit from the information and ideas in the book:
Those approaching retirement
People who are currently retired
Children of aging parents
Those who have lost a spouse
Retirement community discussion groups
Counselors
Educators
Life coaches
Church groups (men and women)
and a host of others. For group discussions, Fuller has made a set of discussion questions available at her website at http://www.FrancesFullerAuthor.com.
Readers have lavished praise on the new book. One Amazon review stated, "I find myself thinking,'I need to read this again and take notes!' It’s full of wisdom, humor, and grace. I also have committed to rereading it annually - it’s that important!" Another said, "There is valuable life experience in this book. Helping Yourself Grow Old is truly is a book for all ages, and one not to be missed." Another stated, "Beautifully written book telling timeless truths, for both the old and the young. Highly recommend this book for anyone who loves to laugh, cry, and learn wisdom from someone who has lived so much life."
Frances Fuller is available for media interviews and can be reached using the information below or by email at frances0516@att.net. Fuller's books are available at Amazon and other book retailers. A free ebook sample from 'In Borrowed Houses' is available at http://www.payhip.com/francesfuller. More information, including discussion questions for 'Helping Yourself Grow Old', is available at her website at http://www.francesfullerauthor.com.
About Frances Fuller:
Frances Fuller spent thirty years in the violent Middle East and for twenty-four of those years was the director of a Christian publishing program with offices in Lebanon. While leading the development of spiritual books in the Arabic language, she survived long years of civil war and invasions.
Contact:
Frances Fuller
frances0516@att.net
http://www.francefullerauthor.com
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