Resilience isn’t inherited. It’s a hard-fought skill forged by our ability to pick up the broken pieces of our past and remake them into something new.
Welcome to the May 31st stop on the blog tour for Kissing Asphalt by Delicia Niami with Goddess Fish Promotions. Be sure to follow the rest of the tour for spotlights, reviews, more guest posts, and a giveaway! More on that at the end of this post.
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Author Guest Post
What inspires me?
Inspiration fuels my creativity, drives my productivity, and gives my life purpose. Here’s a glimpse into what inspires me and how these elements enrich my journey.
The Wonders of Nature
Nature has always been a profound source of inspiration for me. The beauty of a simple butterfly; watching the waves crash amongst the vastness and mystery of the ocean; the warmth and light of the sun; pulsating music that vibrates my soul, and the majesty of a variety of trees, plants and flowers can captivate my heart. After the 2020 CZU fires ravaged my land, I gave new life to my trees by having them milled and I am using the wood in various projects. Recently, I’ve been following YouTube tutorials, transforming raw materials into functional pieces. A few weeks ago, I created my first piece…a cutting board, end grain of course.
The Power of Books and Learning
I am a self-help book junkie, always seeking additional knowledge and personal growth. Authors like Deepak Chopra, Jordan Rubin, and Bessel van der Kolk have profoundly impacted my journey. Their insights into health, wellness, and the human mind inspire me to continuously strive for betterment. Learning is a lifelong passion, and each book I read enriches my understanding and fuels my desire to grow.
The Joy of Art and Creation
Art, in all its forms, is a significant source of inspiration for me. I love to paint, especially with chalk . I immerse myself in various crafts and tend to try outside the box projects. I figure what do I have to loose? It could turn out really amazing or it could not turn out at all…but I’d never know if I didn’t try! The act of creation, whether through painting or woodworking, brings me immense joy and a sense of accomplishment. It’s a way for me to express my emotions and ideas, turning inspiration into art.
The Adventure of Travel
Traveling has been one of the most inspiring aspects of my life. I’ve been fortunate enough to visit almost every continent, with Antarctica and Africa still on my list. Each journey humbles me, especially when I visit countries with far less material wealth than I’ve known. The genuine happiness and contentment I’ve witnessed in these places offer humble me. Travel broadens my horizons, challenges my preconceptions, and deepens my appreciation for the diversity of human experience.
The Strength of Personal Relationships
My friends, who I consider my “framily,” are a constant source of inspiration. Their unwavering support, love, and encouragement uplift me in ways I cannot express. These relationships remind me of the importance of connection, empathy, and mutual support. The shared experiences, laughter, and even the challenges we face together make life richer and more meaningful. My framily inspires me to be the best version of myself and to approach life with kindness and gratitude.
About the Book
Kissing Asphalt
ResilientAF Book One
by Delicia Niami
Print/eBook
Published 14 September 2023
ResilientAF Press
Page Count: 248
Audiobook
Published 20 March 2024
ResilientAF Press
Narrator: Delicia Niami
Length: 8 hours and 46 minutes
Genre: Memoir
Add it to your Goodreads TBR!
Resilience isn’t inherited. It’s a hard-fought skill forged by our ability to pick up the broken pieces of our past and remake them into something new.
Meet four-year-old Delicia, a poor but carefree child who is about to have her world shattered. Along with her seven-year-old brother Nile, she is kidnapped from her Los Angeles home by her estranged father and taken to Iraq, a foreign world she has never known. This is just the beginning of a string of traumas, hardships, and assaults Delicia will endure throughout her tumultuous childhood.
Now an adult living back in California, Delicia Niami bravely recounts how she survived the unimaginable in her debut memoir. Kissing Asphalt, the first in her memoir trilogy, ResilientAF, grapples with the power of resilience, acceptance, and self-love. She revisits her terrifying past with vulnerability, compassion, and the honesty of a true survivor. Hold hands with Delicia as she faces her childhood scars and learns how to confront her fears, accept her true value and identity, and embrace her unique gifts. It’s a multi-decade roller coaster ride that is the beginning of her liberation, propelling her to live an inspired life and embrace her full human potential—a human potential she knows lives inside everyone, no matter what life has thrown at us.
For anyone who has struggled with childhood trauma, Delicia’s unflinching journey through darkness and back to light will resonate. She has decided to share her story publicly in hopes that it will serve as a guide to the many who have suffered in silence and continue to struggle against the daunting weight imposed by childhood trauma.
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Excerpt
The minute our father, Hazim, got us onto Iraqi soil, my mother lost all her parental rights. One moment, we were happy kids playing on the lawn of our San Fernando Valley home, and in the blink of an eye, we were ripped away and taken to a country we knew nothing about. Everything was new. New culture, new rules, new language—no mother, no mother, no mother!
I think my brother understood better than I did the consequences of being in Baghdad, but he was being strong for me. He had to protect his little four-year-old sister from knowing the reality of the situation. We had been kidnapped by our father and taken to another country far, far from home.
About the Author
Delicia Niami is an acclaimed memoirist and LGBTQ+ advocate, whose raw and edgy storytelling has touched the hearts of readers worldwide. Residing in Santa Cruz and an alumna of UCSC, Delicia draws inspiration from her own journey of resilience and empowerment. Through her memoirs, she fearlessly addresses topics such as sexual abuse, trauma recovery, and the importance of self-compassion. Delicia’s work not only sheds light on difficult experiences but also empowers others to find their voices and embrace their own resilience. Her passion for advocacy shines through in her writing, making her a powerful voice for change and healing in today’s world.
Author: Facebook | Instagram || Book: Facebook | Instagram
Giveaway Alert!
The author will award a randomly drawn winner a signed special edition copy of the book.
a Rafflecopter giveaway| May 20 | Aubrey Wynne: Timeless Love | May 21 | Kenyan Poet |
| May 22 | The Avid Reader | May 23 | The Faerie Review |
| May 24 | Lisa Haselton’s Reviews and Interviews | May 27 | Sandra’s Book Club |
| May 28 | Momma Says: To Read or Not to Read | May 29 | Fabulous and Brunette |
| May 30 | Literary Gold | May 31 | Westveil Publishing |
| June 3 | Welcome to My World of Dreams | June 4 | Author C.A.Milson |
| June 4 | Stormy Nights Reviewing & Bloggin’ | June 5 | Hope. Dreams. Life.. Love |
| June 6 | It’s Raining Books | June 7 | Straight From the Library |
| June 10 | A Wonderful World of Words | June 11 | The Pen and Muse Book Reviews |
| June 12 | Readers Roost | June 13 | Gina Rae Mitchell |
| June 14 | Long and Short Reviews |
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This sounds like an great read.
Looks fantastic