Xulon Press presents a wonderful collection of stories to help readers understand life and relationships better and learn to live with joy, purpose and significance.

MERREDIN, Australia, Aug. 8, 2024 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Author Lorna Hardy provides inspiration and motivation for anyone wounded, grieving and longing for connection, hope and comfort in Journey to Joy ($50.49, paperback, 9781662891083; $9.99, e-book, 9781662891090).

Hardy's fifth book is her most daring and vulnerable yet as it was born from her own experiences as a wife, mother and teacher. With insight and courage, she offers personal and spiritual growth to others, covering thought-provoking and relatable topics from challenges faced to dreams. It's filled with beautifully illustrated collection of tough, tender and sometimes humorous short stories demonstrating that even in life's darkest moments one can form wings. Hardy has a special gift for understanding others as is evident in her thoughtfully written stories destined to help readers better love themselves and those around them. Her hope for this book is to remind all of the amazing capacity to adapt, regroup and grow, stories to be cherished and re-read for generations to come.

When asked what inspired the author to write this book, Hardy said, "For most of us, life is not a walk in the park! We are presented with many challenges and sometimes we feel overwhelmed. I know I often did. Several things helped me recover from each loss; friends, family and faith, and the fact that I love playing with ideas. As my understanding grew, so did my buoyancy of spirit and this made a huge difference to my quality of life and relationships. The better I felt, the more I wanted to share what I had learned with you. I also had fun painting the illustrations. So, I hope they add some cheery color to your life as you read the stories!"

Originally from England, Lorna Hardy now enjoys living on an Australian farm with her husband, Norm. She worked as a teacher and librarian, loving the opportunity to introduce students to the thrilling world of books. She taught students about early childhood development, creating links to nearby schools to give them practical experience. She also supported other teachers in their curriculum development, exploring creative ways to include faith and values, like kindness and service. Later, Lorna worked for the government on national education programs, visiting schools and conducting career workshops. She also helped disadvantaged adults and joined a team which managed literacy and numeracy programs throughout Australia. Her volunteer work gave her the opportunity to walk with people from all backgrounds in times of grief and joy. As her compassion deepened, she became passionate about building bridges of understanding between individuals. She encouraged others through hugs and good humor to celebrate the rich diversity of their shared humanity.

Hardy is happiest when she's being creative, asking "why?" questions and painting in bright colors. She also has fun visiting lonely folk and seeing their eyes light up as they tell their own stories, describing what they value and who they love. A portion of book sales will be donated to assist with cataract operations. To learn more about the author or her books, visit http://www.LornaHardy.com.

Xulon Press, a division of Salem Media Group, is the world's largest Christian self-publisher, with more than 20,000 titles published to date. Journey to Joy is available online through xulonpress.com/bookstore, amazon.com, and barnesandnoble.com.

Media Contact

Lorna Hardy, Salem Author Services, 407-339-4217, inquiry@salemauthorservices.com

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prweb.com/releases/beautifully-illustrated-short-stories-of-faith-hope-and-resilience-help-heal-the-mind-and-soul-302216302.html

SOURCE Xulon Press