Search Results

"I couldn’t quite read the faces of my parents. Did they see what I didn’t yet see: that my panic and quest for reassurance were just another way of asking for love? That panic was a way to get the comfort I hungered for? That I didn’t feel truly alive unless I was sure I was loved?"--Kathrine Snyder It was only later in life that I realized why I felt so confused, uncertain, and anxious in my relationship with my parent. Perhaps you've wondered the same thing: Does my parent have autism? Perhaps it would explain so much: how they cared about you, but they struggled to understand your emotions. How they loved you, but they sometimes had confusing meltdowns. As a result--despite their best attempts--you may have felt unseen. Maybe you're tired of searching “children of autistic parents” and finding nothing. All you can find are resources for parents who are autistic or parents who have autistic children. But nothing for people like you: adult children of parents with autism. Finally, a resource from someone who understands. I want to be honest: this book's main focus is uncertainty. Though I shared all the resources I knew to find about children of autistic parents, there's not a lot of research out there for me to draw on. The main value of this book is hearing from someone else in a similar place: wondering if your parent had autism. You'll learn to find peace in uncertainty, hope in confusion, and a listening ear when times are tough. Read what Sarah said: "I wanted to say what a profound effect your story had on me. It made me realize that we have a lot in common and through the liberation at the end of the story, I felt liberated too. It gave me such a sense of peace. I felt seen."--Sarah I want you to feel seen, too. When you read about my experiences--the deeply-engraved anxiety of not knowing if my parent loved me, the insecurity and confusion, the stunted relational skills--I want you to know that there is hope. I want you to feel liberation and peace. I am looking forward to hearing from each and every one of you! Read more about the book here! ~Kathrine

He was shot... he was buried alive... he found extraordinary healing! You can, too! Sometimes, the most difficult times to sense God’s presence is in the difficult things that have happened in the past. Where was God when it hurt? Where was God when my friend ditched me... when I was left alone in my trauma... when I had no one to help me through my childhood pain? By faith, we know that God was present in your past. But it's also true that God is present in your past--right now. Jesus claimed, “Before Abraham was, I AM.” (John 8) He exists--present tense--in 2000 BC when Abraham was alive. And he stands beside you in the memory of your greatest pain. God is willing to walk with you back into the challenging memory with you. He can help you process it. He will show you that he's glad to be with you, even in your pain. A few years ago, Dr. Jim Wilder flew to Asia to meet with a group of mental health professionals and lay people. Recent violence in this Asian country had left the trainees traumatized and confused. Everyone listened closely to what Dr. Wilder had to say about Immanuel Prayer. A few nonbelievers had been sent to the training by their therapy practice. They also listened eagerly as Wilder explained how to connect with Jesus inside past traumatic memories. As they experienced Jesus' gentle presence, they realized that God’s presence had been there all along, even in those dark places. Their debilitating memories were resolved, and many of them decided to follow Jesus.[1] One of the participants had been shot by terrorists.[2] Assuming he was dead, the terrorists buried him in a shallow mass grave. The man suffered considerable PTSD after he woke up, found himself suffocating underground, and had to dig himself out of the grave. However, during the week of Immanuel Training, he gained a visceral realization that Jesus had been with him, even in the darkest pit. As a result, his PTSD symptoms appeared to resolve permanently.[3] Karl Lehman's Immanuel Approach is based on a simple gratitude exercises that activates our relational brain circuits, preparing them to connect with Jesus. In today’s digital world, we don’t use use our relational brain circuits very much (thalamus and basal ganglion for relational attachment and cingulate cortex for relational synchronization). That's why we need to be intentional about activating those circuits so that we can connect with God and others. Once participants feel deep appreciation and have their connective brain circuits online, participants ask Jesus to help them sense his presence. With a two-way connection to Jesus established, they ask him directly about the questions or traumas that are bothering them. Around the world, this method has succeeded in healing trauma at a much higher rate than normal therapy, even higher than EMDR. This method has healed trauma on many people, including nonbelievers who were sent to the training by their therapy practice; people who were angry at God; people who are afraid of God; people who have been sex trafficked; people who have experienced extreme trauma, including being shot, buried alive and crawling out of a mass grave. Karl Lehman explains that each of us has a pain-processing pathway in our brains.[4] If a difficult experience makes it all the way through the pathway, the pain adds to our empathy, wisdom, resilience and strength. But if it gets stuck, it becomes a traumatic memory. It's a bit like a digestive system. If the food makes it all the way through, we digest it and it gives us strength. But if there's a perforation in the system, the leaking digestive material gets stuck, causing infection. It never processes... it never heals. We need God, like a loving surgeon, to revisit those areas of "stuck" pain and help us process and heal. Every time we are triggered by an unresolved memory, God is giving us the opportunity to resolve that pain. And through Immanuel Prayer, Karl Lehman has developed an effective, safe way to meet Jesus in the pain. We often don't sense God's presence while we are going through the pain. But looking back, we can see how God was with us all along. Try Immanuel Approach today! To learn more about the Immanuel Approach: Immanuel Approach Basic Training Video Immanuel Approach Website Learn more about the Pain Processing Pathway [1] Immanuel Approach https://www.immanuelapproach.com/ “Brain Science, Emotional Healing, and the God Who is With Us” are very technical, scientific articles that are available as free downloads on the Internet that explain this method. [2] Jim Wilder, Outsmarting Yourself, 81 http://www.immanuelapproach.com/pdf/Chapters1-5%28Draft%29NewBook.pdf [3] Jim Wilder, Outsmarting Yourself, 81 http://www.immanuelapproach.com/pdf/Chapters1-5%28Draft%29NewBook.pdf [4] See Karl Lehman, The Pain Processing Pathway: Outsmarting Yourself Lecture 1 https://vimeo.com/49404723 See also https://catholicpsychotherapy.org/resources/2019%20Conf%20Handouts/Session%20223_1%20Immanuel%20Terms.pdf [5] Go to Immanuelapproach.com, and you can read as many scholarly articles as you want.

This list of Literary Agents is seeking high-quality, well-crafted literary memoir. Deeply felt stories, beautiful prose, and riveting storylines are their forte. Read each agent's entry to find out their specific requests. Updated January 2023. Ethan Bassoff of Ross Yoon agency is seeking memoir and narrative nonfiction. He specializes in guiding emerging writers through their first publications and advising them on how to build long, successful careers. He looks for original stories told by equally original voices. His email address is ethan@rossyoon.com. Miriam Altshuler of DeFiore and Company is seeking memoir and narrative nonfiction. She is particularly interested in finding emerging and underrepresented voices, and she loves reading and representing books that focus on diversity. She searches for books that draw her in and give her a new perspective on a world she doesn’t know, or make her think more deeply about a world she does know. Miriam seeks books with a heart and writers with wonderful storytelling abilities. Her email address is miriam@defliterary.com. Gordon Warnock of Fuse Literary is seeking memoirs and other books that ask difficult questions, illuminating common issues in new ways. Gordon is looking for fresh concepts that excite him before he even starts reading and tension-filled prose that won’t let him stop. Contact Gordon at querygordon@fuseliterary.com. Jody Kahn from Brandt and Hochman is seeking beautifully written works. She enjoys literary memoirs that contain rich storylines, deeply drawn characters and voice-driven narratives. specializes in nonfiction narratives related to culture, social justice, sports, food, history, literary memoir and journalism. She’s also interested in untold stories, misunderstood populations, and anything that’s plugged into the current cultural conversation. Above all, she wants to be gripped by what she’s reading and taken into a new and riveting world, one that touches her with layers of complexity and does not easily let go. You can reach Jody at jkahn@bromasite.com. Emily Forland from Brandt and Hochman represents voice-driven memoir and literary nonfiction with original writing that jumps off the page and beautifully crafted writing. eforland@bromasite.com Iwalani Kim from Greenburger is looking for literary memoir, as well as coming-of-age narratives, family dramas, and stories that challenge systems of power. Loves lush prose, wry humor, irreverent characters, and a sense of yearning. Drawn to narratives about identity, deep dives into subcultures, and writing that complicates the idea of ‘paradise’ or explores progressive movements such as prison industrial complex (PIC) abolition. Contact her at ikim@sjga.com Nicki Richesin from Dunow, Carlson & Lerner would like to see memoir that makes an impact and becomes part of the larger cultural conversation. She is invested in discovering underrepresented voices. You can reach her at nicki@dclagency.com. Joanne Wyckoff of Carol Mann Agency has a particular love of the memoir, narrative nonfiction, the personal narrative, and narrative journalism. She is always looking for writers with strong, original voices who explore a subject in new and surprising ways. Get in touch at joanne@carolmannagency.com. Thomas Hill from Martin Lit enjoys authentic voices in narrative nonfiction and memoir who strive to raise the consciousness of the reading public through satire, humor, brilliant prose, and/or a sobering examination of issues and situations currently impacting the human experience. Reach Thomas at Thomas.Hill@MartinLit.com. Roz Foster from Frances Goldin Literary Agency is seeking exquisite linguistic skill. She is interested in books that grapple with what it is to be human, books that confront big human themes—love, morality, purpose, freedom, faith or its lack, hierarchy, success, violence, meaning, and death. She looks for stories that make sense of the chaos of life and the harshness of reality. She loves writing that has emotional depth, makes insightful observations, and demonstrates exquisite linguistic skill. Get in touch with Roz at rf@goldinlit.com. Dana Newman from Dana Newman Literary loves compelling, inspiring narrative nonfiction in the areas of memoir, biography, history, pop culture, current affairs/women’s interest, social trends, and sports/fitness. A favorite genre is literary nonfiction: true stories, well told, that read like a novel you can’t put down. Contact her here: dananewmanliterary@gmail.com Christy Fletcher from Fletcher and Co. is drawn to memoir and non-fiction that uses narrative to explore new ideas and present novel frameworks for understanding the world, especially when written by someone who comes to their point of view via professional experience, scientific research, or deep investigative journalism. Find her at christy@fletcherandco.com. Sarah Levitt from Aevitas Creative Management is looking for nonfiction so enthralling and far-reaching that it feels like a novel. She enjoys strong female and underrepresented voices. She's looking for biography, cultural history, memoir, science, and ideas books. Query her here.

A compelling message in today's uncertain times. This fast-paced, novelistic memoir gives readers an intimate look into Kathrine's struggle with OCD and other confusing conditions, while weaving a deeper story of reality, identity, and meaning. A poignant true story of hope. ​ For those with OCD, a voice of hope. “This powerful, beautifully written book is the most intimate look I have ever had into the mind of a person battling with OCD, identity, and understanding of God." ​ ​ —Sharon Ogden, LCSW, MSSW, Christian Spiritual Director, Search for Jesus Discipleship Coach, Co-founder of Immanuel Way Ministries For those in pain, a voice of healing. “A profoundly moving journey of self-discovery. I highly recommend this book. It offers a relatable and honest perspective and makes one feel seen and heard - an important step toward healing and liberation.” ​ —Hicham El Amrani - Author, VIP Trainer and Executive Coach For those with PGAD, a voice of peace. "A captivating memoir of the layered connections among mental health, sexuality, faith, and identity. In this insightfully written and compelling work, she details her struggles with a highly misunderstood sexual health condition. This unique book will bring this mysterious condition into the light and will resonate with many readers." ​ —Caroline F. Pukall, PhD, CPsych, Canada Research Chair in Sexual Health (CIHR), Professor, Department of Psychology, Centre for Neuroscience Studies, Sex and Relationship Therapy Service For those with Uncertainty, a voice of courage. “Kathrine’s portrayal of her struggles around feelings, sexuality, and relationships is for anyone who has experienced pain and confusion.” ​ —Justin K. Hughes, MA, LPC specializing in OCD, Forthcoming Author, The Christian Guide to Overcoming Obsessions & Compulsions ​ ​ ​ "Regardless of whether you share the same struggles, you will find this book relevant, and a worthy companion on your own journey of healing. Kathrine’s style will draw you in. Her heart will take you deeper. Her story will help you heal.” ​ —Cathy Little, Co-Director, Face to Face Ministries, Author of Shame on You No More and Deeper: A Devotional Collection ​ ​ Play Video Facebook Twitter Pinterest Tumblr Copy Link Link Copied Notify Me When Book is Available! Notify Me! Thanks for submitting! We look forward to sending you more information about the book! We're All Seeking Answers. But what happens when the search for certainty becomes pathologica l? OCD rituals have become Kathrine’s prison. A joyful and creative child, she is slowly being consumed by her compulsive attempts to understand relationships, sexuality, and faith. She spends days in endless prayer and confession, sleepless nights in computer research, and countless hours trying to comprehend the desires and sensations that most people understand by instinct. She just wants to know for sure. And she is convinced that she can find certainty and connection if she just researches a bit more and ruminates a bit longer. ​ When shocking news reveals that people around her are not who they seem to be—and she herself is not who she thought she was—her world turns upside down. As her frantic striving pushes her farther away from the connection and certainty she craves, Kathrine must discover the God who is with us, even through compulsion, confusion, and chaos. ​ Raw and redemptive, Shimmering Around the Edges not only gives hope to OCD sufferers but also speaks to those who have experienced the disorientation of trauma or loss. “This is the kind of book that changes the world. This book will help set people free.” ​ — Dr. Robert R. Perkinson, Ph.D., author of thirty-four books, including God Speaks to You Notify Me When Book is Available! Notify Me! Thanks for submitting! We look forward to sending you more information about the book! ​ Support Me Tori Beck, The Christian Advocate, Instagram “Kathrine beautifully and palpably captured the experience of OCD in such an accurate, soul-level way that I felt it in my gut. I couldn't put it down. Kathrine managed to take the convoluted, confusing, and messy reality of OCD and transform it into a beautiful narrative that you can't help but live right along with her as you read.” ​ Now, More Than Ever, Isolated People Need Your Help My vision is to reach three key groups of people who feel isolated: people who feel alone in their mental health people who are alone in their sexual health and people who are experiencing the disorientation of change, trauma, and loss. The loneliness crisis is massive. But together, we can solve it. Your support will pay for ads and marketing material so these people can find this message. You can make a difference to help these people feel less alone!

Finding a Path through Anxiety and Uncertaint y Kathrine's Story G rowing up in the Midwest at the height of purity culture, Kathrine struggled for decades with undiagnosed anxiety, PGAD, and OCD . Confused and disoriented, she obsessed with questions about relationships, sexuality, and faith. Each of these areas seemed like a puzz le she couldn't solve . From sexuality to religion, life seemed like a terrifying mirage that she could never quite grasp or understand. ​ She is now passionate about sharing her journey of discovery. It's not just about the answers she found out for her self... it's about the new, healthy practices she's learned along the way. It's about learning a new way to understand, a new way to know. A new way to see. ​ Kathrine would love to hear your story. Get in touch for updates about her upcoming book and blog ! Read More About Kathrine Read More Kathrine Snyder graduated from Prairie Bible College in Alberta, is a full-time ghostwriter and editor. She has ghostwritten several leadership books and memoirs for clients from six countries, including an international nine-figure businessman. Kathrine is passionate about literary craft, trauma-informed care, and advocacy for PGAD and OCD. She is committed to helping people survive change and uncertainty, including the disorientation that comes from shame-filled religious ideologies and forge a personal connection with Jesus. ​ CONNECT Explore Kathrine's Blog Is it possible to hear God's voice? How can you tell if it's really God, or if it's the voice of religious trauma, anxiety, or OCD? ​ Read More Learn about mental health, sexuality, PGAD, OCD, and more. Read More Fear, anxiety, and controlling religion often lead to a narrow perspective. Let's learn a new way of knowing... a new way of seeing. Read More Coming Soon! Shimmering Around the Edges: A Memoir of OCD, Reality, and Finding God in Uncertainty Subscribe NOTIFY ME WHEN THE BOOK IS OUT! Thanks for subscribing! Dr Gill Harvey, Therapeutic Counsellor/Psychotherapist, Supervisor, Researcher & Trainer “With raw honesty, Kathrine shares her struggles with the OCD monster and her journey to discovering an authentic identity, seeking to discover God in it all. Kathrine’s honesty draws us into the privilege of witnessing her story. This book will resonate with individuals who struggle with similar challenges as well as those who seek to help them.” Hicham El Amrani - Author, VIP Trainer and Executive Coach “A profoundly moving journey of self-discovery. This memoir takes you on a journey of hope, perseverance, and triumph over the crippling grip of OCD. Kathrine's narrative is so vivid that you can relate to her experiences as if they were your own. I highly recommend this book to anyone struggling with mental illness. It offers a relatable and honest perspective and makes one feel seen and heard - an important step toward healing and liberation.” Patrick Stewart, Director of Marian Acres Madonna House “With her beautifully descriptive and lyrical style, Kathrine opens the door of her heart and mind, inviting you into her life experience, her faith, and her ongoing healing experience. This is a story of hope and courage for men and women journeying through the crippling effects of OCD, for those walking the journey with them, and for the broader population who have family members, friends and acquaintances who suffer in this way.”

Advance Praise for Shimmering Around the Edges “This powerful, beautifully written book is the most intimate look I have ever had into the mind of a person battling with OCD, identity, and understanding of God. For those who want to know more details about her healing journey, the appendix offers a rich collection of resources. A must-read for anyone hoping to gain a better understanding of life with OCD.” —Sharon Ogden, LCSW, MSSW, Christian Spiritual Director, Search for Jesus Discipleship Coach, Co-founder of Immanuel Way Ministries “A helpful and candid memoir of one woman's journey through crippling confusion to find freedom and healing in the mystery and uncertainty of an authentic journey toward truth." ​ —Karl Forehand, author and co-founder of The Desert Sanctuary “Suspenseful, captivating, and full of action, the story had me on the edge of my seat. I was so engrossed that I didn’t even notice my wife walk into the room. Intriguing and insightful, with a plot linked together like a chain, it creates a compelling read. Extraordinarily excellent.” ​ —Dr. Cashe’ Featherson, PhD, Minister, Author, Professor, and Psychotherapist “Kathrine beautifully and palpably captured the experience of OCD in such an accurate, soul-level way that I felt it in my gut. I couldn't put it down. Kathrine managed to take the convoluted, confusing, and messy reality of OCD and transform it into a beautiful narrative that you can't help but live right along with her as you read.” ​ —Tori Beck, The Christian Advocate, Instagram “A profoundly moving journey of self-discovery. This memoir takes you on a journey of hope, perseverance, and triumph over the crippling grip of OCD. Kathrine's narrative is so vivid that you can relate to her experiences as if they were your own. I highly recommend this book to anyone struggling with mental illness. It offers a relatable and honest perspective and makes one feel seen and heard - an important step toward healing and liberation.” ​ —Hicham El Amrani - Author, VIP Trainer and Executive Coach “In this insightfully written book, Kathrine intricately weaves a captivating story of the layered connections among her experiences with mental health, sexuality, faith, and identity. The precarious balance between repressing and expressing these intersecting experiences is powerful and chaotic, heartbreaking and fulfilling. Uniquely written and compelling, this work also details her struggles with an incredibly distressing and highly misunderstood sexual health condition, bringing this mysterious condition into the light. This book will resonate with many readers.” ​ —Caroline F. Pukall, PhD, CPsych, Research Chair in Sexual Health, Professor, Department of Psychology, Centre for Neuroscience Studies, School of Rehabilitation Therapy, and Department of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, & Director, Sex and Relationship Therapy Service, Psychology Clinic “With raw honesty, Kathrine shares her struggles with the OCD monster and her journey to discovering an authentic identity, seeking to discover God in it all. Kathrine’s honesty draws us into the privilege of witnessing her story. This book will resonate with individuals who struggle with similar challenges as well as those who seek to help them.” ​ — Dr Gill Harvey, Therapeutic Counsellor/Psychotherapist, Supervisor, Researcher & Trainer “With her beautifully descriptive and lyrical style, Kathrine opens the door of her heart and mind, inviting you into her life experience, her faith, and her ongoing healing experience. This is a story of hope and courage for men and women journeying through the crippling effects of OCD, for those walking the journey with them, and for the broader population who have family members, friends and acquaintances who suffer in this way.” ​ —Patrick Stewart, Director of Marian Acres Madonna House “Kathrine invites readers onto the sacred ground of her personal story in a way that few have the capacity to do. This demonstration of bravery shows the courage that comes only when you get to the other side. As you read, you will find perseverance, courage, and true grit to work it out with Jesus. Regardless of whether you share the same struggles, you will find this book relevant, and a worthy companion on your own journey of healing. Kathrine’s style will draw you in. Her heart will take you deeper. Her story will help you heal.” ​ —Cathy Little, Co-Director, Face to Face Ministries, Author of Shame on You No More and Deeper: A Devotional Collection “For someone without a lived experience of OCD, it can be hard to understand what it’s like from the inside. Kathrine does a beautiful job of inviting us into her experience of being in the grip of OCD, and then sharing in her journey of finding freedom, comfort, and rest.” —Sharon Hale, LMFT, Certified Emotionally Focused Therapist “What a profound effect your story had on me. It made me realize that we have a lot in common. Your experience made me feel I wasn't alone! This book speaks truth and beauty. It was so powerful, I didn't want to put it down. Through the liberation at the end of the story, I felt liberated too. It gave me such a sense of peace. I felt seen.” —Sarah, OCD advocate at Faith, Me, and OCD “An engaging, relatable story that expertly captures the experience of living with OCD as a person of faith. I recommend this book to anyone struggling to reconcile their identity and faith while struggling with their mental health.” —Andrew Triska, MSW, LCSW, specializing in OCD, anxiety, gender and sexuality “This book is a courageous roller coaster ride for the reader that uncovers and examines one’s beliefs, emotions, thoughts and feelings in pursuit of identity, self-awareness and understanding.” —Kris Clyburn, Leadership and Self-Awareness Coach and Trainer “Through rich story and tender reflection, Kathrine shares her journey with OCD. She is real, honest, and vulnerable with the confusion and the clarity she has experienced. This book is a grace for those who struggle with OCD and a gift for those who seek to walk with those who struggle. May it cast a vision of acceptance and healing for all those who enter its pages.” —Dr. Lacy Finn Borgo, spiritual director, teacher and author of Faith Like a Child: Embracing Our Lives as Children of God “A masterful, highly relatable personal memoir of the trials and tribulations of life that many may experience but seldom share. An incredible storyteller that has you laughing, crying, and thankful for the tough journey through stress, anxiety, and beautiful chaos.” —Dr. Donya Ball, EdD, author of Adjusting the Sails: Weathering the Storms “This is the kind of book that changes the world. This book will help set people free.” —Dr. Robert R. Perkinson, Ph.D., author of thirty-four books, including God Speaks to You ​ “Rarely have I come across a personal narrative that so vividly describes OCD. This impressive, intimate portrait is both visceral and intellectual, spiritual and physical. Yet this is much more than a book on OCD. Kathrine’s portrayal of her struggles around feelings, sexuality, and relationships is for anyone who has experienced pain and confusion.” —Justin K. Hughes, MA, LPC specializing in OCD, Forthcoming Author, The Christian Guide to Overcoming Obsessions & Compulsions