Bernard L. Dillard, author of Lemonade: Inspired by Actual Events, publishes eBook on overcoming father’s “absence”, sexual abuse, and recovery. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 24 million children in America – one out of three – live in biological father-absent homes (2011). In addition, fathers who are present but emotionally missing do very little to offset such staggering numbers. In many respects, those who grow up with the present father who is “absent” (passive and nurturing deficient) often face greater challenges as they reach toward adulthood.  In both instances, where the father is physically absent or emotionally absent, children frequently struggle with the following symptoms:

• Abandonment and anger issues

• An emotional emptiness that never seems to subside

• Low self-esteem, feeling worthless

• Feeling unsafe and anxious

• Unsure about being a man (a woman)

• A big hole in the heart

Even though for many of these children, life continues to march on, there remains a sense of arrested development in the lives of so many young adults as they wade through the waters of life, often falling prey to the same cycles of absent fatherhood when they have their own children.

The remedy for such a dilemma is lodged in discussion and reading about how others managed to overcome such challenges. No longer can those who have overcome such tragedies be silent. Although a certain shame initially may come with talking about such issues, true healing and recovery lie in the bravery of those who have survived such setbacks and who muster the strength to talk about it, thus encouraging others. Bernard L. Dillard’s Lemonade: Inspired by Actual Events serves as a resource to do just that. This resource is useful and timely because it tackles the taboo and pulls no punches. The author is not afraid to open his wounds and share his own struggles in order to assist in breaking the cycle. This resource is unique in that, although many of the topics addressed are quite sobering, the author manages to weave in pop culture as well as a bit of humor as he addresses the ills that plague this father-absent generation.

Hailing from Durham, North Carolina, Bernard L. Dillard is Assistant Professor of Mathematics at Fashion Institute of Technology. There, he teaches several upper-level courses, including Statistical Analysis and The Mathematics of Personal Finance. In early 2012, Kendall Hunt Publishing released his co-authored textbook, Elementary Statistics (3rd edition), a book in widespread use on college campuses across the country. Currently, he is finishing Moneymatics, a textbook whose mission is to increase financial literacy, especially among college students. In addition to his scholastic side, Dillard enjoys acting and modeling. He is always actively engaged in the auditioning process and continues to pursue significant small- and big-screen roles. He is committed to sharing his story of survival and believes his story will serve as a catalyst to engender discussion and remedy concerning such a widespread dilemma. Currently, he is single and resides in the Bronx.

The Global Ebook Awards honor and bring attention to the future of book publishing: eBooks. Now in it second year, the Awards are in 72 specific categories. They are open to all publishers large and small so that a winner is the best in its category, not just the best of small or regionally published ebooks. Most eBooks are also available as printed books as well.

The eBook list price for Lemonade is only $4.25 and is available from several outlets. The Kindle version is on Amazon, while the ePub version is online at Lulu, Barnes and Noble, and eBookMall. It is also available online as a paperback ($14.98) from Barnes and Noble and Amazon.

Hear what people are saying about the book at www.bernarddillard.com.

Got lemons? Read Lemonade.