McIntosh & Shobey Associates, Ltd is the publisher for the books below written by it's founder, Victoria L. Johnson, Ph.D.
A Life Sabbatical
by Victoria L. Johnson, Ph.D.
Not everyone is fortunate to have an opportunity to clear out their emotional closet. If one seeks to "reinvent" oneself then perhaps this is exactly what comes first. Creating space for new thoughts, habits, goals, objectives, joys and sorrows can require discarding the old ones; yet, who has the courage or the time or space to engage in that? This is a collection of personal short stories and brief poems from a decade of musings that address pivotal events. The author shares what became the foundation for a new future after a "life sabbatical"; time off from any allegiance to external restrictions or value place upon her purpose.
The "Bad Lands" at a Good Time: a look at neighborhood initiatives in North Philadelphia
by Victoria L. Johnson, Ph.D.
Thirty years ago, TV cameras filmed scenes of drug vendors strolling the avenues at 8th & Butler where cars with out of state license plates were lined three abreast. Name a drug and buy it there. This and the rampant local violence and gentrification became the landscape of local politics in this neighborhood labelled "the bad lands". A little over a decade ago, this author flew from out of town to bid at a sheriff sale to purchase a home for two of her children for off campus housing while they attended Temple University. Not every social scientist would have seen revitalization, community development and empowerment a challenge worth the risk, but this author records a decade of initiatives that prove how the convergence of grassroot initiatives can create waves of change to improve a neighborhood. The photos, commentaries, and interviews with local residents provide some perspective on neighborhood iniaitives for the betterment of "the bad lands".
Family Trees with Broken Branches: a quest to find the treasure of the heart
by Victoria L. Johnson, Ph.D.
She left home early forty years ago to escape the strict Patriarch but now he was dying. Volunteering to participate in this last chapter of his life meant a new one for her as well. Despite what had seemed missing, that wasn't what mattered now. Instead, putting what was urgently important first made dislikes about their history together irrelevant. With his death so many other practices, rituals, behaviors, biases, and expectations could die with him, but would they? This is the story of compassion turning the tables and changing a death and the lives of the children he left behind.
Cattle Drive: the relationship safari
by Victoria L. Johnson, Ph.D. Art by Shomari
Kress
Cattle Drive: the relationship safari
This book is a collection of vignettes and short stories of dating experiences that make it evident that the rules are always changing. What are we looking for and even when we think we know what that is how do we find everything else on our journey towards discovering what is best for us. Each experience helps to define us. We grow, break, bend, bow, and work at continuing to become the person who attracts people and circumstances we need rather than the opposite.
This book is a collection of vignettes and short stories of dating experiences that make it evident that the rules are always changing. What are we looking for and even when we think we know what that is how do we find everything else on our journey towards discovering what is best for us. Each experience helps to define us. We grow, break, bend, bow, and work at continuing to become the person who attracts people and circumstances we need rather than the opposite.
When There Are No More Tears: a buddha's story of love
by Victoria L. Johnson, Ph.D.
When There Are No More Tears: a buddha's story of love
An autobiographical story of transforming and transcending personal challenges. The public perception that marriage is a financial bargain is turned on its head when this mother chooses to release the father from all but two financial obligations. Upon waiving all rights to alimony, his pension, life insurance and future wealth she set in motion events that would cause everyone left behind to become strong. Experimenting with a faith as a means to empower the higher rather than the lower self afforded opportunties to meet challenges with foresight and courage. Even during the darkest moments the enlightened path is always available. This book started as a journal forty years ago. The details are real life experiences that help to inspire.
An autobiographical story of transforming and transcending personal challenges. The public perception that marriage is a financial bargain is turned on its head when this mother chooses to release the father from all but two financial obligations. Upon waiving all rights to alimony, his pension, life insurance and future wealth she set in motion events that would cause everyone left behind to become strong. Experimenting with a faith as a means to empower the higher rather than the lower self afforded opportunties to meet challenges with foresight and courage. Even during the darkest moments the enlightened path is always available. This book started as a journal forty years ago. The details are real life experiences that help to inspire.