In Recognition:
“Your Tireless Efforts on Behalf of Those with Mental Disabilities”
Imagine holding your breath in child-hood and through adult-hood, to untangle your life, then the moment you exhale you write this book.
"The spark every book club aspires too"
BOOK SUMMARY
When she was ten years old, Shirlee Scribner witnessed violence toward her mother, a life-changing blow that sent her mother to the emergency room and caused her youngest brother Dallas to suffer severe mental impairment at birth. Afterward, Scribner and her six siblings were sent into the cold arms of foster care, until at last they were reunited with their mother, who had remarried. And that's when a new and horrifying chapter began.
Meanwhile, Scribner already an adult by then was struggling to make a stable life for herself out of the chaos of her childhood. She eventually fulfilled her dream of earning a college degree, embarked on a successful career, and, in spite of the alienation and neglect that had formed her emotional landscape, found strength and support with her husband Blake. So when, in his thirties, Dallas finally gave voice to the brutality he had endured his entire life, Scribner heard his cry for help and fought to give her brother a better life.
Untangle is a lyrical and compelling account of the ways in which we triumph over the pain of the past. At times shocking in its detail, Scribner offers a rare and dignified account of how someone with mental disabilities, whose life was profoundly shaped by abuse, broke free from its legacy. Ultimately, Untangle is a testament to the human spirit, and our capacity to show love, strength, and courage, both to ourselves and to each other, even in the face of utter cruelty.
Shirlee Scribner spent twenty years as a project manager, space planner, and interior designer of hospitals, medical office buildings, and corporate HMO offices, and through her work she created hospital environments that feel more like a home then an institution. She implemented Americans with Disabilities regulations in her work, providing available access and special accommodations to the disabled.
Though she has since left the interior design industry, Shirlee has continued her generous work in hospitals and women's centers. In Concord, California, Shirlee spent several years on the Board of Trustees and Board of Directors of the Mt. Diablo Hospital Foundation, where she helped to raise money for heart and cancer patients. In Mather, California, Shirlee created the Mather Hospital Veteran's Hospital Volunteer Visitation Program. And in Livermore, California, Shirlee spent two years donating her time designing a beautiful Christian sanctuary called Shepherd's Gate, a safe haven for homeless mothers and children.
In her free time, Shirlee loves hiking, biking, and playing tennis. At times she can be found piloting yachts on the San Francisco Bay, flying Cessna airplanes, and enjoying book clubs. She has one son, Scott, a software engineer, and a grandson, Dillon, and she is happily married to her husband, Blake.
EDH woman overcomes abuse, publishes book
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
NEWSPAPER ARTICLES
Untangle: Shirlee Scribner Book Signings
Testimonials
James Shrock
“l could not put the book down. Would recommend it to anyone.”
Kindle Customer
“The book was one that you could not put down. It was an excellent book and I would recommend it to anyone…”
William
“Untangle was a wonderful and inspiring book that shows that "good really can overcome evil…”
Linda
“An insightful story of bonding and the human spirit.”
Brian Jones
“Her struggles with Social Services and the court system are both fascinating and disheartening, but ultimately uplifting…”
Carole E.
“Whatever it is that gives a person the power to prevail over hardship, Shirlee Scribner found it.”
Amsummer
“It is hard to believe people survive what horrible things are done to them and become beacons for all of us to follow. This is a perfect book for a book club.”
MJ
“I was captivated by the story at the opening prologue which led directly into a heart-stopping car ride. You will also be rewarded with a few surprises at the end. I highly recommend this book.”
Suzie Q.
“Great book!”
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