in books
(pieces published in books.....)
JENNY CUT HER HAIR And Everybody Wondered Why
by Stephen & Karen Rusiniak (Author), Donna Rusiniak (Illustrator)
Synopsis: The premise behind the story, JENNY CUT HER HAIR And Everybody Wondered Why is to acknowledge and indeed to celebrate unsung youthful heroes like Jenny and Rebecca. After all, Sometimes heroes have hair, and sometimes, they don’t..
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Backstory:How the real-life Jenny inspired a children’s story
Gary the Goose Belonged
by Stephen & Karen Rusiniak (Author), Donna Rusiniak (Illustrator)
Synopsis: Our children’s book is about how inclusion champions exclusion, where being different too often means being excluded, but where, in the end, Gary the Goose Belonged.
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Backstory: A behind the scenes look
Media Interview: DELMARVA LIFE on WBOC, a CBS affiliate located in Salisbury, MD
Chicken Soup for the Soul:
The Advice that Changed My Life
Story:I’m Going With You
(click to read story)
Synopsis: We may never know the lives we’ve touched until one day, and if we’re lucky, we do. This is one such story and it’s mine!
To Order Listen to the story
Chicken Soup for
the Soul: The Blessings of Christmas: 101 Tales
of Holiday Joy, Kindness and Gratitude
Story:Reindeer Food
(click to read story)
Synopsis: While I certainly had my doubts, my kids knew all along that there was magic in the mix found inside the small bag with the glued on reindeer face and antlers.
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Chicken Soup for
the Soul: Mom Knows Best 101 Stories of Love, Gratitude & Wisdom
Story:Happy Birthday To Us UPDATED JUST IN
(click to read story)
Synopsis: That paradoxical inequity...that I should reap the rewards for her labors (pun intended). Why is it that our moms did all the work and we get the birthday cake? It was time to do something about this birthday recognition business.
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Chicken Soup for
the Soul: My Kind (of) America: 101 Stories
about the True Spirit of Our Country
Story 1: Serving Dinner To Friends
Synopsis: After a disaster, we can’t help, cloth or feed everyone in need, but sometimes, we simply do what we can—finally, I understand this.
Story 2: Please Don't Leave
Synopsis: The work we accomplished in Appalachia,
as always, was important, but this time, the recipient
was a beautiful little butterfly named Dakota.
My daughter, Tracy’s story.
Chicken Soup for
the Soul The Dog Really Did That?:
101 stories of Miracles, Mischief and
Magical Moments
Story: Harry, My First Born
Synopsis: Bringing a child home for the first time is a life altering experience—even if that new child happens to have floppy ears, a snout, four legs and a tail. I learned this the day Karen and I became parents—the day when Harry became a member of our family.
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Chicken Soup forthe Soul My
Very Good Very Bad Dog
Story: Resting at her feet
Synopsis: A tribute to my mom and her "Benny" and the compassion, caring, friendship and love they shared when each needed the other more than ever before.
Chicken Soup for the Father & Son SoulStory: The power of a son's kiss
Synopsis: As my son was “charging full speed towards the inevitable destination known as manhood,” he had reservations about continuing to kiss his dear old dad goodnight.
Chicken Soup for the Soul Thanks Mom
Story: Because you were there
Synopsis: Lessons learned concerning unconditional parental love and my role as a father, provider and protector as taught me
by my mom.
Chicken Soup for the Soul Thanks Dad
Story: My Dad is as Nice as a Fish
Synopsis: As a child, my dad was my hero, but as I grew older this status diminished. But once I became an adult, his status was restored and he'd be my hero for the rest
of his life. Could it be 'like father, like son' today?
I hope so.
Chicken Soup for the Soul Finding my Faith
Story: My God Moment
(click to read story)
Synopsis: Sometimes, when we least expect
it, we have our very own "God moment.”
Chicken Soup for the Soul Answered Prayers
Story 1: Christmas Wish
Synopsis: A wish and a prayer offered very early one Christmas Eve morning asking "...when would He
finally give in and allow us to have children?”
Story 2: God’s Answer
Synopsis: After volunteers had made a home warmer, safer and dryer during a church mission trip, one
teenager had an amazing revelation.
Chicken Soup for the Soul Married Life
Story: For better or worse
Synopsis: Infertility was the sole obstacle to the idyllic life that we’d planned. I knew that we needed to talk about it but my fears demanded otherwise.
Not Your Mother's Book...On Being a Parent
Story: Party shoes and longboards
Synopsis: Some things never change--like the
weird and wonderful habits of my little girl!
Not Your Mother's Book...On Working
for a Living
Story: It was a good place to work
Synopsis: Who would have guessed (certainly not me,) that the job I started shortly after my seventeenth birthday would eventually lead me to the girl I'd one day marry!
Chicken Soup for the Soul Time to Thrive
Story: But you were just a cop
Synopsis: I've been told, "But you were just a cop," as if my previous profession should negate my ability to string together a few sentences into a print-worthy piece. Well, they were mistaken.
Chicken Soup for the Soul Volunteering and Giving Back
Story: A Commitment to Life
Synopsis: Driving through a blizzard to honor my commitment to donate, I thought of myself as a hero--that is until I arrived and found other four other heroes, already hooked up and donating their own blood.