Author Stephanie Hart Releases 'Mirror, Mirror', An Inspirational Book That Can Help Dysfunctional Families Overcome Past Challenges

SHALLOTTE, NC, October 20, 2012 (Press-News.org) Eric Hoffer Award Finalist Stephanie Hart has released her third book, 'Mirror, Mirror: A Collection of Memoirs and Stories'. This inspirational book motivates the reader to see the past not as an obstacle to be overcome, but rather as a present catalyst for personal growth. The book has drawn rave reviews from industry reviewers including Foreword Reviews and Kirkus Reviews.

Hart's latest work is a seamless blend of both real and imagined memories. It is a motivational book filled with inspirational stories in which readers will see their own lives reflected in a series of compelling vignettes. Readers will be given the opportunity to reflect on their own stories and personal narratives. The work will be especially pertinent to those raised in dysfunctional families.

"I wrote this book," stated Ms. Hart, "because I wanted to honor and transcend my difficult past. The writing process was a journey of discovery and enlightenment. People and places came alive to me in a way, which was both familiar and totally new. I couldn't wait to find out what would happen next. I want to share that excitement with my readers."

'Mirror, Mirror' takes the reader from Manhattan in the 1950's to Moscow in the 1800's, then back to the twenty-first century. Hart bares her soul by inviting readers into her world: her magical and unsettling early childhood by the sea, her years spent as the only Jewish girl in a Presbyterian boarding school, her urban high school years during which conflict with her mercurial and charismatic mother reaches a crescendo, and the weight of her father's anger and the unrealized dreams that press down upon her. While acknowledging the mirror of the past, she shows us the love and friendship reflected in her current life, celebrating the generative power of each moment to transform experience.

"I believe readers will enjoy this book," Hart continued, "because each vignette is a compelling story in itself. The stories come together to create a powerful narrative. Readers will relate to my experiences and see their own lives reflected in them. They will be inspired to hold up a mirror to the past so they can walk more courageously into the future."

Foreword Reviews stated, "[R]eflective readers, who seek artistic healing of the common hurts of growing up and growing older, will find that Mirror Mirror speaks powerfully." Kirkus Reviews stated "... Each section reads as though she intuitively regressed to capture the emotional mindset of whatever age she was recalling. She also reveals how she rose above the negativity and eventually realized her authentic self. The stories culled from her memory, as well as the way in which they're analyzed and organized, map a process of overcoming childhood adversity. A hopeful, finely rendered portrait of a dysfunctional family and its effects on the author."

Stephanie Hart is available for media interviews and can be reached using the information below or by email at hart.stephanie47@gmail.com 'Mirror, Mirror' is available at Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble, Powell's Books, Indie Bound, Hart's website and other online book outlets. Kindle and Nook versions are available.

Stephanie Hart teaches writing at the Fashion Institute of Technology and Parsons The New School for Design in New York City. Her third book, 'Mirror Mirror: A Collection of Memoirs and Stories', expands upon the series of fast- paced vignettes presented in 'Clouds Like Horses and Other Stories'. A member of Poets and Writers, and the Authors Guild, her stories and essays have appeared in anthologies such as Mondo James Dean, The Best Stories from ducts.org, and literary magazines including The Sun, Jewish Currents, And Then, and ducts.org. She is the author of a young adult novel, 'Is There Any Way Out of the Sixth Grade?'