Broken-Down Jalopies and Other Short Stories

Sarah Hellmann understands what it is to be human ... to be simultaneously broken and beautiful, suffering and insightful, full of hope and seeking silver linings. She knows that fragile people sometimes put up tough exteriors and that we are surrounded by men and women who feel "let down" by the world. Her book is for all of us.

Everyday People, Extraordinary Lessons
Some of the most powerful books of our time have been books that tell the truth -- books that give us an insider's view of remarkable lives and tender hearts. Broken-Down Jalopies and Other Short Stories is precisely that kind of book -- a collection of first-person narratives from a woman who has lived a life unlike any other. Sarah Hellmann is the definition of an "in the emotional trenches" leader and human advocate. She's served as a jail chaplain and a champion for people coping with or recovering from addiction, mental illness, sex trafficking, homelessness, and incarceration.

Open this book and join Sarah for an introspective look at the many things that unite us as a human race -- the shared feelings and experiences and needs that far outnumber the things that divide or differentiate us. With complete candor, Sarah shares her journey with mental illness, addiction, and the transformative power of guiding others through their struggles. Join her on a car ride home from prison, find freedom through forgiveness, explore hope as a divine virtue, and learn to celebrate your own genius. Discover generosity of spirit through a shared bag of Funyuns and learn her father's four simple rules to live by. And, in the end, gain an understanding of how perspective can lead you to a happier and more peaceful life.

Life throws us curveballs. We make epic mistakes. We live behind masks and we suffer in silence. We fall down and we get back up again ... and fall down once more. It is that belief that we are not defined by our past decisions or our victimization -- that we are worthy and lovable and capable of courage and greatness -- that makes getting back up again not only possible but inevitable.

A Book That Soothes the Human Spirit
Perhaps you're seeking calm within the storm, perspective during hardship, camaraderie when you're feeling utterly alone, and lessons from unexpected strangers. Perhaps you're "down and out," or have been there, or are grateful to have never truly struggled but wishing you could do more for the world around you. This book is part emotional salve part motivational tool in that you cannot possibly read these stories -- many of which are about the people with whom Sarah has made art as they struggle just to get by - without feeling blessed and hopeful and wanting to do more for the people in your own community and beyond.

With a foreword by award-winning creative nonfiction writer Dr. Kirsti Sandy.