{"title":"Memoir \u0026 Real Stories","description":"\u003cp class=\"media-press__title\"\u003eTrue stories from real lives—honest, raw, and deeply human. These works by Substack authors capture moments of struggle, resilience, growth, and reflection, reminding us that the most powerful stories are the ones lived.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"redicovering-vancouver","title":"Redicovering Vancouver","description":"\u003cp\u003e\"Rediscovering Vancouver\" is a captivating literary voyage through the vibrant city of Vancouver, Canada, as seen through the eyes and words of author John V. Rinaldo. This book is not your typical travel guide; it's a profound exploration of the city's breathtaking natural beauty, rich cultural tapestry, and the author's personal reflections that breathe life into every page.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWith vivid prose and deep insight, Rinaldo invites readers to accompany him on an extraordinary journey. Through his lens, Vancouver's awe-inspiring landscapes, from towering mountains to lush forests, come alive with vivid descriptions and poetic narratives. The city's iconic landmarks and hidden gems are unveiled with a sense of wonder and appreciation that only an author deeply connected to a place can convey.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBut \"Rediscovering Vancouver\" is more than just a visual tour of a stunning destination. It's an intimate exploration of the author's own experiences and reflections as he navigates the city's nooks and crannies. Rinaldo's personal anecdotes, heartfelt musings, and profound insights provide a unique and personal connection to the city, making this book an immersive and deeply moving experience for readers.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"margin-top: 25px; text-align: center;\"\u003e\n  \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/amzn.eu\/d\/01Jm3lW1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" style=\"display: inline-block; background: #ff9900; color: #000; padding: 14px 26px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; border-radius: 6px; font-size: 15px;\"\u003e\n    Buy This Book\n  \u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n","brand":"Inspiro Art Studio by John Rinaldo","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":42638355791962,"sku":"9203839","price":9.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0690\/0780\/2458\/files\/Copyof51ozHHpw8gL._SL1000.jpg?v=1765156587"},{"product_id":"earned-not-given-nothing-in-life-is-handed-to-you-you-fight-for-it","title":"Earned, Not Given","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e“The toughest sale isn’t in the boardroom—it’s in life itself.”\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA father. Three kids. No job. Nowhere to turn—except forward.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn the wake of the 2008 economic crash, John Rinaldo found himself at rock bottom. Newly divorced, unemployed, and struggling to keep his family afloat, he faced rejection after rejection while the bills piled up and hope seemed out of reach.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBut giving up wasn’t an option. With three children depending on him, John knocked on doors, made one more call, and refused to quit—even when the world kept saying no.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eEarned, Not Given\u003c\/em\u003e is more than a story about sales. It’s a raw, honest journey through hardship, resilience, and the relentless fight to rebuild a life when everything seems lost. Told with grit, heart, and hope, it reminds us that success is never handed to us—it is earned through perseverance, courage, and refusing to surrender.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSpecial Offer:\u003c\/strong\u003e Every copy purchased through The Positive Pen Store will be personally signed by John Rinaldo.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"The Positive Pen by John Rinaldo","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":42940867510362,"sku":"3252521","price":9.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0690\/0780\/2458\/files\/61Bs3t2wYxL._SL1499.jpg?v=1771402704"},{"product_id":"drop-and-add-by-rick-bailey","title":"Drop and Add by Rick Bailey","description":"\u003cp\u003eI first discovered Rick Bailey’s Drop and Add while reading about it on Substack and later wrote a story reflecting on the book and its themes. I’m featuring it here because it captures the reality of teaching and the lives of students in a way that feels honest and deeply human. Rick Bailey brings warmth, humor, and insight to a story about education, community, and the search for purpose.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e— John Rinaldo, The Positive Pen\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"margin-top: 25px; text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003ca style=\"display: inline-block; background: #ff9900; color: #000; padding: 14px 26px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; border-radius: 6px; font-size: 15px;\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/amzn.eu\/d\/05QfTQhv\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e Buy This Book \u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"The Pen Store","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":43287365877850,"sku":"3252521","price":11.96,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0690\/0780\/2458\/files\/71oOaYopeiL._SL1499_ab941982-97c5-460f-8f68-e3aaf8beffd4.jpg?v=1777418882"},{"product_id":"forager-by-michelle-dowd","title":"Forager by Michelle Dowd","description":"\u003cp\u003eI’m featuring this book because it’s a powerful reminder of resilience and the human ability to overcome even the most restrictive environments. Michelle Dowd’s story is both difficult and inspiring, showing how strength can be built in the hardest conditions and used to create a path forward.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e— John Rinaldo, The Positive Pen\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"margin-top: 25px; text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003ca style=\"display: inline-block; background: #ff9900; color: #000; padding: 14px 26px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; border-radius: 6px; font-size: 15px;\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/a.co\/d\/0cBiVv6s\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e Buy This Book \u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"The Pen Store","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":43287383965786,"sku":"3252521","price":18.83,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0690\/0780\/2458\/files\/81XrT0d7SkL._SL1500_da2e38e7-f18e-464d-86f0-725df9b12b59.jpg?v=1777419067"},{"product_id":"revealing-the-druid-legacy-by-shellie-enteen-copy","title":"A Feather in Time by Jake Borchardt","description":"\u003cp\u003eOver a year ago I met Jake through Substack and wrote about our interaction. I’m featuring this book because it reminds us that sometimes the most powerful journeys begin with a simple belief that something impossible might still be possible. Jake Borchardt’s story is one of persistence, faith, and the courage to pursue love even when the path forward seems uncertain.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e— John Rinaldo, The Positive Pen\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"margin-top: 25px; text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/amzn.eu\/d\/0dk6ga1I\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" style=\"display: inline-block; background: #ff9900; color: #000; padding: 14px 26px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; border-radius: 6px; font-size: 15px;\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e Buy This Book \u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"The Pen Store","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":43288081072218,"sku":"3252521","price":17.91,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0690\/0780\/2458\/files\/51YibxdnMCL._SY445_SX342_ML2.jpg?v=1777423643"},{"product_id":"the-perfect-voice-by-martin-mccarthy","title":"The Perfect Voice by Martin McCarthy","description":"\u003cp\u003eThere are certain voices that don’t just write songs—they shape generations.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMartin Mc Carthy’s The Perfect Voice does something rare. It doesn’t try to explain Bob Dylan. It moves with him. Through time. Through change. Through everything that made his voice what it is.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWith Dylan’s 85th birthday on May 24, this piece feels especially timely. Not as a celebration of the man alone—but of what his work has meant to so many of us.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is the kind of writing that reminds you why words matter.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e— John Rinaldo, \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Positive Pen\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eJust a quick note: It’s listed at $40 because of the currency conversion rate. Martin McCarthy’s book is priced at £30 internationally, which includes postage and customs. However, readers who contact Martin directly can make special arrangements, and he is happy to accept $30 USD to avoid conversion fees and keep things simple.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"margin-top: 25px; text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/mccarthypoet.com\/store\/#how-to-buy\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" style=\"display: inline-block; background: #ff9900; color: #000; padding: 14px 26px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; border-radius: 6px; font-size: 15px;\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e Buy This Book \u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"The Pen Store","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":43324112797786,"sku":"3252521","price":40.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0690\/0780\/2458\/files\/ContemporaryArteBookCover_3.jpg?v=1778114839"},{"product_id":"the-shamans-wife","title":"The Shaman's Wife by Alicia M. Rodriguez","description":"\u003cp\u003eThis is a journey of surrender.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNot the kind that gives up—but the kind that lets go of what no longer serves, so something truer can emerge.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf you’ve ever felt called to something deeper—something beyond what you can explain—this story will meet you there.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTake your time with it. Let it unfold the way all real transformation does: slowly, honestly, and from within.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e— John Rinaldo, The Positive Pen\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"margin-top: 25px; text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/a.co\/d\/0eyTU8ne\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" style=\"display: inline-block; background: #ff9900; color: #000; padding: 14px 26px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; border-radius: 6px; font-size: 15px;\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e Buy This Book \u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"The Pen Store","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":43436673630298,"sku":"3252521","price":11.49,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0690\/0780\/2458\/files\/Contemporary_Art_eBook_Cover_1_e0fba096-2094-4a15-b5bd-6ac27431c3d2.jpg?v=1780166891"},{"product_id":"born-from-the-ashes-by-elle-abbott","title":"Born from the Ashes by Elle Abbott","description":"\u003cp\u003eIf you are here, you are not alone.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThere is no right way to grieve. No timeline to follow. No expectation to meet.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTake this book slowly. Return to it when you need it. Skip what doesn’t feel right. Hold onto what does.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis space was created for you—to remember, to feel, and to gently find your way forward, carrying love with you.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e— John Rinaldo, The Positive Pen\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"margin-top: 25px; text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/a.co\/d\/01n5Nmbm\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" style=\"display: inline-block; background: #ff9900; color: #000; padding: 14px 26px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; border-radius: 6px; font-size: 15px;\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e Buy This Book \u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"The Pen Store","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":43436707315802,"sku":"3252521","price":15.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0690\/0780\/2458\/files\/81ZxzKqPUtL._SL1500_d76698c3-9ae1-4da2-b659-2f57e19c9bb7.jpg?v=1780167204"},{"product_id":"real-life-resurrection-by-craig-sefa","title":"Real Life Resurrection by Craig Sefa","description":"\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eReal Life Resurrection\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e is an inspiring Christian book about faith, renewal, personal transformation, and finding hope through life's most difficult seasons.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThrough a powerful retelling of Christ's resurrection and the true story of two United Methodist churches navigating change, this book explores what it means to let go, trust God, and embrace new beginnings.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBlending biblical reflection, spiritual growth, church renewal, and personal testimony, author David Gilleland invites readers to discover that resurrection is more than a historical event—it is a reality that can be lived today.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePerfect for readers seeking Christian inspiration, spiritual encouragement, church leadership insights, and hope during times of transition.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eResurrection is not just something we believe. It's something we can live.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e— John Rinaldo, \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe Positive Pen\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"margin-top: 25px; text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/a.co\/d\/081sZaui\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" style=\"display: inline-block; background: #ff9900; color: #000; padding: 14px 26px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; border-radius: 6px; font-size: 15px;\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e Buy This Book \u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"The Pen Store","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":43436728287322,"sku":"3252521","price":17.98,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0690\/0780\/2458\/files\/71Eus3_WZ6L._SL1499_0706a757-5517-47a6-bb31-e2a483355290.jpg?v=1780167204"},{"product_id":"3-ingredient-cookies-by-shanna-lea","title":"3-Ingredient Cookies by Shanna Lea","description":"\u003cp\u003e3-Ingredient Cookies by Shanna Lea is the perfect cookbook for busy bakers who want quick, easy, and delicious homemade cookies without a long shopping list.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFeaturing 30 simple cookie recipes made with just three ingredients, this beginner-friendly baking book helps you create tasty treats in minutes using everyday pantry staples. From Peanut Butter Cookies and Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies to Oreo Balls and Lemon Cake Mix Cookies, there's a recipe for every craving and occasion.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePerfect for families, budget-conscious bakers, holiday gatherings, potlucks, and last-minute desserts, these easy cookie recipes prove that great baking doesn't have to be complicated.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf you're looking for simple baking recipes, easy desserts, budget-friendly treats, and quick homemade cookies, 3-Ingredient Cookies is a must-have addition to your cookbook collection.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e— John Rinaldo, The Positive Pen\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"margin-top: 25px; text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003ca style=\"display: inline-block; background: #ff9900; color: #000; padding: 14px 26px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; border-radius: 6px; font-size: 15px;\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/a.co\/d\/0bmzs0Nr\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e Buy This Book \u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"The Pen Store","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":43446353887322,"sku":"3252521","price":12.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0690\/0780\/2458\/files\/61Q95nHKA8L._SL1499.png?v=1780446670"}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0690\/0780\/2458\/collections\/personal_48b28a32-d875-486e-868d-39dedf84e8dd.png?v=1777428741","url":"https:\/\/thepositivepen.store\/collections\/poetry-reflection-copy.oembed","provider":"The Pen Store","version":"1.0","type":"link"}