Tamara L. Lesley's 'A Chosen Journey' Explores Recovery and Hope at BIBF 2026
Sep 23, 2026
Explora Books presented ‘A Chosen Journey: A Self-Help Guide to Abuse and Addiction’ by Tamara L. Lesley at the 2026 Beijing International Book Fair (BIBF), held June 17–21 at the China National Convention Center (CNCC) in Beijing.
Vancouver, British Columbia Sep 23, 2026 (Issuewire.com) - Displayed at Booth 5A.B14, the book formed part of Explora Books' international showcase of independent authors, introducing a novel that blends fiction, personal testimony, and self-help guidance informed by Lesley's personal experiences with addiction and loss.
A Chosen Journey follows Jenna Cramer, a farm wife in rural North Carolina silenced by a violent husband, and Bree, a young woman hospitalized by addiction. Each escapes her circumstances and rebuilds her life before the two are reunited as counselors at a Winston-Salem hospital, guiding others toward the recovery they once needed themselves. Supporting characters, including Mrs. White, Dan Johnson, May, and Jake, surround Jenna and Bree with the compassion the novel presents as essential to healing. The story also carries the weight of Lesley's own life. She has said the novel emerged through automatic writing after the 2015 death of her son, who unknowingly used heroin laced with fentanyl. The book is dedicated to his memory.
The fair's 40th-anniversary edition brought together over 1,700 exhibitors from 82 countries and regions, with the United Arab Emirates serving as Guest of Honor under the theme "Community and People." That theme found a fitting echo in A Chosen Journey, a book built around the idea that recovery from abuse and addiction rarely happens alone. Jenna and Bree's transformation from patients to counselors offered a narrative counterpart to a fair exploring what community can mean in practice. Even amid programming focused on artificial intelligence and cross-media rights, organizers also pointed to a parallel current in Chinese publishing: nonfiction titles addressing emotional well-being have been among the country's fastest-growing categories, according to WeChat's 2026 World Book Day Reading Report. With its self-help focus and direct appeal to readers navigating trauma and recovery, A Chosen Journey aligned with that broader trend.
The novel's spiritual dimension, including its treatment of prayer and the concept of "walk-ins," gave the book a distinctive place among the fair's self-help titles, framing recovery as a matter of both practical support and inner conviction. Through its dedication, Lesley presents the book not simply as a story, but as an invitation to choose hope, recovery, and renewal. That message resonated with a fair whose anniversary theme emphasized the importance of community, dialogue, and shared human experience.
A Chosen Journey: A Self-Help Guide to Abuse and Addiction is available through Amazon and other major digital bookstores.
About Explora Books
Explora Books is a book marketing firm located in the heart of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The company specializes in self-publishing and marketing, taking pride in its exhaustive research and creative strategies that provide wider avenues for aspiring authors to gain recognition for their works. Explora Books aims to guide authors through the complexities of self-publishing, offering convenient solutions to navigate this process. The firm fosters and redefines creativity and innovation, setting new industry standards. Explora Books is dedicated to empowering authors globally.
Media Contact
Explora Books Ltd
(604) 259-9775
700 – 838 West Hastings St.
Source :Explora Books
This article was originally published by IssueWire. Read the original article here.
More News
KPop Demon Hunters’ Ejae weds Samuel Kim in Seoul, but what do we know about him?
South Korean songstress Ejae, who found global fame after lending her voice to Netflix’s 2025 animated film, KPop Demon Hunters, recently tied the knot with her long-time partner, Samuel Kim, on October 17. Ejae, whose real name is Kim Eun-jae, wore a custom Danielle Frankel bridal gown for the ceremony, while her groom wore a classic tuxedo by Bhambi, a New York City-based custom tailor. The newlyweds’ nuptials were featured in Vogue and were reportedly held at Stage 28 in Seoul’s Gangdong...
How Gab Waller sources sold-out luxury for the likes of Hailey Bieber and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley
Anyone who’s seen the dreaded words “sold out” while navigating the endless scroll of online shopping – or worse, heard those very same words after hours spent queuing outside a store – should have Gab Waller on speed dial. Where some may see those words for what they are, Waller sees an invitation to dig even deeper to find the coveted item you want, whether it’s the hottest accessory this season – she recently cited Alaïa’s Le Teckel suede clutch and Dior’s Médaillon belt as new must-haves –...
A Hong Kong duplex regains light and space after renovation restores a 5.8-metre ceiling
Holding on to a newspaper cutting for years reminded Sarah and Jeff Lee of whom to contact when the time came to renovate their 3,100 sq ft (288 square metre) 1980s Repulse Bay duplex. Several years ago, designer Peggy Bels answered that call. The couple, who have lived there for two-plus decades, told Bels they admired her work. They described their home as a place where conversation-fuelled dinner parties stretch well into the night and house guests are frequent. How could Bels improve...
Pope Leo XIV needs no further lung cancer treatment, Vatican says
Pope Leo XIV, 71, will require no further treatment for lung cancer after tests confirmed the disease was localised, the Vatican said Wednesday. The pontiff underwent surgery last week to remove part of his right lung after being diagnosed with adenocarcinoma. He was discharged Saturday and will gradually resume activities.
41 Things To Make You Feel Like A Type A Traveler, Even If You're More Like A Type F
You're not bad at traveling; you just lack the right tools. View Entire Post ›
Holiday Travel Swiftly Approaches: Grab These 56 Things Now So You’re Not Panicking Next Month
If you have little kids and are unfamiliar with water-painting books...they are a total game changer. View Entire Post ›
JOALI Maldives: Holidays Come with an Island – and a Clock – of Their Own
The island runs on Island Time, a time that feels entirely independent from the typical demands of your life The post JOALI Maldives: Holidays Come with an Island – and a Clock – of Their Own appeared first on Business Traveller.
America Mints a New National Park, Elevating an Arizonan ‘Sky Island’
After years of bipartisan effort, the former Chiricahua National Monument, in southeast Arizona, has become the United States’ 64th national park.
Clayface review: DC spin-off delivers a grisly, vengeance-fuelled body-horror thriller
3.5/5 stars From Venom and Morbius to Birds of Prey and The New Mutants, elevating side characters to centre stage in Marvel and DC comic-book adaptations rarely takes flight. Clayface, however, is an exception. Set in the Gotham underworld, the new film features no sign – or even mention – of Batman, but no matter. A grisly but delicious tale of Hollywood excess, this DC thriller is part crime, part horror and certainly not one for the squeamish. Tom Rhys Harries (Suspicion) stars as Matt...
Fears of a pan-African Ebola crisis growing as fourth country reports first case
As Nigeria reports its first case of Ebola, fears are growing that the epidemic that started in the Democratic Republic of Congo in May could be on the verge of becoming a bigger regional crisis.
Porter Just Dropped A Cool New Merch Collection, And We Want It All
Your fave airline just got a stylish new upgrade. View Entire Post ›
Boeing 737 MAX 10 Wins FAA Approval: What’s Next?
Boeing’s biggest MAX was supposed to arrive in 2020. Six years, nearly 1,000 test flights and several certification crises later, the MAX 10 can finally start reaching airline fleets. The post Boeing 737 MAX 10 Wins FAA Approval: What’s Next? appeared first on Business Traveller.
Recommended
YOUR NEWS, OUR NETWORK.
Do you have Great News you want to tell the world?
Be it updates about your business or your community, you can make sure that it’s heard by submitting your story to our network reaching hundreds of news sites across 6 verticals.