From an early age, Laurada Byers questioned her sense of self. A series of crises including the murder of her husband while she stood mere feet away, and bouts with cancer, Parkinson's and PTSD, cast that doubt in a new, terrifying urgency. Suddenly, instead of feeling daunted by endless possibility, Laurada became paralyzed by a fear that she had no choice- she was always destined for tragedy.
Revisiting key turning points at various life stages, Laurada came to realize that her afflictions were not in fact the defining moments of her life. Where she ultimately finds freedom is in her reactions to these traumatic events. Laurada reveals how she found her footing through grief, and discovered her true identity in her resilience. Her story is captured through the movements of a scrappy warthog on the ruthless African savanna - who, full of warts and full of flaws, climbs out of its hole to face life head on-- with tail up!
Wild Wisdom--A Warthog's Tale is a beautifully illustrated graphic memoir that describes an uncommon life and the universal epiphanies that emerged from its hardships. Filled with humorously digestible visions of personal transformation, inspiration for overcoming obstacles, and love after loss, its rare honesty and grit is motivation for anyone who's ever wallowed in the mud (and sometimes even enjoyed it).
Laurada Byers has braved cancer, Parkinson's disease, and PTSD. She is the founder of the Russell Byers Charter School, which she opened in 2001 with her children, Alison Byers and Russell Byers Jr., as a tribute to her late husband, a well-known Philadelphia Daily News columnist who was murdered by her side at a convenience store in 1999. Laurada is also the founder of Warthog Productions-named after her favorite animal, who unabashedly bears life's ugly for all to see. As a published author of Book of Blessings-Graces from Around the World and Wild Wisdom-A Warthog's Tale, she connects to contemporary women and men alike through her focus on grief, grit, and gratitude.
Natalie Hays Stewart (@artn_at) created the illustrations for Wild Wisdom from her terra cotta sunroom filled with green ferns, orchids and elephant ears. She is a world traveler with a portfolio of artwork, photography, and film that spans from music videos in Seychelles to documentaries in Bhutan. She has received several awards, including "Best Directing," "Best Editing" and "Best Writing" by the 48 Hour Film Festival and most recently exhibited her paintings at Pittsburgh's Kaffeehaus. Natalie is also a certified birth doula and childbirth educator, balancing her time in the studio with supporting women during labor and breastfeeding. "As an artist and a doula, I feel blessed to intimately witness so many stories-they begin from the day we're born and they all deserve to be told."
Natalie Hays Stewart (@artn_at) created the illustrations for Wild Wisdom from her terra cotta sunroom filled with green ferns, orchids and elephant ears. She is a world traveler with a portfolio of artwork, photography, and film that spans from music videos in Seychelles to documentaries in Bhutan. She has received several awards, including "Best Directing," "Best Editing" and "Best Writing" by the 48 Hour Film Festival and most recently exhibited her paintings at Pittsburgh's Kaffeehaus. Natalie is also a certified birth doula and childbirth educator, balancing her time in the studio with supporting women during labor and breastfeeding. "As an artist and a doula, I feel blessed to intimately witness so many stories-they begin from the day we're born and they all deserve to be told."
