Book Spotlight & Giveaway: My Bully, My Aunt, and her Final Gift by Harold Phifer

 

Aunt Kathy made his childhood miserable—now her funeral might just set him free.

In this wickedly funny and deeply honest memoir, Harold Phifer revisits the chaos of growing up under the thumb of a domineering aunt who ruled with twisted wisdom and unpredictable wrath. As he plans her awkward memorial, Hal finds healing in the most unexpected place: her absence. My Bully, My Aunt, and Her Final Gift is a heartfelt journey through trauma, truth, and the strange gifts we inherit from those who hurt us most.

Read an excerpt

Very few parishioners had vehicles, so she was an easy choice. However, accepting a ride from Aunt Kathy came at a heavy price. Passengers had to endure constant verbal assaults while present in her car. Even Jerry got involved in those character assassinations. 

On one occasion, with both Jerry and me crammed in the back seat of Aunt Kathy’s Crown Victoria, along with a big basket of food, which we were forbidden to touch, Aunt Kathy set out to pick up Deacon Hunter. 

As soon as the old man settled in, Jerry wasted no time repeating what he had gathered from Aunt Kathy prior to the lift. “You need to get your own car!” 

Of course, Aunt Kathy tried to laugh it off and then replied, “Kids say the darndest things. I don’t know where my baby boy got that.”

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Harold Phifer was born in the rebellious South of Columbus, Mississippi. As a kid, he worked the streets, hustled the neighbors, and bused tables at bars he didn’t belong in. After graduating from Caldwell High School, he went on to earn degrees from Mississippi State and Jackson State Universities. He became an Air Traffic Controller in Memphis, Tennessee, but after 23 years, he sought purpose elsewhere—working as an international contractor alongside soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan. After narrowly escaping the Taliban takeover in 2021, he took refuge at Guantanamo Bay and resumed his writing while continuing his work as a controller. In 2024, he returned to the Middle East, where he continues to write about life, love, and the human spirit. 

Visit Harold online at:

https://x.com/hephifer 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/harold-phifer-093b4091

https://www.facebook.com/HaroldPhifer2024

https://www.instagram.com/haroldphifer2024

https://riseandread.com

Harold Phifer will be awarding a 

$15 Starbucks gift card to

 a randomly drawn winner.

a Rafflecopter giveaway