Amazon Best-Seller

Appalachian Kid

How Hope Changed Everything

A story about the importance of kindness and mentorship, overcoming adversity and addiction, finding faith and hope, and helping those in need.

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Synopsis

My name is John Boyle, author of Appalachian Kid. This is my first book. I wrote it to help people. My story showcases the importance of kindness and mentorship, overcoming adversity and addiction, finding faith and hope, and helping those in need.

Growing up in the mountains of West Virginia is an experience like no other. Yet outsider depictions of the Mountain State remain woefully inaccurate. Yes, it is a place where poverty and hardship are a daily reality. However, the examples of compassion I’ve observed there, such as people stepping up to give to others when it meant they might not have anything for themselves, would warm any soul. In recent years, our population’s means of employment have been taken away by regulation. When this happened, hope turned to despair. And, believe me, despair has cut a wide swath. All signs lead to one cause – a lack of economic opportunity.

Similar to this bleak outlook, success wasn’t in the forecast for me projected by “those in the know.” Earlier in my life I was consistently told that I wouldn’t amount to anything. I was told that I was a terrible student, that I didn’t have the intelligence to attend college and I was told that I had no future. All along, there was significantly more to the story than my earlier educators and family ever realized.

Experiencing childhood trauma and abuse firsthand has impacted every day of my life. The resulting mess was and still is a bitter pill to swallow. I’ve felt the burden of “living a lie” for the longest time.

How does one handle a family matter when everyone else wants to brush the truth of what happened under the rug? I didn’t sign up for what had happened to me. As I grew older, I felt discounted. I felt as if I were blemished, and therefore not lovable.

My journey, now an upward climb, has mired for years in not knowing where to turn and being embarrassed about the inner workings of my mind. The pain I’ve experienced in my journey through the storm has presented quite the challenge – a mental disorder known as complex post-traumatic stress disorder. It has taken several decades to learn to manage my resulting symptoms. The internal adversity has never ceased.

This book is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit. It is also a testament to the miracles God has performed in my life. For anyone who has ever struggled with addiction, trauma, abuse, or the weight of life’s hardships, this book offers a message of hope and a path to healing. It is a reminder that we are all connected and that even in the bleakest of moments, we can find the courage and strength to persevere. This book will touch your heart and stay with you long after you turn the final page.

Testimonials

What Readers are Saying

It has often been said that everyone has a book inside him or her just waiting to get out. Well, this extraordinary journey of John Boyle takes readers on a ride from Appalachia to the extraordinary Kiski School to Harvard Business School. And it truly is an adventure in which a person can appreciate the struggles, challenges, and joys John has endured. I have never read anything quite like it and hope others will enjoy the life-affirming anecdotes shared on these pages.

The strongest steel is forged in the hottest fire, and success is often born from setbacks and adversity. While these adages are well-understood in leadership, they are seldom the themes that are candidly covered in publications - until now. Appalachian Kid reminds us that faith, mentorship, and the recognition that we all have something to contribute are the keys to success, ultimately transforming problems into possibilities and dreams into realities.

It has been said, ‘Success is not final. Failure is not fatal. It is the courage to continue that counts.’ John Boyle’s book, Appalachian Kid, is a compelling account of his courage to continue—and how that courage has helped him in life and business. People throughout Appalachia, and West Virginians in particular, know and appreciate personal resilience when they see it. They will see it in this book.

This memoir is a powerful testament to the importance of community, faith, family, and connection. It reminds us that everyone has a story worth telling, no matter where they come from. I highly recommend Appalachian Kid to anyone who enjoys memoirs, coming-of-age stories, or simply a great book.

A heartbreaking journey through unimaginable trauma shared rawly is a humble invitation to love. John’s account moves him from victim to victor while he finds hope, faith, and support.As he travels the reader recognizes that this is the love of an unending God.

Appalachian Kid is raw, real, and relevant for anyone who has experienced family or relational struggles…. I believe that covers just about all of us. John shares his journey with vulnerability and transparency, yielding quite an impactful story. I love his writing style!

Appalachian Kid is not just a story of John’s hardships, misunderstandings, and failures in his family, his business, and his life… it’s a story of hope. As John finally placed his hope in the right thing, God, he was able to forgive and find freedom. That’s hope that changes everything! What a great read and reminder for all of us!

John writes a gripping memoir from an overcomer’s perspective: Vivid memories from abuses he suffered in his most formative years were unable to overshadow his resilience and perseverance. The author credits the people put in his path for the success he has achieved, not just as a businessman, but as one who has made it his mission to understand the pain. John conquered his battles with God’s wisdom, and today, Appalachian Kid offers others the tangible hope the author has learned to embrace.

My friend John ‘Hamilton’ Boyle has written a book that will serve many people to learn the value of moral fortitude, awareness of dignity, forgiveness, tireless work, friendship, and hope.

As an Appalachian kid myself, it is stories like John’s that inspires us to tell our own story and they help build hope in each of us that we can accomplish great things no matter what challenges we may face.

Appalachian Kid is a moving, candid, humorous, and uplifting book that is, ultimately, about what it really means to be a good person. And it’s a ripping good read. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll be inspired.

John Boyle’s powerful memoir of a life spent overcoming obstacles to find the true meaning of success is an uplifting testament to the human spirit and the grace of God. This is a meditation on hope and love and unqualified forgiveness – of self and all others.

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Guest Speaking Engagements | General Inquiries

John Boyle is available for speaking engagements on a wide range of topics drawn from his personal journey and professional experience. From childhood trauma, Complex PTSD, and addiction recovery to faith, mentorship, and overcoming adversity, John speaks with honesty and compassion to audiences seeking hope and healing. He also offers expertise in business strategy, operational effectiveness, and board leadership, along with insights into Appalachian life and the highway construction industry. Whether you're interested in booking John for an event, have a media inquiry, or simply want to share your own story, he'd love to hear from you. Fill out the contact form to start the conversation.

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