One Step Closer: How a Life-Altering Accident Led Me to Everything I Almost Missed

Atkins, creator of the Flat on My Back blog, debuts with an inspired account of how he discovered “hope is possible no matter the circumstances” while recovering from a car accident that left him quadriplegic. He recounts his life story before and after the accident, which occurred when he was 21, narrating how he struggled physically and mentally to adjust to his new circumstances, found his way back to religion, met his wife, and maintained a sense of purpose and optimism. Atkins takes the reader into his mind every step of the way, showing great vulnerability as he details periods of hopelessness, his initial insecurity about his romantic relationship, and his reflections on the shallowness of his life before the accident. Though the ending is rushed, the work is well-structured and teases out Atkins’ personal evolution in straightforward prose that centers his determination and optimism: “I vowed to push through the resistance and venture down the path of whatever journey God had in store for me.” This will inspire hope in any reader. (Self-published)