🏆 Mental Health Encouragement Book Award Winner.
Honoring William A. Stephens Jr. Author of The Broken Mirror. Some books are written to be read.
Others are written to save lives. The Broken Mirror is the latter. The second of two things mentioned... Example: "Between Hope and Fear"
Retired Army Sergeant First Class William A. Stephens Jr. has never turned away from pain—his own or that of others. Book Two of the 1821 Productions series, The Broken Mirror is a raw, courageous, and deeply compassionate work that stands as both a mental-health guide and a lifeline for those battling inner demons—especially veterans navigating the difficult transition from military to civilian life.
Nominated for the Eric Hoffer Award 2025 for Excellence in Independent Publishing, and already a double winner at the March 2025 International Impact Book Awards in Military Self-Help and Self-Development, this book continues to prove its impact. But accolades are not why it matters.
It matters because every single day, 22 veterans and their loved ones die by suicide.
And William refuses to stay silent.
In his own words, he is “the voice of the voiceless.” And he lives that truth.
William has been through hell and back—and instead of closing the door on that pain, he opens Pandora’s box so others don’t have to suffer alone. He shares his story of trauma, survival, and hard-won hope with unflinching honesty. This is not a polished memoir meant to impress; it is a psychological tool for life’s toolbox—something to reach for when the weight becomes too heavy to carry alone.
One of the most powerful moments in The Broken Mirror is William’s apology to his daughter—a two-time world champion—for the years he lost to heavy medication, years when trauma clouded his ability to be fully present. That vulnerability transforms this book from a story into a reckoning—and from a reckoning into healing.
And even then, William’s heart turns outward.
Every purchase of this book—softcover, hardcover, or Kindle—goes directly into his daughter’s private account for her future. This is not about profit. It is about legacy. About repairing what trauma tried to steal. About choosing love, responsibility, and hope.
What makes William truly extraordinary is not only what he has survived, but how he lives now.
He is a tireless mental health advocate who rarely speaks about his own pain unless it can help someone else. He does not complain about his life. He listens. He encourages. He shows up. Again and again, he extends kindness to those in need—often placing others’ struggles ahead of his own.
That is why The Broken Mirror deserves the Mental Health Encouragement Book Award.
Because this book does more than tell a story—it stands guard for those still fighting battles no one can see. It offers understanding instead of judgment, tools instead of platitudes, and hope without denying pain.
Retired Army Sergeant First Class William A. Stephens Jr. embodies resilience, service beyond the uniform, and compassion forged through adversity. His voice matters. His message saves lives. And his work reminds us all that even when the mirror feels shattered, reflection—and healing—are still possible.
Congratulations, William. Your courage, kindness, and unwavering commitment to others make this honor not only deserved, but deeply meaningful.
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