The Sandbox: A Memoir: Childhood, War, & Relearning Life After Injury and Illness

(Paperback)

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50% OF PROCEEDS GO TO WOUNDED WARRIOR PROJECT. From the six-year-old sending lyrics to record labels, to the teenager trying to find myself, to the tribulations of the war and then relearning music, writing, and life after injury, I created The Sandbox to invite you into my experiences. I hope to help comrades heal, families and caregivers understand and cope, and civilians to educate about the human experience on the battlefield and the life-changing aftermath the military soul encompasses. This first book is my gift to you and your loved ones. I hope that my childhood years of knowing everything and my adult life relearning that I knew nothing until now, will invite you on a journey of innocence into the rawness of the life of a soldier. Thank you for being here in this space with me. I am truly humbled.

Reviews

Angie Lupe is a standout writer whom I've worked with for several years. She has done a deep dive into her soul and spirit rises in all her work. She'll move you in your own emotional landscape and land you wondering. That's what her work does, it inspires the reader to think and imagine possibilities. Her narratives are gripping, and her poetry is untraditionally gentle and tough. You'll be delighted by sound, image, theme and you may be profoundly moved. It's in your hands.
She has given me many gifts and one is so simple: love who you are and use your gifts generously. With gratitude, I introduce you to Angie Lupe and her work. Go lightly but don't take her lightly.
Anne Foley Alper
MA Holistic Counseling
Expressive Arts Consultant Tamalpa Institute
Writing coach inspired by Amherst Writers & Artists

Author Bio

Angie Lupe was born in Albany, NY on 1-7-76. Being a true bicentennial baby, instilled with love, respect, and patriotism, a life in the military seemed only natural.
Angie joined the Army in 1999 after working 2-3 jobs while earning her Associates degree and working on her Bachelor's degree. Pre-military, she was also a freelance writer, song writer, singer, and musician.
In 2003, she was deployed to Iraq, with the invasion. She didn't know where they were going until mid-flight and her orders got extended every three months to equal 14 months total. As a primary saw gunner and combat medic, Angie and her comrades covered Baghdad and Mosul. She sustained multiple injuries to include TBI, PTSD, MST, hearing loss, and ultimately a form of ALS called PLS.
Coming home as a female combat veteran in 2004, she felt isolated and misunderstood. As her neurological injuries progressed, she attempted suicide. This failed attempt became her greatest strength, as she found purpose through family and helping her comrades heal through Wounded Warrior Project (WWP). Her love and longing for music and writing became center stage and she has been relearning ever since.
Angie has written more than 30 songs and with the guidance and expertise from WWP, Music Therapist Mark Ahola, she performs at open mics to help her comrades heal and educate civilians. Through CreatiVets, she co-wrote the song "Stand Up For Us," which was sung by Bella Hudson and released nationally in 2022. Angie has also earned awards and recognition for her writing and music from multiple contests and organizations as well as completed her Bachelor's degree.
Angie resides in Troy, NY with her wife Dorothy, their son Gage, Dorothy's mom Nancy, her cats, her newly-loved snails, and her precious service dog Sgt. Yogi. Also her brother John, who is her best friend, lives less than 1 mile away.
Angie credits any success to her family, comrades, and unconditional supporters Anne Alper, Sheri Bartel, and Mark Ahola.
She expressed intense gratitude for programs like WWP, Semper Fi Fund, and Neuro Community Care LLC, without whom none of this would come to fruition.
50% of proceeds from this book will go to Wounded Warrior Project and 50% saved towards her next book.

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Special thanks to Michelle Ward and Summer Fuller for their typing assistance, input, and humor.