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Published by Post Hill Press
Distributed by Simon & Schuster
Table of Contents
About The Book
One man has committed murder while another man tries to heal his trauma.
A gripping true story exploring violence, mental health, and trauma, A Life for a Life follows Kevin Shird and Damion Neal who meet as inmates in Federal Correctional Institute Allenwood. Kevin is serving time for drug trafficking, and he suffers from severe nightmares and sleep deprivation due to past traumas and copes through rigorous exercise instead of medication. He tries to guide Damion, a temperamental young man, hoping to keep him out of trouble in a dangerous environment and reunite him with his young daughter.
In 2004, Kevin is transferred to another prison while Damion is released from Allenwood and returns to Baltimore. Two years later, Kevin also returns to Baltimore, where he uses writing as therapy to heal from the trauma of the past. Surprisingly, a mental health worker suggests he may have Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Kevin hopes Damion has successfully reintegrated into society and returned to his family. However, one afternoon, he searches for Damion online and finds a newspaper article that reads, “Delaware State Police have arrested Damion Neal, the man responsible for the deaths of two Dover residents over the weekend.” Court documents allege that Damion was suffering from a serious mental health ailment at the time of the murders. Kevin goes on a journey to understand why his former cellmate committed a heinous crime.
A gripping true story exploring violence, mental health, and trauma, A Life for a Life follows Kevin Shird and Damion Neal who meet as inmates in Federal Correctional Institute Allenwood. Kevin is serving time for drug trafficking, and he suffers from severe nightmares and sleep deprivation due to past traumas and copes through rigorous exercise instead of medication. He tries to guide Damion, a temperamental young man, hoping to keep him out of trouble in a dangerous environment and reunite him with his young daughter.
In 2004, Kevin is transferred to another prison while Damion is released from Allenwood and returns to Baltimore. Two years later, Kevin also returns to Baltimore, where he uses writing as therapy to heal from the trauma of the past. Surprisingly, a mental health worker suggests he may have Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Kevin hopes Damion has successfully reintegrated into society and returned to his family. However, one afternoon, he searches for Damion online and finds a newspaper article that reads, “Delaware State Police have arrested Damion Neal, the man responsible for the deaths of two Dover residents over the weekend.” Court documents allege that Damion was suffering from a serious mental health ailment at the time of the murders. Kevin goes on a journey to understand why his former cellmate committed a heinous crime.
Product Details
- Publisher: Post Hill Press (May 14, 2025)
- Length: 240 pages
- ISBN13: 9798888458440
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Raves and Reviews
“A talented writer, Shird weaves several threads together in a compelling case for greater access to mental health counseling in prison and destigmatizing therapy.”
– Baltimore Magazine
“The challenges faced by individuals reintegrating into society after incarceration are profound, particularly for persons of color and those who historically have been deprived of mental health services and supports. Kevin Shird's book, A Life for a Life: Poor Choices and Unresolved Trauma is Killing America, explores how trauma, before, during, and after incarceration shapes the lives of those transitioning back home. The experiences of incarceration, PTSD, moral injury, and the societal stigma attached to a criminal record can significantly impact mental health, potentially leading to recurring cycles of recidivism if left unaddressed.
Despite these adversities, Shird's narrative exemplifies that with resilience, mental health assistance, and a reliable support system, other returning citizens can begin healing and making positive contributions to their communities like he is doing. This is a must read book that offers a pathway toward better understanding those directly impacted by incarceration and those seeking insight into the immeasurable benefits of a mentally healthy nation for all.”
– Rawle Andrews Jr., Esq., Executive Director, American Psychiatric Association Foundation. President, The Bar Association of D.C.
“A Life For A Life is a story of redemption—a modern day Icarus. I remember my counsellor making me read Manchild in the Promised Land by Claude Brown before giving me a furlough to come home from juvenile detention. It was in the spirit of Curtis Mayfield’s “Little Child Running Wild.”
PTSD comes in many forms whether fighting a war in a foreign land or urban streets. As a young man I’ve experienced it all. When you sleep at night those are the dreams as well as the nightmares you have to deal with. It takes a special person to come out of these war torn communities whole. We have our own purple hearts and our own memorial for fallen soldiers. Look at the murals on the walls of bodegas around the country. There’s a story behind every one; a boulevard of broken dreams.”
– Markuann Smith, Executive Producer of the hit television series Godfather of Harlem
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High Resolution Images
- Book Cover Image (jpg): A Life for a Life Trade Paperback 9798888458440
