How From Surviving to Living Serves Facilities and the People They Support
From Surviving to Living is a deeply personal memoir that addresses the emotional, spiritual, and practical challenges faced by individuals navigating incarceration, reentry, recovery, and life transition. Through an honest account of confinement, mental health struggles, broken relationships, and spiritual surrender, the book offers readers a model for finding meaning, resilience, and purpose in difficult circumstances.
For incarcerated individuals, residents, and program participants, the book provides emotional validation, hope, and practical insight into experiences such as intake, isolation, mental health treatment, family separation, and reentry. By openly sharing struggles with depression, anger, shame, and healing, the narrative reassures readers that they are not alone and that change is possible, even in restrictive or transitional environments.
For facilities and organizations, including correctional institutions, jails, reentry programs, treatment centers, chaplaincy services, and community-based programs, the memoir serves as a resource for education, reflection, and engagement. It fosters empathy and understanding by illuminating the internal experiences behind behavior, highlighting the role of structure, accountability, faith, and supportive programming in personal transformation.
More than a memoir, From Surviving to Living is a tool that supports psychological, emotional, and spiritual growth. It can be used for individual reading, group discussion, faith-based programming, or reentry preparation, benefiting not only those served but also the broader community by encouraging healing, responsibility, and successful reintegration.
About the Author
Holly Bot served a 12 year prison sentence in a Minnesota women’s prison. Holly is an author, speaker and certified Biblical Counselor. Drawing from her own prison experiences and personal journey of faith, Holly writes and speaks candidly about shame, grace, and second chances. Her story has inspired audiences in churches, volunteer trainings, and community organizations.
She is the owner of Bot Consulting, LLC, an IT service provider for non-profits. She spends her time advocating for prison reform, prison ministry work, and writing. She enjoys her roles as wife and mom of 5 adult children.
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Buy copies for your facility: Paperback | Hardcover | Large-Print Paperback
Need more information? Download informational flyers and more:
Informational flyer for programs and facilities
Hardcover book cover in PDF. Includes inside flaps and back cover.
Book description and use as resource tool for inmates and correctional facilities. Includes photo and brief reviews.
You may request the password to review a PDF copy of the book by emailing us at holly@hollybot.me
Please download the book’s full PDF file here (this is a complete copy of the book in digital format). If you have any questions or need help email me holly@hollybot.me
