Art and Artifice: A Memoir
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Home > Health, Relationships and Personal development > Family and health > Relationships and families: advice and issues > Separation and divorce: advice and issues > Art and Artifice: A Memoir: A Story of Love, Deception, and Healing on the Texas Gulf Coast
Art and Artifice: A Memoir: A Story of Love, Deception, and Healing on the Texas Gulf Coast

Art and Artifice: A Memoir: A Story of Love, Deception, and Healing on the Texas Gulf Coast


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About the Book

"The opening snapshot to 'Art and Artifice' bleeds romance and vulnerability and engages the reader with a fusion of tragedy and tenderness rarely witnessed in a memoir. Her writing is raw, and her surrounding characters are real."-Dr. Hank Roubicek, Professor Emeritus of Communication Studies at the University of Houston Downtown and author of "So, What's Your Story? Discovering the Story in You" "Through vivid, unflinching honesty...what emerges is both a confession and a warning: self-worth must never depend on a man's approval." -Elena Smith, author of "Truths and Lies" "I rarely read a book in one sitting...Gail's memoir was such a book."-Joan M. Kop, author of "The Spy from Beijing" "I wholeheartedly believe that [this book] will help other women...advocate for themselves." -Shalini Israni, author of "Letters to My Soul Dog" When love feels like destiny...and then becomes a trap. Gail Bergan thought she had finally found her perfectly matched soul mate-a man who seemed to reflect her in every way, her yin to his yang. When Paul stepped into her life, the sun shone so brightly she was blinded. In the mid-2000s, while navigating a second divorce, Gail fell hard for a colleague she had known for more than a decade. Paul charmed her with his artistic abilities and dreams he had never fully pursued. Together, they took a leap of faith, leaving their stable jobs in Houston to follow his passion. On the Texas Gulf Coast, they opened a small seaside art gallery-a shared vision that felt like a promise of a beautiful new future. Their triumphant grand opening in September 2005 should have been the beginning of that new life. Instead, 4 weeks later, a bomb detonated that blew Gail's world apart. What unfolded in the months and years that followed would shake her to her core...and haunt her for the next decade. "Art and Artifice" is Gail's riveting debut memoir-an unflinching journey into the seductive, destructive world of narcissistic abuse. With raw honesty, she reveals how love bombing transforms into manipulation, how gaslighting erodes reality, and how emotional control traps even the strongest among us. But she also shares the lifeline that helped her break free: a gifted therapist who guided her back to herself. Gail's story is a testament to resilience and a powerful message to women everywhere: you are not alone, and there is a way out. Free support and resources are offered at the end of the book. A gripping and deeply human story for anyone who has ever loved the wrong person...and fought to reclaim their life.

About the Author :
Gail Bergan holds BS and MS degrees in geology from the University of North Dakota and the University of Texas at Arlington, respectively. She began her career in the oil and gas industry in Dallas and Houston, Texas. After 10 years, she pivoted to her true calling: writing and editing. Gail started her own business as a technical writer/editor and desktop publisher, and remained self-employed for the next 30 years, living in Houston and Rockport, Texas. She currently resides in Spokane, Washington. In 2021, Gail started the blog "Gail's Story" where she enjoys posting creative nonfiction essays and book reviews. In 2024, one of these essays was chosen for the "Journey Into Time" anthology, published by the Houston Writers Guild. "Art and Artifice" is her first memoir. Her current project is the essay collection "Gail Versus the Raccoons (and the Raccoons Won)." You can follow Gail on her "Gail's Story" blog (www.gailsstory.com).

Review :
"Arrogant thinking and behavior fueled the cruel narcissist facing Gail. This kind of manipulator can make you question your own reality. Indeed, it is Gail's persona, colored with hues of trust and generosity, that gave her the type of strength most can only envy. The opening snapshot to 'Art and Artifice' bleeds romance and vulnerability and engages the reader with a fusion of tragedy and tenderness rarely witnessed in a memoir. This is writing laced with authentic emotion. Gail reaches our hearts and souls sooner than most. Her writing is raw, and her surrounding characters are real." --Dr. Hank Roubicek is Professor Emeritus of Communication Studies at the University of Houston Downtown. He is an award-winning educator, founder and lead host of "So, What's Your Story?" on Houston's KPFT 90.1 FM, host of the podcast "The Story Voice," and author of several books including "So, What's Your Story: Discovering the Story in You"; and contributor to "Studies in Mythology" published by Oxford Press.


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Product Details
  • ISBN-13: 9798999141804
  • Publisher: Bookbaby
  • Publisher Imprint: Bookbaby
  • Height: 228 mm
  • No of Pages: 288
  • Returnable: 03
  • Spine Width: 15 mm
  • Weight: 467 gr
  • ISBN-10: 8999141802
  • Publisher Date: 30 Oct 2025
  • Binding: Paperback
  • Language: English
  • Returnable: Y
  • Returnable: Y
  • Sub Title: A Story of Love, Deception, and Healing on the Texas Gulf Coast
  • Width: 152 mm


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