Book excerpt: Born with cerebral palsy, Zach Cooley tells the story of his life with bits of historical information on the town of Austinville, Virginia intermingled throughout his work, which was also home to Hazel Stoots, his great-great aunt who served as the family matriarch despite having no children of her own, thanks to her undying sense of family. Hazel was also well-known as a worker for the local recreation center for more than 25 years, making her a popular citizen of the community. Later, to Zach, she was the center of his world. Her passing nearly led him down a destructive path. It would be years before he would find his purpose in life through a young woman named Emily, who would become the love of his life. In HAZEL'S LITTLE BUD, an autobiographical account with historical flavor, discover his story, which pays tribute to these two women and the community, which holds a history he is driven to protect.