Full Circles
Kenneth D. Thompson Sr.'s memoir of growing up fatherless in East Austin — and choosing, deliberately, to become the father his own son never had to wonder about. Raw, funny, heartbreaking, and ultimately a triumph.
Kenneth D. Thompson Sr. grew up with an ache where a father should have been — missing from the stands during state finals, absent from the quiet moments at home. Forced to find his way without a guide, he leaned into the steady hands of mentors, coaches, and community members who taught him resilience, humility, and the life-changing power of simply showing up.
As the second-oldest of his mother's seven children, he learned early that presence is a choice — one made daily, deliberately. Married to his high school sweetheart at nineteen, he became a father himself, and resolved to complete the circle his own father had left open.
This memoir is a powerful testament to what happens when love replaces loss, when community fills the gaps left behind, and when a man chooses to become the father he once longed for.
“Thompson’s voice is one of the memoir’s greatest strengths. He writes like someone telling stories across a kitchen table.”
Full Circles is available now.
Get your copy today. Available in hardcover from Atmosphere Press and major retailers.