88-Year-Old Author's Debut Memoir Highlights Resilience and Heritage During National Memoir Writing Month

As National Memoir Writing Month celebrates the power of personal storytelling, 88-year-old Armenian-American author Shahen Guiragossian reminds the world that it's never too late to tell your story. His debut memoir, The Hawk, soars with themes of survival, heritage, and hope, proving that lived experience itself can be the most powerful form of legacy. Born to survivors of the Armenian Genocide, Guiragossian grew up surrounded by silence and unspoken grief. The Hawk traces his journey from the shadow of inherited trauma to a life built on loyalty, love, and perseverance.

The memoir serves as both an immigrant's story and a universal reflection on family, identity, and the human spirit's capacity to heal. Guiragossian emphasized the generational nature of resilience, stating that it runs in our blood and hoping others recognize they possess it too. Part refugee memoir, part testament to the strength of brotherhood and chosen family, The Hawk captures a lifetime of endurance from rebuilding after loss to finding meaning in later life. Written in his eighth decade, the memoir demonstrates that stories of survival don't fade with age but rather deepen in significance and meaning.

The book's publication timing during National Memoir Writing Month highlights the importance of preserving personal narratives, particularly those from underrepresented communities and older generations whose stories might otherwise be lost. Guiragossian's work shows how memoir writing can serve as both personal catharsis and historical documentation, especially for communities affected by trauma and displacement. The Armenian-American experience documented in The Hawk contributes to the broader understanding of immigrant narratives and intergenerational healing processes.

In a meaningful extension of the book's themes, Guiragossian donates proceeds from the book to the Armenian Relief Society and the 9/11 Memorial & Museum, honoring both his family's heritage and the memory of his nephew lost in the September 11 tragedy. This charitable commitment reflects the memoir's core message of turning personal struggle into collective benefit. The Hawk is available now on Amazon in paperback, hardcover, and eBook formats, making this story of resilience accessible to a wide audience. Readers can find additional information about the author and his work through his official website at https://www.thehawkmemoir.com.