Army Vet Writes Memoir With Voice After Losing Hand Use

When Linda Crosby lost the use of her hands to bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, she found a new way to share her story with the world.

The U.S. Army veteran and author will see her memoir "The Day My Life Changed (An Accident Survivor)" featured at the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books on April 18-19, 2026. The book chronicles her journey from independence to disability, written entirely through speech-to-text software after she could no longer type.

Linda's accident transformed her life overnight. Once fiercely independent, she suddenly relied on others for daily tasks while managing chronic pain.

Rather than give up on writing, she adapted. Using voice recognition technology, she dictated her entire memoir, turning a limitation into proof of her determination.

The book features contributions from her husband Roy, who serves as her caregiver while battling his own health challenges including cancer, heart disease, and Graves' disease. Together, their story weaves faith and perseverance through shared hardship.

Linda isn't new to writing despite her physical challenges. She's authored three other books and contributed to "The Sound of the Collective Pen," a 2025 LITSTAR Book Award-winning poetry collection.

Her health continues to decline, forcing her to step down as President of her church's Pastor's Aide Ministry. She remains a member but can no longer attend services in person.

Why This Inspires

Linda's story shows how determination finds workarounds when faced with obstacles. Her refusal to stop writing, even after losing hand function, demonstrates that creativity and technology can overcome physical barriers.

Publishing company ReadersMagnet will display her memoir at booth 225 during the festival at the University of Southern California campus. The book is available now on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

One woman's voice, literally speaking her truth into existence, proves that the stories that need telling will find their way out.