From Struggle to Strength: How Anthony Owens’ Syrup Sandwiches is Empowering the Next Generation and Changing Lives

September 16, 2025 at 10:00 AM EDT

In Syrup Sandwiches, Anthony Owens turns hardship into hope, showing how courage, resilience, and determination can transform even the toughest beginnings into a story of triumph.

Anthony Owens is an award-winning author, speaker, and mentor whose life embodies resilience and triumph over adversity. Born in Dawson, Georgia, and raised in Brooklyn, New York, Owens grew up in challenging circumstances that later became the foundation for his inspiring literary voice. He went on to serve 20 years in the U.S. Navy, earning numerous commendations for his leadership and dedication, before transitioning into a successful career as a Lead Network Engineer and Technical Trainer for a major defense contractor. Today, he continues to serve as a federal Information Technology Specialist.

Owens holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology and a Master’s Degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Information Security from Saint Leo University, but it is his writing that has made him a powerful advocate for hope and perseverance. His memoir, Syrup Sandwiches: Choose Not to Give Up!, received top honors in the 2023 Next Generation Indie Book Awards and multiple International Impact Book Awards. He is also the author of the children’s book Raw Power, tackling bullying with empathy and strength, the thriller Reasons, and Fatherhood Matters!, an award-winning exploration of the essential role of fathers.

Through his books, mentorship, and public speaking, Owens inspires audiences to face challenges with courage, determination, and purpose. This one-on-one interview shares Owens background and experience in writing Syrup Sandwiches: Choose Not to Give Up!

Tell us about Syrup Sandwiches: Choose Not to Give Up!

Syrup Sandwiches: Choose Not to Give Up is my story: a journey of survival, resilience, and becoming more than my circumstances.

I grew up in poverty, raised by a determined single mother and surrounded by neglectful, often abusive men. Violence, trauma, and the absence of a father shaped my world, yet I chose a different path. I became the man I never had: a successful adult and a responsible father.

As one of America’s underrepresented voices, I write for the unheard—for children who endure poverty, abuse, discrimination, and fatherlessness. In this way, my memoir is not just personal. I want my words to help guide the way forward and act as a light for every disadvantaged child fighting against impossible odds.

Ultimately, my message is clear: we are not defined—and we will not be defeated—by our traumas.

What inspired you to write Syrup Sandwiches: Choose Not to Give Up!

Growing up in 1970s Bushwick, Brooklyn, I faced poverty, fatherlessness, abuse, violence, and the constant weight of being told that boys like me weren’t supposed to make it out. Survival seemed like the only option, but I refused to let those circumstances define me. I became what I needed most—a father who stays and loves.

My memoir is not only my story, but a voice for children still living these struggles. Poverty, bullying, domestic abuse, discrimination, and fatherlessness are more than statistics—they are daily battles shaping countless young lives. Syrup Sandwiches is my testimony of resilience, a reminder that survival can lead to strength, and that cycles can be broken.

I wrote so readers would know—they are not alone, and their lives still matter.

How did your background and experience influence your writing?

Growing up, I carried traumas that no child should have to endure. Yet, even in the midst of poverty, violence, and abandonment, I knew I couldn’t be the only one. Countless children were walking through the same fire, silently battling wounds no one could see. The experiences I was forced to endure became my education—the unforgiving lessons of the school of hard knocks.

They shaped me, scarred me, but ultimately strengthened me.

It would have been easy to bury those lessons, to overcome them quietly and move on. But I realized that silence only allows cycles of pain to continue. That truth compelled me to write this memoir.

What is one message you would like readers to remember?

For those who share the struggle: I want them to see themselves in my story and know that survival is not the end goal—thriving is possible. They can break cycles of poverty, abuse, and fatherlessness, and create a new legacy.

For those who haven’t lived it: This is an invitation to witness the struggles of 1970s America—so often hidden, yet woven into our shared history.

For everyone: I want readers to walk away with hope, with the courage to push forward when life feels impossible, and with the conviction that giving up is never an option.

Purchasing the Book

Syrup Sandwiches: Choose Not to Give Up! has received positive reviews from well-known literary organizations, authors, and reviewers around the world. Book Excellence writes, “With honesty and heart, Owens delivers a raw and inspiring memoir that speaks to the strength of the human spirit and the power to overcome adversity.” In addition, reviewer John Owen writes, “I've never felt more uplifted than after closing the last page of this book…highly recommended!”

The book is available for sale on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Google Play, and other online bookstores. Readers are encouraged to purchase their copy today: https://www.amazon.com/Syrup-Sandwiches-Anthony-Owens/dp/194910995X

To connect with Anthony and learn more about his work, visit: www.antowens.com. You can also find him on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.

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From Struggle to Strength: How Anthony Owens’ Syrup Sandwiches is Empowering the Next Generation and Changing Lives

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