About the Book

“Behind every wound lies a story, and behind every story lies the chance for redemption.”

The Sheep in Wolves Clothing Was a Swan is a raw, deeply moving true story that captures the journey of a boy forced to grow up too soon. Born into a multi-cultural family and raised in the ghettos of Cleveland, Ohio, Joseph’s life was forever altered after the tragic and mysterious death of his brother in 1967. That moment became a turning point, one that pushed him away from his faith and into a world marked by hardship, anger, and survival.

As the years unfold, the book paints an unflinching picture of life in inner-city Cleveland during a time of social unrest, racial tension, and personal loss. From navigating broken family dynamics to confronting the harsh realities of poverty and identity, Joseph’s story offers a window into the struggles faced by many who live unseen and unheard. Yet, woven into the pain is also a message of resilience, of how the human spirit, even when wounded, searches relentlessly for healing and belonging.

This memoir is more than one man’s life story. It is a spiritual and psychological exploration of trauma, identity, and the quiet ways God reaches into our lives even when we try to turn away. It examines how early wounds shape us, how environments can either break or strengthen us, and how faith, once lost, can be rediscovered in the most unexpected moments.

For readers, this is not simply a narrative to observe, it is a journey to experience. It challenges us to reflect on our own battles between darkness and light, and reminds us that no matter how far we fall, redemption is always within reach.

At its heart, this book is about transformation, the realization that what the world sees as “broken” or “lost” may, in truth, be something beautiful waiting to be revealed. It is a testimony that even the sheep dressed in wolves’ clothing may, in the end, prove to be a swan.