Loose Cannons

A Memoir of Mania and Mayhem in a Mormon Family

By: Diana Cannon-Ragsdale

Narrated by: Erin Bennett

Diana Cannon-Ragsdale was born into a Mormon dynasty. Her father Ted Cannon was a local celebrity in Salt Lake City, and her family’s ancestors were contemporaries of Brigham Young—and they had many dark secrets to keep.

Growing up at the mercy of her mother’s depression and father’s undiagnosed schizophrenia, Diana and her five siblings were left to fend for themselves as their mom and dad rotated in and out of psychiatric hospitals and police custody.

Finally, in 1966, Diana’s mother left her family and the Mormon Church to start a new relationship with a woman, sending Diana’s father into a tailspin.

In Loose Cannons, Diana traces her rebellious 1970s girlhood—amidst her father’s multiple suicide attempts and remarriage to her mother’s sister. As she and her siblings barreled into adulthoods they weren’t ready for, they tried to rely on each other while reproducing broken relationships of their own.

Eventually, after several divorces and while raising three children of her own, Diana reconnected with her estranged mother and inherited a lifetime’s worth of her journals. After decades spent searching for answers, her mother’s writing about swingers’ parties, sexual abuse, ancient wounds, and broken attempts at happiness reframed everything Diana thought she knew about her family and herself.

A debut memoir like no other, Loose Cannons is a harrowing and hilarious saga spanning more than 60 years of multigenerational trauma and dysfunction—and the spiritual power it took to overcome it all.

©2022 Diana Cannon-Ragsdale (P)2022 Diana Cannon-Ragsdale

Honest, raw, powerful

This book will have you hooked from beginning to end. Neglect, abuse, swingers, mental illness, religion, recovery, love, and perseverance. This book has it all. I found myself driving around town aimlessly just to listen to this book. What a powerful example of overcoming unimaginable trauma, and leaning into forgiveness, understanding, and reconciliation. I will recommend this book over and over.

Wonderful memoir of an an amazing woman

I’m lucky enough to know Diana through a friendship with her daughter. I have always been extremely impressed with how genuine and positive she is, and with what a great mother she is. I’ve been anxiously awaiting the release of this book, and it was well worth the wait. The struggle of leaving the mormon church while living in the middle of their main territory is perfectly portrayed. I can’t fathom the strength it took to grow up in the same circumstances. I’m blown away with how well the story is written. Don’t hesitate to give this book a shot. You’ll be so happy you did.

Insightful

Thank you for sharing your experiences. I can imagine revisiting much of your childhood trauma was difficult. It is good to hear your difficulties with the church as well. Your bravery has helped me seek a deeper understanding of my own relationship with the church and the doctrine. May you be blessed love and joy that come in all things.

Turbulent times

For everyone who grew up in the turbulent 60's and know what it's like to try to keep the family dysfunctions secret!
For those of us who have learned "we're only as sick as our secrets" this is a good read.

A must read!

From survival to overcoming in so many aspects of life; childhood mayhem, religious zealously, relationship brokenness.
The author is open, blunt, and honest. She reopens scars without shame and allows us to stand with her through the “binding up” of each wound.
Highly recommend!

Great read!

What a great story, with incredible struggles and tragedy, but ending with a person who could bring herself up out of the turmoil and move on to have a wonderful husband, family and life! The audible performance was terrific and kept me so engaged it took only a few days to listen to the whole crazy story!

A phenomenal memoir

Loose Cannons offers a full view into the life of the Author, Diana Cannon-Ragsdale. As a person who grew up in and out of the Mormon church, I found that it struck not one, but many nerves. This book is honest, real, and riveting. A must-read.

Thank you Ms. Diana

I too am 63 yrs old. Have often felt it was too late for me to figure out my dysfunctional childhood past. Unlike your experience with obvious trauma and fucked upness- my family looked picture Perfect. All the more reason fir me to blame myself for any mental health issues. I gleaned along the way.. I’m tired of the self blame and am beginning to believe it hasn’t been my fault . Thank you so much for sharing your story. It’s helped with me believing I too have a story from the same generation..

A fellow recipient of Mormon-dysfunction

This book broke me wide open. I could see, breathe and feel what it was like to live in my world 30 years ago…. The world my mother lived in.

Great listen! I love that she's local to UT!

This author is quite amazing. I love that it shows that regardless of your upbringing, genes, family turmoil, etc.-it's never too late to change the story for yourself or those family members coming up after you. Diana overcame so much and revolved into a great mom, grandmother and wife despite her crazy upbringing. Loved this book because I'm from Utah, so the Mormon history totally kept my interest and I loved hearing of local restaurants, addresses, etc. Great listen!