Books That Make You Podcast: Recent Episodes
Desiree Duffy
Books That Make You brings you conversations with both authors and literary folks on the business side of things. We discuss new books, old books, indie books, and all the wonderful themes found within books. Whether you're an author or an avid book reader, this is the show for you.
What happens when love, loss, and music collide in deep space? In this episode, Bram Stoker Award-winner and former Horror Writers Association president John Palisano joins us to talk about his latest book, Requiem. Set aboard a massive mortuary spacecraft called Eden, the novel blends gothic romance, cosmic horror, and speculative science fiction into one unforgettable journey.
Eden isn't just a final resting place—it's a monument to memory, haunted by the preserved dead and a creeping entity named Animus. As musician Tessa tries to compose a new Requiem, she unwittingly opens a doorway for something dark and hungry. What follows is a chilling descent into hallucination, grief, and moral questions about memory, identity, and technology.
John reveals the inspiration behind Eden, the emotional weight of grief, and how love—both lost and remembered—fuels the characters and narrative. He also teases real music he composed for the novel and the real science behind some of its more terrifying concepts.
This isn’t just another haunted spaceship story—Requiem explores the kind of horror that lingers, that haunts your thoughts long after the final page.
How do you go from writing revenge-fueled mystery novels to coaching authors through one of the most misunderstood parts of the publishing process—marketing?
Juliet Clark, founder of Author Traffic School and Superbrand Publishing, shares her personal journey from publishing her own novels like Pitch Slapped and Dead by Dawn, to helping other authors find their footing in the often murky world of platform building. In this candid and practical conversation, Juliet breaks down why writing the book is just the beginning.
She opens up about the frustrations of early self-publishing, how she realized traditional models didn’t support authors or their readers, and why she created her own path to empower writers with real tools—from Author Alchemy journals to innovative book ad strategies across thousands of mobile apps.
We also get into her philosophy on gratitude and manifestation, how she sees author success as a long-term journey, and why becoming a successful author also means embracing entrepreneurship.
Whether you're about to publish your first book or looking to scale your author brand, Juliet’s insights are both inspiring and actionable.
#AuthorMarketing #SelfPublishing #JulietClark #BookPromotion #IndieAuthors #PlatformBuilding #SuperbrandPublishing #AuthorTrafficSchool
What if the secret to rediscovering your creativity, your empathy, and even your joy was something you were born with—but lost along the way? In this episode, bestselling author Laura Munson talks about her newest book, The Wild Why, and the journey back to wonder. From the forests of Montana to ancient stone circles in Ireland, Laura’s personal stories and teachings invite us to pause, reflect, and reconnect with our inner voice. She shares the truth behind our creative blocks and the myth that we’re "not creative"—stories we’ve absorbed over time but don’t have to believe. We also explore why wonder matters, not just for personal fulfillment but for building empathy and a more compassionate society. Laura opens up about her own challenges, including divorce and life transitions, and how they shaped her understanding of inner kindness, creativity, and self-expression. Whether you’re juggling work, parenting, or just trying to get through the day, The Wild Why offers a compassionate call to stop in the moment, take a breath, and ask “what if?” again. #TheWildWhy #LauraMunson #BooksThatMakeYou #SelfHelp #Creativity #WritingLife #Wonder
Author Kelly O’Hearn joins the show to explore her captivating Arcanum series—a saga that intertwines time, love, and soul contracts across lifetimes. With In the Temple Shadows and Whispers In The Forest, the first two books of the six-part series, Kelly invites readers into a richly woven tale inspired by her own past life regressions and channeled entirely through the language of tarot.
In this episode, Kelly breaks down how tarot goes beyond fortune-telling and becomes a powerful tool for self-discovery. She shares how the Arcanum series grew from visions of her former lives, where she played the roles of muse and mistress to powerful men—and how those soul contracts echo through time to shape the heroine’s modern-day life in New York City.
We also dive into the deeper themes of the series: the seductive pull of power, the quest for freedom, the emotional impact of soulmates, and the transformation women experience in midlife. Whether you're a tarot enthusiast, skeptic, or just curious about metaphysical fiction, this episode offers something unique and inspiring.
#Tarot #FantasyBooks #SpiritualFiction #ArcanumSeries #KellyOHearn @MagicalRealism @SpiritualJourney #BooksThatMakeYou
What happens when the spotlight fades and the pressure takes over? In this episode, Michele Kwasniewski dives deep into her powerful YA novel, Falling Star, the final installment of the Rise and Fall of Dani Truehart trilogy. Drawing from over 15 years of experience in the entertainment industry, Michele brings an unflinching look at the mental, emotional, and personal toll that fame can take—especially on young stars.
Dani Truehart, once a teen pop sensation, is caught in the aftermath of a tragic decision. Fame, fortune, and pressure to perform have led her to a breaking point. As Michele explains, this isn’t just fiction—it mirrors real-life stories from the likes of Britney Spears, Lindsay Lohan, and other young talents who’ve had their lives dissected by the public eye.
This book and conversation offer more than just drama. They ask real questions: Who are we when no one is looking? What happens when unconditional love is replaced by applause? And how do young people find their identity amid the noise?
Whether you're a fan of YA fiction or fascinated by the world behind the red carpet, this episode pulls back the curtain.
What if healing your mind and body didn’t have to take months? In this powerful episode, we sit down with Dr. Paul Corona, author of The Corona Protocol, to discuss his fast-acting, patient-centered approach to mental health. From anxiety and depression to addiction and PTSD, Dr. Corona reveals how his mind-body treatment method delivers real results — often in just weeks.
We explore the controversial but effective use of off-label medications, his thoughts on men's mental health, and why early intervention matters more than ever. Dr. Corona also opens up about his transition from family medicine to psychiatry, and how he blends both disciplines to treat patients holistically.
Dr. Corona’s insights are reshaping the conversation around wellness. He doesn’t shy away from addressing school violence, trauma, and the mental health crisis facing today’s youth. Plus, we learn about The Doctor Paul Show, his reality-style series on Roku and Amazon Fire, which features real patients and real stories of transformation.
If you or someone you know is struggling, this episode could be a game-changer. This is not medical advice and you should seek help and advice from a Dr.
What happens when a peaceful society faces a brutal threat it never saw coming? In this episode, we talk with fantasy author Peter Gribble, creator of “The City of the Magicians” series and author of book one, Threat. Drawing from his background in psychology, history, and education, Gribble explores what happens when complacency meets chaos—and how intellect, strategy, and even a little magic might be the keys to survival.
Set in a richly imagined world, Threat follows characters like Lilia, who finds herself drawn into an underground movement while searching for her mother’s manuscript. Set in a society that must adapt or fall, the story explores themes of pacifism, unity, and hidden resistance. Gribble also shares personal stories from his time growing up in postwar France, studying figures like Gandhi, and what magic means in both fantasy and real life.
We also dive into his experience writing for gardening magazines, working in bookstores, and his views on how memory and awareness shape our lives and our stories.
Whether you love fantasy with a psychological twist, or you're curious about the intersection of intellect and imagination, this conversation is for you.
Are you dreaming of becoming an author, but unsure where to start? Dale L. Roberts, award-winning author and self-publishing advocate, joins us to talk about Self-Publishing for New Authors and what it really takes to launch a book in today’s indie publishing world.
Dale shares his journey from reader to writer, the biggest fears new authors face, and how to overcome them. He also dives into the differences between self-publishing and traditional publishing, offering practical advice on formatting, editing, marketing, and avoiding industry pitfalls. Whether you're working on your first book or looking to refine your publishing strategy, this episode is packed with valuable insights.
Learn why confidence, persistence, and community are key to making it as an independent author. Plus, Dale gives us a behind-the-scenes look at his YouTube channel, where he helps aspiring writers navigate the ever-changing world of self-publishing.
What happens when your father creates a cult, and you’re left to raise yourself in a decaying mansion filled with spiritual seekers and chaos? That’s the world of Naked Girl, the powerful novel by Janna Brooke Wallack. In this conversation, Janna delves into the unconventional childhood that inspired her book, her thoughts on generational parenting shifts, and how she channeled her own emotions into compelling fiction.
Set in 1980s Miami Beach, Naked Girl follows siblings Sienna and Siddartha as they navigate life within their father’s bizarre, cult-like commune. Through their eyes, we experience the beauty, danger, and loneliness of growing up in an unpredictable world. With rich metaphors and immersive storytelling, Janna brings this unique setting to life, showing both the allure and the peril of freedom.
We also dive into parenting, spirituality, and the generational cycle of raising children differently than we were raised. Janna shares insights from her own life as a mother of five, reflecting on how much of our past shapes our choices.
Join us for this fascinating discussion and discover why Naked Girl has received critical acclaim, becoming a semifinalist for the 2024 Publishers Weekly Book Life Prize in Fiction.
#JannaBrookeWallack #NakedGirl #BooksThatMakeYou #ComingOfAge #WritingCommunity #Parenting #CultSurvival
Can you really publish a book on your own? What does it take to be a successful indie author today? In this episode, we sit down with Jim Azevedo, a key figure in the self-publishing revolution and part of the team at Draft2Digital.
Jim shares the fascinating journey from Smashwords to Draft2Digital, and how the industry has evolved since 2008. He discusses how indie authors can take control of their publishing careers, avoid scams, and build a sustainable platform. From digital publishing to print-on-demand, Jim reveals how tools like Draft2Digital empower writers to distribute their books worldwide—with no upfront costs.
We also explore how indie authors support each other, why community matters, and the surprising ways AI is shaping the publishing world. Whether you're a new author or an experienced one looking to expand your reach, this episode is packed with insights you don’t want to miss.
Drop a comment below if you're an indie author or thinking about becoming one!
How do schools shape our understanding of race—intentionally or not? Dr. Laura C. Chávez-Moreno joins us to discuss her groundbreaking book How Schools Make Race, which examines the ways educational systems reinforce racial identities and hierarchies.
Through her research in a bilingual education program, Dr. Chávez-Moreno uncovers how schools, often unknowingly, contribute to the racialization of students. From curriculum choices to classroom dynamics, tracking, and resource allocation, these factors all play a role in shaping racial categories.
She explores how bilingual education is both an attempt to counteract historical discrimination and a system operating within existing racial structures, creating tensions and contradictions. The conversation also touches on how educators can approach race in the classroom, the importance of evolving racial education, and how students themselves can advocate for change.
If you're a teacher, parent, school leader, or simply someone interested in how race and education intersect, this is a must-watch conversation.
What if the truth about extraterrestrials and hidden government projects was right in front of us? Author Paul Vecchiet joins us to discuss The Disclosure Paradox, a novel that blurs the line between fiction and reality. Inspired by his experiences with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Paul shares insights into secret underground facilities, the military-industrial complex, and why we may not yet be welcome in a universal community.
In this fascinating discussion, we explore how meditation and spiritual experiences shaped Paul’s understanding of humanity’s place in the cosmos. He delves into the paradox of disclosure—how can we evolve if we aren’t allowed to know the truth? Plus, we discuss government cover-ups, extraterrestrial observations of Earth, and why our violent tendencies might be keeping us isolated from advanced civilizations.
Is humanity ready to take the next step? Or are we still “kids playing with matches” when it comes to the universe’s deeper truths? Watch now and dive into The Disclosure Paradox.
What happens when you blend On the Road with The X-Files? You get Skunk Ape Semester, a thrilling yet thoughtful road trip through paranormal Americana. Award-winning author Mike Robinson joins Books That Make You to discuss his latest novel, his fascination with Bigfoot, and how speculative fiction can explore humanity’s biggest questions.
In Skunk Ape Semester, a zoologist embarks on a cross-country journey, interviewing those who claim to have encountered cryptids like the elusive skunk ape—a regional version of Bigfoot. But this is more than a monster hunt. It’s a deep dive into belief, science, and the mysteries that still haunt our world.
Mike Robinson is a prolific author, editor, and illustrator with a passion for speculative fiction. His works weave together supernatural elements, philosophy, and a love for nature, making his books immersive and thought-provoking.
Tune in as we explore cryptozoology, eco-fantasy, and what it means to confront the unknown.
Join us for a fascinating conversation with Sara Winokur, geneticist-turned-author, as she delves into the inspiration behind her thrilling novel, Ivory Bones. Drawing from her ancestry, which traces back to a Barbary pirate, and her extensive career in genetics, Sara weaves together a murder mystery that’s as grounded in real science as much as historical intrigue.
Learn about the real-life Lewis Chessmen, priceless artifacts tied to the story, and how Sara’s protagonist uses forensic genetics to uncover secrets. We also explore the profound theme of heritage and its influence on identity, alongside Sara’s journey from science to storytelling. Whether you're captivated by the mystery of DNA or the allure of historical artifacts, Sara’s work is an incredible blend of science, history, and fiction.
Step into a rich, genre-bending world with M.D. House as he introduces Crossroads of Awakening Memory, the first book in his expansive fantasy series. Meet Rayne Barrett, a reluctant young hero thrust into a universe filled with dragons, magical talismans, and interdimensional portals.
From medieval-inspired worlds to modern Earth, the story weaves fantasy, history, and spiritual exploration into a thrilling tapestry. As Rayne unravels ancient secrets and battles inner doubts, the book delves into timeless themes of faith, identity, and the awakening of forgotten truths.
M.D. House shares his inspiration, world-building techniques, and the fascinating connections between history, mythology, and fantasy. Discover why this epic tale is just the beginning of an unforgettable series.
If you love dragons, magic, and deep storytelling, this one's for you!
#FantasyBooks #Dragons #WorldBuilding #AwakeningMemory #MDHouse #EpicFantasy #Magic #FantasySeries
Step into the gripping world of Kaleidoscope of Secrets with author Sandy Clements. In this stimulating interview, Sandy shares the inspiration behind her novel—a fast-paced story of family secrets, a smuggling operation hidden beneath an antique business, and the moral dilemmas faced by the reluctant protagonist, Mia.
Learn how Sandy weaves complex family dynamics, suspenseful twists, and a race-against-the-clock plot into an unforgettable thriller. Discover her creative process, from blending personal experiences with fictional drama to crafting relationships that feel real and relatable.
If you’re curious about writing mysteries or love books that keep you turning the pages, this conversation is for you.
Ready to refresh your To-Be-Read list for 2025? In this episode of Books That Make You, we explore 15 remarkable titles that will inspire, captivate, and entertain in the coming year. Whether you're into gripping dystopias like Suzanne Collins’ Sunrise on the Reaping, heartfelt memoirs like Terence Ang’s The Boy and The Man, or thrilling mysteries like Sara Winokur’s Ivory Bones, there’s something here for everyone.
For fans of the fantastical, Crossroads of Awakening Memory by M.D. House promises an epic journey, while Octavia Butler’s timeless classic Parable of the Sower offers a thought-provoking look at a dystopian future. Dive into speculative fiction with Saving KC by Grinnell “Buzz” Desjarlais, or laugh and learn with the playful Snoodles in Space: Episode 2 by Steven Joseph.
From Stephen King’s chilling Never Flinch to Kaitlyn E. Kenealy’s transformative Healing is Messy AF, these books cover an incredible range of genres and themes. Don’t miss From the Potato to Star Trek and Beyond by Chester L. Richards for a behind-the-scenes memoir, or Kaleidoscope of Secrets by Sandy Clements for a suspenseful thriller.
What will you add to your list? Find your next favorite read today!
Kieren-Paul-Brown is rewriting the rules of storytelling with his novel N-Word, a daring narrative intertwining historical fiction, spiritual exploration, and modern-day social critique. Meet Antonia, an 85-year-old white woman reincarnated as Cara, a young Black social media influencer. The story spans two timelines: the civil rights movement of the 1950s and Cara's tumultuous world in 2024, blending themes of love, identity, and reincarnation.
In this conversation, Kieren discusses the inspiration behind the book, his bold choice to write from a female perspective, and how his experiences as a British man observing American culture shaped the story. From spirituality and the sacred feminine to his critique of race as a social construct, Kieren dives deep into what makes N-Word a must-read.
Don’t miss this engaging discussion that challenges norms and encourages empathy.
Step into the shadowy world of Black Rose Cocoon, where a female serial killer defies some of the darker norms. 🖤 Award-winning author A.G. Flitcher shares the chilling inspiration behind his latest novel, diving deep into the psychology of fear, love, and madness.
What sets female killers apart? How do societal reactions shape stories of crime? A.G. Flitcher explores these haunting questions and more in this revealing interview. Plus, get a sneak peek into his next gripping tale, Wasp Oil.
Discover why readers can't put down his work, and learn what fuels his unique take on horror and human nature. 🕯️ If you're fascinated by dark fiction and serial-killer psychology, you won't want to miss this.
📚 Topics we cover:
- The psychology behind Black Rose Cocoon.
- What inspires a writer to explore fear and darkness.
- Writing tips for aspiring authors.
💀 Watch now for a deep dive into the sinister and the sensational.
#BlackRoseCocoon #AGFlitcher #DarkFiction #HorrorBooks #WritersLife #SerialKillers #Murder #CrimeFiction #CriminalPsychology
Dive into the world of family secrets, historical depth, and emotional redemption with Barbara J. Taylor, author of the Scranton Trilogy. From coal miners to vaudevillians, her richly crafted characters explore life’s complexities in early 20th-century Scranton, Pennsylvania.
Discover how tragedy sparks generational stories, how hope persists through Violet’s journey, and the mystical elements that tie it all together. Plus, Barbara shares her insights on writing courageously and crafting relatable characters. And as her stories are filled the likes of miners, evangelists, vaudevillians, nuns, gangsters, prostitutes, widows, musicians, dreamers, and even seers, you know she knows a thing or two about crafting a colorful variety of characters.
Rain Breaks No Bones is the final novel in Barbara J. Taylor's Scranton Trilogy, starting with Sing in the Morning, Cry at Night, followed by All Waiting Is Long. Though the novels are connected, they each stand alone.
Chelan's poetic journey began at just 21 after a profound, life-altering experience. She describes it as a creative opening—a mystical event where verses flowed through her, bringing comfort, hope, and a newfound sense of wholeness. Her captivating works, including Beloved, Wild Grace, and The Prophetess, The Return of The Prophet from The Voice of The Divine Feminine, serve as pathways for readers to embrace wholeness, find healing after trauma, and connect with the divine feminine. In this episode, Desiree dives into the heart of Chelan's work, exploring how poetry can serve as a balm for the soul, lifting us up, instilling hope, and encouraging personal growth. Discover Chelan's unique approach to writing, which speaks to the essence of the mystical and the power of vulnerability. Learn how trauma, hope, and the divine feminine weave through her poetic creations, offering readers a profound journey of self-discovery and peace.
Welcome to another exciting episode of Books That Make You. Join us as we dive into the world of podcasting with our special guest, Dave Campbell from True Media Solutions. Dave is a seasoned host and producer of several successful podcasts, and today, he's here to share his insights on how podcasting is revolutionizing storytelling.
In this episode, we explore:
- The transformative impact of podcasting on storytelling and content creation.
- Tips for authors and professionals looking to start their own podcasts.
- The potential of podcasting as a revenue stream and its future prospects.
Whether you're a narrative nerd, a bibliophile, or someone curious about the podcasting world, this episode is packed with valuable information and inspiration. Don't miss out on Dave's expert advice and the engaging discussion led by our host, Desiree Duffy.
True Media Solutions https://truemediasolutions.ca/
The United States has a very complex, oft-oversimplified past. Dr. Robin Bernstein—a Dillon Professor of American History and Professor of African and African-American Studies and Studies of Women, Gender, and Sexuality at Harvard University—unravels a bit of that past in her new book Freeman’s Challenge, a gripping story of murder, greed and race about a young man sentenced to five years of hard labor at Auburn prison in the early 19th century.
In the 19th century, as slavery gradually ended in the North, a village in New York State concocted a new form of unfreedom—the profit-driven prison, uniting incarceration and capitalism. Here, the village of Auburn built a prison that enclosed industrial factories, where “slaves of the state” were leased to private companies.
The book’s protagonist, an Afro-Native teenager named William Freeman, is convicted of horse theft and insists on his innocence. After demanding fair wages, a series of events leads to violence and social aftershocks that reverberate still in our society today.
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Books That Make You Consider the Social Dynamics of the South
As a place where race and identity exist in centuries-long tension—which, of course, reverberates to this day—the South holds a complex, multifaceted history.
The series “Lost and Found in Tennessee” by Stacia Moffett, featuring The Missing Girl and Jessa is Back, offers a gripping portrait of the South’s enduring legacy and rich history.
Born into a family of educators in Nashville, Tennessee, Stacia grew up on a nearby farm. In the early sixties, her academic journey to Mississippi further shaped her understanding of the South’s cultural and racial situation, eventually inspiring her historical fiction.
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Books That Make You Confront Fear—and Embrace Your Spiritual Gifts
When she was sixteen years old, Alejandra G. Brady awoke to someone she knew standing at the head of her bed. It was her first visit from someone who had died.
It wasn’t until she was 50 when someone would give her a name for these unusual experiences. Feeling as if something was missing in life and suffering from cervical compression, she consulted a Feng Shui master on her home.
The master told her that Alejandra would soon follow in her footsteps. When Alejandra began applying Feng Shui principles to her home, she noticed massive transformations in her health, her marriage and her financial outcome.
Alejandra’s new book, I Just Can’t Make This STUFF Up!, shows that everyone can experience true purpose, flow, bliss and awe at the incredible clues and symbols delivered by the Universe—if they fearlessly embrace their own spiritual journey.
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Books That Make You Select Your Own Ending for Your Life
Since no one gets out of life alive, we can at least decide how our own stories should end.
Saving KC is the new Historical Fiction novel by Grinelle “Buzz” Desjarlais, who deeply and compassionately explores addiction, and the connections we might find in unexpected places.
Set against the backdrop of post-Vietnam America, Saving KC follows a POW who comes home to find everything changed. In time, he meets a songstress in the midst of her own war. Saving KC addresses recovery, addiction and, ultimately, redemption.
Born on the Rocky Boy’s Indian Reservation in Montana, also known as the Chippewa Cree Reservation, Buzz helped found the non-profit Native Project, which serves as an outpatient drug and alcohol treatment center for Native youth. Presently, he is a business owner, father and grandfather who helps guide others on their own journey of recovery.
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Books That Make You Enter the World of Hollywood—and Murder
This fall, gear up for an emotion-packed thriller, as you shake literary hands with an aging Hollywood horror actor whose wife’s death years ago may, in fact, have been murder.
Such is the set-up of the new novel, The Salvation of Henry Maxwell, by Lee Lindauer.
Lindauer is an award-winning author, whose transition to writing from structural engineering has fascinated many readers worldwide. Praised for deep dives into the human mind, his stories explore the nuances of fear, redemption, and the tenacity of the human spirit.
With its thrilling explorations of discovery and transformation, all under the eerily romantic shadows of Old Hollywood, The Salvation of Henry Maxwell has captivated readers of many tastes.
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Books That Make You Fall Under the Spell of a Prohibition-era Moonshiner
Travel back to the 1920s alongside a troubled boy named Rufus. Watch him leave his family—and a secret—behind, only to find what he hopes is a new home with a new family, the O’Haras. Unfortunately, things don’t go too well for Rufus in Whiskey and Old Stogies, a twisting, turning historical literary fiction novel filled with loss, love, endurance and grit.
The author, Lisa Angle, spent the nineties writing press releases and feature articles. In the new millennium, she heeded the call of the outdoors and volunteered in the Channel Islands Naturalist Corps.
In addition, she produced the documentary Ablitt House Journey, and co-produced Thirty Years of Literary Excellence, about the history of the Santa Barbara Writers Conference.
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Books That Make You Understand Your Potential—Through Genre Fiction
Very often, so-called “commercial” or genre fiction can speak to us in ways as powerful as “literary” or classic works. Going beyond simply the realm of entertainment, such books can teach us, help us explore possibilities about ourselves and the world.
Award-winning author Tina Hogan Grant is a suspense romance novelist, writing stories with strong female leads who know what they want—and aren't afraid to chase their dreams.
Her debut novel, Reckless Beginnings, took her on a path of writing about the importance of family and family values. As an author, she likes to dive deep into her character's personalities and actions to discover why they act the way they do. Healing plays heavily in her books.
Her latest book—Secrets Told—is no exception. It’s a heart-warming story about self-discovery, and the shocking secret of the protagonist.
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Books That Make You Think Mellowing Your Money
Are you overwhelmed when people discuss investment strategies? Does the roller coaster of the stock market make your head spin? Do you feel pressure, anxiety, and the need to act fast or else—or else?
What if, in fact, you could mellow your money, and—likely—make more of it?
Mick Heyman, CFA and Founder of Heyman Investment Counseling, has a forty-year career in wealth management. With his stress-free method for mellowing your money, he has aided all kinds of individuals and institutions in building and preserving wealth.
Mick started his career at a small firm in Cincinnati before moving to Louisville, where he focused on equities with a team of top equity managers, and managed billions in assets for clients. His career came full circle when he moved to San Diego to work with individual investors, some of whom have remained loyal to him for more than three decades.
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Books That Make You Stimulated by a Fast-Paced, Modern Techno Thriller
Mystery, suspense, and technology—what reader doesn’t love this combo? With good reason, techno-thrillers are increasingly one of the most captivating genres. The tech world—and all its fruits and unveilings—are pushing limits and outpacing humans’ ability to keep up.
Here comes The Ransom Enigma, the latest in the “Magnolia Bluff Crime Chronicles” series by the dynamic writing duo of Breakfield and Burkey. In it, a housewarming gift is a blackmail letter in disguise, setting off ripple effects leading to murder and mayhem.
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Books That Make You Rock ‘n Roll Back to a Hard Dog’s 1950s
We often view history—especially our own—through a nostalgic lens, fondly remembering the good things while sometimes forgetting the more challenging, upsetting times we had as a nation and society. Take the 50s era of rock and roll, for example: some of the most revolutionary, influential music was being made, all against a backdrop of growing societal turmoil.
Now, author, urban explorer and rock-and-roller Rebecca Hendricks is back to tell us about a Hard Dog’s Night, the second book in her historical fiction series “Hound Dogged”. Again, she transports readers to the tumultuous 1950s, capturing a coming-of-age amid rising political tensions, social upheaval and a musical revolution.
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Books That Make You Go Flying with Snoodles in Space
Everyone's favorite crankiness expert and award-winning children’s book author, Steven Joseph’s latest book, Snoodles in Space Episode 2: The Zoodles Strike Back! is the third volume of the beloved “Snoodles” series, which has captivated readers of all ages with its adventure, humor and valuable life lessons.
Outside of being an author, Steven is a masterful attorney, seasoned negotiator, lecturer, marathon runner and a first-generation American son of a Holocaust survivor. He is available to discuss his line of books and topics centered around the use of “effective crankiness,” a theme that resonates in many of his books and is described in his acclaimed non-fiction book, Cranky Superpowers: Life Lessons Learned from the Common CrankaTsuris Chronicles.
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Discover the powerful insights of Tashena Anderson-Place, author of " Fill Your Cup: Discovering the War Between Life and Faithfulness." Join us as Tashina shares her journey of using coffee as a metaphor for life's ups and downs, and how we can choose what fills our cups. Tashena opens up about her personal struggles, the importance of a heart and mind shift, and practical steps to overcome life's challenges. Learn how to break free from societal expectations, embrace transitions, and empower yourself to live a fulfilling life. Whether you're dealing with stress, addiction, or past traumas, Tashina's wisdom offers a path to healing and growth. Don't miss this inspiring conversation that will leave you feeling motivated and ready to fill your cup with positivity and purpose. Watch now and start your journey towards a more joyful and empowered life!
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Books That Make You Be a Better Leader
Managing a team, leading others…how might one go from being a wide-eyed novice to an in-demand leader people want to work for?
More importantly, how can you move from being a “worker” to a facilitator of an energized team?
In his multi-award-winning book, Be a Better Manager in Five Minutes a Day, Dr. Dominic Mcloughlin illustrates the path to becoming that efficient, productive leader everyone trusts and respects.
With twenty years’ experience in Management and Leadership, Dominic is a highly seasoned Business Management Specialist. He runs his own consulting business and the new online Business Leaders Lab, and has also taught hundreds of university courses on business and management.
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Books That Make You Understand That You Are a Masterpiece
Most of us encounter serious doubts about ourselves, and our lives. We might grow bitter, regretful, assume that it’s simply our lot in life to experience inequity. Thus, it’s sometimes easy for us to let others write us off.
As someone once destined for a life of crime or addiction, Jay Morris might well have been the kind of person most wrote off. A single moment changed the trajectory of his life, however, when he accidentally pulled the trigger of a loaded gun at an innocent girl—and nothing happened.
This experience was just one of many unexplainable events that spurred Jay toward a truly transformative spiritual awakening. Now he is here to help others transform their own lives—because Jay discovered that, like himself, you are a masterpiece.
His debut book, Masterpiece – Our Journey to Spiritual Transformation, merges his rich expertise in corporate leadership with spiritual enlightenment.
With over 35 years of professional experience, Jay Morris harnesses his personal and professional insights to mentor professionals and industry leaders. His strategic insights have helped Fortune 500 companies like Ernst & Young LLP, Allstate Insurance Company, Merck Pharmaceutical, and Yale New Haven Health.
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Books That Make You Travel Back to Oklahoma in the 1940s
Stories with a strong sense of time, place, evoking themes of family and home and all the attendant laughs, loves and drama, are the very ones that make us want to curl up on the porch rocking chair with a lemonade and crack open a book.
Author Caren Simpson McVicker does just that with Henderson House, a book that invites you to lose yourself in the heartaches and hopes of 1940s Oklahoma, and offers a window into a charming boardinghouse with sisters, secrets, and late-in-life romance.
Born in Oklahoma, Caren now lives in Vermont with her husband, a rescue pup, and a barn cat- turned-house-kitty. A mother to two incredible humans, Caren is an enrolled member of the Cherokee Nation. Henderson House is her debut novel.
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Books That Make You Enter a World of Ancient, Mythological Powers and Secrets—in Seattle, Washington
We love epic, gripping, epic tales that mix genres and turn tropes on their, well, tales. Such is what Rebecca Heidt delivers in her Acceptance series, where the peaceful life of the ruling nymph family (Lucas, Rose, and their daughter Selena) is broken by a betrayal from their friend Kieran.
When Lucas and Rose sacrifice themselves, Selena and her guardian Liam struggle to escape. Now, in 2024, Selena is an adult, concealing her mystical heritage as she trains as a covert warrior under Liam's guardianship.
An accomplished, award-winning LGBTQ writer, artist, and lover of history, nature, anthropology and spirituality, Rebecca Heidt has been recognized for her neurodivergent wisdom and impactful advice for aspiring writers. She has also been awarded the 9th rank in the 2023 Iconic 100 Impact Igniters Worldwide.
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Books That Make You Relive the Last Decade of Real Cinema—the 1990s
Pop culture historian and entertainment scholar Scott Ryan has turned his sights on the 1990s in his latest work, The Last Decade of Cinema, a thoughtful, comprehensive book of dozens of essays looking back at twenty-five movies that defined the 21st century’s last generation.
The book offers exclusive interviews and insights from industry giants like Alexander Payne, Patricia Arquette, Helen Childress and Natasha Gregson Wagner (Natalie Wood’s daughter).
The book also analyzes iconic movies from the nineties, unpacking their cultural impact and legacy. It makes us remember a time when films were communal, when they were “big events”, when they impacted our lives—when things were simpler, at least in the realm of media content. And when it was okay to argue with your friends over what was in the Pulp Fiction briefcase.
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Books That Make You Feel That Anything Is Possible, Even When Things Seem Hopeless
When he was just sixteen years old, Payam Zamani’s parents paid smugglers to carry him safely across over a thousand miles of desert so he might escape brutal religious persecution in Iran.
Not much later, he arrived as an adolescent refugee in America, equipped only with a dream. In just over a decade, he launched a record-breaking billion-dollar IPO, only for it to fall victim to the nineties’ tech bubble, and Wall Street’s subsequent meltdown.
Twenty-three years later, he bought the company back, and, within just a few months, made it profitable once more.
His new book, CROSSING THE DESERT: The Power of Embracing Life's Difficult Journeys chronicles Payam’s story of going from oppression to opportunity, and from financial highs to lows—to highs once more.
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Books That Make You – Take Off for the Incredible Kauai Writers Conference
If you have a love for the literary, if you take refuge and escape in the written word, then you may dream of writing your own story. Or maybe you’ve already written a book—or books!—or are curious about writing for TV and film. No matter the kind of writer you are, it’s very important find your tribe at places like a writers conference.
David Katz is the director of the Kauai Writers Conference, now in its tenth year. Set in one of the lushest, most inspiring locations in the world, the Kauai Writers Conference brings together authors, poets, agents, and literary aficionados, and offers a mixture of master classes, intimate panel discussions, and one-on-one sessions. The environment is a welcoming, accommodating one, designed to inspire writers of all levels, and to foster growth and innovation in the literary arts. Use offer code BF789 for a 20% discount
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Books That Make You Journey with a Princess Who Doesn’t Need Saving
Adventure calls. Submerge yourself in a unique and fantastical journey with a rebel princess chasing her destiny—a princess who hardly needs rescuing.
Author S.G. Blaise’s The Last Lumenian is a coming-of-age tale of Lilla, the chosen one, as she battles outmoded traditions and shapes her own fate. Breaking away from the old trope of the damsel-in-distress, Lilla emerges as the heroine her world calls for.
Full of heart, adventure and menacing villains, The Last Lumenian is a wonderful sci-fi fantasy with a tasteful and charming alien romance.
S.G. Blaise was born in a faraway land of castles, monarchies and fallen dictatorships. During her childhood, Hollywood movies were forbidden under the Soviet Union, but her dad, at his own mortal risk, smuggled them in anyway. After journeying across the Atlantic Ocean for love, she ended up in sunny California, where she lives her dream of writing stories and annoying family members.
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Books That Make You Outstanding on the First Day of Your Career
Just what combination of ingredients, exactly, makes an executive? What made them emerge and stand out as a leader? What is it companies are looking for, anyway? And how might you close the gap between what we learned in school and what it truly takes to stand out in the professional world?
Author and CEO April Armstrong’s The Day One Executive covers all this and more. A longtime trusted advisor to private industry and senior government officials, April has worked extensively with executives in the private sector and across the Executive Branch, including the White House and the U.S. Intelligence Community.
She is the founder and CEO of AHA Insight, a strategic consulting firm for top executives, and joins the Book That Make You Show to break down just some of the wisdom found in her award-winning book.
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Books That Make You Wanna Pursue Being an Indie Author
Generally speaking, the more you read, the more you feel that burning urge to write. So what happens these days, when a reader becomes a writer? Chances are, if you’re a new writer, and want to control your vision for your book, your first path into the writing world will be as an indie author. What should you know before venturing into this bountiful, unpredictable territory?
A caffeinated writer, Mama, founder, speaker, trainer and traveler, Chelle Honiker is the Managing Partner of Athenia Creative Services, LLC, which includes Athenia Creative, Athenia Marketing and Athenia Training. Some of Athenia’s notable projects include:
Book Cover Auctions
Direct2Readers
Indie Author Tools
AuthorTechSummit
Indie Author Magazine
Author Automations
929Press
More than anything, as an advocate for the empowerment of authorpreneurs, Chelle recognizes the importance of authors taking charge of both their craft and careers.
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Books That Make You Find a Flow State
When undertaking a project or a task, or anytime we really need to concentrate in our lives, we can—with fortune and with dedication—enter what’s called a flow state.
A psychological concept in which a person becomes fully immersed and engaged in an activity, “flow” has been on the minds of many lately. For creatives in particular, it can be highly fruitful.
Prolific author Kelly Anne Manuel is living, writing proof of what can happen when you find the flow state. With her four compelling book series, she has created an impassioned line of positive messages for kids, and has written a total of 31 books—one for each day of the month—across her four captivating series.
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Books That Make You Grow In Your Career and in Life
Career coach and talent development expert Elena Agaragimova is an ongoing source of inspiration, having helped many find their voice in leadership. In a remarkable career that spans everywhere from New York to Dubai, she is also a speaker, podcaster, entrepreneur and author. In 2019, she gave a TEDx talk called “Living Your Truth.”
Elena's approach springs from the belief that true excellence in one’s career—and in leadership—is achieved through a holistic focus on not only professional growth, but personal wellbeing.
Her books, Shift and The Rough Guide to Awesome Leadership, as well as her engaging podcasts, Shift with Elena Agar and Confessions of a Career Coach, are resources for anyone eager to enhance their careers and leadership skills.
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Books That Make You Glimpse the Future—Where AI in Livestreaming and Digital Media Is Concerned
The pandemic pushed us into a digital landscape, and that momentum remains strong. Livestreamed events like The BookFest—for which Books That Make You is a proud sponsor—are becoming more popular.
As a leader in the live video and digital media space, Ross Brand helps artists and visionaries monetize their talent and expertise, and has been instrumental in the growth of platforms such as StreamYard. Brand is now recognized by Klout as the world's #1 livestreaming expert on social media.
Volume 4 in Ross Brand’s series 100 Livestreaming & Digital Media Predictions is a number one Amazon bestseller in multiple countries, and offers a guide for anyone who podcasts, livestreams, organizes YouTube content, creates courses, is a businessperson or entrepreneur, and really anyone who recognizes the importance of staying on the cutting edge of technology.
In the book, and the series overall, Ross spotlights predictions by an array of contributors—including YouTube stars, Emmy winners, hall of fame podcasters, industry executives, and even Books That Make You’s own Desiree Duffy—about how AI is impacting the world for creatives.
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Books That Make You Try to Escape the Maze
As a #1 New York Times bestselling author, James Dashner is perhaps best known for his YA “Maze Runner” series, though he is also the author of the bestselling “Mortality Doctrine” series, which includes The Eye of Minds, The Rule of Thoughts, and The Game of Lives.
2014 saw the release of a film adaptation of The Maze Runner, followed by another two films in 2015 and 2018. Altogether, the three films raked in almost a billion dollars. The three films' collective box-office earnings make it the fourth highest-grossing film series based on young-adult books, after those of Harry Potter, Twilight and The Hunger Games.
Born and raised in Georgia, Dashner now lives and writes in the Rocky Mountains with his wife and their four children. The House of Tongues, his new adult horror novel, was inspired by the stories his family told of their run-in with a serial killer. As his adult fiction debut, Tongues also represents his first crossover into screenwriting. Dashner enjoys the creativity and freedom allowed by writing in different genres and media, and has numerous stories slated ahead for the page and the screen.
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Books That Make You Live Alongside an Immersive True Crime Investigator
True crime stories, as many of us know, are among the most riveting, filled with intrigue and enigma and real victims for whom we can’t help but empathize with. Understanding the victim’s experience, and to relay that realness to readers, requires the unique skills of a true true crime author.
Attorney and researcher Doug Kari exposed The Berman Murders, the story of Barry Berman, heir to the Kahlua fortune, and his wife Louise, who went missing in 1986 in Saline Valley, a popular Mojave Desert draw for nudists and eccentrics.
Doug brings to his subjects rigorous research and compelling storytelling, enhanced by his method of immersive investigation. This style has led him inside the grave of a murder victim, in order to imagine the carnage befalling them just before death.
His true-crime stories have graced the front pages of LA Weekly, Las Vegas Review-Journal, San Francisco Daily Journal, and other well-circulated outlets. An English major at U.C. Berkeley, Doug honed his writing under novelist Leonard Michaels (The Men’s Club). After receiving his law degree from U.C. Law San Francisco, he practiced IP law while doing pro bono wilderness protection work for Desert Survivors, an outdoor group that he co-founded.
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Books That Make You Uncover the Reach and Power of Influencers
Most of us know of influencers, and have some understanding of how the entertainment world, celebrities, and philanthropical institutions and brands all intersect. If you’re in one of these realms, this knowledge can help you and your company get ahead by generating influencer‐based, cause campaigns that tap into the Influencer Effect’s exponential power.
And even if you’re not connected to these realms, aren’t you even a little interested to peel back the curtain and get a peek at how it works?
Chock full of case studies, entertaining stories, and professional insights, Good Influence by Paul M. Katz is based on his five-part D.R.E.A.M. method.
The CEO of Entertain Impact, Katz has spent over three decades as a leader in both the entertainment industry and philanthropic worlds, bringing a unique perspective to more than 100 cause marketing campaigns he’s created with celebrities and cultural influencers like Usher, Kevin Bacon, Ziggy Marley, Desmond Tutu and more.
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Books That Make You Elevate Your Mental and Physical Health with an Innovative Approach
For those tired of one-size-fits-all solutions to mental health, Dr. Paul D. Corona, a California-based physician with over 30 years of medical experience, has constructed a revolutionary approach that treats mental health not with quick fixes but a carefully calibrated, holistic method, one that includes off-label medications, amalgamated treatment methods, and aggressive strategies that have seen marked results.
Beginning his career in family medicine, Dr. Corona then transitioned into psychiatry, ultimately pioneering his own method which he’s referred to as "Mind and Body Healing."
Thus far, he’s authored three books in the series, “My Mind & Body Healing”. The Corona Protocol, the latest volume, addresses these comprehensive and innovative insights into mental health treatment, challenging conventional methods that have been stagnant for decades.
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Books That Make You Find the Spark for Your True Story
Writing a memoir involves far more than just listing your life experiences in order. It requires addressing a significant and poignant section of life, and delivering a story that caters more to the reader than to you.
At times, writers—from the aspiring to veterans—need to find a spark to pursue the complicated work of self-exploration. Sue William Silverman’s Acetylene Torch Songs: Writing True Stories to Ignite the Soul offers that spark for memoirists seeking mentor-based instruction and inspiration.
An award-winning author of eight works of nonfiction and poetry, Sue’s previous book, How to Survive Death and Other Inconveniences, won the Clara Johnson Award for Women’s Literature, and a gold star in Foreword Reviews Indie Book of the Year Award.
Sue’s other works include Love Sick: One Woman’s Journey through Sexual Addiction, adapted into a Lifetime TV movie; Because I Remember Terror, Father, I Remember You, winner of the AWP Award; and The Pat Boone Fan Club: My Life as a White Anglo-Saxon Jew. She is faculty co-chair at Vermont College of Fine Arts, in the MFA writing program.
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Ways Humans Can Write Better, in the Era of Artificial Intelligence
This episode is a follow-up to the one where we discussed how AI—or artificial intelligence—is affecting the writing and reading community.
That first episode came out just a few months ago, eons ago in terms of this technology. Yet there is something very timeless about the act of writing that we believe will never be surpassed by machines, and that is indeed the very important topic we’ll dive into deeper today: ways humans can write better.
Dave Duffy serves as the Head of The BookFest®, a free, biannual online literary event that captivates readers and writers alike.
The BookFest, in turn, is part of the Black Château Enterprises family, where Dave also helms operations for Black Château, a marketing firm specializing in authors and personality brands, as well as Books That Make You. And in case you’ve ever wondered about these brands, Dave is part of the reason they all work together so seamlessly. A data expert at heart, he uses quantitative analysis to inform strategy and promotional campaigns, and facilitates cross-functional literary experiences and event productions.
His unique skill set positions him at the intersection of technology and operations, enabling him to deliver stimulating and memorable experiences for our literary audiences. It also gives him a front-seat view of the ways large language models (LLMs) like ChatGPT, and image-creating software like Bing and Midjourney or Dall-E, are disrupting things at an alarming rate.
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Books That Make You adventure Through Fifties-Era of Rock and Roll, and Get Hound Dogged
The coming-of-age story is universal, enjoyed by every generation. The main reason: we older folks remember it fondly—or not so fondly—and younger folks are in the throes of experiencing it.
Author Rebecca Hendricks’s Hound Dogged is about growing up in a turbulent time—the 1950s—and has been compared to SE Hinton’s The Outsiders.
In Hound Dogged, we meet five friends: Patrick, Jerry, John, Stu and the talented newcomer Danny. As social and cultural upheaval takes center stage, these young musicians seek to find harmony amid chaos.
Though Rebecca has spent her career in accounting and Judicial Assistant work, her passion has always been writing. When not writing or spending time with her husband, dog and two cats, she enjoys restoring and giving new life to old dolls. She is a Colorado native.
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Books That Make You Romp with Hysterical Rhymes—and Introduce You to a Great Children’s Book Author
Rhyming can help immensely in the learning process, especially for children, who may also love a good scary story. And they certainly would have fun with the offerings of Whimsical World, an innovative children's brand seeking to entertain and educate children of all ages, all while planting seeds of self-esteem and high achievement.
Not only is he the author of The BookFest Award-Winner Hysterical Rhymes, Derek Taylor Kent is also known for his four-book middle-grade series Scary School, published by HarperCollins.
El Perro con Sombrero, his bilingual children’s book, was published by Holt-Macmillan. Other popular picture books include Dinosaur Derby, The Grossest Picture Book Ever, and his latest, Ka-Boom!
He and his wife, children's author Sheri Fink, are the founders of Whimsical World, and spread their joy of literacy and learning through live events, speaking appearances, school visits and pop-up shops all over the world.
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Books That Make You Understand Better How to Deal with Grief and Loss
Probably the cruelest aspect of getting older is losing loved ones. How can we understand our grief and help others, while in the throes of their own?
The award-winning author of Witnessing Grief; Inviting Trauma and Loss to Our Coaching Conversations, An Enneagram Perspective, Holly Margl is a name in the coaching realm. She's a beacon for those navigating the waters of grief, trauma, and the Enneagram.
With the prestigious titles of International Coaching Federation Master Certified Coach (MCC) and Advanced Certified Mentor Coach (ACMC) to her name, Holly's expertise is recognized globally.
Her adventure began at the University of Minnesota, where she studied Alcohol and Drug Counseling and Psychology. However, while teaching at a local college, a fateful intersection with coaching and the Enneagram in 2011 transformed her path. With an impressive array of coaching and Enneagram courses under her belt, Holly never stops growing.
Books That Make You Consciously Adventure with Your Child, or the Child In Your Life
Whimsical stories have a place in many a child’s—and, by extension, grown-up’s—heart, helping to inspire us and nurture a sense of wonder. Nowadays, however, that sense of wonder is compromised by the intensifying emphasis on screen-time, structured learning, timelines, and the chronic pressures of school and success.
Such things are intense for us adults. So what must they be like for kids growing up today?
Laura Leone’s new book, Conscious Kid-Adventures with Zane: Imagine & Create, features an author-led audio meditation and engaging coloring book activities, all designed to nurture children's well-being.
Motivated by a desire to provide a mindful activity for her young child during COVID lockdowns, Laura is passionate about bringing metaphysical awareness to our youth, and so established Starseed Metaphysical Shop Publishing™️ and authored the “Conscious Kid-Adventures with Zane” series.
Laura Leone, M.B.A., M.A. is the founder of Starseed Metaphysical Shop LLC, which covers the brands Starseed Metaphysical Shop Publishing™ and Starseed Cosmetics™. A mom, stepmom, and the daughter of a Mexican immigrant, Laura is also an Air Force veteran, and has been in public service for over twenty years as a certified fraud examiner.
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Books That Make You Go from a Blank Document to an Influential Author in 30 Days
Readers often get the call to write. When we have our creativity sparked, our imaginations expanded, we might realize that we, too, have something profound and powerful to say, and it’s perhaps one of the greatest moments in the life of a writer.
How can we make that happen, though? What if you don’t particularly like writing, or have all those fancy credentials that so many authors seem to have nowadays?
A proud military veteran, Jeremy C. Jones is also a family man and entrepreneur who lives in Paradise Valley, Arizona. His accomplishments include being a four-time #1 bestselling Author on Amazon, hosting the popular podcast “Ideas That Make an Impact,” and serving as CEO at Jones Media Publishing, the top-rated, veteran-led book publishing company in Arizona.
His book is called Your Book BluePrint, and he is here to share his unique process for how you can answer the call to write, publish and promote your book.
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Books That Make You Step into the Shoes of a PTSD Soldier
After over half a decade of military service that’s left him traumatized, Christian returns home and struggles with civilian life, and to readjust to the normalcy of his family ranch. Such is the premise of 48 Hours to Home, by CJ Ives Lopez.
Men and women in the armed forces often face incredible burdens when returning from service. We’ve heard about the impact of PTSD, the shock of segueing from a regimented life to one of relative freedom, and how difficult it can be for these brave men and women to find the support they need as they readjust.
A best-selling, multiple award-winning author across various genres—including heartwarming children's stories under her pen name Auntie Nann—CJ Ives is also a decorated Air Force veteran. With a loyal canine companion by her side, CJ's journey represents the transformative power of pursuing dreams.
Real personal experiences inspired the co-authored 48 Hours to Home.
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Books That Make You Understand Poverty, Abuse and Addiction
The value of memoirs is their empathetic deep-dive into another’s life. Events that often come to us in data or statistics, or vague references to unfamiliar circumstances, tend not to penetrate our hearts until we confront them through the power of narrative.
Brittany Means, a Chicana writer and editor out Albuquerque, New Mexico, has released her memoir, Hell If We Don’t Change Our Ways, through Zibby Books.
Brittany’s childhood was nomadic, filled with instability, as well as abuse, neglect and violence. Poverty, sexual assault, and an ostensibly evangelical Christian culture didn’t help.
Spending her childhood in the passenger’s seat as her mother struggled to escape abusive relationships, Brittany’s life was a terrible haze of roads and traumas. With no money and a slew of burned bridges behind her, she managed to still care for her younger brother, managed the chaos of her home life, and attempted to make sense of the disturbing world around her.
She earned an MFA from the Nonfiction Writing Program at the University of Iowa, and, before that, a Bachelor's in English from Ball State University.
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Books That Make You Adventure Across a Mythical, Tolkien-Level World
Nothing juices up our imaginations like immersing ourselves in fantasy worlds that feel so real, you can so clearly see the characters, the flora, the fauna, the communities, cultures and countryside.
And so we have author C.D. McKenna’s award-winning The Vorelian Saga, a world of a dark epic fantasy, full of anti-heroes and ethically gray characters, the first book of which is The Blood of the Lion and which has readers all over the globe praising its Tolkien-level world-building. There’ve also been mentions of Game of Thrones and Eragon.
Living and working in the mountains of Colorado, C.D. McKenna is also a coffee lover who, when not writing with a dog on her lap, enjoys the fresh air and hikes to distant worlds right in her backyard. While McKenna explores various genres in her writing, she is published in fantasy and horror.
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Books That Make You Join With Aliens to Face a Common Threat
How about genre-bending today?
Beth Freely, award-winning author and BookFest Bellwether, is also a businesswoman and publishing industry professional. Raised in upstate New York and a temporary ex-pat in Great Britain, today she’s settled and writing in New Mexico.
Her novel, Beyond the Steps of Stone, illustrates in detail a future Earth in which humans and aliens from the distant past must band together to face down a mutual enemy.
Combining action, twists, great worldsmithing and world-shaking prophecies, the book launches readers on an unforgettable, literary sci-fi ride that will keep them hanging on for dear life.
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Books That Make You Mix Historical Cultures, Artifacts and, indeed, Aliens
KG Maw is back with us to discuss his book The Lazarus Project, the latest in his rich and stimulating “KV 66” series. Certainly a lot has happened since his previous visit, in both his fictional world and the real one.
Ancient Egypt, the land of the Pharaohs, and the mysteries surrounding the pyramids, tombs, and more all continue to fascinate us. And KG is no exception—his stories are inspired directly from that wonderfully vivid and enigmatic history.
A successful businessman who partnered with the Government of Dubai in an insurance brokerage venture, KG sold the business, took on an advisory role, and started writing his “KV66” stories. His ties to Egypt stem from extensive travels to the country with his wife, who comes from an Egyptian family.
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Books That Make You Tuck In With a Great Mystery
We all love a book that makes you want to pour a cup of joe and cozy up by the crackling fireplace. And that’s what Donalee Moulton delivers in her debut novel, Hung Out to Die.
The mystery follows Riel, a California-born transplant to Nova Scotia, where he is CEO of the Canadian Cannabis Corporation. Things seem to work out—until Riel finds his world hanging by a thread as a killer emerges. It doesn’t take the police long to determine all is not as it appears … and that includes Riel himself, now pulled into a world not of his making.
A freelance journalist based in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Donalee’s byline has appeared in more than 100 publications, including Canadian Business, The National Post, Chatelaine, Maclean’s, and The Lawyers Weekly.
In addition, Donalee is the author of The Thong Principle: Saying What You Mean and Meaning What You Say, as well as the co-author of Celebrity Court Cases: Trials of the Rich and Famous. Her short story, Swan Song, was one of 21 selected for Cold Canadian Crime, an anthology published by the Crime Writers of Canada.
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Books That Make You Think About Your Own Humanness as a Writer
As with any art, writing is both a natural talent and a developed skill. Many folks erroneously believe it’s all natural, or that storytelling is so ingrained in us that anyone can do it well. So far as we know, no other creature writes. Using the written word to relate stories is a very human endeavor.
Until now.
As everyone has heard by now, large language models like Chat GPT can indeed craft stories. They can help writers with editing. They can help with research and planning like never before.
What does all this mean for writers? For readers? Would you yourself read a book written by AI? Have you already? Can you tell the difference?
In this special edition of The Books That Make You Show, Desiree Duffy discusses the impact of AI on the writing community, and how it has—and will—impact readers, as well as the publishing industry at large.
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Books That Make You Enter A Dark, Political Fantasy Realm
We all love villains we can relish hating, and new realms we can escape into. Mix all this with a dark fantasy world, and political satire, and you might just get The Amber Menhir, the first book in “The Shadows of the Monolith” series.
Debut author Jonathan N. Pruitt is a lifelong educator turned fantasy writer. His redemption arc took him from being a musical child prodigy in a low-income rural county in Florida, to getting his PhD at the age of 24, to an international scandal in 2020 that set its sights on his research methods in behavioral ecology.
But he soldiered on, and has been teaching and traveling the world and, as of late, writing. With his impressive and varied background, and his experience and expertise as a scientist, he brings a unique and insightful eye to his fictional world.
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Books That Make You Try New Things and be…Brave-ish
What happens when you’re almost fifty, undergoing divorced and moving back into your parent’s home to start from the beginning? If you’re like Lisa Niver, you start by taking one “braveish” step at a time. For Lisa, each step took her away from her old world and into a bold new adventurous one.
In her new memoir, Brave-ish: One Breakup, Six Continents and Feeling Fearless After Fifty, she chronicles her attempt at trying fifty new things before turning fifty: diving into shipwrecks, swimming with sharks, bobsledding and more. All throughout, Lisa found herself traversing the world on a journey of reinvention and personal growth.
Brave-ish inspires readers to take risks and embrace the unknown, and even the frightening, in order to live a life filled with wonder and excitement.
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Books That Make You Uncover—and Celebrate—Your Cranky Superpowers
Yeah, everyone gets cranky. We all get on one another’s nerves, indulge in moments where we grumble, snap or lash out at the ones we love, or whoever’s in the unfortunate position of having to put up with us.
But imagine if you could harness that crankiness, use it, even, like a superpower?
With his latest book, Steven Joseph Cranky Superpowers: Life Lessons Learned from the Common CrankaTsuris Chronicles, explores the strange, quirky, unexpected, and utterly normal aspects of life that get under our skin. Hear his advice for breaking repetitive cranky cycles, and learn why he’s cautious about forming habits, or where life coaches and therapists go wrong, and more.
With wit as quick as his marathon pace, Steven whips up life wisdom as funny as it is profound. He invites you to embrace the power of your inner ‘CrankaTsuris’ …
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Books That Make You Rich—Then Send You Walking New York Streets with Madwomen
As with all creatives, authors have many angles and interests. They can cross genre boundaries, producing books that, while superficially different from one another, harbor a thematic through-line—if you look hard enough.
A bestselling author, and founder of the Thought Leader Academy, Sara Connell helps coaches, writers and entrepreneurs become successful, published authors and TEDx/ in-demand speakers.
In addition, she is the author of several books, two of which—The Science of Getting Rich for Women and Ghost House—were released last year. Both were honored with BookFest Awards.
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Books That Make You and Your Kids Better Connect Connecting with their Hidden Potential and Greatness
It’s important that kids come to recognize the true depths of their potential, before the world’s “limiting stories” begin bombarding them, poisoning them from achieving what they hope—and can—for themselves.
Bestselling author Sarah Vie discusses her children’s book, Let Your Inner Golden Sparkle Shine, which allows kids to see that, no matter what might be happening around them, they have a safe refuge in their heart.
In her other book, I Wish I’d Known, Sarah Vie uses wisdom from her own life experience to guide readers through a transformational journey.
For the past 10 years, Sarah Vie has been changing many lives—her own included—amplifying financial abundance, career success, loving relationships as well as health and wellness. She is an well sought-out energy healer and meditation guide, and has been featured on NBC, CBS and ABC affiliates. Her articles have been featured in Huffington Post, Modern Mom Magazine and Thrive Global.
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Books That Make You Enter a World of Old Occult Objects You Definitely Should Not Mess With
We all love cautionary tales that warn of the things that shouldn’t be messed with. So what happens when you mix horror and suspense with timeless topics like family, family history and the specter of potentially losing it all? You get one of those page-turners you never want to put down.
Inspired by true events, real history and his own familial lore, Shadowland by P.L. Hampton tells the story of a mysterious Yoruba (Yor-oo-ba) Divination Board. Where did it come from, exactly? What is it its eerie significance? And why does it open an irreversible passage for Aaron Langford and his family?
Born and raised in Seattle, Washington, P. L. Hampton is a college professor who is currently pursuing his JD.
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Books That Make You Envision Agriculture in an Apocalyptic America
If society crumbled and you had to fend for yourself, how would you go about it? Do you know how to grow crops? Or purify water? Or protect the ones you love at all costs?
In her dystopian book series “Asylum,” Susy Smith explores these questions. In the gripping world she’s created, a young woman must learn to live off the land on her family’s farm—until the worst side of human nature darkens her door, forcing her to fight for herself, and for freedom.
Ascendant, the second book in the “Asylum” series, is out now, and continues the harrowing adventure.
Susy is the curriculum specialist of the Kanza Tribe in Oklahoma, where she lives in a small town. She weaves her firsthand knowledge and experience into her stories, giving her writing a compelling level of authenticity.
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Books That Make You…Tune In
Are you an audio book fan? Are your kids? Particularly beneficial for auditory learners, or for those of us who like to multitask while taking in our stories, the industry has come a long way since the days of “books on tape”.
Author Kelly Anne Manuel is known for connecting with children through her poetry and her books. She boasts a total of 31 books, one for each day of the month, and all of which span four series.
Also with us is Becky Parker Geist, CEO of Pro Audio Voices, an audiobook production and marketing service that produced Kelly’s audio books. The president of the Bay Area Independent Publishers Association, Becky is also the author of The Left Turn: Two Lives, Worlds Apart.
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Books That Make You Venture Across Magical Realms
You’re graduating from high school, getting ready to chase your dreams on Broadway—then, the whole shuts down.
We all went through it. Depending on your age and career, though, it struck many of us more profoundly. But under that despair, creatives did what they do best: they created.
Vianlix-Christine Schneider wrote her first book, Seaside Magic, which helped take her out of the real world for a few hours, creating a magical place with her main character: 14-year-old Caroline Smith, who discovers her family has magical powers, She then encounters a mysterious masked man who seeks to put an end to that.
In addition, Vianlix-Christine is the author of Seaside Magic: The World of the Mirror and Puffy Ball. Something amazing about all three books: each one won BookFest Awards, a truly amazing feat!
Vianlix-Christine lives in Virginia with her supporting family, along with her two dogs, Hershey and Oreo.
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Books That Make You Go on Amazing Time-Traveling Adventures with Your PopPop
Very often, children’s books give us stories that become a foundational fixture in one’s early life, emphasizing wonder, exploration and love of learning.
Retired accountant and children’s book author William Stevenson—known also as PopPop to young Ricky— has given us a wonderfully imaginative, historical series inspired by his grandson: Ricky’s Dream Trip.
In it, PopPop travels with Ricky around the world, into outer space, down into the sea, and even across time, all the while discovering Ancient Egypt, Ancient Greece, Ancient China, Ancient Rome and Colonial America. They even blast off into outer space and dive under the sea.
The most recent volume combines three adventures in Ricky’s Dream Trip to the Ancient Worlds of Egypt, Greece, and Rome.
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Books That Make You Explore Antarctica, Facing Down Dangers and—A Lost 8th Continent?
We read books from the safety of our home, maybe our back porch, batting away a few summer mosquitos or, in the fall, curled up before the fireplace. It’s amazing how books transport us to certain dangerous places—real and imaginary—and unveil realms most of us can only dream about.
In his new release, Mighty Bad Land, geologist Bruce Luyendyk takes us to the last wilderness on Earth: Antarctica. In addition, he explores evidence for Zealandia, the “lost 8th continent” split off from Antarctica long ago and sunk below the waves. Unlike most recent books on Antarctica, the reader finds themselves entangled with Bruce Luyendyk’s team, experiencing firsthand the perils, difficulties, relationships, failures, audacity, cowardice and success endemic to scientific research in such an unforgiving place.
A distinguished Professor Emeritus from UC Santa Barbara, Bruce was elected a Fellow of the Geological Society of America, the American Geophysical Union, and the American Association for the Advancement of Science. In 2016, summit 1070 in Antarctica, Mount Luyendyk, was named after him by the US Board on Geographic Names. His research in marine geophysics included exploring deep-sea black smokers (I.E., hydrothermal vents) using the deep submersible ALVIN off western Mexico. For this, he and colleagues shared the Newcomb Cleveland Prize of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.
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Books That Make You Write and Publish Your Own Successful Book
When you read books, you often, in time, feel that tug to write your own. Every writer who ever was started their creative life as a reader. So now that you feel that pull to put pen to paper, or fingertips to keyboards, just how do you go about it?
In Self-Publish & Succeed, trusted best-selling author and entrepreneur Julie Broad shows you that writing a successful nonfiction book starts long before you write your first chapter. To write a book that boosts your brand, generates a profit, and makes you an influencer in your industry, you need the #noboringbooks way.
Julie Broad is the founder of self-publishing services firm Book Launchers and an Amazon Overall #1 Best Selling Author. Her popular YouTube channel BookLaunchers TV teaches nonfiction authors how to write and market books people will want to read. An expert on writing with marketing in mind, Julie has been speaking on stages across Canada and the US since 2009, providing the best approaches to get results, make an impact, and ultimately, make more money.
LIBSYN COPY:
Books That Make You Author and Publish Your Own Popular Book
As a reader, one often, in time, feels that tug to write one’s own book. Every writer ever started their writing life as a reader. Now that you feel that pull to put pen to paper—or fingertips to keyboards—just how do you go about it?
In Self-Publish & Succeed, trusted entrepreneur and best-selling author Julie Broad shows you that writing a successful nonfiction book starts long before you write your first chapter. To write a book that elevates your brand, generates profit, and makes you an influencer in your industry, you need the #noboringbooks way.
The founder of self-publishing services firm Book Launchers and an Amazon Overall #1 Best Selling Author, Julie Broad’s popular YouTube channel BookLaunchers TV teaches nonfiction authors how to write and market appealing books. An expert on writing with a marketer’s mindset, Julie has been speaking on stages across the US and Canada since 2009, providing the best approaches to get results, make an impact, and invariably, make more money.
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Books That Make You Ready to be a Young Dad
Parenting can be tough, full of challenges and unknowns, and the struggles of young moms are well known. It’s important, too, to offer guidance and support to young dads.
J Hall—author, educator, podcaster, and all-around family guy—has just released his first book, God Help Me! I’m a Young Dad: 10 Essentials for Becoming the Dad Your Kids Need. Part inspiration, part education, part application, the book highlights ten important characteristics every dad needs, and provides practical tips for developing them in their lives as well as in the lives of their children.
Additionally, the book features a 30-day devotional guide that encourages readers to practice the essentials discussed in the book.
For two years now, J Hall has hosted and produced the Okie Bookcast, a podcast dedicated to connecting readers with their next great read, by featuring interviews with authors and storytellers connected to Oklahoma. In addition, he teaches sociology, and is Dean of Social Sciences at Oklahoma City Community College.
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Books That Make You Acknowledge Pride Month
June is Pride Month. It’s especially poignant this year, too, with so many LGBTQ+ books being challenged across the country, and winding up on banned-book lists.
Author Lee Wind’s “Queer as a Five-Dollar Bill: The Podcast” will drop thirty-six episodes in June 2023, as both a celebration of Pride Month and a response to the book-banning and intimidation many in the Queer community—particularly teens—are experiencing.
With a Master’s in education from Harvard, Lee writes stories to empower kids and teens to be their authentic selves and to change the world: the very same books that would have changed his life growing up a young, gay Jewish kid.
He works for the Independent Book Publishers Association as their Director of Education and Programs, and as the official blogger for the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. In addition, he is the organizer of the Queer Kid Lit Creators community, and runs the popular blog I’m Here. I’m Queer. What the Hell Do I Read?, words his teenage self once might have only dreamed of saying.
Upcoming books include the YA novel A Different Kind of Brave (Duet/Chicago Review Press), The Gender Binary is a Big Lie (Zest/Lerner), and the picture book Love of the Half-Eaten Peach (Reycraft), inspired by Queer history. Lee lives in Los Angeles with his husband of more than 25 years, and they have a grown daughter. Visit him online at leewind.org.
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Books That Make You Reconsider an Element Like Calcium
Even as so many things connect us in this world and in nature, often we fail to see the most fundamental, and important, elements. Literally.
Not Korynn Newville. She kicks off her new series “Indiscernible Elements” with a unique take on the element calcium, in her book, Indiscernible Elements: Calcium. Yes, that well-known health benefit touted in so many a milk or orange juice commercial. But, as Korynn shows, it’s so much more.
An architectural designer, artist and activist, she describes how calcium is in us, and all around us. Through illustration, poetry and dialogue, Korynn explores in her book the path a molecule of calcium can take through various stages of life and death.
Korynn’s passion for the environment was the impetus that led to her writing and her eco-activism. She seeks to deliver a message of hope, connection, and adaptation to share with the world.
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Books That Make You Enter a Fantastical, Magic-Filled Saga Following Three Generations of Witches
There is nothing like a series with tons of fun, twisting family drama to get us turning pages. But what’s it like when said family happens to be comprised of witches?
Marieke Lexmond’s series “The Madigan Chronicles” is six books covering three generations of headstrong witches, and the fate of four magical, elemental objects. The Wand of Wisdom, which governs the power of fire, is guarded by the Madigans. And when Lucy, Grandma Madigan's evil twin, steals the air-governing object called the Dagger of Consciousness, it sets off a chain reaction of magical mayhem.
Lucy, it seems, wants to possess all four magical objects, to be all-powerful. And if the Madigans are going to stop her, they need to overcome their own differences.
Marieke Lexmond reads tarot cards, and loves travel, photography and food. She is parent to three sassy little dogs that she takes everywhere (and who even have their own Instagram account). As a pagan, she draws inspiration from her connection to the land. Such is what resulted in “The Madigan Chronicles,” the fourth installment of which, The Cup, will be released Spring 2023.
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Books That Make You Understand a Mother’s Love, and Follow a Journey of Strength and Perseverance
Christy Texeira, mother and BookFest-award-winner, has a new book, Pink Elephants, which tells the story of a family pushed to the edge as they face the reality of their daughter’s rare, life-threatening illness. The book beautifully chronicles their private moments of tenderness, as we reconcile ourselves to the fragility of childhood innocence, and the reminder that control is an illusion.
In their struggle, the Texeira family discovered the most essential ingredients in surviving great hardship—their unwavering faith, gratitude for every day, and the strength and power found within every family member.
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Books That Make You Launch into Outer Space – With No Less Than Snoodles
Steven Joseph, beloved children’s book author, crankiness expert and humorist, has darkened our door a fourth time to offer tongue-twisting laughs with his latest installment of the “Snoodles” Saga: Snoodles in Space: A Snoodle, The Zoodle Kidoodles, and One Happy Schmoodle.
Steven discusses how the beloved series was conceptualized and developed, further tips for managing crankiness from the ultimate authority on crankiness, and what it was like for Steve to present his book to Oscar nominees at the DPA Luxe Gift Suite the week of the Oscars.
By day, Steven is an attorney and negotiator, so he knows well the process of shifting one’s perspective to see things anew. As a result, he brings a fresh point of view to the world of children’s literature that’s as entertaining as it is emotional and intellectually stimulating.
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Books That Make You Charge Up a Mountain on a Motorbike
We all love coming of age stories, those tales of the struggles and obstacles to fit in, and to find yourself.
Danger Peak is the BookFest Award winner that swings us back to the 1980s with three teens members of The Wild Boars, the motorbike-racing club. With the unwitting help of their quirky technology teacher, Dr. Howard, they build Robert a faster, much-improved dirt bike—piece by piece.
Haunted by memories of his older brother Danny, who died the year prior trying to scale Danger Peak, he discovers what lies beyond the peak of the mountain…and maybe even beyond the bounds of Earth itself.
Michael Thomas Perone has written for Baltimore City Paper, The Baltimore Sun, Long Island Voice, and others. He’s also written for online outfits such as Fatherly, Yahoo!, WhatCulture!, and other websites. He lives on Long Island with his wife and two daughters, and works as a Senior Editor in Manhattan.
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Books That Make You Go On a Science Fiction Adventure That’s Both Epic and Inclusive
A writer since she was a child, Rebecca Inch-Partridge grew up writing stories about The Bionic Woman meeting, say, Captain Kirk.
Escaping the Dashia, her first novel, is a YA science fantasy that tells the story of young telepath Twyla, abducted by her mother and forced to participate in the criminal organization that comprises the family business. The book was published by Black Rose Writing.
A member of the Editorial Freelancers Association and Broad Universe, Rebecca frequently speaks at writers’ conferences and pop culture conventions. Her writing, both fiction and non, has appeared in several magazines, and she has won Honorable Mention in the likes of Writers of the Future and Writer’s Digest contests. She received her bachelor’s degree from William Jessup University in (and she swears this isn’t an oxymoron) Management and Ethics.
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Books That Make You Stand at the Crossroads of God, Science, Technology and History
A scientist who believes in both God and evolution, Mark J. Rose is also an author who whisks readers back in time with his series Matt Miller in the Colonies, a set of historical science-fiction stories. Along with his curiosity and creativity, he carries an adventurous and exploratory spirit, which has him traveling and researching in-person many of the places he writes about.
For Mark, travel enriches his writing. One can Google a place, he says, but physically being there gives off an irreplaceable “vibration” the virtual world can’t duplicatee. For The Virginian, he visited Ben Franklin’s house in London — hardly a big tourist destination there. While writing the series’ most recent book, Architect, he organized a private tour of the Capital building in Colonial Williamsburg.
Mark is a director of research and development at a startup biotech company, and holds a doctorate in pharmaceutical chemistry.
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Books That Make You Succeed in the Workplace, and Avoid Burnout
More and more, it’s becoming important for women in the workplace to recognize that the old rules no longer apply, and to adopt a new playbook.
Women may be natural leaders, but they’re burnt out. Even after playing by the rules, they still don’t achieve their much-deserved leadership roles. Now, with Randi Braun as their coach, they stand on the edge of something major.
Randi addresses subjects such as addiction to perfectionism, the reasons for burnout and unhappiness, what exactly is broken with the old system, the hard process of silencing our inner critic and rising above the quest for external validation.
A sought-after thought leader, speaker, and author of the women’s leadership book Something Major: The New Playbook for Women at Work (New Degree Press, 2023). Randi’s book brims with stories, testimonials, facts and figures. One play at a time, she’s changing women’s lives—all while wearing pink three-inch pumps.
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Books That Make You Feel Like You’ve Been Taken Off on a Grand Fantastic Journey
In J.W. Zarek’s BookFest Award-winning novel “The Devil Pulls the Strings,” time-travel, twisted history and secret societies come crashing together.
Since Boone was six, he’s been haunted by a Wendigo spirit, which doesn’t help his debilitating panic attacks or gut-wrenching guilt. Now, come Saturday, a cursed Immortal seeks to destroy New York City. But all Boone wants is to just keep a promise to a friend, a friend he nearly killed last Sunday.
Set in modern-day New York City, 1813 Genoa, Italy and Wentzville, MO, the book threads together Slavic mythology, secret societies, bromance, Paganini’s music and time travel.
In his day job, J.W. Zarek has helped catch bad guys for the government. While in Japan, he taught English Conversation in Japan, and can analyze anyone’s handwriting. He’s hunted pirates in the Persian Gulf, and has sailed twice through the Suez Canal.
While working at the FBI, his thesis on relationship red-flag behaviors earned him an invitation to present a paper at the First Annual Forensics Congress in China. This, in turn, led him to writing his award-winning book “Naughty or Nice – Whose List Are You On?”, now available as a handout during lectures.
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Books That Make You Feel the Power of Loyalty, Nobility, Friendship—and Share Them with the Young Ones
Children’s books with positive, uplifting messages are a great way to not only introduce children to reading, but to give them a baseline of virtues, with ideas that impart life lessons to help them grow. And empathy, courage and friendship are all thematic virtues found in the Bookfest-Award-winning “Bunky and the Walms: The Christmas Story.”
Aleksandra Tryniecka, the author, a poet, writer and Assistant Professor at Maria Curie-Skłodowska University in Poland, as well as a poet and fiction writer. In addition to “Bunky and the Walms: The Christmas Story” (Wipf and Stock/Resource Publications, October 2021), she is the author of the forthcoming book, “Women’s Literary Portraits in the Victorian and Neo-Victorian Novel” (Rowman & Littlefield, Lexington Books, February 2023).
While working on Bunky’s further adventures, she enjoys 19th-century British literature, especially anything by Anthony Trollope and Wilkie Collins. The Cheshire Cat is one of her favorite literary characters…aside, of course, from Bunky!
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Books That Make You Understand the World Afresh, Perhaps Through Children’s Eyes
Author Kelly Anne Manuel has released four wonderful series for kids, all bearing a suite of positive messages. All in all, there are 31 books, one for every day of the month.
The Essentials Series—here, kids learn the importance of positive self-talk, with daily, positive affirmations that help children face their fears.
The Classics—timeless books where all generations can find meaning, and which help kids maneuver through challenging situations.
The Rainbow’s End Series—stories that aid in imaginary play. Each book begins with “The other day I went to visit a friend…”, and so whisks readers to a different place, where everything is possible.
My Name Is Series—with these, children can their internal and external nature, exploring self-esteem and clear communication. They offer the child the opportunity to say: “This is who I am.”
Kelly’s books meet children where they are. They help children see the world in an altogether inspiring—and entertaining—way, and to meet it with curiosity and confidence.
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Books That Make You Feel a Metaphysical Pull to the 19th Century
Immigrants lived in a place called the Bowery, women could so easily be institutionalized, and the wealthy elite dominated everything. It was also a time of hope -- and of magic.
And thus, the Gilded-stage is set for Anika Savoy’s “The Ghost in Her”, a novel that is part historical fiction, part fairy tale, part paranormal romance and much more.
As an attorney and award-winning author who’s always felt a supernatural pull, Anika is healthy skeptic who cannot deny her own near-death experience, which created a pivotal shift in her life and writing.
An avid explorer, her adventures (and her research) have taken her to places such as Blackwell’s Island, the deep trenches of her own past as well as into the chance path of a gentleman who gifted her an incredible cookbook.
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Books to Bulk Out Your 2023 To-Be-Read List
If you’re like many other fellow obsessive readers, you may be taking this time to plan your reading list for the new year. Tons of new books are coming down the pike, after all, or already out. Setting out a TBR List can be a fun and edifying exercise.
In this special edition of the Books That Make You Show, we explore some of our top picks for the new year. From non-fiction to romance, from memoirs to children’s books and everything in between, we have a wide variety to tantalize any reader’s fancy. Here is 2023’s Books That Make You TBR List: https://www.booksthatmakeyou.com/must-add-books-to-your-2023-tbr-list/
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Books That Make You Understand that Love is the Purpose
No matter your faith, or how you worship, the common theme is that we’re all here to express love in our relations with one another.
This is the powerful, universally relevant message author P.B. Lamb delivers with her debut fantasy novel “Angels of Light”. An enchanting mix of fantasy, religion and romance, the book follows Jessica Hanson, a young attorney who finds her mother’s lifeless body, thus starting a chain reaction of transformation in her life. Her very identity unravels as she learns of her true origins, that she’s not entirely as…human as she might’ve thought. Rather, she is descended from the Archangel lineage, and possesses divine powers that she must reclaim…as the next Great Spiritual War looms ever closer.
P.B. Lamb has been writing short stories for almost twenty years. With the release of “Angels of Light”, she can now cross publishing a novel off her bucket list.
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Books That Make You Undertake a Spiritual Writer’s Journey
As avid, seeking readers, many of us may feel a calling to write: an overwhelming urge to put pen to paper, to mix our desire to write with our calling to share a deeper, truthful message.
What is it really like, though, the path of the spiritual writer? What should writers be cognizant or cautious of along the way?
A gifted spiritual teacher, Deborah Levine Herman believes we’re here, ultimately, to raise one another’s vibration, to live with love, authenticity, and, most of all, hope. As author of the timely “Spiritual Writing: From Inspiration to Publication, 2nd Edition”, Deborah helps writers uncover their spiritual writing path. Her book helps authors answer the question: which kind of spiritual writer are you?
As a mystic, Deborah teaches that the act of writing connects people with their higher selves, and therefore the Source of All.
Deborah is a publisher, intuitive writing coach and former literary agent with a top agency, a publisher. The bestselling author of thirteen books, she has dedicated her 25-plus year publishing career to writer-education.
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Books That Make You Undergo a Journey of Transformation
As we struggle to find answers and purpose, as we struggle to relinquish past traumas in order to manifest a life of meaning, the goals of peace, joy and abundance often seem out of reach. But in reading about someone else’s journey, we can gain insights into our own.
In author Sarah Vie’s groundbreaking new book, “I Wish I’d Known”, she uses wisdom from her own lived experience to guide readers on a path toward their own transformation. Each chapter begins with a story from Sarah’s life, particularly in how she was able to let go of the traumas of her past and manifest a life of joy, peace and abundance.
After each inspiring story, readers are empowered with new insights and tools to break their own toxic cycle, so that they might attract the abundant life they desire and deserve. Readers will leave this book clear in their purpose, and confident in their ability to manifest love, happiness, peace and, above all, meaning.
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Books That Make You Rethink Addiction, and Addictive Cycles
We tend to think of addiction in terms of addiction to drugs, alcohol or sex. When we talk about our careers though, we use terms like “dedicated” and “hardworking”. When we talk about relationships, we use words like “madly in love” or “domestic abuse”.
What if all these and more had their source in addiction, and getting to the bottom of them, and recognizing that, could help us break the addictive cycles that keep us trapped?
Dr. Donna Marks helps people understand there's only One Addiction that changes forms, and all forms are deadly. She is an author, consultant, public speaker, and has been a psychotherapist for over three decades. Currently, she has a concierge psychotherapy practice in Palm Beach, Florida. Her two books are: “Learn Grow Forgive – A Path to Spiritual Success”, and “Exit the Maze: One Addiction, One Cause, One Solution” (revised).
Dr. Marks says that every addiction is a substitute for love, and the only remedy is to substitute every addiction with acts of self-love. The more a person makes a loving choice in place of a self-destructive one, the addiction is forgotten, and restoring meaning and purpose to one’s life.
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Books That Make You Want to Curl up in a Small Town in the Rocky Mountains
Sometimes, there’s a book, or book series, that simply brings out the best in us—a world that makes you long to climb into the pages with the characters, maybe share a cup of joe or hot cocoa with them.
Bestselling author Virginia Fox is someone who knows—and does—this best, with her “Rocky Mountain Romances” book series. In addition to offering a glimpse of a life most only dream about, suspense, nostalgia, sweet romance and mysteries await readers. You won’t be able to resist taking this series up before a crackling fire, or maybe in front of the ocean on grabbing on that next beach vacation.
Virginia presently lives with her family, her Australian cattle dog, and two moody tomcats on a small ranch near Zurich.
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Books That Make You Want to Expand Your Book’s Platform
Online seminars and workshops provide ways to share our knowledge and expertise. With their books as a foundation, authors can build their brand outward, monetizing their words books to reach a broader and hungry audience.
Award-winning creative educator Parchelle Tashi does just that. She partners with authors to aid them in monetizing their books as profitable online courses that generate additional income and impact.
Parchelle is a former high school teacher who has since become an award-winning video professional. She has a master’s in education and curriculum design, and has created hundreds of videos, launched podcasts and online courses, YouTube channels, as well as digital products for clients. She is also the founder of The Author’s Leverage, a premiere partner in creative media and education.
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Books That Make You Unravel the Sports World’s Mental Health Crisis
There are many unilluminated corners of the sports world, areas we don’t discuss, don’t know about or simply pretend don’t exist. In an industry where the consumer feels entitled to their ball-chasing entertainment, we can easily forget about the human variable existing and struggling beneath those jerseys.
Once a competitive athlete and coach, author and serial entrepreneur Chris K. Jones has channeled his lifelong journey to understand the minds of athletes into is debut novel, “Headcase”. With a dynamic imagination and narrative skill, Chris’s book sets the table for awareness and discussion of the wide world of sports’ generational trauma and mental health issues.
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Books That Make You Dive into Dark Poetry
October makes us want to revel in the spooky season, to think back to some of the more memorable dark poems, like Edgar Allen Poe’s “The Raven”. Horror poetry can spark our imagination in the best ways, invigorate our love for things going bump in the night.
Author and poet Stephanie M. Wytovich of the HWA (or, the Horror Writers Association), now celebrates a poetry showcase featuring poems from a variety of writers: the ideal read for this time of year, and beyond.
The Horror Writers Associations’ 9th Annual Poetry Showcase features the best in dark, never-before-published verse. Edited by Angela Yuriko Smith, this year's featured poets are Stephanie M. Wytovich, Geneve Flynn, and Naomi Simone Borwein, plus dozens of contributions from other talented members of the Horror Writers Association.
Stephanie M. Wytovich is an American poet, novelist, and essayist. Her work has been published in multiple magazines and anthologies, such as “Nightmare Magazine”, “Weird Tales”, “Southwest Review”, “Year's Best Hardcore Horror: Volume 2”, “The Best Horror of the Year: Volume 8”, and others.
Wytovich is the Poetry Editor for Raw Dog Screaming Press, and an adjunct at Southern New Hampshire University, Western Connecticut State University and Point Park University. She is a recipient of the 2021 Ladies of Horror Fiction Writers Grant, the Elizabeth Matchett Stover Memorial Award, and has received the Rocky Wood Memorial Scholarship for non-fiction writing.
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Books That Make You Look Reconsider Our Meat-Eating Habits
If you’re a regular consumer of meat, or any animal products, do you sometimes think about the cost? Not just the price tag, but the ecological costs, as well as the medical and psychological costs?
What if someone came along and told you factory farms, corporations, meat lobbyists and politicians are on a mission to lull you into compliance? What if this someone offered the red pill?
That someone, now, is Stuart Waldner.
In his shocking new book, Escape the Meatrix, Stuart writes of his fight against climate change, how it has exposed, among other things, the unexpected reason vegetables are more expensive than burgers. He offers a list of diseases that a plant-based lifestyle can slow, prevent, or even cure, and illustrates the ways in which America’s declining health is tied directly to corporate profits.
After successfully transitioning to a plant-based diet himself in 2008, and feeling much better physically, Stuart set out on a path of activism and investigation, uncovering the statistical connections between our dietary choices and our current global crises. Escape the Meatrix is a critical wake-up call for those willing to face the daunting, but not insuperable, facts.
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Books That Make You Reexamine How We Care for Our Elderly
As the US population grows and ages, we presently have six million Americans living with Alzheimer's, a number expected to grow. How do we care for them? How do we house them? What should we be doing to ready ourselves for the future?
Larry Carlson is the author of “Avandell—Reimaging the Dementia Experience” by Larry Carlson addresses these very questions. Before becoming the (now retired) President and CEO of United Methodist Communities, Larry worked for two faith-based, non-profit organizations: the Franciscan Sisters of Chicago, and the United Church of Christ. He was also Director of Housing at the Hebrew Rehabilitation Center for the Aged in Boston.
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Books That Make You Discover Ways to a Happier, Simpler Life
Believe it or not, we can choose to be happy. It’s not always easy, and it’s a long journey, but taking the right steps, and making the right decisions, is up to you.
“5 Happy Choices”, by certified professional coach Kristina Rienzi, reveals five simple, proven choices you can make right now that lead to a happier life. Using scientific research, Kristina illustrates how you can empower and inspire yourself to choose happiness, in order to take control of your life.
A resident of the Jersey Shore, Kristina is also an adult thriller author, and the former president of Sisters in Crime-Central Jersey. She believes in all things paranormal, particularly the Law of Attraction, aliens, angels, and, of course, the value of a graduate degree in psychology. Her debut audiobook, “Among Us”, was featured on Audible’s ACX University, and is an Audible Editors Select pick.
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Books That Make You More Adventurous in Your Genre-Blended Reading
What a treat it is to find books that mix and match genres, that take the best elements of romance, or mystery, or the supernatural, and blend them in new, exciting and imaginative ways.
And, with her sixth book in the Jackrabbit Junction series, “Twisty Tortoise Tussles”. USA Today bestselling author Ann Charles does just that.
Ann writes spicy stories full of adventure, comedy, suspense, mystery, romance and supernatural chaos. When not dabbling in fiction, you might well find her arm-wrestling with her two kids, trying to seduce her husband, or getting into spats with her sassy cats.
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Books That Make You Create Your Own Life – and Podcast
We’re going meta bit here. Yes, we’re a podcast – and, for our listeners on MyStar-95-dot-com, a radio show. We created the “Books That Make You Show” brand to highlight books and their authors.
Appropriately enough, Jeremy Ryan Slate is an author and podcaster whose new book, “Unremarkable to Extraordinary: Ignite Your Passion and Go From Passive Observer to Creator of Your Own Life,” addresses podcasting and content creation.
Listed in Podcast Magazine’s Top 40 Under 40, Jeremy is the host of “Create Your Own Life” podcast, which spotlights the highest performers in the world. After studying literature at Oxford University, he received a Master’s in Early Roman Empire Propaganda from Seton Hall University. In 2019, “Create Your Own Life” was named the #1 Podcast to Listen To by INC Magazine in 2019.
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Books That Make Your Soul Fly with Poetry
Poetry inspires and moves us in ways we often can’t anticipate. Multi-talented and award-winning poet, Alonzo "zO" Gross, or zO-AlonzO, is also a Singer, Rap Artist, Playwright, Screenwriter, Dancer and Recording Artist.
zO’s short stories were initially seen in 2005 and 2006 in the series “Staying Sane”. His first book of poems, “Inspiration, Harmony and the World Within” was released in 2012. He was also awarded that year’s "Best Spoken Word Poet" at the Lehigh Valley Music Awards.
Then, in January 2018, he released his second book of poetry: "sOuL eLiXir: The writingZ of zO". June of 2021 saw the publication of his third book of poetry and art, "PoemZ 4 U AND YourZ". In April of 2022, the latter was awarded first place in its category at The Bookfest Awards. zO is a graduate of English Literature and Dance from Temple University.
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Books That Make You and Your Kid Get Ready for Higher Education
It’s so important, helping our children get educated, and guiding them accordingly.
Beth Pickett, author of “The Essential Guide for Busy Parents: College Admissions”, is also the founder of College Prep Counseling, and for more than a decade has been counseling students across the US. Over the years, her clients have earned admission to Harvard, UC Berkeley, Brown, Yale, UCLA, Williams, Stanford, Pomona, UMich, Tulane, Colgate, Cornell and many others.
Herself a graduate of Stanford University, Beth received her Certificate in College Counseling from UCLA, and began working with families as an independent admissions consultant in 2007. Her approach is that students who delve into their interests over high school become happier, more accomplished, and better positioned to submit more compelling college applications.
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Books That Make You Wonder What Might Happen in an Alternate Life
The sun is out, life is good, and you’re going on a nice bike ride. Then, suddenly, a hasty decision propels you into a different version of your life.
It’s a glitch in the matrix, sending you down a path to discovering that the nature of the cosmos may not exactly be what you thought it was.
Such is the premise for The Left Turn: Two Lives, Worlds Apart, the new metaphysical woman’s fiction novel by Becker Parker Geist. It’s a trip through the Twilight Zone, but with far more hope.
A writer and performer since she was a child, Becky Parker Geist is now the CEO of Pro Audio Voices, which offers audiobook production and marketing. She is also President of Bay Area Independent Publishers Association. She revels being immersed in the world of independent publishing.
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Books That Make You Become a Warrior for Equality
Trailblazing women before us created spaces for us all, gave us opportunities they could never reach themselves. In author Lesley Michaels words, their philosophical legacy is simple: create your own space and own it. Own and celebrate your womanhood.
Michaels’ “On the Shoulders of Mighty Women” is a modern feminist’s guide to a diverse and equitable world, in which she takes the reader on explorations of life, womanhood, feminism, and the sometimes tumultuous collisions of all three as women struggle to hold up more than half the world.
Her ethos was shaped by her audacious paternal grandmother, a savvy businesswoman and First Wave feminist. Coming of age during Second Wave feminism, Michaels was later one of the first women to break through the glass ceiling in the “old boy” industry of oil and gas.
Having since become a leader in the coaching industry, she has since mentored Fortune 500 C-Suite executives. Today, she creates virtual programs on topics ranging from “Building Strategic Alliances of Women” to “Discovering Personal Freedom Through Self-Trust” to She hosts the weekly podcast, “Women We Should Know”.
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Books That Make You Want to Heal the World of Climate Change
As the climate crisis progresses and we see more catastrophes from rising temperatures, damaged ecosystems, droughts, rising sea levels and so much more, we wonder what we can do.
Author and engineer E. A. Smiroldo uses real science in her debut novel “The Silent Count”, a sci-fi story novel about climate change that blends her expertise blends with real-world issues.
A lifelong resident of Washington DC, Smiroldo has seen how politics corrupts and skews human perception and morality. She understands all too well how close humankind is to the brink of real climate catastrophe, and she is determined to emphasize how vital it is for us to come together for ourselves and the planet.
A. Smiroldo is a nuclear engineer with a BS in engineering. She’s also a Music Association Award-nominated singer-songwriter, and is the recipient of prizes in writing competitions from the Bethesda Literary Festival and the International Screenwriters' Dig, the latter of which gave her the chance to option a screenplay treatment with X-Ray Media.
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Books That Make You See Clarity in Chaos
On the road to recovery or transformation, it’s often hard to recognize what might be holding you back. Many feel stuck, like there is nothing they can do. How can we see and break the ongoing cycles we may be trapped in?
Marci Hopkins is the author of “Chaos to Clarity: Seeing the Signs and Breaking the Cycles”, a combination memoir and self-help book designed to educate readers on how to break such cycles, as they heal from their past, try to make amends in friendships or relationships, and attempt to create a more fulfilling life.
Marci Hopkins is also an award-winning TV personality, who hosts “Wake Up with Marci”, a show whose mission is to offer hope, empowerment, and the ability to change your mindset. Here, she engages in edifying conversations with celebrities, authors and industry leaders. “Wake Up” airs on the CBS-owned WLNY-TV 10/55 at 10 am on Saturdays.
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Books That Make You Want to Undertake an Adventurous Road Trip
Many of us wish for a long adventure, to just pack up and hit the open road. Life, however, often holds us back. We find we can’t just up and go somewhere for an extended period of time. Or can we?
From 2017 to 2021, Mary Hollendoner and her family road-tripped from Northern California down to Patagonia, Argentina, in an old 90s camper van with her husband and six-year-old daughter. Traveling almost thirty-thousand miles, they encountered many adventures, such as an angry and potentially drunk mob in quake-shattered Mexico, being caught amidst a political revolution in Bolivia, and having to evacuate a wildfire. All such adventures came to a head, though, when COVID struck, forcing them to remain in Argentina for over a year.
In her book award-winning book “Monkeys on the Road”, now an Amazon bestseller, Hollendoner chronicles her family’s many encounters on the trip. And despite all the more dangerous aspects, the heart of the story remains the many local people who welcomed them in, who treated them with nothing but generosity—and the occasional, delicious homecooked meal.
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Books That Make You Swoon From a Real-Life Love Stories
When we’re caught in its whirlwind, love can spur the greatest passions, creativity, ideas and transformations. Few books illustrate such a concept as well as that of “My Love Affair: Thorns & Roses”, the new autobiographical work from multi-talented actress, director and stage producer Natalia Lazarus.
Natalia is also the Founder & CEO of the Los Angeles Performing Arts Conservatory—including its iconic Promenade Playhouse, which she founded in 1996.
“My Love Affair: Thorns & Roses” told in poetic verse and featuring Picasso’s artwork within its pages, was inspired when Natalia was starring in Jeffery Hatcher’s dramatic, two-character play “A Picasso in Paris”. Across its beautiful, alluring story, it charts love found and love lost, emotional renewal and new beginnings.
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Books That Make You Undertake Life-Changing Adventures
While many of us dream of adventure, how many of us can truly say what it’s like to experience life-changing, adrenaline-rushing adventures that fundamentally transform us?
Chester L. Richards is a retired aerospace engineer and inventor with 19 patents. In addition to publishing over 50 essays, he’s an avid surfer and whitewater rafter, a music-lover, and a man who’s found solace in writing about his beloved, departed wife. He now shares his tales with the world, in his first memoir, From The Potato to Star Trek and Beyond: Memoirs of a Rocket Scientist.
The book describes a life of adventure, one that has taken him from a near-fatal encounter with “the great potato” to writing a famous Star Trek episode, to becoming a rocket scientist. He talks about everything from why nature wants to kill you to how the most critical step in your success lies in your failures.
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Books That Make You Understand What To Do When Mommy Is Busy
While many children’s books often full of morals, adventures and learning activities, there are also those that address more ordinary, everyday matters such as, how might kids keep themselves busy when Mommy is occupied? Because, let’s face it: these days, both parents are likely to be quite busy.
Junyi Zhang—or April—has released a book: “When Mommy's Busy”, about a girl named Bubu who learns how to play by herself when Mommy and Daddy are busy. April feels it is important for kids as well as grown-ups (everyone, really), to learn how to enjoy solitude.
A Los Angeles-based animation background designer, illustrator, concept artist and storyteller, April currently works at Roughdraft Studios. She holds a Bachelor of Arts from China Academy of Art, and an animation MFA from Savannah College of Art and Design. She's worked in Visual Development in animation TV, games, and has additional experience working on books, short films, commercials and other projects.
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Books That Make You Undertake Enchanting, Wizardly Adventures
Children especially love inspiring stories of magic -- stories that make them feel powerful, that remind them of their potential. you were like me, you loved TV shows like “I Dream of Jeannie,” starring Barbara Eden as a genie who lived in a bottle and granted wishes – often with comedic results.
Now, today, we have a literary treat in the same lineage: Barbara Eden’s children’s book – “Barbara and the Djinn,” written with Dustin Warburton and featuring illustrations by Jason Moore.
“Barbara and the Djinn” is an exciting story of a young girl’s trip into a mysterious and magical book that transports her places her imagination couldn’t have even dreamed of. Across her journey, she meets a charming and wizardly Genie who brings her on an adventure filled with excitement. In time, the young girl learns what is most important: kindness, and above all, understanding.
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Books That Make You Undertake a Father-Son Writing Adventure
Gamal Williams’ exciting debut novel “FIN” tells the tale of three boys who form an unlikely friendship. Despite their differences, they come to realize they had more in common than otherwise assumed. When 14-year-old Fin encounters Stacks and Justin, he never thought their interaction would be bonded in joy, pain, and even love. An unexpected tragedy then tests the very strength of that bond.
Now, Gamal has co-written the award-winning book “JUMP”, with his son Gabriel. When a tragic accident kills a loved one, Franklin uncovers an extraordinary power that might just help change the past. Along with his sister Brooklyn, he embarks on an epic adventure through time and space.
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Books That Make You Glimpse the Coming Landscape of Digital Media
Livestream events such as The BookFest -- of which Books That Make You is a proud sponsor -- are growing in popularity. The COVID pandemic pushed us all into a largely digital landscape, one we now must navigate to network and maintain very real human connections.
Ross Brand helps online entrepreneurs and creators monetize their talent and expertise. For over seven years, he’s worked with Emmy winners, Hall of Fame podcasters, and YouTube stars, and has hosted shows for industry brands such as LiveU, StreamYard and Believe. He’s also served as a brand ambassador for Wirecast.
Ross was selected as one of Switcher Studio’s “5 Live Video Experts to Follow," and his digital media insights have been featured by Nasdaq, Psychology Today and Forbes.
His debut book, 100 Livestreaming & Digital Media Predictions (2021), won multiple book awards -- including a BookFest Award -- and has since reached #1 in seventeen Amazon categories.
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Books That Make You Understand Your Own Mindless Actions & Attitudes
We’re all subject to unconscious, mindless behaviors that prevent us from moving forward both personally and professionally. Why do we get stuck? Why can’t we move forward? We put up disguises, and operate on advice and “wisdom” we learned back in childhood. The result is a frustrating repetition of the same patterns, all of which deny us the place we know we deserve to be in life.
Beatrice Adenodi, the author of “Mindless Behaviors: Breaking Through Unseen Barriers”, is also the founder of Mirror Inc. In a straightforward, no-nonsense approach, she reveals the truth about what’s holding people back from growing in all the most important aspects of their lives.
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Books That Make You Fall in Love with Colorful Art as well as the Colorful Story
Steven Joseph’s first children’s book, The Last Surviving Dinosaur: The TyrantoCrankaTsuris, proved the award-winning start of his crankiness journey. His second book, for adults, The Crankatsuris Method: A Grownup Guide to Effective Crankiness, was also an award-winner, helped grown-ups all over to embrace their crankiness.
His third book, Snoodles, Kidoodles, Poodles and Lots and Lots of Noodles now seeks to inspire kids, parents, educators -- anyone else that might be feeling a little cranky -- with humorous insights, and of course plenty of those all-too-necessary noodles.
Andy Case is an accomplished children’s book illustrator and cartoonist, with over thirty years’ professional experience in illustration. He has been commissioned by book publishers, record labels and magazines in many different countries. His vivid and detailed style engages readers of all ages, and brings stories to life.
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Books That Make You Discover Your Daily Path, Whether a Lady, Mother or Witch
How do you get back up after falling down, hard, over and over? Suzie Newell is more than someone with a doctorate in coping mechanisms for women. In a series of personal tragedies, she fell down hard – collapsed, almost – but got back up again. And so can you.
Suzie’s book, The Path 365: Daily Direction for Ladies and Mothers, Witches and Others, is a guide to daily direction, taking its cues not from religion or spirituality teachings but using real science to create exercises that foster a healthy mindset, in order to boost important feel-good hormones in your system.
A speaker and a nurse anesthesiologist, Suzie Newell has her doctorate specializing in coping mechanisms. The work she did on substance abuse led her discover the evidence (image scanning, peer-reviewed research and practical science) about how the way one copes affects the brain’s ability to be happy.
Her philosophy is to make this discovery available to everyone, regardless of who they are or what beliefs they hold.
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Books That Make You Experience a Dangerous Journey from Slave to Leader
Paulino Mamiir Chol was abducted as a child, separated from family and taken forcibly -- by gunpoint -- to Northern Sudan.
In time, however, he rose up, and came to lead the terrified, starving group of boys the international community would come to know as The Sudanese Lost Boys. On a march to freedom, he eventually traveled barefoot across three African countries.
Leading The Lost Boys: The Untold Journey, written by Paulino himself, chronicles his amazing journey. These days, he is pursuing his Ph.D. at Colorado Technical University in management and homeland security. In addition, Paulino has a Master’s in law and policy from the University of Denver Sturm College of Law, as well as a Bachelor of Arts degree in criminal justice from the University of Colorado.
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Books That Make You Understand Healing Racism, Within & Without
Our age appears increasingly polarized, leaving many to ask what might be done to further heal relations between black, white and brown people? Can we open our hearts, minds and souls, and ask ourselves just what exactly are we racing for?
Author and psychologist JD Mass was a white kid who attended to largely black school in St. Louis, MO. His parents were intent on raising him in a diverse community, where he could experience different cultures, as well as the problem of racism. Later, JD would thrive in schools that were 85 to 93% black.
In 2017, he received his doctorate in Organizational Psychology, and became heavily involved in anti-racist groups in Los Angeles, and later in St. Louis.
Today, JD consolidates his experiences and message in his debut book, Race for What? A White Man’s Journey & Guide to Healing Racism from Within.
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Books That Make You Plunge into an Exciting Thriller Trilogy
Nothing beats a series just waiting to be devoured. Such ravenous readers – and particularly mystery or thriller fans -- should jump on William Bernhardt’s “Splitsville Legal” series, three books full of hard-nosed heroines, scandals, mysterious crimes, and endless twists.
Bernhardt himself has helmed over fifty books, including the ‘Daniel Pike” legal thriller series (which kicked off with the #1 bestseller, “The Last Chance Lawyer”). His prior works include the wildly popular “Ben Kincaid” series, two books of poetry, the historical novels “Nemesis” and “Challengers of the Dust”, and the “Red Sneaker” books on writing fiction.
He is the founder of the Red Sneaker Writers Center, which mentors aspiring writers. The Center puts on WriterCon, a yearly writers conference, small-sized writing retreats as well as a bi-weekly e-newsletter and podcast. Dozens of Bernhardt’s students have gone on to publish with major houses.
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Books That Make You Go on a Paranormal Thrill-Ride
The paranormal certainly is enticing. We love to imagine if ghosts, Bigfoot, UFOs, ancient curses and legends are real, don't we? And books that take us on such speculative journeys are often some of the most fun and stimulating to read, leaving us asking: could this be true? Is there something behind the myths and legends in some of the fiction books we read?
Betsey Kulakowski, author of The Veritas Codex, is an avid lover of documentaries and TV shows dealing with the bizarre and unexplained. Shows with phrases in the titles such as “in search of…”, “ancient aliens”, “mysteries of…”, and more are all her jam. Out of that passion sprung an extensive paranormal thriller series, The Veritas Codex Series, now four installments deep with the latest book, The Monk’s Grimoire.
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Books That Make You and Your Children See Through the Eyes of a Crab
Most of us have felt, at some point in our lives, like we don’t fit in. This feeling is especially acute when we’re kids and still figuring out the world. However, what if one can perceive the world through a wholly unique perspective…perhaps, say, through the eyes of a lost, lonely crab?
Author and podcaster Lucia Matuonto is also an children’s physiotherapist. She is the creator of the children’s book series “Zoe the Crab”, which promotes inclusion and diversity with children. She is also the host of the “Uncut with Lucia”, an online program on WorldAuthors.org, a web series allowing people to get to know the authors of their favorite books.
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Books That Make You Send on a Harrowing Techno-Thrill Ride
Espionage…political intrigue…formidable, cutting-edge technology. These are the elements at the heart of a great new thriller novel, one that put us square on the edge of our seats.
After soaking up Westerns and James Bond movies and a number of comics in his youth – the latter often read by flashlight, under his covers – author Harrison Taylor has now released his exciting debut novel, “Those Who Hunt Wolves”, an action-packed thriller rife with technological espionage. Filled with verve and a feverish imagination, it packs a whole lotta punches that will keep readers guessing until the end.
Harrison’s message to any aspiring fellow storyteller is to follow your dreams, your passion, your talent, and to never let anyone get in your way.
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Books That Make You Explore the Wonders of Ancient Egypt
Ancient Egypt has for centuries arrested imaginations, with its towering relics, legends, history, and unearthed tombs and artifacts.
Author K.G. Maw is no stranger to the inspiration to be found in ancient Egypt. After partnering in business with the government of Dubai, he began writing, and the writing bloomed into a passion. He sold the business, took on an advisory role and started writing down his “KV66” stories. His connections to Egypt come from his extensive traveling with his beautiful wife, herself from a prominent Egyptian family.
His books include “KV66 – Siptah’s Legacy” and “KV66 – League of the Sacred Ankh”.
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Books That Make You Understand Love
Love is a forever-running theme that informs so much of our physical and mental lives. What is it, then, about falling in love, about romance, that ignites our minds, imaginations, and our deepest desires?
In this special Valentine’s Day episode, two friends of The Books That Make You Show are here to discuss all this with us, and more. There’s Clyve Rose, author of the historical romance Always a Princess and contributor to many anthologies, and A.G. Billig, author of I Chose Love and 5 Steps to Ending a Toxic Relationship.
The two will lead a discussion of courage in love, empowerment, passion and taking ownership of the love you have in your life.
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When kids read, they naturally see themselves as the star of the story, picking up social norms and expectations…particularly from the books they read early on. This is why diversity is so crucial in kids’ books.
Isabel Cintra is bringing a message of such representation and diversity to children all over the globe. Having grown up wondering why the characters in her favorite fairy tales didn’t look like her, she is now setting out to change that.
Her children’s books are charming fantasies featuring black and brown heroes -- and sheroes. Representation and diversity, not to mention the importance of kindness and hard work, are themes she addressed in her writing.
Isabel Cintra grew up in Brazil, in the town of Sao Joaquim de Barra. Presently, she resides in Stockholm, Sweden, with her husband and daughters.
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Books That Make You Consider Being Perfect – on a Bodily Level
Heather Mathes was paid to be perfect, to maintain a perfect size six her entire adult life. A professional fit model, she had to do this for decades. In doing so, she discovered her body’s natural size.
Heather’s experience and expertise will help anyone who wants to find their body’s natural size through healthy lifestyle habits, whether you’re a size 2 or 22. She discusses fitness, nutrition and overall wellness.
She is the author of the book “Paid to be Perfect: The Secret to Finding Your Perfect,” in which, in a relatable and compassionate voice, she shares stories about her own experiences in the fit modeling world, including secrets about the fashion world.
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Books That Make You Go On Exciting Adventures with Young Readers
We all know how important reading is to our kids, but what exactly are we reading to them? Are we sending our kids off on exciting adventures, and giving them a love for literature they will carry their entire lives?
A thoroughly adventurous Dad, David Konrad shares his love of storytelling not only with his own twins, but with young readers all over the globe. He is the author of the “Project Adventure” children’s book series. These fun-filled, action-packed mystery stories feature characters that young readers will love, and root for over and over.
David’s desire to make a difference in children’s lives is reflected in his stories.
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Books That Make You Stock Up Your To-Be-Read List
Bibliophiles love making the To-Read List, ensuring they are set and well-stocked for the new year. Author and editor Robert Yehling talks about this tradition, with some recommendations and considerations when it comes to writing in the New Year.
Robert himself is an accomplished author, editor, ghost writer, marathon-runner and founder of Word Journeys, an enterprise that offers design and editorial work for many different kinds of clients within the publishing industry. He has edited and shepherded more than a hundred and thirty books, across all genres.
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Books That Make You Want to Celebrate the Holidays in Many Ways
The holidays mean different things to different people. Year after year, while we celebrate many of the same traditions, we can also learn at any time about history, the true meaning of giving, and inclusiveness. Such messages can be especially poignant for children.
These four guests have all written holiday-themed books with a special message. Thus, we’re going to have a good time here -- in this special holiday Books That Make You Show:
We have Maria Alexander, author of “Snowed”, the first book in the “Bloodline of Yule” Trilogy, among many other horror and comedy crime stories.
There’s also Gina Cavalier and Jeanette DePattie, who collaborated for “How I Became Santa Claus”, a book that allows us to see what it’s like to be Santa.
We also have Lee Wind, author of “Red and Green and Blue and White,” illustrated by Paul O. Zelinsky, which is based on the true story of a Jewish and Christian family who helped to bring a community together for the holidays.
Books That Make Your Mouth Water—And Cook Like an Italian Chef
From grandma’s baker’s rack to every contemporary kitchen, there is something inspiring about those recipes. They help us cook like a pro, as much as we can, and, of course, make us ever-so-hungry.
David Ruggerio is no stranger to the Books That Make You show. A star chef turned author, he previously released his horror novel, “A Wistful Tale of Gods, Men and Monsters”, then “Goodbye and Goodnight”, a love story for the ages. Now, he’s here to share some of his incredible recipes with his new cookbook: “A Tomato Grows in Brooklyn”.
With this book, Ruggerio takes readers back to Brooklyn, introducing them to the Italian-American experience –and, most importantly, the cuisine – that he knows intimately.
New York Times food critic Bryan Miller says, “David Ruggiero has crafted an outstanding book: an evocatively written memoir of a special time and place that nurtured his rise to culinary fame, and a compilation of irresistible family Italian dishes, many with a brazen Brooklyn accent.”
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We’re talking about Books That Make You Celebrate the Joy of Babies!
If you’re an expectant mother or parent, you might have babies on the brain. You’re probably getting the home ready for a new arrival, shopping for and bottles, highchairs, baby clothes and so much more. You’re immersed up in the obligations of the new addition to your family.
Many parents, however, have to make hard choices if their baby is born premature. Mothers might suffer postpartum depression. Stress can poison the happy time, and one may need to be prepared with coping mechanisms.
Here, we talk with neonatologist and author of the new book, So Many Babies: My Life Balancing a Busy Medical Career & Motherhood. As a neonatologist for over thirty-five years and a mother to three, Dr. Susan Landers describes how the full-time practice of neonatology influenced her experience as a parent.
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We’re talking about Books That Make You Wonder What Went On With the Murder of JFK
In America, few events have animated more conspiracy theories than the assassination of John F. Kennedy, the 35th president. But what if we were to take an umbrella view and look at the reasons for the assassination? What if it didn’t start with Kennedy?
Our guest today is Walter Herbst, who wrote the new book, It Did Not Start With JFK, a book that digs into how years of right-wing extremists and misguided patriotism led directly to the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.
Herbst is an entrepreneur and retired licensed professional engineer. In between, he has dedicated much of his life to discovering the truth behind the assassination. Across forty years of meticulous investigation into the terrible event and related subjects, Herbst has studied five hundreds books and thousands of articles, online resources and archival information.
In his research, Herbst came to understand the answer could be found in the decades that preceded JFK’s presidency. His deep-dive research included America’s role in assassinations, as well as the overthrow of governments around the world.
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We’re talking about Books That Make You Enter a Magical, Edifying World with your Children
What makes kids want to pick up a book? What kind of tales capture and immerse them? In the formative years between 8 and 12, what kinds of books should they read to both have fun and learn?
Dames Handsome is the nom de plume for a Wisconsin native who became a teacher in Korea and wrote the charming and magical “Fairy Knights” series. Based on a role-playing game he and his wife created for their son, “Fairy Knights” is ideal for creative adults who wish for the kids in their lives to have fun exploring and leveling-up when they crack open a book.
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We’re talking about Books That Make You Eat Better
Do you use food as an emotional crutch, to help you get through a tough day? Would you like to learn more about how you might avoid or overcome emotional eating?
Dr. Sheila Forman, Ph.D. is a clinical psychologist and eating disorder specialist who has created an easy, comprehensive 15-week program to help you through emotional eating. Dr. Forman takes readers week-by-week through steps to understand the relationship between emotions and food. By the end of the 15 weeks, you’ll have a plan for dealing with your emotional life…without turning to food as a coping mechanism.
“Tame Your Appetite: The Art of Mindful Eating” is Dr. Forman’s book, which covers a 5-step, non-diet approach to lose weight, and to find peace with food.
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We’re talking about Books That Make You Disconnect From the World and Build A Cabin in the Forest
Many of us have had that idealistic dream of being off in our own quiet cabin in the woods. Perhaps it’s because we want to decompress from society for a little while, or go off and be creative, with no expectations, to live life in a purer, simpler way, to be in harmony with nature.
At age 18, Yvonne Wakefield did just that. Now, just a few years later, she is here to tell us how she did it, and why, as well as how you could do it, or how you might replicate such an experience.
Yvonne is the author of the series of books “Babe in the Woods”. Book One was just re-released, and Book Two, “Babe in the Woods: Self Portrait” was released for the first time.
Today, even though the cabin is no longer her primary residence, Yvonne continues to stay there occasionally, relying on the same tried-and-true tools and techniques of living in the wilderness. Equipped with a doctorate, she is a teacher, an artist, and has taught art to every age and abroad. And she is our guest today.
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We’re talking about Books That Make You Spiritually Heal
Healing can take many forms, and Western modern medicine can be helped or supplemented by many effective methods. Keeping an open mind, and doing the best research one can, may help us discover alternate or additional ways to heal.
Author Sandy Edwards, our guest today, says she has scientific evidence that energy medicine promotes fast recovery and positive results. She discusses this in his new book, Spiritual Healing in Hospitals and Clinics.
Sandy is a fellow of the Healing Trust, UK. She set up a voluntary healing clinic, and volunteered in hospitals before starting the largest medical research trial of spiritual healing. The results of this trail she presented at the Houses of Parliament in London. Sandy has served as a trustee of the Healing Trust charity and lives in Dorset, UK. Her previous book is, Barefoot to Benefactor: My Life Story of Faith and Courage.
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We’re talking about Books That Make You Visit Other Times and Places—With a Touch of Magic
There are great books offering touches of the mystical and spiritual with their adventure(s), as well as glimpses into other times and places. Laurel Anne Hill, our guest today, is a seasoned author of such books.
In her latest, “Plague of Flies,” she transports us to the western section of Mexican Alta California in 1846, where, among other magical oddities, we encounter a black Andalusian stallion can fly (without wings!) through the sky.
Laurel Anne is the author of the multi-award-winning “The Engine Woman’s Light”, and “Heroes Arise”. She brings authenticity to her mystical writing that readers young and old can fall easily and deeply in love with.
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We’re talking about Books That Make You Go From Being Barefoot to a Benefactor
Tales of people who go above and beyond to make sacrifices for others are among the most compelling. Particularly when the person helping is facing their own adversity…such as anti-immigrant sentiments, or lack of cultural understanding.
Despite the odds, Dr. Lenny Peters, our guest today, went from being barefoot to benefactor, and his new memoir delivers his gripping story.
Today, Dr. Peters is renowned in North Carolina as the founder of a revolutionary medical network, an innovative research facility, a bank for the under-served, and a world-class charity foundation, and his practice as an accomplished physician. Most would be surprised to discover his humble roots in the small village of Kerala, India, and his tumultuous journey to achieve his ambitions, and to gain acceptance here as an immigrant of color. His memoir is called Barefoot to Benefactor: My Life Story of Faith and Courage
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We’re talking about Books That Make You See the Process to Become Rich
It’s a common dream. Becoming rich, being able to live life on our terms.
We usually think of programs of books that promise riches as just pie in the sky. But what if there was a book, written by someone who’s done it firsthand, that could actually help you become wealthy?
Michael Bash is the author of “Million Dollar Miracle”, a book that discusses, in straightforward prose, how to make enough money so you might never have to work again.
Michael made his first million in real estate. Since then, he has been involved with major planning and zoning projects, building and developing several shopping centers, hundreds of homes, office buildings, water and sewer systems, and nearly three-thousand apartment units and condos throughout the state of New York.
He was also a participant in the building of Israel’s Laniado Hospital in Netanya, and is one of the founders and contributors to the Jerusalem Great Synagogue.
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We’re talking about Books That Make You Stand Up for What’s Right
Isn’t it great when find books and stories that deliver powerful – and empowering -- themes and messages?
“Gear Heart” is such a book: a retro-futuristic espionage trilogy where heroes are chased by portal-traveling enemies, twisted up by secret passages, derailed by romance, and stunned by chilling discoveries. It is a Batman-meets-Steampunk thriller that readers won’t soon forget.
Author Michelle R Young is a professional artist, writer and social media specialist. When she isn't writing, she can be found painting, socializing with her friends, or marveling at nature. Born and raised in Texas born, she has grown up adapting with her two learning disabilities, dysgraphia, and ADHD, so she might become a better storyteller.
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We’re talking about Books That Make You Understand We Are All African
Is the human species doom to be at war with itself? What do our ancestral African roots reveal about all of us?
Author and thinker Dr. Edward Bruce Bynum urges people to come together in his new release, Our African Unconscious: The Black Origins of Mysticism and Psychology. The book charts the currents of evolution, religion and science to illustrate we’re all sharing in the same direction.
A licensed psychologist, Dr. Bynum is also nationally certified in biofeedback, and a senior fellow in the National Association for Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback. His concentration is psychosomatic medicine, hypnosis and individual psychotherapy.
He operates a private practice in Hadley, Massachusetts, and is the author of several books in psychology and poetry, including: The First Bird, The Luminous Heretic, and Gospel of the Dark Orisha.
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We’re talking about Books That Make You Realize There Are Two Americas – And What We Can Do To (Possibly) Bring Them Together
We skirt around politics, since it informs so much of the literature we read. The goal of our show is to bring people together, not to divide them. There is enough of that happening now. But then along comes a book, and an author, who aligns with our vision of doing what we can to heal our nation, rather than further separate and fragment it.
Seth David Radwell is the author of American Schism: How the Two Enlightenments Hold the Secret to Healing Our Nation. Our democracy is in crisis, he says, and analyzes our history and present ongoing tensions through the lens of the Radical Enlightenment versus the Moderate Enlightenment, and the way they interact with Counter-Enlightenment attitudes that have festered over the last few hundred years.
Despite the dire pronouncements from various pundits, Seth knows from his research that our political divisions are hardly unprecedented…nor are they irreconcilable.
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We’re talking about Books That Make You Get Transported to Past Ages
Historical fiction can be some of the most immersive, particularly when researched well. Such tales can give us insights into different eras and areas of the world. When fiction and history come together, it can be an alchemical mix.
Since 1997, David L. Robbins has published fifteen novels, been featured on the New York Times bestsellers list, and has several film options and stage plays under his belt. He’s also taught advanced creative writing at the university level for fifteen years.
His latest book, “Isaac’s Beacon”, follows the lives of three memorable characters—an Irgun fighter, a young woman farmer, and an American journalist—as they collide to shape an epic narrative of love, loss, violence, and courage. David has been called “the Homer of World War II.” Now, he turns his mastery to another defining moment of the twentieth century: the birth of the state of Israel.
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We’re talking about Books That Make You Deal with Negative Emotions
We’ve all felt them: the toxic emotions that gnaw at us, that drag us down. Maybe it’s the sense our career is going nowhere, or that no one could ever love us. Or we get anxious, stressed, or addicted to substances and melodramatic emotions that eat into our very being. They are, in essence, toxic emotions.
But author and spiritual teacher Leah Guy is here with a solution.
Leah Guy is the author of Overcoming Toxic Emotions, A Practical Guide to Building Better Relationships with Yourself and Others. She is a television talk show host, new-thought leader, motivational speaker and spiritual teacher. She has aided thousands of people over the past twenty years to get their lives together, helping them replace feelings of anxiety, isolation, and defeat with success, love, and happiness.
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We’re talking about Books That Make You Rethink the Private Lives of Historical Figures
Gay people have done extraordinary things across history, in science, art, sports, literature, social justice, military conquest and more.
Very often, though, the nature of their orientation was not included in history books, or revealed or discussed at all. Oftentimes, those writing history were biased against, didn’t see, or couldn’t imagine anyone leading lives different from themselves.
Lee Wind is the author of “No Way, They Were Gay?: Hidden Lives and Secret Loves.” which launches readers on an edifying journey through primary sources—poetry, memoir, news clippings, and images of ancient artwork—to explore the hidden Queer lives and loves of two dozen historical figures.
He is also the author of the crowd-funded YA novel “Queer as a Five-Dollar Bill,” featured as a Publishers Weekly Indie Success Story. In October 2021, he will also publish his upcoming picture book “Red and Green and Blue and White”. During the day, he works for the Independent Book Publishers Association as their director of marketing and programming, and as the main blogger for the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators.
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We’re talking about Books That Make You Help Aspiring Authors Become Professional, Ones—Even Bestsellers
Every author likely has a similar dream: signing with a big publisher, of sitting atop the bestseller list, of captivating legions of fans, of living as a prolific, full-time writer.
Such a dream is elusive. Rarer still are those who achieve that dream, and return to help others do so, as well. Our guest today is William Bernhardt, and that is exactly his wheelhouse.
William Bernhardt is the author of over 50 books, including the “Daniel Pike” legal thriller series, kicked off with the #1 best-selling “The Last Chance Lawyer”. His prior books include the popular “Ben Kincaid” series, the historical novels “Nemesis” and “Challengers of the Dust”, two books of poetry: “The White Bird” and “The Ocean’s Edge”, and the “Red Sneaker” books on writing fiction.
Bernhardt also founded the Red Sneaker Writers Center to mentor aspiring writers. The Center hosts WriterCon, an annual writers conference, small writing retreats, and produces a bi-weekly e-newsletter and podcast. More than three dozen of Bernhardt’s students have since published with major publishers.
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We’re talking about Books That Make You Reconsider the Meaning of Masculinity
Just what does it mean to be a man? Why is masculinity so specifically defined, whereas femininity is multi-layered and nuanced? Can and should men be bold in their transparency?
Justin Baldoni is the author of, “Man Enough: Undefining My Masculinity.”
Baldoni is an actor, filmmaker, entrepreneur, and changemaker who seeks to create impactful media. He is the creator of CW’s “My Last Days,” a documentary series chronicling courageous people living with a terminal illness, as well as the creator of “Man Enough,” the dinner conversation series which discusses traditional masculinity.
Baldoni established Wayfarer Studios to further create purpose-driven content. The studio’s first film project, “CLOUDS”, directed and produced by Baldoni, is now streaming on Disney+. He is currently set to direct “Hold Back the Stars” for Lionsgate. In addition, Baldoni also serves as founder and chairman of The Wayfarer Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to altering the way communities approach the needs of those experiencing homelessness.
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We’re talking about Books That Make You Fall in Love with New Historical Romance
The evolution of romance novels has been a long one since your mother’s paperbacks. Today’s reader enjoys so many different subgenres that offer so many varied ways of exploring love, relationships and sex. Through it all, though, one message often echoes strong with present-day romance fans: real love takes courage.
Clyve Rose is a renowned romance author, and one of those now innovating the genre. While she believes love exists, and that it’s a adventure, she cautions that the adventure can often be hellish – but that’s exactly where the courage comes in.
Clyve has been writing historical romance for the better part of twenty years. One of her novels was longlisted for a 2010 Hachette Award for Fiction, and her paranormal short story, “The One Below”, is a Sexy Scribbles award-winning piece.
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We’re talking about Books That Make You Learn the Ropes of an Ambassadorship.
What’s life like for an ambassador? What does it mean exactly to be in the Foreign Service mean? Is it something anyone could get into? How lifechanging is it?
With many years spent as a seasoned diplomat, Thomas Armbruster served from 2012-2016 as the United States Ambassador to the Republic of the Marshall Islands under President Barack Obama. His book draws from an active career with the State Department, one that has taken him to Russia, Tajikistan, Finland, Cuba, Colombia, , Denmark, Bangladesh, and elsewhere all over the globe.
In addition, he is the only American diplomat to arrive in the Soviet Union by kayak.
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We’re talking about Books That Make You Ponder The Complexities of Our Mental Evolution
As we continue to evolve as humans, are we on an accelerated path of expanding cognition? According to our guest today, the process of evolution has given way to directed cognitive evolution, compelling our politics, technology, economy, sciences and arts.
According to the American-Israeli author and scholar Bar-Giora Goldberg, the world has more and more come to reflect our ideas. Not just what we make of it, but what we think of it. Indeed, our cosmos, individual and collective, is now mostly virtual. After a long tenure in Nature, we now find ourselves at the dawn of a new era that requires less physicality, one brought about by our cognition: The Age of Ideas.
Goldberg’s new book is called “The Mind Is Mightier.” In it, he charts our intellectual history through the evolution of our growing cognitive processes. Many disciplines -- Science, the Arts, Technology, Law, Language, Politics and Economy -- are all gaining in complexity. Though complexity is fraught with challenges, we are ultimately better for it, and growing alongside any such problems is also our problem-solving capacity.
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We’re talking about Books That Make You Learn About Hidden Heroes, While Also Teaching Children to Read
As division assails our nation, New York Times bestselling author Mark K. Shriver is here to offer parents and teachers a handbook for unity, gratitude, unity and healing with his first book for children: 10 HIDDEN HEROES: A Counting Book with a Message.
A former Maryland legislator, Mark Kennedy Shriver is the president of Save the Children Action Network in Washington, D.C., and creator of the Choice Program. He is also the author of Pilgrimage: My Search for the Real Pope Francis and the New York Times bestselling memoir, A Good Man: Rediscovering My Father, Sargent Shriver, which received a 2013 Christopher Award.
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We’re talking about Books That Make You Discover Yourself on an Exotic Adventure
Books take us away, to different places, different times, cultures and people. The external adventure is often just the backdrop to the character’s more internal journey of self-discovery. The great thing about books is how we can peer through the eyes of the protagonist, no matter how flawed they might be.
Award-winning author Gerald Everett Jones is back to talk about his latest book, “Harry Harmabee’s Kenyan Sundowner”, which tells the story of a lonely and misguided widower who travels to East Africa in search of a good time. What he encounters instead is a whole new reason to live.
Gerald is a freelance writer based in Santa Monica, California. He is a member of the Writers Guild of America, the Dramatists Guild, Women’s National Book Association, and Film Independent (FIND), as well as a director of the Independent Writers of Southern California (IWOSC). He is also a masterful editor and contributor to the Webby-Award nominated The BookFest.
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Harry Harmabee’s Kenyan Sundowner
Amazon: https://amzn.to/2SY5elw
Gerald Everett Jones
Website: https://geraldeverettjones.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lppgeraldj
Twitter: https://twitter.com/superscribbler1
We’re talking about Books That Make You See the Gritty World of Gang Life
With their prospect of power, money and community, gangs can be alluring, especially to young immigrants and people living in places like inner cities, where gang life can seem like the only available way of life.
Christina Hoag is a former journalist who’s had her phone tapped in Venezuela, had her computer searched by Colombian guerrillas was suspected in Guyana of drug trafficking, darted under a car to avoid Guatemalan soldiers, and posed as a nun to access a Caracas jail. She has interviewed gang members, thieves and bank robbers in prisons, slums and shantytowns, not to mention billionaires and presidents, some of whom fall into the former categories. Now she draws from such varied encounters for the personalities in her own fictional world.
Her noir crime novel, “Skin of Tattoos”, presents such a world. Drawn from interviews with street gang members in Los Angeles and San Salvador, the novel explores an immigrant family’s attempts to survive in an area where gang life seems the only opportunity waiting beyond the door.
Christina is also the author of “Girl on The Brink”, as well as a former staff writer for the Associated Press and Miami Herald. She has reported from 14 countries around Latin American for the New York Times Business Week, for Time, Financial Times, Sunday Times of London, Houston Chronicle and other news outlets.
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Skin of Tattoos
Amazon: https://amzn.to/35ZT0M6
Christina Hoag
Web: https://www.christinahoag.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ChristinaHoag
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChristinaHoagAuthor/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/christinahoagauthor/
We’re talking about Books That Make You Examine the 1970s – When Women Thought They Had to be Perfect to Succeed
What was it like for young women in the early seventies to encounter new opportunities while having to overcome old prejudices? Why do high school and college school reunions force many of us to reconcile with our past and our current lives?
Our guest author today, Renaji West, explores such sticky scenarios and histories in her novel “Death by Chaos”. West’s page-turner is a mystery that explores not just secrets, cover-ups, and a murder, but the relationships women can develop.
In addition to being an author, she is a dramatic arts educator, playwright, and for ten years was a professional belly-dancer. She wrote and produced a short film, “Eli’s Run,” that debuted at the Oceanside Film Festival.
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We’re talking about Books That Make You Learn to Love. And How to Heal Your Disappointing Love Life
Love is the one thing we need and desire, and yet it’s so elusive. Even if we’re fortunate enough to find “true love”, maintaining that relationship can be a whole ‘nuther story. In America, the divorce rate has held at a steady 50% for decades. Of those who remain married, a significant percentage are still unhappy or unfulfilled. More people are postponing or forgoing marriage. Is there a way for Americans to find love and to maintain a happy, committed relationship?
Dr. Thomas Jordan, in his new book, unequivocally says yes…but only if we are willing to examine our past relationships, and learn to take a new approach to love.
The book is called “Learn To Love: Guide to Healing Your Disappointing Love Life.” Dr. Jordan has spent three decades as a clinical psychologist and psychoanalyst. He has worked with the NYC Department of Correction, Communication Workers Association, the company Verizon, the New York Police Department, Con Edison, the United Nations, and Columbia Presbyterian Hospital.
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We’re talking about Books That Make You remember Moonlighting.
Ground-breaking shows like Moonlighting paved the way for yet more ground-breaking TV. For fans in the 80s, this show was a must watch. It featured the iconic Cybil Shepherd opposite a very young Bruce Willis in, yes, the pre-Die Hard show that catapulted his career. The writers, producers, showrunners and everyone involved produced the show despite a number of odds.
Our guest today is our friend Scott Ryan, author of the book Moonlighting: An Oral History. A TV historian and pop culture expert, he is also a publisher and a writer.
His books include thirtysomething at thirty: an oral history, The Last Days of Letterman, as well as Moonlighting: An Oral History. He is co-publisher at Fayetteville Mafia Press, as well as the managing editor The Blue Rose Magazine, the director of A Voyage to Twin Peaks and the host of The Red Room Podcast.
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We’re talking about Books That Make You Hesitant to Believe in UFOs
The U.S. government has revealed that UFOs, or UAPs (Unidentified Ariel Phenomenon) are, in fact, real. They have the footage. Former president Obama confirmed not long ago on TV: “What is true, and I'm actually being serious here, is that there is footage and records of objects in the skies that we don't know exactly what they are.” The staple program “60 Minutes” aired an episode featuring interviews with pilots and other officials putting their experiences on the record. And there’s the footage from the Navy off the coast of San Diego, there for all to see. No one is denying it any more -- UFOs are real.
Except, perhaps, for our guest today. Professional skeptic Michael Shermer is not so hot to jump on the UFO train. In our chat, he deals with a number of questions pertaining to the growing discussions about this topic, from his own personal stance to hypothetical fallout scenarios from having a once-derided “conspiracy theory” turn out to be true, and what people may make -- or not make -- of any announcement to come.
A New York Times bestselling author, Dr. Shermer has written countless books such as The Moral Arc, Why People Believe Weird Things, The Believing Brain, The Science of Good and Evil, and his most recent, Giving the Devil His Due. He is also the Publisher of Skeptic Magazine, host of the podcast The Michael Shermer Show, and Presidential Fellow at Chapman University. You’ve seen him speaking in many documentaries and shows as the go-to “clear the air” skeptic. He’s also participated in numerous debates on religion and spirituality.
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We’re talking about Books That Make You Think About the Problems with the Justice System
As the globe watches movements like Black Lives Matter pick up relevance, important questions about the criminal justice system have come to the surface.
Our author today comes right out of that world. T.L. Bequette is a criminal defense attorney turned author. His practice in Oakland, CA centers around defending accused murderers, and his perspective on the criminal justice system’s need for reform, the unfair jury selection process, and his fight for those with harsher sentences than deserved, is what propels his writing.
His debut novel, “Good Lookin’”, weaves his courtroom expertise into the pages of a compulsive thriller-mystery. Bequette’s skill in delivering closing arguments, and presenting the narratives of his clients to the jury, make him a master storyteller.
He holds degrees from The University of the Pacific and Georgetown Law School, and serves annually on faculty of the Stanford Law School Trial Advocacy Clinic.
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We’re talking about Books That Make You Become Strong Like Water
In leadership books, we are so frequently advised on how to take charge, to lead groups, to be inspirational, productive, strong and indestructible. Especially as women, we are often conditioned to be tough in order to compete with male counterparts.
What if we could take the advice of successful business woman Laila Tarraf and discover a way to manage courage, compassion, flexibility and intensity in order to be respected as well as liable? How can we find the courage to lead with love in business and in life?
It took a series of three crushing losses for Laila to finally unlock decades of suppressed emotions, to integrate the parts of herself that render her both sensitive and strong. She is the author of “Strong Like Water: How I Found the Courage to Lead with Love in Business and in Life”.
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We’re talking about Books That Make You Discover Your Talents, Honor Your Feelings, and Overcome the Greatest Difficulties
Poetry is an art that allows for intimate and curative self-expression. It not only moves us readers, but is a way for writers to connect with their own hearts and minds. It can generate real change.
And that’s why today we’re discussing “Tears of Change: Poems, Reflections and Quotes for a Meaningful Life” by Debbie Monteggia. Debbie found her calling after her own struggle with trauma and anxiety. She fought back through her poetry, and is here to share her incredible journey.
Tears of Change: Poems, Reflections and Quotes for a Meaningful Life Amazon: https://amzn.to/3wfzOVJ
Debbie Monteggia Web: https://www.tearsofchangepoetry.com/
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We’re talking about Books That Make You Live A Fulfilling Life No Matter Your Situation
People deal with all sorts of health issues and physical ailments. Some of us can’t hear, see, talk or even walk. What lessons, then, might we gain from someone with cerebral palsy who lived only 22 years and had to rely on others for nearly everything? Suddenly, my aching back isn’t such a big deal.
Dr. Steven Gardner is author of the book: Jabberwocky: Lessons of Love from a Boy Who Never Spoke, heralded by Katie Couric as, “The story of a beautiful boy who showed us a life without limits and embodied the power of love.”
Dr. Gardner is an internist at Massachusetts General Hospital, Assistant Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, a former Medical Director of the Massachusetts Special Olympics and a past winner of the Harvard Medical School Humanism in Medicine Award. He is also a prominent photographer, whose images focus on the resilience of people facing adversity, and the compassion of caregivers.
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Books that help us through life’s obstacles, such as divorce, can be among the most important we read. While no one likes to entertain the idea of divorce, or to go through it, having the right advice and understanding is vital. People’s expectations of divorce are often based on old tropes and information decades old. In today’s landscape, especially with us being trapped inside all this time, and the world’s accelerated transformation, how could anyone expect to walk away from a broken marriage without psychological or financial injury?
Jacqueline Newman, an elite New York divorce attorney, is here to help. She is sharing her secrets from over two decades in the trenches with her new book, THE NEW RULES OF DIVORCE: 12 Secrets to Protecting Your Wealth, Health, and Happiness, the first definitive guide for navigating modern divorce.
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France is a beacon for holiday-minded travelers all around the globe. As we wait for travel restrictions to subside and the world to open once more, what better way to pass the time than with a book about traveling in France?
Enter “The Road to Villa Page”. Written by the husband and wife team of Cynthia and William James Royce, it takes readers along on their journey to Southwestern France. Each chapter is humorously sectioned into two parts: her story, and his story.
Cynthia Royce (or, Cynthia Deming) was the Executive Creative Consultant on “In Heat of the Night”. In time, Cynthia left the show and went on to write for “Murder, She Wrote”, “Diagnosis: Murder”, and “Colombo”. She’s had photography exhibits in the United States and France, and in 2021 will be publishing her photography book “Souvenirs of the Dordogne”.
William J. Royce is an award-winning author who has written for both stage and screen. His first play as Writer/Director was “A Fine Romance”, a romantic comedy which premiered at the Actor's Playhouse in Los Angeles. His new play, “Everything Happens for a Reason”, won the 2020 Audience Award at New York’s Cornerstone Theatre.
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We’re talking about Books That Make You Go Back to the Alaskan Goldfields
You might remember we went on an Alaskan adventure with author Neil Perry Gordon to discuss his book “Hope City.” Today, Neil Perry Gordon returns with a brand new historical tale -- “Cape Nome.”
Gordon is also the author of “A Cobbler’s Tale and Moon Flower”, “The Righteous One”, and “The Bomb Squad.”
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We’re talking about Books That Make You Encounter Miracles
Miracles: a nice thought, right? Serendipitous and wondrous events that intervene to help us in our lives. Poof! Problem solved.
We speak today with Katie Mahon and Joan Luise Hill, authors of “The Miracle Collectors: Uncovering Stories of Wonder, Joy and Mystery.” You’ll hear the amazing stories of miracles they’ve collected, as well as their own interpretations of what miracles are, how they occur, and the kinds they’ve personally encountered in their own lives.
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We’re talking about Books That Make You Encounter Past Lives -- Or Wonder About Them
Inspiration for stories comes from many places. Sometimes from real-life experiences, sometimes from history, childhood memories, dreams...or maybe even a past life.
Our guest today is NJ Simmonds. After a series of recurring flashbacks, she was inspired to write her trilogy. One flashback involved being drowned for witchcraft, another saw her as a young woman in a Roman village.
Because she found reincarnation fascinating, it became the basis of her romantic, feminist fantasy series, which includes “The Path Keeper”, “Son of Secrets”, and “Children of Shadows”.
In addition, she writes Manga comics, and forms one half of the paranormal romance author duo Caedis Knight. When not writing, Natali lectures on storytelling in business. Originally from London, she now lives with her family in Spain and the Netherlands.
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Technology is incredible. We can spend so much time playing immersive videogames such as Second Life or Animal Crossing, browsing social media or Zooming. And what about ensuring passive income by letting someone to use our computers to mine bitcoins. And integrating VR and AR just makes it so we never have to leave our homes! It’s all such an amazing experience, isn’t it?
We don’t sacrifice anything because of it, right? No. Of course not. Well…
Enter Edgar Scott, author of the dystopian novel 418: I Am a Teapot.
Edgar Scott is an economist-turned computer scientist. For over 20 years, he served as a Senior Database Administrator and Development Operations Team Manager in the crypto-currency, financial and medical industries. His experiences have taught him that people’s narrow beliefs very often imprison them in a life they don’t want to live, hence the themes in 418. Born in Houston but brought up in Canada, Scott now resides in South Florida with his wife, where he explores the true cost of technology on humanity in the future.
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We’re talking about Books That Make You Brave A War Zone
Imagine yourself as a US Army combat photographer in the Vietnam War, serving as a drill sergeant, teaching combat at the Range School, earning a Bronze Star, then a Purple Heart, battlefield commission and Air Medal, all in addition to commanding a signal company...then transforming all that into a writing career.
Our guest today is Marvin J. Wolf. He has written articles, co-authored books and even wrote a few screenplays. “For Whom the Shofar Blows” debuted his first mystery series, which now commands several titles. His latest release, “The Zombie Deception,” is the second in a new series, the Chelmin and Spaulding CID Mysteries.
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We’re talking about Books That Make You Understand Your Notions of Retirement Might be a Mirage
It’s time to think differently about your financial future. I’m sure we all have a certain vision of ourselves walking the shoreline, vacationing to exotic places, playing lots of golf and sipping Mai Tais. Maybe we take up that hobby like we always wanted—hiking, painting, surfing, jewelry-making, restoring old cars. Having fun without a care in the world. But what if your fantasies about retirement are actually just that -- fantasies?
Our guest today, Nancy J. Hite, is the founder of the Strategic Wealth Advisor and author of The Retirement Mirage: Time to Think Differently. Nancy is someone who offers straightforward advice, and has a duty to provide valuable, sensible options to help her clients prepare for the current and future chapters in their lives.
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We’re talking about Books That Make You Travel To An Epic Fantasy Universe
Epic fantasy is something grand and visionary which sends us to a new world in time and space which may bear similarities to our own. Usually, though, legends, myth and magic set the stage.
Today, we speak with Ilana C. Myer, author of “Last Song Before Night”, her debut novel, which was followed by “Fire Dance” and “The Poet King”.
Myer has worked as a journalist in Jerusalem as well as a cultural critic for multiple publications. Under the alias Ilana Teitelbaum, she has written book reviews and critical essays for The Globe and Mail, the Los Angeles Review of Books, Salon, and the Huffington Post.
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We’re talking about Books That Make You Want to Build The House of Your Dreams
With everything that is going on in the world, the notion of making one’s home the most beautiful, comfortable place in order to spend time with close family just sounds so enticing, doesn’t it?
Our guest today knows all about making people’s dream homes a reality.
Bert Sarkkinen is the founder of Arrow Timber Framing and the author of “The Art of Hybrid Timber Framing”. The book is a guide for people wishing to explore Timber Framing, and for those who enjoy the interesting aesthetics it offers home architecture. It is a glimpse into the incredible world of Timber Framing, and it makes for a beautiful coffee table book.
Fascinated with what makes people tick, Sarkkinen discovered that he could match people to the right timber framing options after getting to know their personalities. Ultimately, when their needs and desires are properly assessed, it results in a personalized Timber Framing experience that turns houses into homes. He is also an inspirational business leader and speaker.
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We’re talking about Books That Make You Step Back in Time
If you’ve seen WandaVision, you understand the nostalgia we feel when watching favorite classic television. We love characters from the olden days of TV. They were great friends, and fixtures in our living rooms. And we love getting the true stories behind those shows.
Author Scott Ryan is wickedly adept at getting people to open up to him, which makes him a great historian and storyteller. He is an author of the books thirtysomething at thirty: an oral history, The Last Days of Letterman, and of the forthcoming Moonlighting: An Oral History. He is also the co-publisher at Fayetteville Mafia Press and the managing editor of The Blue Rose Magazine, the director of A Voyage to Twin Peaks and the host of The Red Room Podcast.
Ryan was also in the 1988 homemade VHS-classic: Spooflighting, where he played David Addison. Additionally, he wrote about his own bad luck in the short comic series, Scott Luck Stories.
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We’re talking about Books That Make You Think About Honor Killings
Fiction so often mirrors real life. The fictional book “Dishonor Thy Father” is inspired by the real-life issue of honor killings, and is set amid racial protests in Los Angeles. Today’s world is complex, and this book really makes you think about the forces that shape our world and our way of thinking. That it does so as a fast-paced mystery-thriller makes it all the more alluring.
And I have not one author with me today, or even two, but all three who joined forces to bring “Dishonor Thy Father” to life. Marilyn J. Anderson and Richard Rossner write under the combined alias of M.J. Richards. Having written the screenplay, they then teamed up with novelist and literary editor, Mike Robinson, to novelize it.
Mike is the author of “The Enigma of Twilight Falls” Trilogy, “The Prince of Earth”, “Skunk Ape Semester”, “The Atheist” and others. Marylin wrote for TV on “Murphy Brown”, “FAME”, “Friday the 13: The Series” and was also a staff writer for “Carol & Company” starring Carol Burnett. She is the author of other books like “How to Live Like a Millionaire...When You’re a Million Short”, which we’ve discussed before on the show.
Richard wrote for “Full House” as well as the historic Live Aid Concert. He hosts several international podcasts, and he and his wife run workshops, “The Power of Play”, for cancer patients.
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We’re talking about Books That Make You Find Your True Starlight
Many of us might stand in the shadow of someone who overpowers us, who makes us feel hidden and unimportant. It could be conditioning from our childhood, an organization like a church, our own fears, or even a partner’s celebrity shadow.
Such is the case with our guest today. Ebba P. Karlsson’s book is “True Starlight: From Living in the Shadows to Being Stellar,” in which she shares the tools she learned on the road -- from growing up in a chaotic environment to living a glamorous life in Monaco with her husband, pro golfer Robert Karlsson, whose shadow she had to step out of. In doing so, she found her True Starlight.
Ebba is also the founder of the organization Victorious Angeles, designed to help sexual assault victims of the modeling and fashion industries. She claims she was assaulted in the early 1990s by the president of the renowned Elite Modeling Agency. Now, she is fighting back to raise awareness and help others.
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We’re talking about Books That Make You Okay With Crankiness
Everyone’s cranky right now. We’ve been cooped up, people we live with are driving us nuts, it’s cold, the holidays are gone and we’ve got long to go before a vaccine kicks in. The political landscape is also making some people downright crank-a-sauruses! Or something.
With all the self-help books, one that says it’s okay to be cranky is quite refreshing.
Here comes Steven Joseph (again!), author of “The Crankatsuris Method: A Grownup Guide to Effective Crankiness”, a book that flips crankiness on its head. It comes in on the heels of Steven’s wildly popular children’s book, “The Last Surviving Dinosaur: The TyrantoCrankaTsuris”.
This is Steven Joseph’s second appearance on the show. He’s a first generation American, son of a Holocaust Survivor, a speaker, negotiator, attorney and NYC and Boston Marathon runner.
He is also a humorist who’s spent 28 years as a partner with therapists, a lifetime of schuckling at synagogues, as well as years sitting on a cushion staring at the white wall at the Village Zendo. He’s still smart enough, though, to know that he hasn’t figured everything out – except, of course, for crankiness.
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We’re talking about Books That Make You Envision a World of Maternal Robots
Motherhood, that all-important role in the continuation of the human species. Everyone and everything had a mom. Mothers help us grow and become what we are today.
Now imagine a world where a botched bio-warfare attempt puts all human life at risk. To save humankind, scientists create super-soldier robots designed with a “Mother Code”, so the robots can raise and protect babies genetically engineered to survive.
Our guest today, Dr. Carole Stivers, is the mind behind THE MOTHER CODE. Dr. Stivers caught the writing bug at age 50. She used her science background in writing this debut novel and, strangely, a book about a pandemic came out in the middle of our real pandemic, in August 2020. Carole got her PhD in biochemistry from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and undertook post-doctoral work at Stanford University.
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We’re talking about Books That Make You Want to Go On An Intergalactic Journey
Ah, high school – all the agitation you felt trying to fit in, resisting your parents’ push to mold you, and of course GIRLS, or BOYS. Ugh! Now imagine all that in an intergalactic world.
Kevin Groh is our guest today. He is the author of the “Omni Legends” book series, which has been very successful in his home country of Germany. The first in the series, “The Commander”, is now releasing in the United States. It is Young Adult fiction for young men and sci-fi lovers, with all the suspense, adventure and action you might expect from a fertile and inventive mind like Kevin’s.
From August to December 2019, he was an Amazon Kindle Select All-Star in sales. We’ll see what 2021, and a new U.S. release, has in store for Mr. Groh.
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We’re talking about Books That Make You Choose Your Own Adventure, And Try Not to Die.
Remember those Choose Your Own Adventure books? Well, they’ve grown up a bit, and the result is gloriously horrific.
Authors Mark Tullius and John Palisano have brought forth the most recent hair-raising entry in the Try Not To Die series. In these books, readers can make choices at the end of each chapter. Some will allow them to continue the adventure, while others lead to wild and gruesome deaths.
Mark Tullius is the author of “Unlocking the Cage: Exploring the Motivations of MMA Fighters” as well as “Ain't No Messiah,” “Untold Mayhem,” “Twisted Reunion, 25 Perfect Days: Plus 5 More, Brightside,” and the “Try Not to Die” series. He also hosts Vicious Whispers with Mark Tullius, a podcast you can find on YouTube, iTunes, Stitcher and other platforms.
Bram Stoker Award winner John Palisano is president of the HWA and author of DUST OF THE DEAD, and GHOST HEART. NERVES. His collections STARLIGHT DRIVE: FOUR HALLOWEEN TALES and ALL THAT WITHERS are also available.
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Today we’re talking about Books That Make You Not Just Cope, But Heal
Many self-help guides and therapy books offer advice about coping with difficulties and with stress, which is helpful. However, do they help us heal?
Dr. Mark Goulston, MD is a former UCLA professor of psychiatry, speaker, hostage negotiation trainer, executive coach and the bestselling author of eight books. His latest book, “Why Cope When You Can Heal? - How Healthcare Heroes of Covid-19 Can Recover from PTSD”, co-authored with former hospital CEO Diana Hendel, was recently released in time to help overwhelmed healthcare workers trying to protect the rest of us. He is also the host of the well-regarded podcast “My Wakeup Call”, as well as the weekly LinkedIn Live show, “No Strings Attached”.
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We’re talking about Books That Make You Reclaim The Word Fat
That’s a bad word, isn’t it? “Fat”, instead of, say, “big-boned” or “thick”. We might not think twice about calling ourselves fat. But we say it’s pejorative when the term is used to describe others. This makes us less confident and self-conscious about our body image.
What if you could embrace your body, and lay claim to the word fat?
OPatrice Shavone Brown is the author of “A Fat Girl’s Confidence Guide”, and she is here today to explore this empowering and vital topic.
She is also a Mental health counselor, and the founder of the Confident Fat Girl’s Movement. She has also written other books, too, fiction and non, including, “Secrets of a Crazy Mental Health Counselor”, “We Blend Well Together”, “The Day Momma Made Me Dance,” “The Finesser” and “The Finesser 2”.
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Today we’re talking about Books That Make You Break Through the Burnout
2020 has been quite a year, and we all feel a bit burnt out. But we don’t have to feel that way.
Eileen Mc Dargh is the author of “Burnout to Breakthrough: Building Resilience to Refuel, Recharge and Reclaim What Matters.” She joins us to inform us of ways to overcome stress and reclaim our lives.
Eileen is CEO (chief energy officer) at the Resiliency Group, where she draws on her business know-how, life experience, and years of consulting with major national and international organizations, including the U.S. Armed Forces, healthcare associations, global pharmaceuticals and religious institutions. In 2019, Global Gurus ranked McDargh #1 on its World’s Top 30 Communication Professionals list following a global survey of twenty-two thousand business professionals.
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Today we’re talking about Books That Make You Understand Intermittent Fasting
Diet fads come and go, but intermittent fasting, which has been around a while, has been shown to be beneficial. Is this an option? Will it truly work? How can you do it safely?
Dr. Janet Brill is here to answer such questions. She is a nationally-recognized nutrition, health and fitness expert. Her new book is “Intermittent Fasting for Dummies”, part of the Dummies series of books, and is here in time for the holidays.
Dr. Janet is a trusted source on health and a frequent guest expert on local and national television. She has appeared on the Dr. Oz show many times, CBS “On the Couch” and as a nutrition expert for “The Balancing Act” (Lifetime).
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We’re talking about Books That Make You Transcend Your Expected Purpose
Ever feel like your fate, or destiny, is carved out? That you have no choice to do something different and that your entire identity, purpose, and future depend on your performance? Think of the pressure one must face as a pro football player. Then imagine what happens when, through sheer misfortune, that career suddenly ends.
This is the story of ex-NFL kicker Sean Conley (Detroit Lions, Indianapolis Colts, New York Jets) who suffered career-ending injuries from overtraining. As part of his rehab, he began practicing yoga, and quickly embraced its philosophy of meditation and mindfulness.
Now, he co-owns and teaches at Amazing Yoga in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, with his wife. His book is “The Point After: How One Resilient Kicker Learned There Was More to Life than the NFL.”
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As so many of us are homebound due to social distancing, we’re facing the new paradigm of working from home. It sounds simple: pull up to the computer, answer emails, check into a few Zoom meetings. Anyone experienced, though, knows this is hardly the full story.
An expert on managing working from home, Sharon Koifman is the CEO of DistantJob Remote Placement Agency, and the author of the book, Surviving Remote Work. For over two decades, he has run three companies from the “comfort” of his computer. He wrote this new book specifically to help businesses and employees not only survive, but to adapt and to thrive in this new Covid (and possibly post-Covid) environment. To boot, he did it with two toddlers in the room.
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We’re talking about Books That Make You Accept that we are not always FINE, even if we say we are, and especially when we are teenagers.
There are many expectations put on us, especially as young adults. We are expected to roll with whatever life throws our way. How often do you say “I’m fine” when someone asks how you’re doing? We say it as a reflex.
Today’s guest, AmyLea Murphy, has worked with young people, and is so passionate about making them okay with their feelings that she titled her debut YA novel “FINE”. The story celebrates the human spirit’s great resilience, and seeks to empower young people to take life in all its messiness.
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We’re talking about Books That Make You See Them as a Film.
Some of the most famed cinematic franchises started out as novels, graphic novels, or comic books. When we encounter a new book with great characters, expansive new worlds and a compelling storyline, we eagerly await the movie.
Welcome to DEVASTATION CLASS, by Glen Zipper and Elaine Mongeon. The book’s inspiration came from their love of all things sci-fi, and movies like Alien, The Last Starfighter and Star Wars.
With action, twists and Easter eggs, hidden throughout, the novel and the forthcoming sequels of the “Devastation Class” trilogy should no doubt please fans of the genre. Award-winning filmmaker Elaine Mongeon has worked for Warner Bros, Hulu and the Sundance Institute.
Glen Zipper is an Oscar-winning producer, and currently works with Netflix and HBO on various projects, including the Netflix series, “Dogs,” recently renewed for a second season.
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We’re talking about Books That Make You Aspire to Equality in the Workplace
With the advent of Black Lives Matter movement, focus has also turned to the workplace, compelling companies and industries to address their diversity numbers.
Among those Fortune 500 companies reporting their diversity numbers, as few as 4-percent are ethnically diverse. It should be actionable, not merely aspirational, to make the workplace more equal.
This week’s guest is Michelle Silverthorn, Founder and CEO of Inclusion Nation, which works with Fortune 500 companies, tech start-ups, nonprofits and universities to engender authentic, inclusive spaces for success.
An organizational diversity expert and speaker, she has written comprehensively on the topic. She is a TEDx speaker as well as author of the book, “Authentic Diversity: How to Change the Workplace for Good.”
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We’re talking about Books That Make You Enact Perfect Vengeance. And spread a crucial message of female empowerment.
Fiction can reach the farthest shores and the farthest minds, influencing people in important ways. As a character we care about becomes empowered, so too do we feel empowered ourselves. This is the case with the novel “The Perfect Revenge: The Dragonfly Rises.” Written under the alias WilD, the book is among a series that follows a fighter named Zoey, who sets out to right the wrongs against her.
As the author is anonymous, Jennifer Thomas and Bill Hayes are here with us. Working alongside the author, they helped shepherd the book into being. “The Perfect Revenge” is, in the end, a perpetually relevant call to empowerment.
Bill Hayes is a ghostwriter and bestselling author, with a gift for adding historical context and artistic flair to his projects. Jennifer Thomas is an award-winning author, designer, editor and publisher. Together, they form a team that helps authors bring their books to life.
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Reading about others’ inspirational journeys can help us find the courage to overcome our own challenges.
Take Patricia Walsh Chadwick, author of the amazing new memoir, “Little Sister,” which chronicles her time in the 1950s with a strange religious cult. From the time she was an infant, she lived with 39 other children who were all given new names, instructed that the church leaders were to be called Daddy and Mamma, and prevented from watching movies, listening to music, or socializing. On top of all this, the threat of physical abuse was constant.
Since escaping, Patricia has graduated summa cum laude from Boston University with a B.A. in Economics. She is a Chartered Financial Analyst, and founder and president of Ravengate Partners LLC, a consulting firm that provides businesses and not-for-profit institutions with advice and education about the financial markets and the global economy. She has had a thirty-year career in the investment business, and is a Global Partner at Invesco.
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We’re talking about Books That Make You Cope with Stress and Trauma Through Graphic Novels, Especially for Young Adults.
Comics and graphics novels aren’t just fun, frivolous distractions, full of superheroes and the supernatural. Through their characters, they can speak deeper to many teens and young adults, and, very often, can be sources of healing.
Such is the premise of Superhero Therapy, developed by Chernobyl survivor Janina Scarlet, PhD, who immigrated to the United States at age 12. A clinical psychologist, she is the author of “Dark Agents Book One: Violet and the Trial of Trauma,” and was inspired by the X-Men to create Superhero Therapy to help patients with anxiety, depression, and PTSD.
The United Nations Association awarded her efforts with the Eleanor Roosevelt Human Rights Award. Her work has been featured on BBC, NPR, Yahoo, Sunday Times, CNN, CW, Huffington Post, ABC, The New York Times, BuzzFeed, Forbes, the Nerdist and many others. Presently, she works at the Center for Stress and Anxiety Management in San Diego.
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Dark Agents Book One: Violet and the Trial of Trauma
Amazon: https://amzn.to/32Ov6lW
Janina Scarlet
Website: http://www.superhero-therapy.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Shadow.Scarletl/
Linked in: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-janina-scarlet-b333954a
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ShadowQuill/
We’re talking about Books That Make You Dream of Being A Superhero
Superheroes: we love ‘em. Whether you’re in the Marvel or DC Universe, or both, or part of another fandom, it’s likely that the notion of superpowers, noble vigilantism and destroying evil is appealing to you.
While not the former first daughter, Jenna Busch has explored all such avenues of geekdom and fandom. She’s a contributor to many anthologies on everything from “Star Trek” to “Game of Thrones” to “Black Panther” to “Wonder Woman.”
She’s the founder of “Legion of Leia”, now part of “Vital Thrills”, and has written for sites like Fangrrls, SYFY, ComingSoon.net, Metro, Birth. Movies. Death., Nerdist, IGN, AOL, HuffPo, The Washington Post. She’s also had the privilege of co-hosting Cocktails With Stan with the legendary Stan Lee.
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If you’re a devourer of books, it’s likely you’re also a writer at heart. Or perhaps you express that creativity in other ways such as film, comics, art, acting, etc. The love of narrative is often the seed of many a brilliant creative career.
Mandy Jackson-Beverly fits this bill. A bibliophile with a knack for stories of magic and the occult, she has authored multiple books, worked as a costume designer and stylist to the likes of David Bowie, Madonna, Tina Turner and more, and is currently a writing coach, speaker, and book reviewer for the New York Journal of Books.
Mandy is also the VP of Education for the Ojai Evening Toastmasters, as well as a founding member of “A Time to Speak,” a speaker series focusing on subjects related to the intersection of environmentalism and the humanities.
Her books include: “A Secret Muse”, “The Devil And The Muse”, “The Legend of Astridr: Birth”, and “The Immortal Muse”.
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Ah, epic space adventures, those celestial, swashbuckling sagas and galactic adventures. While obviously set in space, the space opera sends readers upon larger-than-life, larger-than-any-world stories full of romance and even hints of melodrama.
Today, we talk to one of our favorite authors of science fiction, Lon E. Varnadore, about his series, Junker Blues, about his love for this space opera subgenre, and why in general he's attracted to darker speculative fiction. Lon is a former guest of ours, too, from 2018, when he discussed his novel "Mostly Human". His work also touches on military sci-fi and mystery noir.
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We’re talking about Books That Make You See Your Purpose -- While in Pajamas!
Especially today, many of us may be wondering what our purpose is. Then again, we
like lounging in our pajamas. What if we can discover our purpose while still in our
pajamas?
That’s why Genevieve Piturro is here! As founder of the successful nonprofit Pajama
Program, she’s authored the new book, “Purpose, Passion and Pajamas: How to
Transform your Life, Embrace the Human Connection and Lead with Meaning.”
The book tells of Genevieve’s remarkable transition from the corporate world to a life
fulfilling her own purpose, all driven by a little girl she met in a group home who asked
her, “What are pajamas?” After that, she started the grassroots nonprofit, and has since
spent 20 years growing the Pajama Program to 63 chapters across the country. She
now works as a motivational speaker and mentor to others looking for the connection
and the courage needed to pursue their true purpose.
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History has enshrined the legacy of civil rights activist Cesar Chavez, and his spirit certainly hovers around the gripping new historical fiction novel “The Road to Delano”, by John DeSimone. The story gives us Jack Duncan, who dreams of playing baseball and in college and putting in his rearview mirror all the political turmoil of Delano, a small agricultural town. As we discover in this gripping story, however, that might not be possible.
A professor with an MFA in Creative Writing, John DeSimone is a novelist, and teacher whose recent books include the co-authored “Broken Circle: A Memoir of Escaping Afghanistan” (Little A Publishers), as well as “Courage to Say No” by Dr. Raana Mahmood, about Mahmood’s battle against sexual exploitation as a female physician in Karachi. “Leonardo’s Chair”, his previous novel, came out in 2005. In 2012, he was awarded the prestigious Norman Mailer Fellowship to complete “Road to Delano”.
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It’s the summer of 1898, and you’re a teenage boy, ready to brave an adventure to Alaska to take on a slew of brutal, greedy adversaries, all hungry for gold. So goes the very journey at the heart of Neil Perry Gordon’s “Hope City”.
A prolific and respected historical fiction novelist, Neil has written several other books, including “Moon Flower” and “The Righteous One”, “A Cobbler’s Tale”, and “The Bomb Squad”. His swift-moving novels balance plot and character, action and ambiance.
Here you’ll also learn of Neil’s writing method, which he describes as organic, meaning he begins with a general storyline rather than any strict outline. This makes him the “first reader”, surprised as any other by the surprising twists and turns that have become a hallmark of his stories.
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Speculative fiction can take us on some crazy adventures, replete with commentary. And the authors who take us on such journeys are usually some of the most interesting -- and fun -- to listen to.
Along comes Bill McCormick, author of “The Brittle Riders Trilogy”, which has been described as “Tank Girl” meets “Lord of the Rings”. After humankind dies off on Earth, then things get a little...strange. Apocalypses are funny that way. If David Brin came off a three-day tequila bender and dropped acid, as Omnibus claims, he would have written The Brittle Riders.”
Having penned everything from children’s stories to dystopian visions, Bill McCormick is also a frequent contributor to such outlets as Chicago Rocker Magazine and Jay The Joke, from which his sports blog has gone on to be featured in ESPN Magazine, Sports Illustrated, the Jonathon Brandmeir Show (WLUP), and referenced many times in the Chicago Sun Times and Chicago Tribune. He also writes a news blog at World News Center, which provides source material for his weekly appearances on The Big Wake Up Call, on WBIG 1280 AM, FOX! Sports.
Find out more on Books That Make You. You can also follow us on Facebook and Instagram.
Sure, we all get cranky from time to time. Many self-help books are quick to prescribe mindfulness and meditation, to imply there is something wrong with us if we can’t cope with the world. As a result, we feel small, inferior, and, well … cranky.
But what if it was okay to be cranky? And what if I told you that crankiness began with the last surviving dinosaur?
Yes, that’s right. The TyrantoCrankaTsuris, to be exact, featured in The Last Surviving Dinosaur: The TyrantoCrankaTsuris, a children’s book from author Steven Joseph, who also penned The Crankatsuris Method: A Grownup Guide to Effective Crankiness.
The first-generation American son of a Holocaust Survivor, Steven Joseph is an attorney, a negotiator, a speaker, an author, and a 5-time Boston Marathon and 16-time NYC Marathon runner. He’s also a humorist who has spent 28 years as a partner with therapists. Despite everything, he knows he hasn’t figured it all out – except, maybe, for crankiness.
Find out more on Books That Make You. You can also follow us on Facebook and Instagram.
Virtually everyone loves fiction that takes readers to fantastical worlds where heroes, villains, technologies and philosophies clash. And in Ryan Southwick’s thrilling “Z-Tech Chronicles” series, the fantastical meets the ultra-modern.
A tech guy from Silicon Valley, Ryan is a programmer who’s been pivotal in the building of modern, world-improving technology, and the “Z-Tech Chronicles” series culls from his own personal experience and knowledge in the tech-trenches to deliver fantastical adventures. In this interview, you’ll learn about his research into PTSD, why we shouldn’t be afraid of tech, and what you can expect from “Angels in the Mist”, the latest installment of the series.
Once on the ground level of agile software transformation, as well as a former radiation therapist who helped treat cancer patients, Ryan has been in software development for thirty years, making everything from games to mission-critical business applications to help fight cancer. At LA BookFest, he spoke on the panel “The World Is Getting Closer”, which you can watch on the Books That Make You YouTube channel. He also likes to fly drones -- sometimes over ancient volcanoes.
Find out more on Books That Make You. You can also follow us on Facebook and Instagram.
With this crucial, historical moment involving the Black Lives Matter protests, the literary realm can help sharpen our understanding and put things in perspective. Encouragingly, the book business has seen a huge increase in book sales on the topics of racism, black history, and social justice.
On this podcast, we talk with journalist KJ Matthews about the following books:
“How to be an AntiRacist” by Ibram X. Kendi
“White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk to Racism” by Robin Diangelo
“What if I Say the Wrong Thing? 25 Habits for Culturally Effective People” by Verna Myers
“Uprooting Racism: How White People Can Work for Racial Justice” by Paul Kivel
“So You Want to Talk about Race” by Ijeoma Oluo
KJ Matthews is an award-winning entertainment journalist and contributor to BBC News and DW News. For more than a decade, she was with CNN and Extra News. She also founded Traveler Confidential, an eco-luxury website for travelers, and was a moderator for the LA Bookfest’s Integrity in Journalism Panel.
Discover more at BooksThatMakeYou.com. You can also find us on Facebook and Instagram.
Books That Make You Sizzle With A Romantic Summer in 70s New York, with Dave Ruggerio
Booklovers love beach season: a special time to escape into other worlds, or a steamy affair. This year, author David Ruggerio offers a new addition to our beach-bound bookbag, with his novel “Say Goodbye and Goodnight.”
As a popular chef-turned-writer, David is known for the acclaimed horror novel “A Wistful Tale of Gods, Men and Monsters.” With his new release, however, he switches gears. “Goodbye and Goodnight”, set during the 70s disco period in Brooklyn, tells the story of a young fighter on the verge of success who encounters an extraordinary love. Only question: will it last?
David Ruggerio began as a chef at the famed New York eatery, La Caravelle, then developed his culinary skills in France at several of the country's leading restaurants. He went on to host his own PBS cooking show, become a renowned New York chef, and cook for five US Presidents. He’s written two popular cookbooks, “Little Italy with David Ruggerio,” and “David Ruggerio's Italian Kitchen.” He’s appeared at the LA BookFest to share cooking wisdom.
Find out more on Books That Make You. You can also follow us on Facebook and Instagram.
Many of us are adjusting to new patterns in the workplace. As a result, we may well clash with other generations. Why, for instance, does that Boomer accountant insist on using the noisy adding machine, when Microsoft Excel will do the job more quickly and quietly? How irritating is the Gen Z intern, with all her Zoom meetings? How can we manage the fear of adapting to new workplace realities?
Dr. Joanna Massey Dodd, Ph.D., navigates these questions and scenarios in her book Culture Shock: Surviving Five Generations in One Workplace. Dr. Massey, a C-level communications executive with an MBA and a Ph.D. in Psychology, is also a generational expert who has spent more than 25 years working alongside Millennials and other younger people. With humorous and candid prose, Culture Shock explores how certain generational contexts make a 25-year-old so different from a 60-year-old, explains why human beings are hardwired to resist change, and breaks the news to her own cantankerous Gen X, Baby Boomer and Silent Generation colleagues that the virtual army of young people will not adapt to the old ways. It must be the other way around.
Find out more on Books That Make You. You can also follow us on Facebook and Instagram.
What happens when we find ourselves enamored with more than one genre? Why, we mix them! And Romantic Suspense is one of those genre marriages that people seem to love most.
Going beyond genre expectations can often expand a book’s demographic. Men, for example, are not typically drawn to the romantic genre, but might be more inclined if you throw suspense, mystery, crime or thriller components into the mix.
Such is the appeal of genre-blending author Lori Matthews, whose novels include "Smash and Grab", and "Break and Enter", both part of the Callaghan Security Series. You'll find out how she compares/contrasts her work with "cozy mysteries", and how her personal travels have influenced her fiction.
Lori was raised in Canada, in a family of readers. Inspired by her mother's Harlequin novels, as well as the works of Agatha Christie, Lori dabbled in writing in high school, then engaged more seriously with it after earning two degrees, marrying and having children. Today, she does it all at her home in Princeton, New Jersey.
Find out more on Books That Make You. You can also follow us on Facebook and Instagram.
America remains a dream for many immigrants, whose myriad stories span decades and generations. L.N. Gruer’s illuminating debut novel “The Blue Tartar” chronicles five immigrant women, all bound by a history that takes them from the killing fields in Ukraine to the fire-scorched Hollywood Hills.
An immigrant herself, Gruer was born and raised in the former Soviet Union. She won first place at the San Francisco Writers Conference for her poetry collection “I Sing of Things Unspoken” and is also an award-winning essayist. In addition, she’s written nonfiction works on therapeutic nutrition, including her groundbreaking book on mineral deficiencies in children.
Find out more on Books That Make You. You can also follow us on Facebook and Instagram.
Have you ever loved a book so much that you wished you could sit and talk with the author? Ask them questions about the plot, about how they came up with their ideas, the backstory, and maybe you wanted to know if after the final page, your favorite character, really did live happily ever after? Gerald Everett Jones discusses this topic with host Desireé Duffy on this episode of the Books That Make You Show.
Book festivals and events are amazing opportunities for book lovers to see and meet their favorite authors. They can get autographs and take selfies. It is fun hanging out and listening to them speak on panels. The literary crowd at events like the LA Times Festival of Books, or BookCon in New York, and even the Books That Make You annual literary tea, the Beach Bound Book Bash, are a lot of fun to connect with.
Right now, hanging out isn’t as easy as it once was because of social distancing.
That doesn’t mean we still can’t be social, though. The LA BookFest is an event created for booklovers from around the world, and it brings together authors and thought leaders, journalists, and publishing pros to interact with the reading and writing community.
Gerald Everett Jones is participating on two panels at LA BookFest. Plus, he has an amazing bookish podcast, is an author an editor and more.
Gerald Everett Jones is also a member of the Writers Guild of America, the Dramatists Guild, Women’s National Book Association, and Film Independent (FIND), as well as a director of the Independent Writers of Southern California (IWOSC). He is the host of the GetPublished! Radio Show, and his book reviews are published on the Web by Splash Magazines Worldwide.
Listen to this lively interview and check out the festivities at LABookFest.com.
Desiree Duffy speaks to Fantasy author of "The Prince" Nanishka Torres about her book, the Fantasy genre and how she drives a story.
The Fenrir Chronicles: The Prince by Nanishka Torres is a fantasy book that combines romance with adventure. The Prince makes a societal statement about the dangers of religious factions and their part in maintaining peace and order. It also contains relatable characters faced with adversity, who fight for love and righteousness. It took Nanishka many years to create her masterpiece, now she shares her experiences.
Book festivals are the highlights of the year for book lovers around the world. In Los Angeles there is the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books, which is the largest book fest in the country. It often draws more than 150,000 book lovers, book industry professionals, organizations, journalists, businesses, speakers and thought leaders.
There is also the annual Beach Bound Book Bash, of which Books That Make You helps present each year. It is an annual literary tea that features authors reading from their books as well as snacks, prizes and other festivities. Unfortunately, that even isn’t happening in 2020, which would have been the 5th annual BBBB.
In New York there is BookExpo and BookCon which draw thousands of fans and literary professionals. Across the United States, as well as around the world, ComicCons, pop culture conventions, writers conferences and other expos and fairs that feature books are either cancelled or postponed because of Covid-19 and social distancing rules.
There is a solution for people who crave this bookish community. For those who want to come together in unity, there is an option.
The LA BookFest is that event. On Saturday May 9th the event will live stream and feature panel discussions, conversations with authors, publishing industry experts, thought-leaders, activists, creatives, journalists and more.
Plus, there will be author AMAs, videos of authors reading from their books, a huge bookish giveaway presented by Books That Make You, a music-infused after party, and of course, lots and lots of books.
The guests in this episode join host Desireé Duffy to talk about the LA BookFest.
KJ Matthews is an award-winning media and entertainment journalist and regular contributor to BBC News, DW News, and previously was with Extra News and CNN for more than a decade. She is also the founder of Traveler Confidential--an eco-luxury website for travelers.
Deborah Kobylt is an award-winning journalist as well. She is best known for her work on CNN, Fox11 LA, KCAL9 News, Turner Entertainment and her successful podcast Deborah Kobylt Live and president of Kobylt Media.
KJ and Deborah have joined forces to bring together a panel of journalists for the LA BookFest. It is about Integrity in Journalism during the Covid-19 crisis and beyond.
Find out more on LABookFest.com and check out this and other exciting panels.
The big existential threat of our time, apparently now in addition to pandemic viruses, remains the climate change crisis. There are oodles of books, documentaries, events, and papers about the topic. One manner in which we can educate ourselves is through fiction. Sometimes looking at an issue through the allegory of a story helps us put it into perspective. Scott Brody does that in his political thriller titled The Org.
Politics plays a big role in this book, as does the seemingly cult-like group that is trying to gain control. If this sounds familiar, it might be because Scott imagined a near-future world devastated by climate change. Unfortunately, that world is quickly becoming a reality.
Scott Brody actually spent a few of his younger years involved in a cult-like group. His unique perspective of them led to him writing the The Org. In this interview, host Desireé Duffy discusses cults, politics, the allure of leaders who want to control the masses, and the real threat that climate change creates for us today, with Scott Brody.
Scott Brody grew up in a political home in New York. He listened to his elders as they discussed and argued politics, which influenced him as he came of age in the 60s. He marched against the war in Vietnam, listened to left-leaning radio like WBAI, read Ray Bradbury for inspiration, and spent a summer at Woodstock. Find out more about his writing and his unique perspective in this interview.
Brody’s book is a work of fiction, a political thriller that involves a fictional cultish group called EcoPartyUSA, it includes a fight for the White House and power set in a near future where there are food shortages, wild weather and increased panic.
You can also explore more on the Books That Make You website. Discover more info on The Org, and other books there, and sign up for the Books That Make You Newsletter to stay informed about all the books that make you who you are.
Books That Make You Discover Deeper Philosophical Meaning in Pulpy, Graphic Novels with Guest Russell Nohelty
We don’t often think of graphic novels or comics as having deep, philosophic meaning, but should we? The guest of this show is author and entrepreneur Russell Nohelty. He discusses the bigger themes he likes to deliver through his writing.
Listen as he talks with host Desireé Duffy about the underlying meanings in stories. They discuss how they can slowly and gradually be revealed to uncover universal theme that we all can identify with. From fairy tales to mythology to religion, we’ve been rooting for our heroes and heroines to not only kick butt, but to grow personally and to overcome their own inner struggles.
Russell Nohelty is a USA Today Bestselling author and the publisher at Wannabe Press. He has written comic books such as Katrina Hates the Dead; Ichabod Jones: Monster Hunter; and Pixie Dust, in addition to more than a dozen novels.
Russell also edits the Cthulhu is Hard to Spell anthology series. He helps other creatives with The Complete Creative, an online resource which includes courses, a podcast, a blog, and two non-fiction books: How to Build a Creative Business and How to Become a Successful Author.
Find out more on Russell’s website. And join us on Books That Make You to discover more books and past episodes.
The Nordic Thriller, or Scandinavian Noir as it is sometimes called, is a hot genre even if it’s set against an icy-cold backdrop. Authors like Stieg Larsson and the Millennial trilogy which included The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo are what people often think of. Netflix and other channels are doing well with TV shows like Fortitude, Deadwind, Tin Star, and more There is an exciting new author in this genre who is turning heads. Sara Winokur, author of Double Blind: The Icelandic Manuscript Murders is the guest for this show.
Discover more about this exciting genre, why people love it so much, and find out how Sara weaves her real experience as a molecular geneticist into her writing. She’ll talk about provocative topics like databasing the public’s DNA, how genetic diseases differ from infectious diseases like Covid-19, and the real Icelandic manuscripts she researched which helped inspire her writing.
Sara Winokur is a PhD molecular geneticist at the University of California and an author. With dozens of articles published in scientific journals, including Human Molecular Genetics, Nature Genetics, and Cell Stem Cell she is very respected in the community. Sara was even part of the team that discovered the gene that causes Dwarfism and Huntington’s Disease.
Sara Winokur is also an ovarian cancer “thriver” and decided to pen her first novel after dealing with the illness. Her writing is an exquisite blend of her expertise in genetics and her affinity for the culture and surreal landscape of Iceland, where she has traveled to frequently in researching her book.
If you love books, be sure to explore more on the Books That Make You website, and sign up for the Books That Make You Newsletter to stay informed about all the books that make you who you are.
The Covid-19 virus led to many people being quarantined or asked to stay at home. Social distancing and working from home, as well as not gathering in large groups means making a shift in our lives. It also means that taking a moment to escape in books might be a good idea. Our guest, Diana Giovinazzo discusses ideas to get us through, as well as reflections on Italian history and the resilient spirits we have when dealing with adversity.
Listen as Diana and host Desireé Duffy find ways to make the most of a difficult situation. After all, there are many benefits to reading. It helps expand our empathy, makes us smarter, and gives us insights into new perspectives.
When stuck inside, consider reading to or with your kids. Give them books to read—or to listen to. Digital books and audio books are often quick and easy downloads. If they are old enough, give them books to read and do a book report on. Maybe have them read aloud to you, or they could even perform a passage from the book, or a short play.
For yourself, consider creating your own reading list and expand your horizons by reading outside your genre. Find an online book club, or join an organization like the Womens National Book Association, or a writers group if you are a reader and a writer.
Diana Giovinazzo is the author of the forthcoming book The Woman in Red. She is an expert when it comes to historical fiction, as well as the president of the LA chapter of the Womens National Book Association. She is also one of the hosts of the popular podcast, Wine Women Words.
Books That Make You See into Your Future with Guest Mark Horn
Knowing our path, getting insights into the future, and finding truth are all things that intrigue us. Who wouldn’t love to know the winning lottery numbers, after all? But what if there is something, something deeper, in uncovering our personal journey into the future?
Let’s take a closer look at how Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism and the ancient Kabbala have an underlying connection in this interview with author Mark Horn. Host Desireé Duffy discusses the significance of the Tarot and a practice known as “counting the Omer”.
Can we pull from mystical practices associated with the Tarot and Kabbala in an effort to find revelations and personal insights or growth? Is it okay to uncover our destiny? How can we actually do this?
Mark Horn’s book is called Tarot and the Gates of Life. It integrates the Tarot and Kabbalistic traditions in counting the Omer and is a guide that anyone can easily learn to use. Plus, it can help with meditation, plus, help in discovering inner truths and insights that we all need in uncovering our life’s personal journey.
Author Mark Horn has studied Kabbalah with academic, religious, and practical teachers, and he also studied Tarot with many of today’s leading teachers in that area. His writing has appeared in The Washington Post, The Los Angeles Times, and Metrosource. A teacher of Kabbalistic Tarot, he lives in New York City.
Have you ever wondered about different “what if…” scenarios when thinking about history? What if Rome never fell? What if Constantine never created the Council of Nicea? What if Napoleon won at Waterloo? What if Hitler had developed the atomic bomb first?
World War 2 scenarios can be some of the most tantalizing. Just imagine how close we came to living in Philip K. Dick’s Man in the High Castle! Have you ever wondered exactly why Hitler failed? M. L. Winitsky is the guest for this episode and he certainly has taken that train of thought. He asked: “What if a valet altered the course of World War II?”
M. L. Winitsky has a creative imagination. As a former university professor, historian, consultant, and researcher for television, his life-long, academically informed fascination with alternate history led to writing A Fly on the Wall. This book is the first in his three-volume magical realism epic.
Listen to this provocative episode and don’t forget to join us on the Books That Make You website. There you can discover more shows, authors and the books that make you who you are.
There is nothing more important than water for life on Earth. Not having clean water is a real and common crisis for many people around the world. Do we take this essential resource for granted?
This Books That Make You episode addresses one of the most important issues of our time. Clean water is needed in developing countries and areas of the world now more than ever. Guest John Dracup is the author of Clean Water for Developing Countries. His book is a guide for those who want to learn about this important topic.
Listen as John Dracup and Books That Make You host Desireé Duffy discuss the various methods people can implement to provide clean water in the areas of our planet that need it the most. Filtration, disinfection, safe storage, transport, pumps, sanitation, cultural issues and more are all expertly outlined in the pages of this revolutionary book.
John Dracup is a civil engineer and hydrologist. In addition to being an author, he holds degrees in Civil Engineering from the University of Washington, Seattle, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge and the University of California, Berkeley.
John Dracup has taught water resource engineering and hydrology at both the University of California, Los Angeles and UC Berkeley. His research is focused on the optimization of large-scale water resource systems and the impact of climate change on hydrologic variables. He has conducted clean water projects in Africa, in Central and South America. In 2015 the Rotary Foundation cited him for his efforts in supplying clean, safe water in developing countries.
Listen to this informative episode and find out more about John Dracup’s Clean Water for Developing Countries on the Books That Make You website. There you can discover more shows, authors and explore all the books that make you who you are.
We’ve been using the Internet as a society since the mid-90s. Do you remember modems dialing up, hanging out in Internet cafes and chat rooms, and the wonderous ability to connect with people from all over the globe? Do you remember being able to talk to online friends with an honesty you couldn’t do with real-world friends?
Our guest for this episode, Brandyn Cross, discovered the real conversations of a young boy who reached out to find friends during the early days of the Internet. These message board chats reveal the real life and death of a child suffering abuse while facing a terminal illness. Yet, the boy never lost hope.
Discover this heart-wrenching saga filled with teenage angst and the real thoughts of kids trying to cope with life events big and small. Cross’s epic book series chronicles the story of a boy named Brandy who revealed his plight to friends as he endured abusive parents and faced unavoidable death from a terminal illness. As the recipient of the printed copies of this boy’s conversations, Brandyn Cross now brings them to the world with The Legacy Book Series.
In addition to being an author, Brandyn Cross is a filmmaker and musician. He is also an advocate for people with autism and with disabilities. The Legacy Series Book One is the first in a 27-book series called The Legacy. Find out more in this episode of the Books That Make You Show.
It’s an episode you can sink your teeth into. Vampire expert and author Adrienne Monson talks with host Desireé Duffy about her vampire series, The Blood Inheritance Trilogy.
Vampires: one of the most beloved topics in all of genre fiction. They cross-over from horror to supernatural to thrillers to comedy and to paranormal romance, and more. Ever since Stoker introduced us to Dracula many years ago, we have been enthralled with this undead entity.
The question is, why do we find vampires so fascinating? Is it because they terrify us as much as they intrigue us? Is it because they promise immortality, but at a twisted price? Maybe it is because they have amazing powers, but are also vulnerable?
Listen as Adrienne Monson, the “vampire expert” according to MSN, gives her thoughts. She is not only highly regarded for her vampire novels in The Blood Inheritance Trilogy, but as a writer of compelling historical romance, retold fairy tales, dystopian, and many other genre mashups.
Monson is accomplished in many other areas as well. She mentors aspiring authors, directs and participates in writing workshops, and judges several different writing contests. Find out more in this episode of the Books That Make You Show.
In this episode, we’re talking about Books That Make You live in a fairy tale. Our guest is author Kristen Caven. She talks with Books That Make You host Desireé Duffy about her Cinderella-inspired book, The Souls of Her Feet.
Let's be honest, we all love fairy tales, don't we? As a child, you probably dreamed of being a princess or prince, fighting dragons, traveling on adventures and maybe even going to the big ball. As children, many of us slid into that glass slipper right alongside Cinderella, and shared her dream of meeting Prince Charming. What is it about iconic fairy tales that we love so much?
Listen as Kristen Coven, an author who reinvented the classic Cinderella story, talks about The Souls of Her Feet. In it, Cinderella is a middle-American teenager with body image issues as well as the usual step-parent problem.
Kristen Caven is an awarded essayist, as well as a cartoonist and playwright. She admired Cinderella as an optimistic protagonist and explores the beloved tale with humor, fresh perspectives, and even with psychological insights.
Listen as she and Desireé Duffy talk about body image, archetypes in fairy tales, and so much more in this episode of the Books That Make You Show.
Confidence-building is important nowadays with so many people feeling anxious, nervous, and agitated. The world can be depressing and hard to navigate. Plus, we can often become our own worst enemy, can't we?
While there are thousands of self-help books out there that are designed to help us lift our confidence, none of them do it quite like Sarah Mane does in her book.
Sarah Mane explores the Sanskrit roots of English words that are related to confidence and success. She uses her method to unlock rich, deeper understandings of these words.
Her book, Conscious Confidence, contains a confidence-boosting system that she designed. It is based on the spiritual insights of Sanskrit, which is also known to many as the language of enlightenment.
This author offers practical exercises for discovering our inner certainty. She explains how the Conscious Confidence system allows us all to tackle the ever-growing anxiety and the fear that hangs like a shadow over many of us.
Sarah Mane is a Sanskrit scholar and she has a particular interest in the wisdom of Sanskrit as a practical means to life-mastery. Previously a teacher and school executive, today she is a transformational and executive coach as well as a renowned author.
To find out more about this show and others, visit the Books That Make You website.
This episode’s theme is Books That Make You remember what it was like to be a dreamer—and maybe find bigger meaning in the process, like, finding God for instance.
We all had that experience in our younger days of dreaming big and feeling disappointed when things don’t go our way. Maybe you were a rebel who wanted to be a rock star, or thought you’d play pro baseball, or you wanted to be an astronaut, but then, reality gives us what we NEED, rather than what we want in all its glory.
This show’s guest decided to write a fictional memoir of one dreamer’s journey in the book, If God Allows. It is wry and unapologetic.
Author Robert P. Cohen tells the story of a highs school dreamer, rebel, advertising hack, and American atheist who sought a life worth writing about in a land where prayer and religion were only slightly more ubiquitous than sex, drugs, magic, and systematic corruption.
Robert P. Cohen is a writer and photographer living in San Francisco. He’s paid the bills over the years writing for advertising agencies, a day-job that has taken him around the world. A long stint working in South East Asia, specifically Vietnam, Singapore, and Indonesia, provided some of the inspiration and fodder that brought to life his debut novel, If God Allows.
For other episodes and more information, visit Books That Make You.
Who doesn’t want to live life like a millionaire? Imagine traveling to fancy resorts and eating gourmet dinners, wearing designer dresses and going to the hottest shows. It seems out of reach for most of us. But what if you could do all that, and more, if you only knew the secrets? Are you ready to live like a millionaire even if you’re a million dollars short? Marilyn Anderson will tell you how.
She wrote How to Live Like a MILLIONAIRE When You're a Million Short. It is a breezy, information-packed guide that tells you how to save thousands of dollars while enriching your life at the same time.
Marilyn Anderson knows all the tricks and tips to living the big life on little to no budget. She has lived life as a creative and discovered how to wear fabulous clothes and carry designer bags when attending parties and events. She even has an assignment to share with you to see if you have hidden money somewhere. Amazingly, many of us do!
In addition to being an author, Marilyn Anderson is a speaker and an award-winning film and television writer. On TV, she wrote for Murphy Brown, FAME, Sherman Oaks, Friday the 13th - the Series, and Carol & Company, starring Carol Burnett. Marilyn is writer-producer of the family film, How to Beat a Bully, and author of the relationship book, Never Kiss a Frog: A Girl’s Guide to Creatures from the Dating Swamp. She was the Dating, Flirting and Kissing Coach on TV’s Extreme Makeover.
For more bookish fun, visit the Books That Make You podcast page.
Imagine loving books so much that you decide to create a company that publishes books like the ones you want to live in? What is it like to start a publishing company? Sue Arroyo from CamCat Publishing tells us how she did it.
Having been an entrepreneur, Sue Arroyo spent over twenty years in the tech industry. Her superpower is examining business processes and making them better with the application of technology. Trident Technologies, which she founded in 2006, was recognized as the fastest-growing company in Alabama and ranked in the top 100 on the Inc. 5000 Fastest Growing Companies list in the US.
Today, Sue Arroyo is the founder of CamCat Publishing. CamCat Publishing, under Sue’s leadership, is doing things differently. Her efforts in finding the best authors means that readers will be able to find books that they truly want to live in.
CamCat Publishing focuses on genre fiction: mysteries, thrillers, romance, horror and more. This is the perfect new publisher for authors to submit their manuscripts. Guess what, they are looking for fantastic new authors! And you don’t have to show them your query letter.
In this show, writers can find out how what CamCat Publishing is looking for in a manuscript submission. Entrepreneurs can learn how one finds the vision to be a disruptor in the publishing industry like Sue Arroyo. Also, discover how CamCat Publishing is doing differently, as Books That Make You host Desireé Duffy unravels the passion behind the new publisher in town: CamCat Publishing.
Have you ever been in a toxic relationship? Have you felt trapped, or manipulated, or even abused by someone you love? It hurts the worst when the pain you feel is caused by someone who says they love you.
You are not alone. Many people think that the good memories or the "potential" you see in your man – or in your woman – are worth holding on to. That hope that things will get better keeps you stuck in a cycle of misery and makes you ignore the voice of your heart.
Fortunately, it's never too late to break-up with a toxic partner and release yourself from negative patterns. This show is going to help you find out how.
A.G. Billig shares her actionable steps and practical advice with you. Her new book is 5 EASY STEPS TO ENDING A TOXIC RELATIONSHIP: Unplug the Negativity Chord and Jump-Start Your Emotional Healing.
After A.G.’s father passed away when she was just 21, A.G. found herself experiencing one toxic relationship after another. The men in her life sabotaged her self-worth, they undermined her self-confidence, and they often used her. Her journey to kicking her addiction to drama, and finding her own inner peace, inspired her to write this book as a roadmap that will help you also break free from toxic relationships in your life, once and for all.
As we get older making decisions can become more and more difficult. Youmay have parents, grandparents, older relatives or even older friends who need help navigating the various challenges that come up as we age.
How can you help them when they need you the most?
Decisions about our homes, things like reverse mortgages, health care and assisted living options are some of the topicswe can help our older adult family and friends navigate.
Toni Patillois the author of two books that serve as guides for older adults. Should I Short Sale My Home offers helpful strategies to avoid foreclosure. The Inherited Home Guide specifically details the process, choices and roadblocks that occur when someone inherits a home from a loved one who has passed.
Patillo is philanthropically involved with organizations like the Older Adult Task Force (OATF), Optimistic People In a Caring Atmosphere (OPICA) Adult Day Care Services, Team of Older Persons Services (TOPS), MAPS Charities (Helping Seniors in Los Angeles County), Wise and Healthy Aging, (a leader, trusted expert, premier service provider and influential voice on aging), Alzheimer’s Los Angeles.In addition to her support of these organizations, Patillostays connected to resources which are pivotal in providing vetted referrals to her clients and those clients of her peers.
Listen as she talks with host Desireé Duffy and discover how you can help your older relatives and friends.
What's a TBR you ask? It's your to be read list. And now is the time to plan your 2020 TBR. What books should you be reading? How do you select books for your TBR-this year, or any year, or any time? Should you read outside your favorite genre? Or stick to tried and true? What authors have books coming out in 2020 that you should be planning for? All will be revealed in this special edition of Books That Make You.