In Colorful Tales, lessons of love, acceptance, wonder, humility, joy, and courage are tenderly revealed through the adventures of life-loving Buz the Bear. No ordinary bear cub, Buz surprises and delights as he finds meaning in living everyday bear life. Through his stories, young readers find their own unique experiences given shape and purpose while celebrating their love of fun and adventure, the natural world, and the realness of the spirit.
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Prophecy of the Awakening
APOCALYPSE DOES NOT MEAN THE END....IT ONLY MEANS CHANGE!
Nikki thought she was crazy. Now she knows that not only is the voice in her head real, it the voice of a goddess!
David is a devout Catholic. Can he continue to cling to his faith in the light of what is going on around him?
Cardinal Santarem knows the truth. But he is not going to let it tear down two thousand years of religious domination.
Amber is a self-absorbed Hollywood starlet. She is the last person anyone would choose to become a mother, let alone the one who will fulfill the Prophecy of the Awakening.
Daniel A. Willis writes both fiction and nonfiction. In his historical works, he describes the world as it was. In his fantasy novels, he envisions it as it could be. A native of Ohio, Mr. Willis has called Colorado home for three decades.
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A series of short, true life stories, which are the product of the travels and observations of one man. The stories are a miscellaneous collection of the funny and sad, of tragedy, love and friendship. And they are all, in a way, unexpected.
Unexpected takes you on a journey from a Brazilian working on the oil rigs of Venezuela, who gets the shock of his life, to the uplifting story of a Chinese beggar living on the streets, entertaining passers-by with his songs and surviving through the mercy and kindness of others.
There is a story for each of us in this book. Each one is subtly different and each carries either a message of hope for lost, or of caution for the unwary.
Unexpected is just that. Just as life is and just as the course of our lives run, at times unexpectedly.
P.F. Citizen One is a writer. He works as a petroleum engineer, which requires a lot of traveling to different countries, and he uses the situations and varied people he has come across as an inspiration for his great love of writing. His interest in travel has meant that he has picked up some useful languages along the way, and he is now fluent in English, French, Portuguese, Spanish and German, allowing him to go just about anywhere and still be understood. Most of the time. He lists his great fear as ''being stranded alone on a desert island'' and, as a result, he avoids traveling by boat whenever he can.
P.F. Citizen One’s new book, Unexpected, was published on October 7th and is a book of short stories, inspired by his travels throughout the world and the people he has met.
Brandon Chane is an artistic visionary, a profoundly gifted young musician and poet. He is also deeply troubled, and seemingly at the mercy of dark forces that threaten to tear his life apart. He has risked all of his fragile hopes upon the fate of his band, Edge of the Known, and the dream of following his Muse.
Here he narrates the incredible journey that begins when he meets Saul Mason, an enigmatic soul-guide who insists that Brandon’s life and destiny are of his own making. Saul’s wisdom and guidance sets Brandon upon a path of spiritual awakening; and this inner transformation reverberates not only within his own life but also within the lives of all the hungry, searching souls who are touched by his music…
Purchase on Amazon only $.99 for ebook or $12 paperback
About Seth Mullins
Seth Mullins first conceived of his dream to write novels in his early teens, and this one desire has stayed with him throughout all the other myriad twists and turns of life. His inspirations include methods of inner exploration such as dream-work and shamanism and his experiences as a songwriter and performing musician. He studied creative writing at Santa Fe Community College in New Mexico and Lane Community College in Oregon.
Fear is a cage. It closes us in and keeps us from living in the freedom that we should be.
Some people get so overcome by fear that they cannot even leave their house. Phobias have become almost fashionable. We label our fears and hug them tight to us as if they are things we need to keep our security. We coddle them and keep them happy so that they don’t destroy us, and the last thing we want to do is provoke them. That powerlessness is what keeps us from accomplishing great things in our lives, whether personally or for God’s kingdom.
In Freedom from Fear, we explore the keys to our freedom through faith and obedience to God's word. With this book, you'll learn to put your trust in God's character and turn to him when you're feeling out of control.
Pauline Creeden is a horse trainer from Virginia, but writing is her therapy. In her fiction, she creates worlds that are both familiar and strange, often pulling the veil between dimensions. She becomes the main character in each of her stories, and because she has ADD, she will get bored if she pretends to be one person for too long.
Though Jerome "Jay" Isip now enjoys the success of being a professional MMA fighter, entrepreneur, and author, he is no stranger to the feelings of self-doubt, depression, and lack of direction that many people-- young and old, male and female-- struggle with at one point or another in life.
This candid, autobiographical book tells of MMA fighter and accomplished champion Jerome Jay Isip's journey to find his identity and his own version of "happy" in early adulthood through self-destructive means like alcohol, a myriad of drugs, and other risky behavior, and how he pulled himself back from the edge of the abyss, finding the courage to live a life of clarity and purpose after discovering what true, lasting happiness in life is all about.
Jerome "Jay" Isip is a successful entrepreneur within several walks of life - finance, small business, e-stock trading, and athletics. Born and raised in Belleville, New Jersey, Jay was never one for academics. Rather than concentrating on coursework, he was instead distracted by the typical trappings other young men endure. Jay has always been more interested in enjoying life and those around him, which isn't going to get anyone accepted at a credible college or university. Even still, through all the self-destructive means and risky roller coaster of behavior, Jay stayed determined to choose his own career path, which would eventually lead him to becoming a business owner, a professional "mixed-martial arts" fighter. And now he has added the title of "author" to the list.
Do you want to discover how Cleopatra, the famous Egyptian queen succeeded to manage stress and stress symptoms? She was not just one of the most beautiful women in the world, but also one of the most powerful ones. Find out what was her secret by reading this book. You will also find out many interesting things that helped, for example, Alexander The Great, Coco Chanel and many other famous inspirational leaders.
The most interesting thing is that their approach and strategies can be applied to us today. History has so much to offer to those who are open to learning from it.
Besides inspirations from historical leaders, this guide will show you how to fight stress on a practical, easy and relatively fast way.
You will learn how to strengthen:
* your mental health and stress resistance;
* self-confidence;
* self-control in stressful moments.
About the author: Gabriella Kindert (MBA, MA) is a finance executive who has worked in numerous countries for leading organizations. Over the years, she has attributed her success to hard work, diligence, and dedication. In addition to her job, she is a founding partner of several successful companies. Despite her busy schedule, she is a mother of two children and a devoted wife.
During her career she realised the importance of balance, nutrition, physical activity for better control of every aspect of life. She has established an organization called One Life, which actively promotes a healthier lifestyle. You can also follow her on Facebook.
The Busy Person’s Guide to Everyday Enlightenment is the perfect antidote to the strains of modern living.
Featuring easy-to-follow meditations, yoga sequences, techniques and holistic advice that you can apply to even the busiest of lifestyles.
What makes this book different is that it is tailored to recognise in this time of hectic living that we all have the need to nurture, care and centre ourselves, yet we don’t always have the time for long practices to achieve this. Ironically, the very thing we have convinced ourselves we don’t have time to do - looking after ourselves - is what can lead to better health and a sense of inner calm.
Within these pages, you will find easy-to-follow sequences.
This book is a helping hand to those who wish to fit in some me-time self-care even into the most time-starved of lifestyles.
You can learn to…
• Develop techniques in as little as 5 minutes a day that can help you deal with stress
• Turn everyday stressful situations into meditation just by shifting your perspective
• Nourish your body with simple yoga schedules that can help target specific areas or states of mind, no matter how busy you are
• Bring the holistic into the hectic and learn to Zen out when the rest of the world is rushing
• Improve and progress with the help of handy tips
• Enjoy guilt-free self-nurturing
About the author:
I grew up on a hill in the north of England. From a young age, I wanted to live in London. As a child, during the depths of night, I'd often listen to the hum of passing trains. Sometimes I'd run to my bedroom window hoping to catch a glimpse so that I could pretend that I too was travelling on one, speeding along, London bound, like the rest of the world was sleeping.
So one day in my late teens, I bought a one-way ticket and travelled to London with just £30.00 in my pocket and a bit of blind faith.
In my novel The Last Days of Lisa, (that I’m still writing), the main character Lisa mirrors how overwhelming it was for me to see London for the first time through the eyes of a teenager travelling alone….
‘London never rests, she thinks. It’s on speed. A vortex, absorbing everything. Running from its own stench but also basking in it. Seemingly superficial and plastic to those not enchanted by its ambivalent charms. London has a soul; a ravenous appetite that feeds on the egos of the thousands that flock here each day to get closer to their dreams. ‘
Not long after moving to London, yoga and writing graced my life. I think they both saved me. On the writing front the spark came after reading the book, Catcher in the Rye. I’d not had the opportunity to study much as a child but that didn’t matter now as this book blew me away.
“If you really want to hear about it, the first thing you’ll probably want to know is where I was born, and what my lousy childhood was like, and how my parents were occupied and all before they had me, and all that David Copperfield kind of c—p, but I don’t feel like going into it, if you want to know the truth.” J.D Salinger
As for yoga, another book in the form of a second-hand yoga book written back in the 1960’s made its way into my mitts via a second-hand bookstore.
As I’d said earlier, to start with I wasn’t very good at either. Dyslexia and lack of flexibility and poor posture were my obstacles. I could see beyond that though as both yoga and writing offered me hope and possibilities that before this I hadn’t ever thought possible. Before yoga and writing I believed I was useless and had nothing to offer the world.
So I worked hard at studying for more than a decade. The author John Harding was the first teacher to believe in me. After studying writing under his inspiring tuition, I even managed to get a few novels published along the way.
On the yoga side, I studied both Hatha and later Kundalini yoga and despite not being naturally flexible nor a person who liked to sit still. It was in India back in 2004 that I had my first awakening experience.
During all this time, I also managed over the years to work my way up from an office junior job to a finally a supervisor position, having worked for most of my life in a string of unfulfilling office jobs. The good news that in October 2015 I left office work to become The Word Sprite full time!
The silver lining in all of this is through my personal experience of having to be creative with my time I came up with the concept of yoga and holistic solutions for modern day living. Hence, this is how The Word Sprite was born!
Thy love is ageless, it penetrates the depth of time and encircles the face of your abiding love. In the shelter of the storm it shines it majestic power, giving soothing tranquility to the stormy seas.
Know thy flames can never be extinguished or humanity hold its essence in the palm of their hands, for it is the power of the Holy Spirit that radiates its light and gives strength to the weary. It flows as music on air its notes give harmony and feeds the heart compassion.
Monica F. Hudson has given her writing ministry a visionary depiction of boldness and creative awareness through her covers that leads you down a path inside the pages of not just truth, but a praise dance that any saint would give up a rejoicing word for. She is after all a spiritual writer, who has a genre that includes Christian discipleship, empowerment, and spiritual inspirations, leading her to a string of book, journals, and articles that look like a hymnal turned inside out.
She is the author/publisher of Hudson Publishers, a company that markets Christian books for those who want a deeper meaning in their walk with Jesus Christ. She is a member of Allen Temple A.M. E. Church in Pine Bluff, AR. She is a member of the American Christian Writers, Spiritual Writers Association, Association of Writers and Writers Programs just to name of few. Find out more about this writing ministry at
www.2cdivineanswers.com.
Please welcome author Mathew Chase to the blog today. His powerful memoir Finding Home tells about his tumultuous life, while also providing some therapeutic relief. Today, he shares with us how much writing this book helped him. Thank you, Mathew, for doing this.
I found writing this story to be very therapeutic. It was interesting to me how I discovered there was still information to be learned from my past. Things that I felt I had dealt with and put away were looked at in a new light or from a new perspective. I knew for years that I wanted to write my story. Getting started was the hard part. After that everything seemed to just flow.
I often found myself thinking wow I did that, I survived and made it through. I can’t believe how young I was for having gone through that and been able to recognize the situation I was in. Looking back on it all now. I can see that it was all worth the ride, even the bad parts. We can’t truly appreciate the good without the bad, the sun without the rain. Life wouldn’t be a test if we had all the answers. Just proves to us that all any of us really need is a little bit of time to figure it out.
While safety and peace seem like they should be birthrights, some of us are born into situations that simply don't allow for these niceties. With a father who sold drugs and a mother who depended on them, the world felt anything but calm to author Mathew Chase.
Growing up in one of the toughest parts of Philadelphia, Mathew learned things in his first few years of life that most of us never have to learn, like how to survive hunger when there's no food in the house and no one there to notice . . . how not to cry or show fear while being beat with a shoe by a foster parent . . . how to mask any signs of vulnerability when passing the dealers and gangsters on the street . . . or how to fight when one or a bunch of kids jump you on your way home from school.
Somehow, Mathew knew he had a choice. He could conform to the status quo and become a victim of the mentality generated by this environment, or he could find a way to break free and build a different kind of life. Joining the U.S. military at age 18 as an exit route from what he'd known forever seemed like a promising solution, but it carried an exacting price tag of its own.
Mathew's childhood began to seem like it had been easy compared to the brutality of training and fighting in Iraq while witnessing the slaying of friends who had become like brothers. Would Mathew ever find home? Follow the author's journey through seemingly endless challenges and failures to understand how these selfsame circumstances mold him into a mature and courageous man. In Finding Home, pain and heartbreak are transformed to what they truly are - stepping stones to ultimate strength and personal freedom.
A man without faith shares his views as the end of life approaches.The views are reflections on religion, morality and death.The deeply religious will find little of interest here and may find some of the material incomprehensible. Some moderates who have noticed twinges of doubt or discomfort in certain beliefs may find some explanations for those feelings.
The faithless will probably understand it all. It is the author's hope that for them, it will be a pleasant read.
I am a retired electrical engineer, my career of 41 years spent mostly in Silicon Valley, California. I was one of those extremely fortunate individuals who enjoyed their work so much that it seemed unfair that I should be paid to perform it.
My profession required some technical writing but I never aspired to author anything that would be interesting to the general reader. Doomed Soul is my first attempt to do so and I hope that its introduction is a clear explanation why I chose to do it.
I currently live in Florida with my wife Babs and two bichon frise dogs named Boomer and Gabby.
In a heart-racing thriller described as Falling Skies meets The Walking Dead, Jennie struggles to find a safe place for what's left of her family. But it seems as though there is no place sacred, no place secure. First the aliens attacked the sun, making it dimmer, weaker, and half what it used to be. Then they attacked the water supply, killing one-third of Earth's population with a bitter contaminate. And when they unleash a new terror on humankind, the victims will wish for death, but will not find it…
When the world shatters to pieces around her, will Jennie find the strength she needs to keep going?
Pauline Creeden is a horse trainer from Virginia, but writing is her therapy. In her fiction, she creates worlds that are both familiar and strange, often pulling the veil between dimensions. She becomes the main character in each of her stories, and because she has ADD, she will get bored if she pretends to be one person for too long.
September Giveaway. eReading is a great resource for affordable ebooks to feed your one-click obsession. Literary Addicts lets you talk about your favorite books with fellow readers and your favorite authors.
This month we have two $25 Gift Cards (Amazon, Kobo, or Barnes and Noble) and 5 Book Swag Bags to give away!
Gift cards are open INT but Swag Bags are US only.
A Real Life Story of Heroic Virtue
Parts of this memoir appeared on ESPN and in Rosie
Warsaw, Indiana
July 08, 2015
Award-winning and best-selling author, Michelle Weidenbenner, announces the release of Kelly Schaefer’s memoir, Fractured Not Broken.
Years ago, parts of Kelly’s story appeared on ESPN and in Rosie, but now Kelly reveals the rest of the story in her new book, Fractured Not Broken.
Nineteen-year-old Kelly had it all—a healthy and athletic body, a star basketball-player boyfriend, and a fun college life with close friends.
But everything changed when a drunk driver rendered her a quadriplegic.
Kelly was left with arms and legs that couldn’t move. She couldn’t walk, write, feed herself or comb her hair. When she thought she couldn’t lose anything more—her boyfriend left her, unwilling to endure a life with a quad.
Through her darkest days of loss and pain, her family and community gathered together to push her forward, to help her persevere. With their help, Kelly moved closer to God and toward a faith she’d never had.
“Miracles come in many obscure moments,” Kelly said. “I spent most of my life awaiting my big break. I expected my miracle to be in the form of a pill, injection, or surgery that would enable my spine to heal and give me the mobile freedom I prayed for, but that didn’t happen.
Kristen Jongen’s quote says it all:
“‘My miracle came unannounced, and in an odd package. It looked different from what I imagined--untimely, unexpected, unpretentious--yet it fit perfectly. Divinely constructed solely for me.’"
Fractured Not Broken is a memoir of loss and faith, but it’s also a love story that sounds like fiction.
“Life has its tragic moments of defeat, setbacks, and fracturing for everyone. Kelly's story proves, however, that individual momentum, personal progress, and genuine achievement can still be attained. Her courage and optimism are uplifting. Open these pages and experience the joy of ultimate victory.” —Dr. Dennis E. Hensley, Author of Jesus in All Four Seasons
“This book has been a true encouragement to me. Thank you Kelly for sharing your story— the loss and the unexpected joy— so that each reader can be uplifted knowing there is a full, rich life available to those who lean in to our Lord Jesus.” —Renee Bondi, Award-Winning Singer and Songwriter
“This is a real life story of heroic virtue—especially of courage, humility, and generosity—a triumph of faith, hope and love. This story involves the very essence of the human spirit, family, and community. To know Kelly and her journey of miracles is to know that with God all things are possible.” —Most Reverend Charles C. Thompson Bishop of Evansville
This book will fracture the paradigms of the goals and expectations we set for ourselves and others. Kelly’s words will change how readers think of people with disabilities and bring hope to readers who have lost faith in finding true love.
Weidenbenner’s other novels include Cache a Predator, Scattered Links, and an early chapter book series for girls called Éclair.
Kelly is a teacher, speaker, Young Life mentor and a Skittles lover. She brings fun to her classroom and inspires others every day with her faith and positive attitude.
Michelle, her aunt, feels blessed to be the one to write and share Kelly’s story. Although this is Michelle’s first nonfiction project, it was heart-felt inspired like her novels.
**My thoughts** You never know what you are going to get with a memoir. Some are well-written; others, not so much. I have read most of Michelle Weidenbenner's fiction, though, so I was willing to give this one a shot. It was well worth every moment. Most of the story is told from Kelly's point of view. She feels free to let all of her emotions and thoughts pour out: the good, the bad, and the ugly. You get a very good sense of how she was feeling with every triumph and every pitfall along the way. Her story is so heartbreaking. I cannot even begin to fathom being out with friends one minute, and being a quadriplegic the next. To have all of those dreams shattered. And it isn't just her life that is affected. Her whole family. Her boyfriend. Her friends. The driver. The other passengers. That man's one bad decision cost so many people so much. It's no wonder that her faith was so strongly tested. If I had faith like that, mine would also be tested. She comes back to it, slowly but surely, as she struggles to reclaim her life. Her stubbornness and determination to do something with her life in spite of all of her challenges is incredible. Where most people would shut down, she somehow found the strength to open herself back up. I'm not saying that the whole back is happy go-lucky and that Kelly is riding around on magical rainbows. It's actually quite sad. There's a true roller coaster ride along her journey. Not all of it is pleasant. You're going to get choked up, if not completely crying, through many parts of the story, both happy and sad. You're going to feel frustrated and inspired. It could also force you to take a good look at yourself in the mirror. If a quadriplegic can do all of this, why can't you? I also loved how Kelly challenges you to look differently at people with disabilities. I have friends in wheelchairs. I have friends with other special needs, or perhaps their children have special needs. I teach young children, many of whom have special needs. But every time you hear about life from the point-of-view of a disabled person, it challenges your thoughts and actions. You think you are starting to understand, but really you can't. She provides another voice that needs to be heard. A good share of the book focuses on Kelly's relationship with God. Some people may be turned off by some of this, but it is an essential part of her story. It also isn't preachy. She isn't telling you that you need to join this church NOW to get yourself healed. She is simply sharing how her relationship impacted her journey. Whether or not you have a strong relationship with God, I think you can get a lot out of Kelly's story. It's well-written. It's interesting. It's emotional. It's just good.
For fans of Anita Diamant's The Red Tent comes the second novella in the scintillating SIN & HONEY series featuring the Bible's most powerful and seductive women...
So Delilah said to Samson, “Tell me the secret of your great strength.”—Judges 16:6
Delilah would do anything to escape her past.
Falling for Samson only got in the way.
Taryn Scarlett’s lush reimagining of Samson and Delilah uncovers the hidden truth behind the girl who became the most infamous seductress in history.
Delilah has come to the quiet valley of Sorek to start a new life, but when a man blackmails her with a devastating secret, she learns that not all sins can be buried in the past. In a dangerous bargain for her freedom, she agrees to seduce Samson, a notorious killer threatening the region—and if she can’t uncover the secret to his strength, she’ll forfeit her life.
But Samson is different than any man she has ever met before: godlike in his strength but guarding a passionate vulnerability that draws Delilah to him. Will she betray the man she has begun to fall for—or will she betray her own heart for freedom?
Taryn Scarlett holds a B.A. in Theater and English with a concentration in Creative Writing. Her weaknesses are chocolate, floral sundresses, soapy TV dramas, and anything purple. SIN AND HONEY is her first series. You can visit Taryn at www.TarynScarlett.com.
A Real Life Story of Heroic Virtue
Parts of this memoir appeared on ESPN and in Rosie
Warsaw, Indiana
July 08, 2015
Award-winning and best-selling author, Michelle Weidenbenner, announces the release of Kelly Schaefer’s memoir, Fractured Not Broken.
Years ago, parts of Kelly’s story appeared on ESPN and in Rosie, but now Kelly reveals the rest of the story in her new book, Fractured Not Broken.
Nineteen-year-old Kelly had it all—a healthy and athletic body, a star basketball-player boyfriend, and a fun college life with close friends.
But everything changed when a drunk driver rendered her a quadriplegic.
Kelly was left with arms and legs that couldn’t move. She couldn’t walk, write, feed herself or comb her hair. When she thought she couldn’t lose anything more—her boyfriend left her, unwilling to endure a life with a quad.
Through her darkest days of loss and pain, her family and community gathered together to push her forward, to help her persevere. With their help, Kelly moved closer to God and toward a faith she’d never had.
“Miracles come in many obscure moments,” Kelly said. “I spent most of my life awaiting my big break. I expected my miracle to be in the form of a pill, injection, or surgery that would enable my spine to heal and give me the mobile freedom I prayed for, but that didn’t happen.
“Kristen Jongen’s quote says it all:
“‘My miracle came unannounced, and in an odd package. It looked different from what I imagined--untimely, unexpected, unpretentious--yet it fit perfectly. Divinely constructed solely for me.’"
Fractured Not Broken is a memoir of loss and faith, but it’s also a love story that sounds like fiction.
“Life has its tragic moments of defeat, setbacks, and fracturing for everyone. Kelly's story proves, however, that individual momentum, personal progress, and genuine achievement can still be attained. Her courage and optimism are uplifting. Open these pages and experience the joy of ultimate victory.” —Dr. Dennis E. Hensley, Author of Jesus in All Four Seasons
“This book has been a true encouragement to me. Thank you Kelly for sharing your story— the loss and the unexpected joy— so that each reader can be uplifted knowing there is a full, rich life available to those who lean in to our Lord Jesus.” —Renee Bondi, Award-Winning Singer and Songwriter
“This is a real life story of heroic virtue—especially of courage, humility, and generosity—a triumph of faith, hope and love. This story involves the very essence of the human spirit, family, and community. To know Kelly and her journey of miracles is to know that with God all things are possible.” —Most Reverend Charles C. Thompson Bishop of Evansville
This book will fracture the paradigms of the goals and expectations we set for ourselves and others. Kelly’s words will change how readers think of people with disabilities and bring hope to readers who have lost faith in finding true love.
Weidenbenner’s other novels include Cache a Predator, Scattered Links, and an early chapter book series for girls called Éclair.
Kelly is a teacher, speaker, Young Life mentor and a Skittles lover. She brings fun to her classroom and inspires others every day with her faith and positive attitude.
Michelle, her aunt, feels blessed to be the one to write and share Kelly’s story. Although this is Michelle’s first nonfiction project, it was heart-felt inspired like her novels.
Yvonne deSousa’s diagnosis of relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis came with an insightful declaration from a new doctor (“MS Sucks”) and a brother’s helpful advice (“You could totally get one of those handicapped parking plates now”).
What followed was a year of MS-adventures: “accidentally” kicking an officious male doctor in the crotch, becoming an undercover agent to pay for medication made from Chinese hamster ovary cells, discovering the amazing effects of legal speed, and battling her arch-nemesis, the dreaded food group-vegetables.
Throughout her MS journey, Yvonne learned how to use humor to find acceptance in her diagnosis and how to smile in the face of chronic illness. Life with multiple sclerosis can be daunting, but Yvonne shares her giggles at the bizarre world she has unwittingly entered and the new perspectives it has given her on life. MS Madness! makes us realize that with a sense of humor, we can survive anything.
“MS Madness! A ‘Giggle More, Cry Less’ Story of Multiple Sclerosis combines defiance with humor, the secret weapon of the sick. Laughter has carried me a greater distance than conventional medicine ever will. In the end, attitude drives well being.” -Richard M. Cohen, NY Times best-selling author of Blindsided and Strong at the Broken Places
**My thoughts** "That's such a serious disease! How can you laugh at it?" I often hear these words when I am poking a bit of fun at Alzheimer's, which runs rampant in my family. I hear it directed towards those friends and family who suffer from MS, cancer, and all kinds of other horrible diseases. My question is, how can you not? When going through numerous personal issues that could have beaten me down and made me want to give up, I chose to take the higher road. I started to look for the positives in every single moment and even chose to laugh. I learned this from my own family and try to teach others to do so. This book is a perfect example of how to find the humor in life, even when dealt a crummy set of cards. We've all been there. It's our reactions to the situations that may differ. Yvonne takes her diagnosis quite seriously. She acknowledges that she had never before really understood MS, though her own sister had already been diagnosed several years before. More than one form exists. Even then, as with all other ailments, each person is going to have her own set of symptoms and reactions, requiring different treatments, all falling under this umbrella called MS. The fundamentals and general aspects are the same, just individually tweaked for each person. This book provides enough of the basics for some general understanding of the disease, as well as lots of insight into her own personal struggles. You ride the roller coaster with her, feeling her confusion, the pain, the exhaustion, the madness. Usually you laugh along with her, though you may have a tear or two in some spots. You will feel her faith shine through, whether it's faith in herself or faith in a higher power. You want to wish her well and hope that other friends and family that you know who have MS can also try to find some humor and happiness in their own horrible situation. I recommend this to anyone who either suffers from or knows someone who has MS. You will recognize people you know and love within her words. Even if you don't have MS, you may also find yourself within her story. I know I did. Thank you, Yvonne, for sharing your story.
Author Bio Yvonne deSousa has worked as a street sweeper, a shell seller, a babysitter, a candy peddler, and a guest house manager, all before the age of sixteen. Later on she worked as a waitress, sales clerk, library assistant, victim’s advocate, and at the front desk of a doctor’s
office.
Two years before Yvonne’s diagnosis of multiple sclerosis, a relative volunteered her to write an article for a local newspaper. Little did she know it was the beginning of a writing career. When MS threatened to turn her into a lunatic, she started writing more frequently and quickly discovered that writing about the insanity that is MS was helping to keep her sane.
Her work has appeared on CapeWomenOnline.com, and in Chicken Soup for the Soul: Finding My Faith and Something On Our Minds, Volumes 1 and 2. Yvonne also writes a weekly blog on www.yvonnedesousa.com the website that uses a giggle stick to beat up on MS. Since finishing MS Madness! A “Giggle More, Cry Less” Story of Multiple Sclerosis, she has started presenting programs designed to help others use humor to help cope with chronic illness.
Yvonne enjoys writing, laughing, and resting. She lives by her personal mottos, “how you deal affects how you feel” and “my MS is not your MS and your MS is weird!”
Araina’s isolated teenage life is forever altered when she witnesses a man emerge through a rippling wall into the dark labyrinth she calls home. As a result of the stranger’s arrival, Araina’s Creators have unleashed a series of magical attacks using the labyrinth against its inhabitants. Now Araina must decide if she will trust potentially deceitful allies in order to reach safety on the other side of the labyrinth wall.
The Labyrinth Wall is the story of a young woman who discovers that although labyrinth walls confine her and her enemies try to repress her, the power of hope can set her free.
Will the walls that confine her be the walls that set her free?
Young Adult Fantasy Novel. Hit #2 on the Amazon Best Seller list in its category the day after release and hit #26 on the Top 100 Amazon Free Best Seller List.
Though she was born in Germany and raised in Turkey until the age of five, Emilyann Girdner spent the majority of her grade school years in Tallahassee, Florida. She discovered early she had a love for stories. Reading books, watching movies and then acting them out with friends or toys gave living an extra flavor. This is likely why she spent the first part of her college career studying Creative Writing, before switching to Graphic Design and then graduating with a BFA in Digital Art from Missouri State University in 2011. Her writing has appeared on websites and blogs including Center for Work Life, Easter Seals Florida, MU Museum of Art & Archaeology's Musings and Examiner.com. She is best known for her Amazon Best-Selling novel, The Labyrinth Wall. Emilyann is now living and working in Florida.
Given her three focus transitions as an undergraduate, it isn't a shock that she is a multi-medium lover, exploring writing, digital art, photography and design. She finds that her creativity is most fluent when given the opportunity to bounce between artistic outlets.
To truly understand this Author, there are two things to know about her. Emilyann hopes to share a love for others and God in all she does. She believes that imagination sparks beauty in the soul.
