Smile More Stress Less by Geoffrey Saign

 

Life has been extra challenging as of late. We're all looking for ways to cope. This book may help you do it. Take a look inside Smile More Stress Less by Geoffrey Saign for an example of some tips he has to help you. Also enjoy some of his further reflections on his life and having less stress in it. Be sure to follow the tour and leave your thoughts and questions along the way. Best of luck entering the giveaway!

Want one easy method to end anxiety, stress, sadness, loneliness, fear, & anger? While maximizing happiness, inner peace, and self-awareness?

One quick way to cut through all negative emotions? And have fun doing it?

~Savvy & easy workbook exercises ensure success!~

In just minutes a day this playful yet smart approach can:

*End inner and outer conflicts
*End anxiety, worry, fear, anger, boredom, and self-doubt
*Increase healthy relationships with everyone in your life
*End illusions in your life and maximize clarity
*Rewire your brain to live with deep intelligence
*Become your own AAA+ rated super-counselor
*Help you discover the Power of HERE
*Allow your natural joy to blossom

This hands-on, A+B = C approach will supercharge your brain function, improve your emotional intelligence, and change your life!

~Finalist Forward INDIES Self-Help Book of the Year 2020~ (Winner TBA 6/17/2021)

Read an excerpt:

You Can End Daily Stress With Playfulness & Humor

One way to change rote, stressful thought patterns is to use playful exaggeration. It is a simple, repetitive method that will produce immediate and significant results, and we will use it often in this book in different ways and situations.

Let’s try it with dirty dishes. You see dirty dishes in the sink. Thoughts enter your mind about how irresponsible the person was in leaving them there. You feel annoyed and irritated. You notice this Self-Created Stress reaction inside yourself, and you interrupt it. You say out loud or think:

Oh no! My hands will never recover from this!
This is going to ruin my whole life!
It’s the end of the world as I know it!

Smile as you do this. Smiling brings about a strong positive emotion, and strong emotion helps change the brain by wiring a new neural pattern that’s even stronger.

Every time we change our thought pattern or interrupt old thought responses, we are changing our brain—teaching it—and allowing a new neural pattern to develop. We are telling the brain, This old pattern of thought is no longer useful or acceptable. The brain always listens. EVERY SINGLE EFFORT IS WORTHWHILE. This cannot be overstated.

Book Links

Kindle/KU/Paperback * Audible * Bookbub * Goodreads * Website

If my life was made into a movie…

You never know how life is going to turn out, or how it might zig or zag when you think you’re following a straight line. Thus what is most important is following your heart, following your passions, and being true to those. Stress and other psychological problems can derail all of that. Thus you want a clear, calm mind to pursue your dreams. I’m saying all of this because I’ve been writing for 40 years. I’ve had near misses with some of the biggest agents trying to sell my books. I’ve had movie producers interested, but they walked away. And now, when I’m largely stress-free daily, the happiest I’ve ever been in my life (due to what I discovered in my book Smile More Stress Less) I have 3 movie deals, with a 4th coming. What’s even better, is that I can enjoy it calmly, without stress, craziness, anxiety, fear, anger, worry, loneliness, disappointment, and all the other emotions that can rob you of just living happily.


If my life was made into a movie, it would be the underdog who never gave up, suffered some huge setbacks with health and life, but still came out on top. I like happy endings, else why bother suffering through anything in life? My books all have that. I might put the hero/heroine through terrible trauma, but in the end they learn, they grow, and they have joy and happiness in their life. That’s my life. I hope it is yours too!

Geoffrey Saign began reducing stress by practicing mindfulness at the age of fifteen. For fifty years he studied many modalities for mind-body calming and awareness, including Qigong, tai chi, kung fu, meditation, biofeedback, positive psychology, and many others. He co-designed and taught a cutting-edge, research-based self-awareness class to young adults for ten years. In 2020 the author experienced a major breakthrough in mind-brain-body awareness, which led to him Living with intelligence HERE, and the resulting book, Smile More Stress Less.

Geoffrey Saign will be awarding a $30 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

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What if Katniss Everdeen had been a Christian? Thoughts by D.K. Doulos, author of WoE Is Us

On Tour with Prism Book Tours

Welcome to the book tour for the Christian dystopian novel Woe Is Us by D.K. Doulos! Today, he takes a look at Katniss Everdeen, the beloved heroine from The Hunger Games, and speculates as to what she would have done in this dystopian society if she were a Christian. Check out his new book as well and then follow the tour for even more.

WoE Is Us

By D.K. Doulos

Christian Dystopian, YA, Sci-Fi

Paperback & ebook, 267 Pages

March 30, 2021 by Ambassador International

Lyrian Wallace was only ten years old when the Malevolence struck on October 10, 2056. She thought the next decade had numbed her to the grief, the death, the bots, and the daily struggle for survival. She lost her parents when they became Sleepers, but like everyone else, she had pieced together a new family. Lyrian was almost content when the Alliance began taking them . . .

The world always took things away from her. She could only live for today and never dared to hope for any heaven. But when her circumstances change, Lyrian must choose how she might live for both this life and the next.

(Affiliate links included.)

Goodreads | BookBub | Amazon | Bookshop | B&N | Book Depository

What if Katniss Everdeen had been a Christian?

What if the “girl on fire” had been on fire for Jesus? Maybe it seems like a crazy idea, but dystopian stories like the Hunger Games typically take place in a broken future version of our Earth, and Panem seems no different. Jesus is important to over a billion people on the planet today, and people often turn to God even more in difficult times. The Hunger Games themselves seem a shadow of the barbaric spectacles of the ancient Roman colosseum where Christians were often among the victims tragically killed for sport and fed to wild beasts. A Christian Katniss shouldn’t be that far-fetched.

So, how would Katniss’s story have been different if she were a follower of Christ?

Undoubtedly, she still would have felt the self-sacrificing urge to protect her sister from being selected to the Games. Jesus said, “Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13 NASB). Stepping forward in place of Prim was very Christ-like of Katniss.

Katniss was a fighter, but this instinct might have been blunted by her zeal to imitate Christ. Depending on her Christian beliefs, she might have ranged from opposing premeditated murder to strict pacifism. As such, she likely would have prepared for the Games quite differently, focusing primarily on evasive, survival, and defensive skills. The camouflaging techniques that Peeta used would have been perfect.

Beyond her preparation and approach to the violence of the Games, I think the biggest change for Katniss would be her ability to cope with her circumstances. Because of her faith in Jesus and hope for eternal life, she could find peace despite her bleak situation.

Could Katniss have still won the Hunger Games? Even if she were unwilling to kill the other tributes? While exceedingly difficult, it would be possible. The arena itself was designed to foster death. To win the Hunger Games, Katniss would have had to outlast the other tributes. Perhaps, she would have still made it home as a victor, but if not, she would have achieved her ultimate victory in Christ.

About the Author

D.K. Doulos has written stories most of his life and is thankful he can use his talent in service to God. When he's not writing, he enjoys going camping, impersonating a grill master, and watching college football. Between epic cross-country family road trips, he lives in Texas with his wife and four children. Find out more about D.K. on his website (www.dkdoulos.com).

Website | Series Website | Goodreads | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram

Tour Schedule

Tour Giveaway

One winner will receive (US only):
- A leather satchel (sized to carry a tablet, iPad, or Kindle) that’s similar to the one carried by the book’s main character
- Bluebonnet scratch-made soap, inspired by the book’s Texas setting
- Fredericksburg Juicy Peach scented wax melts, inspired by the book’s Texas setting
- A $25 Amazon gift card

Ends April 21, 2021

ENTER HERE

Read an exclusive excerpt from Mom and Dad's Martinis by Jacelyn Cane

 

Childhood isn't always easy. We can learn a lot by reflecting on our own childhoods and by listening to the stories of others. Read an exclusive excerpt from the memoir Mom and Dad's Martinis by Jacelyn Cane and then follow the tour for even more. Best of luck entering the giveaway!

Jacelyn Cane's mom and dad liked their martinis dry: straight gin on the rocks with a dab of vermouth and a hint of water - and they liked them often. They also liked to party; they danced, socialized, and drank - they were good at all three. Sometimes this behaviour led to humorous situations - antics in the pool, at the club, the cottage or in the car, for example. Other times, however, the experiences were not so funny - family fights and times of neglect, trauma, and abuse. By weaving together a series of episodes that take the reader to light and dark places, author Jacelyn Cane tells a poignant cautionary tale for anyone affected by alcoholism and/or family struggles. The author is using a pseudonym and most of the names in the book have been changed to protect people's identities. "Mom and Dad's Martinis: A Memoir" is a great read for anyone who has experienced a childhood mixed with joy as well as sorrow. It is a story of love, acceptance, forgiveness, and hope.

Read an exclusive excerpt:

After their honeymoon in the Bahamas, my parents moved into a two-bedroom apartment at Yonge and Sheppard in Toronto. The neighbourhood was much quieter and quite a distance away from where either of my parents had grown up. My mother’s cooking agreed with my dad so much that he gained fifty pounds in their first year of marriage. Eighteen months after their wedding, my brother Duncan was born. Parenthood didn’t stop Mom and Dad from having the odd party. In fact, the landlord asked them to stop entertaining because of all the noise. My dad argued with him, but eventually agreed to curtail the partying.

My parents did decide to have a party one Sunday afternoon to celebrate my brother’s first birthday though. Mom and Dad invited both sets of grandparents, and great-grandparents, along with aunts and uncles, to drop in for a piece of cake. Harmless enough, or so they thought.

It was raining, and all their guests’ galoshes were lined up outside the apartment. Inside, my grandfather was telling his famous corny jokes. “Why shouldn’t you write with a broken pencil?” he asked, his voice booming from the depths of his rotund frame. “Because it’s pointless. Get it?” Everyone howled with laughter just because Grandpa got such a kick out of himself. “Here’s another one: ‘What’s a golf club’s favourite type of music?”

“I don’t know, Dad,” said my mother.

“Why, swing of course!” My grandfather gave a loud belly laugh. Everyone roared.

Shortly after, Dad took out his ukulele. He was a virtuoso - even back then. Together they sang “All of Me,” “I’ve Got My Love to Keep Me Warm,” and “Happy Days Are Here Again.” They finished with a rousing round of “Happy Birthday” for my brother. There was nothing quiet about their singing.

The landlord, Mr. Perkins, heard the ruckus. He stuck his thumbs in the straps of his overalls. Those low-lifes. Down he went to his workroom, grabbed some tools, and returned to the hallway outside my parents’ apartment. With great determination, he meticulously drove a nail or two through the inner sole of every boot, until all the rubbers were nailed to the floor.

Eventually the music died down, and it came time for the relatives to go home. My grandmother, attempted to slip into her boot. “Gracious, me …” She floundered and fell over, as her stylish blue “pancake” hat slid off her head.

My great-grandmother tried to put on her galoshes. She shrieked and lurched forward, bringing my great uncle down with her.

“Oh, mother, I’m so sorry!” Uncle Donald said, as he rolled off his mother, stood up and tripped over a great aunt whose feet were caught in her nailed-down rubbers.

My parents watched helplessly as family members tumbled on top of each other, landing in a heap.

“Here, give me your hand,” said my mother. With her baby son in one arm, she tried to help aunts and uncles up with the other. My father managed to lift my great-grandmother up off the ground relatively unscathed.

“That jerk nailed everything to the floor,” said Dad. He darted into the apartment, came out with a hammer and frantically dislodged the nails. Initially, my parents were embarrassed by this incident. Soon, however, they laughed, and the tale went into the canon of classic Cane stories.

Buy Links:

https://amazon.com/dp/0228805104

https://amazon.ca/dp/0228805104

https://amazon.com/dp/B07T7Z818H

https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/mom-and-dads-martinis-a/9780228805106-item.html?ref=isbn-search

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/mom-and-dads-martinis-jacelyn-cane/1132123904;jsessionid=35317AFA4CB43BE3A32DFB3DDB3E62C8.prodny_store01-va11

https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/mom-and-dad-s-martinis

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/944724

https://books.apple.com/us/book/mom-and-dads-martinis-a-memoir/id1469160761

Jacelyn Cane was born and raised in Toronto. She lives with her husband, and near her three children and step-daughter. She is a retired elementary school teacher who also worked in social justice education with the United Church of Canada. She has worked in theatre and as a reporter. She was educated in Toronto, earning a B.A. in Political Science and an M.A. in Canadian History from York University. Later, she earned a B. Ed. at the University of Toronto. She is passionately involved in numerous social justice issues such as climate crisis concerns and Indigenous rights. She loves meditating, writing, reading, music, laughing, and being around nature. She is motivated by a deep sense of spirituality. Her number one love, however, is being with family and friends.

Website: http://jacelyncane.com

Jacelyn Cane will be awarding a $10 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

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Read an exclusive excerpt from A Divine Conspiracy by Tom Bruner

On Tour with Prism Book Tours

Welcome to the book tour for Divine Conspiracy by Tom Bruner! Today I have an exclusive excerpt for you to enjoy before you download your own copy. Be sure to also check out the rest of the tour for even more fun! And best of luck entering the great giveaway at the end.

A Divine Conspiracy

(A Divine Conspiracy #1)

By Tom Bruner

Christian Young Adult Fiction

Paperback & ebook, 297 Pages

February 15, 2021

It’s a new world for the first fifty, ever-created, Angels.

They have been brought to life for one reason. To fight evil. But no one knows what evil is or where it's going to come from. The story takes place in Heaven another newly created estate, under construction as the Angels begin training, under the watchful eye of the Archangel, Michael, to become Guardians on a yet to be created planet called Earth. Heaven is something to behold. The Angels are mystified as they take their first tour through the new city. Incredible architecture (Skyscrapers made of seashells and white sand), birds of every color (Golden Eagles), and a city made of libraries (For those who like to read), are just a few of the sights the Angel's experience.

We follow Adlay, one of the Angels, from his first breath, through extensive physical training, his Humanities class with Jesus, and his Worship class with a beautiful Angel named Lucifer, who immediately gives Adlay a foreboding feeling. The Angels work hard for months to improve and graduate from training. Adlay excels above everybody else in training but quickly discovers Lucifer is planning something. What he finds out, makes him question if he actually knows what is right or wrong. As the Angels near their big day, Adlay must make a difficult choice. Does he care only about graduating and moving on or does he risk everything to discover if Lucifer and evil are synonymous.

 

(Affiliate link included.)

Goodreads | Amazon

Read an exclusive excerpt:

Chapter 1 Creation

Raw energy exploded through the large room as fifty bolts of lightning ripped through the ceiling, piercing each torso with their own slice of electricity. The chests of the unconscious rose in sync as if tethered together by a marionette string. The lightning quickly blinked out, and the bodies crashed back to their tables.

A perfect quiet enveloped the spacious room.

As the smell of ozone wafted through the chamber, fifty bodies began to stir.

The group was extraordinarily unique. All measured between seven and eight feet tall with no visible body fat. Chiseled was the word, right out of a block of granite.

Even while lying prone, all gave the impression of being capable of tremendous physical feats. They appeared to be relatively young, in their late teens or early twenties with flawless skin, all male.

Being created and coming to full consciousness takes time. Slowly, one by one, chests began to rise and fall. A slight movement in the inert arms and legs. Eyes gradually opened. Some closed quickly, not ready for the incoming information. Processing such would take tremendous energy.

One of the creatures smiled as if lingering on a memory. He was visibly smaller than the others, just reaching seven feet tall. But what he lacked in height, he made up in muscle. He wore a blonde crew cut with piercing sky-blue eyes. He was handsome, but what made him more attractive was his demeanor. Very unassuming, non-threatening.

This is nice, he thought.

He didn’t know how he knew what the word nice meant or even why he thought it was nice.

There was something in the sweet aroma he couldn’t quite put his finger on. There was a sense of wholesomeness, newness in the air. It pleased him.

This was Adlay.

His mind instantly stopped thinking about the smell when he came to the realization, he was flat on his back. Wait, what? He squinted at one of the bright lights hanging down from the ceiling. What is happening? His eyes sorted every bit of information, the rods and cones laboring for their first time. After what seemed like forever, his eyes opened fully. Bright, bright, bright…ahh, that’s better. Adlay sucked in his first full breath and looked up at the white ceiling. What is this place? How do I know that the color of the ceiling is white?


Excerpted from A Divine Conspiracy by Tom Bruner. Copyright © Tom Bruner.

About the Author

Tom Bruner appreciates books. Over one thousand read. Really. Growing up in Southern California, Tom has had a passion for reading books since his early teens. It’s all about the story is what he believes. Tired of the same vanilla spoonful every time he opened a Christian Fiction book, he decided to write, A Divine Conspiracy. This book is set in the newly created estate of Heaven. It tells the story of the creation and training of the first Angels ever to be. We follow Adlay, a newly created Angel from his first breath, through physical training and classes with Jesus and Lucifer until the day Heaven falls apart. It packs a punch. There is not a dull moment.

Tom considers taking a motley group of boys from the 7th grade through the graduation of high school with Lifegroup a church program to be his greatest accomplishment so far. That and U.S. Air Force Basic Training. That and fraternity initiation. Oh, and running a marathon without training. The boys and Tom met once a week throughout each school year. Spending six years with the same boys going through that period of their life a great adventure. Tom, an avid Christian, volunteers on Sundays at his church in the junior high ministry. Please pray for him.

Tom is a Southern California guy through and through. He loves the beach and writing books. A Divine Conspiracy is the first book in a trilogy. Tom hopes to have the second book out in six months.

 

Website | Facebook

Tour Schedule

Tour Giveaway

One winner will receive a Fire HD 8 Tablet (US only)

Ends March 31, 2021

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Fully Involved by Lindy Bell

 

Today we welcome author Lindy Bell to the blog, as she shares an excerpt from her new contemporary romance, Fully Involved. Be sure to also check out the rest of the tour for even more! And best of luck entering the giveaway.

Katie Garrett is madly in love with her dashing firefighter husband, Andy. When he is diagnosed with cancer, their entire world is turned upside down. Andy clumsily tries to protect Katie from the truth by not telling her, but her fear — and his increasing pain and tumultuous emotions — only feed her deep-seated insecurities, as they fight for Andy’s life and for their marriage.

While the fire station and its camaraderie are Andy’s refuge, station officer Lt. Mike Bentley wages a vendetta against Andy, making Andy more determined to avoid revealing weakness of any kind. In spite of Bentley’s despising Andy, the C shift crew rally to support Andy until events take a downward turn.

As she discovers Andy’s cancer was caused by exposure to lethal chemicals while on duty, Katie navigates the treacherous maze of uncertainty and grief to emerge a stronger, more confident woman who represents her husband and the fire service as an advocate for firefighter safety and protection.

Firefighters face a myriad of dangers, but the invisible dangers – his past, her fears -- can pose the greatest threat of all. Will courage, duty, and love be enough to save Andy from these unseen threats? Will he come to recognize the far-reaching impact his life has on others? If the worst should happen, would his greatest legacy be the love of the fire service or the love for his wife? In the end, the unforeseen might have the greatest significance of all.

Read an excerpt:

“Anybody recognize this guy?” Andy asked, pointing to Hedrick who waved with a silly grin. The children laughed and nodded. “Well, Hedrick is going to put on the rest of the equipment we wear when we’re fighting a fire,” Andy said with a nod at Hedrick.

“First, he’s going to put on his hood. This protects the back of our necks and ears.” Hedrick pulled the hood up over his head and made sure it was securely in place before slipping on his mask. “The mask helps protect our faces and our eyes from smoke and ashes. When the tank is connected to the mask through this place here,” Andy continued, pointing to the regulator, “we can breathe fresh air from the air tank on our back.”

Hedrick fastened the hose and clicked the breathing regulator onto its place on the front of the mask. Immediately, the sound of his raspy breathing could be heard. “Finally,” Andy said, “his helmet goes on, and he buckles the strap under his chin. The helmet protects our head from anything heavy that might be falling,” Andy finished as Hedrick pulled on his gloves. As Hedrick stood in front of the group, his breathing loud and scratchy through the regulator, the children's eyes went wide with wonder, or possibly fear.

Andy clapped Hedrick on the shoulder. “Remember the goofy-looking guy with an even goofier smile we saw just a few minutes ago? Let’s think a minute . . .”

Andy looked at the unsure looks on their faces. “Do you remember that guy who put on all this equipment to protect himself when he’s fighting a fire?” A few heads nodded tentatively. “Well, that’s the same goofy guy on the inside of all this gear,” Andy said, resting his arm on Hedrick’s shoulder. Hedrick reached over and playfully thumped Andy on the arm, and the children laughed.

Andy smiled. “Show them what we’re talking about, Hedrick.” Hedrick removed his helmet and then unhooked the hose from the mask to the air tank and finally, pulled the mask and hood off, which lifted his hair into spikes all over his head. Hedrick smiled his goofiest smile and waved. The children broke into cheers and applause as Hedrick bowed with a flourish.

Available on Amazon

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A project ten years in the making, Fully Involved is Lindy Bell’s debut novel and avidly reflects her admiration and love of the fire service. Thoroughly researched, the quest for accuracy for the book led Lindy to participate in the Plano Citizens Fire Academy, attend classes and accompany firefighters on ride outs. With a retired fire chief and a current paramedic/firefighter in the family, Lindy has witnessed firsthand the dedication and humbleness of first responders which fueled the impetus to convey the importance of the legendary fire service brotherhood and create cancer awareness and its growing effect on the fire service.

Lindy’s first book, Jane Austen Celebrates~Holidays & Occasions Regency Style, is a showcase Regency Era holidays and their impact on modern holiday celebration traditions. A member of the Jane Austen Society of North America, Lindy has spoken to a variety of groups and taught Continuing and Adult Professional Education courses at Southern Methodist University (SMU).

A graduate of Abilene Christian University, Lindy currently lives in Plano, TX and works from home for a governmental executive recruitment and training firm. As hobbies, Lindy enjoys supporting Plano Fire Rescue by volunteering with the Plano Fire Rescue Association, writing, reading an engaging novel and cross stitching.

Website: lindybellwrites.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LindyBellWrites

Twitter: @LindyBellWrites

Instagram: LindyBellWrites

Lindy Bell will be awarding a $25 Starbucks gift card (US ONLY) to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

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What They Want Us to Know by Shawndra McWhorter

 Animals definitely communicate with us in their own language. In this inspirational book from Shawndra McWhorter, she tells us more stories of hope and unity from them. Enjoy an excerpt and then follow the tour for even more. Be sure to enter the great giveaway!

What They Want Us To Know: Messages of Hope, Meaning and Unity From the Animal Kingdom.

Have you ever wondered what animals would tell us if they could? This book will give you that chance to find out! By being able to receive downloaded messages from wild and domestic animals, Shawndra translates their messages for us. These animals have shared powerful messages of unity, connection and purpose, and steps that each of us are able to take to deepen the connection, find more meaning in our lives, and become the humans that the animals know we can be. You'll hear messages from 12 different animals on what they want us to know in order to live a more profoundly amazing life. You'll be given the opportunity to learn ways to be more compassionate, tolerant and heart-centered, to the animals and to each other.

Read an excerpt:

Chapter Seven Hippopotamus

HIPPO WAS THE FIRST TO open the door to what I could be, something that has made me more connected to my higher self than I ever thought possible. After Dr. Jeri Ryan had helped me communicate with my dog Joey, I took her animal communication class and Hippo was the first one that I connected with telepathically. I can still vividly remember how I felt when I tuned in to Hippo. It felt completely different from speaking to a human or even daydreaming. I was connected to something outside myself that I didn’t even know was there but that felt instantly familiar. It felt more real and genuine than most of the conversations I’ve had with humans. It felt clear, honest, kind, and deeper than what I was used to with most humans. And it happened in a matter of minutes, not months or years of building trust. While Joey was the catalyst to bring me to this moment, Hippo was the one who I listened to for the first time and who opened my heart to more awareness of this new path.

Book Links

Amazon * Goodreads *  Barnes and Noble

Shawndra McWhorter has been an animal communicator since 2000, and is also an Usui and KarunaⓇ Reiki Master, working with humans and animals. Shawndra has helped more than 500 animals and their humans with her communication and healing skills. Shawndra is a past president of Washington State Animal Response Team (WASART), and also serves on the Board of Directors with Kindred Souls Foundation, both 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations dedicated to helping animals. Shawndra began her disaster animal rescue work in 2005, after Hurricane Katrina made landfall, where she deployed outside of New Orleans, LA to help rescue and care for the animals left behind. She has deployed to Chile, Peru, and to several states in the US volunteering helping animals recover from disasters. Shawndra also volunteered with Wolf Haven International in Tenino, WA for nearly eight years, and is still active in supporting their mission. She is the owner of Sanskrit Healing, using her skills to help humans, animals and the environment find balance. Shawndra has spent most of her life helping others and won an Emmy for a documentary that she directed and edited on illegal aliens in Southern California. Her approach is to educate and help others make mindful, ethical choices based on facts and data. Shawndra currently lives in Washington State with her dog Norman, who survived the EF5 tornado that hit Moore, OK in 2013.


Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Shawndra-Mcwhorter-Author-106688011143920

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shawndramcwhorter/

Shawndra Mcwhorter – https://shawndramcwhorter.com/

One randomly chosen winner via rafflecopter will win a $50 Amazon/BN.com gift card. Follow the tour for more chances to win!

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Love Has No Limits by Armine Papouchian

 

Sometimes it's not easy to keep faith in yourself in spite of all that life throws at you. Armine Papouchian shares her story, hoping to uplift you and inspire you to keep on going. Read an excerpt and then download your own copy. Be sure to follow the tour for even more. Best of luck in the giveaway!

At sixteen, Armine fell in love for the first time and lost that love for the first time. She was the youngest daughter of three in Armenia and the only one underage when her parents decided to immigrate to the United States. She had to go with and leave her beloved Alex behind. Her parents saw a land of opportunity while Armine saw heartbreak. It wasn’t the end of her story with Alex and certainly not the end of her life,as it had felt at the time, but there was more pain to follow. Sixteen-year-olds are resilient, but even when losses and hurt came calling repeatedly throughout Armine’s life, she had the strength to love and to rise again and again. Even as life moves on for Armine and Alex, their lives intersect again and again over the course of thirty years. Through deaths and divorces, their lives never quite line up from their opposite sides of the globe. Love Has No Limits is Armine’s story of keeping faith in oneself and in love despite heartbreak, betrayal, and loss. It reveals the joy available to those who rise and rise again.

Read an excerpt:

Throughout the early ’80s, I had been dating here and there, some longer relationships than others but I wasn’t feeling the connection I was looking for with anyone. There was Ed, who was Armenian and went to USC studying engineering and seemed like a nice guy, but did not seem to have a backbone to stand up to his parents. His parents did not take my education very seriously and expected that once we got married, which we were not even discussing, I would be staying home and keeping myself busy like his mom did by raising children, being a “good” wife, socializing, shopping, making myself look good and whatever else she did. That choice certainly worked for some people, but it was not going to be my choice. Then there was John whom I met in college, an engineering major and he was a very nice guy, a gentleman, treated me with respect but we didn’t really have any common interests. Then there was Nick who was a Levitz customer; he had been stationed in Germany for a while and now he was an electrical engineer.

He was also nice and very handsome, but again, not a very interesting person. I was realizing that although many of the guys I was meeting were nice, educated and polite, none of them had a wide range of interests, had read any classical literature, or knew anything about art, poetry or classical music, nor did they have the wanderlust of wanting to experience life’s many pleasures or travel. Then I met Richard at Levitz.

Book Links

Goodreads * Amazon

(affiliate link included) 

Arminé was born in Soviet Armenia and immigrated to United States with her parents when she was 17. She worked in the health care industry for 33 years and held key leadership roles in various health plans. Most recently, she retired from a senior executive position to pursue service and paying forward.

She is currently involved in various volunteer roles. In her free time, she enjoys reading, hiking, gardening, art museums, concerts, dancing, and spending time with family and friends.

Love Has No Limits is her first book.

Armine Papouchian will be awarding a $20 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

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