Research for the Book by Pam Vivian – Guest Blog and Getaway

December 1, 2021 By 4 Comments

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Pam Vivian will be awarding a $15 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

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I put a lot of research into my book “Low Sodium Cooking from the Heart”. It began with gathering ideas for recipes and picking some that could be adjusted to be low sodium. The biggest recipe challenge was the cakes. Cake recipes use salt to rise and make them light and fluffy. I came up with an alternative using eggs differently.

Once I had my recipes together I rented an app to calculate the sodium in each recipe. There are some free ones now but I could not find any when I needed it.

My next step was to get input from experts in the field. I sent my book out to the University of Alberta to one of our leading Hepatologists and Gastroenterologists. She thought it was amazing and is currently setting up a clinic based on nutrition as well as an app for liver disease. She has asked to use some of the recipes for this. The other people consulted on this were the nutrition researchers and nutritionists at the Canadian Liver Foundation. They gave a thumbs up to the book also and inserted a page discussing liver disease and the importance of limiting daily sodium intake. I was asked to participate in a teaching video for liver disease and the Neurologist I worked with on the video was very enthusiastic about the cookbook and one of the first in line to purchase one upon publication.

My wish is that everyone who purchases the cookbook “Low Sodium Cooking from the Heart” enjoys cooking and eating the recipes included in it as much as I do.

Low sodium cooking including family favourites. I have tried to include interesting little bits of the history of recipes or whose favourite it is. The book contains recipes from basic daily meals to a few gourmet ones.

Enjoy an Excerpt

It is quite shocking to be given the news that you have hepatitis C and cirrhosis of the liver. Yes, you know you have not been feeling up to snuff lately: tired, lethargic, not sleeping well and your stomach has been a little off but nothing you feel you should really go and bother your doctor about. Doesn’t everyone go through these stages once in a while?

Then all of a sudden your belly swells and there is a war going on in there and off to Emergency you go. Next comes the diagnosis of hepatitis C and cirrhosis.

After that, all chaos breaks out in your body. For those that also suffer with this and are wondering what symptoms other people have, the following are some of mine:

Inability to think

Pain in muscles, joints and bones

Dizziness and poor balance

Reduced vision

Hair loss

Terrible skin and nails

Itchy skin and stinging red spots

Muscle cramps and twitching

Restless legs

Shaky

Weight loss

Not sleeping

Extreme tiredness

No energy

Cold

Inflammation especially in pelvic area at night

Upset and very noisy stomach (Oh the agony sometimes, sharp pains, dull ache, etc.)

Nausea and vomiting

Fluid retention and swelling

Memory loss – forget people, places and thing.

The whole world revolving when you lay flat in bed – holding on so you don’t fall off.

About the Author Although I have spent my life working in business management and finance the things I love to do are cook, bake and quilt.

Health conscious cookbook author. Read her new book “Low Sodium Cooking From the Heart” Now available on Amazon & Indigo.

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How to Reclaim Who You Really Are? by Brenda Billings Ridgley – Guest Blog and Giveaway

November 26, 2021 By 2 Comments

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Read our review of this book here.

Brenda Billings Ridgley will be awarding a Cape Diablo wrap bracelet and a $25 Amazon Gift Card (US ONLY) to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

How to Reclaim Who You Really Are?

Have you ever felt like you have given yourself away? You have given so much to your families, and careers and after years of doing so you no longer know you own identity outside of mother, wife, and profession? Hou have given up your own hobbies, interests, and activities. Your friendships have become the casualty of a “busy life” and lack consistency and depth. How does one reclaim who they really are and fill the empty space that seemed to appear from nowhere?

About five years ago I went through this identity crisis as my oldest child was approaching his senior year in high school. With his imminent departure for college, and soon to follow suit, my youngest daughter, I realized life as I knew it was about to change forever. At the time, the thought was almost terrifying. For the next year, I resisted this inevitable outcome as I desperately created and clung to every mom-ment I could. Who was I going to be without my dominant role and label – MOM? In addition to that, I had been experiencing a kind of “funk” for a few years. Although my life looked great from the outside, I had this gnawing feeling in my gut that something was missing.

I am grateful to have had a few friendships in my life at that time, but I realized those relationships had been neglected. I needed relationships with people who didn’t NEED anything from me! I needed these women now more than ever and committed to intentionally connecting on a regular basis. As these connections were fortified over the next few years, this companionship and sense of belonging eased the sting of my chicks launching their adult lives and helped me launch the next chapter of mine.

Lady and the Tribe was inspired by these events and in honor of my “besties” who I call Tribe. I wanted to share my journey and help women connect on a deeper more meaningful level with other women. Connection is the key to joy and becoming whole.

As I wrote the book, I dug in deep, read every friendship book I could get my hands on, and did lots of research on loneliness. That empty feeling in my gut that was filled by deepening relationships was called loneliness. I was living to be of service to others and their interests but not at all connected to my own. I was surrounded by people and responsibilities yet felt detached, not understood, and emotionally isolated.

Lady and the Tribe is about the woman and her inner circle of friendships. Our best friends see us more clearly than we see ourselves and are representations and extensions of our individuality. They are our companions, cheerleaders, counselors, and always in our corner. They are the branches of our individual “Tree of Life” lifting and supporting us so we can flourish. Tribe is the family with whom we choose to live our life… with no strings attached.

Lady and the Tribe is a blueprint for building deep connections. The book shares how to find, nurture and deepen friendships creating a Tribe culture. We can become whole again through connection. Whether you already have strong friendships or are starting from scratch, I invite you to join us! If you would like to learn more about the book visit LadyandtheTribe.com. There you can sign up to start your own Tribe Inner Circle and receive Tribe-building tips. When three or more gather, we are Tribe.

All my love,
Brenda Billings Ridgley

Wives, mothers, and career women—we have all fallen victim to the silent epidemic that is, literally . . . letting ourselves go. Not the makeup free, yoga pants, weight gain routine. Little by little, we have allowed our preferences, interests, and individuality to slip away until we no longer recognize ourselves outside of our role as wives, mothers, or professionals. Who we are has become what we do.

In the process, our friendships have become the casualty of a “busy life” and lack consistency and depth. We have a gaping hole inside us that longs to be filled. How do we reclaim who we really are and fill this empty space that seemed to appear from nowhere? The answer lies in our Tribe. Our best friends see us more clearly than we see ourselves and are representations and extensions of our individuality. They are our companions, cheerleaders, and counselors—always in our corner. They are the branches of our tree of life that lift and support us, so we can flourish. Our Tribe is the family with whom we choose to live our life . . . with no strings attached.

Lady and the Tribe is a blueprint for building deep connections. As you read, you’ll be swept away on a journey of friendship as the author shares her own personal stories and those of other women. In the process, you’ll discover how to find, nurture, and deepen friendships and create a Tribe culture that is unique to you.

We can become whole again through the power of connection.

When three or more gather, we are Tribe.

Enjoy an Excerpt

Today, a dichotomy exists between our concurrent hyper connectedness—the immediate and ongoing ability to check up on faraway friends via social media—and our elevated sense of emotional alienation. Add to that, we as a culture are so focused on career success, financial accomplishments, and family milestones that we often lack the time and energy to connect with others beyond those arenas. Despite being surrounded by people, places and things, somehow we are left feeling alone. We are not alone because we lack relationships. We are alone because these relationships lack depth, knowledge, and certainty. In his column, “Loneliness is Killing Us,” George Monbiot suggests that, much as we labeled the Stone Age, Iron Age, Space Age, and Information Age, this era will be called “The Age of Loneliness.”

Almost without noticing, we have distanced ourselves from the people who choose to love us without obligation. These closest personal friendships are ever present—yet do not demand our time. They are an advocate in our corner, mirroring back to us who we really are. This neglect is not without a price. We must actively seek, grow, and maintain these relationships. If we fail, we won’t just lose a friend—we’ll lose a piece of ourselves.

The wonderful thing is that no matter where you are right now with your relationships, you can exponentially improve your connections by deciding to give them a little more attention and intention.

About the Author: BRENDA RIDGLEY is an author, speaker, and girlfriend guru who loves helping women connect, find success, and discover joy through friendship. Her mission is to start a movement: women coming together to build thousands of new Lady Tribes around the globe. Through her workshops, vlogs, blogs, and book clubs, Brenda helps women connect and communicate with respect, love, and trust. She holds an MA in human resources and has spent decades cultivating her own Tribe. A Colorado girl at heart, Brenda lives in the Carbon Valley area with her husband, Parker, two kids, Parker Jr. and Gillian, and pooch, Perry. She enjoys hiking and has conquered Longs Peak and several other 14’ers.

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What Would I Tell a New Author? – Guest Blog and Giveaway

October 18, 2021 By 5 Comments

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Peter Perry and Kathleen Sumpton will be awarding a $15 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

What would I tell a new author?

To a new writer starting on their first novel, I can think of no better time to begin your journey. With so many resources available, and new marketing avenues opening up all the time, becoming a novelist has never been easier. Think of it as the perfect part time job, where you can be your own boss, set your own hours, and tell a story you’ve been dying to tell.

What you choose to write, though, will have great bearing on how long your journey will take. Choosing to write about a subject matter with a broad audience will shorten the distance.

“Do what’s been done to death but give it a new twist” is advice given to screenwriters but the same applies to novels. That said, you should write what your passionate about. Not every writer should attempt a short cut by appealing to broad audiences. Writing what you’re passionate about improves your craft and can make you a big fish in a small pond.

What scares me, are gurus who claim their method of writing is the only one to follow. What they’re actually saying is, statistically speaking, following their format should lead to success. There is no “one way” to elicit emotion from book readers. And make no mistake, that is your goal. To make a compelling novel, is to elicit emotion. Like a complicated machine, there are a hundred moving parts and a hundred tools to allow those parts to work efficiently. The writer uses tools to improve parts to achieve something compelling. To do this requires many drafts. Like a sculptor, the art does not take form after the first few chisel strikes. Only with much fine detail and polishing does the final product take form.

The hardest part about writing is finding your routine. Some writers edit while they go. Others need to plow through the first draft and edit after. Some are morning writers. Some write all night. Explore and find your routine. Writing uses a muscle. The more you exercise, the easier writing becomes.

If you’re having trouble staying focused, don’t worry. Exercising is always hardest in the beginning. Try writing for one hour and read for seven. Once that becomes easy, try writing for two hours and reading for six. Reading will help to calibrate your own craft. And even experienced writers will often continue that calibration by writing for four hours and reading for four hours.

Whatever works for you.
Follow your muse and start down the path of your writing journey.

Have you ever come face to face with the devil? In a tapestry of sports, business, and dating, there is an evil presence that is not quite visible to anyone: The Bedroom Strangler. A serial killer that scales fifteen storey buildings, enters through the balcony, and stealthily slithers under the bedroom bed, with the sole intent of raping and murdering innocent women in their sleep. He has been classified as the worst serial killer in Ontario history and Canada’s most dangerous criminal ever, operating at the height of London’s 40 year serial killer period, from 1974 – 1978.

The Bedroom Strangler is a member of a gym. It is the same gym the protagonist managed during the 1970’s. Members of the gym trained and worked out together, never knowing their friend’s true nature. In fact, Mike even introduced the killer to a female member friend at a gym party, a woman who lived in the same building as the murderer; a woman who would become his last victim. As a result of unprecedented tactics by police, Mike ends up becoming part of the investigation—but will he be able to stop this evil predator? It took 40 years to write this story and it’s important to remember that this story is being told by someone who was there.

Origen: A True Story of Evil truly began when Mike’s real-life persona, Peter J. Perry, was just 17 years old. At the time, he was just a student of St. Mary’s College in Sault St. Marie who would carry out heated discussions with a priest, Father Lawlor, about the existence of the devil. Father Lawlor tells him that one day he might meet someone so evil, he will surely know the devil exists, and maybe he will do some good by it. And we will. Part of the proceeds of this novel are being contributed to good causes to respect both the victims and Father Lawlor.

The novel’s title reflects a belief about the dynamic forms of energy as Origen believed that demons can take human form and humans can also be demonized. What follows is inspired by true events. All the names of characters have been changed and many of the events happened, although not all.

This painting of the gym scene, the dating scene, the underground fighting martial arts scene, the psychiatric scene, and Origen’s beliefs may cause you to rethink the devil. If you dare to read the contents of this book, you can come to your own conclusion: Is there more to evil than what we think?

Based on an original screenplay by Peter Perry and Geoff Hart.

Property of the Origen Foundation Inc.

Enjoy an Excerpt

Imagine…

You are managing a gym after just graduating from university, working very hard with a staff of thirty and creating a positive atmosphere of energy to motivate and keep members physically fit. Your mission is to create goodwill in the community at the same time as being a role model, because you have an athletic gift. You are an international powerlifting champion, undefeated. As a Canadian powerlifting champion, you become a living legend in your community, with people of all walks of life joining your gym simply to be around your positive vibe.

But in the midst of this tapestry of sports, business, and dating, there is an evil presence that is not quite visible to anyone: The Bedroom Strangler. A serial killer that scales as high as fifteen story balconies, only to discreetly slither into the unlocked balcony doors of women unbeknownst, with the sole intent to rape and murder. He has been classified as the worst serial killer in Ontario history and Canada’s most dangerous criminal ever. The Bedroom Strangler was a member of the gym I was managing. He trained and worked out with me and other members, unbeknownst to us his true qualities. He socialized with us. In fact, I introduced him to a female member friend of mine at a gym party, who he then murdered. The Bedroom Strangler incidentally lived in the same building as this friend, who was his last victim.

As a result of unprecedented tactics by police, I ended up becoming part of the investigation that stopped this evil predator. Over the years, I questioned why I met someone so evil. I questioned God. Eventually, I came to a conclusion by studying the writings of Origen: do we really understand evil? Can evil be much more than a psychiatric disorder?

People are very uncomfortable considering other possibilities. Origen believed that demons can take human form and humans can also be demonized. What follows is inspired by true events. All the names of characters have been changed but many of the events happened, although not all. At the conclusion of this painting of the gym scene, the dating scene, the underground fighting martial arts scene, the powerlifting scene, the bodybuilding scene, the psychiatric scene, and the Origen scene, you can come to your own conclusion: Is there more to evil than what we think? How have we grown to understand evil, through both language and symbolism perpetuated by our surroundings? What, even, is time? Who, or what, represents the greatest way to understand and defeat evil? And, most of all… What is the difference between death and evil?

About the Authors PETER J. PERRY’S athletic accomplishments include being an eight-time Canadian open powerlifting champion from 1976-1984. He won the North American powerlifting championship in 1979, and dedicated his trophy to the woman he promised he would dedicate it to in this novel, Jessica. Peter was also the U.S. deadlift champion in 1980, International Powerlifting Federation (IPF) World Open fifth place in 1982, World Masters level-one drug-free powerlifting champion in 1991, and three-time Canadian Masters Powerlifting champion in the years 1991, 1992 and 1993. Best gym lifts certified by the IPF judge are: squat at 750 lbs, bench press at 450 lbs and deadlift at 775 lbs at a body weight of 208 lbs. Knee wraps and squat suit plus a lifting belt were the only pieces of equipment used.

Peter founded Peter Perry Insurance Agency LTD in 1978 and is still the operating president. The company is a London-based insurance and investment brokerage specializing in RRSPs, tax-free savings accounts, segregated funds, tax shelters, RRIFs & LIFs, creditor proofing, annuities, educational savings plans, GICs, and Mortgage insurances. Being a certified and award-winning independent brokerage allows Peter to custom-tailor financial portfolios to suit the specific needs of the client and easily make amendments as one journeys through the various stages of their life. Peter’s acclaimed background in health and fitness as a drug-free world & Canadian powerlifting champion makes him particularly mindful of retirement, health and long-term planning and incorporating all aspects of life into the advice he provides his clients. Click here to learn more about Peter’s athletic accomplishments.

Some interesting facts about Peter are that he was born in Toronto but grew up in Sault Ste. Marie. He became a St. Mary’s Knight due to his academics and sports and is a graduate of St. Mary’s College in Sault Ste. Marie. He was the manager of Vic Tanny’s gym from 1974 to 1978 before launching his insurance company and beginning a new career path.

KATHLEEN ELIZABETH SUMPTON is an advocate for the arts and often works with languages. With a passion for culture and a focus on communications, she is an Author. Poet, and Communications Professional with a primary focus on writing. She has a working background in fourteen different languages.

Her five-year plan is to secure two master’s degrees in English and business, followed by a PhD in English, while running her freelance business.

Her 10-year goal is to publish novels and other works in the genre of satire in order to strengthen communications locally and globally by discussing the proper use of language and terminology.

Her work brings awareness to large societal issues such as the criminal justice system, substance abuse, and mental health, a variety of topics everyone else is too afraid to talk about.

As a representative for members of the community as well as for her own projects, Kathleen hopes to enrich her surroundings with both the beauty and power writing holds. It is now her personal mission in life to provide meaning and entice insight through literature. When she is not busy with her work, you can find Kathleen enjoying the outdoors or spending time with family. Favourite hobbies are working out and people-watching. She operates out of Southern Ontario.

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Zandra: My Daughter, Diabetes, and Lessons in Love by Janet Hatch – Spotlight and Giveaway

October 13, 2021 By 4 Comments

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Janet Hatch will be awarding a $15 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

In this truly inspiring memoir, Janet Hatch shares her compelling story of raising her strong-willed daughter who, at age eleven, was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. From the beginning of her life, Zandra experienced being different as a result of dietary restrictions, but nothing would prepare her for the tumultuous feelings that Zandra’s diagnosis would bring. Janet’s story chronicles the day-to-day life of raising a child through the teen years and into young adulthood, while reconciling her own insecurities.

After experiencing complications and additional illnesses from diabetes, Zandra’s life became uncertain and bleak. When she learned of the death of her friend from diabetes, she began to spiral downward. This is a love story between a mother and daughter and demonstrates that although the bond may be challenged, it was created to endure. From travelling to Iceland in support of the Canadian Diabetes Association to receiving her beloved diabetic alert dog, Cinnamon, this story is one that will encourage all those who love a child, to look beyond fear and see beauty in every challenge.

Enjoy an Excerpt

“What’s the reason for your visit?” The admitting nurse at our tiny local hospital was staring at me impatiently while my eleven-year-old daughter, Zandra, shuffled nervously at my side.

“She’s showing signs of type 1 diabetes,” I explained, the words sounding unbelievable as I said them out loud.

“Well, we’ll see,” the nurse huffed in frustration. “We don’t appreciate people looking up “Doctor Google” before they get here; that’s the job of the actual doctor.” She tapped heavily on her keyboard while processing the paperwork. “We don’t have time for everyone who thinks something is wrong because they looked it up on the internet.”

Normally I would be upset at being administered a tongue-lashing, but this time I was too worried about Zandra. I wanted my theory to be wrong, and I’d take a curt retort any day over being right this time.

After spending what felt like several hours in the waiting room, the doctor finally appeared. He commented on Zandra’s appearance. He noted the dark circles under her eyes, her underweight frame and pallid colour. He immediately ordered a blood requisition, and within a half hour he returned to give us her diagnosis. “Her blood sugars are extremely elevated, and she has ketones in her urine,” he explained. “I’m sorry to have to tell you this, but she has type 1 diabetes.”

About the Author: JANET HATCH is a mother of four who lives in Camrose, Alberta. She is passionate about using her experience of raising her diabetic daughter to support parents and caregivers through the emotional twists and turns of what can be a difficult journey of having a child with a serious illness. She is a lover of animals and enjoys spending time in nature with her dog, Axel.

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The Majewski Curse by Lisa Dianne McInnis – Exclusive Excerpt and Giveaway

October 6, 2021 By 2 Comments

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Lisa Dianne McInnes will be awarding a $15 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

In her debut novel, Lisa Dianne McInnes urges us to explore the meaning of loss, the evil side of human nature, and the infinite power of love and rising above it all.

Between the years 2012 and 2017, like a pile of dominos, Lisa Dianne McInnes watched her life collapse as one traumatic tragedy after another took away her loved ones, leaving her to learn just how quickly life can fall apart.

An extraordinary memoir full of depth, compassion, and unimaginable strength, The Majewski Curse is the harrowing true story of the separate yet intertwined tragedies of Brandon, Devon, and Derek Majewski’s deaths and the multiple conspiracies surrounding their family’s search for truth.

Enjoy an Exclusive Excerpt

We sat and stared blankly at each other—frozen in our pain—for what felt like hours, even though only a minute or two had passed. I felt the room begin to close in on me, and for the first time in my life, I had to concentrate on breathing. There was a sudden knock on the door, and I can still recall the distinct way it reverberated through my heart.

When I looked up, I saw an officer standing in the doorway. He offered us his sincere condolences and gave us a moment to compose ourselves. He then uttered the words that floored everyone, leaving us all in disbelief.

“The woman who killed your son feels terrible about it,” he began. “She is beside herself and is practically inconsolable.”

Later, I desperately wished I could have regained my composure long enough to respond right away but instead, his words and the silence that followed still haunt me to this day.

When the unspeakable happens and your world is shaken, it feels nearly impossible to speak or react. Although the officer continued to say a few more words, nothing registered with us. All we could do was stare at him, confused, and hope for an immediate apology for his insensitivity, but one never came. We watched in bewilderment as he made a quick exit until we were finally startled out of our daze when the door slammed shut behind him. Eventually, we would come to learn what his words meant, but it would be years before everything else would fall into place.

A child’s death is every parent’s worst nightmare, and it is why the officer’s words cut even deeper. His insensitivity was our first clue—of many—that would indicate something was not right.

Sharlene Simon was driving home on Innisfil Beach Road from Dave & Busters, a family-friendly sports bar, at around 1:00 a.m. the night she hit and killed Brandon with her Kia Sorrento SUV. Brandon and his friends, Richard Esch and Jake Roberts, were bicycling back home from Tim Hortons, the local coffee shop, when Sharlene plowed into them from behind. She hit Brandon with such force that he was thrown over 350 feet, the impact of his body smashing the front end of her SUV and damaging the roof as he flew backward over the top. Sharlene’s police officer husband, Jules Simon, was following behind in his vehicle just before impact.

The boys never knew what hit them.

Brandon’s friends were much more fortunate than he was. They had survived the crash but not without significant injury to Richard, who suffered multiple injuries and fractures, including a broken pelvis. Jake luckily escaped the accident without injury since he was riding on the outside shoulder of the road. He was knocked off his bike but evaded direct impact with the SUV.

About the Author: Lisa Dianne McInnes has always been fascinated with spirituality and the human experience. She prides herself on always being committed to the truth, even when it hurts, and believes in being reliable, trustworthy, honest, and loyal to those she loves.

However, in 2012, when tragedy struck and shattered her family, Lisa’s beliefs were tested and she was forced to undergo a profound inner transformation. In doing so, she had to acknowledge the trauma of her past but chose only to remember the love her family shared. Her solid understanding and belief in the theory of mindfulness and living in the moment helped her rise from the ashes and move on with her life. She believes the past can be like a black hole: if you stand too close it will pull you in.

Today, small things like sunsets, staring out at the water, and kisses for no reason are the reasons she smiles. She believes it is the simple memories that define us, and the ones we hold close to our hearts. For Lisa, writing allows her to share her struggles and experiences with others, and by doing so she learns and grows both mentally and spiritually through the process. Therefore, with her work, she hopes to inspire her readers to join her on the journey to find inner peace and greater fulfillment in their lives.

Lisa completed her debut novel, The Majewski Curse, and is currently preparing to start writing her second non-fiction work. She currently resides in Northern Ontario with her spouse and their puppy Cooper.

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Stargazer by David Scott – Exclusive Excerpt and Giveaway

September 29, 2021 By 1 Comment

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. David Scott will be awarding a $15 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other posts on the tour.

For thousands of years, stars have held our attention and imagination. They influence our life—we wish upon them, sing songs about them, navigate by them, write about them, follow them, and even give their name to the actors we love. My memories have revealed a lifetime of navigating by the stars, and moving beyond the fear and anxiety that self-doubt so insidiously cloaks us in. Yes, as Jiminy Cricket sang for us in Walt Disney’s Pinocchio, “when you wish upon a star . . . fate steps in and sees you through.”

Memories and influences have a profound effect on our lives. I look back on my childhood years—the 1940s to mid-’50s—and I can recall the people who were inspirational to me. Mostly it was my family, but there was also Jiminy Cricket. You no doubt recollect the song “When You Wish Upon a Star,” with its lyrics that lift the spirit and let you believe anything is possible. I didn’t doubt Jiminy for a minute.

The early years of my life were a time of innocence, security, adventure, and family love. How quickly my situation changed—one decision by my parents, made with my best interests foremost in their thoughts, shattered the world I had known. Through the fear, torment, isolation, and loss of my own identity, my memories and influences would come to have an overwhelming power on the choices I was to make.

My transition from teenager to adult seemed to happen overnight, but my unflappable outward appearance belied the struggles of a boy coming to terms with his guilt, and an irresistible need for his parents to be proud of him. My future was being shaped from the past, but it took me a long time to realise it. I chose the road less travelled, steeped in the wonder of the cinema and accompanied by my beloved animal companions, and it has been intriguing, daunting, rewarding, and, at times, solitary, but I always felt it was the path I was meant to take.

Like so many people, I let the emotions attached to memories hold me captive, and I missed opportunities to choose with more clarity. A near-death experience helped me to live a simpler life. Participating in a creative writing course inspired me to engage in script writing, stage work, and novel writing. This is my third book, an autobiography that has revealed more of me than I ever intended to share, and fate has led you to it.

Enjoy an Exclusive Excerpt

Skylarking was associated with everything we did, like when we switched townspeople’s garbage bins from one street to another. It was a less wasteful era— bottles were refundable and goods weren’t excessively wrapped like nowadays, so bins back then were about a third of the size of today’s Sulo bins and were made of tin and varied in shape, size and quality. For quite a while, victims searching for their garbage cans were not impressed with Apexians.

During my time with the club, members constructed the town’s first caravan park, erected almost a kilometre of cyclone-wire fencing around the cemetery, and produced the inaugural Peaches ’n’ Cream festival that became a regular two-yearly event.

The only fly in the ointment was often being the odd man out when drinking at the bar with Apexians. They all had history of things they’d done together while I had none I could mention. In some ways, I felt I was being left out, like as a child when my siblings did stuff I wasn’t allowed to because I was too young. Age wasn’t the problem but my past was: my college experience and sexual orientation were forbidden territory to mention. Being gay in a small country town meant any dalliances needed to be cloak and dagger and certainly not in Cobram—the gossip would have been inescapable. It was a heavy burden to bear; any slip-ups would have had catastrophic consequences so I was constantly on my guard.

I dated girls, making sure outings were with other couples so we didn’t go past the petting stage. It kept up a respectful image but I was never comfortable with it. One of our excursions was to a Melbourne drive-in theatre for a midnight advance screening of a remake of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s State Fair, an event Fox had given me a free car pass to. I made sure there was no chance of hanky-panky by packing the car with two other Apexians and their girlfriends. The film was an abomination, Jose Ferrier’s directorship ruining the fun and joy of the original, but we didn’t care, the novelty of the trip to a drive-in theatre in the Big Smoke was everything.

About the Author:David Scott is a playwright, director and novelist – among other things. His career included forty years as a film exhibitor; establishing a horse stud; managing a motel; working in the hospitality industry, and a few other experiences along the way. David’s latest book, Stargazer, is an autobiography highlighting the value of family, ingenuity, bravado, old-fashioned common sense, colourful characters and unfailing good humour. From rural towns in Victoria and New South Wales, to the mountain life in Queensland, the constant has been faithful canine companions, perseverance and a joy for living.

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Parentectomy by Christine Giancarlo – Exclusive Excerpt and Giveaway

September 6, 2021 By 12 Comments

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Christine Giancarlo will be awarding a $15 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

When parents separate and divorce, kids come last in family law. Should children’s welfare be measured in “billable hours”? Christine Giancarlo thinks kids come first and need both parents. Parentectomy moves us toward that goal… for the sake of the children.

Based on Dr. Giancarlo’s peer-reviewed research study, Kids Come Last: The Effect of Family Law Involvement in Parental Alienation, this book tells, in their own voices, the stories of thirty loving, capable and dependable parents who, nonetheless, were removed from their children’s lives. It is also the author’s own journey through the devastation caused by parental alienation.

This book sheds light on an urgent social crisis, enabled by a broken family law system. An equitable and just model for eliminating this form of child abuse is proposed with an urgent plea for its implementation.

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What is Parental Alienation?

Parent duos, following separation or divorce, are often mislabeled, especially by the family law systems, as “high-conflict”. But they are not. It takes two to tango and in parental alienation, there is only one alienator. The targeted, alienated, parent consistently attempts to placate the other parent, the alienator, in hopes of maintaining their relationship with their children. Parental alienation is a campaign of denigration by one parent, with the children as unwitting and later willing, participants, against the other parent. Its goal is to destroy the relationship between the alienated parent and his or her children1 .

In all cases, parental alienation is unique from more common strained parent-child relationships related to developmental factors such as age, gender preferences, or temporary expected reactions to the parental relationship split. These children of alienation all had positive relationships with their targeted parent prior to the separation of their parents2. Cases of parental alienation are separate from justified rejection or realistic estrangement of a parent due to abuse, neglect or significantly compromised parenting3.

The validity of parental alienation is well established and almost universally accepted by mental health professionals, including psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers and family counselors who assess and treat children of “high-conflict” divorces. Since 2010, well over 100 such academics and practitioners from 30 countries have confirmed the reality of parental alienation and they comprise the International Council on Shared Parenting.

1 Bernet, 2010.

2 Kelly & Johnston, 2001.

3 Fidler, Bala & Saini, 2013.

About the Author Christine Giancarlo is an applied anthropologist at Mount Royal University since 1992. She holds a Ph.D. in Human Services from Capella University, Minnesota, and an M.A. in Primatology from the University of Calgary, Alberta. Growing up with two loving parents, four brothers and being blessed with her own children, Devon and Carmen, inform her holistic perspective on the family. Christine resides in Calgary with her partner, Bert, and their dog, Gavin.

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Magnificent Mind by Jan Christenson – Exclusive Excerpt and Giveaway

September 2, 2021 By 3 Comments

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Jan Christenson will be awarding a $15 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.


This book will help you understand your thinking. You are never broken inside; you just need to take yourself, your thinking, and your life less seriously. There is a divine wisdom always present and waiting for you to listen to it. There is no one — and I mean no one — wiser than you and me. We all have available to us this wisdom that is ready and willing to help you to be safe, to be happy, and to live a most fulfilling life. There is really nothing for you to do except read and watch for a lovely feeling to develop inside of you. This feeling is with you from birth; it is your ever-present inner energy of psychological well-being. Most of us cannot experience this inner spark of well-being because we have learned to think of ourselves as inadequate. The words in this book are meant to take you back to the gentle feeling of peaceful contentment and love for self and others. Relax, and see if you can find your way back to yourself, your inner home inside of you. You need not look anywhere other than inside yourself to find all that you truly want and need. It doesn’t matter what your life looks like now; you are capable of turning it around into a heavenly life while here on this Earth.

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For every thought that we have, there is an equal and reactive physical response in our body. For example, if you think to yourself, “My throat is sore. I bet I am getting sick; I seem to get sick so often lately. I am sure I am getting sick again,” then you might feel the negative reaction you have created within yourself. You may just get sick the next day, and your thoughts may have contributed to this getting sick experience.

When I was six-years -old, my mom got very ill and she nearly died of spinal meningitis. Several years later, she told me that when she had meningitis, she could feel that she was dying and she had a conversation with God. She pleaded to be allowed to live and raise her children. My mom prayed to get well and told God that He could have her when her children were grown and had left home. She said that after her conversation and prayers, she immediately started to feel better, and she knew she would be okay; she would get healthy.

I really didn’t think about that conversation much after that, as she was healthy and I had my mom back. Then, about seven years later, we all, my sisters and I, had grown and left home. It was five months after her last child left home that she died of cancer. Was this coincidence, or what had happened?

My understanding of this situation is that Mom, when she was sick, had, with a high vibration and frequency of energy, a conversation through universal mind with the divine universal energy or mind, and she made her desire very clearly known as to what she needed to happen. She then was literally healed by the universal energy with the positive belief that she had been granted her prayer to become healthy; her vibration and frequency of love were heard and brought to life. It was a miracle, and yes, miracles happen. Her personal energy and that of the universal energy combined forces, and anything is possible when that happens. She did indeed get to raise her children.

Then, when her children were grown and had left home, she believed she would become ill and die. This was on her mind a lot in the few years prior to her death. And, indeed, this is what occurred. It may have been the case that if she had again asked the divine power to let her live, she could have lived much longer. I don’t know. Maybe, maybe not. What do you think?

It would have been wonderful to have had her with us longer. She was such a loving, giving, spirited person. I do know that her spirit lives on even today, and it is a great source of comfort for me to know this. Her beautiful spirit lives on, in and around me. Mom, in form, is gone. She left her physical body, but her spirit or pure energy lives on forever. I believe it was her destined time for her to leave life on Earth.

About the Author: I live in Canada. This is where my husband Rae and I have raised our two daughters; they are our absolute pride and joy in life. Along with a career in nursing, I received my B.A. in psychology at the University of Manitoba. I have also undertaken the study of developing an understanding of the three principles of mind, consciousness, and thought. This understanding has enhanced my life immeasurably. Following a workplace head injury and depression, I went through a long climb back to health. I learned of an ever-present, inner psychological health that I have always had and just needed to understand once again. The result of this knowledge has led me to a life of peace, contentment, and love. I hope this book will lead you to a similar place.

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It’s Not About Me, It’s About Them by booker ml

September 1, 2021 By 2 Comments

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. The author will award a$25 Amazon or BN GC to one randomly drawn tour winner, and a free registration to Final Wishes Questionnaire (https://handleyourbusiness.cc/store/product/p_2272915) – $55 value, to another randomly drawn winner — a detailed description is included at the end of the post. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Have you ever said to someone, “I’m not a mind reader?” Or, have you ever been told, “You know I can’t read your mind?” It’s Not About Me – It’s About Them leaves nothing for the imagination when something needs to be SAID.

It’s not about DYING, it’s about LIVING and preserving your memory.

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I have a team, Kompassionate Komfort Karing Konnector, of people who are willing to assist with all of the planning. We will be with you and your family through the entire process during and after all paperwork has been completed. We will follow up with you no less than six months after the final steps are completed. Connect with us via Email: becausewecare4k@gmail.com.

About the Author:

booker ml is a native Washingtonian and feels two of her primary purposes in life is to (1) to help people in any way she can and (2) make people laugh. She is a strong advocate of teaching life principles through practical application and is very passionate about this subject matter.

She the owner of WRAPPED-N-1, a Professional Administrative Online Service Portal, the owner of Melodies of PraiZe a Full-Service Christian DJ known as DJ STRATE. Additionally, the owner of Internet Radio Station WGMLB, Wonderful Gospel Music Lover’s Buffett. To listen, visit wgmlb.com all genres of Christian music can be heard.

You will feel the genuine heart beat of booker ml with all of the services she provides. She is honored that God has entrusted her with so much. She lives her life according to the scripture Proverbs 18:24 a “A man that hath friend must shew himself friendly.”

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The Final Wishes Questionnaire is a user-friendly interactive database that allows the user to document important information to assist the designated person in the execution of the desires of the deceased.

The Questionnaire assists in three phases (1) Before Death (2) When Death Occurs and (3) Post Mortem Decisions.

Additionally, in pre-planning it (1) saving time and money, (2) precludes making hasty decisions, and (3) mostly reduce stress.

To protect your information, we also provide you with a thumb drive on which you can securely store information and update as you desire.

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Top Five Strangest Experiences by Geoffrey Saign – Guest Blog and Giveaway

September 1, 2021 By 4 Comments

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Geoffrey Saign will be awarding a $30 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour. Click here to read our review.

Top Five Strangest Experiences

Hey, if you saw me on the street, you might say, well, average looking, nothing strange here. But I have had some strange experiences!

When I was traveling in Fiji in my late 20s I lived on a friend’s 50’ sailboat by myself for 3 months. Fiji had just had a coup, and rumors abounded of people running around with machetes. Not true, but we didn’t know that. Guards were posted outside the hotel, the boat was tied up with dozens of others behind the hotel in the bay. That morning I had a call on the dock; my grandmother who I was very close to had just died. That evening, in the bow cabin of the boat, lying on my back, I heard someone stepping on the stern of the boat from the dock. It was very dark down below. The person made their way down the steps, through the main cabin. I readied to attack whoever came through my cabin door. When they entered, I sat up. I was pushed back very hard and held down for several seconds. I couldn’t move. The next day, Ilda, from Austria on the boat next door, said, “Ach, it’s nothing. It’s just your grandmother, she was upset you left. Just tell her you’re sorry and she won’t come back. I did, and that was that.
When I was traveling in the South Pacific on that same trip, sailing on boats from Fiji to Brisbane, Australia, everyone asked me what I was going to do when I arrived in Australia. I said, “Get trained in massage and live a block off Bondi Beach.” I knew no one in Australia, had no training in massage, and had no money. But I traveled from Brisbane down to Sydney, and on Bondi Beach I struck up a conversation with a woman, who knew the owner of the only legit massage studio in Sydney (the rest were prostitution), introduced me, I was trained, hired, and lived a block off Bondi Beach.

That kind of pattern has occurred often in my life. I always wanted to train with a true kung fu master, and at a YMCA met one of 8 reigning kung fu masters of Vo Lam Vietnam (sister system of Shaolin). He agreed to train me. More recently, I told everyone in 2020 I wanted 2-3 movie contracts in 2021. Now I have 4—two on my two thriller series, two on my two YA fantasy series.

More strange, but much harder to put into words, in 2020 I had a major breakthrough/change in consciousness. Intelligence runs all my actions, not thoughts. That is hard to establish, harder to describe and understand. It’s like intuition running 24/7 for everything—every single action. During that transition, I wrote SMILE MORE STRESS LESS, and change continued while I wrote the book. This has been something I have been pursuing most of my life, clarity of consciousness, so in a sense it’s not that ‘strange’—but in another sense it’s very different. I wouldn’t trade that wisdom for anything.

Also, I know the strangest things are yet to come, because once you open the door for intelligence, anything is possible.

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

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

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

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The thought process is regarded as a sign of human intelligence, yet our thoughts often sabotage what we do and are unaware, negative, and create stress. We’re running an old program in our brain’s neural net. Worse, we’re addicted to the repetitive thought process. It feels good, safe, right. It feels like us. Who we are. Our thoughts create feelings and emotions which, even if we don’t always like them, are a known process that continually reinforces itself in the brain.

Minor adjustments are not enough to alter the brain’s stress process. The brain’s neural net needs a system overhaul, a complete update and reboot. We’re going to take thought off its pedestal and get real with it.

Too often we feel that to attain awareness means taking a very serious, “adult” approach to life, like a monk sitting in a cave for a decade. But it can be a playful adventure with childlike wonder.

Our INTENT in this process is the WHY of what we’re doing. Our intent is to consciously break up our habitual neural pattern—mechanical, negative thoughts—by informing and teaching the brain to change. In essence, to rewire itself. If the brain understands what we are trying to do, and why, it will listen. It has no choice. You can be the master of wiring your neural net to a positive state.

About the Author 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, and the resulting book, Smile More Stress Less.

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