LASR Anniversary Scavenger Hunt: The Thong Principle – Saying What You Mean and Meaning What You Say by Donalee Moulton

August 25, 2023 By Leave a Comment

Thanks for joining us on our 16th anniversary scavenger hunt! There are two ways to enter to win and it’s easy to play– first read the blurb below, then answer the question on the first Rafflecopter. You might win a $100 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC (along with other prizes). Follow and visit authors’ social media pages on the second Rafflecopter and you’re entered to win another $100 Amazon/BN GC (along with other prizes)!

The Thong Principle has little to do with beachwear and everything to do with effective communication. It’s about ensuring messages are successful for the sender – and the receiver.

The book delves into the elements that comprise successful communications – conciseness, clarity, concreteness, and much more. It also puts those elements into context. Communications that miss the mark confuse and annoy. They fail to deliver their message. They damage our credibility and erode goodwill.

The Thong Principle overflows with real-world examples to help us understand why we fail to get our messages across as intended.

Then it explains how we can anticipate, identify, and correct errors and oversights. This is both at the highest level – including building and maintaining trust – and down in the weeds where even one word makes a difference.

The Thong Principle will draw you in and keep you reading with examples, exercises, and information that resonates.

It’s also funny. Laughter and learning are wonderful partners.

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LASR Anniversary Scavenger Hunt: Travellers With Two Hats by Renee Duke

August 23, 2023 By Leave a Comment

Thanks for joining us on our 16th anniversary scavenger hunt! There are two ways to enter to win and it’s easy to play– first read the blurb below, then answer the question on the first Rafflecopter. You might win a $100 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC (along with other prizes). Follow and visit authors’ social media pages on the second Rafflecopter and you’re entered to win another $100 Amazon/BN GC (along with other prizes)!

Back in seventeenth century, a Grand Tour of Europe was a rite of passage for the offspring of the rich. By the 1960s and 70s, it was fast becoming one for those of lesser means too. Being of lesser means, the peasantry couldn’t tour it quite as grandly, but it was definitely the ‘in’ thing to do, and is still a popular way for young people to assert their independence and kickstart a lifelong love of travel.

Climates—both natural and political—have changed a lot since the author and her best friend made their trip, but copious notes were taken, and the resulting travel memoir reflects their impressions of that part of the world at the time they were roaming around it.

Both now freely admit they were a spoiled, naïve, pair, and ill-equipped to handle even the physical rigours of such a venture, let alone all the annoying travel disruptions, communication difficulties, unexpected expenses, and various other problems that arose.

Still, they managed. Albeit not always (make that, seldom) with forbearance and aplomb.

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The Museum of Failure: What Can We Learn From It? by Jillian Haslam

August 11, 2023 By 13 Comments

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. One randomly chosen winner via rafflecopter will win a $25 Amazon/BN.com gift card. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

The Museum of Failure: What Can We Learn From it?

The Museum of Failure, as the name suggests, is a museum housing a collection of products and services that fell flat on their face as far as their success with the public goes.

Established in 2017 in Sweden, the concept was the brainchild of Samuel West, an organisational psychologist (not the actor) who was inspired by an even more bizarre concept during his visit to Zagreb, Croatia – the Museum of Broken Relationships.

The Museum of Failure drew international attention and its popularity has seen it make its way in different cities around the world as a pop-up museum.
It provides product flops with the 15 minutes of fame they never got to have in their heyday. The collection includes a fair share of items that were once billed the next big thing, a good deal of them a creation by some of the most recognisable brands in the world.

The Failed Inventions

Anyone remember Google Glass? If you are wondering why it has taken forever to officially be available to the public, well, that’s probably because it got shelved in the Museum of Failure.

Harley Davidson, one of the most iconic motorcycle brands in the world, never thought taking a different turn by launching the Harley Davidson Cologne would be a risk. After all, it’s a famous and well-respected brand so the potential for a company-branded perfume to be a hit among bikers and fans of the brand would be high, right? Wrong.

BiC, the disposable consumer product manufacturer best known for their ball pens and razors, came up with this idea to introduce pink and purple pens for women. They called it BiC for Her. The pen, which you can see on a famous episode on Ellen, proved a marketing faux pas that eventually saw it end up at, yup, the failed museum.

There was also the Rejuvenique Electric Facial Mask, a creepy looking mask that Monat promised would rejuvenate the face by shocking your face to stimulate the muscles. But this belonged more to the Museum of Horror than on dressing tables, so it is no surprise that it has since gone defunct.

There are a myriad items in the collection like these that became major flops. You can find them on the official website which continues to add to the collection with each epic fail.

Green Heinz ketchup, Colgate frozen lasagne, Crystal Pepsi (a clear soda), the BlaK coffee beverage by Coca-Cola, fat-free pringles…the list goes on.

Brilliant Idea

The whole idea behind the creation of the Museum of Failure, according to the website, was to provide insight into the ‘risky business of innovation’, noting that the crazier the idea the better.

Actually when you think about the museum concept, you can’t help but think it was a brilliant idea no matter how you choose to look at it.

The museum not only provides a great reference point for brand marketing and innovation departments, but the products themselves are a paragon of human creativity and ingenuity, their failure notwithstanding.

Some will call it madness. Others see it as creative art. Free thinking.

Whichever side of the divide you stand, one thing that we can all agree on is the fact that the human race has got to the point it is at today through hits and misses.

Never at any one point has it been a smooth curve on the graph. The peaks and troughs are but inevitable, no matter the field, each in all its variants. Science. Medicine. Engineering. Business. Technology. Yada yada yada.
It would be apt at this point to bring up Thomas Edison, but some choice words from Jules Verne, a historical French novelist, would ring true irrespective of field:

‘Science, my lad, is made up of mistakes, but they are mistakes which it is useful to make, because they lead little by little to the truth.’

Indeed. It is only through failure that we learn what works and what doesn’t. And that’s how creations get better.

Just the other day, Samsung, through the relentless quest to be the industry benchmark, released a ground-breaking phone aptly christened the Galaxy Fold. The futuristic smartphone has a design that allows you to fold it vertically through the middle.

But just before it was officially launched, the phone was first released to reviewers. And the feedback was anything but glowing. The phone was found to have embarrassing design quirks, leading to its recall. And back to the drawing board again the company went.

Lessons from the Museum of Failure

While it may seem like a depressing idea where the nostalgic go to hang out in melancholy at twilight, the Museum of Failure can actually teach us important lessons at a personal level.

For one, we learn that we cannot gain anything by not exploring our ideas. You need to be willing to take the plunge and get your ideas out there. It is only through trying that we know for sure if that million-dollar idea had potential or not.

What if the Harley Davidson perfume would have proved a major hit with the masses? Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

When we fail, it is not like all is lost. There is the knowledge that we gain through failing, as Thomas Edison would categorically tell you. We learn what works and what does not, and how we can make adjustments that help us achieve the success we desire, albeit on a more solid foundation.

Anyone who has failed at some point in life and gone on to rise from the ashes will tell you nothing can replace the lessons learned through failure. Just ask around. Failure allows us to look at things from a different prism, gaining an invaluable experience that we otherwise could miss.

It is painful, but at the same time it provides us with an opportunity to reflect, therefore gaining a deeper understanding of life. Experience is the best teacher, they say.

Failure also teaches us that there is always room for improvement. By confronting our mistakes head on, the insightful feedback we glean from them gives us, like Samsung, a platform through which we can go back to the drawing board and make improvements. Failure isn’t the final nail in the coffin for our ideas, goals or dreams.

As Roy T. Bennett says: ‘Failure is a bend in the road, not the end of the road. Learn from failure and keep moving forward.’

In truth, though, this would not be possible without a positive mindset. It is in our nature to beat ourselves up when we make mistakes. But learn to view them as a lesson and things are bound to change for the better.

As well, owning up to our mistakes is never a bad thing. That’s the only way we can improve. Sometimes, we may clutch on straws when we fail, and come up with all sorts of excuses.

But by acknowledging our mistakes and looking at the situation from a glass-half-full perspective, the insightful feedback helps us highlight the faults in neon yellow, setting us up for success in future.

This too, requires that positive attitude.

Life Goes On

Let’s face it, failure is a tough pill to swallow. It can knock the wind right out of your sails, especially if it is something you really, really yearned for. You feel like the world is crumbling around you. You can’t even fathom how you’ll get past this.

But look, there is always a lesson or two to be learned from these situations that leave you on the floor. And it is up to you to glean what you can from them.

The world does not stop turning if things don’t work out the way you imagined them.

Sometimes, it can be hard to pick ourselves up, true, but at one point or another, we really need to. It is only to our detriment if we keep fixated on the failure.

You might need some time out to recollect yourself. But don’t forget that at the end of the day, life moves on. And so should you.

A Special Note from the Author

“Embrace Adversity, Unleash Greatness!



Once upon a time, in the heart of adversity, there lived a young girl named Jillian Haslam. Born into abject poverty in the city of Kolkata, her life seemed destined for despair. But little did the world know that within those hardships lay the seeds of greatness and resilience.


Jillian’s childhood was filled with struggles, facing hunger, homelessness, and the harsh realities of poverty. However, amidst the gloom, she discovered a glimmer of hope – education. Determined to change her fate, Jillian pursued knowledge with fervor, knowing that education was her ticket to a better life.


Through sheer determination and hard work, Jillian excelled in her studies. She didn’t let her circumstances define her, but instead, she let them fuel her dreams. Every challenge she faced became a stepping stone towards her ultimate goal – to break free from the shackles of poverty and create a life of abundance.


As the years passed, Jillian’s unwavering spirit caught the attention of a kind soul who offered her a chance to work for a prestigious organization. This opportunity opened doors she could only dream of before. With dedication and passion, Jillian climbed the ladder of success, proving that her past could not hold her back.


But Jillian’s journey didn’t stop there. Instead of forgetting her roots, she embraced her past and used it as a powerful tool to drive change. She founded initiatives to help underprivileged children like herself, providing them with the gift of education and hope.


Today, Jillian stands tall as a beacon of inspiration and a symbol of turning adversity into golden opportunities. Her voice echoes through her book, “A Voice Out of Poverty,” touching countless hearts and motivating others to rise above their circumstances.


In the face of challenges, lies the key to your transformation. Embrace your struggles, for they hold the power to unlock your true potential. Rise above adversity and let your resilience shine, turning every experience into a golden opportunity for growth and success!


#EmbraceTheJourney #UnleashYourPotential #TurningStrugglesIntoTriumphs #Adversity

A woman’s ascent from devastating poverty and childhood trauma to international standing as a prominent advocate for the poor and helpless.

As a young girl, Jillian Haslam saved a life. Herself tiny and aching from malnutrition, she stood for hours at a tea shop, begging for a ladle of milk to try and prevent her newborn sister from dying of starvation.

From the slums of Calcutta to the executive floors of a global bank, A Voice out of Poverty offers an unflinching look at one woman’s journey from destitution to success.

Throughout, Haslam demonstrates an inexhaustible drive to rise above adversity and find beacons of positivity in impossible circumstances. But her rise doesn’t stop at the top; she returns to her roots again and again to extend a hand to those left in the impoverished communities that she so narrowly escaped.

British by ancestry and born in India after its independence, Haslam and her family suffered degradation and prejudice. They were forced to live on the streets, flee danger in the middle of the night, and face persistent abuse and starvation.

This treacherous environment is the backdrop of an unlikely story of resilience and an unshakable family bond. From squalor and powerlessness, Haslam finds countless moments of grace, community, gratitude, and love.

A Voice out of Poverty is a raw and inspiring memoir that shows how beauty can be found in improbable places, and how “success” is not just the act of making it through. Rather, it is the act of reaching back to bring others with you.

Enjoy an Excerpt

“Oh, come on now Jillu, it’s not that bad!” she said. The brusque tone harkened to how she’d counsel us not to yield to emotion. My mother relentlessly stressed that life could always have been harder. Never make a fuss. Be grateful for what you have, however paltry. Things can be worse.

I wasn’t appeased, and my mother could tell.

“We can get it cleaned up when we get back,” she added, wiping tears from my cheeks with a single thumb. Her other hand was trapped inside the hand of my younger sister, four-year-old Vanessa, who held on as if worried she’d fly away like a released balloon if she let go.

“Anyway, we’re leaving in a few days, and where we’re going is better.” More parental reassurance about greener pastures.

“Where are we going?” I asked.

“To Mrs. Brown’s. She’s letting us sleep on the floor in her room for a while. It will be crowded but all of us will be together again.”

“You mean Daddy and Donna can go there too?” I asked, my mood brightening. I saw a ghost of a smile emerging on Vanessa’s face as she took it all in. We often lived apart as a family because of our circumstances.

“Yes, but we can only stay for a few weeks, and then we must find somewhere else again. But don’t worry, you know Daddy and I always find us something.”

“Okay,” I said, nodding.

We resumed shuffling down the streets, navigating mass congestion. I turned my head for a long look back at the old woman and her dogs. I felt a surge of empathy for her, alone in wet and dirty clothes, facing each day with the promise of nothing. Soon we’d have a roof over our heads in a family home while she’d continue to fend for herself in the unsympathetic and unforgiving slum streets. She’d continue to get wet and dirty. She’d continue to try to survive each day with no family to love and care for her; I felt grateful for what I had and prayed that someday she might have the same. As those thoughts flooded me, she gingerly placed sheets of old newspaper on the wet ground to sit on.

The rain fell a little harder.


About the Author:

Jillian Haslam is a remarkable individual with expertise in speaking on adversity and Resilience

With a distinguished 23-year career in banking, she brings a wealth of industry knowledge to her engagements. As an acclaimed author, her books A Voice Out of Poverty and 9 Steps to Overcome Adversity-A Handbook for Life have garnered critical acclaim including the prestigious Kirkus Star Review! Her extraordinary journey has earned her accolades, including the prestigious Mother Teresa Memorial International Award for her humanitarian contributions.

Jillian’s unique perspective and powerful storytelling have made her a sought-after speaker on the topics of adversity and resilience. She has inspired audiences around the world with her transformative message, helping individuals and organizations overcome challenges and achieve remarkable results. Her insights have been featured in major media outlets, including The Times, The Telegraph, The BBC, and The Week. Through her speaking engagements, Jillian empowers individuals and teams to harness the power of resilience, navigate adversity, and unlock their full potential. Her profound impact continues to resonate with audiences from various backgrounds, fostering a culture of strength, growth, and success.

Jillian Haslam’s expertise as a speaker on adversity and resilience, coupled with her extensive banking experience, has made her a trusted voice in the field. Her ability to inspire and guide others through their own journeys of overcoming obstacles sets her apart, making her a valuable asset to any event or organization seeking to cultivate resilience and achieve exceptional success.

Jillian currently lives in London with her husband.

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Shoebox Baby by Sharon Bruce – Spotlight and Giveaway

August 10, 2023 By Leave a Comment

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. The author will award a $10 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Shoebox Baby is a creative non-fiction story based on the life of Susan Fenton and her family. Sue was born in Nova Scotia on a blustery winter night in a crude weather-worn shack with dirt floors. Although the doctor told Sue’s mother that her baby would be dead before the morning, she made every attempt to keep her infant alive.

Sue and her siblings were born into poverty, survived the Depression and the fall-out of World War II, and contended with tuberculosis, unemployment and polio. This book is filled with family antics, joy, sorrow, laughter, and mystery, covering the trials, triumphs and hilarious exploits of the large and colourful cast of characters that is the Fenton family.

Sue’s courageous determination to live a full life, regardless of the limitations others imposed on her and the circumstances that came her way, made her a remarkably resilient woman.

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There was something about that turbulent winter night that sent a deep chill through Grace like no other. She felt the howling bitter ocean wind coming through the walls of the weather-worn shack she called home. Newspapers stuffed between the boards did little to keep the chill out of the air. Grace hoped that the meagre fire in the wood stove and the few old grey woollen blankets would keep her five children warm enough, and she longed for her husband Marshall.

In May of 1929, at the start of the Great Depression, Marshall and his brother Alexander were laid off from the local mine. They had to leave Pictou and found work in the sawmill in Yarmouth, three hundred miles away on the other side of the province. Poverty became the norm and food was as scarce for the Fenton’s as for most families. Grace was thankful they were still able to pay the rent on the home they lived in, even though it could be considered more of a shack than a house. So many families were homeless, and several of the less fortunate had died on the streets.

In the following three years, Marshall and Alexander could only find short-term, menial jobs that compensated minimal wages. The Fenton family was already impoverished and barely able to survive before the Depression.

About the Author:

Writing has been Sharon’s passion since childhood. At seven years old she won first prize at a local fall fair for her story about a stuffed pink elephant. Since then, she was hooked. Articles, poems and the book Beyond the Forests of Yesteryears are part of her publishing portfolio. Curiosity mixed with a love of hearing and writing unique stories about others is the subject of her work. Some call it being darn right nosey, others call it vivid creativity. During her career she worked in the social services field with individuals, families, groups and organizations to address social and cultural issues. A significant part of her job included inspirational speaking and sharing stories. Sharon was raised in Northeastern Ontario, Canada, where she resides with her husband. Together they enjoy retirement and organizing activities for seniors, which includes writing and acting out comical skits for small audiences.

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Mama Dida by Leonida Teohari – Spotlight and Giveaway

August 8, 2023 By 2 Comments

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. The author will award a $10 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

After experiencing the second world war tragedies and living through the socio political changes in Romania, grand-pa Aurel and grand-ma Dida for the love of their beloved grandchildren Darius and Anna, decided to leave family, friends and everything they built in Romania and start a new life in Canada. Nadia Comaneci incredible gymnastic success at the Olympic games in Montreal was what they knew at the time about Canada. Grand-pa Aurel and grand-ma Dida’s courage and personal sacrifices were the foundation for the education Darius and Anna accessed in Toronto and the life they enjoyed in Canada. The book presents real events and is based on a true story.

Enjoy an Excerpt

When I was nine years old, I got bone tuberculosis and was hospitalised at Vasile Roaita Sanatorium, closer to Constanta.

I was lucky to be assigned to Dr. Climescu, known as one of the best bone tuberculosis specialists in the country.

While in hospital, I missed my family every day, and at the same time I was suffering for the other children around me, seeing how much they also missed their families. It’s incredible how much sick children support each other in their suffering.

During my stay, they brought in a group of children whose parents were members of the Romanian national party. The doctor in charge with the group was also a member of the national party. I was too young to understand politics, but later I learned that they were in fact Romanian nationalists; the legionaries.

The newly arrived group doctor was an old gentleman who was extremely kind to all the children in our section. Every night in the hospital garden they would light a campfire, and everybody sat around the fire and sang national songs. This was nightly entertainment for the rest of us, looking from our windows to the garden and listening to their songs.

About the Author:Leo Teohari was born in Constanta, Romania. Leo holds both a law degree and a degree in international economics. Leo defected from Communist Romania in 1980, and settled with his family in Toronto, Canada, where he became a businessman. Today he writes about his experiences and runs an international food trade business. In 2004 he published his first book, Hawala, based on a true story about a government cover-up and diversion related to the Romanian revolution in 1989.

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The Script Is Not Enough by Jamison LoCascio – Spotlight and Giveaway

July 19, 2023 By 7 Comments

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Jamison LoCascio will be awarding a $10 Amazon GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

The Script is not Enough takes a unique look at the making of four different independent feature films. The author takes you through every stage in development from writing, to financing, and to distribution and marketing. Find out how you can learn from the hard experiences and challenges that face the filmmaker along the way.

Enjoy an Excerpt

Life and filmmaking do not often mix well

I offer a detailed look at my journey of making four different feature films for the brand-new filmmaker out there. I am trying to write the book that I could have used in the very beginning. This is a book about what it means to be a filmmaker with little to no industry connections, “ins,” magic tricks, or otherwise.

My “rules,” which are in bold throughout the book, are just some things I keep in mind for myself. Based on my own experience reading books on making films, I want to try to avoid burying what is of value—the information—into a sort of “life story.” That’s boring.

It’s very upsetting to see how many people sit around talking about how they never got a chance to make a film in their life, and now they are married, divorced, single, too old, too young, too poor, too comfortable…too anything besides “ready.” There are so many excuses not to make a film, so it’s best to just make one before your time’s up.

Life and filmmaking do not often mix well; you need to make movies and also live your life. “Life” and “Movies” are two separate and severe challenges. So, make movies and make life, even when everything is against you, and it certainly will be. A poignant moment of “The Empire Strikes Back” comes to mind…

“Are you afraid?” asks Yoda.

“No,” answers Luke Skywalker.

“You will be. You will be,” says Yoda, his eyes widening, in a very creepy way.

Your first feature film is simply a difficult but attainable milestone. I now know now why that is. Lack of experience and opportunity to grow is more harmful to new feature film producers and directors than anything else. When you can try and fail at something, or succeed moderately, you can grow, adapt, and overcome. The problem with making feature films is that many do not get a chance to ever make one or, even worse, they make one and never get a chance to try again.

About the Author:Jamison LoCascio is an award-winning feature film director. In 2012, Jamison LoCascio began to write the screenplay for his first union short, “Midnight Catch,” which garnished much acclaim at the New Jersey International Film Festival and Manhattan Film Festival. LoCascio decided to form his production company, Halcyon Valor Productions Incorporated. Graduated from Montclair State University with honors winning the “Excellence in Filmmaking” award for his numerous successful productions which premiered in film festivals around the world. LoCasio’s short films have since been honored by the Screen Actors Guild and screened at such festivals as the Los Angeles International Short Film Festival, Montclair Film Festival, and NewFilmmakers New York. LoCascio’s shorts “Track 3,” “A Stranger’s Confession,” and “Powerless” were all official selections of the Festival de Cannes Short Film Corner. His films have been anthologized in the prestigious Anthology Film Archives in Manhattan, distributed worldwide on DVD, picked up for online distribution by Film Bay. DIRECTV & AT&T distributed 6 of LoCascio’s short films on their new International short film platform. LoCascio’s first feature film, “The Depths,” starring Michael Rispoli and Patch Darragh won Best Feature Film at the 2017 Manhattan Film Festival and had a strong critical reception. The film also won Best Feature Film and Best Director at the 2017 Los Angeles Film Awards and received domestic distribution with Sony Pictures and The Orchard releasing on all major platforms including Amazon, Itunes, DVD and more. LoCascio’s second feature film “Sunset” starring acclaimed actor Austin Pendleton received rave reviews and won multiple awards including Best Dramatic Feature Film at the 2018 Manhattan Film Festival, Best Ensemble at the 2018 Los Angeles Film Awards, Best Leading Actor (David Johnson) International Independent Film Awards. “Sunset” also received domestic distribution with Sony Pictures and The Orchard. LoCascio and Adam Ambrosio have recently launched their latest initiative by filmmakers for filmmakers called Film Valor, a youtube channel with over 3,000 worldwide followers and over 250,000 views, a behind the scenes look at their filmmaking process. “Know Fear,” his latest feature film, received critical acclaim and stars Amy Carlson. The film had a limited theatrical release. His next feature film “How Dark They Prey,” a unique horror anthology, has been released on major streaming platforms including Amazon Prime, Tubi, Plex, Udu, Mometu and many more with critics hailing the film as “Horror at its best”. His latest feature film release “7×7” is a collection of many of LoCascio’s award-winning short films brought together for one viewing experience on major platforms including Tubi and Amazon Prime.

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Bad Henry by Ron Chepesiuk – Spotlight and Giveaway

July 14, 2023 By 2 Comments

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. The author will be awarding a $20 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Henry Louis Wallace terrorized Charlotte, North Carolina, from May 1992 to March 1994. Wallace preyed on lower economic class Black women between 17 and 35 years old. He knew most of his victims, some through his job at Taco Bell, and gained their trust with his friendly demeanor and gentle nature-concealing a monster fueled by drug abuse and rage against women.

 

Enjoy an Excerpt

Carolyn Love Murder

On June 15, 1992, Love left her apartment and went to work. Bojangles was close, so she walked. At work, she asked her manager if she could change ones for quarters, which she planned to use at the laundromat after her shift ended. The manager agreed and Caroline left work, walking home.

On the way, she ran into her cousin Robert who offered to drive her home. Love accepted. Robert watched as she entered the apartment. Earlier that day, Wallace was at the apartment because his girlfriend, Sadie McKnight, was Love’s girlfriend and roommate. McKnight had cleaned the apartment. She had left her house key on the wall. When McKnight was not looking, Wallace took the key, made a copy, and put it back on the wall without McKnight noticing.

Later that day, Wallace was driving around when he decided to stop at his girlfriend’s apartment. When Love arrived home, she was surprised to see Wallace in her apartment, but she was not worried. After all, Wallace was her friend, her roommate’s boyfriend. He was harmless, or so she thought. He had let himself into her apartment using the key he had made from the key owned by girlfriend Sadie McKnight. Wallace said he was in the bathroom and would leave as soon as he came out. When Wallace came out of the bathroom, he went into the living room where Caroline was watching television.

Wallace came up to Love and gave her a kiss on the cheek. Love did not like it. She asked Wallace why he had kissed her. He did not really have a good answer. She told Wallace that if he promised not to do that again, she wouldn’t tell his girlfriend about it. Wallace blew up and attacked Love, violently putting her in a chokehold, which he would later describe to police as the “Boston choke.”

About the Author:

Ron Chepesiuk is an optioned screenwriter, documentary producer and the award-winning author of more than 40 books. He is a former professor and head of the Archives at Winthrop University in South Carolina. He is a two-time Fulbright Scholar to Indonesia and Bangladesh and a former instructor in UCLA’s Extension Journalism Department.

His articles, which number in the thousands, have appeared in such publications as FHM, USA Today, Black Enterprise, Woman’s World, Modern Maturity, New York Times Syndicate, Toronto Star, Los Angeles Times Syndicate, Bulletin of Atomic Scientists, among others. His documentary on Frank Matthews, legendary drug Kingpin, which he produced and directed, won the Silver Doc award at the Las Vegas International Film Festival. Four of his screenplays are currently in development for feature movies and four of his books have been optioned for movies. His script Death Fences was the grand winner of the Amsterdam, Holland-based 2019 New Visions International Film Festival.

As an expert in crime history, he is a consultant to the Gangland TV series the and has been interviewed on numerous TV programs, including Discovery, NBC Dateline, History, Biography, ID, Reelz, Black Entertainment Television, Starz, and TV 1. As a journalist, Ron has reported from more than thirty-five countries, including Cuba, Northern Ireland, Colombia, Kenya, Hong Kong, and Nepal, and his 16, 000 plus interviews include such luminaries as Gerry Adams, Yasser Arafat, John Kerry, Evander Holyfield, Jimmy Carter, Andy McDow, Abbie Hoffman, a former president of Nicaragua, and three former presidents and two vice presidents of Colombia, South America.

Ron is also radio host of CRIME BEAT Radio Show. The Crime Beat show has been on the air since January 2011 and has listeners in 160 plus countries. Guests have included Robert Kennedy, Jr., Henry Hill, Noam Chomsky, George Jung, Joe Piston (aka Donnie Brasco), F. Lee Bailey and Chris Kyle, American sniper

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Gracefully Broken by Michele Williams – Q&A and Giveaway

July 13, 2023 By 1 Comment

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Michele Williams will be awarding a print copy of the book to a randomly drawn winner (US ONLY) via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Is your life anything like it was two years ago?

My life is not the same as 2 years ago. I have started counseling and have discovered areas in my life that have been buried for many years. Through this I have discovered that I have been battling with PTSD which is a disorder in which a person has difficulty recovering after experiencing or witnessing a terrifying event.

How long have you been writing?

My writing started in college after taking an English class in communication.

I have had many years of writing down my thoughts , I believe this is the best way to remember and to express yourself.

What’s coming next?

I have a book of poetry that was written before this book. It is ready for print.

I am also working on a deliverance book to follow up Gracefully Broken. Many events have transpired in the years after writing that book. This is about the process of transition, what to do so that you don’t carry the burdens of your past into your present and future. Many people have suffered after Covid. The stress level has increased while the coping skills have decreased. I believe our children are suffering more than ever. The suicide rate is off the chain and our children are confused, hurting and lost. Parents are suffering as well with the increased death from covid. Many have lost spouses, children, finances and so much more. Also there are the ongoing neurological symptoms or mental health conditions from anyone who has contracted covid.

This world is full of many offenses that we never could have imagined years ago, many are so deep in their troubles and worries that they believe that there is not a God that can heal them. But I’ve grown to learn and understand that God is sovereign, He is waiting with arms open and offering his grace to us. A woman in labor endures the pain and suffering of giving birth, but through this process brings forth a beautiful child. Although you may be a diamond in the rough when under pressure and being weighed down for a long period of time, the suffering will cease the end result is a beautiful stone that is brilliant and bright. The trials of your life are just a testimony for the glorious work that god is doing in you. Hold onto the faith, fight the good fight and don’t quit. This is the key to being Resilient.

Enjoy an Excerpt

Transformation is a process of removing the grave clothes of your past life. It takes time and work. Your character must change. You must be aware of wrong thinking patterns, wrong attitudes, wrong beliefs, deception, lies, and pointing the finger. In transformation, your appearance may change. You will start to see things in a different light. It is hard work. Remember the old saying, Rome was not built in a day.

We have lived most of our lives in our own crazy mindset, and now it is time to give it all up to a God you can’t see, or touch. This is faith, and it will take all of your energy, focus and will to change.

God is a God of love. He will guide you and lead you into His truth. It may be a struggle at first, but in time, change will come. There will be a renewing of your mind, and the desire of what you thought you wanted will no longer be what you want. Friends may fall away, family may fall away, but continue to stand. In time, your loved ones will see that all is well, and you will become a better person as you transition.

About the Author: Dr. Michele Williams currently serves as an ordained Evangelist under the leadership of Pastor Dr. Suzette M. Myles For His Glory Church Ministries in Hartford, Connecticut. She was baptized and received the Lord as her Savior in 1985 along with her son Michael at Little Zion Church of Christ in South Norwalk. She was ordained as an Evangelist in 2005. She is also a professor at North Carolina Bible Institute-New England. She attended Mattatuck Community College for two years and completed and graduated in 1983 with an associate degree in science from South Central now, Gateway Community College. In 2009 She received a Certificate of achievement from Side Street to Main Street 12 Business and Leadership Development Program. In 2012, she graduated with her master’s degree in Biblical studies, from Elohim Christian Center. In 2017, she received her Doctorate in Biblical Studies from NCBI-New England.

The author is a retired worker from the State of Connecticut where she served as a school instructor after twenty-four and a half years of service.

Evangelist Williams currently resides in East Hartford, Connecticut, with her daughter and granddaughter. The author’s life experience is proof that she is a testimony of what God can do. Her love, commitment, and passion for others stem from her belief in Jesus Christ; she believes that there is nothing He can’t do. Delivered from drugs, alcohol, low self-esteem, rejection, abandonment, depression, and PTSD, she continues to walk in integrity as a servant of God as she matures into a virtuous woman. In this book, she discusses how you too can be made free. Discover the truth as you read and compare your life with those women in the Bible who have suffered in their time as much as women today but found faith and strength.

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My Book Cover and How It Came About by Ann Hajdu Hultberg – Guest Blog and Giveaway

July 12, 2023 By 6 Comments

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

My Book Cover and How It Came About

The premise of my book is what it’s like to be the daughter of an immigrant, one who escaped during the Hungarian Uprising of 1956. Because the focus is on my dad and his escape, I wanted the map of Budapest, his birthplace, in the background. And because of the title, Something to Hold On To, I wanted to include some of the physical things we hold on to as related in my stories found in the first chapter of the book—The things We Touch.

The prayer card is the main focus of the three objects on the cover. In my story about Dad’s escape, titled the same as the book title, that prayer card is the one my dad carried with him as he escaped from communism into Austria. It symbolizes the faith he had as he confronted the communists, which could have resulted in him being captured or killed. He carried the card as he crossed the Atlantic Ocean to freedom in the United States. His group of refuges was sent from New Jersey to Buffalo and eventually to Pennsylvania where he settled and acclimated into the American way of life, fulfilling the American Dream. He kept that card with him always. After Dad died, I became the possessor of this card, which I carry with me to church each Christmas Eve as a reminder of his bravery and fortitude and faith as he was smuggled out of his country, never to return.

The second item showcased on the cover is a rosary bead. This is the center of a story, “The Promise,” I wrote about my mom when she was dying of a very rare blood cancer. My mom was a good Catholic and always prayed her rosary and novenas. It is said that those who devout themselves to the Blessed Mother and rosary will have an easy death. But hers was anything but. I question the promise made to those who devote themselves to daily rosary meditations. Her death was long and painful. Why?

And finally the last object on the cover is a twist tie, such as one that is found securing a loaf of bread. This symbolizes a life style my mother –in-law knew before she was diagnosed with dementia and Alzheimer disease. In my story, “What Gave Her Comfort,” I describe how she was a neat and tidy housekeeper and saved these twist ties to perform different jobs: holding together cords; rewrapping food into saved plastic bags; holding together loose shoe strings. As her disease progressed, and her new home now the nursing home, these twist ties took on new functions and were used as tooth picks, a substitute for a wedding ring, and hair pins. What once was was elusive to her now and this tangible object in her mind had new purposes. But it hopefully reminded her of a life she once knew.

A local graphic artist designed my cover. We went through probably 5 drafts until he designed exactly what I had envisioned. I hope you enjoy the book and can relate some of the stories to your own lives.

In life we hold on to our faith, family, friends, our sense of humor, our memories, and our promises. As a child, it might be a make-believe world. Sometimes it’s something physical like a prayer card or a twist tie, a school bag or a rosary bead. Maybe it’s a photo. Everything we hold dear brings us hope and comfort during both good and bad times.

I write what I and others have held on to; I recount my experiences as a late Baby Boomer raised in rural Pennsylvania, and most importantly, by a Hungarian father, an immigrant, who escaped the Soviet Invasion in 1956.

I hope that you the reader will connect to some of the stories and the things we hold on to.

Enjoy an Excerpt

from “Mom’s Girdle”

Mom was always losing or fighting with her 18-hour Playtex girdle. It seemed as if this contraption had a mind of its own, wanting to be seen, calling attention to itself, almost like a neon light flashing from a bar window. The trampoline like material sucked in all the fat so clothes appeared smooth and seamless without the ripples of excess pounds. From waist to upper knee, this apparatus was popular with my mom in the 60s and 70s. Her belly was flattened and thighs were made to look slimmer, something she said she needed after birthing four kids. These ghost white undergarments were a staple in mom’s underwear drawer.

The first time Mom lost a hold of her girdle was when she was out shopping, and the elastic, which had been shriveling on the waist band, probably from its years of wear, let loose. Like a broken rubber band snapping off a pony tail, the entire garment fell to her knees. Though in public, with many eyes upon her, mom simply shimmied the girdle down to her ankles, like a girl slinking down a fashion show runway; she peeled it off her ankles, and with a kick, tossed the girdle in the air like a spinning pizza crust. She grabbed at it and stuffed the undergarment in her purse as carefree as she would a wad of Kleenex. She continued on with her shopping.

About the Author Ann Hajdu Hultberg, born in Buffalo, New York, grew up in rural Bradford, Pennsylvania. A graduate of Indiana University of Pennsylvania and St. Bonaventure University, Ann spent 34 years teaching English at Limestone, NY, and Allegany, NY, School Districts; she was also an adjunct college composition instructor and student teacher supervisor at University of Pittsburgh at Bradford for 15 years. She and her husband split their time between Bradford and Naples, Florida, and visiting with their daughter and son-in-law. Something To Hold On To is her debut book.

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A Day with Jesse René Gibbs Behind the Scenes – Guest Blog and Giveaway

July 10, 2023 By 7 Comments

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Jesse René Gibbs will be awarding a $25 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.

A Day with Jesse René Gibbs Behind the Scenes

I write from the heart, from my emotional core. Which means, for me to tell a good story I must feel that story in nearly every way. Which is one of the reasons that Girl Hidden took twenty-five years to be released. It was exceptionally hard to dive into the emotions of the abuse that I endured just to tell my story.

I would start with a story that I wanted to add to the book. Start writing from my experience and my memories and get it all down on paper. I would rewrite, cry, write again and repeat. Then I would dive into the myriad of boxes that my grandmother collected over the years that were filled with documentation about my experiences: court documents, my mother’s letters, my grandmother’s journals. And often I would find that my version of the events had multiple layers and extended stories that I knew nothing about.

I would meet with my therapist to walk through the pain of rewriting my history in my own mind, talk with my wonderful bestie, June, and usually cry again. Then it was back to writing, rewriting, or adding to the story until it made sense on the page and matched both my experiences and the truth of the documentation.

For example, my mother gave birth to me while in the Navy, stationed in Rota, Spain. Which is already an interesting story, but finding out through my mother’s letters just how little she wanted a child and through the doctor’s notes that she was trying to starve me to death for the first three months of my life was devastating. She stated in her letters that I, a newborn baby, was overwhelming demanding and shouldn’t be able to “demand that I feed her on her timeline.” So, back to the drawing board with that chapter.

It was a challenge every step of the way, but through the writing process I began to find healing and closure. June held my hand and cried with me and helped me sort through all the research that needed to be done to make Girl Hidden a reality.

Echoing among the Blue Ridge Mountains were the cries of newborn babies that disappeared into the night. The screams of children nearly drowned out by the sound of crickets. A girl, hidden and waiting to be found, terrified, and confused. The fireflies sparkling in the woods, bringing light to darkled places.

The bulk of Jesse’s memories were of growing up in the farm country of the Blue Ridge Mountains in North Carolina. The farm folks stayed pretty much outside of town, except for visits to the feed store causing random tractors to travel down Main Street. There were beatings and abuses, manipulation and terror carried out in spaces breathtaking in their beauty. There were twenty-seven Baptist churches, three non-denominational churches, and one Catholic Church.

There were annual Ku Klux Klan rallies on the street where they would walk right by all the black families who came out to watch and the white folks who came out for moral support—whether of the blacks or the whites, no one knew for sure. Black people did not marry white people in a civilized society, and so were rarely seen socializing. There was a young woman who was pregnant with a black man’s baby, so her parents disowned her. Jesse’s family was accused of killing the child and burying it on their property.

There was the Berkley House Bed and Breakfast toward the end of town, with gold plated silverware and hardwood floors, rumored to be the local sex worker house. There was a mansion up on a hill that overlooked the other humble houses in the town. In the local cemetery, there was “Will B. Jolly” carved into the graves used by bootleggers back in the twenties. Everyone had some form of thick southern drawl, though the length of the “aw” would extend the further south you went. There was a tiny baseball field and a tinier fire department. There was an old lady in the foothills that let the family raid her garden during the summer. And in exchange, Jesse’s family helped her husband bring in the hay for their animals every year.

There was a black snake in the attic—the door opened inside the closet next to Jesse’s bed. She would find his shed skins left behind in the summer months measuring close to seven feet in length. There was a creek with crawdads and a moss-covered bridge. There were mulberry and pecan trees that filled her and her siblings’ aching bellies as the weather turned.

There were hot summer days and freezing cold winters. There were dogs that were best friends, cats that kept her warm at night, and a cow that committed suicide. There was red clay instead of dirt, hayfields instead of grass, and a favorite swimming hole: Lenny’s Mill, the local grain mill on a glacier-fed creek where you could take a dip if you were brave enough to challenge the frigid waters.

Girl Hidden is the story of an unwanted child, born nonetheless and forced into servitude, desperate to protect her siblings and find her way out from under the vicious, manipulative abuses heaped on her by the one person who was supposed to love her unconditionally: her mother.

Enjoy an Excerpt

He was standing with his hands over his face. His back was shaking. Jesse slowly walked in front of him and stood there, silently watching as the sobs wracked his body. She reached up and touched his arm, startling him for a moment. Tears filled her eyes. He wrapped his arms around her and held her tightly. She started weeping, her tears dripping onto his shirt. They held each other for a moment as the world seemed to stop turning around them.

Jesse pulled away from him and wiped her eyes. Robert looked down at her and stuttered a little as he tried to put words to his feelings.

She looked up into his eyes. “Poppa,” she said, stopping his attempts to speak. “I cannot be the grown-up for both of us. I’m not… I’m not strong enough!” Fresh tears spilled down her cheeks, washing away the last of the makeup that she had so meticulously applied earlier that day. “Please, Poppa.”

Jesse took a deep breath, pulled herself together, lifted her chin, and walked back into the room with the black-and-white tile floor. Robert stood in the hallway and watched her go. His stepdaughter would never depend on him again. His heart broke a little more, but he knew that there was nothing he could do about it. He forced himself to wipe his eyes again and walk back into the room.

About the Author: My name is Jesse René Gibbs and I am the author of Girl Hidden. I am an artist, designer, dancer and survivor. I am a stepmother to four, Amma to four more and blessed beyond measure with the family that I chose.

This book is based on the true story of my life, gleaned from years of my mother’s writings, my grandmother’s journals and my own experiences. I did my best to showcase the depth of damage that growing up with a narcissistic parent can have on a person, and how hard it is to come to terms with the amount of gaslighting that comes with that life. My siblings all have their own stories of being played against each other, bullied and even emotionally tortured by our parents. We were trained to not trust our own intuition, raised in a life of poverty, a lack of privacy and the endlessly traumatizing purity culture.

I was hunted in my own home by the man my mother married and escaped at nineteen only to land in an intentional community in Chicago that did nearly as much damage. My best friend in the book is also real, and she did more to walk me through my trauma, and she is the main reason that these stories were finally published.

My new life in Seattle didn’t start until well into my thirties, and I’m still working on deconstructing my life up to that point. I wrote this book to organize my life in my own mind and to undo years of lies. I also wrote it because others need to know that they are not alone.

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