Blog Archives
The Scholars Love This Book
“Jacobi Jacobi What can I Be” is a vibrant ABC book that helps children develop literacy skills while improving their self-esteem. What was the art collaboration process like with illustrator Ayanna Niambi?
The collaboration with my illustrator was amazing. Ayanna saw my vision for each illustration and was able to illustrate vibrant pictures that captured the words on each page of the book. The process was seamless and I enjoyed working with her.
How do you see your book fitting into a teacher’s or parent’s lesson plans for their child?
As I travel across the country doing Author visits, the scholars love this book. My book fits the classroom well, particularly Pre-k through 5th-grade bands. The vocabulary introduces scholars to high-frequency literary words that enhance their vocabulary while boosting their self-esteem and confidence. In addition, there are so many educational concepts in this book that Teachers can use in their classroom lessons, from letter recognition to social-emotional lessons.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
My third book will be released at the end of June “Jabez Jabez What Do You See?”
Author Links: Website | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn
A Lot Like Magic
Book of Leprechauns: The Lore Gatherers follows a father and daughter leprechaun who goes on a journey to ancient Rome after their gold is stolen by a foe. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
When my oldest son was nine years old, we went on a walk and outlined a ten-bulletpoint story based on the following framework:
Once upon a time ____. Every day _____. One day _____. Because of that ____ happened. Because of that _____ happened. Until finally _____.
Because it was March and St. Patrick’s Day was getting near, leprechauns were on his mind, so the story outlined involved leprechauns who went back to ancient Rome, which I think he had been learning about in school.
What were the driving ideals behind the characters’ development throughout the story?
I was interested in writing a world that I would be interested in living in, one where art and craft mattered more than money. The idea of a profound loss driving the behaviors of characters and their relationship was also something motivating me.
What were some ideas that were important for you to share in this book?
That what is easy for one person to do may look a lot like magic to someone else. And in fact, magic is all around us every day, if we take the time to notice it.
Will this novel be the start of a series, or are you working on a different story?
I hope so! I am currently drafting another book in this world with the working title: Book of Leprechauns: The Sheep of Time.
Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Facebook | Website
To save themselves, Molly and her father must come to terms with a painful past, heal old wounds, and grapple with the most powerful leprechaun magic ever known to lore gatherers. But even with the help of a poetry-writing fox and a hyper-intelligent chicken, can they save the universe?
Fix Yourself
Anxiety is a condition that many people struggle with in today’s world. What was the idea, or spark, that first set off the need to write The Fix Your Anxiety Handbook?
Anxiety has risen to almost epidemic proportions across the world. As I was deciding on the next book to write in The Fix Yourself Empowerment Series, I decided that anxiety had to be the next topic in the series. I think it’s important for people to understand the important information about anxiety, and I also want to give them the proper plan to treat this debilitating disorder.
What were some ideas that were important for you to share in this book?
First, anxiety is a very treatable condition, provided there is an efficient program to make that happen.
Second, no one should be alone and isolated when they have anxiety. It’s important to establish a network of support and professional people to will bring you through this problem.
Third, a program to efficiently bring one through the difficulties associated with anxiety will include the presentation of all the relevant information to help people understand the dynamics of anxiety, and a treatment program that efficiently addresses all of the components associated with anxiety.
What is a common misconception you feel people have about Anxiety?
Anxiety begins as a physical condition. All too often, it is presented as a mental problem, and this has caused it to be treated inefficiently. I want people to understand that it’s important to treat the physical component first. That includes removing anything that weakens the body, and also by introducing the programs that will address the problem at its core level first.
What do you hope is one thing readers take away from your book?
I want readers to understand that this is a very treatable condition. I want them also to understand that there have been many misconceptions about anxiety, and this has led to far too many failed attempts to address it. The program I am introducing provides that information, and the exact things people need to do to address the problem.
Author Links: Twitter | Facebook | Website
“The Fix Your Anxiety Handbook demystifies the causes of anxiety and helps readers create an actionable plan in order to manage their anxiety. The step-by-step process is eye-opening and will help those suffering from this condition to understand the cause and work to heal. This self-help book is a valuable resource for everyone, whether they suffer from anxiety, have loved ones that do, or just want a better understanding of themselves and how to improve their mental health.” – Literary Titan
To Help Build A Better World
What was the idea, or spark, that first set off the need to write Dream It to Do It: The Science and the Magic?
I ‘felt called’ to write this book from my realization that humanity is now confronted by multiple looming existential threats because of working with the wrong model of reality, and yet most people are tuned-out and distracted. (The revelation about the truth of reality emerged as a flash of insight in the midst of preparing a Keynote Presentation for an annual conference of Healers back in 2018).
What were some ideas that were important for you to share in this book?
To wake-up and think, to realize our internal resourcefulness, to appreciate & care for each other, to relate more harmoniously with Nature
What were some goals you set for yourself as a writer in this book?
I am intending it as a Global Wake-Up Call to see through the illusions of what seems like reality and those who manipulate & exploit us. I hope it will be an inspirational resource for spiritual leaders and educators to eventually enlighten all.
What is one thing you hope readers take away from your book?
Inspiration to help build a better world.
Author Links: Website | Twitter | GoodReads
What ‘here‘ even is, and who ‘You‘ are in the greater scheme of things?
Are you feeling increasing overwhelm and despair about the world around you because it’s taken such a dark turn?
If these questions resonate with you – then this is THE book which finally explains it all.
This is a very powerful book by a Physician and long-time scientific explorer of the various realms of consciousness. The Doctor recently ‘felt called’ to write and share this spiritually and scientifically integrated book of Revelations for these troubled times.
It’s a user-friendly manual of initiation into the underlying mysteries of our existence that explains ‘how reality works’!
– This revealed Knowledge is the ultimate Power!
– Overcome the Dark Forces separating us from each other and Nature
– Discover the World-behind-the-world
– Tap into your inner magical powers
– Learn how to shift reality to manifest a more satisfying reality for us all
New Aquatic Friends
Daisy Meets the Dolphins follows a loveable little dog who goes on a boating adventure and meets some bottlenose dolphins. What was the inspiration for the main character’s traits and dialogue?
Daisy Meets the Dolphins was created for our 25th wedding anniversary, on that day we all took a day trip to an near by island called Rathlin Island not far from Ballycastle, a coastal resort in Northern Ireland.
What were some ideas that were important for you to share in this book?
I wanted to create an adventure book with Daisy meeting her new aquatic friends from the ocean, filling it full of heartwarming hugs to bring to life the power of connecting with different cultures and the joys of friendship with others regardless of where they are from. I hoped to use this book to spark meaningful conversations and inspire kindness in children.
What were some goals you set for yourself as a writer in this book?
To explore the world through the eyes of Daisy? When writing, staying true to yourself and letting your heart guide you is essential. After all, there are so many stories and adventures we want to share! With every paw step we take, I wanted to ensure my readers felt they were right there with us, experiencing every wag of the tail and sniff of the nose that Daisy takes. I wish for every reader to handle all the emotions and see all the pictures in their little minds as we embark on this journey together. Woof! Says Daisy…
I hope the series continues in other books. If so, where will the story take readers?
Each book is unique and very different as we explore the world and write another Daisy story.
Author Links: Amazon | GoodReads
Join Daisy, Blue and friends on this sunny, fun-filled day, as they laugh, play games by the ocean… and create another magical Daisy story!
Quería Crear Un Asesino
Nunca Mates A Un Pibe lleva a los lectores a un viaje emocionante a través del inframundo criminal de Buenos Aires mientras un asesino atormentado forma una alianza inesperada con sus víctimas. ¿Cuál fue la inspiración para la configuración de su emocionante novela?
Desde mi adolescencia, el policial ha sido uno de mis géneros preferidos, y leí mucho de los grandes de antes (Hammet, Chandler, Cain, etc.) y los de ahora (Carver, P.D. James, Mankel, Larsson y otros). Esta novela empezó como un cuento y éste de una imagen en mi cabeza: una camioneta rescatada del fondo de un lago con restos humanos adentros. Luego, el cuento se fue abriendo en tramas y llenándose de personajes
Tus personajes son interesantes y bien desarrollados. ¿Cuáles fueron algunos ideales que impulsaron el desarrollo de tu personaje?
Primero, pensarlos en el contexto personal y el social, el mundo alrededor del que se mueven y la realidad de la época en que transcurre la historia. Quería crear un asesino con características muy peculiares: educación, principios, conciencia, y ligar eso a su historia personal. Para ello imaginé dos hechos impactantes en su vida: primero, las muertes de sus padres y las razones de las mismas; segundo, tenía que pensar en algún otro hecho terrible, que lo marcase profundamente, y qué más terrible que matar a un chico. Fue ahí donde, además, cambié el título original del libro.
¿Cuáles fueron algunos temas que fueron importantes para usted para explorar en este libro?
Uno que creo que es universal a cualquier novela: ¿existen el bien o el mal en estado puro? ¿Pueden personas sanas, honestas, con vidas intachables, ¿convertirse en asesinos? ¿Por qué y cómo? Y, por último, ¿puede un asesino redimirse?
¿Cuál es el próximo libro en el que está trabajando y cuándo estará disponible?
El próximo libro es el segundo de la serie y se titula Cenizas Quedan. Estará disponible cuando logre crear un público lector, que espero pueda hacerlo con Nunca Mates a Un Pibe.
Enlaces de Autor: GoodReads | Twitter | Facebook | Website
Una acción vertiginosa que lleva al lector desde las entrañas del crimen organizado en Buenos Aires, pasando por un balneario del sur de la provincia, hasta terminar en la zona de los Siete Lagos, en las estribaciones de la cordillera de los Andes.
Un asesino atormentado por el recuerdo del chicó que mató y las muertes trágicas de sus padres durante la segunda presidencia de Juan Domingo Perón.
Una matanza que sacude a un pueblo tranquilo, un incendio para cubrir huellas y una alianza impensable entre dos asesinos y quienes iban a ser sus víctimas que, en una casa en Villa Traful junto al lago, planean una venganza.
Un paraìso en la Patagonia argentina que los protagonistas convertirán en un infierno.
Lived Experiences
To Help Just One follows three separate people who have mental health challenges and the road they navigate to get through. What was the inspiration for the original and fascinating idea at the center of the book?
There are two pivotal moments that provided the inspiration.
The first was about a year before I started writing the book. The experience of being able to tell my story as part of the panel discussion to start an open conversation on mental health in my corporate job . It was a special moment to own my story and I could see the impact telling it had on others. The number of follow up conversations I had with individuals about their stories showed me the healing powers stories can have. The prologue and epilogue use this experience as a vehicle for the doubts and positivity that comes wrapped with sharing your story.
The second was a few months before I penned the first word, when a friend shared experiencing depression for the first time in their adult life. They were still trying to understand the unfamiliar and uncomfortable place they had found themselves in and were far from discussing solutions. I had so much to tell them, yet no way to do it without adding pressure. A book became a safe way to give them comfort that they are not alone in what they are experiencing and hope that there is a path forward. They could choose which bits had value for them and which bits are simply someone else’s story.
With the collection of lived experiences from myself and others, there was enough inspiration to thread themes and events across multiple characters.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
- Internal Acceptance – being comfortable with who you are, how you’re feeling and needing help
- Belonging – Finding in the right environment that is tuned to the right frequency and will help you thrive
- Simplicity – The little things whether it be acts, words, or moments that have a profound impact well beyond that point in time.
If you dig deeper into the choice of words there are hidden easter eggs – musical and literary references – that have been chosen for the influence they have had on me and how they connect into the themes in this book.
What is one thing that people point out after reading your book that surprises you?
The way it resonates with a wider range of people than I expected. Jonathan, Tegan and Lawrence are based on specific sets of lived experiences and so I thought readers would possibly strongly identify with one character and enjoy the rest of the book as an interesting story. Yet I have found that more people find it easy to see a part of themselves in each of the characters and can relate in their own way across the entire book.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
The working title is To Help One More: Stories to Serve | Stories of Connection | Stories to Release and will be part of the same universe as To Help Just One. Louise and Henry who had minor roles in the first book plus a new character Arthur will be featured. The characters discover the path to thriving from: the unhealthy company of alcohol; the consequences of bottling up emotions; the ease in which distance can be created between two people; and the personal cost that leadership can have. There will be a couple of the scenes that carry over, told from a different perspective and shed a little more light on the experiences of Jonathan, Lawrence, and Tegan.
It will be available early 2024.
Author Links: GoodReads | Facebook | Instagram | Website
Make yourself a cup of tea and gently enter a world where Tegan, Jonathan, and Lawrence navigate the ups and downs of their mental health. The paths of childhood friends, work colleagues, and exercise buddies intertwine their stories.
Their stories will look to comfort. To help just one feel a little less alone in the world, hearing someone else’s story and sharing the thoughts and emotions. Injury strips Tegan of the life that she knows. Physical pain gnaws on her psychological wellbeing, introducing her to loneliness and isolation.
Their stories will look to provide hope. To help just one see that there is a possibility of finding a path forward, as the world feels unfamiliar and uncomfortable. The urges of gambling get the better of Jonathan, as he silently suffers paying a price much greater than the money lost.
Their stories will look to heal. To help just one be able to begin making sense of the world and become open to telling their story. The volatility and pace of professional life sucks away time and space from Lawrence. Overwhelmed and shattered, he is lost in a world where his qualities are a blessing and a curse.
Each find themselves barely surviving, though where they go from there will inspire an inner strength within us all.
The Joys Of Friendship
Daisy Meets the Dolphins follows a loveable little dog who goes on a boating adventure and meets some bottlenose dolphins. What was the inspiration for the main character’s traits and dialogue?
Daisy Meets the Dolphins was created for our 25th wedding anniversary, on that day we all took a day trip to an near by island called Rathlin Island not far from Ballycastle, a coastal resort in Northern Ireland.
What were some ideas that were important for you to share in this book?
I wanted to create an adventure book with Daisy meeting her new aquatic friends from the ocean, filling it full of heartwarming hugs to bring to life the power of connecting with different cultures and the joys of friendship with others regardless of where they are from. I hoped to use this book to spark meaningful conversations and inspire kindness in children.
What were some goals you set for yourself as a writer in this book?
To explore the world through the eyes of Daisy? When writing, staying true to yourself and letting your heart guide you is essential. After all, there are so many stories and adventures we want to share! With every paw step we take, I wanted to ensure my readers felt they were right there with us, experiencing every wag of the tail and sniff of the nose that Daisy takes. I wish for every reader to handle all the emotions and see all the pictures in their little minds as we embark on this journey together. Woof! Says Daisy…
I hope the series continues in other books. If so, where will the story take readers?
Each book is unique and very different as we explore the world and write another Daisy story.
Author Links: Amazon | GoodReads
Join Daisy, Blue and friends on this sunny, fun-filled day, as they laugh, play games by the ocean… and create another magical Daisy story!
LITERARY TITAN 