Blog Archives
My Personal Struggles With Grief
Grief: the Beacon of Love is a collection of 12 notes which provide insight into how to cope with the loss of a loved one. Why was this an important book for you to write?
It was important to me to share my personal struggles with grief and the consequent health problems that I experienced. I thought these experiences would be of great benefit to all those who struggle with an undefined grief. The deaths from the pandemic underlined the need for defined coping skills in dealing with overwhelming world-wide grief.
What is a common misconception you feel people have about grief?
If we do not forgive others, we will not be forgiven. Matthew 6:15. God is love. I John 4:7-12
What is one piece of advice someone gave you that changed your life?
Grief The Beacon of Love Know God’s perspective on grief. He loves you through your joys and your sorrows. Accept Him as your Lord and your Saviour.
What do you hope is one thing readers take away from your book?
Grief will just go away if not discussed and processed.
Author Links: Website | GoodReads
There Were No More Secrets
Dear Radiant One tells your emotional recovery story and provides readers with guidance they can use to transform their life. What was the hardest thing for you to write about?
Generally, it was just being so raw and vulnerable. I knew I had to be authentic in order for the power of my story to be fully received. I also knew it could not be raw or unprocessed so that I could effectively communicate my message to be of service to the readers and not just for my own healing. It took me years to get to that place and I am really grateful I was patient with myself and the process. I think if it came out anytime before it did I would not have been grounded enough or emotionally ready to handle it. The day it was shared with others, I felt a huge weight of my past was lifted off my heart. There were no more secrets or playing roles I no longer wanted to play for others.
What were some ideas that were important for you to share in this book?
The main idea is that we get to choose how we dance with life. All the roller coasters of obstacles that come our way, are opportunities to see how we choose to respond (or not respond) to them. The second idea is intimately wrapped up with the first idea being how we acknowledge (or don’t acknowledge) our emotions ultimately leads us to the choices we make to life’s challenges. If we don’t allow ourselves to sit with our emotions and process them in a healthy way, they lead to choices that create more obstacles for ourselves.
What is one thing you hope readers take away from your story?
My hope for the reader is they receive whatever they need to receive. It might be that they need to receive a story about someone who came out on the other side of a traumatic childhood that inspires hope for themselves. It might be that they need to receive an understanding of their own emotional landscape that has hindered them in some way. It might also be that they receive tangible practices to befriend their emotions and make changes in how they relate to them. They might just need to simply receive a new perspective. My hope for the reader is they find whatever they need in this book is some kind of elixir for living the human experience.
Author Links: GoodReads | Facebook | Website
This book shares vulnerable and honest interactions with emotion through letters that give you direct access to your own internal landscape. Phoebe provides specific practices that are an open invitation to explore your own vulnerability and the honest experiences of your emotional body. If you are ready to dance with your radiance—and you always have a choice—this book will be your best friend to guide you along the way.
My Thank You Letter
The Strength of a Thousand Sons is your memoir detailing the challenges your family has faced over generations and the struggle to break the negative cycles. Why was this an important book for you to write?
My first book, The Eyes of Texans: From Slavery to the Texas Capitol, was published in 2020 and it featured my maternal ancestors in a similar manner as this one. The Strength of a Thousand Sons examines the paternal side of my family, and we also learn about personal and American history through their stories. While both sides of my ancestors were directly impacted by slavery, the Edwards line emerged from its human bondage with deep scars that weren’t healed with time alone. I traced my dad’s struggle and gave context to how he laid the foundation for me and future generations to have a better chance to succeed. This book is my thank you letter to him.
I appreciated the candid nature with which you told your story. What was the hardest thing for you to write about?
The first chapter was the toughest thing I’ve written in my life and I’ve been a writer for almost 40 years. I cried for three days while writing that chapter alone. I still do if I think about it too much.
What were some ideas that were important for you to share in this book?
The most important takeaway is that one person can change generations for good or bad, so we might as well strive to be positive role models — for our own children and others in our care.
What do you hope is one thing readers take away from your story?
The systems of racism and abuse are common and have many layers. The sooner we realize that the sooner we can break those vicious cycles once and for all. I’m optimistic we can do that for good.
Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Facebook
The author of the award-winning book, The Eyes of Texans: From Slavery to the Texas Capitol: Stories from Six Generations of One Family, returns with the riveting follow-up that features the paternal side of his family, beginning in 1842.
Like his maternal ancestors, Melvin E. Edwards’ paternal ancestors are also Texans from the time of the Republic of Texas. However, the Edwards line emerged from its human bondage with deep scars that aren’t healed with time. One mind-boggling act of desperation by 10-year-old Melvin Edwards changed that trajectory and provided a softer landing for his son, this book’s author.
If you found Isaac Bladen to be unforgettable in the last book, you’ll find the elder Melvin Edwards equally compelling in this true story.
Studying family history can be fascinating. It can also reopen old wounds.
Find the Beauty in the Tragedies
Walking with Spirits: Paying It Forward During a Global Pandemic shares your story about connecting to the spirit of your son and getting guidance on performing this amazing act of charity. Why was this an important book for you to write?
This book was important for me to write as I had young grandchildren, one who was entering the world during this time. As adults, we were having a hard time navigating our lives through the early days of the pandemic, with the country shutting down, many suddenly without income. The isolation from others, was difficult to handle as adults, so I couldn’t even imagine what was happening in the minds of our young children. I wanted them to be able to look back years from now and truly understand how the pandemic affected people’s lives. The good, the bad, and the ugly side of it all. I am not sure the history books will do that side of the pandemic the justice it deserves. This book was also my way of reminding them, that life can suddenly change without warning, and not always for the better. However, it is through our darkest moments, that we learn to find the beauty in the tragedies.
I appreciated the candid nature with which you told your story. What was the hardest thing for you to write about?
This whole timeline and event was so emotional, that it made all of it very difficult to write. The sudden loss of income brought people from all walks of life through our doors. The emotions that came along with them were difficult to see, especially with the men. Who are taught from a young age to be the providers, they were now feeling like failures for not being able to do so for their families. the best part was the tears of embarrassment always turned to tears of gratitude.
What were some ideas that were important for you to share in this book?
The synchronicities during this time, were to incredible not to share with the world. The way spirit orchestrates a situation and brings it to life, is never anything shy of amazing. The day of the dog food story was my favorite day during this whole event, because it was filled with spirit and their mysterious, yet, magical ways.
What do you hope is one thing readers take away from your story?
The one thing I hope everyone takes away from reading my book is that their loved ones who have transitioned to the other side, are still very much involved in the day to day events of your life. When My son transitioned, I set out on a mission to give a voice to those in spirit. Through Chayse, and his guidance, along with others, this book does just that. It shows the world that those we love, never go away. They walk beside us everyday. Guiding and protecting us, while unconditionally loving us through, this crazy ride!
Author Links: GoodReads | Amazon
The Covid-19 pandemic that had been plaguing other countries was now wreaking havoc in the United States. When Illinois shut down in late March, the venue had to close, therefore canceling the comedy show. Devastated and once again lost, Jami spoke aloud to Chayse, asking for guidance. During a partial meditative state, Chayse gave her the answer. He was guiding Jami to start a food donation event for families impacted by the pandemic shutdown. An event, she believed, would only last a few hours. However, through God and Chayse’s amazing grace, it lasted for almost four months.
In the pages within, Jami shares with you the dream visits, signs and synchronicities from many spirits that allowed her to pull off one of the most amazing acts of kindness during the pandemic of 2020. When it ended, see how Chayse continued to walk with her for the remainder of the year—guiding her with his magical, mysterious ways. Providing the validations that those we love never go away; they walk beside us every day!
Once There Was a Child
Once There Was a Child is a fun, yet deeply touching account of Darlene Pscheidell Kwarta’s time as a special education teacher. She describes the daily trials and triumphs of working with America’s ‘forgotten’ children: those living with disabilities, experiencing abuse or being passed around within the foster system. Darlene gives a unique perspective into the minds of her small group of students as they navigate school life and the outside world. She leaves the reader pondering how the system could be improved for these children, as many of the problems she encounters are still ongoing today.
Although the book is short, it takes you on a rollercoaster of emotions. One minute I was laughing and the next my heart was sinking. I only wish that the book had been longer, so I could have gotten to know the children’s backstories and personalities in more detail. I learned a lot from Darlene, particularly about the psychological aspects of such a job, and I would love to learn more.
I would definitely like to read more from this author, whose attitude towards her students should be an inspiration, not only for anyone working within this field, but for anyone who ever encounters a child with special needs. Darlene doesn’t preach about how you should treat these children, rather relays the information through short anecdotes. She manages to convey the thoughts and feelings of those who cannot speak, and delivers this to the reader in a comprehensible and personable manner. The combination of informal language and short, manageable chapters make this book an easy and enjoyable read, despite the emotional topic.
I would recommend Once There Was a Child to anyone who is interested in learning more about, or improving their attitude towards, children with special needs.
Pages: 69 | ASIN: B0BFBVJZSW
Literary Titan Gold Book Awards November 2022
The Literary Titan Book Awards are awarded to books that have astounded and amazed us with unique writing styles, vivid worlds, complex characters, and original ideas. These books deserve extraordinary praise and we are proud to acknowledge the hard work, dedication, and writing talent of these brilliant authors.
Gold Award Recipients
Bugles In The Dust – Civil War Veterans On The Chicago Fire Department by George Levy
Visit the Literary Titan Book Awards page to see award information.
The Harding Sisters
The Harding Sisters Revisited by Carol E. Plimpton is a fascinating book that narrates the real story of the Harding sisters and their families with slightly fictionalized elements woven in. Lyman and Nora Harding, who lived on Sterling City Road, Connecticut, had eleven children: ten girls and one boy. Beginning with the story of the youngest sister, Grace, the book takes readers through the life experiences of the different sisters using a bit of creative storytelling to tell their story.
It is essential to note that the author, Carol E. Plimpton is the granddaughter of Maria, one of the Harding sisters. The story follows three generations of Hardings: from the birth of the Harding sisters in the 1880’s to Betty Plimpton’s death in 1994, who was the author’s mother and Maria Harding’s daughter. Carol uses the third-person perspective to narrate her family’s history in an engaging manner which keeps the reader quickly flipping pages. The reader watches each sister grow up and find their own place in society while navigating family dynamics and drama.
The story of the Harding sisters propagates traditional family structures that were prevalent at the time, with marriage being the most important part of the children’s lives, especially women’s. Ruth is the only sister who never married or had any children, being an independent woman and a successful teacher. The book ends with the author, Carol E. Plimpton, visiting the graves of her mother and great aunts in the epilogue. In this way the story comes full circle, starting with the birth of the sisters to their deaths, and it left me feeling satisfied even if a bit misty-eyed.
The Harding Sisters Revisited imparts upon the reader a variety of life lessons. This book also helped me understand how big of a role death plays in the progression of other’s lives and made me reflect upon the temporary nature of life. I heartily recommend this book to readers looking for a heartfelt family saga. I am sure that different readers will come away with different lessons, but all readers will certainly walk away with a deeper appreciation for the Harding sisters.
Pages: 177 | ASIN: B09MXLN2Y3
Adventures in Local Politics
Adventures in Local Politics by Jeff Perlman shares the inspirational and enlightening journey the author embarked upon as he became mayor of Delray Beach, Florida. The author provides readers with an up close look as to what it takes to be Mayor of a city, detailing the good and the bad.
I enjoyed the moments where we got to learn about the authors personal life. It was like I was having a conversation over lunch and catching up with an old friend. This helps endear you to the author and makes the story much more engaging and personal. While this is ultimately an inspiring story, the author does share his traumatic experience battling COVID and how surviving it changed his perspective on life.
The author covers twenty topics on various subjects throughout the book such as the kind of leadership that it takes to be a mayor, having a clear vision, the ability to execute a plan, and partnering with the community. I also appreciated how deep we dive into each topic. The author shares his experiences and the outcome of his actions. This helps to show readers how to implement the ideas that are presented in the book.
This is the perfect book for readers who want to make a positive change in their community or want to learn what it takes to be in local politics. The author shares valuable information with readers, and I appreciate that he doesn’t sugar coat his bad experiences. Perlman has made big changes in Delray Beach and it shows as the city is now know for its tourism. The author comes off as personable and the tone throughout the book is that of a mentor. I think this book would be beneficial to read in a political studies class as there is a wealth of information shared by the author and lots of topics to discuss. Adventures in Local Politics is a fascinating story that is infused with practical and actionable advice that makes this illuminating book both entertaining and educational.
Pages: 182 | ASIN: 1457538938
LITERARY TITAN 