Blog Archives
Posttraumatic Stress Is Very Common
Fit for Off-Duty is a self-help book targeted at firefighters but is a useful resource for anyone dealing with PTSD and their families. Why was this an important book for you to write?
Having been raised by a firefighter, and having a brother who is a firefighter, I experienced the impact that work-related trauma exposure had on my family members and how even subtle changes in thought, feeling, and behavior impact the family system. This book was inspired by that as well as the thousands of first responders I treat in my practice, and I wanted to offer a resource that could help first responders and their families make sense of some of the conflicts that arise as a result of traumatic stress.
What is a common misconception you feel people have about PTSD?
That it is not common. Posttraumatic stress is very common, not just in first responders, but within the general population. People refer to it as many other things, but we certainly underestimate how many people are living in survival mode as a result of unresolved traumatic stress.
What do you hope is one thing readers take away from your book?
I hope the book will help people give themselves permission to heal from the unnecessary suffering that posttraumatic stress causes.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
I published a Law Enforcement version of the Fit For Off-Duty book which is currently available on Amazon, and I will be publishing another self-help/self-improvement book that is aimed more toward the general population that will be available sometime in May or June of this year.
Author Links: Twitter | Facebook | Website
The Importance Of Perseverance
My Life at Sweetbrier shares your experiences growing up on the Sweetbrier horse farm in Easton, Connecticut and conveys all the obstacles and emotions of that time. Why was this an important book for you to write?
In My Life at Sweetbrier, I wanted to convey the importance of perseverance in life. I firmly believe young readers would benefit from this story because it shows that determination can change the direction of your life. Also, many people have a negative attitude about things and they may be deterred from following their dreams if other people discourage them. But I’d like children to know that you can succeed against the odds if you refuse to give up on your dreams. Imagine what I would have missed if I didn’t pursue mine.
I appreciated the candid nature with which you told your story. What was the hardest thing for you to write about?
It was difficult to write about the fire in our barn that killed two of the horses. One of those was my mom’s beautiful, talented, Arabian stallion, Chiefie. Mom adored him. They had a rare connection and I was so hard for her to carry on without him. As always, she was a role model for her courage. Also as a family, we had to choose whether or not to rebuild our barn The fire showed us that we must carry on after a tragedy.
What is one memory that this book has helped you to remember?
My Life at Sweetbrier helped me recall how thrilled and blessed I am to have Peach, my remarkable horse who helped us become champions together. We had the kind of connection that Mom had with Chiefie. Peach understood me and seemed to be so sensitive to the pressure of my legs when I wanted her to lengthen her stride before a jump. She was beautiful and gifted at jumping. Peach loved jumping and that’s the reason she never grew tired of it, even when my sisters and I shared her at shows. Other horses were dragging themselves around the course by the end of the day, while she was still shaking her head and playing around. We won first place in our debut show together. As you can imagine, I was elated.
What is one thing you hope readers take away from your story?
I hope readers remember to always follow their dreams because they may accomplish much more than they imagine if they refuse to quit. Every person has bad days and fails from time to time. Even champions experience days when things do not go well. But every winner knows it’s what happens after your fall that matters.
Author Links: Amazon | GoodReads | Website
Literary Titan Book Awards May 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 Winners
Poems for the End of the Age by Hanz Peter Zell
Silver Award Winners
Bible, God and Free Will by Vasile Ghiuta
On a Fallen Wave by Benjamin Anderson
Visit the Literary Titan Book Awards page to see award information.
Revisiting My Journey
Mirror, Mirror on the Wall, Where Does My Self-Love Fall? you help readers probe their thoughts & emotions to uncover their self-concepts and provide tools to reshape them to live a fulfilling and happy life. Why was this an important book for you to write?
Wow, a great question! There were many reasons which compelled me to write this book. I’ll give you the twofold answer.
Briefly, I’ll speak on the ‘awakening (i.e, the beautiful awakening) moment’─ where I’d been and the new person I had become.
Revisiting my journey, I recalled all those broken pieces I’d lost along the way; while leaving that little girl inside me in pain. Abusing her so badly, a lot of my self-concepts were lost and scattered, e.g., self-worth; self-confidence; self-forgiveness; self-dignity; self-esteem; self-love; and other self-dimensions. I was like that Humpty Dumpty broken in pieces. I’d fallen down hard and needed help to get back up. I had to go back to pick up those broken pieces and start the work on “self.” Intitally, it was an extremely difficult challenge, but I never gave up. The struggle began having to rid self of those negative thoughts, figuring out all that was lost, and backtracking to pick up the pieces.
First and foremost, I had to forgive myself before I could move forward and begin the journey to “fixing self.” Once I put the energy and hard work into nurturing self, I saw a complete transformation. I’ve gained an appreciation for the use of affirmations, as well. There I was a new me ─ feeling different inside and out. Making that transformation equated with hard work and positive results. That’s when a light flickered (it’s book time), How many others have gone through a similar journey?
Originally, I wanted the book to be a companion to my memoir. After speaking with my publisher (Terri Leidich of WriteLife Publishing), we came to the conclusion that no one should have to read my storybook, Not a Blueprint, It’s the Shoe Prints that Matter, to do the work in this activity guide. Unfortunately, there are too many people out there who forfeit themselves through their journey, and don’t know where their self-love falls (i.e., lies). With that realization, we decided I needed to rewrite the material as a stand-alone. In all honesty, I thought it was going to be rather difficult. Yet, the more I’d gotten into the writing the easier it became to structure it.
What is one piece of advice you would give to someone who is struggling on the path to self-love?
I’m a strong believer in self-talk. Many know this talk as ‘those inner voices in the back of our heads that feeds us messages all day long.’ So, what I’d tell them is two-folded, “The use of daily affirmations plays an integral role in self-nurturing, Don’t give up on yourself!”
What is a common obstacle you find many people face when it comes to self-love?
There are several obstacles one faces when showering love on self. The major one which comes to my mind is, “We can always find the time to love on others. Rarely, do we take time out to love ourself. Think about that!”
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
Psst! Psst! . . .
Yes, I’m working on something. I’m a huge fan of those “true-life-stories.” That’s right, it’s one of those non-fictions and rather not reveal the full details, as yet. Be assured, it’s not a memoir. But, it’ll be a doozy ─ one that’ll knock your socks off and others’ as well.
To say the least, “It’s an eye-opener; with a splash of humor; and lots of heartbreaking moments.” I can share that much as I’m still pulling the research together.
With this one, there’s lots of research involved, which seems to be endless. At some point, I’ll have to cut it off and get busy with the writing phase.
When it’s ready for release, I’m confident many people will find this story relatable and embraceable with their interactions and what’s happening around society, today. All that’s involved in developing into a storybook, it definitely won’t be a release for this year. That’s for certain!
Author Links: Instagram | TikTok | GoodReads | Twitter | Facebook | Website
Readers of The Self-Esteem Workbook by Glenn R. Schiraldi, PHD and The Self-Compassion Skill Workbook by Tim Desmond will like Mirror, Mirror on the Wall.
Soul of a Swimmer
Soul of a Swimmer is an incredibly touching and beautiful story written by Carla Albano. The narrative tells the true story of Nicholas Dworet, a promising champion swimmer from Florida who was tragically killed in a school shooting at the age of 17. The author compiled the story following a series of interviews with Nicholas’s friends and family members, and within the book, she explores all aspects of Nicholas’s life. She looks at events ranging from the origins of how his parents met to his conquests as a young athlete with aspirations of competing in the Olympics.
Due to the subject matter, and the obvious conclusion of the story, it was devastating to read about this amazing young man’s life. Reading about how adored he was by his family and countless others, and seeing him develop and grow his skill and strength throughout the novel, was gripping and interesting, yet bittersweet, tinged with tragedy. Considering this, it’s clear that the author took great care to paint Nicholas and his family in the most respective and loving light. The story was written with careful awareness of the tragic nature of the situation and hopeful optimism that makes the narrative incredibly charming and easygoing.
Regarding Albano’s writing style, I found her prose to be fantastically detailed, with great attention to developing both the setting and the characters. She presents everything in such a great way that the story feels more vibrant and dynamic. Overall this story was enjoyable to read, filled with interesting details about Nicholas’s passion for swimming and his life in general.
Soul of a Swimmer is a fascinating book that pays great respect to Nicholas’s memory as an extraordinarily talented athlete, a kind and loving gentleman, and an exceptionally adored son. It was a charming story and a pleasure to read and learn about the life of a young man brimming with potential, so sadly taken from this Earth long before his time.
Pages: 170 | ASIN : B09NCDTFYL
Mud Flower
Mud Flower: Surviving Schizophrenia and Suicide Through Art is a memoir by Meghan J.M. Caughey that focuses on her struggles with mental health, schizophrenia, and suicidal thoughts and the way she, the people around her, and society have dealt with mental health in the past and present. This book also covers the impact that art can have on our lives and how it can save us. It’s a story that teaches us about strength, meaning, and persistence and that even though life is filled with daily struggles, some worse than others, it is worth living and enjoying every moment of it.
This perceptive memoir follows Caughey’s struggles on two separate timelines, one being the present day and the other one being the past, starting way back in the 70’s when she was a college freshman. This book is truly so much more than just a memoir. The way every line is written is so simple yet we perfectly understand what she is going through. It is so masterfully done that we feel like we are the ones experiencing everything that she is dealing with.
Perhaps the most important part of understanding her struggles is all her inner voices and thoughts that she writes and shares so eloquently. Here is a quote from the book that captures the emotional depth and incisive self-reflection that’s delivered in beautiful contemporary prose: “The Messenger of Hope? Oh, girl, there you go being grandiose again! You’re surely no messenger of hope. Watch out!!! Oh, hypocrite! Liar, liar!”
In addition to all the mental health struggles this memoir also explores the things that are happening in our day-to-day lives; mentioning the COVID-19 pandemic as well as George Floyd’s murder and other events that impacted us all.
Mud Flower: Surviving Schizophrenia and Suicide Through Art is a wonderful read for anyone looking for an emotionally resonant memoir that explores a variety of social issues. I would especially recommend it to anyone struggling with their mental health, to know that you they are not alone, and psychology students and practitioners because it will really help you understand the mind of someone who is struggling.
Pages: 198 | ASIN: B09217LYD6
Real Events of Narcissistic Abuse
Abuse can present itself in a multitude of different ways; through her book Real Events of Narcissistic Abuse, Michelle Dickey shares some of the intimate details of her life where she may have encountered narcissistic personalities. She explores her previous romantic relationships as well as those with co-workers etc. and explains where things started to go wrong in each unique situation. Finally, through finding God and developing her thinking, thanks to the uncomfortable and sometimes horrible experiences she has had, she shares with the reader how she managed to keep going.
The book’s tone is very casual, with sentences such as ‘Anyway, back to the new dude’ integrated through the text. This makes it informal and conversational, which allows the reader to feel like they are interacting with Michelle Dickey directly. This style makes the more horrific elements, such as stalking or rape, more comfortable to discuss and relatable for the reader.
These are just a few of the relevant and pertinent themes that run throughout this writing piece. Another key aspect of this book is the religious references; this has been a vital part of the autobiographical accounts of Dickey, a substantial piece of her life that has helped her grow as a person in her own way.
The author provides beneficial life experiences in her book, and it has the ability to help the reader spot potential signs of narcissistic behavior. In addition, some parts may help someone else in a similar situation if they are like Dickey themselves. However, these are extremely specific scenarios that the writer had to deal with and managed to overcome.
Real Events of Narcissistic Abuse is one woman’s memoir on surviving narcissistic abusive relationships. She tells her story to help other people identify the red flags early on and know to get out of those situations. The author has relied on her spiritual beliefs to get through these moments and offers references for those who need them.
Pages: 125 | ASIN : B09VRB2LRT
LITERARY TITAN 