Blog Archives
Mental Health Facility
Melissa Owens’ Mental Health Facility is a masterful exploration of the dark undercurrents in the mental health industry. Through four harrowing stories, Owens exposes the ethical dilemmas, systemic flaws, and human cost of a field often shrouded in silence. This thought-provoking collection delves deep into the challenges faced by both workers and clients, presenting an unflinching critique of an institution that struggles to balance humanity with profitability.
Each story stands as a distinct yet interconnected piece, delivering impactful narratives that are as compelling as they are unsettling. In “Rachel’s Story,” ambition erodes integrity, illustrating how personal gain can compromise professional ethics. “I Trust My Clients” examines the delicate balance between loyalty to coworkers and the responsibility to protect clients. “Treat Me with Some Respect” highlights the grim consequences of prioritizing corporate image over safety, while “Nurse Ratchet” unveils the betrayal of an oath, leading to turmoil that echoes through the system.
Owens writes with precision and depth, bringing the cold, clinical backdrop of mental health facilities vividly to life. Her descriptive prowess draws readers into environments marked by sterility, monotony, and concealed chaos, setting the perfect stage for the narratives’ unfolding tensions. Themes of power, neglect, and moral ambiguity permeate each story, encouraging reflection on the industry’s impact not just on individuals but on the broader community. The book’s strength lies in its multifaceted approach.
Owens crafts well-developed characters and engaging storylines, ensuring each narrative holds its own while contributing to the overarching critique. Her meticulous pacing and sharp insights keep readers engrossed, blending stark reality with immersive storytelling. The tone, though stern, is balanced by the humanity of her characters, making the work both enlightening and deeply emotional.
With Mental Health Facility, Owens delivers an essential commentary on an often-overlooked sector. Her ability to weave gripping stories with social critique creates a book that is as informative as it is compelling, leaving readers with much to ponder about the complexities of mental health care.
Pages: 103 | ASIN : B0DJNPZGZ8
It’s Ok To Make Mistakes
What was the idea, or spark, that first set off the need to write A Black Woman’s Journey?
I wrote the book so young African American Woman know its ok to make mistakes due to not having a positive male role model in there life. Let them know they are still beautiful no matter what makes they make.
I appreciated the candid nature with which you told your story. What was the hardest thing for you to write about?
It was hard writing all the stories especially because I can relate to almost all of them. The hardest story to writer was the first one, because This was my story and I experienced it before I even turned 18 years old.
What is one piece of advice you wish someone had given you when you were younger?
Before you jump into a relationship with someone, take a few months to get to know them and don’t be afraid to ask questions.
What do you hope is one thing readers take away from your story?
Its ok to make mistakes, just learn from them and move on. Never look backwards, just continue to move forward.
Author Links: Amazon | GoodReads
Here Are the Pros and Cons When You Decide to Bring the Bedroom to Work!!
Here Are The Pros and Cons When You Decide To Bring The Bedroom To Work by Melissa Owens is a gritty and unflinching look at the complexities and nuances of dating a co-worker. Through a series of short stories, the author delves into the various scenarios that can arise when personal and professional lives intersect. From falling in love with a co-worker who is already in a relationship to the aftermath of a breakup when the employer is dating an employee, Owens paints a realistic picture of the pros and cons of dating someone at work and the potential impact on one’s job.
Owens masterfully crafts vivid scenarios. After reading the first few stories in this book, readers would be led to believe that Owens aims to create a didactic work with her writing where workplace romance is absolutely bad news. But stories like ‘EMT and Outreach Counselor’ as well as ‘Maintenance Man’ cast new light on how different the outcome of bringing the bedroom to work can be.
Through these relatable tales, Owen astutely illustrates the pros and cons of workplace romance while weaving in valuable life lessons. One of the standout features of the book is the author’s unfiltered writing style. The language is raw and unapologetically graphic, making the characters feel all the more realistic and genuine while distinguishing this book as a ‘tell-it-as-it-is’ book. Although there is little artistic polishing to the writing, any form of aesthetic relish that can be enjoyed from it can only come from how easily the stories flow. It all ties up to make it an easy and enjoyable read despite the weighty subject matters it explored.
The author does not shy away from tackling controversial topics such as power imbalances and harassment, and she presents them in a way that is both honest and sensitive. Here Are The Pros and Cons When You Decide To Bring The Bedroom To Work is a valuable resource for anyone considering dating a colleague and anyone who wants to learn more about the complexities of workplace relationships.
Pages: 100 | ASIN : B09H7R93YW
It Has BACKFIRED On Me
Regrets, Love, Sex and Life Lessons is a provocative collection of short stories that shows all the good and bad things that come with being an adult. Was there anything from your own life that you put into this collection?
My first story, ” 2 Imperfect people” came from my own personal experience. I am a Case Manager and a Mental Health Advocate, plus, When I was diagnosed with a mental health disorder, I was in a locked facility and I met a few good people there.
I really enjoyed the story, ‘Love, Headache, and bad Timing’. Do you have a story that stands out to you from this collection?
My second story, “Country Carlton has taught me a true lesson in this thing called “Life”. This story stands out because as women, sometimes we see what we want to see instead of seeing things for what they really are. We see the “RED FLAGS” and still continue to believe something different. I personally have a habit of turning my head to things that is so obvious, just so I don’t have to deal with it. It has “BACKFIRED” on me everytime.
What were some emotions that were important for you to portray in this collection?
As women, we naturally think with our heart and that is ok, but unfortunately severe heartache comes with it. Instead of being so quick to jump into a relationship, we should get to know the person and see if the situation is right for us and them.
What do you hope is one thing readers take away from your book?
Its ok to make mistakes in any relationship. Never feel ashamed for loving the wrong person. Never give up on love but just remember to love yourself first and everything will fall in place.
Author Links: Amazon | GoodReads
It seems as we get older, we always end up thinking with the “Wrong Head” and it always causes severe heart break or severe consequences.
One thing I can honestly say is, you’re not living your best life if you’re not making mistakes and you’re not truly an adult, if you’re not learning from them.
Regrets, Love, Sex and Life Lessons
Regrets, Love, Sex and Life Lessons by Melissa Owens will take you on an evocative and scandalous journey through a series of short stories about relationships and life choices that have expected and unexpected outcomes. This provocative compilation of narratives will be relatable to many and shocking to most. Should you keep quiet about inappropriate affairs in the workplace? Can you ignore the red flags with the new boyfriend? Is your gut feeling about someone reliable? Should you act upon passion driven impulses? These are the questions the characters have to answer for themselves and live with the consequences: good, bad, or indifferent.
2 Imperfect People threw me for a loop and was a story that I did not expect. Author Melissa Owens sets a quick pace with this story and I wanted to read more. From there the stories took me on a roller coaster of emotions and I found myself rolling my eyes and rooting for the main character for sticking up for herself. I feel many of these stories will be relatable to many readers, especially women. The sex scenes were incredible; many of the characters in the stories were having sex for three hours! The author created vivid scenes that are filled with passion and yearning and sometimes that ended in disappointment for one of the characters, mostly the women. Country Carlton Has Taught Me a True Valuable Lesson in This Thing Called “Life” is another short story that surprised me because of Carlton’s behavior.
Author Melissa Owens has provided readers with a collection of intriguing stories about women and their experiences with dating, having sex, and regretting many decisions with the men that they choose. This is a captivating read and, while relatable, the last story in the book gives hope to many that there are still good ones out there.
Pages: 122 | ASIN: B09B4F7SS4
A Black Woman’s Journey
“You live, and you learn” is an idiom we have all heard often, and those lessons can come at a disproportionately high cost when it comes to relationships. Learning to navigate the roads of life and love can be difficult, but author Melissa Owens has resolved to keep moving up despite past mistakes. A heartbreak, however painful, can always be an opportunity to discover a new truth, whether it be about yourself or the world around you, and it should never be viewed as the end of the world regardless of its hurt.
A Black Woman’s Journey: Memoirs Of Love, Pain Loss, Comfort, and Forgiveness is Melissa’s personal travels through relationships as she tries her best to become more than her childhood and inopportune beginnings. She begins by acknowledging the societal influences that lead women of color toward a life of unfilled and unrequited love, then immediately jumps into her own story with no hesitation.
Pulling no punches, Owens unflinchingly talks about her teen pregnancy, her first genuinely satisfying sexual experience. In these situations, she’d thought she’d found “the one” and every bit of good, bad, and ugly in between. It’s a fast-paced memoir that shows the power of perseverance and learning to recognize your own needs. Owens never shies away from her own flaws, fleshing them out as naturally and objectively as if she were talking about anyone else. This story could easily be received as a cautionary tale, but at its heart, it is more optimistic than that, telling others to live a life without regrets. Owens detailed an immense amount of pain and heartbreak, all at a relatively young age, but her message is always to focus on yourself and move on. Personal accountability plays heavily into her story to a refreshing degree.
I enjoyed A Black Woman’s Journey as it was a quick read and didn’t get into much depth with any of the encounters. However, it was an interesting insight into the resilience that is necessary for survival sometimes, whether it’s within the world of dating or just life in general. In addition, Owens writes with a candor that makes it seem as if she were beside you, simply having a conversation, which makes it a much more personal read.
Pages: 72 | ASIN : B0BD5F8L6D
LITERARY TITAN 