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Love Yourself

Indra Rinzler Author Interview

Indra’s Net offers readers a spiritual guide that blends personal experiences and grounded spiritual lessons within a Tarot-inspired structure. Why was this an important book for you to write?

For my own growth.

Is there anything you now wish you had included in Indra’s Net? Any additional anecdotes or bits of wisdom?

No.

What is one thing you hope readers take away from your book? 

Love yourself.

Can we look forward to more releases from you soon? What are you currently working on?

Ideas, but nothing definite.
 
Author Links:
GoodReads | Facebook | Website

Literary Titan Gold Book Award

Adult Nonfiction Book of the Year, 
San Francisco Writer’s Conference

FOR THOSE WHO SEEK ANSWERS, UNDERSTANDING, INSPIRATION, & INNER PEACE

Indra’s Net is a collection of themes about learning to live an awakened life and opening one’s mind and heart to the Self. It is for those who seek answers, understanding, inspiration, and inner peace. It discusses topics such as vulnerability, codependence, arrogance, impermanence, gratitude, and failure, and contains wisdom and teachings from many paths.

This book can be used as daily inspiration, a tool for self-improvement, a spiritual lesson plan, and a source of divination. Full of helpful techniques, hints, humor, and love, all oriented towards making sense of our human experiences and discovering a cosmic home here on Earth, it is a how to do and how to be manual.

The format mirrors a traditional Tarot card deck, although it offers a new take on both Tarot meanings and spiritual discovery outside of Tarot readings. The book can be used as a modern guide to reading and understanding Tarot card meanings.

In the two-thousand-year-old tradition of Indra’s Net, each perfect faceted jewel reflects every other jewel and is reflected by that jewel. It’s an image of interdependence, in that everything is connected to everything else. Indra’s Net is not a poetic or a philosophical idea, it’s the way life functions.

Indra’s Net is a product of author Indra Rinzler’s 50+ years of living on the spiritual path, assembled from decades of study, wisdom paths, practices, experiences, and revelations.

How we view life is our choice. This book is meant to encourage one to choose from a higher wisdom and connection to the truest Self. That which we wish to understand and become, transforms us in the very process of seeking. As we open to awareness, we awaken to the significance of all dimensions of reality.

From a hod to an odd EM wave

From a Hod to an Odd EM Wave follows D. A. Weston’s life from a rough start in postwar Britain to a long, winding career in engineering and research. The book moves through building sites, radio repair shops, mental-health research labs, nuclear facilities, and international consulting work. Along the way, Weston meets people who are brilliant, kind, petty, tragic, and sometimes heroic. His memoir mixes personal anecdotes with technical curiosities, plus emotional reflections on war, ethics, science, and the strange places a career can lead. It feels like a tour through the human side of engineering, full of sharp memories and surprising turns.

I found myself pulled in by the plainspoken honesty in his stories. He writes in a way that feels like the reader is sitting across from someone who has lived five lifetimes and is finally ready to talk. Some scenes hit hard. The thalidomide children, the chaotic fights in the lab, the grim humor around radiation work, and the quiet sadness of patients stuck in outdated psychiatric systems. Other parts feel warm and almost nostalgic. His delight in radios and tape recorders, his pride in small technical victories, his awe at mentors who believed in him. At times I laughed, then suddenly felt my stomach drop. The emotional swing made the book feel alive, even when the writing wandered.

The parts that lingered most for me were the stories that touched on moral courage. Rudy’s escape from Auschwitz and his fight to warn the world. The reminders that science is done by flawed people who can steal credit, cut corners, or act with unexpected kindness. Weston never hides his own missteps either. That humility made me trust him more. Sometimes the prose felt abrupt, but I didn’t mind. It matched the way memories surface in real life. The mix of technical curiosity and human vulnerability kept me hooked.

From a hod to an odd EM wave is ideal for readers who enjoy memoirs with grit and candor, especially those curious about science and engineering from the inside. It is raw, personal, and full of feeling. I recommend it to anyone who likes hearing about life told straight from the heart and who does not mind a ride that goes from light to heavy and back again.

Pages: 223 | ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0G9C9R31N

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Easy-To-Use Tactics

Jeffrey Tolstad Author Interview

Dr. Toad’s Short Book for a Long Memory is a guide that blends humor with practical advice, vivid examples, quirky illustrations, and down-to-earth explanations to show how memory works and how anyone can strengthen it. Why was this an important book for you to write?

Among several reasons, I wanted to be a physician because I receive tremendous satisfaction from helping people with challenges. No longer in clinical practice or teaching, I realized some time ago that everyone—no matter their age—worries about lapses in memory. I knew I could help by offering my simple, easy-to-use tactics.

What is a common misconception you feel people have about memory and learning to improve it?

If you are young, under 40 years old, you worry about looking dumb when you can’t remember someone’s name or phone number. If you are older, you worry about early dementia. A lot of people assume they have a memory problem if they can’t recall everything. Not true! As I describe in my book, forgetting things is common. Good memory does not require brilliance. It only requires a small effort to employ one’s imagination.

Learning to strengthen memory can be overwhelming. What were some ideas that can help readers feel more comfortable with starting this process?

Start with a name you want to memorize. Use your imagination to turn that name into a mental image that is outlandish. If that image makes you laugh, you are on the right track. This may sound silly at first, but it works! Turning one’s wristwatch over and linking it to an item or date is another simple technique.

What is one thing that you hope readers take away from Dr. Toad’s Short Book for a Long Memory?

I hope readers will believe that they truly can improve their memory for things that are important by using the simple, easy-to-understand techniques that anyone can use. They can DO it!

 
Author Links: GoodReads | LinkedIn | Website | Amazon

Dr. Toad’s Short Book for a Long Memory is a lighthearted yet practical guide to remembering more and stressing less. No matter your age or background, you’ll discover that memory isn’t a fixed trait but a skill you can strengthen. With proven techniques and a touch of humor, Dr. Toad makes the process feel approachable—and even fun. Whether you’re a student cramming for exams, a professional juggling countless details, or simply someone who wants to recall names and dates with ease, this illustrated book gives you tools you can use right away to strengthen your memory, boost your confidence, and enjoy the everyday wins that come with remembering what matters most.

Dr. Toad’s Short Book for a Long Memory is the first book in the Dr. Toad series, created to share simple, achievable solutions for the everyday challenges we all face on the path to better health and well-being.

Dr. Toad’s Short Book for a Long Memory

Dr. Toad’s Short Book for a Long Memory is a light and friendly guide that walks readers through simple ways to recall names, numbers, lists, and lost items. The book blends humor with practical advice, using vivid examples, quirky illustrations, and down-to-earth explanations to show how memory works and how anyone can strengthen it. It moves through seven short chapters that each offer a new tool or idea and wraps it all up with a warm push toward healthier habits for a sharper mind.

As I read it, I found myself smiling at how disarming the tone is. The author talks about blimps, spilled eggs, dancing seniors, and cartoon images glued to people’s faces. It made learning feel easy. At times, I caught myself trying out the techniques before I even realized it. When he described the Roman Room idea, I could almost see my own messy living room turning into a mental storage unit, and it honestly made me laugh. I liked that the writing never tries to sound smarter than it needs to be. It keeps things simple and conversational, which left me feeling more relaxed than judged.

I also appreciated how encouraging the book feels. The author stresses that forgetfulness is normal and often harmless. That reminder took a weight off my shoulders. Reading the sections on distraction and switch tasking made me nod in recognition because they felt so true to daily life. Some parts felt a little repetitive, and I wished a few techniques had more real-world examples. Still, the charm of the book never fades. I felt the writer rooting for me, which made the advice land with more force.

By the end, I felt motivated. The book’s mix of science, humor, and practical steps stirred a sense of hope that memory can be trained with small habits. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants simple tools without heavy jargon. It is great for busy people, older adults who feel a little nervous about forgetfulness, students who want to sharpen their recall, and anyone who has walked into a room and muttered, “Why did I come in here?”

Pages: 67 | ASIN : B0G3TDSHJD

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Back Into Delight: Grief Recovery at the Speed of Life

Back Into Delight is a grief recovery book that blends memoir and self-help, following Paul O’Neill as he recounts the losses of his brother and later his son, and the slow work of teaching a shocked, frozen body how to move again. The book moves through the warping force of bereavement, the paralysis of shutdown, and the tools that help coax a person back toward breath, connection, and, eventually, delight. O’Neill shares stories, somatic techniques, and moments of dark humor to show how grief can bend a life but does not have to break it. It’s part personal narrative, part practical guide, all oriented toward finding motion in the aftermath of loss.

O’Neill writes with a mix of clarity and lived authority that made me lean in. He doesn’t romanticize grief. He doesn’t turn it into a neat psychological model. He just walks me through the reality of it, page by page. His descriptions of shutdown hit especially hard: the body going still, breath thinning out, thoughts getting muffled. I recognised that feeling. And I appreciated how he roots his methods in the physical, not the abstract. There is something grounding about watching him refuse to let grief stay purely conceptual. Breath, posture, voice, humor. These are small, almost embarrassingly simple interventions, but he shows how they become anchors.

I was surprised by how often I smiled. His tone shifts in a way that feels inviting. One moment he’s describing the unbearable silence of losing his son, and the next he’s talking about noodle-breaths or Stretch Armstrong or telling himself he’s not Humpty Dumpty. The humour doesn’t soften the pain so much as make space inside it. It lets the ideas land in a real, lived way. And when he brings in the tools of trance, voice modulation, and emotional repatterning, he does it without jargon. It’s practical. Warm. Sometimes blunt. Sometimes tender. The kind of writing that feels like someone reaching across the table to say, “Try this. It helped me.”

By the end, I felt steadier. Not because the book offers solutions, but because it treats healing as a practice. Grief recovery, in O’Neill’s world, isn’t a miracle. It’s a muscle. It’s a series of cues that teach the body it is safe enough to return. This is where the book’s genre really shines: it lives at the intersection of memoir and self-help, and that blend makes the guidance feel earned.

If you want a companion for the messy middle of loss, someone speaking plainly and offering tools that actually feel usable, then I’d recommend it wholeheartedly. This book is especially for readers who feel frozen in their grief, who need something gentle but not vague, and who are open to a mix of story, science, and the smallest sparks of humour cutting through the dark.

Pages: 108 | ASIN : B0F92GTHSP

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Nurse Dorothea® presents Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction and Why Mindfulness is a Key Coping Skill

Nurse Dorothea Presents Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction and Why Mindfulness Is a Key Coping Skill by Michael Dow is a warm, inviting introduction to mindfulness presented through a fictional after-school class. Nurse Dorothea guides readers through the basics of mental health, the meaning of mindfulness, and the many ways it can improve daily life. The book mixes friendly explanations, real research, and simple activities while also covering Jon Kabat-Zinn’s nine pillars of mindfulness and the three main practices: meditation, body scanning, and mindful yoga. It’s an easygoing, approachable read meant for people of all ages.

The book opens with Dorothea reminding the class that every person is one life event away from facing a mental health challenge, which felt honest and grounding. Throughout the early chapters, she repeats gentle reminders to be patient and nonjudgmental with yourself, and I found those small, warm nudges surprisingly comforting. The writing avoids heavy language and instead feels like someone sitting beside you, calmly talking you through your own thoughts.

I also really enjoyed the student comments woven throughout the book. They make the lessons feel alive and relatable. One student mentions that mindfulness while driving helps keep you safe, and another talks about how multitasking can pull you away from the moment. These small interactions add humor and humanity to the material. They break up the teaching in a way that makes the book feel more like a real class than a traditional self-help guide.

The seated meditation instructions are clear and easy to follow, and the emphasis on letting your mind wander without judgment made me feel oddly relieved. The body scan exercise is explained in a simple, calm voice that made me want to try it right away. Even the yoga section feels approachable, especially when the author reassures readers not to judge themselves if they wobble or fall. That moment actually made me smile because it felt so human.

The book is gentle, sincere, and wonderfully beginner-friendly. I’d recommend it to teens, parents, teachers, or anyone who wants a simple and encouraging introduction to mindfulness. If you’re looking for a book that feels like a calm, supportive voice guiding you through stress and distraction, this one fits the bill perfectly.

Pages: 179 | ISBN : 978-1-968690-01-4

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Nurse Dorothea® presents Healthy Relationships

Healthy Relationships presents a thoughtful and approachable exploration of what helps relationships thrive. The book is framed as a guided workshop led by Nurse Dorothea, who walks readers through the core ingredients of healthy connection, communication, boundaries, empathy, responsibility, and self-awareness. Although the tone is gentle and accessible, the book is wide in scope, touching on friendships, family ties, romantic partnerships, and online relationships. Its structure blends direct instruction, reflective prompts, and short personal stories in a way that encourages readers to slow down and consider how they relate to others.

The classroom-style format works particularly well. Early in the book, readers are invited to pause, write, and reflect, which creates a sense of active participation. Simple metaphors, like caring for relationships as one would tend a garden, and the recurring reminders that everyone faces challenges, offer a steady, grounding presence throughout the text. At times, the tone can feel overly earnest, but that sincerity reinforces the author’s intention: to encourage readers to approach their relationships with clarity and kindness.

The many student stories woven into the book add depth and texture. Accounts from individuals describing supportive parents, patient partners, meaningful friendships, or online connections create an authentic emotional thread. These examples are used to highlight specific principles such as trust, cooperation, and mutual respect, and they break up the instructional sections in a way that feels natural. The book does not shy away from discussing difficult dynamics either. Its explanations of imbalance, dishonesty, control, and disrespect are concise and direct, making the warnings easy to understand without sensationalism.

The section on meaningful apologies stands out for its emphasis on responsibility and repair rather than defensiveness. Later discussions on reconnecting with others and choosing high-quality relationships are practical and encouraging. The message is consistent and clear: healthy relationships are intentional, vulnerable, and sustained through ongoing care.

Nurse Dorothea® presents Healthy Relationships offers a steady, compassionate guide for readers of all ages. It would be especially valuable for educators, counselors, families, and anyone seeking a straightforward framework for understanding relational well-being. Its warmth, clarity, and practicality make it a supportive companion for those hoping to build stronger and more thoughtful connections.

Pages: 239 | ISBN : 978-1-968690-00-7

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The Howl of the Whisper

The Howl of the Whisper traces MaryAnn Gramig’s long struggle with her inner critic, beginning with childhood wounds and stretching through decades of self-doubt, crisis, and eventual healing. She weaves stories about anorexia, motherhood, trauma, Shakespeare, and the slow climb toward self-understanding. The book blends personal narrative with practical exercises built around CliftonStrengths, all aimed at helping readers quiet the harsh voice in their heads and uncover a truer sense of self.

I found myself pulled in by the honesty. Some pages made my chest tighten, especially the moments about her daughter’s stroke. Other parts felt soft and warm like someone handing you a blanket when you did not ask for one but really needed it. Her writing is simple and direct, and she tells her story without putting on airs. I liked that. It made me trust her. It also made the heavier moments easier to take in.

The ideas here are familiar at first glance. Still, the way she shapes them around her own life gives them a new kind of punch. The inner critic is not an abstract thing in her world. It is a presence that taunts her, trips her up, and clings for years. When she talks about learning to see her strengths clearly, I could feel the tug of both fear and relief. I found myself nodding along. I also caught myself thinking about my own patterns and how often I let them run the show. The casual tone made those reflections hit harder, not softer.

By the end, I felt grateful for the time spent with this book. It is heartfelt and plainspoken and surprisingly comforting. I would recommend it to anyone who feels pushed around by their own thoughts, anyone who keeps shrinking themselves to stay safe, and anyone who wants a gentle guide toward a more grounded and honest version of themselves. It is especially good for readers who enjoy memoir mixed with hands-on exercises and who appreciate a voice that speaks like a friend sitting beside them instead of a teacher standing in front of them.

Pages: 144 | ASIN: B0FTZL4S19

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