Blog Archives
Vanquishing Monsters A Companion Workbook to the Unvarnished Truth
“Vanquishing Monsters: A Companion Workbook to the Unvarnished Truth” is a deeply introspective and practical guide designed to accompany her memoir, “The Unvarnished Truth: Purpose in the Pain.” This workbook delves into complex issues such as pain, suicidal ideation, abuse, and personal empowerment. Each chapter introduces a theme, provides personal insights, and includes exercises and worksheets aimed at fostering self-discovery and resilience.
The workbook’s practical approach is one of its most compelling features. Hylton doesn’t just tell her story; she offers readers actionable tools to work through their challenges. For instance, in Chapter 1, “Unpacking Pain,” the author provides a nuanced exploration of pain, encouraging readers to reflect on their emotional and physical experiences. The inclusion of a multi-part self-assessment helps users identify the frequency of various aspects of pain, dissect emotions, and creatively express their pain. All of this helps make the abstract concept more tangible. This method of translating personal pain into something that can be actively worked on sets the tone for the entire workbook.
Hylton’s writing is authentic and empathetic, which makes the workbook feel like a conversation with a wise, understanding friend. Her candid reflections on overcoming suicidal ideation in Chapter 2 resonated deeply with me. She shares her own struggles and triumphs, making the exercises that follow, such as journaling and practicing gratitude, feel genuine and achievable. The personal anecdotes scattered throughout the workbook add a layer of relatability as well, transforming abstract self-help concepts into real-world applications.
Another chapter that touched me deeply is Chapter 12. This chapter is a deeply introspective and uplifting exploration of personal spirituality. Hylton deftly navigates the delicate balance between individual belief systems and universal spiritual concepts, making this chapter a serene and thought-provoking conclusion to the workbook. She encourages readers to engage in reflective practices such as meditation and prayer, offering various exercises catering to various spiritual traditions. Her compassionate approach to spirituality stands out, emphasizing personal connection and growth over dogma. The chapter includes practical tools for integrating spirituality into daily life, fostering a sense of peace and purpose that resonates beyond the pages.
“Vanquishing Monsters” is a valuable resource for anyone navigating the tumultuous waters of personal trauma and looking for a structured path toward healing. Its mix of introspective exercises and personal reflections makes it accessible and engaging. I recommend this workbook to those who have read Hylton’s memoir and are seeking a deeper understanding of their own experiences, as well as to anyone in need of practical tools for self-exploration and resilience. While some sections may be challenging, the overall tone is uplifting and supportive, making it a worthwhile companion on the journey to personal empowerment.
Pages: 144 | ASIN: B0CXXXZV3S
Mommy Needs A Minute
Mommy Needs a Minute is a heartfelt and candid exploration of the journey from burnout to empowerment in modern mothers’ lives. Drawing from her personal experiences and extensive research, author Alyssa Brade offers a compassionate look into the struggles of motherhood, emphasizing the importance of self-care, mental health, and maternal intuition. The book is a blend of memoir and practical advice aimed at helping mothers find balance and reclaim their sense of self amid the chaos of raising young children.
From the very beginning, Brade’s writing is engaging and relatable. The introduction sets the tone with humor and authenticity, capturing the reader’s attention by vividly describing the less-than-ideal circumstances many mothers find themselves in while trying to find a moment of peace. Her honesty about her own struggles, such as feeling inadequate and overwhelmed, resonates deeply, making it easy for readers to connect with her narrative. The book’s structure, which blends personal anecdotes with insights and practical tips, keeps the reader engaged while providing valuable information.
Brade’s discussion of information burnout is one of the book’s strongest aspects. She effectively highlights the paradox of the modern age, where an abundance of parenting advice often leads to confusion and self-doubt rather than empowerment. Her anecdote about obsessively researching the perfect swaddle for her baby only to find that her husband’s simple solution worked best perfectly illustrates how parental intuition can sometimes be more effective than expert advice. This theme is consistently woven throughout the book, encouraging mothers to trust their instincts and find a balance between external advice and personal intuition.
Brade also tackles the challenging topic of mental health burnout with sensitivity and depth. She shares her own journey of recognizing the need for mental health care and provides practical, actionable steps for mothers to prioritize their well-being. The chapter on slow living was particularly impactful to me. It offered concrete steps to simplify life and reduce stress. Brade’s emphasis on self-worth and the need to set boundaries is a refreshing reminder that taking care of oneself is not only beneficial but essential for effective parenting.
Mommy Needs a Minute is a must-read for any mother feeling the weight of burnout and the pressures of modern parenting. Alyssa Brade’s compassionate and authentic voice and her practical advice make this book an invaluable resource.
Pages: 168 | ASIN : B0D523K45F
A Light at the End of the Tunnel
Compos Mentis: Of Sound Mind approaches mental wellness differently than most self-help books. Instead of focusing on long-term solutions, your book teaches readers practical exercises using real-life examples that help them during an episode. Why was this an important book for you to write?
Because these skills helped me a lot through my worst times. And still help me to this day. It was also lock down and I was reading on the news about many more people suffering with mental health. And so I wanted to do something that could help people. So I decided to write a book on what I had learnt and how it helps.
Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT) is a unique approach that many have not heard of. What is one thing you think readers need to understand about DBT and how it can benefit them?
You need to practice the skills not just when you are unwell or in distress but also when you are well, so then it becomes second nature to do those skills when you are in distress.
What is one thing that you hope readers take away from Compos Mentis: Of Sound Mind?
To feel that they are not alone and that there is light at the end of the tunnel.
Do you have plans for a follow up book to this one? If so, what topics will the next book cover?
I have started to write another book, its more of an autobiographical story. So based on true events in my life.
Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Facebook | Website
Did you notice that all the CBT and self-help books, work in the longer term and want you to change your thinking?
And have you ever found that hard to do when you are feeling distressed in that moment?
Then this book is your answer!
Based on Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT) which is a skills-based therapy designed to help you in that moment of distress. I have compiled a variety of skills based on this and on techniques I have learned over the years to help you the way they helped me.
Start Communicating Again
In If I Could Wish, a teenager’s final suicide letter reveals the personal struggles and immense anguish leading up to their suicide. Why was this an important story for you to share with readers?
I would say it’s always important to discuss how us humans handle and react to situations and or chains of them. However, it is far more important to me to discuss suicide as it is a very prominent issue in our world. I feel like this topic can be seen as taboo or unacceptable to talk about where it really mustn’t be: these are human lives we’re talking about, mental states, families. How can we just sit back and turn a blind eye to the issue all because it can be seen as too gloomy or depressing? I say we should take these dark & depressing subjects and create an open dialogue about them so we can make progress and help each other instead of becoming more isolated with the world. Many of my teenage peers are falling victim to mental health issues due to an abundance of reasons, I am Scottish, and we are very lucky to have our own national health service which covers mental health too, but the way the UK is being run is leaving our NHS with no adequate funding and therefore, we have a crippled NHS. So if we can’t fund services, if we can’t afford services, then we should at least change our international or national mindsets on the matter and start communicating again. Not through our phones, but through our humanity.
What is one thing that you hope readers take away from If I Could Wish?
I personally hope that readers are able to take away the fact that stories like these aren’t too far off from reality and we need to start being communal again rather than plainly individualistic. We really do need to speak up on this matter and speak to people who may be struggling, even people who we don’t think are struggling very well could be. We ought to look out for one another more often, we really never know how far that goes.
What is a common misconception you feel people have about mental health, especially as it relates to teenagers?
I think that the common misconception about teenagers’ mental health issues is that it’s ALL due to social media. It’s really not. Today’s teenagers are in a predicament of the likes our species has never seen before. Personally, I even say that we have progressed too fast without thinking about the effects. However, although some of the issues stem from social media and digital use, the other issues stem from social situations, economic situations, and national attitudes towards teenagers. I’ll break them down a bit more. Social situations meaning a workplace or school, friends even. Sometimes we’re not always in the healthiest relationships with our schools or workplaces or friends. Economical situations meaning the state of the country’s economy: if the nation isn’t financially strong then how will one seek the help one deserves? How will one get the job one needs? How will one see the light? And national attitude meaning how other age groups view teenagers, most of the time in UK media recently: it’s not great. There needs to be realisation that these issues of the digital world are unprecedented, and the real world affects everything. 2 worlds conflicting, 1 mind trying to manage both.
Can readers look forward to more stories from you soon? What are you currently working on?
Oh absolutely! More stories with variety are on their way. At the moment I believe I have 5 currently being fully conceptualized. However, I am a third of the way through working on a new short story I’ve named: Burning Memory. I won’t get too much into it but just know it is another philosophical perspective on life. I plan to write short stories for a while, I’m not entirely sure how I would handle a full novel but I have 2 ideas for them which I will eventually finish: but as for the moment, short philosophy will be my niche.
Author Links: Goodreads | Amazon
Peer into the downfalls of the human condition and the gloom that follows you. Ponder the bigger picture, ask the questions of purpose, learn from the life of despair. But most importantly: how will you help your fellow humans?
If I Could Wish
In If I Could Wish, by Owen Carrol, the narrative unfolds through the poignant format of a final suicide letter penned by a teenager. The letter offers an intimate glimpse into the narrator’s journey through immense personal struggles, including the early loss of a father, estrangement from their mother and stepfather, and the pains of teenage homelessness. Central to this narrative is the bond with Laura, the narrator’s sole friend, whose own battle with mental health challenges culminates in her suicide.
Carrol’s writing sensitively captures the complexities of mental health, as seen through the narrator’s perspective and Laura’s experiences, although she remains a secondary yet significant character. The story navigates heavy themes such as questioning faith and feeling of abandonment by a higher power, reflecting the narrator’s disillusionment and loss of hope. It serves, in a way, as both a heart-wrenching recount of despair and a subtle, perhaps final, plea for understanding or intervention. The narrative is undeniably poetic and raw, touching on subjects like religion and existential despair with a candidness that might be intense for some readers. Particularly for those grappling with mental health issues or suicidal thoughts, the content could be profoundly affecting. The story concludes with an implication of the narrator’s suicide, underscoring the gravity of its subject matter.
Owen Carrol demonstrates remarkable skill in this short story format, effectively conveying a deep sense of loss and disconnection in just a few pages. If I Could Wish is a testament to Carrol’s ability to create profound narrative experiences, though its themes necessitate a word of caution for sensitive readers. As a reviewer eager to explore more of Carrol’s work, I keenly anticipate future publications, appreciating the depth and authenticity he brings to challenging topics.
Pages: 9 | ASIN : B0C1HTR3GG
Compos Mentis – Of Sound Mind
In Compos Mentis: Of Sound Mind, Lorna Buechner introduces a nuanced take on mental wellness literature by intertwining personal narratives with the practicality of Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT). This book is unique in its focus on offering tangible, real-time coping mechanisms for those grappling with mental health challenges. Leveraging both personal encounters with mental health and professional insights, Buechner has crafted a guide that prioritizes immediate, actionable strategies over traditional, long-term cognitive methods.
Buechner’s work begins by addressing a crucial hurdle in mental health: the difficulty of employing cognitive-behavioral methods during acute stress. The book emphasizes providing readers with instantaneous tools to deal with challenging situations, a concept deeply rooted in DBT. This methodology highlights mindfulness, emotion regulation, interpersonal effectiveness, and distress tolerance.
What distinguishes Compos Mentis—Of Sound Mind is its remarkable accessibility. The author has adeptly translated intricate therapeutic ideas into easy-to-grasp language, thus making DBT techniques available to a broad audience. Each section of the book methodically explains key concepts, supplemented by practical exercises and real-life examples, ensuring the reader can seamlessly integrate these practices into everyday life.
The authenticity of the book is one of its most compelling aspects. Buechner’s candid sharing of their mental health journey enhances the book’s reliability, fostering a bond of empathy and connection with the reader. This honesty deepens the impact of the guidance offered, encouraging readers to feel understood and supported in their own mental health endeavors.
Compos Mentis: Of Sound Mind is a significant resource for those seeking prompt tools to manage mental health issues. It is particularly beneficial for individuals dealing with anxiety, depression, and other similar challenges. Buechner’s approach, blending empathy with evidence-based techniques, provides not just guidance but also a source of hope for those navigating the complexities of mental illness. This book is recommended for anyone interested in therapy, mental health, and self-improvement, serving as both a guide and a companion in the journey toward mental well-being.
Pages: 99 | ASIN : B0BCH56CLD
My Own Unique Image
The Wonder Wig follows a young girl struggling with her self-esteem due to being uncomfortable with her short hair who discovers wigs and starts to build her confidence. Are there any emotions or memories from your own life that you put into your character’s life?
Yes. There was a time in teen life I felt insecure about my hair being shorter than others. I felt wigs would make me look more beautiful. As I became an adult, I learned to accept my own unique image and to value my self-image with my natural hair and length.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
Women and young girls’ mental health. Self-esteem. Family relationships, and alopecia awareness and support of those with this medical condition. I want women to feel self-worth and have resources to help them value themselves.
Will this novel be the start of a series, or are you working on a different story?
Yes, it is. Likely I will.
Author Links: GoodReads | Amazon
The Importance of Friendship
Love Always, Bailey follows five friends who spend five days at a beach house where they discover the importance of friends and how quickly they can slip away. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
The inspiration for the setup of this story was taken from my personal life. The Highview, the house the friends go to, is a real house in Manasota Key where I used to spend one week each summer with my friends. The friend group is based off of my own childhood friends, and many of the scenarios in the story were inspired by real-life scenarios.
Was there anything from your own life that you put into the characters in your novel?
No character in this story is a carbon copy of anyone I know, but they each have some of the best and worst qualities of my childhood friends. I think when pulling from inspiration, it is important to keep the element of fiction. In this case, I imagined how I thought the real-life friends would react to the major event and loss in this story. I know these characters so well because I crafted them to be fictionalized versions of people I know so well.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
Friendship and found family are the most important themes that I explored in this book. I think it is so important to share with YA readers the importance of friendship. In adulthood, I find that so many adults don’t value their friendships, and I find that to be a huge loss.
What is the next book you are working on, and when will it be available?
I am currently shopping around 2 YA novels. One is about a young girl who has to move into a motel after her family suffers a loss due to addiction. The other is a YA version of The Wedding Planner meets The Wedding Singer: basically, a wedding planner’s very type-A daughter falls for the lead singer of a wedding band.
Author Links: Goodreads | Amazon
Morgan reunites with her friend group at The Highview, an oceanfront house where they’ve spent every summer since they were kids. There’s Noah, who hopes that his friends trust one of his plans one final time. Ethan, who mourns the loss of the girl he loved and never got to tell. Allie’s anger overpowers her desire to heal. And Ryder still holds out for one final game of Rock Paper Scissors with Morgan, hoping it can spark their once-picture-perfect love story.
Over the course of five days, the friends learn their friendship has changed, and they can no longer take for granted the closeness they once shared. Instead, they must learn to love and grieve simultaneously.
LITERARY TITAN 