Blog Archives
Crossing the Centuries
Crossing the Centuries, by Brenda Hammon, is a fascinating journey into her ancestry’s spiritual and historical realms. Hammon connects with 165 spirits and energies from her family tree, offering readers an intricate tapestry of stories that span centuries. Through these connections, she brings forth a rich blend of personal anecdotes, spiritual encounters, and historical narratives that create a unique and compelling read.
Hammon’s writing is deeply personal and engaging. From the beginning, she invites readers into her world with vivid descriptions of her spiritual experiences. For instance, the account of her first angelic encounter at age five sets the book’s tone, illustrating her early connection with the spiritual realm. This blend of memoir and spiritual exploration makes the book relatable and thought-provoking. Her candid discussion of her struggles with accepting her gifts, such as the intense vertigo episode described in the first chapter, adds an authentic and human touch to the narrative.
One of the standout aspects of Hammon’s book is her ability to bring historical figures to life. The chapters dedicated to specific ancestors, like Stephen Hammond and Benjamin Hammond, are particularly compelling. Stephen Hammond’s recounting of his sudden heart attack and subsequent spiritual existence provides a poignant and introspective look at life after death. Similarly, Benjamin Hammond’s detailed descriptions of life in early 19th-century Connecticut and his soft-spoken demeanor make his story both informative and heartwarming. These chapters serve as a window into the past and highlight the enduring human spirit and its ability to transcend time.
While I enjoyed the book, I felt that the number of spirits and energies Hammon connects with can sometimes feel overwhelming, and keeping track of the various characters and their stories requires careful attention. The process of spirits revealing their stories, Hammon transcribing them, and the subsequent verification through research is a cycle that, though interesting, I believe can become somewhat predictable over time.
Crossing the Centuries is still a captivating read for anyone interested in spiritualism, genealogy, or personal narratives that bridge the gap between past and present. Brenda Hammon’s heartfelt writing and dedication to honoring her ancestors make this book a remarkable tribute to family history and spiritual connection.
Pages: 454 | ASIN : B0D443WTJB
Held Back From Forgiveness
Human, Flawed, Forgiven is a thought-provoking exploration of the power and necessity of forgiveness in our lives. It gives readers practical advice on how to practice forgiveness in their own lives. What inspired you to write this book?
What inspired me to write the book was my own experience with forgiveness, combined with seeing others in my life who were still held back by their resentment of their parents. “Power follows the blame finger,” and it was difficult to see my friends and colleagues perpetually give up theirs by holding on to such deep resentment.
What is a common misconception people have about forgiveness and its importance?
The most common misconception people have about forgiveness is that it involves interacting with the forgiven party. There is absolutely no requirement for them to even be aware that you’ve forgiven them. From there, you can decide whether it’s worth attempting to reconcile. This is important because a lot of people are held back from forgiveness by the belief that it requires something from the other person, and then blame their bitterness on them for not providing it.
What were some ideas that were important for you to share in this book?
The most important ideas were the ones about uncovering what past experiences shaped the way you react to situations now. Once you understand where your own behaviors came from, you can fully process your past, and manage current situations in a more enlightened way.
What is one thing you hope readers take away from Human, Flawed, Forgiven?
That forgiveness doesn’t mean you’re weak or letting someone get away with something. On the contrary, it means you’re strong enough to understand what you control, what you don’t, and that you have the power to choose how you interact with the world.
Author Links: GoodReads | Amazon
This poison can cause a host of health issues such as high blood pressure, heart disease, and a weakened immune system. It can leave its victim in a constant state of fight-or-flight with chronic feelings of anger, stress, and bitterness. If that weren’t enough, it can even exacerbate conditions like diabetes and depression.
This poison is known as resentment.
Eighty-five percent of adults carry emotional baggage directly linked to their childhood experiences with their parents. This startling statistic shows that our journeys toward self-actualization are often littered with obstacles that were placed along our paths long before we had the words to name them.
Fortunately, these obstacles can be overcome through deep and genuine forgiveness. The act of forgiving our parents is not an act of mercy, but a lifeline thrown to our own souls; a solitary decision that does not require their knowledge nor participation. It provides an opportunity for the release of the burdens we have carried for far too long, and the reclamation of our own narratives.
The weightlessness of a life free of resentment is already within your reach—all you have to do is claim it.
Millennial Mothers
Mommy Needs a Minute is written from a compassionate and realistic point of view, addressing a subject that is rarely discussed. Why did you want to write about motherhood burnout from the unique perspective of millennial motherhood?
I wrote from this perspective because I realized that many millennial mothers are in an interesting position for several reasons. First, we came from mothers who were either coming off the feminist train from the 70s and were strong advocates for a career or mothers who were still very traditional. I personally grew up in a very traditional home so once I saw the positive pregnancy test I assumed my career was over. Whether you choose a traditional career or a career as a SAHM most women feel guilty over their choice. We feel we are bad moms for abandoning our children or bad moms for wanting to contribute outside of the home.
In addition, millennial mothers are learning how to navigate technology and use it to our benefit instead of to our detriment. Our mothers didn’t have access to social media, online parenting groups, and search engines that provide thousands of pieces of advice, advice that often contradicts each other. I discuss both of these ideas in the book.
What do you think makes millennial motherhood more challenging than it has been in past generations?
I don’t believe millennial motherhood is more challenging. Being a mother is challenging regardless of what generation you are. However, I do believe that it has its own unique set of challenges. For example, we are in the age of gentle parenting and not wanting to parent like many of us were with an authoritarian style. The problem is many of us are unsure how to do this or what that looks like and the result is we don’t have good boundaries with our children. I believe this contributes to burnout because we are afraid of causing any emotional stress within our children so we struggle to say no and set healthy boundaries. I’ve seen this result in parents feeling angry, bitter, and resentful toward their children and themselves.
What is one thing you suggest to help immediately when dealing with motherhood burnout that is not the typical response that moms usually receive?
Stop seeking instantaneous advice from others and start trusting your instincts and yourself. Obviously, pediatricians and support systems are important. However, don’t underestimate the fact that you know your child best. Take a few minutes to assess what you believe they need and then trust yourself to try.
What is one thing that you hope readers take away from Mommy Needs a Minute?
It’s not your fault you’re burned out. We live in a society with so much information and not enough support to apply most of the best practices we hear. Because of this we often lose ourselves in what we think being a good mom should look like. It’s okay to find yourself again. In fact, you should. You need to be someone with goals, hopes, dreams, ambitions, and a strong sense of self outside of your children. It doesn’t mean you’re a bad mom or you don’t care about your family. It means you love them enough not to lose yourself in the process.
Author Links: GoodReads | Facebook | Website | Instagram | Amazon
Mommy Needs a Minute examines the unique struggles of modern motherhood and offers practical self-care insights. Through heartwarming and often comedic anecdotes, explore practical strategies to support you reclaiming confidence and mental wellbeing.
• Uncover the social pressures subconsciously fueling maternal burnout
• Explore topics like information, body, guilt, career, and identity burnout
• Gain techniques to empower and rediscover yourself
Award winning author, Alyssa Brade is a passionate advocate for maternal mental health and is dedicated to sharing authentic solutions tailored to the parenting realities of many mothers. With a masters in English, degrees in anthropology, linguistics, and communication, and years of multidisciplinary research, Brade brings her discoveries and firsthand experience in support of modern motherhood. Join her in embracing a journey of self-discovery and empowerment. You’re worth the minute, so take it!
Organize the Learning Process
The Self-Education Manual is a guide for readers looking to take control of their learning journey utilizing a clear structure, engaging real-world examples, and focus on building confidence and personalized learning. What was the inspiration for writing this book?
As a geologist, I thought of an invention to help find oil. To pursue the invention, I needed to learn more science and math. So, I enrolled at a regional university 100 miles away to take classes toward an advanced degree in physics. Two weeks into my classes a torn retina in one eye got me a doctor’s excuse to not travel to attend classes for a month. Nearing the end of the month, I had another tear in a different place on the retina of the same eye. This resulted in another doctor’s note to not attend classes for another month. Therefore, I began investigating how to teach myself. Now, I want to share with others what I learned about how people can teach themselves.
How did you develop your step-by-step approach to learning and mastering skill sets?
The three tools of my book, the Study Methods Chart, the Decision Tree, and the Flowchart came to my mind as inspirations while I pondered how to organize the learning process in a practical manner.
Did you find anything in your research of this story that surprised you?
One thing I found surprising was that one study method is not sufficient. It usually takes about a half dozen or more study methods to learn one object. Another surprise was that, in the Mental Imagery study method, research showed that memorizing an actual, physical picture proved to cause mistakes and detract from success. The picture must be a purely “mental” image for the technique to show measurable effectiveness.
What is one thing that you hope readers take away from The Self-Education Manual?
You can break free from dependence upon instructors or from having to fight your own attitude limitations. Learning, similar to swimming, is an acquired skill.
Author Links: GoodReads | Website | Amazon
Everyone Has a Story
Open This Book: The Art of Storytelling for Aspiring Thought Leaders is a structured exploration of storytelling; sharing with readers how this approach can make them better leaders and show them how to communicate impactful messages to their audiences. What inspired you to write this book?
I’ve always loved stories. I was sent down the rabbit hole of learning about storytelling when I was guided through telling a silly story about a bad tattoo on a massive financial podcast, just because the host thought it was funny. The way he interviewed me about the story made it sound far more valuable and insightful than I ever noticed before.
I launched my company in 2022 to help teach people how to be great podcast guests to grow their brands. I’d focus on crafting their stories in a way that connects with an audience while positioning them as experts.
What I heard from so many of the people I spoke to was that they didn’t have a story, or their story was not worth telling. I remembered thinking that this stupid tattoo story wasn’t worth telling either, and yet learning how to tell it the right way changed my life. So, I wrote the book to help others discover the same impact in their own stories and realize they’re worth telling, too.
What were some ideas that were important for you to share in this book?
The obvious one is that everyone has a story, but the chapters that really stand out to me are the ones on imposter syndrome and expertise.
I’ve struggled with imposter syndrome my entire career and I know basically everyone else has, too. I wanted to share my experiences with imposter syndrome so that others in the same position could see that they’re not alone and maybe start to give themselves a little grace.
The chapter on expertise was also important to me because it was almost like I was writing it as a letter to myself. Going back to imposter syndrome, it was hard to convince myself to write a book because “at 28, how can I possibly think I’m an expert in anything?” Reframing expertise into something far more accessible was something that I needed to do for myself to get past the roadblock. Hopefully, someone reading it will have a similar reaction.
What is one piece of advice you wish someone had given you when you were younger?
There will always be another room. Especially when I worked in finance, I spent a lot of time in rooms that made me feel like I had to be something other than myself, literally and figuratively. I would put on the facade of who I thought others wanted me to be as I tried to earn a seat at the table.
It took far too many years for me to realize that any room that makes me feel like I need to be someone else is not the room for me. It isn’t my job to change the opinion of the room that I belong there. I’d rather find a different room.
What is one thing that you hope readers take away from Open This Book?
My biggest hope is that they’ll realize they do have a story worth telling!
Author Links: GoodReads | Facebook | Website | Amazon
Ever think that silly story you tell to break the ice could actually be a breakthrough for your career?
Welcome to Open This Book: The Art of Storytelling for Aspiring Thought Leaders, where we’re ditching the textbook definitions and embracing storytelling as the heart of authentic leadership.
This isn’t your average “how-to” guide. Imagine it as a heart-to-heart with a friend who’s seen their fair share of life’s plot twists and learned how careful word choice and a smooth delivery can turn chaos into clarity and mishaps into powerful messages.
Because the secret to being a thought leader–a content creator, podcaster, speaker, author–is knowing how to transform those “just another day” experiences into an arsenal for connecting in a world that’s scrolling past the same old content.
Open This Book is your backstage pass to understanding why storytelling isn’t just for the Shakespeares and Spielbergs of the world. Designed as part book, part journal (but no part textbook), this book is for anyone who’s ever had a “you can’t make this up” moment (and let’s be honest, who hasn’t?). From crafting your narrative to delivering it in a way that feels like a mic drop, we’ll explore the ins and outs of telling stories that connect, challenge, and change the game of leadership.
So, if you’re ready to turn your misadventures into your mission statement, you’ve come to the right place. Because if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that the best stories are hiding in plain sight—they just need a little nudge (or a full-on shove) into the spotlight.
This isn’t just about finding your voice; it’s about discovering that your voice, quirks and all, is exactly what the world’s been waiting to hear.
What are you waiting for? Open this book.
Dedication and Persistence
20 Ways to Increase Your Psychic Abilities teaches readers how to increase their psychic abilities by following your practical step-by-step lessons that build on each other to help hone one’s skills. What sparked the need to write this book?
For many years, the Other Side has communicated and taught these techniques to me; I put them into practice for myself, so I know they work. I began to teach these principles to my clients when appropriate so that they could utilize them to improve their lives. It dawned on me that I needed to accumulate these lessons into a book so that these valuable techniques could be communicated to a wider audience and help more people.
What were some ideas that were important for you to share in this book?
That developing psychic abilities and increasing spiritual growth is not an onerous, difficult task. I wanted my readers to understand that developing their inherent gifts and abilities is within easy reach. I simplified the techniques so that anyone can easily understand them and put them into practice right away.
What experience in your life has had the biggest impact on your writing?
Authoring and publishing my first book, Riding with Ghosts, Angels, and the Spirits of the Dead. That opened up the floodgates, and I’ve now published three multi-award-winning books, with more on the way. I owe it all to completing that first book.
What is one thing that you hope readers take away from 20 Ways to Increase Your Psychic Abilities?
Although the techniques are easy to learn and put into practice it takes dedication and persistence to see results.
Author Website
As an internationally known professional psychic John is frequently asked by his worldwide clientele, “How can I develop my own psychic abilities?” In response to those requests John has authored this book to help anyone to increase their own psychic powers, and to apply those powers in practical ways in order to better their lives and the lives of others.
The reader doesn’t have to have any psychic knowledge or training to be able to use this book right away. The complete beginner can begin with the first chapter and learn to practice psychometry successfully, and then proceed through the book and learn other exciting, entertaining, and useful techniques. And someone with above average psychic abilities and understanding may still find some useful theory and knowledge that they can apply, as well as new food for thought.
From the foreword written by JV Johnson (Ghost Hunters TV show. Host — Paranormal IRL; Beyond Reality; The Independence Gang. publisher/editor of TAPS Para-magazine.): “In 20 Ways to Increase Your Psychic Abilities, John offers the same guidance for any who look to broaden their spectrum of understanding. John presents a straightforward and eye-opening approach to unleashing your psychic potential. As he says, ‘…like all things, practice and consistency is key.’ You will find him to be an inspiration as I have for the years I have known him. And, even though you may not have the chance to meet John personally, through his books and his words, you will find in him, as I did, a true friend.” JV Johnson.
John Russell has been a professional psychic for 50 years. Internationally known, he has provided psychic readings for clients in over 40 countries. John filmed a TV pilot for The History Channel in which he psychically explored the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln. For over 15 years he has been a popular featured guest, heard worldwide, on many radio shows and podcasts.
Over the last year and a half John has been interviewed over 100 times, including appearances on: Coast to Coast AM with George Noory — The Unexplained with Howard Hughes (UK) — FATE Magazine Radio with Kat Hobson — Beyond Reality with JV Johnson — Darkness Radio with Tim Dennis — Shifting the Paradigm with Cristina Gomez — The Unidentified Celebrity Review with Luis Jimenez; and many more.
Also available by John Russell: “Riding with Ghosts, Angels, and the Spirits of the Dead” and “A Knock in the Attic.”
The Self-Education Manual
Feeling overwhelmed by textbooks and flashcards but still not making progress? The Self-Education Manual, by Gary D. Petersen, offers a comprehensive solution, promising to be your ultimate guide for developing a personalized learning system. Whether you’re grappling with complex math equations, struggling to learn a new language, or simply aiming to rekindle your passion for lifelong learning, this book equips you with the tools to confidently navigate your educational journey.
The true strength of The Self-Education Manual lies in its clear and structured approach. Petersen deconstructs proven study methods into manageable steps, guiding you progressively through each technique. This step-by-step process not only fosters a sense of accomplishment as you master each skill but also builds a robust foundation for continued learning. Building confidence is a central theme throughout the book. Petersen includes study answers and references that validate the effectiveness of the methods presented. This feature is particularly valuable for those who may feel discouraged by their current study habits. Seeing concrete evidence of these techniques’ success can be a powerful motivator to persevere.
What truly sets The Self-Education Manual apart from traditional learning guides is its adaptability and practicality. Petersen doesn’t merely present study methods; he empowers you to tailor them to your unique learning style. By teaching you how to customize these techniques, the manual transforms into a personalized roadmap to success. Additionally, its wealth of real-life examples and clear explanations ensure you feel supported at every step.
The Self-Education Manual is an indispensable guide for anyone looking to take control of their learning journey. With its clear structure, engaging real-world examples, and focus on building confidence and personalized learning, this book empowers you to unlock your full potential as a student. So, set aside the textbook overwhelm and embrace the transformative power of effective learning strategies.
Pages: 208 | ISBN : 9781736605110
Habits That Work
Soccer Mastery: The little things that make a big difference helps players identify small habits in their lives that are unknowingly impacting their performance on the field and show them how to make a course correction. What were some ideas that were important for you to share in this book?
The most important idea is the importance of creating habits that work over time. Small changes in habits can have big impacts on your soccer game over time.
What is the next book that you are working on, and when will it be published?
There’s no plan at the moment for additional books, but a list of our books currently available can be found here.
Author Links: GoodReads | Facebook | Website | Amazon
The mind thinks between 60,000 – 80,000 thoughts a day. That’s an average of 2500 – 3,300 thoughts per hour.
Yet most of those thoughts happen unconsciously and dictate your behavior.
People act based on their unconscious habits and you end up…
…biting your nails while you wait for the next epiphany
…avoiding eye contact with the people next to you on the bus
…eating junk food to reward yourself for the hard work you have done
Not all habits are bad, but a lot of them can be the reason why you are stuck in the same routine and making the same mistakes over and over again in your soccer game.
Soccer is a game of habits. It´s as simple as 1+1. The right habits create players who win. And the wrong habits get punished once your opponent intercepts the careless pass you continue to make over and over again.
Mastering your soccer game means stepping out of the hamster wheel you´ve been living in for years.
If you want to instantly level up your game, all you need to do is follow the simple formula of strategies to improve your habits you never even notice.
Being a winning soccer player requires more than kicking the ball on a green grass field. Soccer is a lifestyle and shows up in many unexpected areas of your life.
You will be speechless once you discover how you can improve your soccer skills while at work, while brushing your teeth, or while waiting for the bus.
Mastering the most popular sport in the world requires more than using muscle strength and the right technique…a lot of people are not even aware of what part of their game they need to work on.
Soccer is one of the fastest, most unpredictable, and most complex games in the world. Therefore, you have to make sure you always stay in control and think one step ahead of your opponent.
In “Soccer Mastery“, you´ll discover:
How a “happy meal“ turned into a horror meal for soccer players
The magical “hawk-eye” of soccer to prevent failure
How numbers rule the game
Which tool your coach uses to predict the game (one hint: he doesn´t need to be a soccer expert)
How to be in the right place at the right time and turn a pass into a winning goal
The most overlooked factors to help you reach the next league
Why Sergio Ramos is the Real Madrid center-back and how you can transfer this knowledge into your next game
Exactly what scouts are looking in a future World Cup player
How a mug and a toothpick can maximize your peripheral vision
And much more.
Even if you don’t plan to make it to the UEFA Champions League, you still want to be the best player on the soccer field.
If you are passionate enough about the game, you don´t want to trust your gut when it comes to the next match and you want to ensure that you are taking the right steps to move your game to the next level…
LITERARY TITAN 