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“Dodge, duck, dip, dive and Dodge”

Laura Muchmore Author Interview

You Are So Much More: Volume 2, you share with readers the trauma, your recovery, and the revelations resulting from your near-death experience. How did you decide what aspects of your experiences to include in Volume 2?

I believe in full transparency – sharing the nitty gritty of my experience was as important as the information, guidance, and healing that I received from the higher consciousnesses that communicated to and through me. Nothing was left out and although it is quite vulnerable for me, I knew that it was my duty to share all the details to allow the reader to gain as much personal clarity as possible by journeying along side me.

Is writing a form of spiritual practice or healing for you?

Absolutely!!! I didn’t realize it at the time but writing, whether it be in my journal, a blog post, or my books provides me with a way to find my way through the dramas and traumas of life. I find as I write, insights are provided that help me to navigate life’s challenges and by sharing those writings, it’s my hope to help others.

What advice do you have for anyone considering writing their own memoir? 

Ask yourself “Would i be willing to stand naked in front of strangers?” That’s what writing about your life causes you to do – bare it all. Initially, it was terrifying and kept me “in the closet” for well over a decade but my near death experience provided me a glimpse of what I would miss out on and truly regret if I didn’t write these books and the books that will follow. Another surprising thing I had to face was the reaction of my children – they did not want any aspects of their stories told, even if they impacted my life story. There were many rewrites that were demanded but I understood that it was their story to tell, not mine. I honor that request. 

What is one thing you hope readers take away from You Are So Much More?

First and foremost, that YOU are so much more than you can even imagine! That your life, your story is a valuable piece in the ever-evolving database in the Universe. You are unconditionally loved beyond all understanding by beings seen and unseen. And the most important tool in your human toolbox is the ability to pivot when life throws a wrench – “Dodge, duck, dip, dive and Dodge.” 

Author Links: GoodReads | Facebook | Website

You Are So Much More: Truths Shared by Spirit chronicles the journey through the life of an ordinary woman who, in seeking to better understand herself, her relationships and her path, was provided a glimpse into realms beyond conventional understanding while in past life regression sessions. The messages received were not just for her, they were meant for all of humanity.

Following a life-altering experience that shook her world, Laura returns to the quantum realms seeking answers. Through continued hypnotherapy sessions, she receives protection and preparation for sharing these universal revelations with humanity.

Volume Two weaves together profound spiritual insights with raw human experience, showing how we can conquer life’s challenges through a higher perspective. This continuation of Laura’s journey reveals that even our darkest moments can lead to our greatest evolution, reminding us that we are never truly alone as we walk between worlds.

We Belong Here

Francis J. Shaw Author Interview

The Blessing Book is a collection of reflections that offers poetic insight and spiritual wisdom for anyone seeking meaning, comfort, and resilience in life’s messy moments. How did you choose which reflections to include?

I didn’t want to create a huge volume and chose the ones I thought would be the most impactful for readers.

Your metaphor about “almost” was especially powerful. Can you share how that idea came to you?

It came from a conversation with a friend who was born with parts of his brain not functioning correctly which resulted in learning difficulties and schizophrenia. This is the whole conversation.

“Do you know something?” he asked.
“What?”
“I love you.”
“Do you know something?” I asked.
“What?”
“I love you too.”
“Do you know something else?” he asked.
“What?”
“You are almost intelligent.”
“Yeah…almost,” I responded.

How do you balance vulnerability and structure in your writing without losing authenticity?

Vulnerability comes from the Latin meaning ‘wounded.’ It’s these wounds and the experience of loss which connect us all. The structure I use is to drive readers to question, to encourage readers to view their lives differently. To spark a new thought, idea. 

What blessing or reflection from the book has personally stayed with you the most since writing it?

It’s the last reflection, 72. We need daily reminders to remind us that our lives are important and we belong here.

Author Links: GoodReads | X | Facebook | Website

Variously described as mixeddisguised, and best understood when counted, blessings occupy the space between what we want and what we need. Unconstrained from familiar definitions of success and failure, they are invitations to see ourselves and our lives differently. Just as we fall in love, blessings ask us to trust despite our vulnerability, promising support without a request for reward. They encourage not believe all our thoughts and through gratitude to trust in the mystery and the journey we are called to travel. This collection of 72 short reflections are reminders there are no coincidences. Only connections to stumble upon and embrace. You are not here by accident or mistake. You are neither small, nor insignificant.No others smile is like yours…no others kindness is in your glow
No others touch the world with your light, except you
No others feel as your spirit feels, nor embrace another as you do
No others experience your journey through your eyes and with your heart
No others have the unique blessings waiting for you

Training Design Simplified: Breaking Tradition

Dr. Mark L. Johnson’s Training Design Simplified is an eye-opening and no-nonsense guide to overhauling how we train people in the workplace. Drawing on four decades of experience, Johnson exposes the flaws in traditional training—dry lectures, disengaged learners, and minimal retention—and replaces them with a practical, engaging, and human-centered system that works. Through rich stories, clear frameworks like the ADDIE model, and grounded research, the book walks readers through analyzing job roles, writing meaningful objectives, building effective activities, and creating learning experiences that actually stick. More than a how-to, it’s a call to arms for anyone serious about real, lasting learning in the workforce.

Reading this book was like a breath of fresh air. Johnson doesn’t try to impress with jargon or bloated theory. He talks to you like a mentor who’s seen the trenches—who’s failed, learned, and found better ways. I loved how he started with that miserable $900 seminar and used it as fuel to do better. The anecdotes—folding paper, coaching vs. mentoring, “being a better bus driver”—are charming, relatable, and make the lessons unforgettable. His passion for teaching radiates from every page, and I felt both challenged and inspired. This is someone who cares deeply about people actually learning.

Johnson hammers home the idea of replacing traditional methods with engaging, visual, hands-on ones. However, even those repeated messages come from a place of conviction, and I didn’t mind too much. What stood out most was how practical this book is. From chunking information to reducing latency between teaching and application, Johnson offers real tools you can implement tomorrow.

If you’re a corporate trainer, HR leader, apprenticeship instructor, or anyone who’s ever sighed through a dull slideshow, Training Design Simplified is for you. Johnson’s voice is honest, warm, and seasoned, and he delivers a roadmap that’s not just smart—it’s humane. He believes we can do better, and after reading this, so do I. It’s a must-read for anyone who wants to not just train workers, but truly teach them.

Pages: 160 | ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0F26BL4K7

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Step-By-Step Framework

Jack Wolf Author Interview

Mastering Emotions for Men is a direct, honest, and refreshingly human guide to emotional intelligence designed specifically for men who feel stuck, overwhelmed, or just plain numb, that walks readers through reclaiming control over their emotions in a way that feels more like a conversation with a tough-love friend than a clinical self-help manual. Why was this an important book for you to write?

In short, because I lived it. For a long time, I did what so many men do: I pushed through. I kept my emotions on lockdown, focused on success, and told myself that strength meant silence. But underneath the surface, I was burnt out, disconnected, and constantly battling this sense that something was missing. The truth is, no one ever handed us a playbook for emotional resilience. We were told to be strong, but not how to be whole.

Mastering Emotions for Men was born out of that tension, the gap between what we’re taught and what we actually need to thrive. I wrote it because I was tired of seeing good men stuck in patterns that were silently destroying their confidence, their relationships, and their health. And I didn’t want to write another polished, overly academic book that talks about emotions without helping readers do something with them.

This book is personal. It’s raw. It’s direct. But more than anything, it’s practical. I wanted it to feel like the reader is sitting down with someone who won’t let them off the hook…but also won’t let them fall apart. Because we don’t need more theory. We need tools that work in the heat of real life.

Men are craving MORE than survival. We want a deep, honest, and loving connection with others. Purpose. Control over our own minds and emotions. This book gives men permission and a proven path to develop that emotional strength without sacrificing their identity. That’s why it matters. That’s why I had to write it.

What is the RESPONSE method that you have developed, and how does this help men develop emotional intelligence?

    The RESPONSE method is a step-by-step framework I created to help men move from emotional reactivity to emotional mastery. For so many of us, emotions either feel like something to avoid or something that hijacks us. We either shut down, blow up, or numb out. RESPONSE gives men a new way to examine what it means to be both masculine and emotional.
    Each letter in RESPONSE stands for a key moment in that process:

    R – Righting the Societal Wrong
    Challenges the outdated narratives that have taught men to suppress emotion. This chapter reframes masculinity and sets the foundation for why emotional intelligence is essential.

    E – Emotional Intelligence 101
    Introduces the core components of emotional intelligence: self-awareness, self-regulation, empathy, motivation, and social skills. It explores how men can develop and practice them.

    S – Science Behind the Emotions
    Explores the neuroscience and physiology of emotion, explaining how feelings are formed and why they affect the body and brain the way they do.

    P – Pause for Self-Reflection
    Equips men with tools to stop reacting on autopilot. It focuses on identifying emotions as they arise and learning to reflect before responding.

    O – Overcoming the Urge to React
    This is where self-regulation comes into play: learning how to manage intense emotions and avoid impulsive or destructive responses.

    N – Navigating Relationships with Empathy
    Applies emotional intelligence to interpersonal dynamics, such as how to listen, relate, and respond with empathy to deepen trust and strengthen connection.

    S – Self-Care for Stress Relief
    Teaches men to protect their emotional bandwidth by building healthy coping strategies: stress management, physical well-being, and emotional replenishment.

    E – Effective Communication and Conflict Management
    Wraps it all together by guiding men to express emotions clearly, set healthy boundaries, and resolve conflict with strength and clarity.

    It’s not therapy jargon. It’s a battle-tested framework built for real life, whether you’re in an argument with your partner, facing pressure at work, or just feeling that vague sense of frustration or numbness you can’t name.

    This method trains men to respond instead of react. It creates space between what you feel and what you do. And in that space, you get your power back. You gain clarity. You build self-respect. Over time, you rewire your default settings. So, instead of anger, avoidance, or self-doubt, you respond with strength, awareness, and confidence.

    That’s emotional intelligence in action, not just knowing what you feel, but using it in a way that moves your life forward.

    What is one thing that people point out after reading your book that surprises you?

      One of the most surprising things readers tell me is how much the book feels like a conversation with someone who gets it—not like a lecture or a therapy manual. That wasn’t something I intentionally set out to do at first—but it’s become one of the book’s most powerful strengths.

      Men will say things like, “I felt like you were in my head,” or “Finally, someone put words to what I’ve been carrying for years.” And that means a lot to me. Because most guys aren’t walking around saying, “I need more emotional intelligence.” They’re walking around saying, “I’m tired of snapping at the people I love,” or “I don’t know why I feel so numb.” This book speaks to that guy.

      Another thing that surprises people—and honestly, it’s one of my favorite reactions—is how the science lands. Guys have told me, “The chapter on how the brain fills in bad data based on perceived threats during emotional stress? That blew my mind.” Once they understand why they react the way they do, the shame starts to lift. And that’s huge. Because when you stop beating yourself up, you finally have the freedom to grow.

      But what probably surprises readers most is how doable it feels. They come in expecting a bunch of abstract advice—and what they get is real tools. Quick wins. Micro-habits. Stuff that actually fits into real life. And when they see that even small shifts—like saying their emotions out loud or doing a two-minute check-in—can change how they show up in their relationships, that’s when they start to believe, “Maybe I can do this after all.”

      And that? That’s the spark that makes all my research and writing worth it.

      What is one thing that you hope readers take away from Mastering Emotions for Men?

      I hope they walk away knowing this: you can be emotionally strong without losing your masculinity.

        For too long, men have been taught that emotion is the enemy, that strength means silence, and that vulnerability equals weakness. Those lies have cost us our relationships, our health, and our peace of mind.

        Emotional intelligence isn’t about becoming soft. It’s about becoming sharp—clear, calm, and in control. It’s about reclaiming your power without letting your emotions drive you off a cliff.

        If a man finishes this book and says, “I finally understand what I’m feeling and I know what to do with it,” then I’ve done my job.

        This isn’t about perfection. It’s about progress. And if they take that first step then everything can start to change.

        Author Links: GoodReads | X (Twitter) | Facebook | Website | Amazon

        You’ve worked hard to be the man you are today—focused, driven, and resilient. But let’s be honest: despite the successes, there’s still something missing. The deeper connections you crave in your relationships seem just out of reach. You feel misunderstood or emotionally disconnected, and sometimes, the stress of holding it all together feels like a weight you can’t shake off.

        This is your turning point.

        In Mastering Emotions for Men, you’ll discover the key to unlocking the emotional awareness and control you’ve always been capable of. No fluff, no endless psycho-babble—just practical, proven steps to take you from emotionally disconnected to powerfully in-tune with yourself and those around you.
        This book equips you with the RESPONSE method, a game-changing approach that transforms emotional reactions into healthy, confident responses. Through clear, actionable guidance and real-world stories, you’ll learn how to break down emotional barriers and step into a new level of personal power and connection. Here’s what awaits you:

        From confusion to clarity: Learn to identify and manage your emotions with ease so you can handle stress, frustration, and conflict like a pro.
        From isolated to empowered: Rebuild your self-worth and experience a sense of belonging by learning how to trust and express yourself authentically.
        From distant to deeply connected: Strengthen your relationships by mastering the art of empathy and assertive communication.
        From stalled to unstoppable: Create momentum in your career by applying emotional intelligence to your leadership, decision-making, and problem-solving.
        By the end of this book, you’ll go from feeling frustrated and disconnected to being emotionally grounded and thriving, equipped to handle life’s challenges without feeling overwhelmed.
        In just a few minutes each day, you’ll discover how to:
        Reconnect deeply with the people who matter most, reigniting your relationships.
        Handle high-stress situations with emotional intelligence and control.
        Turn emotional vulnerability into your greatest strength for lasting success in both personal and professional life.

        Ready to transform the way you connect, communicate, and live? Start your journey now—and become the man who not only understands his emotions but turns them into productive tools building the life, relationships, and destiny that you desire.

        From Anxiety to Awakening

        Jake Yanitz Rubin’s From Anxiety to Awakening isn’t your average self-help guide. It’s a deep, soul-poking journey that flips the script on everything we think we know about anxiety. Rather than trying to fix it, Rubin argues that anxiety is not an enemy to conquer but a messenger, pointing us toward truth. The book flows through eleven core “Insights” that gradually dismantle the illusions we’ve been conditioned to believe, guiding the reader from fear and overthinking into clarity and presence. Rubin’s style blends spiritual philosophy, blunt truth-telling, and heartfelt reflection.

        Rubin’s writing is raw and beautifully defiant. He doesn’t mess around with the usual surface-level affirmations. He dives straight into the guts of what makes us anxious—our thoughts, our conditioning, our ego’s obsession with control—and dares us to look at it all with brutal honesty. He challenges. And at times, yeah, it stings. But it resonated with me. I especially appreciated his dismantling of meditation as a cure-all. That part had me nodding because I’ve sat through too many “just breathe through it” sessions that only made the noise in my head louder. Rubin gets that. And he offers something more radical: a call to stop identifying with our suffering and start seeing it as the wake-up call it really is.

        There were moments when the language leaned close to the mystical. I feel the references to “Infinite Awareness” and “the illusion of separation” might be tough to chew for readers more grounded in psychology than spirituality. But even then, Rubin has a knack for snapping you out of skepticism with a one-liner so cutting and clear it stops you in your tracks. His metaphors—especially the wild horse for the untamed mind—are vivid and stick with you. And his personal vulnerability keeps things from ever feeling preachy. You can tell he’s lived this.

        If you’re someone who’s tired of being told to manage your anxiety and you’re ready to look at it through a whole new lens—one that’s equal parts fierce and freeing—then From Anxiety to Awakening is for you. It’s not a quick fix, and it’s not a comfort blanket. It’s a mirror. It’s a flashlight. It’s a dare. And if you’re willing to read it with your heart open, it might just change everything.

        Pages: 404 | ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0F4F3WTKN

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        Literary Titan Gold Book Award: Fiction

        The Literary Titan Book Award honors books that exhibit exceptional storytelling and creativity. This award celebrates novelists who craft compelling narratives, create memorable characters, and weave stories that captivate readers. The recipients are writers who excel in their ability to blend imagination with literary skill, creating worlds that enchant and narratives that linger long after the final page is turned.

        Award Recipients

        Finding Manhood in Scotland by Victor Atyas
        Viper Island by Cameron K. Moore
        The Ballad of Midnight and McRae by Jess Lederman

        Visit the Literary Titan Book Awards page to see award information.

        Literary Titan Book Award: Nonfiction

        The Literary Titan Book Award recognizes outstanding nonfiction books that demonstrate exceptional quality in writing, research, and presentation. This award is dedicated to authors who excel in creating informative, enlightening, and engaging works that offer valuable insights. Recipients of this award are commended for their ability to transform complex topics into accessible and compelling narratives that captivate readers and enhance our understanding.

        Award Recipients

        Mythical Creatures: The Worldbuilding Guide to Korean Fantasy by Huck Kahng

        Visit the Literary Titan Book Awards page to see award information.

        Literary Titan Silver Book Award

        Celebrating the brilliance of outstanding authors who have captivated us with their skillful prose, engaging narratives, and compelling real and imagined characters. We recognize books that stand out for their innovative storytelling and insightful exploration of truth and fiction. Join us in honoring the dedication and skill of these remarkable authors as we celebrate the diverse and rich worlds they’ve brought to life, whether through the realm of imagination or the lens of reality.

        Award Recipients

        Visit the Literary Titan Book Awards page to see award information.