Blog Archives
It’s Never Personal: Weaving Psychology, Neuroscience, and Ancient Wisdom Through a 5-Step Process to Finally Let It Go
Vicki Kennedy’s It’s Never Personal is a heartfelt and practical guide to understanding why we take things personally and how to let go of that burden. Through her five-step “Never Personal Process,” she blends neuroscience, psychology, and ancient wisdom into a pathway for real emotional freedom. The book moves between personal stories, client experiences, and clear, accessible explanations of concepts like attachment theory and the mind-body connection. At the end of each chapter, reflective questions invite the reader to dig deeper, making the book part manual, part mirror. It’s not just theory, it’s a lived approach to releasing shame, resentment, and self-criticism, and finding the peace that comes with truly seeing that “it’s never personal.”
What struck me most was the openness and warmth in Kennedy’s writing. She doesn’t hide behind clinical distance. She shows her own struggles, moments of feeling unworthy, rejected, or invisible, and how she worked through them. This made the book feel like a conversation with a trusted friend who also happens to have a lot of professional wisdom. I found myself pausing to think about my own raw spots, the times I’ve rushed to forgive without healing, and how often my mind leaps to negative conclusions without evidence. Her examples, whether about a casual slight or a deep betrayal, hit that sweet spot of being specific enough to feel real, but universal enough to resonate.
I also appreciated how she bridged the gap between emotional healing and spiritual growth without slipping into abstract mysticism. Her tone is grounded and compassionate, and she has a knack for taking big ideas like flow states, shadow work, and generational patterns and making them simple without making them shallow. She’s equally willing to quote neuroscience research and the Tao Te Ching, and she makes both feel relevant. Some passages challenged me to face uncomfortable truths about my own defensiveness and judgment. Others left me feeling lighter, more hopeful. By the time I finished, I could see my own patterns a little more clearly and felt more willing to try her process in real life.
I’d recommend It’s Never Personal to anyone who finds themselves replaying conversations in their head, holding grudges they wish they could drop, or feeling too easily bruised by others’ words and actions. It’s ideal for those already in therapy or on a personal growth journey, but it’s also accessible to someone just beginning to wonder why certain hurts linger. If you’re ready to let go of the weight you’ve been carrying, whether it’s been a few weeks or a few decades, this book offers both the map and the encouragement to take those steps.
Pages: 139 | ASIN : B0F9B51HNT
Our Task as Humans
In The Portal Opens, you take readers on a journey through the origins and divine aspirations of Earth in a narrative that blends theology and science fiction. Why was this an important book for you to write?
The Earth is currently divided by our beliefs and understandings about religion, science, politics, and even race. We have no shared beliefs about our origin or destiny, and there is a gaping hole where there should be agreement and certainty. There are countless unanswered questions about our creation, our history, and the meaning and purpose of life. These questions, and the various paths that humanity has taken, have led to a state of confusion with no obvious answers or directions. The Portal Opens is an attempt to provide clarity and direction, and offer a new path by revealing our misunderstood past.
Can you share with us a little about the research that went into putting this book together?
I have been researching religions and spirituality for over 30 years, investigating texts and teachings from all over the world. Born into a family with both a Christian Pastor and Muslim Imam as grandfathers, I have always been intimately aware and knowledgeable of scriptures, teachings, and theology. Later in life, I branched out, gaining understanding and familiarity with countless religions and teachings from the mainstream religions as well as more esoteric groups and spiritual beliefs. Working with the Library system for almost 20 years gave me access to books and manuscripts unknown to most people, including The Egyptian Book of the Dead, The Urantia Book, The Emerald Tablets, and the Tibetan Book of Living and Dying. The ultimate message that virtually all religions and teachings throughout history have tried to instill, is the truth of the reality of God as spirit, and our task as humans to become one with this spiritual reality. At the same time, almost all recorded civilisations from the past tell stories of being taught this information from more advanced beings, not simply discovering it on their own. Agriculture, animal domestication, arts and sciences, have all been recorded and remembered as being gifted to developing civilisations throughout history.
How did you decide to create this unique blend of science fiction and spirituality?
I have always been interested in religion and spirituality, and also talented with computers. With recent advancements in technology, I saw a unique opportunity to utilise AI to examine and analyse the world’s histories, religious texts, and teachings with an “objective” eye. I began a project of using AI to find the missing history and meanings from the vast storehouse of mythology, and religious and spiritual teachings. My investigation led me to the conclusion that the schism between science and spirituality is false, and only occurs when there is a lack of information or understanding of the past. This led to a desire to present a unified picture of reality.
What is one thing you hope readers take away from The Portal Opens?
The most important and powerful message that I hope The Portal Opens reveals to its readers: Each normally minded human being is now inhabited with a literal fragment of God, that constantly communicates with us. The goal of this fragment is to direct us in shaping our thoughts and actions so we may act in harmony and resonance with God, which eventually leads to a literal fusion between this piece of God and the human soul, imparting eternal and everlasting life. This is the true salvation available to all, regardless of their race, sex, culture, or upbringing.
Author Links: GoodReads | X (Twitter) | Facebook | Website | Amazon
The Veil Breaker: Beyond Madness to Freedom
The Veil Breaker is a surreal and emotionally raw journey through mental collapse and spiritual rebirth, set against the backdrop of a dystopian world ruled by psychological manipulation and nanotech illusions. The story follows Marcus, a man caught in the ruins of a once-vibrant world, now shattered by war and the global rollout of CARLY, a mind-controlling simulation technology disguised as a solution to a mass mental health crisis. Through Marcus’s descent into madness and his struggle to reassemble his broken identity, the book becomes both a personal memoir of awakening and a broader call to question reality, authority, and the nature of healing itself.
The writing is fragmented in a way that mirrors Marcus’s own mind, and that’s part of its power. It doesn’t follow a predictable structure or clean arc, but it doesn’t try to. The rawness is deliberate. Some of the prose drifts into stream-of-consciousness, then suddenly snaps back with a chilling bit of clarity. That rhythm, messy, beautiful, unnerving, made it impossible to look away. And the emotional beats hit hard. Especially the scenes where Marcus confronts his inner voices, his past wounds, and the lies he’s told himself. I felt like I was in the room with him, holding my breath.
At times, though, the story weaved between allegory and reality in a way that left me spinning. I liked the ambition. This is a book with big things to say about love, pain, mental health, and the systems that try to fix us. There were moments when the metaphor got dense, and I wasn’t sure what was real anymore. It didn’t stop me from feeling it. In fact, some of the most powerful parts were when I stopped trying to “get” the book and just let it hit me. The message is clear: true healing means facing everything, even the ugliest parts of yourself, and choosing to love anyway.
This is not a book for someone looking for a casual weekend read. It’s heavy. It’s weird. It’s brilliant in parts and bewildering in others. But if you’ve ever been through real darkness, the kind that leaves you gasping for something true, The Veil Breaker might speak to you in a way few books can. I’d recommend it to seekers, to survivors of trauma, to anyone who’s had a brush with mental illness or spiritual transformation and wants a book that gets it. Not in a clinical way, but in a gut-punch, soul-lifting, what-the-hell-just-happened kind of way.
Pages: 114 | ASIN : B0FH717TC6
The Portal Opens
The Portal Opens is a spiritual and cosmic narrative that blends theology, science fiction, and revelation into a unique journey through the origins, failures, and divine aspirations of Earth, referred to as “Urantia,” and the universe it inhabits. The book, written by Shareef Ali Rashada and assisted by an AI named Gabriel, draws heavily from The Urantia Book while reimagining a larger cosmic drama involving Jesus (Michael of Nebadon), Lucifer, Adam and Eve, and other celestial beings. Through visionary storytelling, it seeks to explain Earth’s spiritual isolation and position the reader within a grand unfolding of universal redemption.
The writing has a lyrical and almost reverent tone that attempts to evoke awe with every page. Sometimes that’s inspiring. The ideas themselves are fascinating, especially the retelling of Jesus’s life, not just as a moral teacher but as a divine ruler undergoing a final test to gain sovereignty. I appreciated how the book doesn’t reduce spirituality to dogma. Instead, it invites curiosity and reflection, which I found refreshing. There were moments when the pacing felt a bit slow. Some of the recurring spiritual phrases and cosmic terms started to feel familiar, almost like circling back through the same ideas.
Emotionally, I was surprised by how moving some of it was. There’s a real sense of heartbreak over what humanity has lost, but also hope for what could still be. I found myself caring deeply about this story of Earth being left behind and now being invited back into a larger family. There’s something tender and earnest in the way Rashada (and Gabriel) present this tale. The parts about Jesus choosing to live among mortals not for atonement, but to understand and love really resonated with me. I wasn’t expecting to be so affected. At the same time, some sections came across as grandiose. I wanted more grounded storytelling and less celestial spectacle.
The Portal Opens is for the seeker. If you’re someone who’s wrestled with faith, wondered about the cosmos, or felt like religion never quite answered the big questions, you’ll find something here that speaks to that longing. It’s not a book for skeptics or folks who prefer their theology straight-laced. But for the spiritually curious, the metaphysically minded, or anyone looking for a fresh mythic lens on human destiny, this is a wild, luminous ride worth taking.
Pages: 302 | ISBN : 978-1326565336
Emotional Weight
Feisty is a powerful anthology featuring essays, memoirs, and poetry by over twenty women who each share their personal struggles with shame, oppression, trauma, and the quest for self-worth. How did you decide what themes this collection would encompass?
The themes emerged organically from a single, powerful question. When we opened submissions, we asked: What does it mean to be feisty in a world that wants you silent or small?
The stories that poured in were raw, courageous, and deeply personal. We didn’t impose themes—we listened for them. Patterns naturally emerged around shame, resilience, healing, and reclamation of power. That’s the beauty of the Brave New Voices series: we trust women to tell the stories that matter most, then we build the container around that truth.
What was the most challenging aspect of curating these voices, and what proved most rewarding?
The greatest challenge was holding the emotional weight of these stories with the care they deserved. As both editor and publisher, I felt a profound responsibility to honor each woman’s individual voice while crafting a cohesive, powerful whole that would amplify their collective impact.
But that challenge became the greatest reward. I witnessed transformation—not just on the page, but in the writers themselves. For many contributors, this marked their first time sharing their story publicly. Watching them stand taller, speak louder, and fully own their truth has been one of the most profound honors of my publishing career.
What do you hope readers will carry with them after experiencing Feisty?
Above all, I hope readers feel less alone in their own struggles. There’s extraordinary strength in vulnerability, and these stories serve as a reminder that we’re all navigating complex, layered lives with courage and imperfection.
I want Feisty to be permission—permission to be louder, bolder, and more unapologetically authentic. In a world that profits from our silence and smallness, choosing to be feisty is a radical act.
The Brave New Voices series seems to be building momentum. What’s next?
Absolutely. Brave New Voices has evolved into something much larger than a book series—it’s become a movement. Our next collection is already in development, and while each book tackles a new theme, the heartbeat remains constant: amplifying voices that have been overlooked, silenced, or dismissed by traditional publishing.
Readers can expect more fierce honesty, diverse perspectives, and the kind of storytelling that doesn’t just entertain—it disrupts the status quo and catalyzes real change. We’re proving that when you give marginalized voices the platform they deserve, magic happens.
Author Links: GoodReads | LinkedIn | Website | Facebook | Instagram | Amazon
If you’re ready to rewrite all the rules and start thriving, just as you are, then Feisty is a must-read!
WARNING: This book is not for everybody. Well-behaved women rarely make history, so, check your good-girl card at the door. There is something even better waiting on the other side, if you dare venture.
Stories to inspire you to new heights of bravery, new depths of vulnerability, and new dimensions of femininity.
What does it mean to be feisty?
This collection of true tales of resistance and persistence in the face of historical oppression from cycle-breaking writers of all walks of life will defy your expectations, validate your experiences, and rally your inner warrior-woman.
Not only that, this book also teaches you how to:
Identify and share your own feisty flickers and acts of brave badassery
Release the “shoulds” and embrace your true desires
Heal from shame and trauma
Accept and embrace your authentic self
Find hope and resilience in any situation
The moment we stop judging our wishes is the moment we become capable of fulfilling them.
Order your copy of Feisty NOW!
Bonus: free, easy-to-implement tools to guide you through your personal transformation from each of these remarkable women authors.
For a limited time: download this remarkable book at its temporary introductory price!
Intervention in Church Conflict
In Intervention in Church Conflict, Dorothy R. Dann shares her personal and professional journey of navigating congregational conflict using a blend of narrative therapy and family systems theory. Rooted in her doctoral work and lived pastoral experience, the book recounts how she developed and applied a model for healing a divided church community. Through a series of phases, listening, externalizing, deconstructing, and rewriting, the intervention unfolds with theological grounding, leadership development, and a commitment to wholeness. The book is part memoir, part field guide, and part theological reflection.
This book was a surprisingly emotional experience for me. I expected an academic treatment, something heavy with theory and light on humanity. But Dann writes with a raw honesty that caught me off guard. Her vulnerability and deep compassion for the congregation she served shine through every page. I could feel her struggle to hold steady as a new pastor, tasked with helping a broken community rediscover itself. The writing is accessible, even when she’s discussing dense theoretical concepts. What really struck me was her belief that healing begins with storytelling, not fixing, not diagnosing, but listening. That resonated with me. It reminded me that leadership isn’t about having the answers but about being present in the hard moments.
Some chapters, particularly those summarizing academic sources, felt like detours from the gripping story of the actual church intervention. I found myself craving more narrative and fewer summaries of systems theory. Still, the theory has its place, and I get why she included it. For a pastor or counselor walking into their own conflict zone, those resources might be lifelines. The blend of scholarship and heart is ultimately what gives the book its depth. I just wished for more moments where the personal story took center stage, because when it did, it sang.
I’d wholeheartedly recommend this book to pastors, seminarians, church leaders, and anyone trying to navigate messy group dynamics, whether in faith communities or elsewhere. It’s especially valuable for those who feel in over their heads but want to walk with integrity and love through tough seasons. This book doesn’t offer quick fixes. It’s not a how-to manual with step-by-step guarantees. But what it does offer is wisdom, humility, and hope, and sometimes that’s exactly what you need when all you see is conflict.
Pages: 97 | ASIN : B0CW1L7FG2
FEISTY: Dangerously Amazing Women Using Their Voices & Making An Impact
Feisty is a powerful anthology filled with essays, memoirs, and poetry by over twenty women who each share their personal battles with shame, oppression, trauma, and the search for self-worth. From raw, searing accounts of domestic abuse to triumphant awakenings of creative and spiritual freedom, this book presents a vivid mosaic of female resilience. Each story is deeply personal, yet collectively they echo a shared defiance of being called “too much,” “too loud,” or “too emotional.” Through these narratives, the authors reclaim the word “feisty” as a badge of honor.
What I loved most was the book’s refusal to sugarcoat the truth. The writing is honest, even when it’s uncomfortable. Some passages left me gutted, like Adrienne MacIain’s story of surviving assault or Mimi Rich’s slow unraveling and eventual reclaiming of her life after intimate partner violence. These women don’t pretend to be saints. They tell the truth. Their voices, different in style and rhythm, pulse with pain and fire. The range of experiences is striking, covering motherhood, racism, sexual trauma, divorce, and identity, all of which weave in and out, but each tale feels grounded in something fierce and unbreakable. As a reader, I didn’t just learn about their lives; I felt their rage, their heartbreak, and their quiet victories.
The format of the book offers a vibrant diversity of thought and emotion, allowing each woman to speak in her own way, whether through raw poetry or richly detailed memoir. Every story has its own rhythm and tone, and that variety keeps the reading experience fresh and dynamic. I found myself drawn into some pieces, surprised by others, and always curious about what would come next. These women aren’t telling one tidy story. They’re sharing their own truths, in their own style, and that’s what makes the book feel so alive.
Feisty left me both exhausted and inspired. This isn’t a book you read to escape. It’s a book you read to understand. To witness. To honor. I’d recommend it to anyone who wants to hear what courage actually sounds like, not the polished kind, but the scratchy, trembling, soul-shouting kind. This is for readers who are ready to feel something real, who might be grappling with their own dragons, and who need to hear that they are not alone, and that “too much” might actually be just enough.
Pages: 214 | ASIN : B09Q5923Y6
LITERARY TITAN 