Blog Archives
Mindset Unlocked
Author Cici Castelli’s book Mindset Unlocked tells the story of her life from when she had little to how she became successful. Cici Castelli details every crucial step she took in life and the impact it had on her future. In addition, the author shares tips, advice, and lessons about running a business, excelling in your career, and finding purpose in life.
Readers will feel the author’s enthusiasm in her writing. She writes about her personal life, experiences as a first-generation immigrant, her connections, failures, and the successes she has enjoyed. I applaud the author for being authentic and for being logical in all her discussions. Cici Castelli lays her life bare and is not afraid of being vulnerable to the reader. Through her story, you learn the significance of candidness and how to use your strength to overcome life’s challenges.
Cici Castelli gives solutions to readers that can be followed. The author is solution-oriented, and that is what makes her stand out. Mindset Unlocked directs readers to take a different path in life from where they are now. The discussions in the book are warm and eye-opening. I appreciate the author for the gems in the book and life tips that will help me in the near future. One of the best pieces of advice I got from Cici Castelli was on planning. The author advises readers to think beyond today. Plan in advance, plan for a day, plan for a week, and even plan annually if you can. With examples, the author shares the advantages of planning and how to easily achieve your set goals
The writing style in this educational book is easy to follow and understand. The author does not use a lot of advanced terminology without offering explanations. She writes in a language that young readers and experienced readers can understand. While reading Mindset Unlocked: Do What Others Can’t, Won’t, or Don’t Do for a Successful and Balanced Career, and Life, readers can feel a shift in perspective as they take on a more positive attitude.
Pages: 202 | ASIN : B09WHFJQRS
Painted Death: A Kira Logan Mystery
Painted Death by J.C. Andrew is a murder mystery with twists and turns at every corner. Artist Kira is commissioned to travel to Alaska and paint a mural honoring the captains and crew lost at sea. While many in town support the project, not everybody is so thrilled. It is rumored that the most recent captain’s death, Jason, is surrounded by not-so respectable circumstances. When it is decided that the project will continue as intended, deaths start popping up under suspicious conditions. Are they all connected somehow, and will the killer be caught before taking their fourth victim? Only time will tell, and it’s looking like removing Jason from the mural may be the only way to stop it.
I love that Kira seems to connect with people everywhere she goes. She has a likable personality and seems to get along with practically everybody that she meets. With that being said, she is not a pushover and knows how to stand up for herself. She’s a strong character with many admirable qualities. Two of these relationships were with Angela and Owen. Angela seemed like a sweet woman with determination about her. Kira and Owen had a flirtatious relationship that was on the brink of turning into more.
This truly was a murder mystery in that no one person stood out as the killer. Several times, I was sure of who it was, and none of them turned out to be correct. It definitely kept me on the edge of my seat, wondering who would turn up dead and the person behind it. I enjoyed the storyline. I felt however that the style it was written in, almost like a movie manuscript, made it difficult to connect with the characters on a deeper level. This aside the plot was strong, it is well-paced, and the characters were believable.
Painted Death is a captivating cozy mystery with a strong female protagonist. This suspenseful novel is a great read with an exciting plot and unique twist that will keep readers guessing who the murderer is untill the end.
Pages: 230 | ASIN : B0792WZS8H
Life Growing Up
Life Growing Up by Marta Nater is a heartbreakingly true story of child abuse. In this book, Marta shares her life and invites the reader to discover the horrors she and her siblings endured while growing up. This important story needs to be known since it’s constantly repeated worldwide behind closed doors.
What are the things that some children have to go through in their lives? This book opens a discourse surrounding the mental and physical abuse that children sometimes have to endure and showcases the many ways in which this sort of abuse ruins their development. The story has a strong emphasis on sexual abuse and how horrific it can be to a child. In the book, we see Marta’s story through the eyes of a child, getting to see the hurt, the pain, and the inability to run away from the torture since it’s a horror that starts in her own home, committed and ignored by her own family.
Many questions are raised throughout the book. What are we willing to do as a society to protect children? Are we doing that right now? What needs to be changed? Currently, the problem of child and sexual abuse is very complex, with a tendency to be hidden and ignored, so it can never be dealt with with the urgency it needs. The authorities and Child Protective Services often make the problem worse and ignore their role in protecting and securing the lives of children. All of this is showcased throughout the book with great detail so the reader can grasp the state of the situation.
The story that is told is definitely a very hard one, but it’s essential to share it, given how many people there are out there dealing with this sort of abuse. The author also takes an opportunity to explore the origin of child and sexual abuse, sharing how often the children that are abused turn around as adults and cause the same abuse to others, their minds completely changed and damaged. Despite the horrors recounted in the book, the author finds a way to understand her abusers and tries to forgive the people that caused her so much pain and ruined her childhood. The importance of raising children with love and care is shown, understanding that many are trapped in hell inside their own homes, and something needs to be done urgently to fix the situation.
Each chapter reads like a diary entry where we get a glimpse of the different forms of abuse that were going on in the author’s home throughout her childhood. I feel that this book would benefit from another editing; there are a few instances where a few grammar errors and writing mistakes appear; however, the story told is incredibly relevant and gets the message across.
Life Growing Up is a heartwrenching memoir showcasing a severe and universal problem that affects and impacts children worldwide. It’s not often that people get to understand and view directly the sort of suffering that others have gone through. This profoundly personal biography will open the eyes of readers that have never experienced abuse, and for those that have, it is a hand reaching out to say you are not alone.
Pages: 114 | ASIN : B00D4X8NEA
Woman: A Collection of Short Stories
![Woman: A Collection of Short Stories by [Evans, V.P.]](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/419a9dh6ScL.jpg)
In WOMAN, V.P. Evans demonstrates that great things come in small packages. In a collection of short stories, Evans is able to open the eyes of her readers to the violent experiences of women all over the world no matter their backgrounds.
In 60 pages, she is able to explore an expansive range of the incredible strength many women have in simply persevering day to day at a disadvantage which they inherited the moment they were born, both physical and systemic. She makes the reader understand that though the women in her stories are victims of such violence, these same victims are also heroes.
The stories, together, explore the unique experiences of women and do so in a way that doesn’t simply lay sensationalized snippets at the readers feet. After finishing the collection, the reader will ponder what it means to give birth, to go through the awkward realizations of a young girl going through puberty, to be raped, to lose yourself as the dependent spouse, to survive by any means. Perhaps as powerful as what she says in her short stories is what is unsaid. The stories are also about the silences which are accepted among women as their burden to bear. They will leave the reader horrified, angry, but most importantly aware of the danger that women face just for being a woman. Hopefully, it will leave the reader with a desire to educate others and dismantle the societies which drive such horrific acts. WOMAN is a must read for anyone who wants to learn about the experiences, and resulting strength, of women throughout the world.
Pages: 69 | ASIN: B07NS3G5V9
Caught in a Conundrum
Richa Gupta Author Interview
Skeins follows a group of Indian woman as they travel through Europe learning something about life, each other, and themselves. What served as your inspiration for this uplifting novel?
Both my novels relate to a world well-known to me: urban educated India. I have been travelling a great deal for the past 14 years and I undertake at least one group tour overseas each year. Though the itinerary for the tour described in Skeins is similar to that of a group tour I undertook with Cosmos© in 2015, the similarity ends there as the tourists in the latter included men and women of varied nationalities. Also, when I had traveled to Ireland in 2016, my suitcase had not been transferred in time to the connecting flight by the airline staff at Munich airport during transit. These experiences sparked off my imagination, which led to the birth of Skeins.
There is a great collection of women from several generations in this group. Who was your favorite character to write for?
It’s like asking someone who is your favourite child. Each woman character is alive in my imagination with her own distinct personality, dreams and circumstances. They are all resilient as I don’t sympathize with whiners. I like women who get back on their feet after a hard tumble and find their own path in life without seeking sympathy or support. However, I particularly empathized with the characters Sandra D’Souza and Vidya Rao who are caught in a conundrum and need to make tough decisions.
I enjoyed how the characters each had their own story that contributed to the depth of their character. What were some themes you wanted to capture in this book?
Though the novel is a breezy read, it deals with serious societal issues related to women. I feel very strongly about the thwarting of women’s emotional, professional and intellectual independence and expression by a patriarchal society and a dominant partner who limit her role to that of a mother and a comfort provider. The novel also depicts the generic issues of social hierarchy, aspirational lifestyles, the violence within and without our homes, loneliness and dementia.
What is the next novel that you are working on and when will it be available?
I have a few ideas that I am exploring. When that creative spark is ignited, I know I will not take longer than two months to pen the story and edit it.
Author Links: GoodReads | Facebook
What happens when the skeins of life of 16 diverse Indian women, aged 25 to 67, get entwined when they travel to Spain and Portugal in an all-women’s tour?
With a galaxy of identifiable characters from modern urban India depicted with light-hearted mirth in a travel environment, the novel explores serious issues, such as the quest for an independent identity and economic independence, the violence within and outside our homes, the loneliness of old age and the need for constructive channelization of youthful energy. Spanning events across a little more than a year, Skeins depicts how self-expression and a supportive environment trigger a cataclysmic effect and stimulate the women to realize their dreams.
I am Still a Rose: In Spite of it All
![I am Still a Rose: In Spite of it All by [Barbee, Tonya]](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/41MDQ1wDc0L._SX260_.jpg)
Tonya Barbee’s memoir, I am Still a Rose, details the struggle of a modern woman to find stability and true love for herself and her ever growing family. This book is Tonya’s version of events of her childhood, tumultuous love life and her change of heart. She has written this aiming to promote a healthy understanding and level of accountability for bad relationships and to educate women, young and old, about the dangers of unhealthy partnerships.
The book is refreshing to read. It’s a text about relationship struggle that does not place all of the blame on the male perpetrator or plead for sympathy from the readers. It is actually written in a very matter-of-fact and frank tone. Even when there are episodes with heightened emotion, which often occur in life, they certainly seem to have been written with a clear head.
One of the most prominent themes is the importance of family and motherhood. Tonya seems to rate her confidence in her weddings based on how many of her family turn up, and she is always grateful for the help her family, particularly her mother, provides in times of need – when she cannot rely on her current husband. Throughout her adult life she always does her best to provide for her children and stresses the importance of financial stability, which she did not have when she was growing up. Even when she suffers periods of illness and relationship breakdown, she still goes to work and earns a living for her family. She choses each man believing they will be beneficial for her children, as well as herself, always wanting to complete her family.
Due to her hard-working attitude, she represents female empowerment. She is the only constant parent in her children’s lives, despite her efforts. None of the fathers come to visit the children so she has to be both mom and dad. She even makes sacrifices for children that aren’t hers – as she wants her children to know their siblings. Whatever trouble comes her way she always bounces back, ready to conquer the next hurdle. Throughout her many relationships and responsibilities, she continues to climb the ladder at work and gain qualifications.
Tonya clearly explains that she takes responsibility for not listening to her gut instincts and the mistakes she has made and works to overcome them. Admitting this takes guts, and to admit it publicly and open yourself up to the world in writing takes bravery and pride. She uses her life experience with the view to educate women and to encourage them to listen to their own and their family’s instincts. She wants women to trust themselves enough to make bold decisions and to go it alone if they have to, because she knows they are more than capable.
She might not have had the fairy tale ending like she wanted, but did end up with a great sense of pride and independence and a very strong bond with her children and family.
Pages: 159 | ASIN: B07DSTYFWR
Embrace Adversity
Annella Metoyer Author Interview
Dare to Be the Change tells the story of your life and how you overcame adversities to be the change you wanted to see in the world. Why was this an important book for you to write?
It was important for me to write this book to give the readers a glimpse into some of the adversities that women and people of color face in corporate America. More importantly, how to embrace adversity and make it your advantage by becoming the voice for others.
You grew up in a small town in Louisiana, in a time where racism was prevalent in the community. How has your perception changed of that time and place now that you’re an adult?
I do not feel my perception has changed now that I am an adult. However, as an adult, I do understand the WHY behind why some things happened.
I found this book to be inspirational and motivate me to help others seek change. What do you hope readers take away from your book?
Since the book published, I have received countless emails, phone calls, text messages from all cultures. The book is doing exactly what I hoped it would do. First, giving individuals a platform to talk to each other about a sensitive subject versus talking at each other. Secondly, it’s an opportunity for each person to tell their own story. And finally, its reenergized individuals to stand up and be the voice in the room.
What is the next book that you are writing and when will it be available?
My next book Stronger than Fear is a children’s book scheduled to be published late summer 2018. It’s about a boy named Christopher and his dog Loki experiencing bullying by members of their species.
Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Facebook | Website | LinkedIn
In Dare to be the Change, Annella Metoyer courageously shares the details of her life’s challenges, her family’s dedication to positive change as well as offers hope for readers through her struggles and accomplishments. Starting with the integration of her small town public school, she encounters a life-changing experience that sets her on a path of “being the change.”
Not only did she face the challenges when women were not the voice in the room, but she also did so as a person of color. From coworkers to disgruntled customers’ discrimination, she lived the evolution of attitudes. With each adversity, she became more determined to take the challenge and turn it into an advantage.
Annella Metoyer was blessed to experience many firsts. She was the first person of color employed by a local bank and ultimately became the City President for a large corporate bank. Her journey later took an unexpected turn when she transitioned from employee to entrepreneur.
Dare to be the Change will resonate with anyone that has ever faced adversities. As you read the story, you will rejoice in the strength that Annella finds within to help others and to make this world a better place.
Tools That Empower Women
Bozena Zawisz Author Interview
Liberating Inner Eve tackles the many perspectives Christians have on the story of Eve. What was your inspiration that made you want to write this book?
What inspired, or more accurately, “compelled” me to write “Liberating Inner Eve” were a couple of influences that crossed their paths during my life’s journey.
One was my ongoing professional dedication to nurturing high levels of confidence and self-love in my clients. Part of this calling always involved being aware of the many factors that restrict their experience of high self-worth, including those less obvious such as layers of historic conditioning (for example those relating to women being less encouraged to pursue self-development outside of their caring roles (than men)).
Another influence that inspired me to write “Liberating Inner Eve” was my journey as a mother. When introducing my son to characters from Bible stories, I found myself being very mindful of the messages that society’s common interpretations of popular Bible stories (like the account of Adam and Eve) continue to send to our future generations. For example, the popular depiction of Eve as Adam’s helper in many of today’s children’s Bibles often falls short of placing enough emphasis on Adam and Eve’s calling towards a complementary, mutually supportive union, as interpreted by JPII.
In every chapter of “Liberating Inner Eve” I decided to explore a theme that I frequently address as a counselor, presenting it as a holistic marriage between cultural, historic, and psychological influences. And pair it with those strategies that I found to be most effective in helping to transform it, so it resonates with the Gospel’s message of inclusion and empowerment.
I wanted to write “Liberating Inner Eve” from the heart, sharing my own journey of transformation with my readers, as well as the lessons I’ve learned from having the privilege to listen to so many female voices.
What do you find is a common misconception people have about the Genesis account of Adam and Eve?
As a counselor I appreciate the power that visualization has in stimulating the various sensory pathways and emotional patterns within our brains. There is much written about the power of visualization and metaphors in influencing our subconscious mind.
What I love about the Bible is the way it abounds in metaphors and analogies that describe not only the nature of the Kingdom of Heaven but also the many aspects of our humanity.
What I find most concerning about the common interpretations of the account of Adam and Eve, that is the ones that imply in some way that Eve is the more inferior of the original pair, is how this emphasis has been represented in art throughout history, as well as how influential it was in the forming of subsequent theological reflections and practices.
I feel that Adam and Eve’s calling towards a complementary, mutually supportive union (as interpreted by JPII) and her release from blame for mankind’s downfall (which I address in “Liberating Inner Eve”) needs a lot of reinforcement. So that in the midst of today’s “movement of equality” we can prevent many women from turning away from the depth and beauty of Christian spirituality, because of these and many other historic/social misconceptions.
I found this to be a soothing book that also serves as a guide to self reflection. What do you hope readers take away from your book?
My aim for “Liberating Inner Eve” is to raise awareness in relation to the many historical/social pressures and restrictions that impact on women’s experience today (as awareness is the first step towards transformation). I would also like to offer tools that empower women to manifest Christian values of equality, freedom, and mutual care in their life’s unique circumstances.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
My next book, on which I am working on with much excitement and enthusiasm, will be another “Reflective Journey for Women, within Christian values” book, about the importance of deepening the experience of our “connection” with ourselves. I hope to make it available within 6 months 🙂
Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Facebook | Website
![Liberating Inner Eve: A Reflective Journey for Women by [Zawisz, Bozena]](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/516NIl5J9TL.jpg)
I wrote “Liberating Inner Eve” as a result of my encounters with female clients from a Christian background who struggle to find a sense of personal strength, high self-worth, love, and acceptance.
“Liberating Inner Eve” offers psychological insight around the impact of commonly found interpretations of the teachings of the Old Testament (in particular the Genesis account of Adam and Eve) and New Testament (the lifetime of Jesus), on various themes relevant to women’s daily lives, such as how they experience their identity, self-acceptance, and self-worth.
Every Chapter of this book includes simple exercises, encouraging readers to take time to review their thoughts and feelings, relating to a particular topic.
Through “Liberating Inner Eve” I long to share with others how empowering the Bible can be in helping women find self-love, self-acceptance, and personal strength.
LITERARY TITAN 