Month: January 2022

January 17, 2022

An Interview with Bo Bennett

Why did you write the book? What was your motivation behind it?

This book is an adaptation of a screenplay we did for the first season of a sitcom. We wanted to write something edgy and clever—something where we could poke fun at current political issues in a non-obvious way. In fact, some of the issues are so well hidden that some people miss it. This is exactly what we wanted.

How do you see this book being relevant today?

The book addresses current issues in a humorous and non-offensive (to most people) way. Issues such as Qanon, claims of stolen elections, gender perplexity, conspiracies, “Karens,” and more.

Plus, the readers will encounter common themes they expect in good stories, such as love and disappointment.

Why do you think you are the right person to write this book? How do you think your qualifications or experience make this a better book?

As a social psychologist, I have a unique insight into human behavior. This helps me to write from an apolitical standpoint and poke fun where fun is deserved without political bias getting in the way. Both the extreme right and extreme left can be extremely ridiculous, and worthy of mockery.

How did you come up with the idea for the book?

Spending time at gyms since I was about 14 years old. I found myself saying quite often about fellow gym members, “they would make a great sitcom character!”

Anything else you want readers to know?

This book is also available in audiobook, where you can hear me do over 40 different character voices 🙂

January 17, 2022

Book Review by Jas: Brick – by – Brick – Reshape Your Thinking

Be Inspired, Reshape Your Thinking, and See Life From A Different Perspective – Achieve Greater Things and Understand Who You Are as a Person. Rebuild the Foundation of Your Life and Heal From Past Traumas With These 11 Bricks!

Have you always wondered why you are the way you are?

Do you bury past problems in hopes of never seeing them again?

Would you like to heal yourself and rebuild the foundation of your life?

Many people fail to realize that the reason they aren’t able to move forward in life is because they’ve spent so much time ‘digging’ holes to bury away problems and trauma. We believe that by hiding those small problems, we’ll never have to deal with them again.

But, in the end, those minor problems are just amplified and grow larger and larger until they begin to bring you down. 

We must understand that in order to heal, we must face reality.

With Brick-by-Brick, see your life from a different perspective and reshape your thinking. Realize that the more you ‘dig’ and the more you convince yourself you don’t have a problem, you’re going further down.

In this book, you’ll discover:

  • The 11 Bricks to a new life: Learn the 11 essential building blocks for a healthier and happier life.
  • Prepare a new life: Bring more stability to your life and finally live the life you’ve always wanted.
  • A solid foundation: Build a newer and more solid foundation brick-by-brick, one step at a time!
  • Never look back: See your life from a new perspective and never have to dig another hold ever again.
  • Heartfelt guidance: Be guided every step of the way of your journey and know there’s nothing to be afraid of.

Facing your inner demons doesn’t have to be so scary. 

Scroll up, Click on “Buy Now”, and Get Your Copy Now!

Rating: 5 out of 5.

I like how, despite the book being a short one, has delivered quite a lot of important pointers in laying out a solid foundation in reshaping the mindset. The two important ones for me are the facts that we need to set boundaries even with family and friends, and avoid listening to the feedback from people who are not looking at the best interest of our lives, and that can be our family members, which is hard to do at many instances.

Another aspect is the importance of councellor or therapists and how they are not similar with friends. I totally agree with this as friends are definitely not the ones to go to when we have issues as they lack the ability to offer us advices from a neutral point of view.

In a nutshell, the 11 bricks laid out here are definitely essential ones that help to reshape our mind.

January 17, 2022

An Interview with Author Shawn Singleton II

As a Husband and Father of 4, I desire to bring a unique style to writing, speaking, and coaching to keep all age groups engaged and equip you with the right tools to help you achieve and sustain the life you desire to have.

As a child, I strived to be one step ahead of his peers in his mannerisms and dreams for his future life. I desired to be a servant leader everyone would look at who demonstrated the ability to make the right decisions, making others’ lives around me better.

By the age of 11, I had to become that leader in his single-parent household, which began to prepare me for life as an adult. With no strong male presence in my life, it didn’t prepare me for life with his own family. I didn’t know how to be a true man of the house, and Brick-by-Brick was simply an idea masked by misdirection and misplaced identity. There was always a motivation to be better than the family generation I had seen come before me. My environment led me to believe that money was the cure to living a whole, happy life. Except, the older I became, the more that ideology seemed to be flawed.

I have spent the past 14 years learning how to become the man I desire to be, but I never witnessed-learning how to continue being a better Father than the one I never had. Brick-by-Brick has come to life, as I share how each of us can create a solid foundation in our lives regardless of the traumatic experiences we have encountered or the environments surrounding us. Reshaping our minds, putting away the shovels and not being defined by holes they have made in our lives.

I strive to lead my family with the utmost integrity and honor and truly exemplifies the benefit of what a strong foundation can do in your life. I have taken the Brick-by-Brick mindset and impacted others’ lives as you can see the evidence, first, in my leadership at home then, in business and the community around him. When I’m not helping others change their lives, I spend my time with my family, volunteering, and excelling in my career as an Engineer.

I love to exercise, cook, and have a generous heart focused on making everyone else’s life better.

How do you see this book being relevant today?

This book was written for today! What I did was intentionally write this book for future experiences from past experiences and research I spent six years studying. I studied and made it an effort to understand how to create consistent success in our lives, and it wasnÕt until I almost lost it all that I figured out what it was that caused everything to explode. 2020 was a year that impacted everyone Ð but I donÕt think people realize how much of an awakening it was for this generation of our reliance upon everything else around us to tell us who we are as a person. ThatÕs why I start with that year Ð and push and pull the reader into their own thoughts, imagination, and experiences to bring this book to life!

Why do you think you the right person to write this book? How do you think your qualifications or experience make this a better book?

People who come from very little and still experience exponential hardships Ð donÕt usually follow similar stories as myself or end up with a passion to impact the generation that I have. The uniqueness in my situation and experiences in my life have made me the perfect person to write this book about creating sustainable habits for consistent success! ItÕs honestly what makes this book so much better than other motivational books Ð because it places you not only inside of my experience, but it walks you through the lesson the was learned and contributed into the success I have achieved both personally and professionally.

What was an early experience where you learned that language had power?

It was the year my 5th grade teacher, challenged me the very first night of student orientation. I remember walking into the classroom and my mother was speaking with the teacher about how I need to be challenged because I struggle with maintaining focus if IÕm not challenged. Little did I know he was a Marine veteran who knew exactly how to challenge young men like myself to be better in all areas of life. That night I remember him creating a complex math equation on the board and he asked me to solve it. I had never seen this problem before, but he started walking me through the problem with just his voice and it challenged my brain to think differently. From then on it was this constant use of his language to push my brain to do things I didnÕt think it could do Ð that I learned that language you use has the power to change someoneÕs thinking! ItÕs what started the journey of me learning how to do the same and do so through my writing. 

How do you balance making demands on the reader with taking care of the reader?

IÕve read so many motivational/self-help books in my life that I grew tired of the writer making demands on the reader that required imitation. I donÕt want TO BE like you, I just wanted to THINK like they did so I could produce those results inside of my own life. I took that philosophy and put that info my writing as the only demand I make from the reader is that they be wiling to challenge the norm of what they thought was possible and what they believe was possible for their life in the introduction! The rest of the book is me delicately demonstrating the problem with one form of thinking Ð and unearthing the solution to their life problems and challenges that exist in changing their focus. They learn how to do that for each major area of THEIR life Ð not trying to become me or imitate mine. 

What kind of research did you do, and how long did you spend researching before publishing this book?

I spent 6 years crafting and designing this book. Asking every question to anyone who would offer to mentor me or give me guidance. I never rejected advice Ð I listened and tried to make it better. It wasnÕt about challenging their idea or entering into senseless debates. I was focused on their perspective because I knew they were either older and had more experience, or similar in age but had a different story to tell. I then took what I was reading and practiced it over those years to see which ones led to sustainable growth and repeatable outcomes not just one-time success.

Do you read your book reviews? How do you deal with bad or good ones?

I read ALL my book reviews! I think listening to those to paid you with their time and money Ð deserve your humility to read what they wrote about your work. ItÕs a great moment for reflection and indication if your writing produced the intended message to the intended audience! IÕve not received a bad review yet, but I believe itÕs because my book was written to get your brain to generate actions you should take for your life and not teach you how to imitate mine. If I get a negative review, IÕll treat it the same way as I do the positive ones. Ironically, people donÕt like to critique themselves as opening as they do others, but either way, IÕll learn from it and continue to get better! TheyÕre entitled to their opinion as long as itÕs not slanderous or offensive. Those will always be removed. 

Do you hide any secrets in your books that only a few people will find?

There arenÕt really ÒsecretsÓ but there are things that if you read too fast Ð you will miss. The reason I wrote the book 72 pages was not because I wasnÕt a strong enough writer, it was intentional. I believe that we all only need to make the smallest changes in our lives that will make the biggest impact on our future. I wanted you to use my book as a guide that will help you regardless of the season of life but available for each aspect of your life that creates the solid foundation you would be creating or building from. 

If you had to do something differently as a child or teenager to become a better writer as an adult, what would you do?

If I could do something differently, I would probably have started writing sooner and reading a lot more outside of my school assignments. I think reading is what really makes a great writer Ð and while I developed the habit earlier on, I stopped reading for fun as I got older. I certainly have reunited with my love for reading in recent years, but I wish I utilized the time I had when I was younger to explore possibilities and push my brain to make better decisions. I donÕt regret anything, but I think if I had sought after some of these books IÕm reading today (that were published during that time period) it couldÕve allowed me the opportunity to be more creative. IÕm happy to continue the journey and continue getting better but using my words to create change in others.

What is your favorite childhood book?

My favorite childhood book was The Lord of the Flies! I learned so much from that book itÕs unreal! The amount of psychological education of the human brain illustrated in that book was the best I have seen since I read the book ÒThe Hatchet.Ó It painted a prime example of how capable we are as human beings to trigger survival instincts that we will literally do anything to survive, and these were just kids! ThatÕs how I knew there were adults who also had this survival instinct and will do anything to survive Ð which is why my book focuses that drive and focus on ourselves because once we change our mindset -the things around us can begin to change too!

Have you written any other books, or do you have any books planned for the future? Tell us as much as you are willing to share!

There are plans for another release which will probably be the best book I have ever written! The title will be 20K Mindset: 5 Principles for Sustainable Life Leadership! The release date will likely be in 2023 as we gear up for an amazing year of speaking, workshops, and conferences across the nation. The next big release will be our eBook series where we provide 60 jammed packed pages of ways you can maintain success in your life! Subscribe to For the Youth Podcast on Apple or Spotify to stay up to date on book releases! To learn more about me or if youÕre interested in my hosting an event in your area visit shawnthespeaker.com!

January 10, 2022

Live Interview with Pete A O’Donnell

Pete A O’Donnell is the creator and writer of the children’s story website Illadvisedstories.com where kids can listen to free and funny adventures.

He is a graduate of Queens University and a member of the society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. He works as firefighter and EMT, and has a deep interest in history.

The Curse of Purgatory Cove is his first book. It started as a short story when he was a kid but after reading about the pirate ship Whydah, recovered with its treasure off of Cape Cod, his short story about a paperboy became something more.

Author Live Chat with Fans
Tuesdays: Your Next Page-Turner
11th January 2022 8PM CST on Facebook page (International Book Promotion)

Author Pete A O’Donnell

Survival of Characters in a Bizarre Place Full of Secrets

  • Where are you from?

I’m originally born in Texas but was raised in Rhode Island, the smallest state in the US.

  • Why do you write? 

Telling stories has been a passion since I was a child. I love fiction, creating worlds from my imagination. There’s also a part of me that pushes towards writing because it doesn’t come easy. I’m dyslexic and had a tough time learning to read. Writing seemed to be the one thing many teachers couldn’t see me doing.

  • What do you write about? 

My first love is science fiction but I’ve also written a historical novel set here in my home state about our pirate past. I writer children’s stories as well for a podcast I do called Ill-advised stories

  • Do you have a specific writing style?

I like my stories to move quickly, but I also like them to have a sense of humor.

  • What are obstacles that come in the way of writing?

I’m a fulltime firefighter/emt and a dad so as I imagine many would say, life itself becomes an obstacles, however I’ve tried to bring my kids into my work, creating the podcast with stories that were first written for them.  

  • What’s the most memorable thing asked/said by a reader about your work?

    It’s happened more than once now that a child has told me how much they loved my middle-grade pirate novel. One kid even called it his favorite book.
  • How long have you been writing?

I’ve been creating short stories since I was a kid, but I started pushing towards creating a catalogue of them around the time I was fifteen. My first novel I finished after college where I studied journalism.

  •  When did you first realize you wanted to become a writer?

When I told my uncle a story about a forest full of trees that could talk to each other. I would’ve been 7 at the time. I had him locked into the tale and when I saw that power at work, I was hooked.

  • What is your work schedule like when you are writing?

I’m an early morning writer. Usually starting around 5:30

  • What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?

I leave words out when I’m typing. If you went back and read something I wrote before I got to fix it, it would make no sense.  

  • How long does it take to write a book?

I’ve finished seven novels and published four and each one has taken a different amount of time. The pirate book, The Curse of Purgatory Cove was fifteen years with rewrites. Of course, I worked on other things in between.

  • Do you have suggestions on how to become a better writer?

It’s an obvious one but I would say reading. Go as wide as you can with it too. Read everything, classics, modern works, poetry, nonfiction, graphic novels.  Consume as much as you can and treat each piece of work like an opportunity to study. I once heard that the reason dyslexic people read so slowly is because we read every word. We can’t skip along like some readers do but to be a writer means to worry and fret over every single word, to pick that perfect structure to a sentence. You can only pick that up by studying what others have done.  

  • What challenges do you come across when writing/creating your story?
    Head space is the biggest problem, having time with my own thoughts. When you’re engineering an entire universe, you need space to put your thoughts together.
  • What do you think makes a good story?

Characters come first. If you a reader doesn’t care about the people in your story you’ve got nothing. The next most important thing is tension. There has to be a constant pulling in every scene, even in the small moments.

  • What does your family think of your writing? 

They’re very supportive reading everything I write. 

  • Do you see writing as a career?

Yes, but it’s a passion first. I have to tell these stories, first and foremost. What happens to them. If they reach a wider audience is the career part that I’m attempting to get a hold of.

  • Do you have anything specific you’d like to tell the readers?

These stories that I write are the stories I want to read, the worlds I want to dive into and they’re amazing and layered with characters I like spending time with. I would like to welcome the readers to them, to dive in and enjoy the stories the way I’ve enjoyed writing them.

  • When did you first consider yourself a writer?

Probably when I started producing short stories consistently in high school. Not many have read them but I can still picture every scene vividly. 

January 9, 2022

Book Review by Jas: Finding Sisters

Where does she come from?

Who are her genetic parents?

Who is she?

Does she even want to know?

With almost no information of her genetic heritage, adoptee Rebecca Daniels follows limited clues and uses DNA testing, genealogical research, thoughtful letter writing, and a willingness to make awkward phone calls with strangers to finally find her birth parents.

But along the way, she finds much more.

Two half-sisters.

A slew of cousins on both sides.

A family waiting to be discovered.

With the assistance of a distant cousin in Sweden and several other DNA angels on the internet, Daniels finally comes face to face with her birth mother just months before her passing. Join in on this author’s discovery of family and self in Finding Sisters: How One Adoptee Used DNA Testing and Determination to Uncover Family Secrets and Find her Birth Family.

Rating: 5 out of 5.

I truly enjoyed reading “Finding Sister. It is an eye-opening read on how one can trace their ancestry and heritage through the DNA profiling and testing technology that we now have. For many, these tests may be a way to learn about their heritage but for people who have little knowledge on their family background like Rebecca, it goes a long way in helping them to identify where they came from and their
origins. Especially when people were adopted during the time official records may not be easily accessible. Rebecca loved her adoptive parents she was really just curious about her blood relatives.

It was indeed a rollercoaster ride reading this book, as we embark on the journey of discovery with Rebecca who first got connected to her birth mom and managed to meet her before her death. However, identifying her father was even more of a challenge, as births out of wedlock were regarded as shame, and usually the information regarding the fathers were not as easily traceable. However, with more
emails coming in from the companies that conducted the DNA tests, Rebecca managed to trace someone from her father’s family and the puzzle was solved. Rebecca also discovered half sisters and many close and distant cousins during her search journey.

January 5, 2022

An Interview with Author Brittany Benko

67.jpg

Brittany is a special needs mother and a law enforcement wife. She manages a poetry blogging website by writing poems for adults and children for the public at no charge and writes for Hubpages. When Brittany is not writing, she enjoys reading, spending time with her family, and walks on the beach. Brittany is currently working on a picture book about children with autism spectrum disorder.

Poetic Poetry.png

Describe yourself in five words. Introverted, creative, motherly, shy, simple

What fact about yourself would really surprise people? 

I have a gene that can cause autism and other disabilities that I passed onto my son (who is autistic).

How do you work through self-doubts and fear? 

This is a challenging one for me. I’ve always struggled with self-confidence. I tell myself to take everything one step at a time.

What scares you the most? 

Being rejected and alone. As a writer, these are silly fears. Rejection is part of the business world.

What makes you happiest? 

Being in the mountains and near the water.

Why do you write?

I enjoy creating stories, and writing helps me to express myself in a positive way with other people. I’m not a big talker, so writing comes naturally.

Have you always enjoyed writing? 

Yes. However, when I was a child, I wanted to persue a career in music.

What motivates you to write? 

My family, experience, and inner creative juices.

What writing are you most proud of? .

My poetry collection, “Poetic Poetry: A Short Collection of Poems”

What are you most proud of in your personal life? 

My immediate family. They help me through everything.

What books did you love growing up? 

I read a lot of self-help spiritual books. I think personal growth is important no matter what career you choose.

What do you hope your obituary will say about you? 

Brittany was a special needs mother and writer who was loved by her friends and family.

Location and life experiences can really influence writing, tell us where you grew up and where you now live? 

I grew up in the city (Dallas, TX). I now live near a beach town in South Carolina. I think the simple paced life helps me to slow down and think of possible story ideas. The view of the ocean helps, too.

How did you develop your writing?

I started writing on a poetry blog. I eventually decided to self-publish a poetry collection and start submitting work to online magazines. I’ve even written a children’s picture book, which I plan on submitting to literary agents soon.

What is hardest – getting published, writing or marketing? 

Marketing has always been the most time consuming, and having a special needs kid makes it challenging to put effort into that.

What marketing works for you? 

I typically use social media or paid gigs.

Do you find it hard to share your work? 

I used to, but now I find it easy to share my work not that I have somewhat of an audience.

Is your family supportive? Do your friends support you? 

Absolutely! I wouldn’t be where I am today without their support.

What else do you do, other than write? 

I enjoy reading, going to church, and taking walks on the beach.

What other jobs have you had in your life? 

I’ve worked for a day-care center and have been in retail.

If you could study any subject at university what would you pick? 

Creative Writing

If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be? 

The North Carolilna Mountains

Tell us about your family? 

My husband is a patrol officer, my daughter is in middle school who takes honors classes, and my son is three who is on the spectrum.

How do you write – lap top, pen, paper, in bed, at a desk? 

Usually my laptop, but sometimes I use our personal computer.

How much sleep do you need to be your best? 

I do best with at least seven hours of sleep. However, my son does not always sleep well. There are many days where I feel like we’re still in the baby stage because of his needs.

Is there anyone you’d like to acknowledge and thank for their support? 

My friend, Jeff, who has helped me format my poetry collection.

Every writer has their own idea of what a successful career in writing is, what does success in writing look like to you? 

I’m proud of the small accomplishments I’ve made, but I’m looking forward to seeing if I can get traditionally published.

It is vital to get exposure and target the right readers for your writing, tell us about your marketing campaign? 

Again, marketing isn’t my forte. I feel it’s important to have the right niche so people will be naturally drawn to what I write.

Tell us about your new book? Why did you write it?  

I initially wrote it as a hobby, but the more writers I connected with, the more I realized I could self-publish my work. I wanted to become a part of that community.

If you could have a dinner party and invite anyone dead or alive, who would you ask? 

Jesus and my old friend who passed in a car wreck.

When you are not writing, how do you like to relax? 

On the couch with a good book and a cup of coffee.

What do you hope people will take away from your writing? How will your words make them feel?

I’m hoping the reader will feel everything that I write and take that with them. I also love showing imagery so the reader can visualize the scene I am writing. I enjoy presenting realistic situations and giving the reader a positive outlook.

https://brittanybenko.wixsite.com/booksbybrittany (Author Website)

https://brittanybenko.wixsite.com/poeticpoetry (Poetry Blogging Website)

https://hubpages.com/@brittanybenko (Hubpages)

January 4, 2022

Live Interview with Latanya 3rd Jan 8PM CST

Latanya Lyons is a passionate author who loves to educate and empower others through her stories of triumph. Having had a stressful childhood, she understands what it feels like to be in most teenagers’ shoes. Despite the challenges she faced, she still managed to become successful in life. Through her first book My Escape, she encourages teenagers who are living in a stressful household or are in a bad situation not to give up in life. For there is always light at the end of the tunnel. Latanya’s vision is all about making a difference in other people’s lives. She wants to see others winning and taking advantage of the many opportunities that life presents.With 11 years of working experience as a Certified Nurse Assistant, Latanya loves being of service to others. She is patient, compassionate, competent, and a hard-working individual who takes pride in everything she does. Committed to her career, Latanya holds an Associate Degree in Allied Health. She aims to make this world a better place by spreading love to every person she meets. When Latanya is not busy helping others, you will find him cooking, running, and skating. Reading books is one of her hobbies and also a stepping stone to becoming one of the best authors.

  • Where are you from?

Philadelphia, PA

  • Why do you write?

I write because it helps me reflects on my competences and I learn from them.

  • What do you write about? 

I like to write non-fiction books because I love to write about truth.

  • Do you have a specific writing style?

Yes, I have A narrative writing style because I like to share information

  • What are obstacles that come in the way of writing? 

As of right now there nothing the comes in the way of my writing because I am A single women with no kids. I live alone and I always have A specific time fame when I work on my writing around my work schedule and my other obligations.

  • What’s the most memorable thing asked/said by a reader about your work?

I friend of mine that I knew for 15 years told me that I was brave. when I told him that I wanted to become writer and when I give him A free copy of my book. He told me I had A strong mind after reading my book to write about my childhood because he couldn’t tell the world if he had A terrible childhood.

  • How long have you been writing?

Exactly MY ESCAPE is my first book, and it took me A year to finish.

  • When did you first realize you wanted to become a writer?

I realized I wanted to become A writer when I would go over my sister house and so how we will always start talking about our childhood. I would say “you know I can write A book about our life story”. My sister thought it was A good idea. Right there I knew I wanted to be writer but, I wanted my first book to be my life story.

  • What is your work schedule like when you are writing?

When I am writing I don’t start writing till like 12 am in the morning to 5 am because I always been I late owl and it’s the best time for me to stay focus.

  • What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?

Base on the fact this is my first I really don’t have A interesting writing quirk at the moment.

  • How long does it take to write a book?

It took me A year to write my first book.

Click here to go to Latanya’s website

  • Do you have suggestions on how to become a better writer?

As of right now I don’t have even suggestions on becoming A better writer because I am new to the writing journey. I don’t think I have enough experience to answer this question as of right now.

  • What challenges do you come across when writing/creating your story?

The challenges I come across in writing is the order I’m going to tell my story and what I am going to talk about in each chapter for everything can connect at the end.

  • What do you think makes a good story?

A true story when I person can put themselves in your shoes.

  • What does your family think of your writing? 

Well, I only get two family members that I am really close to my sister and my uncle and both are very proud of me, and they support me 100% in my writing.

  • Do you see writing as a career?

Yes, I do but, I won’t make it my only career.

  • Do you have anything specific you would like to tell the readers?

Yes, I would like to tell all my readers Thank You for reading my book and taking the time hear my story.

  • When did you first consider yourself a writer?

I consider myself A writer during the writing of my first book. when I was outlining my book, I didn’t think my book was going to come out like I wanted it to but, after the finish masterpiece and reading the whole book repeatedly. I realized I did A very good job and that I wanted to make writing one of my careers.