 Catherine Gray is an Executive Producer/Producer of Show Her The Money movie, CEO of She Angel Investors, an Author, KeyNote and TedX Speaker and Host of the Invest in Her Podcast. Catherine is also the Co Founder of the She Angels Foundation. Your documentary garnered widespread acclaim—what inspired you to expand it into a full-length book? I realized how extraordinary all the women were not only featured in the film, but also those who had invested in the film and made it possible to create. They all have such incredibly remarkable stories that I knew it would make a great book! How does the book deepen or extend the conversations that began in the documentary? The movie features unbelievable stories of the entrepreneurial journey- however I knew a book would be an opportunity to expand on all the incredible women who made the movie possible- and have their own super triumphant accomplishments that will inspired do many others. What surprised you most in the process of turning visual storytelling into the written word? This gave us an opportunity to expound on even more interesting and thought-provoking stories than just those in the movie. Got to talk about how the movie was cast., the impact that’s had, and more of the behind the scenes. Were there any stories or insights you couldn't include in the film that you were finally able to explore in the book? Absolutely- the book allowed us to tell the stories of all the incredible women and men that made creating the movie possible. As a podcaster, how did your experience with long-form audio conversations influence your writing process? I do my podcast because I’m very curious to learn about people’s stories- so our writing process was no different- the book answers many curious questions about how, when, and why our subjects did what they did to become the changemakers they are today. The book touches on powerful themes—was there one message you felt especially compelled to amplify in print? Yes- our mission stays the same in our film, our book, and everything we do. It’s about enlightening people about how underfunded women entrepreneurs are in the venture capital world- getting only 2% of all funding- and about how we can take action to level the playing field and address that gender inequity. And help people easily understand in an entertaining way what venture capital is and how important it is to what products and services we will see in the future that will impact the entire globe. Did your audience from the podcast or film play a role in shaping the content or tone of the book? Yes, our podcast, film and book all are designed to educate and inspire people about entrepreneurship and funding for women. We try to do mystify venture capital help people understand why it is something they would want to invest inas a means of building wealth and making an impact in the world. What challenges did you face in maintaining the emotional impact of the documentary in book form? I think a book format just allows people to enjoy people’s riveting stories and visualize it in their own personal way as opposed to the real time Exposé of people stories as they unfold in a film. How do you hope readers will engage differently with the material compared to viewers of the documentary? In both cases, we just want people to take action. We want them to visit our website and utilize the resources we provide to learn about why women get only 2% venture-capital and men get 98%. And about how they can be part of the solution and why they would want to be. We want both the viewer and the reader to understand how fascinating, fun, and impactful venture capital is to the world. And help being part of this venture world introduces you to some of the most brilliant people on the planet- who are innovating game changing ideas that will affect you and your children for generations to come. What’s next for this project—do you envision it evolving further into a series, curriculum, or community movement? Yes, we will keep building our community, and plan to next release our movie on streaming networks. There is also a spinoff docuseries in the works,as well as an educational program about venture capital to implement into high schools, colleges and universities- so that more young people will have an understanding venture capital as a career path, as an investment vehicle, and as a way to fund and scale their business ideas. Website: https://showherthemoneymovie.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ShowHerTheMoney/ Instagram: @showherthemoney Purchase the book here: https://amzn.to/40D0fWO
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 JANNA BROOKE WALLACK'S debut novel Naked Girl has been named a Finalist for both the 2024 Publisher's Weekly BookLife Prize for Fiction and the 2025 Eric Hoffer Grand Prize, and it won the 2024 CIPA EVVY Silver Medal Award for Literary/Contemporary Fiction. Naked Girl also won the Reader's Favorite Five Stars Award and Indie B.R.A.G. Medallion and BookViral's prestigious Golden Quill. Wallack's short stories have been published or short listed by literary publications such as Hobart, Upstreet, Glimmer Train Press, American Literary Review, and many more. Her short story "Campaigning" was a finalist for the Lascaux Prize in Short Fiction. This novel's prologue "Five Pictures" was a finalist for Glimmer Train Press's Short Story Award for New Writers, and her story "Cat and Rose" received a Pushcart nomination by The MacGuffin. Wallack grew up in Miami Beach in the 1970's and 80's, a landscape and childhood that inspired her debut novel. She now resides in New York's Hudson River Valley where she writes, works, and never gives up trying to lose ten pounds. What inspired you to write Naked Girl—was there a moment or memory that sparked the story of Sienna and Siddhartha? Although Naked Girl is a work of fiction, it is so representative of my emotional journey as a Generation X kid growing up on Miami Beach in the 70's and 80's. Sienna's experience is just an example of the overexposure and confusion of coming of age in that time and place. I wrote some memoirs of my own childhood and quickly realized I would have more freedom and creativity with the narrative if I invented a different story. Sienna and Siddhi's lives are more layered and interesting than mine ever could be. Sienna and Siddhartha’s childhood is both chaotic and oddly magical. How did you strike the balance between heartbreak and humor in their story? This balance of irreverent humor and deep pathos is the key to the story's appeal. Though Sienna and Siddhi's lives are often dark and dangerous, the quirkiness and hilarity that sneak in, the moments inside of the moments, are the tricks fate uses keep us all hoping for redemption. Writing that balance into their story was my favorite part of this book, and it is key to the kids' lovability. The character of Jackson Jones is charismatic but deeply flawed. What was the most challenging part about writing such a complex father figure? Jackson is a Narcissist. And a Narcissist begins as a person so abused and devalued, he develops such a protective, candy shell that it becomes impossible to find the original person inside. It was most challenging to write a character who at first seems impossibly selfish, self-obsessed, and self-gratifying, but upon closer inspection, reveals his own vulnerability and humanity and the original wounds that so corrupted him. You paint 1980s Miami Beach with vivid detail—how did that specific time and place shape the mood and message of the novel? Naked Girl is in part a love letter to the Miami Beach where I grew up, a small town shtetl of mostly Jews, Hatians, and Cubanos all displaced and creating communities with immigrant spirit and pride. The Miami Beach of my childhood was clawing its way back from recession. It was insular, safe, tropical, colorful, ethnic and calm. The most expensive neighborhood could have the BeeGees living down the street from a boarded up home grown through with vines (we used to break in and explore them as kids). Current Miami Beach is vibrating at a much higher frequency than the island of my childhood. Setting the novel in my childhood era Miami Beach was a way to revive and preserve the privacy of a place where "greatness" was not yet on the menu. What role does the ideal “home” play in Naked Girl, especially when it’s constantly shifting for your characters? The commune in the book would have been entirely possible in the 1970's-80's Miami Beach. And like the Beach itself, Xanadu is a character in the novel. Home is vital to family and stability. Xanadu is an unreliable and chaotic, yet ecstatic and intriguing place. The living, ever changing landscape of the commune in the story is a catalyst for much of the sadness and joy in Sienna's and Siddhi's stories There are strong cult-like and counterculture themes throughout the book. What did you want to explore about freedom, control, and belief systems through Jackson’s communal utopia? All of it! I find it fascinating how so many people are so threatened by the unfamiliar that they use culture and religion to qualify all measures of life as "normal," and I think normalizing particular childhood tropes is one of the ways humans get into a ton of trouble. When we decide THIS is what normal people do or feel and THAT is what troubled or disturbed or abnormal people do or feel, we ostracize and pathologize ourselves away from our commonality and community. That being said, humans also love to abuse and test the limits of freedom, and that is equally fascinating to me. The best part of writing is inventing a specific character, and then subjecting them to their own life, and being there to witness what unfolds for them. Sienna’s coming-of-age arc is raw, resilient, and deeply moving. Was her voice difficult to find, or did it come naturally to you? Sienna's voice is very similar to my own. It was far more challenging to write the others in the novel. Sienna may as well be my little sister or my cousin or best friend. I utterly "get" her. What has it meant to you to see Naked Girl hit the Amazon Top 100 in multiple categories as a debut novel? It took me twelve years to write Naked Girl (while I was raising my littles), and to see it get great reviews, top Amazon charts, and be a finalist or winner of nine independent book awards is one of the great highlights of my life. I am honored and humbled by how much love the book receives, and my most favorite part of the whole experience is the messages and letters I receive from readers who relate to and love the story and its characters. Many readers describe your writing as both comic and compassionate—who are some of your literary influences or favorite authors? Oh I could make such a long list here, but I do have some real literary crushes: Jeff Eugenides, Karen Russell, Junot Diaz, Gabriel García Márquez, Zadie Smith, Hanya Yanagihara, Otessa Moshfegh, Tommy Orange, David Sedaris, Augusten Burroughs, Coleson Whitehead, Jonathan Frantzen, John Irving, Toni Morrison, Paul Beatty... and tops from my formative years are Kurt Vonnegut, Anne Frank, and J D Salinger. There are more. So many more! What do you hope readers take away from Sienna’s journey, especially those who may relate to growing up on the fringes? The hopeful takeaway is that family has no prescription. Every life is loaded with humor, pain, trauma and delight, and there is always room for redemption, healing and hope. Smack in the middle of all the dys-fun-ction, you can always find some "fun." Website: https://www.jannabrookewallack.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jannabrooke.cohen Instagram: @jannakowan LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janna-brooke-wallack-05b05636/ Purchase the book here: https://amzn.to/4nEm1nd  Lawrence Armstrong is a New York Times best-selling author whose debut work, Layered Leadership (2025), offers a compelling exploration of leadership as both an art and a discipline. Drawing on decades of experience as Chairman of the global design firm Ware Malcomb, Armstrong distills the complexities of organizational growth, personal development, and visionary strategy into a nuanced, multi-dimensional framework. His writing is informed by a deep commitment to innovation, creativity, and human potential—values shaping his work as an architect, business leader, and artist. Armstrong brings a rare blend of intellect, empathy, and aesthetic sensibility to each page. In Layered Leadership, you emphasize a “whole brain” approach—how does this philosophy differ from traditional leadership models, and why is it so effective? Leonardo da Vinci is a model for whole-brain thinking. He was not just an artist; he had diverse life experiences and many skills. Leonardo combined technical and theoretical training with interpersonal skills, profound curiosity, and interests in various subjects. This holistic approach to learning and thinking is something every leader should aspire to. By integrating diverse influences, leaders can create more innovative and effective strategies. Practical Steps for Whole-Brain Thinking 1. Seek Out Diverse Experiences: · Engage in activities outside your usual scope. Attend conferences, read books, and explore interests in different fields. These experiences can provide fresh perspectives and innovative solutions. 2. Encourage Cross-Disciplinary Collaboration: · Foster collaboration between different departments and disciplines within your organization. This can lead to the integration of diverse ideas and the development of more comprehensive strategies. 3. Reflect on Your Learning: · Reflect on what you have learned from different experiences and how you can apply them to your leadership approach. Document these reflections in a journal or sketchbook. 4. Promote Lifelong Learning: · Encourage continuous learning within your team. Provide opportunities for professional development and encourage team members to explore new interests and skills. Mentorship plays a central role in your leadership framework. What are the key elements of a successful mentoring culture, and how can companies begin to build one? One of the most critical roles of a leader is to develop others. This goes beyond mere management; it involves nurturing talent, fostering growth, and empowering individuals to reach their full potential. As a leader, your success is not measured solely by your achievements but by the success of those you lead. Reflecting on my time at Ware Malcomb, I realized that our most significant growth came from investing in our people. The Layers of Mentorship Mentorship is a layered process, much like the layers in a painting or architectural design. It involves multiple dimensions: 1. Guidance and Support: · Mentors are providing direction and encouragement to help individuals navigate their career paths. 2. Skill Development: · We are fostering the acquisition of new skills and knowledge. 3. Empowerment: · We are encouraging autonomy and confidence in decision-making. 4. Emotional Support: · It is being there for your mentees during challenging times and celebrating their successes. You write about protecting executive time for creativity. Why is this so important, and how can leaders carve out that space in the midst of daily demands? Protect time for yourself to think. Don’t over schedule your calendar with meetings. Delegation is key to freeing up time for vision, strategy, creative thought. It is so important to stay out in front of your company at all times. The most powerful inspirations tend to come in a relaxed state. Integrating diverse ideas and perspectives, fostering collaboration, and balancing creativity with structure are crucial to building effective and resilient organizations. Embrace these principles and let them guide your leadership journey. What advice would you give to leaders or founders who want to start implementing a layered leadership approach but feel overwhelmed by where to begin? Building a legacy is akin to creating a timeless piece of art. Just as a masterpiece inspires and evokes emotions long after the artist is gone, a leadership legacy continues to shape and influence long after the leader has moved on. It is about crafting something with enduring value that stands the test of time. Layers of Building a Leadership Legacy Building a leadership legacy involves multiple layers, each contributing to the overall impact and longevity of the leader’s influence: 1. Vision and Values: The foundation of a leadership legacy is a clear and compelling vision grounded in solid values. This vision serves as to guide and direct all actions and decisions. This vision must align with the leader’s core values and the organization’s mission. 2. Mentorship and Development: Investing in the growth and development of future leaders is crucial for building a lasting legacy. This involves mentoring, coaching, and providing opportunities for emerging leaders to learn and grow. 3. Culture and Environment: Creating a positive and supportive organizational culture is critical to a leadership legacy. This includes fostering an environment of trust, collaboration, and continuous improvement. 4. Sustainability and Innovation: Ensuring that the organization is positioned for long-term success requires focusing on sustainability and innovation. This involves developing strategies that address current challenges and anticipate future opportunities. 5. Community Impact: A leadership legacy extends beyond the confines of the organization. Leaders who engage with and contribute to their communities leave a broader, more impactful legacy. 6. Personal Integrity: The character and integrity of the leader play a significant role in shaping their legacy. Leaders who demonstrate honesty, accountability, and ethical behavior set a standard for others to follow. Website: https://lawrencerarmstrong.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LRAArtist/ Instagram: @lawrencerobertarmstrong X (Twitter): https://x.com/WMChairman LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lawrencearmstrong/ YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@lawrencerarmstrong Purchase the book here: https://amzn.to/4laRlIj  Marcia Williams Cromer is a native of Huntsville, TX, and began writing early in life. "Everyone has a story to tell," Marcia says. "They only need to be asked. Even the shyest person will open up." People are a constant fascination for her… their successes, trials, joys and sorrows have always fascinated this self-confessed "addicted people watcher." A graduate of the University of Texas at Austin with a Bachelor of Arts in English, her professional career includes corporate marketing, communications and project management for employers including NYNEX Mobile Communications, Verizon Wireless, Citigroup as well as Blue Cross and Blue Shield. Marcia is an expert in visual communication and rhetoric, design of print and online documents, and cultural implications in technical and business writing. She has published corporate communications for wireless telecom, financial and health care industries. In 2007, Marcia took her corporate skills and launched her own marketing firm, Virgo Events & Productions. Her latest book, The Rancher in Stilettos, is a romantic novel based on a group of six black women whose relationship spans their entire lives. They met as children in the small Texas town where they grew up and forged a bond that would last a lifetime. Though not biological, "The Dreamers" are sisters in every sense of the word, and when life struggles present themselves, the women form their "Dreamers Circle" of protection against outside forces. You can't stereotype Zaide Grace and her friends. Try to put "The Dreamers" in a box and they will decorate it with every color and invite the world in for a tour. When she has time outside of her work commitments, she loves to travel the world, meeting new people and hearing about their experiences. An important aspect of her life is family and friends. Marcia refers to herself as the "crazy glue that holds us all together." Her first book of poetry, "Go… And Find Yourself Some Happiness," is a tribute to her late paternal grandmother, Maggie Williams, a role model from whom Marcia continues to draw strength. Marcia also serves as president of The Cecil and Bernice Williams Scholarship Fund which offers annual support to deserving students in honor of her parents who were life-long educators. What inspired you to write this series? The Rancher in Stilettos was born from my love of bold women, untold stories, and the unbreakable bonds of sisterhood. I wanted to create a world where women—especially Black women—could see themselves as complex, confident, and unapologetically powerful, whether they were running businesses, healing old wounds, or finding love on their own terms. The characters were inspired by the women in my life—my friends, my family, and even parts of myself. Their loyalty, grit, and grace deserved a spotlight. I also wanted to explore what it means to start over and reinvent yourself, and to do so with flair—yes, even in stilettos on a ranch! What is the main theme that runs through all your books? At the heart of The Rancher in Stilettos series is the theme of reinvention through resilience. Every book explores how women navigate life’s turning points—whether it’s heartbreak, career changes, loss, or unexpected love—and come out stronger, wiser, and more self-assured. Another key thread is sisterhood and chosen family, as depicted in The Dreamers friend circle. These women lean on each other in the deepest ways, reminding us that healing doesn’t happen in isolation—it happens in community. And of course, I always layer in a celebration of bold Black womanhood, legacy, and the beauty of living life on your own terms. As a fairly new romance writer, how has the community embraced your series? The romance community has welcomed The Rancher in Stilettos with warmth, encouragement, and open arms. I’ve been especially moved by how readers connect with the characters—not just the love stories, but the friendships, the personal growth, and the fierce independence that drives so many of the women in the series. It’s been incredibly affirming to hear from readers who see themselves in these pages—who feel seen, inspired, and entertained. Book clubs, podcasts, and even fellow authors have reached out to say, “We needed this kind of story.” That kind of support reminds me that it’s never too late to share your voice, and that there’s always room in the genre for fresh stories with soul. Zaide faces a powerful reckoning in this final book, personally and professionally. What inspired you to put her through such a transformational crossroads at the series’ close? From the very beginning, Zaide Grace was the heartbeat of this series—ambitious, loyal, and driven, but also carrying unspoken burdens. I knew her story had to end with a reckoning because real transformation doesn’t happen in comfort zones—it happens when everything you’ve built gets tested. I wanted readers to see a woman who seemingly had it all confront the cost of her choices: the love she postponed, the pain she buried, and the dreams she reshaped to fit into other people’s expectations. By putting Zaide at this crossroads, I was honoring every woman who’s ever had to pause and ask, “Is this really the life I want—or the life I settled for?” Her journey is raw, but it's also liberating. It was important for me to show that reinvention isn’t just for the beginning of a story—it can be the most powerful part of the ending. The theme of love versus attachment is compelling and nuanced. How did you approach writing Zaide’s emotional journey to understand the difference between the two? For Zaide, love was always tied to loyalty, duty, and showing up for others—even when it meant abandoning parts of herself. But as her story unfolded, I wanted to challenge that: Was she truly in love, or was she attached to the idea of who she should be with and what her life should look like? I approached her emotional journey with a lot of care. It meant peeling back layers—old wounds, unspoken fears, and those quiet compromises women often make without realizing it. I wanted her to discover that love liberates, while attachment often clings to fear and familiarity. Writing her journey meant allowing Zaide to sit in discomfort, to question her past choices, and ultimately to choose herself—not out of selfishness, but out of clarity. That moment when she finally sees the difference between being needed and being truly loved? That’s the breakthrough I wanted readers to feel in their own hearts. “Big Dream Threads” has always been more than a boutique—it represents dreams, friendship, and female resilience. What does the business symbolize in this final chapter, and how does it reflect the state of Zaide’s inner world? In The Rancher Before Stilettos, Big Dream Threads is just a quiet idea—a flicker of possibility living in the back of Zaide’s mind. It hasn’t taken shape yet, but it represents something deeply personal: the desire to create something of her own, beyond the expectations placed on her. At this early stage, the boutique symbolizes hope and unspoken ambition. It’s a seed planted in the middle of her professional success and personal uncertainty. Even though it won’t come to life until the first book in the main series, the thought of Big Dream Threads reveals Zaide’s growing awareness that she wants more—a life of passion, purpose, and creative freedom. In many ways, her business-to-be reflects her inner world: full of ideas, quietly brewing, waiting for the courage and clarity to make them real. That spark—of dreaming beyond what’s practical—is the beginning of her transformation. The French Riviera setting feels both glamorous and like a mirror to Zaide’s internal unrest. Why did you choose this location, and how did it help shape the mood of the story? The French Riviera was the perfect backdrop for Zaide’s emotional reckoning—beautiful, indulgent, and full of contrast. On the surface, it’s all sun-soaked luxury and effortless charm, but beneath that glitter is a haunting quiet—the kind that makes you face yourself. And that’s exactly where Zaide is in her journey. Zaide has been a Francophile since childhood, drawn to the stories of Black artists, writers, and dreamers who found freedom in France—creative, personal, and racial. For her, the Riviera isn’t just a vacation spot; it’s a symbol of possibility. But in this story, it also becomes a place of reckoning. The dazzling landscape forces her to slow down, to look inward, and to question whether she’s truly free—or just performing the life she thought she was supposed to want. The contrast between external beauty and internal unrest creates a tension that runs through the entire story. In many ways, the Riviera reflects Zaide herself—elegant, composed, admired… and finally, ready to break open. Looking back on the entire Rancher in Stilettos series, what do you hope readers walk away with after this final chapter—about love, friendship, reinvention, or simply being true to oneself? More than anything, I hope readers walk away knowing that it’s never too late to rewrite your story. Whether it's love, friendship, purpose, or identity—reinvention is always within reach, no matter your age or stage in life. Through Zaide and the women around her, I wanted to show that real strength comes from vulnerability, from asking hard questions, and from having the courage to let go of what no longer serves you. Love is beautiful, but it’s not enough if it costs you your voice. Friendship is sacred, especially when it holds space for your evolution. And being true to yourself? That’s the bravest thing any woman can do. If readers close the book feeling seen, empowered, and reminded of their own dreams—big or quietly tucked away—then I’ve done what I set out to do. This series was always about bold women living boldly. I hope that energy stays with readers long after the final page. Website: https://www.marciawilliamscromer.com/
Facebook: www.facebook.com/marcia.williamscromer/ Instagram: www.instagram.com/marciawilliamscromer/ X (Twitter): https://x.com/author_MWC Purchase the book here: https://amzn.to/3Guv4WP  Rob Finlay is a USA Today & Wall Street Journal bestselling author, seasoned entrepreneur, renowned speaker, and father of four. He is a successful entrepreneur and commercial real estate investor. He has built and sold four companies. Rob’s success is providing innovative solutions for his clients—constantly thinking ahead of the curve. He brings strategic insights and inspires the next generation of leaders with his commitment to mentorship, education, and the integration of technology. When Rob is not at his day job, he is passionate about agriculture, exploring new practices and sustainable methods to enhance environmental stewardship in farming. What was the moment—or phone call from your kids—that made you realize this book needed to be written? A 1 a.m. call from my daughter asking if she could put “the green gas” in her Jeep. (Spoiler: it was diesel.) That’s when I realized my kids—and probably yours—were missing the basics of adulting. Hey Dad is the manual they never got. You interviewed over 30 experts for Hey Dad—was there a piece of advice that surprised or stuck with you the most? Lou Adler told me applying for jobs online is like playing the lottery. Want better odds? Learn to network and sell your skills. That changed how I coach my own kids—and it’s a game-changer in the book. From budgeting to car trouble, you cover a wide range of adulting topics. Which one do you think young adults struggle with the most, and why? Money. Most don’t know where to start with credit, loans, or budgeting. One bad decision can set you back years. That’s why this book makes it simple and clear—so you can move forward with confidence. Your tone is funny, honest, and reassuring—how important was it for you to make this feel like a real conversation rather than just a “how-to” manual? It was everything. Hey Dad isn’t a lecture—it’s a conversation. It’s the advice you’d get from your dad, favorite uncle, or mentor… if they had a sense of humor and answered your texts. If you could give just one piece of advice to someone stepping into adulthood today, what would it be—and why does it matter now more than ever? Start before you feel ready. Confidence comes from action, not waiting. Hey Dad will help you take that first step—and make sure it’s in the right direction. Website: https://robfinlay.com/
Facebook: www.facebook.com/robfinlayauth/ Instagram: @robjfinlay LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/robjfinlay Purchase the book here: https://amzn.to/4nCNwxw  Alden Globe grew up in Marblehead, Massachusetts. He obtained a bachelor’s degree in Philosophy from Victoria College at the University of Toronto, a degree in Law from the University of New Hampshire, and attended executive education at Harvard Business School. His career focuses on speeding access to critical knowledge that improves the performance of frontline staff, from pilots and customer service agents, to IT professionals. Globe has been recognized for technical innovation by IABC, Multimedia Magazine, MISQ, Computerworld, Smithsonian, US West, J.D. Edwards, Microsoft, Jeppesen a Boeing Co., and BMC Software. He lives in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. Can you tell us a little about yourself? I’ve spent my career in information technology, helping people quickly access critical information—whether it’s pilots, sales teams, or IT professionals. I’m currently a value engineer with BMC Software and I work remotely from Steamboat Springs, Colorado. What is your book Daughter of Mars about? Daughter of Mars is a near-future thriller that exposes the rising threat of fake pharmaceuticals laced with illicit opioids. When Rave Maps loses her young nephew to this crisis, she realizes her usual problem-solving skills aren’t enough. To stop the global drug trade, she taps into her military background and even follows the danger to Mars, where she reconnects with her AI Digital Twin who’s been hiding there for years. You’ve said this story is very personal. Can you tell us why? In 2017, my 21-year-old daughter Maddy died after taking a counterfeit pill laced with fentanyl. Since then, my wife and I have worked to raise awareness by sharing Maddy’s story in schools, the media, and with lawmakers in Colorado. Writing this series helped me process my grief and allowed me to educate others about the fentanyl crisis. Proceeds from the books support Maddy’s Garden of Light at the Yampa River Botanic Park in Steamboat Springs. Why did you choose to write a future-based series? I wanted to shine a light on the value engineering profession and highlight women in technology by creating an all-female team of problem-solvers. Setting the story in the near future allowed me to explore big global issues like AI, climate change, and fentanyl in a fresh, meaningful way. What inspires your books? My inspiration comes from real-world headlines. Daughter of the Cloud explores AI, Daughter of the Storm focuses on climate change, and Daughter of Mars tackles the fentanyl crisis. These stories are personal, but they also aim to spark important conversations about the issues shaping our world. Will there be more books in this series? Daughter of Mars completes the trilogy, which is now available as a single collection called Value Never Sleeps. I’m currently working on a screenplay that will explore Rave Maps’ younger years and the experiences that shaped her. What was the biggest challenge in writing this book? The hardest part was figuring out who the audience is. The books are part travel, part tech, and part social commentary. I’ve found they really connect with readers who enjoy strong female leads and meaningful, real-world issues. Did you travel to the locations featured in the book? Yes! I’ve visited almost every location in the books—except Shanghai and Mars. Not yet, anyway. Is there anything else you’d like readers to know? I’m incredibly grateful for every reader who takes time to explore these stories. As an indie author, every review, every recommendation, truly matters. The themes in these books—AI, climate change, and fentanyl—are shaping our future right now. I hope these stories inspire readers to stay aware, ask questions, and keep learning. Visit Alden’s website to learn more:
https://aldenglobe.com/ Join Alden on Facebook: www.facebook.com/AldenGlobeAuthor/ Follow Alden on Instagram: www.instagram.com/authoraldenglobe/ Subscribe to Alden's YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@aldensglobe Connect with Alden on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/aldenglobe/ Purchase the book here: https://amzn.to/44gcA5L  Tomato Paste Leadership by Domenic A. Chairella (Coming Soon) With degrees in computer engineering and a master’s in entrepreneurship, Domenic Chiarella built, scaled, and sold four multimillion-dollar businesses over forty years. But his greatest success? Moving beyond chasing business success to building a thriving life and company. From a systems-driven mindset, Domenic discovered the power of creativity and human connection in leadership. His journey led him to shift from control to empowerment, redefining success as sustainable growth that benefits both business and life. Today, he shares these transformative insights with audiences and clients worldwide, helping entrepreneurs achieve true, lasting success. Above all, Domenic is a father to three incredible daughters—his proudest achievements—and husband to an amazing wife, who continually reminds him of life’s greatest joys. In Tomato Paste Leadership, you suggest that sustainable success comes from slowing down and focusing deeply. How did this philosophy evolve from your own experience building multimillion-dollar businesses? For years, I believed that the faster I moved and the harder I worked, the more I could achieve. I poured my energy into growth: more clients, more consultants, more staff, more everything. But success built on speed alone isn’t sustainable. I learned that the hard way. The turning point came when I realized I was missing dinners with my family, missing the joy of being present on our family Disney trips, and missing moments I could never get back. I recognized there must be a better way. That’s when I started asking: what if success isn’t about doing more, but about doing what matters: better, deeper, slower? Like tomato paste, the richness comes from reducing the excess. That’s the kind of leadership I practice now and the kind this book teaches. You use the metaphor of “tomato paste” in your title—rich, concentrated, essential. How does this concept reflect your leadership framework, and what does it mean for today's entrepreneurs? Tomato paste isn’t made quickly. It’s reduced, concentrated, and intentional. That’s exactly how leadership should function. Too many entrepreneurs are chasing flavorless volume, attempting to do everything, be everywhere, and lead everyone. My framework helps them slow down and focus on the essentials: structure, systems, and values that endure. Just like my family’s tomato paste could sustain us throughout the year, leadership that is deeply rooted and thoughtfully constructed will support your business far beyond the next quarter. One of your core messages is that systems should serve your life—not consume it. What are the first signs a leader is working for their business rather than having their business work for them? If your calendar controls you instead of you controlling your calendar, that’s a sign. If your business is managing you instead of you managing your business, that’s a sign. If you’re answering every question, putting out every fire, and your team can’t operate without you, your business is managing you. I’ve experienced it. It’s exhausting. Systems should be the framework, the scaffolding that supports your company, not the rope that binds you. When designed properly, systems empower you to lead, rest, and focus on what only you can do. Burnout is a common struggle among business owners. How does your approach help leaders simplify operations and empower their teams without sacrificing growth? The answer isn’t always more; it’s better. In Tomato Paste Leadership, I show how clarity, structure, and delegation create a business that breathes. We begin by diagnosing what’s broken: usually, a lack of a cohesive system framework, undefined roles, a clear culture that elevates the organization, undefined expectations, and too many decisions bottlenecked at the top. Once you build systems and develop people, growth becomes sustainable. You’re not growing through the owner’s hustle; you’re growing through health. You’ve built and sold four successful companies. What’s one mistake you see leaders make over and over again, and how does Tomato Paste Leadership help them course-correct? The biggest mistake? Trying to be the hero. Leaders often believe they need to have all the answers, do everything, and bear all the burdens. However, this leads to dependency and burnout. I understand that you, as the owner, have invested your life and soul into the business. It is your money, and if you fail, you fail your family, your community, and yourself. I also recognize that there is a fear of letting go; that is a valid concern. I had it, and I see owners facing it. In the book, I show how to evolve from hero to mentor, from doer to designer. You don’t scale by doing more; you scale by creating systems that can succeed without you at the center of everything. The systems take over control, the people run the systems, and now you lead in a new way. You emphasize creating systems as a pathway to freedom. What are some of the most common myths entrepreneurs believe about systems—and how do you debunk them? One myth is that systems will box you in. The truth is, systems give you freedom. When the essential functions and departments of a company have documented and repeatable processes, you gain time, consistency, and peace of mind. Another myth? That systems are cold or corporate. Not true. When built from your values, systems express your leadership. They’re not robotic; they’re relational. They help people succeed, not just processes. Systems run the company that serves the client. Allowing the systems to handle the mundane, so to speak, enables you and your employees to focus on what’s most important: serving the client. In the book, you highlight clarity to transform chaos. What daily or weekly practices do you recommend for leaders to maintain that clarity amidst constant demands? This is a tricky question. If the owner has the foundations that the book covers thoroughly in place, your daily and weekly practices become ones of mentoring and listening to the men and women who run the systems. The practice of sitting with employees weekly to listen to what they are doing, how they handled situations, and assess their needs, as well as the needs of the company, is crucial. Your daily and weekly practice becomes one of mentoring the culture, teaching the systems, and helping them with new ideas for areas of improvement. This represents a cultural shift from telling them what to do, how to do it, and when, to a more supportive approach that focuses on how the systems work for them. Your experience becomes a tool for them to understand how things can function and what you would do if something didn’t work. I also recommend scheduling uninterrupted time for the business every week. This is for strategic work. Clarity doesn’t come from reacting all day; it comes from reflecting, resetting, and recommitting to your purpose and the company's future objectives. How does your Power Foundation Intensive relate to the principles outlined in Tomato Paste Leadership, and how have clients responded to the results? The Power Foundation Intensive serves as the practical application of the book. If Tomato Paste Leadership is the recipe, the Intensive is the hands-on cooking class. We take ideas such as defining roles, setting vision, and building systems, helping business owners apply them in one core area of their business. Clients often tell me, “I didn’t realize how much stress I was carrying until we cleared the fog.” They leave with clarity, tools, and the confidence to lead, not just manage. What role does personal alignment play in business growth, and how do you help leaders realign when they feel disconnected from their vision? When leaders stray from their life's purpose, everything, from family to business, feels off. I’ve lived it and have seen it. The company grows, but the joy fades. You start by returning to their core beliefs: What matters most to you? What kind of life are you building this business around? Once you reconnect with that purpose, decisions become clearer. Systems, strategy, and leadership all align, not just with the business plan, but with the person running it. Lastly, your purpose in life shapes the company's values, which in turn create the culture. If a reader could only implement one idea from Tomato Paste Leadership this quarter, which would you recommend—and why? Systematize one department. Just one. Identify the area causing the most friction: Sales, Production, Accounting, or HR. Here’s the most essential part: define the key roles and responsibilities and mentor the employees on the systems that run the company. That single action of systemization will demonstrate the power of clarity. It creates a ripple effect: fewer bottlenecks, less stress, and more momentum. One system at a time; that’s how you build a lasting business. Visit Domenic’s website to learn more:
https://www.domenicchiarella.com/ Join Domenic on Faceboook: https://www.facebook.com/domenic.a.chiarella/ Follow Domenic on Instagram: @domenicchiarella Subscribe to Domenic's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@domenicchairella Connect with Domenic on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/domenicachiarella/  Helen Birney is the CEO of Cultivate Health Coaching. She coaches women off the scale and into their lives by helping them deepen their understanding of the emotional and behavioral patterns that surround their health and well-being. She is known for her thoughtful leadership, and the empathy and intuition she brings to creating supportive communities for women. Helen believes health at any age and stage of life is possible when we learn to connect our health goals to the most important parts of our unique selves. Helen is a lifelong learner and teacher, as well as a busy co-parent to two children in Maplewood, New Jersey. You describe Energetic Eating as going "beyond the scale." What does that mean to you, and why is it so important for lasting health? For years, the scale dictated my self-worth. Whether I stuck to a diet, restricted harder, or gave up altogether—it all hinged on that number. But true health isn’t found in a digit. Going beyond the scale means reconnecting with your body, your energy, and your deeper desires—not just your weight. It’s about asking, How do I want to feel? and What kind of life am I creating? rather than What do I weigh today? When we make decisions from that place of self-connection, instead of punishment or pressure, we build health that actually lasts—because it’s rooted in who we are, not what we weigh. Many readers are familiar with the frustration of yo-yo dieting. What was the turning point in your own journey that led you to create the Energetic Eating Method? At one point, I was throwing everything at the wall—keto coffee, paleo, intermittent fasting, macro tracking—all in a desperate attempt to lose those same ten pounds. I ignored all the red flags: anxiety, night sweats, stomach pain, and irritability. And still, the scale didn’t budge. That was my breaking point. I literally ran over the scale with my car. That moment sparked a shift—I stopped chasing trends and started studying integrative nutrition. From there, I discovered energy healing, which helped me uncover and release the deeper emotional patterns keeping me stuck. That’s when I created the Energetic Eating Method: a sustainable, aligned, and empowered path that helps women discover root causes of stress and weight gain, and heals their relationship with food, their bodies, and themselves. You talk about “releasing toxic beliefs” around food and weight. What are some of the most common ones you see, and how can women begin to shift them? The most damaging beliefs are often the ones we don’t even realize we’re carrying. They shape how we eat, how we feel about our bodies, and whether we believe change is even possible. In Energetic Eating, we talk about 12 negative beliefs that women hold, but here are three I see most often:
Your approach encourages tuning into the body’s signals. How can someone new to this process begin learning to trust their body again? Can you give an example of a "signal?" Rebuilding trust with your body starts by paying attention to the subtle cues it gives you every day. In the Energetic Eating Method, I teach women to track six key signals: Thoughts, Mood, Digestion, Focus, Energy Levels, and Conscious Choices. These are what I call the Pillars of Energetic Health. Each signal offers insight into what your body needs—if you’re willing to listen. For example, the Mood signal often points to blood sugar imbalances or poor sleep. If you're feeling irritable, anxious, or low for no clear reason, it might not be "just your mood"—it could be your body asking for more steady nourishment or better rest. I guide women through self-assessments and simple, supportive protocols—like food tweaks, nervous system tools, or mindset shifts—to help interpret these signals and restore balance. When you start responding to your body with curiosity instead of criticism, trust builds naturally. That’s where healing begins. The testimonials in your book reflect deep emotional and physical transformation. What role does mindset play in the Energetic Eating Method? Mindset is the foundation of every choice we make. It shapes how we feel, how we act, and whether we believe change is even possible. I tell my clients: it takes time and effort to meal prep, cook, exercise, or build new habits—but a shift in thought can happen in an instant. And that shift can completely change your energy, your motivation, and your confidence. In the Energetic Eating Method, mindset is actually the first signal we address—through the lens of thoughts. Learning to recognize the negative mental loops you’re stuck in is the starting point. Once you can hear those thoughts without judgment, you can begin to shift them—and when that happens, everything else starts to feel more doable. True transformation isn’t just physical—it’s energetic. When you change the way you think, you change the way you show up for yourself. You write that exercise and healthy eating can become effortless and joyful. How do we move from struggle to that kind of ease? Ease comes when we connect our daily habits to something deeper—what I call our Best Energetic Selves. When your “why” is strong enough—like having the energy to pursue your purpose, show up fully for your family, your work, or finally feel free in your body—health stops being a chore and starts being essential. Like brushing your teeth, it becomes non-negotiable. In my work, I’ve seen women not only transform their health, but also leave toxic relationships, double their income, deepen their family bonds, and reclaim their lives. That kind of ripple effect starts when you stop chasing weight loss—and start choosing more. More energy. More confidence. More peace. When you feel those shifts, you want to keep going—not because you have to, but because it feels that good. What are some small, sustainable changes a reader can make today to begin aligning with their energy and well-being? The biggest shift? Stop thinking of health as something you’ll “get to” someday—and start treating it as something you live through daily choices. Your energy is shaped one choice at a time: getting up earlier to set the tone for your day, choosing a nourishing meal, going to bed without your phone in hand. When we stop overcomplicating health and start solving for what’s actually in the way, momentum builds fast. If waking up early is hard, focus on improving your bedtime routine. If eating well feels out of reach, stock your kitchen with food that energizes you. If phone scrolling drains you, plug it in across the room. These aren’t massive overhauls—they’re micro-adjustments that build self-trust. You can do these things. And when you do, you begin to feel like the version of yourself you’ve been waiting for. You’ve worked with countless women using Energetic Eating. What are the most rewarding changes you’ve witnessed in your clients? Some of the most powerful transformations I’ve seen aren’t just physical—they’re deeply emotional. Many of the women I work with grew up in households where dieting was the norm, and they were taught to distrust their bodies from a young age. Helping them heal that inherited shame, release self-loathing, and step into real self-confidence has been incredibly rewarding. I’ve watched women build enough self-trust to leave toxic relationships, pursue new careers, and finally prioritize their own needs. I’ve seen women go from fearing movement to training for half-marathons. And yes, they all release weight—but more importantly, they release the belief that their worth is tied to it. That’s what Energetic Eating is really about: not just changing how you eat, but changing how you see yourself—and what you believe is possible. How does your holistic approach differ from traditional health or diet programs? Most programs focus on the surface—meal plans, calorie counts, or lab work. And while gut health, hormones, and bloodwork are important (and yes, I support women with those too), they’re not the whole story. What makes Energetic Eating different is that we start deeper. I use a unique combination of energy healing and integrative nutrition to identify root causes and clear the energetic residue of diet trauma before we even touch food or fitness. It’s about more than health metrics—it’s about healing your relationship with your body and building a new way of being. This method brings you back home to yourself. That’s when change becomes sustainable—not because you’re following a program, but because you’ve reconnected with your power. If readers are to digest and understand just one core idea from Energetic Eating, what do you hope it will be? There are two paths available to women seeking lasting change. One is paved with dieting, self-criticism, and willpower-driven tactics. The other is built on trust, self-compassion, and sustainable shifts rooted in healing. Both paths can lead to weight loss—but only one leads to true freedom. Visit Helen on her website:
https://www.cultivatehealthcoaching.com/ Join Helen’s Facebook Community: www.facebook.com/groups/2368629619914357 Follow Helen on Instagram: www.instagram.com/cultivatehealth_with_helen/@cultivatehealth_with_helen Subscribe to Helen's YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@helenbirney6659 Purchase the book here: https://amzn.to/46bJSEz |
AuthorJane Ubell-Meyer founded Bedside Reading in 2017. Prior to that she was a TV and Film producer. She has spend the last five years promoting, marketing and talking to authors and others who are experts in the field. Archives
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Bedside Reading, LLC , 700 Canal Street, Stamford CT 06902
For more information contact: [email protected] 917 848 3353
Media
Privacy Policy
Terms & Refund Policy
Accessibility
Bedside Reading® is a Registered Trademark