 The Purple Dragonfly Book Awards has awarded "Bella’s Big Girl Bed" a First Place award for Picture Books and an honorable mention in the category of Parenting. "Bella's Trip to Paris" received an Honorable Mention for Best Illustrations. An artist, creator, and bestselling author, Kristina Lucia ignites the imaginations of children and their parents through her limited-edition animal-themed sensory storybooks. Kristina came from humble beginnings in a small farm town, where there was only one traffic light! Her childhood sparked creativity at a young age and her adopted home of New York City keeps her inspired every day. Curiously Curated Creations of Kristina Lucia features a magical array of warm, cuddly, and comforting creatures along with storybooks that help parents and kids improve communication and deepen their relationships. Whether she’s struttin’ down Fifth Avenue in Manolo stilettos, or curled up on her sofa in slipper socks, Kristina is creating a masterpiece. Her crochet hooks and knitting needles are always within reach to whip up almost anything, from stuffies to baby sweaters, and her kitchen table is often covered with watercolor paint and brushes, or freshly baked cookies. After an injury forced her to reconsider her 100-mph corporate career, Kristina realized her true path: To be the artist she was meant to be. The door of Curiously Curated Creations of Kristina Lucia opened upon her receiving a sign from her Mom, and the journey began in November 2019. Kristina’s passions include being a competitive dancer, an avid reader, and travel buff. When not working, you can find Kristina in the studio dancing a cha-cha, enjoying a new book, or exploring an amazing destination. Kristin’s own healing led her to realize the importance of communication and being in touch with one’s feelings as well as those of others. Regardless of our age, gender, or nationality, we are all human and experience the same emotions. Feelings are a source of relatability and a connection point for communication. When we acknowledge our emotions and combine that with having respect for the feelings of others, our relationships grow and flourish, to create fuller lives for ourselves. What inspired you to write and illustrate children's books? I wanted to create a brand for children because they have always accepted and embraced my creativity with open arms. However, when I decided to write and illustrate a children's book series, I discovered the great opportunity of reaching an audience of not only children but their parents and families as well. How and when did your journey start as a writer? During the 2020 lockdown, I started writing my blog. I gained more clarity and confidence in my writing skills as the blog gave me the space to play and discover my own writing voice. In December 2020 I wrote ten children's stories in the week and my journey to becoming a published author began. What lesson does the main character, Bella Elephant, learn and how does she share it to others throughout the book series? Through the book series Bella learns how to identify and work through both her negative and positive feelings. She also learns to recognize and respect the feelings of others. By developing this skill Bella creates a ripple effect that inspires others in her community. This process is in relation to the serenity prayer which is utilized on many healing journeys. How did these stories and characters come to your mind? My main goal was to write about topics that are relatable while also sharing a part of myself with the audience. This balance is key when writing a children's book. The main character of the series is a child version of myself to allow for full creative freedom and all the characters to be animals to make everyone feel welcome. Do you want to leave any message for your readers? Always be your true self. When we are the best version of ourselves, we create a ripple effect that touches others in ways that we do not even realize. Each of us has a choice and a responsibility to those choices. Visit Kristina on her website:
https://cccokl.com/ Follow Kristina on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kristinaluciapezza Subscribe to Kristina's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@curiouslycuratedvideosofkr5608 Connect with Kristina on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristinalandrews LINK for BOOK: https://www.amazon.com/Bellas-Big-Girl-Bed-Bella/dp/195995900X
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 Patricia Leavy, PhD is novelist, sociologist, and arts advocate (formerly Associate Professor of Sociology, Founding Director of Gender Studies and Chairperson of Sociology & Criminology at Stonehill College). She is widely considered the world's most visible proponent of arts-based research, which merges the arts and sciences. Patricia has published over 50 books, nonfiction and fiction, and her work has been translated into numerous languages. She has received over 100 book awards. She has also received career awards from the New England Sociological Association, the American Creativity Association, the American Educational Research Association, the International Congress of Qualitative Inquiry, and the National Art Education Association. In 2016 Mogul, a global women’s empowerment network, named her an “Influencer.” In 2018, she was honored by the National Women’s Hall of Fame and the State University of New York at New Paltz established the “Patricia Leavy Award for Art and Social Justice.” In recent years, her passion has turned to penning romance novels. To write Shooting Stars Above, did you create entirely fictitious characters, or have you borrowed from real world people you know? They’re fictitious but we all borrow from life. As artists, everything comes through our filter. Did the concept for this book come to you in a sudden moment of inspiration, or was it something that developed slowly over time? When I was ten years old, I tried to write a novel. I don’t remember all the details, but it was a love story about two people who help each other heal. I wasn’t able to finish it at the time, hey, I was only ten. One night several years ago, I stepped out onto the balcony of my home office and looked up at the stars. Like a bolt, Shooting Stars Above came to, as a complete book, which was different than all my previous books. I wrote the first draft in only ten days, completely immersed in the story world. It was magical. I believe Shooting Stars Above is the novel I tried to write at the age of ten. I think the seed lived inside of me my entire life. It took years of writing other books to develop the tools to actualize that bolt of inspiration. Shooting Stars Above is the first title in the Celestial Bodies Romances? Did you always know it was going to be a series? No. In fact, when I finished writing Shooting Stars Above, I was incredibly depressed. The experience had been completely immersive. It was my favorite thing I’d ever written, and I loved the characters and longed to spend more time with them. Then the second story came to me a day later. After that it became clear it would be a series. There are six books written so far and we plan to release one every spring. If Shooting Stars Above were adapted into a film, how would you want the cinematography to capture its emotional tone? At the core, this is a story about darkness and light. It’s about learning to walk through the darkness in our lives so that we can find the light. In terms of the content, there are also emotionally heavy scenes as well as light-hearted moments that bring levity. I would love a film adaptation that captured the balance of darkness and light, and what that journey looks like and feels like. Much could be communicated with lighting, shadow, color, texture, and graininess. Did you write any scenes that were particularly difficult, either emotionally or creatively, to get right? The protagonist is in the lifelong process of healing from past abuse and there’s a long PTSD chapter. It was important to get that right, and I took it very seriously. There was also the issue of everything around it. Context is so important when addressing a sensitive topic. After this dramatic part of the book: When is it okay to bring some levity back into the story? When is it okay to bring romance back? The novel explores deep emotional healing—what role do you think literature plays in helping readers heal from their own past wounds? I think literature and art in general can play an enormous role in helping people heal from past wounds. It can help people feel less alone and feel that they are seen. It can also offer models of healing and hope. Tess, the protagonist in the novel is herself a novelist. She takes the pain from her life and transforms it into something inspirational to help others. I think that’s the real work of novelists. Do you believe in fate when it comes to love, or do you think we shape our own destinies in relationships? Both. Sometimes we meet “the right” person by happenstance, much like in the novel where the two main characters wind up in a bar alone because their friends cancelled on them last minute. Other times, we go searching for someone, for example with internet dating, which is how I met my husband. No matter how we meet someone, it’s really about who we are at that moment, whether our heart is open, whether we’ve done work on ourselves not only to recognize someone special but to be able to be someone special for them. Fate, kismet, and destiny all play a role, but we still have to do work on ourselves, or it won’t matter. What’s the greatest lesson Jack and Tess learn from each other that readers might take into their own lives? Love is not something we feel or say, it is something we do. We should all aspire to do love well—love in all forms—for our partners, friends, and humanity. Your books often resonate with readers on a deep level. Have any early readers shared insights about this book that surprised you? I’ve been deeply moved by what readers have shared with me. Many people have told me they found the book healing and comforting in ways they never expected from a romance novel. Others said it made them want to be kinder to their partners, their loved ones, and themselves. Many have also shared their personal stories of trauma and abuse. For a stranger to share their deepest pain with you is very humbling. One reader sent me a message on social media and told me she was raped as a teenager and she never told a soul. Reading the book set something free inside of her. She’s seventy-three years old. Do you see Shooting Stars Above as an escapist love story, a guide to healing, or something else entirely? Above all I see it as a love story. To me it’s a celebration of love in all forms, not just romantic love. Love of romantic partners, friends, chosen family, country, art. It explores love in all it’s textures, not just the happy parts. Love brings joy, excitement, pain, grief, comfort, warmth, affection, purpose. By looking at love in these ways, I do feel it’s also a story about healing. What do you hope lingers in readers’ minds long after they’ve finished the final page? Kindness matters. You can never be too kind. Healing is possible. It’s important to let love into our lives. When that love doesn’t come from people, it can come from a movie, a song, or even a novel. How does this book fit into the broader landscape of contemporary romance—what does it offer that others don’t? Many contemporary romance novels involve enemies to lovers, fake relationships that become real, miscommunication, and so on. There are often toxic relationships. Shooting Stars Above doesn’t have any of that. This is a book about good people. They are hurt, but they do not hurt others. They don’t play any games with each other. They love with everything they have. To me, these are aspirational relationships that show the beauty of true partnership and unconditional love in practice. As a writer I think a lot about what I put into the world. The messages I send. I feel good about how I’ve used my voice in this novel and in all my romances. Visit Patricia on her website:
https://patricialeavy.com Join Patricia on Faceboook: www.facebook.com/WomenWhoWrite Follow Patricia on Instagram: www.instagram.com/patricialeavy Engage Patricia on twitter: https://x.com/PatriciaLeavy LINK for BOOK: https://www.amazon.com/Shooting-Stars-Above-Celestial-Romances/dp/1647428548  Serving in a great variety of roles as a game show host, producer, director, business executive, creativity coach and Associate Editor of the Guinness Book of World Records has enabled author Gene S. Jones to see life from multiple points of view, a vast array of experiences that helped him understand others while combining compassion and creativity with a great deal of business acumen. Fueled by decades of curiosity and an endless desire to learn the wisdom traditions of all world cultures, he now shares the profound lessons learned from more than 50 years of studying human nature. How did you decide which pieces of wisdom to include and which to exclude? What were your criteria for selection? This decision was one of the most challenging aspects of writing Consolidated Wisdom. In studying the wisdom phrases of the past 5000 years, there is an overwhelming number of quotes to sort through. If I wasn’t very strict about what quotes to put in the book, my book would probably have ballooned to over 1000 pages and lost its focus. One criteria that I did not use is whether I fully agreed with a quote or not. There are a number of quotes in Consolidated Wisdom that are not aligned with my philosophy of life, but at the same time, those quotes are most worthy of being presented to readers so they can make their own choices. What the selection process came down to was choosing quotes that felt like they had significance in our contemporary society. Was there one area or theme that emerged as particularly prominent or important to you during the writing process? Did you encounter any challenges or unexpected discoveries while researching and/or writing your wisdom books? To me, the key to writing any book is passion. It is essential to be passionate about your subject matter or else it will be very difficult to see the project through to completion. In my instance, the more I researched wisdom, the more fascinated I became with all the different wisdom traditions of the world. I’ve tried to touch on a number of them in Consolidated Wisdom. One of the most interesting topics to me is the wisdom of indigenous cultures worldwide, as the wisdom of those cultures is also very spiritual. That brings me to the other theme that emerged from my research: the fact that most wisdom traditions overlap with other wisdom traditions, and that most arenas of thought are connected to other arenas. For instance, the wisdom of sports also applies to business and the arts. This led me to feature the interconnectedness of different avenues of thought in Consolidated Wisdom. What do you hope readers will gain or take away from engaging with your book? Is there a particular action or change in perspective you hope they'll consider? My hope is that readers will take a number of wisdom phrases to heart and put them to good use. Ultimately, the ideal takeaway from my books about wisdom is for people to form their own Personal Wisdom Codes. By that, I mean adopting a number of quotes that form a code of behavior that matches their beliefs. This is not just something I recommend to others…it is what I have done for myself. After completing Consolidated Wisdom, I started reading through it in search of a dozen or so quotes that literally spoke what I believe in. I ended up with 19 quotes that I copied and assembled on a single page, thereby forming my Personal Wisdom Code. I now keep that list of quotes on my desk and review it almost every day, as it gives me guidance in how to deal with all situations I encounter. The following quote from Modern Wisdom sums up my goal in writing books about the subject of wisdom: To bring wisdom to the minds of others with the hope they will apply it to their daily activities in a way the enables them to make better decisions and therefore live happier more fulfilling lives. I call this type of wisdom actionable wisdom. The power of a wisdom phrase is determined by its ability to inspire productive positive action. For readers who are new to exploring wisdom literature or philosophy, where would you suggest they begin? Stay curious about all aspects of life…and read Consolidated Wisdom…then read Modern Wisdom! In all seriousness, I truly believe that everyone possesses a good deal of innate and/or acquired wisdom. Unfortunately, we often override our wisdom due to other circumstances and emotional states. So my ultimate advice regarding this question is to recommend that people seek out wisdom everywhere they go…in other words, to gain wisdom from experience…while also listening to their inner guidance without allowing outside influences to lead them astray. Wisdom is timeless, yet the world is constantly changing. How do you believe the wisdom presented in your book remains relevant in today's rapidly evolving society? First of all, the reason that great wisdom is timeless is because it is capable of adapting itself to changing times. This is why the quotes In Consolidated Wisdom from hundreds and even thousands of years ago are still relevant today. As I mentioned before, contemporary relevance is the key to wisdom being effective. My research while assembling Consolidated Wisdom taught me that wisdom IS timeless, but in order to be relevant in our modern world, the expression of wisdom has to match contemporary conditions and manners of expression. This is exactly what I’ve tried to do in Modern Wisdom: to express timeless wisdom in the language of our 21st century culture so it can be absorbed and put to good use. What are you working on now, and how does it relate to or expand upon the themes explored in your two recent wisdom books? I just started working on the Wisdom Lovers Workbook, which will be an interactive book that combines wisdom phrases with creativity training to provide readers with exercises that increase both their creativity and wisdom capacity. As a creativity coach, I’ve always merged creativity and wisdom Visit Gene on his website:
https://genejoneswisdom.com Join Gene on Facebook: www.facebook.com/GeneJonesAuthor Engage Gene on X (Twitter): @GeneJonesAuthor LINK for BOOK: https://www.amazon.com/CONSOLIDATED-WISDOM-ULTIMATE-QUOTATIONS-HAPPINESS/dp/0998324027  Bethany May Jones began writing professionally in 2020. The Virtues of Love Collection is her debut series on the biblically based virtues of the fruits of the Spirit analogy, set in beautiful Billings, Montana. Shining a light on Billings, and the Christian themes of unconditional love throughout the lives of its characters, we hope you enjoy this series and look for more of the same heartwarming values within each of this series’ protagonists’ ensuing trilogies. Teacher, homemaker, and now author, Bethany Jones is inspiring hearts yet again with one more of her faith-based western romance novels in "Singing In The Cornfield." Bethany M. Jones, who lives near Toronto, Canada, is a talented author who has embarked on a remarkable journey of creativity and faith authoring novels for young adult readers and all gentle romantics, alike. In her debut series, "The Virtues of Love collection," Bethany invited readers into the picturesque landscapes of Billings, Montana. Drawing inspiration from the Fruits of the Spirit analogy found in the Bible, she weaves themes of faith, hope, and love into the fabric of her narratives. Through a rich tapestry of characters and an inspirational backdrop, Bethany explores the Christian values of love and kindness in her fiction. With her debut novel, "Once Upon a Heartache," Bethany captured the hearts of readers, blending Christian values, western romance, and a deep love for horses into her storytelling. In this story," Bethany introduces readers to Amelia Bennett, who returns to her hometown of Billings, Montana, after six years away. The novel explores themes of family, responsibility, and the power of unconditional love. Amelia's journey is a heart-warming short story that captures the essence of home, family, and rediscovery. As she faces her past and rekindles old friendships, readers are taken on a poignant journey of love and redemption. Through Amy's experiences, readers are reminded that no matter how much time has passed, the bonds of family, friendship, and unconditional love can withstand the test of time and adversity. Amelia's story is a heartfelt reminder that home is not just a place; it's where the heart finds its truest belonging. Bethany's passion for Christianity shines through in her work, as she skillfully integrates profound messages into her storytelling. As a devoted Christian, she is dedicated to sharing God's love with others through the power of her written words. Growing up with a profound love for horses, Bethany's writing reflects her deep respect and admiration for these noble creatures. Her storytelling prowess gracefully combines her Christian principles with her affection for horses, creating narratives that resonate with readers on multiple levels. Bethany's personal love story, firmly rooted in faith, serves as a cornerstone for her writing. Meeting her soon-to-be husband at a church picnic, their relationship brought clarity about her life's path. This deeply personal journey beautifully reinforces the central themes of love and commitment that flow through her literary works. The title, Singing in the Cornfield, evokes a vivid and unique image. What inspired the title, and how does it tie into the central themes of the book? Childhood memories are important to all of us and for Merridith, singing is as natural as breathing. Her memories of playing in the cornfield with her father elicits feelings of glee, happiness and mischief. The book explores themes of resilience and connection to nature. How does the setting of the cornfield play a role in shaping the characters' journeys? Being raised on a homestead in the early years of her life, Merridith has a deep connection to the earth and all things growing, especially wildflowers. But whenever possible, the cornfield was one of her favorite places to visit, as she always had to make her way through them one by one to be able to get to the other side, forging a new path each time. Music appears to be a significant element in the story. How does singing serve as a metaphor or a tool for the characters' growth and healing? With Joy being the central theme of this story, a happy and heartfelt expression of this joy lies in the value of Merridith's singing. Life may be challenging at times, but she faces her adversities as she does with her joys, with a continuous song in her heart. What message or feeling do you hope readers take away from Singing in the Cornfield? I want my readers to always remember to look to their strengths when faced with difficulties in life. God has an answer for every trial, and he provides us with the means to overcome them when we seek it. Were there any particular challenges or memorable moments during the writing process that stood out to you? How did those experiences influence the final story? As much of the story explores the challenges and difficulties of Elias' past, merging his wounds with Merridith's perspective on their relationship makes for an intriguing intersection of accounts. Clarissa's bouquet was a memorable and tangible reminder that Joy can be right around the corner. Visit Bethany on her website:
https://annatek.ca/bethany-m-jones-1 LINK for BOOK: https://www.amazon.com/Singing-Cornfield-Morning-Virtues-Collection/dp/1990403530  Hello and thanks for being here! I am a former professional percussionist turned writer, having discovered my passion for the craft while writing "Beginning Hand Drumming: A Guide to Recreation and Wellness." I began my study of the Tarot in the 1970s. Years later I heard a voice I couldn’t deny. I have been channeling this information from the Universe ever since. I was born with a physical disability and raised in the Bronx. I never expected to become a professional Tarot reader or a go-between for spirit, but in my desire to help others as I have been helped by these loving sources, my intuitive practice has grown. Today I am a sought-after seer with an international following. You can contact me via my social sites and website. When I'm not writing, working with clients, or hanging out with my husband and loving friends, you'll find me mesmerized by the tall Douglas fir trees in my front yard. I live in Western Oregon. Your book, Guidance from the Universe, explores the idea of receiving insights from a higher power. What inspired you to write this book, and how did the concept first come to you? I was meditating one morning, shortly after retiring from my last day job, when “Guidance,” the name I use for this loving source I channel, asked, “did you think these messages were only for you?” “Sure. Yes of course,” I answered. I was obviously wrong and that’s when I decided to write the book. Can you share a particularly profound or life-changing moment when you felt guided by the universe, and how it influenced your path? There are many, but I share this one in my book. Years ago, I was barely making ends meet when I saw a for rent sign in a retail space. I was already stretched financially simply paying my mortgage, plus I had no idea why I was drawn to the tiny bungalow, yet I felt I had no choice but to call the landlord. I followed-through and it positively altered everything about the direction of my life in ways I never anticipated. I opened a hand drum school and wrote an instructional percussion book which started my professional writing career. What practices or tools do you recommend for readers who want to strengthen their connection to the universe and tune into its guidance? I believe we strengthen our ability by removing the blocks that cloud our ability to listen. Some of us might be blocking access due to skepticism, religious upbringing, family dynamics, fear, and doubt. I believe that this radio frequency of love from “source,” is always on so awareness about what stops us from tuning into this connection is key. How do you address skepticism about the idea of universal guidance in your book, and what do you hope skeptics might gain from reading it? I never anticipated that those who are skeptical would read my book, yet I’m receiving feedback from these readers that my personal stories are relatable, enabling them to grasp how change is possible in order to live a happier and healthier life. This message is what’s inspiring them to buy copies for their friends. What key takeaway or piece of wisdom from Guidance from the Universe do you hope resonates most deeply with readers? “Awareness is All,” is a quote from Guidance and it’s the first chapter in my book. What I’ve learned from Guidance is that my joy and happiness have to do with the love I offer myself. This theme of self-awareness and self-responsibility is at the heart of my book because when we do better for ourselves, we absolutely do better for each other, and the world. Visit Jill on her website:
https://jillamysager.com/ Follow Jill on Instagram: www.instagram.com/jillamysager/ Join Jill on Facebook: www.facebook.com/JillAmySager Subscribe to Jill's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCe_6d2UTbjlKaBPSwt4sofg LINK for BOOK: https://www.amazon.com/Guidance-Universe-Messages-Everyday-Challenges/dp/1647427541  Audrey Faust is a financial business coach, mother, wife, and CEO of Audrey Faust Consulting. With over 25 years in the finance world, she founded her company to help women financially empower themselves and grow their businesses profitably. Audrey holds an accounting degree, an MBA, and is a certified NeuroCoach, bringing a wealth of knowledge and personal experience to her coaching practice. What inspired you to write She Grows Rich, and what message do you hope readers take away from it? A few friends inspired me to share about how I grew my wealth from nothing to multi-six figure net worth. At first, I thought, who me, I’m not special, but after I kept getting this message, I really took a good look at what I did and realized it was pretty impressive and that I do get to share it to help women become financially independent. Your book is geared towards helping women build wealth. What are some of the most common financial challenges women face, and how does your book address them? There are a lot of beliefs the were instilled in us as children around money that are secretly sabotaging us without us knowing it. In my book we identify those subconscious beliefs, or prosperity blockers as I like to call them and reprogram them so we can operate at a new level. Women also often have fears around their finances, either they think they are not good at numbers, or investing in the stock market seems way too daunting of a task to do by themselves. I have a chapter dedicated to investing and making it super simple for anyone to do. You emphasize the importance of mindset in achieving financial success. Can you share some practical ways women can shift their money mindset? Inside the book I have a technique I use to identify any money mindset blocks and reprogram them to new ones. I also share a lot of mantras all throughout the book to help with any scarcity mindset that comes up from time to time. In She Grows Rich, you talk about actionable strategies for financial growth. Could you share one key strategy from the book? One key strategy I have is the 7% rule I use. This rule helps you identify whether to pay off your debt early or take what you would put to pay it off early and invest it instead. It’s a strategy I’ve used my entire life to build my wealth. I still have debt, but none of it is above 7%. What role do confidence and self-worth play in wealth-building, and how can women cultivate these qualities? Women want to feel educated around building wealth before they dip their toes in. Education makes women feel more confident. That is what I aim to do with my book. Can you explain how you developed your own financial expertise and what led you to become passionate about empowering women financially? I started investing in mutual funds in my twenties when I saw an article in the Money Magazine about a couple that invested $100 per month and in 20 years they had $100,000. I wanted that, so I followed the directions in the article and began investing starting at $50 per month and increased it from there. There was never a month that went by that I didn’t invest something. I also worked at Vanguard for 2 years which gave me an amazing education around understanding the stock market. And I realized it is very easy and not as scary or complicated as some think and you don’t need a financial advisor to start. Many women struggle with financial literacy. How does She Grows Rich make financial concepts accessible and easy to apply? What my clients tell me over and over again; is how easy and simple I make things for them to understand. Once you get over the fear and are open to learning, it really is simple to start growing your wealth. The only way to become more literate, is to educate yourself. What are some surprising myths about wealth and success that you debunk in your book? First, I don’t believe in the debt free model. A lot of financial coaches preach this, but it is not how I built my wealth, and it is a daunting task to try to pay off your debt first. That is why I use the 7% rule in my book to explain what to pay off and what to let go. Often the debt-free model comes from a scarcity mindset. Not all debt is bad, and its often not advantageous to pay it off as you actually lose money by doing so depending on the interest rate. How can women start teaching financial skills to the next generation to create a legacy of wealth? Encourage your children to start investing early. You often have a lot of disposable income when your children are still living with you and have jobs. Encourage them to start investing money into a Roth IRA as soon as they start working. Talk to them about money, how to manage it and how to save it, and why to save it. What’s one small step readers can take today to begin their journey toward financial independence and wealth-building? The first step is to start. Even if it’s just $50 per month in a mutual fund. Just start. The only thing you can do wrong is to not start investing. Visit Audrey on her website:
https://www.audreyfaustconsulting.com/ Follow Audrey on Instagram: @businessfinancialliteracy Join Audrey on Facebook: www.facebook.com/audrey.faust/ Subscribe to Audrey's YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/channel/UCfY8RjyfArU1m14acmR3-Lw Connect with Audrey on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/audreyfaust/ LINK for BOOK: https://www.amazon.com/She-Grows-Rich-Audrey-Faust/dp/B0DSB2QS6C/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&sr=  Dr. Schlitz is an acclaimed social scientist, award-winning author, and charismatic public speaker. She has conducted clinical, laboratory and field-based research into consciousness, human transformation, and healing. Her books include Living Deeply: The Art and Science of Transformation in Everyday Life; Consciousness and Healing: Integral Approaches to Mind Body Medicine; and Death Makes Life Possible (and companion film by same title). Having taught at Stanford, Harvard, and Trinity University, she is currently Professor of Transpersonal Psychology at Sofia University, CEO/President Emeritus and Senior Fellow at the Institute of Noetic Sciences. Schlitz has published hundreds of articles in scholarly journals and popular publications, and has lectured extensively in diverse venues, including the United Nations, Smithsonian Institution, Commonwealth Club, and community groups across the world. You mentioned that Love Study evolved from a true story into a novel. What was the story that inspired this book? The core of the research is based on my decades of work studying intention at a distance using physiological outcomes. About 12 years ago my colleagues and I used the research design to conduct a study of couples, one of whom had cancer, to see if the healthy partner could send loving intentions to their partner under randomized controlled trials. We measured the physiology of both people, who were in separate rooms. We found significant changes in physiology for the cancer patient when their partner was sending loving intentions. We also found significant correlations between the two people. Why not just write that story as non-fiction? Why fictionalize it? I view research like training for a swim meet and wearing weights. When it’s time for the race, the swimmer takes off the weights and can move quickly through the water. Writing fiction is like taking off the weights and allowing the creative imagination to situate the research. I believe many people can connect to a story better than a scientific journal report. You mentioned that this book could be translated to TV or Film…What makes it so cinematic? (if you could cast it, who would be your ideal actors?) The story is a bit like Big Bang Theory with a group of quirky characters working together in a research lab. In the book, there are dynamic elements that revolve around Grace, the lead character, her colleagues, the dates she has, the couples she interviews who are in long term relationships, her own emotional challenges and failings at relationships, the politics of science, and a resolution for Grace when she finds romantic love for herself. You are known for your cross-disciplinary research. How does the book integrate cultural, scientific, or spiritual perspectives on love, and which of these resonated most with you? The book bridges science and emotions, delving into ways in which cutting edge research may explore spiritual and emotional complexities. It also touches on the tensions between mainstream reductionistic science and frontier sciences into subtle energies and biofields. In what ways does the book bridge the gap between the scientific study of love and the deeply personal experience of it? While Grace and her team attempt to bring an objective view to love, she quickly discovers that love is anything but objective. Her own emotions get entangled with her research. One theme is transformation. What does the book reveal about love as a catalyst for personal or societal transformation? While science tries to explore reality from an objective perspective, there is always a subjective componenet that drives the research. As Grace dives into the research, she gains a greater awareness of her own vulnerabilities and personal hunger for love. How does Love Study address the darker or more challenging aspects of love, such as loss, betrayal, or unrequited feelings? This book dives into some of the impacts of fraud, disception, and misconduct in science today. Grace and her team uncover criminal activities on the part of a lead scientist at the Institute where she works. They also find ways in which science can be used (and misused) for political and financial purposes. What connections does the book draw between love and healing, either on an individual or collective level? Love offers a balm for healing the soul. When confronted with her own loneliness, Grace faces a personal crisis. Working with her team, she finds a way to design a study that can help reveal the connections between head and heart. In this way, she finds a way to heal her own personal issues. If intention plays a significant role in your work, how does Love Study explore the power of intentional love in relationships and self-growth? There is a paradox that is explored in the book between intention and surrender. Can we make love happen, or do we need to yield to the potentials of love that lie beyond our will to make the world what we want it to be? In a time of global division, how does the book suggest love can be used as a tool for bridging differences and fostering understanding? This book approaches love as both a personal quest and a scientific object of study. Finding ways to bridge inner and outer experiences can offer ways to foster a greater understanding of what it means to be human and how we can understand the nature of reality. It is an integral process and can help us understand what we know and how we know about the nature of truth. What was the most surprising or impactful revelation you found in Love Study, and how has it influenced your perspective on love? I conducted my own personal study when I was in Grace’s position. I set up a test to see if I could meet the perfect man. After many attempts, I gave up, surrendering to be happy without a romantic partner. Once I surrendered, the universe presented me with my husband, with whom I have been with for over 20 years. The premise: set intention and surrender, really worked. Writing the book gave me a great window into my own life philosophy, how I have used science as a tool for personal exploration, and how my work with colleagues has offered me a great support system. In truth, there has been pain (including losing a dear friend and colleague, as well as personal grief from loss of a lover) as well as a lot of fun and excitement that happens when you step outside the bounds of conventional research and life. Once I started thinking about the fictional aspects, I experienced research meetings in a new light. How do we control love? How do we define the operational definitions? How can our work help to reveal the interconnectedness of our personal existence and the broader world we live in? One of my colleagues really has a rubber ducky hanging in his office. Visit Marilyn on her website:
https://marilynschlitz.com Join Marilyn on Faceboook: www.facebook.com/marilyn.schlitz Engage Marilyn on twitter: https://x.com/MarilynSchlitz LINK for BOOK: https://www.amazon.com/Love-Study-Marilyn-Schlitz/dp/B0DBG9KN2Z/  For the past 10 years, Sarah Vie has been transforming women's lives- including her own. Sarah is a Master at helping amplify financial abundance, career success, love in relationships and health and wellness. She is an internationally sought out energy healer, meditation guide and manifesting mentor, helping women and men live abundant, happy, and peaceful lives. Congratulations on launching your new book, Sacred Palate, and your TV show! What inspired you to bring the concept of abundant living from the written page to the screen?Thank you! I'm really excited about both the book, Sacred Plate, and the TV show, Living ABundantly with Sarah Vie. The inspiration to transition from writing to television came from my desire to connect with a broader audience. I wanted to bring the concept of abundant living to life in a more dynamic way. The guests who come on the show, are too, living abundantly, whether they are authors, thought leaders, celebrity chefs or people wanting to make a difference in the world. Sacred Plate beautifully blends recipes with a deeper message of connection and gratitude. How do you hope readers will incorporate these lessons into their everyday lives? I love this question. My hope is that readers will find ways to weave the lessons of connection and gratitude into their daily routines. Each food and life recipe not only provides a delicious dish to enjoy but also serves as a reminder to take a moment to appreciate the experience of eating and to connect to themselves with gratitude. WHo we allow ourselves to be is what we then attact. I encourage readers to slow down and savor the process of abundant living, turning it into a mindful practice. Your new TV show offers a unique platform to explore abundant living. Can you share a memorable moment from filming that resonates with the themes of your book. I can't specifically pick out a specific guest that resonates with the book. Each guest has their own story to tell that aligns with their own abundant living. From the products that I promote, to the stories my guests tell all have to do with living in fulfillment. I love my guests and the stories they tell, the books they are writing and the businesses they have created. The journey of combining spirituality and food is deeply personal. How do your personal experiences influence the stories and recipes you share? Everything is interconnected. The recipes in this book are infused with spiritual significance. These foods have played a vital role in helping me release old energy and invite in new, abundant energy. I’ve used these ingredients to elevate my inner frequency. Food, along with our approach to eating, is a form of energy. We can revitalize our bodies not just through the food we consume, but also through our self-talk, the clothing we choose, and the experiences we embrace. This book embodies a journey of spirituality. What’s next for you? Are there plans for a second season of your TV show or perhaps another book in the works? We have only just begun the journey of my talk show. We have signed for a second season and we will be having celebrity co-hosts, a segment called Crossroads for woman feeling stuck in their lives, and more inspiration and talk about my book Visit Sarah on her website:
sarahvie.com Follow Sarah on Instagram: instagram.com/sarah_vie_llc Join Sarah on Facebook: www.facebook.com/sarahvieshine Subscribe to Sarah's YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@sarahvie Catch Sarah Vie’s Inspiring Talk Show! livingabundantlywithsarahvie.com LINK for BOOK: https://www.amazon.com/Sacred-Plate-Recipes-Abundant-Living/dp/B0DDGB92C7  Khristin Wierman was born and raised in a small East Texas town–which means she came into the world a Dallas Cowboys fan and ardently believes “y’all” is a legitimate pronoun. She spent twenty years rising through the marketing ranks of Fortune 500 companies, building a career that was lucrative, ego-boosting, and a little bit soul-crushing. So she quit. And had no idea what to do with her life. Writing ensued. Some things she really enjoys are playing golf with her husband and stepson, poker, yoga, chocolate, the Golden State Warriors, and the daily adventure of life with an adorably imperfect cat named Rocco. She lives in Oakland, California. What was your inspiration for This Time Could Be Different? I’d recently left the corporate world and, for the first time in my life, had the opportunity to choose what I’d like to do next—instead of what other people needed or expected from me. As I considered a new career, I found myself staring at a blank wall. Which was unsettling for so many reasons: Why couldn’t I imagine myself without a job like my old one, which I never consciously chose or enjoyed? Then the bigger blow: How was it that I’d solely defined myself by that career? I began writing as a creative way to use my mind differently and figure out my next career move. From the first scene, I realized that maybe writing the novel was where I was headed all along. Is This Time Could Be Different a memoir? No. Although I’m frequently asked that question. I certainly leveraged much of my own direct experience, but I absolutely adore writing fiction because of the agency it provides—to unwind from what happened in the past; for people to be better than, perhaps, they were; and for everyone to create happier endings for themselves. What was your favorite scene to write? Madeline’s meltdowns were a lot of fun, especially the one she has in the florist shop where she ultimately confronts her worst fears—in front of a room full of strangers—and finds that what she was most terrified of isn’t true at all. Was This Time Could Be Different a significant departure from your first novel, Buck’s Pantry? In some ways, yes, in some ways, no. The stories are unrelated, yet they both deal with how we free ourselves from the knots of our past, which is what I’m most interested in writing about—especially when our traumas occurred underneath the surfaces of what appear to be a very nice lives. I like stories where characters succeed and become who and how they really choose to be in the world. In This Time Could Be Different, I drew from my own corporate experience and the process of figuring out how to find a vocation that I actually enjoyed. In Buck’s Pantry, I drew from my experience growing up in Texas with a mother who suffered from mental illness. So, both are quite close to my heart. What’s next for you? I am currently writing my third novel—new characters, a new story but certainly playing with the themes of recovering from our past, taking agency over our own life, and creating positive change. Visit Khristin on her website:
https://khristinwierman.com Follow Khristin on Instagram: www.instagram.com/khristin.wierman Join Khristin on Facebook: www.facebook.com/khristinwierman/ Connect with Khristin on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/khristin-wierman-39a09a11 LINK for BOOK: https://www.amazon.com/This-Time-Could-Be-Different/dp/1684632161  Andrea Liebross, a certified business and life coach, specializes in empowering female entrepreneurs to infuse thinking with action so they can drop the drama and figure out how to think like a CEO, manage like a CEO and believe in themselves to achieve success in their business and at home. Celebrated for her transformative work with unapologetically ambitious women, helping translate their visions into tangible accomplishments, Andrea is the author of the new book, She Thinks Big: The Entrepreneurial Woman’s Guide to Moving Past the Messy Middle and into the Extraordinary, which launched on September 26, 2023. Andrea is dedicated to implementing systems and strategies that lead to sustainable and meaningful success. She possesses the unique ability to decipher complex situations and shed light on the broader perspective, one that transcends business politics and tedious responsibilities. Her focus is on guiding women toward their highest potential, free from the constraints of traditional norms, to achieve a coveted balance of time, financial prosperity, and boundless energy. Beyond her coaching, Andrea is a dynamic speaker and the engaging host of the She Thinks Big podcast, where she works to help listeners create a plan to have a profitable and successful business. Andrea's journey towards becoming a seasoned coach and author was preceded by her graduation from Dartmouth College and marrying the guy who lived down the hall. Together, they make Indianapolis their home, all while raising two kids and two giant Leonbergers. What do you think makes your company stand out? Can you share a story? What makes my business stand out from other businesses is that I am a business coach, but I take a whole life approach. I always say that life coaching and business coaching are both fair game. Business is just part of your life. A lot of times people try to fit life in around business, but I like to think we can fit business in around life and be successful. If your whole life (all the parts) was a strainer your business needs to go through the holes in the strainer — it needs to fit into those little spots. It’s not the opposite; our life is not about fitting into the spaces in our business. I think that makes me unique; I think both are equally important, and I am up for coaching in both areas. I recently had a client who feared being pregnant and was unsure of how she would fit this pregnancy into her business. When I shared with her that the business needed to fit into the pregnancy — that the pregnancy was of utmost importance — a huge weight was lifted on her. She did figure out how both could “work” together. And now she is the happy mom of healthy twins!! What are the most common mistakes you have seen CEOs & founders make when they start a business? What can be done to avoid those errors? One of the mistakes I see CEOs and founders making is when they are always looking at their bank accounts and judging themselves by what they see there. Entrepreneurs need to recognize it may take three years to turn a profit. They will be investing a lot back into their business during that time, and that investment will bring long-term results. Also, when they’re investing, they need to invest not just in their business, but also in themselves. In fact, that’s where their biggest investments should be — to get knowledge, training, and support they need to grow their business. They tend to think they can’t afford to do those things, or that they should already know all the answers or be able to figure it all out on their own. But that’s simply not true. And if you believe that to be true, will cause you to stumble and not be able to grow your business as fast as you possibly could. Based on your experience can you tell us what you did to bounce back? So, I put on a new set of glasses, and found the people that also wanted to grow and evolve– they were people who energized me. And I accepted that some of my past friendships were complete; we were in two different chapters of life. By reframing these friendships in that way, I made space for new ones to evolve. Another way I bounce back from business lows is by changing how I think about the situation. There have been times when I’ve tried a new program or package, and it hasn’t gotten the traction I wanted it to. That creates a low. So, I treat it as if it were a science experiment; that’s one of my favorite ways of positioning things in my mind to help my brain manage the feelings associated with what I could see as “failure.” So, I would say, “I had a hypothesis, and we tested it. We proved it incorrect. That’s ok. It was a try. We’ll create new hypotheses and move forward.” What are your “Five Things You Need To Successfully Ride The Emotional Highs & Lows Of Being An Entrepreneur”? You can sum up these five things by using the word “TRUST.”
Visit Andrea on her website:
https://andrealiebross.com/ Follow Andrea on Instagram: www.instagram.com/andrea.liebross.coaching Join Andrea on Facebook: www.facebook.com/andrealiebrosscoaching/ Subscribe to Andrea's YouTube channel: @andrealiebrosscoaching Connect with Andrea on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/andrea-liebross Check out Andrea Liebross’s podcast, She Thinks Big, for inspiring episodes and insights: Visit the Podcast Page Explore Andrea’s book, She Thinks Big: The Entrepreneurial Woman's Guide to Moving Past the Messy Middle and Into the Extraordinary, here: Buy on Amazon |
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
Bedside Reading® is a Registered Trademark