Book Spotlight: Becoming Flawesome by Kristina Mand-Lakhiani #BecomingFlawesome

 

Being described as “10 years worth of therapy in one book,” Becoming Flawesome is a celebration of our whole selves, warts and all, and the glory that is to be found in living in our truth…

Title: Becoming Flawesome
Author: Kristina Mand-Lakhiani
Publisher: Hay House Publishing
Pages: 280
Genre: Nonfiction

Perfection. We all dream of living by it, feeling it, being it…

And it is in the name of perfection that we demonise our flaws, make ourselves ‘less-than,’ and render ourselves vulnerable to the shame of not being good enough.

We live in a society that subliminally encourages us to wear metaphorical masks, slay our inner sadness, and ignore our imperfections, or as Kristina refers to them, her ‘dragons.’ Even within the world of personal development and spirituality, toxic perfectionism lurks in the shadows.

In Kristina’s upcoming book Becoming Flawesome #BecomingFlawesome, she reflects on her own story, her battle against perfectionism, and what it took for her to return to what she now deems to be her most authentic self. Being described as “10 years worth of therapy in one book,” Becoming Flawsome is a celebration of our whole selves, warts and all, and the glory that is to be found in living in our truth.

Every chapter is closed with reflection points and exercises to encourage the readers to dive deep into the essence of who they truly are, what their values are, and how to navigate an oftentimes overwhelming world.

In this book, Kristina breaks the mould as she takes the reader on a journey through:

• The dark, controversial side of ‘personal growth,’ and the insecurities that thrive on it

• Self-care vs self-love, and why you need both

• What authenticity actually is, beyond the buzz

• The ‘Hermione Syndrome,’ and how to diagnose if you’re secretly suffering from it

• How to create aligned lifestyle habits that stick

• Why the more you judge others, the more you judge yourself

• Societal masks, and how to remove them from your psyche 

• Imposter syndrome in the world of high-flyers 

• Emotional literacy: how to cope with strong, painful emotions healthily 

Amazon: https://tinyurl.com/mwtzj3jx 

Mind Valley Books: https://www.mindvalley.com/books/flawesome 

Book Excerpt  

The Key to Living an Imperfectly Authentic Life

Introduction

Let’s Begin

It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a good book has to start with a proper introduction.

And by “proper” I mean that it has to prime the reader for the journey, raise excitement and set expectations, explain the process, and make reading the book an experience both profitable and smooth. After all, we are about to spend some time together on this journey.

Therefore, I was not surprised when on the first meeting with my publisher I was asked if I would consider writing a proper introduction to my book. You see—the original manuscript started with a story of me pondering my future book while standing in the shower, warm water running down my back, and my finger absentmindedly drawing random patterns on the fogged-up glass.

I started this book during the long years of successive COVID confinements, and I was planning to self-publish it because I wanted the freedom to make decisions about the book—how to write, what to write, what stories to include, what kind of experience to offer to my reader. So, naturally, it wasn’t following any universally acknowledged truths or conventions.

Yet, by the time I had to present my book-baby to the world, I felt that I wanted to give it the best possible future, and I had to face the big decision between my heart and my brain: Will it be self-published (heart), or will I work with a traditional publisher (brain)? Going the traditional way meant facing more choices between my quirky and obstinate self-expression and conventional ways of doing things.

This book is about finding your way back to yourself, about understanding who you really are, accepting your dents and scratches, your quirky uniqueness and even your flaws. It is about thriving in being unapologetically you, most flawesomely.

This book has been through the hands of several editors ever since I put the last stop on its original manuscript. This journey has been both emotional and transformative for me. I had to face my biggest dragon by far—my obstinate need for pure self-expression—over and over again.

When do you follow convention, and when do you stick to your own principles and values?

There is no simple answer to this question, except: you have to learn to balance.

If you follow all the rules that your peers expect you to follow, you bet all there is on a slim chance of the grand prize, but you do it at the price of your own unique self-expression. At times, I felt like I had to “sell my soul to the devil” for a chance at success.

But if you obstinately stick to your own unique quirks and principles, you might end up being unheard and misunderstood so universally that there is no point in writing a book. For it is the readers who make a writer. Without the readers, a book is just a private diary.

Reader, will you judge me if I tell you that this book is a delicate balance between convention and my own uniqueness? Of course, I want you to succeed. But I cannot give you the proper introduction to my book because every book is a journey. This book has been my journey, and

now it is yours. I walked my path to my true self, to understanding what makes me truly me . . .

and what of that unique quirkiness is simply noise. You see, your flaws and your dragons are there for a reason—they make you who you are, but they also hold the key to your biggest value, to your mightiest strengths, if you choose to look your dragons in the eye.

Now I am hoping that you will take this journey with me to your unique destination—to finding the path back to you. I will be your companion on this journey, but it is yours to take.

So why wouldn’t I tell you what’s ahead? Imagine if Gandalf told Bilbo Baggins that on his journey, he would encounter trolls, go through a perilous enchanted forest, and face a dragon in a far-away mountain. Wouldn’t that be a bit of a spoiler?

I want you to take this journey back to you without any spoilers, with an open heart, and trust that the destination is going to be worth your effort. Because becoming flawesome is the best gift you can give to yourself.

So, if you are ready, let’s begin!

Kristina Mand-Lakhiani is an international speaker, entrepreneur, artist, philanthropist, and mother of 2 kids. As a co-founder of Mindvalley, a leading publisher in the personal growth industry, Kristina dedicated the last 20 years of her career from teachers like Michael Beckwith, Bob Proctor, Lisa Nichols, and many more. 

She started her career in a government office in her native Estonia and, by her mid-20s, achieved a level of success mostly known to male politicians at the end of their careers. It was shortly after that Kristina and her then-husband Vishen founded Mindvalley. From a small meditation business operating out of the couple’s apartment in New York, the company quickly grew into a global educational organization offering top training for peak human performance to hundreds of thousands of students all around the world. 

Kristina believes life is too important to be taken seriously and makes sure to bring fun into every one of her roles: as a teacher, mother, entrepreneur, philanthropist, and world traveller. Kristina helps her students to virtually hack happiness by taking them through her unique framework - “Hacking happiness” - a unique framework of balancing your life, taking in every moment, and paying close attention to the small daily choices.  

Kristina is also the author of three transformational quests - "7 Days To Happiness", "Live By Your Own Rules.” and "The Art of Being Flawesome". Kristina talks about personal transformation, authenticity, understanding and accepting oneself, and a path to happiness.

In July 2023, with the help of Hay House Publishing, Kristina releases her very first book - "Becoming Flawesome" #BecomingFlawesome. In her book, Kristina shares her own journey from being on top of a personal growth empire like Mindvalley to stepping aside, conscious uncoupling from her husband, and walking her path towards being more honest with herself. 

Website: https://kristinamand.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kristinamand

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristina-mand-lakhiani-73168414/

 

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? and Mailbox Monday - Apr 10

Welcome to It's Monday! What Are You Reading? and Mailbox Monday.   

 

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is a place to meet up and share what you have been, are and about to be reading over the week. It's a great post to organize yourself. It's an opportunity to visit and comment, and er... add to that ever growing TBR pile! So welcome in everyone. This meme started with J Kaye's Blog and then was taken up by Sheila from Book Journey. Sheila then passed it on to Kathryn at the Book Date.      

Happy Easter Monday! I hope you had a glorious weekend. I missed posting last week because we had been away. Here are a few photos from our trip to NY.

Upstate Bar & Grill in Cooperstown, NY

Gift shop outside the Baseball Hall of Fame

National Comedy Center in Jamestown, NY

Luci Desi Museum in Jamestown, NY

On the drive home

This past Friday, we brought Yia-Yia to our home to live with us. Her room came out lovely, and we were prepared for her arrival. We had a great day, laughing, watching the Gaithers, and getting her settled in. She was good with the transition from one house to another, and other than the occasional, "How old am I?" questions, she acclimated well. So, imagine our surprise, when I found she passed away in her sleep overnight. 

We are saddened we didn't have more time with her, but God's timing is always perfect. She had a good day. She was happy to be here. And she knew where she was going when she left this world. Reunited with her parents, husband, and dozens of friends and loved ones, how glorious for her to be welcomed home by her Savior on Easter weekend. 

Needless to say, not a ton of reading going on lately. While in New York, I read this one for my April 24 review.

After prayer time, I read from this John Maxwell book in the morning.

I ended up finishing this one. In the end, though I felt it dragged on, this book had a ton of excellent insight. I will post a short review soon.

These two are next for May 1 and May 29 tours. Not sure why I thought signing up for three review books made sense, but at least one of them is small. 

Upcoming virtual book tours:

• The Vanishing at Castle Moreau by Jamie Jo Wright - Apr 24 (review)
• The Shade Under the Mango Tree by Evy Journey - Apr 27
• The Not So True Adventures of Brandon, Josh and Adam by Barry M. Fellinger - May 1 (review at TC&TBC)
• The Giving Back Tree by Tarky Lee - May 29 (review at TC&TBC)

Mailbox Monday is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came in their mailbox during the last week. Warning: Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles and humongous wish lists.

I grabbed this book in Cooperstown from the Hall of Fame gift shop.

I also downloaded this one on NetGalley. 

I have errands to run this morning, but I will be checking in with my blogging friends this afternoon.

Top Ten Tuesday:Ten Books to Inspire and Uplift You

Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.

Happy Tuesday! I know it's not a very happy world right now, but I need to try and stay positive. It's too easy for me to dive down into the rabbit hole of like sucks right now. So, for today's genre freebie, I have chosen books to inspire and uplift you.

Top Ten Books to Inspire and Uplift You

I hope you'll share a book that has uplifted or inspired you.

Praying you all stay safe and healthy.

Book Review: Going for Broke by Shannon Medisky

Are you looking for a book that can help change your perspective? Then Going for Broke: How to Suffer Well by Shannon Medisky should be on your list.

Medisky has spent the last ten years learning a lot about suffering, but her book isn't going to be about how to get out of it or how to avoid it, because she knows that God allows us to suffer, but also "meets us in our mess." In those moments when life just "sucks," she encourages us to face suffering in "anticipation of meeting God personally in brand new ways."

Providing a fresh perspective on how God called Noah and Moses and what they suffered through, along with sharing her own journey, the reader is inspired to accept suffering, but not be defeated by it. She boils it down to three easy-to-remember steps to help you and guide you to intentionally lean on God in meaningful ways.

I loved everything about this book; especially because Medisky's style of writing makes the reader feel like she is speaking solely to her. I'll be on the lookout for more of the author's work, and have visited her website to check on additional resources.

Paperback: 134 pages
Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform; 1 edition (September 14, 2018)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1986546292
ISBN-13: 978-1986546294

I received a digital copy of this book from the author through Pump Up Your Book. This review contains my honest opinions, which I have not been compensated for in any way. 

Interview with John Alexander, Author of Timeless Tales

John Alexander lives in Frisco, TX. During the last five years of his career in the high tech industry John discovered his love for writing. He now spends full time pursuing that passion.

His work includes:

Technical books:
Co-author of two editions of CallManager Fundamentals (2001 & 2005)

Mystery/Suspense:
The Enclave (2010)

Children’s Chapter books
Amber – Autumn Mystery Series (Four Books, 2014 – 2017)

Poetry
Timeless Tales – his debut book of poetry release date August 12, 2018.

John served as Grant Committee chairman for North Texas Book Festival for two years, is an active member of SCWBI, and participates in two monthly critique groups in Frisco.

Website: http://www.alexandernovels.com
Blog: http://www.alexandernovels.com/blog1
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alexandernovels
Twitter: https://twitter.com/alexandernovels


Where did you grow up?

I grew up in Rusk, a small town in east Texas. I had the privilege of graduating high school with friends I’d known since first grade. After college at the University of Texas, I spent a few years in Florida, a few years in Ohio, and then settled in North Texas, with a two year stay in California inserted during the 90s.

When did you begin writing?

I coauthored two technical books in 2001 and 2004. I completed a mystery suspense novel in 2010. I began writing children's chapter books in 2014, completing a four book mystery series. I began writing stories in rhyme in the spring of 2017, releasing my debut book of ten poems August 12, 2018.

What is this book about?

The rhymes in Timeless Tales grew out of some tough times, and the stories in the book helped me to cope. I pray they will bring hope, courage, and inspiration to others.

What inspired you to write it?

Sitting in the waiting room of a doctor’s office during my wife’s office visit, one of many during the past months, feeling sorry for myself and our situation, a poem rose within me and caused me to smile. It seemed that trash kept falling on us and I wrote the first poem, Mouse in a Dumpster, in doctor’s office waiting rooms over the course of the next two days. I had written a short poem for my wife’s birthday thirty years earlier, and I wrote an open house invitation in the form of a rhyme a few years ago, but I’d never really written poetry. I found writing stories in rhyme soothing and the stories brought my hope and joy. My love of writing stories in rhyme was born out of that experience.

How is it similar to other books in its genre? How is it different?

This book is similar to other books that provide the reader with inspiration through collections of lyrical poems. Many of the poems in those collections are from the past. I think Timeless Tales is different because they are fresh and new, yet reminiscent of rhymes from years gone by.

What is the most important thing readers can learn from your book?
I hope readers are inspired to find peace and joy in the midst of their present circumstances.

Where can readers purchase a copy?

The book is available for pre-order (release date is August 12, 2018) from several sources including Amazon and Barnes and Noble. Here are some links:

Amazon Paperback

Amazon Hardcover

Amazon Kindle

Barnes & Noble Paperback

Barnes & Noble Hardcover

Barnes & Noble NOOK Book

What is up next for you?

I am working on my next collection of poems.

Is there anything you would like to add?

I would love feedback from readers. I have no formal training in poetry. I’m just a novice who loves the flow of rhyme and rhythm.

Book Trailer Blast: Don't Call Me Crazy! I'm Just in Love with God by Swiyyah Nadirah Woodard

Title:
DON’T CALL ME CRAZY! I’M JUST IN LOVE WITH GOD

Author: Swiyyah Woodard

Publisher: Swiyyah Productions, Inc.

Pages: 229

Genre: Inspirational / Motivational / Romance / Christian

BOOK
BLURB:

Because of God, nothing will stop Anika from marrying the love of her life, not even paranoid schizophrenia. You don’t want to miss this spiritual journey filled with inspiration and
power.

This book is insightful and perceptive. Inspired by a true story. Few people consider the God factor in mental health. Join Anika and journey with her as she receives revelations from God while on her  walk to overcome mental illness and naiveness towards religion. Required reading for high schools and colleges.

ORDER YOUR COPY:

Amazon
| Barnes
& Noble

     Anika begins to lose her mind. While continuing to stare at the television set, Anika sees a vision of Jesus. He appears to her in just as perfect form and image as the paintings on Mary’s wall. She then hears Jesus speak, “I am the son of God.” Then just as fast as he appears, he leaves her vision.

     “Did you see him? Did you see Jesus?” Anika turns and looks at her friends. Words
are stuck within their throats. "Did you see him? Did you see Jesus?” Anika repeats once more.

     “Anika, you’re really scaring us. I thought you were Muslim?” Mary says.

Anika then feels as if someone was controlling her thoughts. “Forgive yourself.”  

She then begins to ramble, “Atoms are neither created nor destroyed. There was always an existence. You have to take baby steps to understand how this existence works, where we came from, how it started. Don’t jump from A to Z. No, you must go from A to C. Take a break. It has been
painted. First there was nothing; it was blackness, pitch blackness. There was first the black hole. A plumber can understand the black hole. There was a white light. The creator is positive energy. We all have a little bit of positive energy. A person of positivity can change your life without saying a
word. We try to increase positive energy which is the same as increasing spiritually. Once we are of that same positivity as the creator, we become one with him. Only a few souls have reached this level of existence. The rest of us are growing spiritually so we can reach that level.“

 
It appears to Anika that she is making sense as she began to explain
herself, justifying her words.

“Positive times positive equals positive. Negative times positive equals negative. Therefore, if you have any negativity in you, you cannot become one with positivity.”

“The creator is all positive energy. Negative times negative equals positive. If you learn from loads of negativity you will learn from your mistakes and become all positive. It’s mathematics. Everything stems from mathematics. Less than a cup of wine is what I need to rest. Don’t want to scare away this beautiful spirit controlling my thoughts.” While holding the sides of her head trying to rid her racing thoughts, she runs into the kitchen and pours herself a cup of wine. She then thinks, “no one will ever have to go through what I went through again!”

Anika takes a look at her past to see how in the world she got to this point in her life.

Swiyyah Nadirah Woodard was selected as a Bay News 9 Everyday Hero, which was seen by two million viewers, for publishing a book and teaching the community about her own battle with mental

illness. She was hospitalized six times and misdiagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia. Her first book, Don't Call Me Crazy! I'm Just in Love, became required and suggested reading in Reading, Writing, Abnormal Psychology, and General Psychology classes at a four year Institution. 

She was born in the housing projects of Saint Petersburg, FL. Her father left when she was three so
she was raised in a single parent home. At the age of five she was molested by her eight year old brother. She later started school, she had slurred speech and didn't care to make friends so she was bullied by her peers. At the age of eight, she wanted to kill herself because a girl wanted to fight her. She looked into the medicine cabinet for medication. Thank God, she couldn't find any.

As a teenager she was physically abused by her stepdad. The abuse was so severe, God blocked it from her memory. At the age of 20, the brother that molested her committed suicide, which was devastating to her and the entire family. Swiyyah has always viewed herself as normal. She never received any disciplinary problems in school, made good grades, and received her BA degree in Psychology from the University of South Florida.

When the doctors misdiagnosed her with the most debilitating mental disorder known in mental health, paranoid schizophrenia, she denied it. She questioned their expertise. She refused to take medication. She was then hospitalized six times. Her family took a picture of her at her worst and that's when she knew she needed help. She has been taking medication now for ten years without a relapse.

She is now a published author and a National Inspirational Speaker. Her first book is entitled, “Don't Call Me Crazy! I'm just in Love,” and is inspired by her true story. 

She was raised Muslim and the revelations she received from God and placed in her books, didn't make any since until she meet her Christian husband 14 years after her first relapse. 
Please contact Swiyyah to book speaking engagements, life coaching, author and speaker coaching, radio and TV interviews, or to purchase her books at 727-495-3217, Swiyyah@swiyyah.com.

WEBSITE & SOCIAL LINKS:

WEBSITE | TWITTER | FACEBOOK

Book Spotlight: Aging With Dignity, Living With Grace by David Brady

Four years ago David Brady was viciously assaulted by a 21 year-old man with severe mental illness, resulting in traumatic brain damage. He lost eighty percent of his memory and was forced to put his successful TV production company on hiatus while he sought out a solution to this horrific situation.

That got him wondering, how many other middle aged, or ‘baby boomers’, get blindsided by a life altering event like this?”

Aging With Dignity, Living With Grace will tell you how David was able to turn his life around, overcome adversity, find peace of mind and prosperity in this book.



Paperback: 178 pages
Publisher: Virtualbookworm.com Publishing (March 10, 2014)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1621374742
ISBN-13: 978-1621374749
PURCHASE AT AMAZON: http://www.amazon.com/Aging-With-Dignity-Living-Grace/dp/1621374742/
PURCHASE AT BARNES AND NOBLE: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/aging-with-dignity-living-with-grace-david-h-brady/1118906721

Award-winning film and television writer, producer and director David Brady’s work is best known in

Canada, but no stranger to U.S. and European audiences. He was also an award-winning professor at Ryerson University in Toronto and is currently on the Faculty of Motion Picture Arts at Capilano University in North Vancouver British Columbia. David holds an MFA from York University in Toronto. He did his original undergraduate and work at Simon Fraser University in Vancouver, British Colombia. Brady also taught film production and screen writing at York University in Toronto and is an acclaimed and powerful public speaker and lecturer.

In his new dramatic and compelling book, Aging With Dignity, Living with Grace he chronicles his life altering and potential near death experience of being viciously assaulted by a young man with Mental illness. David had gone to talk to this bright and highly educated young man at the request of his mother. The result was a traumatic brain injury that would have left others permanently incapacitated and disabled. However, Brady is no quitter and in this gripping and honest account of his harrowing experience he will take you, the reader through the stages and the steps he had to take to overcome his serious handicap and find peace of mind, prosperity and real happiness.

Brady’s film and television projects have won numerous Canadian, American and International awards including One Academy Award Nomination for his late business partners Production of Nails as Best Theatrical Documentary, 7 Genie Awards (Canadian Academy Awards) and two Golden Globe nominations including Best Foreign Film and Best Actor for “The Grey Fox,” starring Richard Farnsworth and presented by Francis Ford Coppola’s Zoetrope Studios and released through United Artists Classics. His recent Canadian Broadcasting Corporation production of Yellowstone Super Volcano, which will air on Smithsonian Channel in the USA in 2014 and was the CBC’s highest, rated Doc Zone for 2013. He also had two recent productions in Canada that were in the top three rated for the network and will soon be available in the US. His “Yonge Street, Toronto Rock & Roll Stories” just won a Gemini Award and he also produced one of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation’s 2011 highest rated “Doc Zones” The Gangster Next Door. In addition to these award winning and critically acclaimed shows, he has produced over 130 primetime comedies, dramas, and documentaries, including “The Pagan Christ” and “The Gangster Next Door,” which both aired in the United States recently. His Discovery Channel Production of Around The World with Tippi was nominated at the prestigious Banff Television Festival as the Best Family Series in the world. He was also one of the executive producers of his good friend Alan Sacks Disney Channel Production of You Wish, which was nominated for the Humanitis Award in Los Angeles.

Websites: http://davidbradyproductions.com/ and http://davidbradybooks.com/
 Facebook pages: https://www.facebook.com/david.brady.5496 and
https://www.facebook.com/davidbradyproductions

Interview with Glenyce Hughes, Contributor to Pearls of Wisdom

An oyster can’t produce pearls without first suffering with a grain of sand. Each of the authors in Pearls of Wisdom: 30 Inspirational Ideas to Lead Your Best Life Now gives guidance to readers on how to turn their own grains of sand into pearls.

Each chapter contains a new voice and a fresh idea for a positive life change. With each chapter as diverse as the cast of authors who have come together to create this unique book, there is certain to be an idea to inspire and uplift you.

Pearls of Wisdom contains the greatest ideas of today’s top self-help authors, combining traditional and new techniques, affirmations, theories, meditations and practices to lead readers from the struggles they deal with in their current situations to a higher, enlightened life; not merely an existence.

For anyone who has asked the question;

“am I really living the best possible life I could be?”

Pearls of Wisdom grants the answers for any of life’s questions, straight from the hearts and minds of the masters of self-help themselves.

The Contributing Authors on the Tour

(left-right) Stacy Goforth • Liz Byrne • Susan Barker • Kelle Sutliff • Renee Baribeau • Sheila Pearl • Asia Voight • Tami Gulland • Kelle Sutliff (bottom row) Lisa Merrai- Labon • Siobhan Coulter • Chantal Herman • Marcelle Charrois • Marcelle Charrois • Glenyce Hughes • Stephanie Bennett Vogt • Michelle Manning-Kogler • Susan McMillin • Craig Meriwether • Leslie Gunterson

Glenyce Hughes is a Medium & So Much More! She is gifted with the amazing ability to bridge the gap between the physical and the spiritual worlds. With this gift there are two main areas she excels in.

As a medium she provides comfort through validations and messages from the other side to loved ones here on earth.

As a Live BEYOND Your Wildest Dreams Life Coach she works in partnership with Creator, Angels, Archangels, Ascended Masters & Spirit Guides. They facilitate healings, energy shifts and provide insight that empowers her clients to live the lives of their dreams by tapping into their true power and potential.

Along with being a contributing author to the Pearls of Wisdom book, Glenyce is also the author of her own book “Live BEYOND Your Wildest Dreams.”

A leader in her field, she’s inspired thousands around the world through her writing, workshops, home study online courses, tele-classes, and individual sessions.

Visit Glenyce online at www.glenyce.net.

How did you get into this collection of inspiration with folks like Jack Canfield?

I was in the process of writing a Messenger Mini Book when I was invited to submit a chapter for the Pearls of Wisdom book. I was thrilled when it was one of the chapters to be accepted.

What is your chapter about?

My chapter is my journey from choosing to feel like a victim to owning the fact that I had created a large amount of debt, and I was the only one who could change it.

What do you think makes this book unique and who would want to read it?

This book is unique because it offers many different ideas to live your best life now from many different perspectives. The readers will vary from those just starting on their path to creating happiness and joy in their lives to those who have been on the journey for many years. I love how easy a read it is also. You could easily read one chapter a day.

What kind of wisdom do you have to offer the reader?

My wisdom is my life experience. I inspire by how I live my life and the conscious choices I have made to get me where I am today, and where I am going tomorrow. Get clear on what you desire in your life, on what makes your heart dance and take the steps to get you there. It is amazing how quickly everything lines up for you, once you make the conscious decision to live your greatest dreams.

The publisher promises that the authors such as yourself are “up and coming” leaders in self-help. How does the publisher know this and what is your expertise in “self-help”?

I have been working full time in my business as a "medium & so much more" for 10 years. I teach various workshops, classes, teleclasses and online courses. My expertise is empowering people to live their best lives by making conscious choices.

Most people know about Jack Canfield from the Chicken Soup books and Marci Shimoff from her Happy book … How would you like your readers to think of you? What is your “signature niche”?

I empower people to recognize they are the creators of their lives through their thoughts, actions, choices. I facilitate them on how to use this to their advantage and create the lives beyond their wildest dreams.

We often hear that the “whole is greater than the sum of its parts” – how does that proverb apply to the 30 authors in this book?

This book is an excellent way to connect with many different readers around the world. With so many different perspectives any reader could pick it up and find something that resonates with them.

What is your most central and compelling “pearl of wisdom”?

Choosing to own your power as the creator of your life through the choices you make is the most empowering thing you can do. Knowing you created something in your life also gives you the power to know you can change it. In fact you are the only one who can. You can receive inspiration from others, but you are the one who ultimately make the choices that change it, or keep it the same. The choice is yours.