Category Archives: Books

Authors, Books, Inspiration

Guest Post – Tina Frisco on #Forgiveness

59 Comments
Just before I took my blogging break in August, the lovely Debby Gies, aka D.G. Kaye, invited me to guest post on her blog. Debby is the Sherlock Holmes of our blogging community 🙂 Aside from featuring authors, books reviews, and myriad reblogs, she regularly shares tips and tricks she garners from sleuthing. If you’re not familiar with Debby, do yourself a favor and visit her informative BLOG. 
My thanks to Debby for her abiding generosity and enthusiastic spirit. I was honored and delighted to be her guest, and would like to share that post with you now ❤
*************

D.G. Kaye Author

As many of you know, I enjoy sharing posts here by Tina Frisco. And I was elated at Tina’s agreement to write a guest post to feature here today while I’m knee-deep in re-writes on my newest book. Tina has an inner wisdom, which opens our eyes to simple things we often take for granted, or sometimes hold a place within us that we sometimes struggle with but may not be able to come to terms with. In this post, Tina shares her experience with finding forgiveness and methods she utilizes to delve deep within her soul to find resolution.

Author Tina Frisco

Forgiveness

Terri Webster Schrandt
Image courtesy of Terri Webster Schrandt

“We tend to think of the rational as a higher order, but it is the emotional that marks our lives. One often learns more from ten days of agony than from ten years of contentment.” –Merle Shain, Canadian journalist and author, 1935-1989

Forgiveness is the highest form of virtue. It requires a strong and open heart. It challenges faith, trust, and understanding. It demands a willingness to let go of judgment. It moves us into compassion and elevates our consciousness. It fashions a deeper awareness of ourselves and others. Its gift is a more peaceful and fruitful life lived here on Mother Earth.

Forgiving someone a deep hurt is one of the most difficult challenges I have had to face.

As a small child, I was abused and often overlooked in favor of my younger sister. I was an afterthought. Because children have embryonic coping mechanisms, this neglectful behavior by the adults in my life carved a deep hole in my psyche. Desperate to be recognized, I became an overachiever and a slave to codependence. The imperatives of service and recognition fueled my desperation to a point where it imploded. I fragmented, and many took advantage. I was a walking, breathing wound.

In my teenage years, salt was added to that wound by those who mistook my need to help for egoism. Fortunately, I have a strong will and was able to rebut such claims. Unfortunately, this got me nowhere. I was labeled stubborn, angry, selfish, and a know-it-all. I would be the first to volunteer and the last to be selected. No matter how hard I tried, I could not get people to see me.

These labels followed me into early adulthood. Every time my eagerness to serve was mistaken for arrogance or selfishness, I either lashed out or fell into despair. My life had become one of emotional extremes – a roller coaster ride of peaks and valleys, racing fast to stand still.

All of this began to change when, at age thirty-three, I apprenticed to a medicine woman. She was as brutal in pointing out my weaknesses as she was compassionate in acknowledging my strengths. She forced me to dive deep and breathe while in the grasp of fear. Upon surfacing, I saw that all emotion is self-imposed. I alone am responsible for the choices I make. As my awareness grew, I began to own who I am – a wounded warrior made stronger for having faced that which terrorized me.

A few years into my apprenticeship, an issue I thought I had resolved attacked with a sudden and nauseating potency. Once again, and painfully, I felt overlooked. The hurt cut so deep, I nearly lost my life. I thought I was regressing, but I thought wrong. Issues become lighter as they are resolving. The pieces we have dealt with rise toward the surface. The nearer the surface, the more clearly we see them and the more powerful the impact. As these pieces are released, we might feel we are exploding, much like an erupting boil or volcano.

Naively, or perhaps wishfully, I thought I had finally battled this demon for the last time. Again, I thought wrong.

Continue reading … 

Source: Guest post by Tina Frisco – forgiveness

Short Stories, The Holidays

Halloween Harpy ~ #ShortStory by #TinaFrisco

77 Comments
If the ancient Celts were alive today, they’d be astounded by what had become of Samhain, one of their most important Sabbats. Both the Roman conquerors and the early Church in England had a hand in eclipsing pagan holidays, by renaming and merging them with their own. You can learn more about the history of Halloween here and here. One last point before getting on with our story … There’s a difference between a witch and a warlock; and although not gender specific, it is left open to some interpretation. Basically, it’s the difference between light and dark. You can learn more here and here.
The short story I’d like to share with you isn’t about trick-or-treating, pumpkins, or jack-o-lanterns. It’s about the transformation and transmutation of a disagreeable young woman who plays malicious tricks every day of the year. 
Halloween Harpy
Pixabay CCO
Pixabay CCO

No one escaped her claws. Everyone felt the hot breath of her rage. She hissed when met with refusal and scowled when faced with upstarts requesting entry to her coveted clique.

 Submit and obey or expect to grovel! Be loyal or be ousted!

Chris stopped at nothing to gratify her perverted ego. She was certain she was entitled.

Her parents cultivated this insufferable attitude by giving her all she ever wanted and catering to her frequent outbursts of teenage angst. Convinced their progeny could do no wrong, they were clueless to having unleashed a monster into the world.

Her teachers wavered between reprimanding and commending, hoping the latter would assuage her obnoxious need for attention and, hopefully, set her on a humane path. But she met scolding with insolence and praise with arrogance.

Pixabay CCO
Pixabay CCO
Her friends either idolized her or equaled her repugnance. Those denied entry to her loathsome coterie feared for their lives. Notorious for flaunting her superiority, she would cast an evil sneer, menacing glare, or flip of the hip as she turned her back on the unworthy outsiders.
Her most coveted victim was Charlotte, an erudite classmate she secretly envied but openly despised. Her longing for acumen and intellect beyond her potential always evoked contempt when seeing someone with their nose in a book.
She abhorred innocence even more and quickly diverted her attention when a shy naïve country girl transferred in from a rural school. Chris thought the timid and credulous were begging for abuse. With Halloween fast approaching, she began a full-scale assault against Becca.

Pixaby CCO

The communal nature of holidays with their demonstrations of affection and homage piqued her wrath; unless, of course, the idolatry was bestowed upon her by her minions. Halloween, however, was the one and only exception. Its motif of disguises allowed her to fly under the radar and mask all manner of malicious deeds. She intended this Halloween to hallmark the pinnacle of her wickedness.
Her high school was of Celtic tradition and acknowledged Halloween as the New Year. This prestigious holiday originated from the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain. Her school celebrated by presenting their Distinguished Druid Award to a senior selected by the student body.
Chris despised award ceremonies and devised a heinous plan to ruin it. She ordered her boyfriend Billy and BFF Sue to nominate Becca. The vicious duo smacked their lips in delight at the prospect of humiliating someone, especially on Halloween, and especially if that someone was their worshiped leader’s number one target.
Chris then commanded her doting coterie to vote for the unsuspecting victim, knowing Becca would be mortified by the mere thought of having to give a speech. Confident her following would obey and Becca would win by a landslide, Chris wove the threads of her spiteful scheme into a nefarious web.

Pixabay CCO

On the eve of nominations, she secretly taped her and Billy’s orgasmic outbursts, ensuring they were as offensive as possible. The following morning, she gave him the tape with explicit instructions: don’t listen to it; connect it to the school’s PA system; turn it on when Becca begins her speech. Then, not wanting to reveal the heart of her plan, she feigned an off-the-cuff command to set up the movie screen as well. Conditioned to blindly obey orders from his punitive but savory dominatrix, Billy took the tape without question. Chris gave him a peck on the cheek, ushered him to the door, and said not to pick her up for the ceremony; she had something she must do and would meet him there. He left with a smile on his face and without uttering a word.
As soon as his car pulled away, Chris jumped into hers and floored it to Tommy’s house, taking care with the precious cargo on her lap. Not only was Billy unaware of the contents of the tape, but he also had no idea she’d videoed their amorous tryst. Tommy was the quintessential techie, and Chris intended he overlay her and Billy’s faces with that of Becca and a nerdy male classmate whom she loathed.
Embroiled in hatred, she sped through a railroad crossing and into an oncoming train. Hovering above the wreckage, she howled with laughter at the idiot driver. Her voice echoed with sinister eeriness, like that of a malevolent ghost haunting the unsuspecting on Halloween. The hilarity came to an abrupt halt when she realized she was looking down on a mangled body. Bewildered, she stretched out her arms to ensure she was still intact, but all she saw were diaphanous bones.
Oh my god, I’m a skeleton! This can’t be! I have got to be dreaming!

Pixabay CCO

While trying to pinch herself awake, an amorphous glowing light appeared and seemed to beckon as it gently undulated. She heard a whispered voice call her name. Twice. Three times. It then urged forestalling her contemptible plan and warned of karmic consequences.
Bloody hell, I’m dead!
The realization exploded into consciousness and would have paralyzed had she still been mortal. She was the idiot driver!
No! This can’t be happening, dammit! I won’t allow it! 
Her scream erupted into nothingness.
The soft light continued to pulsate as fear took form and drifted before her. The shadowy menace glowered and dared her to fight – fight it or fight the light. As it inflamed her consciousness, she began to recognize the grotesque creature she had become.
Pixabay CCO
Pixabay CCO
Is this an epiphany? she wondered. She’d always relegated epiphanies to the dominion of stupidity. But this moment of clarity compelled admission of her foolish beliefs.
She recalled the small child she once was, fists held tight against a multitude of sexual abuse. She wanted to hug the child and tell her everything would be all right. In that moment of recognition, the ghost of her fear burst and shattered, each piece hissing as it caught fire and fizzled from sight. Accepting her fate, she shrugged her ghostly shoulders.
Oh well, it’s Halloween. I guess everyone’s entitled to one good scare.
She now knew what had to be done. As soon as her thoughts turned to Billy, she found herself in the school auditorium.
Well, this is new. I love it!
Billy looked so handsome. She felt a desperate need to hug him. That surprised her. She had always thought hugs were for dorks. Her heart ached with regret for how utterly foolish she had been.
Her classmates were in their Celtic attire, looking excited and happy. She missed that joyful feeling and wished she could right the wrong she had done in trying to crush it in others. While watching everyone gather, she experienced an emotion previously unfamiliar to her – appreciation. As she took note of this, a familiar sensation crept in – something she hadn’t felt for a very long time – something she remembered as love.
Pixabay CCO
Pixabay CCO
Billy stood on the backstage catwalk, fiddling with equipment. She called to him. He didn’t respond. She reached for his arm. Her hand passed through it. He didn’t see her. He didn’t hear her. He didn’t know she was there.
Desperate to stop him from executing her villainous plan, she racked her brain for ideas. As thoughts flooded her mind, she had an epiphany.
Help is here for the asking!
A swell of energy surged and electrified her spirit. She directed the energy toward the electronics, intent on making them malfunction.
Billy had set up the movie screen and was now preparing the audio equipment to operate remotely. It wouldn’t engage. He tried time and again, rechecking all wiring and connections, but nothing worked. Biting his bottom lip, he glanced back and forth between the offstage wings. He was looking for his beloved vixen and hoping to get the equipment functioning before she arrived. He didn’t relish the thought of her unforgiving fury. He tried a few more times then gave up. Head down and shoulders slumped, he shuffled his way to the auditorium anteroom.
Sue snagged him at the door, licking her lips in fiendish pleasure. She’d just finished counting the votes. Becca won, nearly unrivaled. When Billy told her about the audio problem, she turned toward the stage and insisted they try again. He straightened his back, grabbed her arm, and, for the first time in four years, said NO to his girlfriend’s BFF. Sue tried to pull away, but he held tight and forced her to go with him. Her mouth fell open at his defiance. So did his when he realized what he’d done. Just as he was about to give it a second thought, music for the opening ceremony began to play. It was too late to change his mind.
Pixabay CCO
Pixabay CCO
Boyfriend and BFF fidgeted in their seats, throwing cursory glances at the door as they anxiously awaited the late arrival of their merciless leader. Becca tripped on her way to the podium, as well as over a few words, but managed to deliver her speech and accept the coveted award.
Billy and Sue sat silent and apprehensive throughout the applause. Chris bathed in her newfound awareness, grateful she could depart this life without another reprehensible black mark against her name – and soul. This was fortunate because Becca could move objects with her mind. She surely would have been humiliated, which would have ignited her rage, which would have annihilated everything in its path.
But fortune prevailed. The equipment didn’t burst into flames, catch the heavy stage drapes, travel along the wiring to the back speakers, and set the auditorium ablaze. The doors didn’t slam shut, seal in billowing smoke, and force frantic captives to gag and wheeze as they gasped for their last breath. Instead, everyone lived to enjoy the Halloween festivities. No one knew they had escaped an inferno. No one knew Becca Carrie White had telekinetic powers. No one, that is, except Chris. And she wasn’t talking.
Pixabay CCO
Pixabay CCO

© Tina Frisco 2017

*************

Happy Halloween, everyone!❤
Here’s a little treat 😊 
A Telekinetic Surprise in a Coffee Shop
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VlOxlSOr3_M
Authors, Books, Promotion

#BookRelease: What’s in a Name? Vols. 1 and 2 by Sally Cronin ~ Print Version

58 Comments
I am pleased to join Sally Cronin in announcing the publication of the two-volume print version of her book, What’s in a Name. Those of you familiar with Sally know her as an avid supporter of her fellow bloggers, consistently promoting our artistic endeavors on her outstanding blog magazine, Smorgasbord Invitation. If you’re not familiar with Sally, do visit and follow her blog. As the title Smorgasbord implies, there’s something for everyone ~ health, food, books, music, humor, life in general. And now, over to Sally to tell you about her new book … 

Sally Cronin

What’s in a Name is a collection of short stories across two volumes, about the influence our given names can have on our lives. Those names may have previously belonged to the famous and brave, a loved family member, or picked out of a hat by our parents. But they all have one thing in common. They are with us from birth until the grave and they are how we are remembered by those we meet.

What's in a Name Vols. 1 & 2 by Sally Cronin

Buy the book HERE

Both these short story collections have been brought together in one print copy. Currently available only in the UK and Ireland. Both volumes are available separately in eBook version.

What’s in a Name Volume One

What's in a Name Vol. 1 by Sally Cronin

Buy the book here:  Amazon UK  Amazon US

There are names that have been passed down through thousands of years which have powerful and deep-rooted meaning to their bearers. Other names have been adopted from other languages, cultures and from the big screen. They all have one thing in common. They are with us from birth until the grave and they are how we are known to everyone that we meet.

There are classical names such as Adam, David and Sarah that will grace millions of babies in the future. There are also names that parents have invented or borrowed from places or events in their lives which may last just one lifetime or may become the classic names of tomorrow.  

What’s in a Name Volume Two

What's in a Name Vol. 2 by Sally Cronin

Buy the book here:  Amazon UK  Amazon US

Our legacy is not always about money or fame, but rather in the way that people remember our name after we have gone. In these sixteen short stories we discover the reasons why special men and women will stay in the hearts and minds of those who have met them. Romance, revenge and sacrifice all play their part in the lives of these characters.

Kenneth watches the love of his life dance on New Year’s Eve while Lily plants very special flowers every spring for her father. Martha helps out a work colleague as Norman steps back out into the world to make a difference. Owen brings light into a house and Patrick risks his life in the skies over Britain and holds back from telling a beautiful redhead that he loves her.

In one way or another all these characters will be remembered by those whose lives they have touched.

One of the reviews for Volume Two of What’s in a Name

One of my most FAVORITE reads of 2017 By Carmen Stefanescu on September 5, 2017

It is the first fiction book written by Sally Cronin that I’ve had the opportunity to read. I was drawn into What’s in a Name collection and went on reading until the last story was done. I would call most of them “tales with a twist.” I really did enjoy this book…you may need some tissue at times. You will love the unexpected and won’t think to put the book down. I found it hard to put down

The motives and emotions of the characters in all of the stories were well defined and expressed. I really liked the fact that each story came to a satisfying ending and the next story quickly engaged me with the new people and place. It’s undoubtedly one of my most FAVORITE reads of 2017, in my TOP 5. Sally Cronin creates stories that will keep you flipping pages and loving it!

I won’t tell you what they are about because being short stories I would reveal important details and I want other readers to live themselves the emotions I experienced. What I can tell you is that each story is as touching and compelling as the next one. The thread that links them all stories or characters is sacrifice and romance. Children, parents, lovers, life being lived.

These stories are for me like a fragrant flowers bouquet, each flower having its own special color and scent.

If you are short on time, What’s in a Name allows you to read something start to finish, which I love. Great for airplanes or a one hour mental break, beside being just great for personal “escape from the world.”

Also by Sally Cronin

Books by Sally Cronin

All books available at  Amazon US  and  Amazon UK
About Sally Cronin

I have been a storyteller most of my life (my mother called them fibs!). Poetry, song lyrics and short stories were left behind when work and life intruded, but that all changed in 1996. My first book Size Matters was a health and weight loss book based on my own experiences of losing 70kilo. I have written another ten books since then on health and also fiction including three collections of short stories. I am an indie author and proud to be one. My greatest pleasure comes from those readers who enjoy my take on health, characters and twisted endings… and of course come back for more.

Learn more about Sally:  Blog   Goodreads   Twitter  Facebook   Amazon US   Amazon UK 
Authors, Blogging, Books

Smorgasbord – Posts from Your Archives – Rejection: the Ultimate Teacher by Tina Frisco | Smorgasbord – Variety is the spice of life

31 Comments
Sally Cronin has graciously invited her followers to share four posts from their archives. This is my second one in the series; you can read the first one HERE. Directions on how to participate are given at the end of each post. Thank you to Sally for the abiding generosity and support she offers our community ♥ 
*************

Welcome to the series where you can share four of your links from your archives here on my blog to a new audience. Perhaps posts that you wrote at the beginning of your blogging experience that deserve another showcase. If you have book promotion posts then please contact me separately for other options. Details of how to get in touch with me at the end of the post.

Today Tina Frisco puts a different spin on rejection. It is rare for anyone to go through their lives without some form of this hurtful action from others. Tina however looks at this as an opportunity to grow and evolve as a person.

Rejection: the Ultimate Teacher by Tina Frisco

Countess Lucie Stastkova
Image Courtsy of Lucie Stastkova

Rejection comes in many forms, from many places, and is very painful. What makes rejection so devastating? What causes us to react in a particular way? How can we use rejection to our advantage?

On a purely instinctual level, rejection threatens to extinguish our life force by depriving us of vital nourishment. No being can truly thrive without some measure of love and acceptance.

Rejection devastates when we attach our personal worth to someone or something outside of ourselves. Feeling worthy only when liked and accepted by those with whom we engage sets the stage for rejection.

When feeling disliked or ignored by another, it is wise to step back and view that person’s behavior as a mirror of our own subconscious mind. Often the things we do not like in ourselves are reflected back to us by others, giving us an opportunity to examine what prompts us to react and how we might change. This not only buffers the impact, but also opens the door to personal growth. Becoming the witness rather than the victim allows us to determine if our behavior rather than our essence is being rejected, or if the other person’s bias is in play, and/or if we simply are misreading all the cues.

Behavior learned throughout childhood is largely determined within the context of the example set by the adults in our lives. When we incarnate, we become blank slates to be imprinted upon by everyone and everything around us. We react to external stimuli positively or negatively, based on whether our basic needs are met or neglected. As we mature, we learn we have choices. Those choices include how we feel and whether we react to or act on those feelings.

The key to using rejection to our advantage lies in remaining objective. However, behaving as an unattached witness can be difficult when our impulse is either to strike or withdraw. If we recognize impulse as being instinctual – a reflex action rather than a thought process – then we are taking a first step toward understanding our feelings and turning rejection into a positive learning experience.

When observing animals in the wild, it becomes clear that instinct is, in part, a survival mechanism. Although we humans do not live in the wild, we find it impossible at times not to react. Generally speaking, however, our survival does not depend on ‘fight or flee.’ Most often we have the advantage of time and space within which to consider our options and teach ourselves to behave differently. We are capable of changing our behavior and, quite possibly, our feelings. With a little practice, we can move ourselves to the threshold of choice: act or react. Success in achieving this pivots on focusing our intention.

Change occurs in three stages: (1) we witness our behavior after we have reacted; (2) we take note while we are reacting; (3) we stop ourselves before we react. When we reach the final stage, our behavior reflects choice (act on) rather than reflex (react to). Since most change occurs over time, perseverance becomes vital to success. Yet once we are rooted in firm resolve, observing ourselves can be fascinating.

Continue reading . . . 

 

Source: Smorgasbord – Posts from Your Archives – Rejection: the Ultimate Teacher by Tina Frisco | Smorgasbord – Variety is the spice of life

Authors, Books, Promotion

Welcome Back #Author Andrew Joyce

42 Comments
I’m thrilled to welcome author Andrew Joyce back to my blog. Andrew recently released his short story collection, Bedtime Stories for Grown-Ups, and I’m pleased to help him promote it. 

Bedtime Stories for Grown-Ups by Andrew Joyce

Buy the book HERE

BLURB

Bedtime Stories for Grown-Ups is a jumble of genres—seven hundred pages of fiction and nonfiction … some stories included against the author’s better judgment. If he had known that one day they’d be published, he might not have been as honest when describing his past. Here is a tome of true stories about the author’s criminal and misspent youth, historical accounts of the United States when She was young, and tales of imagination encompassing every conceivable variety—all presented as though the author is sitting next to you at a bar and you’re buying the drinks as long as he keeps coming up with captivating stories to hold your interest.

Comprised of 218,000 words, you’ll have plenty to read for the foreseeable future. This is a book to have on your night table, to sample a story each night before extinguishing the lights and drifting off to a restful sleep.

Mr. Joyce sincerely hopes that you will enjoy his stories because, as he has stated, “It took a lot of living to come up with the material for some of them.”

BIO

Andrew Joyce left high school at seventeen to hitchhike throughout the US, Canada, and Mexico. He wouldn’t return from his journey until years later when he decided to become a writer. Joyce has written five books. His first novel, Redemption: The Further Adventures of Huck Finn and Tom Sawyer, was awarded the Editors’ Choice Award for Best Western of 2013. A subsequent novel, Yellow Hair, received the Book of the Year award from Just Reviews and Best Historical Fiction of 2016 from Colleen’s Book Reviews.

Joyce now lives aboard a boat in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, with his dog, Danny, where he is busy working on his next book, tentatively entitled, Mahoney: An American Story.

*************
You’ll be delighted to know that Andrew brought Danny along (actually, I think it’s the other way around 🙂 ). We’ve missed you, Danny!

Danny the Dog

And now, over to Andrew and Danny … 
*************
Hello, my name is Andrew Joyce. I’m here today to try to sell a few books. I have a new book out entitled Bedtime Stories for Grown-Ups. And I thought it might help if I brought my dog along because he’s a bit more articulate than I am. We’re here to discuss a few of our favorite things. But first, I’d like to introduce you to Danny the Dog.
Say hello, Danny.
Hello.
Could you be a bit more enthusiastic?
Could you get on with it? You dragged me away from a Lassie rerun. She was just about to save Timmy, who fell into a well. I wanted to see how she was gonna do it, seeing as she has no opposable thumbs. You never know, I might have to save you from a well someday. Then you’ll be sorry you didn’t let me finish watching my show.
Okay. Let’s just get down to it. I’ll say my favorite things first and then you can tell the nice people about your favorite things.
Why do you get to go first?
It really doesn’t matter to me, Danny. Do you want to go first?
No.
Boy, oh boy! You are something else. I’m sorry, folks, but Danny seems to be in a mood today. I’ll start the ball rolling by telling you some of my favorite things.
Make sure they’re not too sappy.
Be quiet, Danny. Okay, here goes. I like getting up early to see the sun rise out of the ocean. I like rainy days when I can stay inside and read a good book. I like a good cup of coffee, and happy endings in movies. Now it’s your turn, Danny.
Whoa! Are you kidding me? What are you trying to do, fool these poor people? I’ll tell ’em what you really like.
No need to do that, Danny. I’m just trying to sell some books here.
Hush. If you want to sell books, then be honest with the people. It’s my turn and I’ll use it to tell the people what you’re really like. Andrew’s favorite thing is vodka. Then there’s his obsession with beer. You should see him when he has a snootful. He’s just like Hemingway. I don’t mean he can write like Hemingway, but he sure can drink like him.
Thanks a lot, Danny.
I’m not done yet. Sunrises? Andrew hasn’t seen a sunrise since I was a pup. And coffee? Of course, he loves coffee. He puts three shots of vodka in every cup. I will admit he does read a lot, rain or shine.
You are a bad doggie, Danny. Alright, you blew my cover, but we still haven’t heard about your favorite things.
I thought you’d never ask. I love to sniff where other dogs have peed. I love our walks in the morning when it’s just the two of us. I love it when, after our walks, you give me those treats. But do you want to know what I love the most?
I’m afraid to ask.
I love you. I’m hard on you because I’m trying to keep you on the straight and narrow. An impossible task, I think. But I’ll keep trying.
Aww shucks, Danny.
Can we get out of here now? There’s an old Rin Tin Tin movie on TCM that I don’t want to miss.
Sure, Danny. Let me just thank Tina for having us over.
Thank her for me too. It wasn’t so bad.
Thank you, Tina. 
You’re most welcome, my friends! It was my pleasure to host the dynamic duo of the blogosphere 🙂 
*************
I hope you enjoyed visiting with Andrew and Danny. You’ll find Andrew’s other books HERE. Books by Andrew Joyce
Learn more about Andrew and Danny, and be sure to get your copy of Bedtime Stories for Grown-Ups! 
Website   Blog   Amazon   Facebook   Danny the Dog   Twitter   
Thanks so much for stopping by ❤
Authors, Blogging, Books

Posts from Your Archives – Problem, Lesson or Opportunity by Tina Frisco

11 Comments
Sally Cronin is graciously hosting me and other authors on her blog series, Posts from Your Archives. Sally is multi-talented and administers a blog that exemplifies her character: Smorgasbord Invitation. If you’re not familiar with Sally, do yourself a favor and rectify that! Her blog is highly #recommended ❤
Authors, Books

#Book #Review ~ #AnnetteRochelleAben

83 Comments

Annette Rochelle Aben

On September 25, 2017, Annette Rochelle Aben announced on her BLOG that she would like reviews of her books as a gift for her birthday, which is October 25th. She began a month-long PARTY and set up a delightful soup and beverage bar on October 11th. 

Annette is an inspiration for so many of us. To show my gratitude for her abiding love and friendship, I read and reviewed two of her books: Go You and Angel Messages: A Wing and a Prayer. 

Visit Annette’s Amazon Author Page by clicking on the image below. 

Annette Rochelle Aben's Books

Annette’s books affirm the positive and move us into feeling grateful for all we have been given in life. I am so pleased to share my reviews with you now. 

Happy Birthday, Annette! 

Angel Messages: A Wing and a Prayer
My 5-Star Review

You Are Not Alone

I have always believed in Angels and have read several books about them. What strikes me most about Annette Rochelle Aben’s book, Angel Messages: A Wing and a Prayer, is the open heart from which she writes.

Ms. Aben shares her personal experiences by sprinkling the Angel messages she has received, between passages of her own lovely poetry.

Two of my favorite messages are: 1. Be in love with the gift of your life. Your joy colors your world; 2. Choosing love will always bless you. The answers are in your heart. 

Ms. Aben states that Angels may materialize in the guise of ‘just plain folks.’ I think we all experience this yet often overlook, for example, the woman who gives us the extra change we need to make a purchase, or the man who extends a hand to help us onto the bus.

Whether you believe in Angels as heavenly beings, visitors from the cosmos, or just plain folks, this book will touch that place in you that searches for comfort, assurance, and a positive outlook on life.

Go You
My 5-Star Review

I Know I Can!

Although only fifty-three pages in length, Annette Rochelle Aben’s book, Go You, packs a mighty punch. Filled with positive affirmations, it offers the reader the potential to secure a favorable outcome from myriad life experiences.

Ms. Aben believes in the power of the positive and in paying it forward. She reinforces these beliefs by giving herself a pep talk every time she looks in the mirror. What a fabulous world we would live in if everyone practiced this!

The next time you catch a glimpse of yourself, look into your eyes and say: “You are special! You are appreciated! You are the better half of the whole! GO YOU!!” Or: “You are worth protecting! You are worth supporting! You are worth loving! GO YOU!!”

The author ends the book by asking: “Now, what would YOU like to say to yourself?” This question rests atop a lined page that is blank, prepared for us to affirm our positive thoughts and aspirations.

I smiled when I read the title of this book. By the time I finished reading it, I was ready to take on the world. You will be, too.

Authors, Books

#Odd Jobs and Characters #Sally Cronin #firefly465

15 Comments
Fellow author and blogger Adele Marie Park hosted Sally Cronin as she promotes her latest collection of short stories, Odd Jobs and Characters.  Sally consistently promotes other authors in various ways on her blog, and Adele is an avid reblogger. I’m delighted to reciprocate, especially with this amusing story. If you’re not familiar with SALLY and ADELE, please visit their blogs, follow and share ❤

I am thrilled to be hosting Sally today as she tells us another of her great life stories, this one is particularly loved by me as I grew up on a farm and have helped in rounding up sheep, cows and…

Sally's Odd Jobs and Characters by Sally Cronin

Thank you so much, Adele, for hosting one of my stories from this series and I hope your readers enjoy.

Odd Jobs and Characters – The Sheep Farm – Indignant Rams and Black Sheep by Sally Cronin.

When my husband and I were first married, we had to stay in Wales for another six months, whilst he completed a research project in the mountains. We needed somewhere to live and being November and out of season, he managed to find us a flat to move into on the hillside above Dolgellau. The flat was part of an old farmhouse owned by a couple who I knew as regular dinner guests to the hotel, and it was a great arrangement.

After a few weeks of idleness and enjoying being a new wife, I decided that perhaps there might be a way to pay our rent and get some exercise. The rent we saved would be put towards a deposit of our own home; very high on our priority list. I approached my friend and landlady, asking if I might help out on their hill farm, where they kept a flock of several hundred sheep. She was more accustomed to seeing me in long dresses and heels, showing guests to their tables in the hotel, than walking up Cader Idris, but after she stopped laughing, she agreed to give me a trial run.

I went out and bought suitable clothing, which bearing in mind the time of year, involved waterproof boots and fleeced wet weather gear. It was early December and snow was not unexpected, and you did not want to be caught up at altitude inadequately dressed. I will admit that the first two or three days left me breathless, resulting in me giving up cigarettes (no bad thing). It also served to remind me how unfit I was. However, by the second week, I was hitting my stride.

View original post 

Authors, Book Reviews, Books

#5-Star #Review for #Plateau

42 Comments
While I was on break helping my sisters with my mother, my book PLATEAU received two new reviews. Since I haven’t developed the habit of checking my books for reviews (I know! What kind of author am I?), I stumbled upon these at different times.

I reblogged Colleen Chesebro‘s review on 10/5/17. You can read it HERE. I just learned of Madelyn Griffith-Hayne‘s review, and would like to share it with you now. 

Madelyn is a practicing ADD Coach who trains, mentors, and coaches ADD professionals. She refers to herself as The ADD Poster Girl and describes herself in this way: “Mentalist and empath, visionary and myopic, the sanest person I’ve ever met with the craziest life: a self-aware, self-assured stuttering wonder of more-than-a-mess.” That alone should kindle your little grey cells 🙂 If you’re not familiar with Madelyn, please visit her BLOG, comment, and share. 

Madelyn has captured the essence of PLATEAU. Thank you, my friend, for this heartfelt and moving review ❤ PLATEAU by Tina Frisco

Spiritually Moving and Uplifting

FIRST I must say that I loved this gentle little book. I devoured it in a single evening, so entranced by the story that I didn’t want to stop to read the inspiring quotes from Lynn V. Andrew’s Power Deck that began each chapter. Once I reached the end of the book I had to go back for the quotes, skimming each following chapter a second time.

NOW I must say that I have struggled with how I could possibly write a review — I’ve never read another book quite like it.

Other reviewers here have given you as much as you need to become familiar with the book’s “environment” – if I can call it that, introducing you to a few of the characters – so I won’t repeat similar content. But they can’t convey the deeply spiritual, uplifting essence of the book that, to me, is what makes it remarkable. Plateau never pontificates, but rather seduces the reader to come to his or her own spiritual realizations as the story unfolds.

I suppose the most impactful thing I can say is that I was infused with a sense of well-being when I finally put down my Kindle and turned off the light. I was in such a calm and totally relaxed positive state of mind that I transitioned easily and almost immediately into a deep sleep – a rare experience in my life.
xx,
mgh
(Madelyn Griffith-Haynie – ADDandSoMuchMORE dot com)
ADD/EFD Coach Training Field founder; ADD Coaching co-founder
“It takes a village to transform a world!”

Author Promotion, Authors, Book Reviews

Colleen’s #Book #Reviews ~ 5 Stars for Plateau

41 Comments
Colleen Chesebro gave me the most wonderful ‘welcome home’ gift by featuring her review of my book, PLATEAU, on her blog. It’s always a thrill when our books receive positive reviews, especially when they touch our hearts.

If you’re not familiar with Colleen, do visit and follow her wonderful blogs ~ The Fairy Whisperer and A Mindful Journey. I’m sure you’ll be delighted.

Thank you, Colleen. You are a sister and a friend. My heart to your heart ❤❤

*************

PLATEAU by Tina Frisco

  • Title:  Plateau: Beyond the Trees
  • Amazon Author Profile: Tina Frisco
  • File Size: 1474 KB
  • Print Length: 176 Pages
  • Publisher: Tina Frisco, 2nd Edition
  • Publication Date: July 11, 2017
  • Sold By: Amazon Digital Services LLC
  • Language: English
  • ASIN: B073W789GB
  • ISBN-10: 1548771783
  • ISBN-13: 978-1548771782
  • Formats: Paperback and Kindle
  • Goodreads
  • Genres: Science Fiction, Fantasy, Metaphysical, Visionary

IN THE AUTHOR’S WORDS:

Is there any hope for humankind? Will love prevail over fear? A young tribal female is unaware she holds the answers to these questions. W’Hyani was born strong and willful and the Keeper of the Crystal Heart. Her mettle is tested by the cosmic forces that shaped her destiny. She comes face-to-face with fear in a battle that would shrink the will of the most daring warrior. The fate of all beings in the Universe depends on her defeating the bloodthirsty gondrah and unlocking the mystery of the Great Mosaic of Life.

MY RECOMMENDATION:

At the first turn of page one in the Plateau: Beyond the Trees, the reader steps back into time, or possibly the future, to meet the E’Ghali tribe and the young, W’Hyani. The story is told through her experiences and life journey as W’Hyani embarks on a hero’s journey fraught with all the hardships and heartbreaks that life can bring. Yet, somehow the lessons she learns come across as fresh and new leading her on the path to illumination.

At the core of the story is the legend of the sacred cave of the E’Ghali where the Great Mosaic represents the Great One. W’hyani and her parents hold the key to this mystery as they grapple with their destinies. Each family member holds a special place in the fulfillment of W’Hyani’s destiny.

At times, travelers from “the city” ventured onto E’Ghali land and relationships were established. When this happened, I couldn’t quite tell if we were in the future or the past. It didn’t really matter because the tribal legends spoke of a time when humans would be able to exist in peace and love which left me with the feeling that this event would soon take place. When this event occurs is not the point. Instead, it is the fact that it will happen that captures your spirit.

Such is W’Hyani’s destiny as the Keeper of the Crystal Heart. She represents hope and the future of all mankind.

At the beginning of each chapter, the author shares a quote from Lynn V. Andrew’s, The Power Deck. Each of these quotes drove home a powerful message that was highlighted by W’Hyani’s particular journey in that chapter. I was deeply moved by many of these passages which were a great addition to the story.

Plateau was an emotional read for me. I took my time and tried to experience through my reading, the life lessons that W’Hyani and her friends undertook. Their experiences caused me to reflect upon my own life and spiritual journey. This is the kind of book that transports you to a higher plane of existence where what you thought was the ending is really only the beginning.

Tina Frisco wrote this book as an outreach of hope to the doomsday messages that swirled in the media around December 21, 2012. In reality, the book is timeless. The message of love, understanding, and compassion resonate today or any day. Respect for our mother Earth reverberates lovingly through each page.

I’ve added this book to my Me Time Category for Spirituality because of the emotional impact this book left on my heart. I’ve never read another story like it and found it to be a hidden gem in the literary world.

MY RATING:

Character Believability: 5
Flow and Pace: 5
Reader Engagement: 5
Reader Enrichment: 5
Reader Enjoyment: 5
Overall Rate:  5 out of 5 Fairies

Continue reading…