Straight From the Mouth of Romance Author Richard I. Levine

 

 The Inspiration Behind Like Driftwood on the Salish Sea

By Richard I. Levine

I definitely didn’t plan this book or these characters in advance. This is my sixth novel and each time the idea came to me in a way that would make most people would think I need to be examined by a professional. Nonetheless, whether I call it my little voice, intuition, my spirit guides or angels, it’s not only the idea for the story that comes to me without warning and from out of nowhere, but it’s also an ongoing inexplainable inspirational feeling that seems to take over during the writing process. I suppose that’s called being in the zone. 

But as with my other novels, the people, the locations, and the basic story simply comes to me in a vision and music has always been the trigger that seems to set the wheels in motion. And there’s no predicting which piece of music will do that, but I suspect that it has something to do vibrational energies (mine and the music) that are vibrating at the same frequency. When it happens, it’s as real to me as anything that anyone sees in front of their eyes. So, it’s not just any music or particular songs, but it’s the way they are orchestrated--tempo, key, volume, types of instruments--that have instantaneously given birth to a story, its characters, relationships, locations, etc. For me, that kind of music, that vibration, simultaneously creates a feeling and a picture that resonates. It doesn’t happen all the time, but when it does, I know I have my next novel. And then there’s this little voice in my head (spirit guides? Guardian angels? Intuition?) that says something to the effect: “This one, do this one”. With Like Driftwood On The Salish Sea there were a couple of orchestrated pieces from a movie soundtrack that gave birth to Mitch, Jess and the Rockwell-esque smalltown in the Pacific Northwest where they lived.

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Richard I Levine is a native New Yorker raised in the shadows of Yankee Stadium. After dabbling in several occupations and a one-year coast-to-coast wanderlust trip, This one-time auxiliary police officer, volunteer fireman, bartender, and store manager returned to school to become a chiropractor.

A twenty-five-year cancer survivor, he’s a strong advocate for the natural healing arts. In 2006 he wrote, produced, and was on-air personality of The Dr. Rich Levine Show on Seattle’s KKNW 1150AM and after a twenty-five-year chiropractic practice in Bellevue, Washington, he closed up shop at the end of 2016 and moved to Oahu to pursue a dream of acting and being on Hawaii 5-O.

While briefly working as a ghostwriter/community liaison for a Honolulu City Councilmember, a Hawaii State Senator, and volunteering as an advisory board member of USVETS Barbers Point, he appeared as a background actor in over twenty-seven 5-Os, Magnum P.I.s, NCIS-Hawaii, and several Hallmark movies. In 2020, he had a co-star role in the third season episode of Magnum PI called “Easy Money.”

While he no longer lives in Hawaii, he says he will always cherish and be grateful for those seven years and all the wonderful people he’s met. His 5th novel, To Catch the Setting Sun, was inspired by his time in Hawaii.

Like Driftwood on the Salish Sea is Levine’s first foray into the romance genre.

Website & Social Media:

Website ➜ http://www.docrichlevine.com  

X ➜ https://www.twitter.com/Your_In8_Power 

Facebook ➜ https://www.facebook.com/RichardLevineAuthor/ 

Instagram ➜ https://www.instagram.com/rilevinedc 

Straight From the Mouth of Cozy Mystery Author Kate Damon

 

10 Things You Might Not Know About Jury Duty is Murder

By Kate Damon

1.  The story unfolds following a high-profile trial, where jurors—sequestered for four long months—struggle to rebuild their disrupted lives. However, their attempts at normalcy are abruptly overshadowed when jurors begin dying under puzzling and unexplained circumstances.

2. The story features a cast of diverse characters, including Harold Ashman, whose marriage is on the rocks; CeeCee Laine, an exotic dancer dealing with personal betrayal; Alex Manning, an actor facing career decline; and Helen Ryder, a 72-year-old woman confronting family issues.

3. The four former jurors didn’t get along during the trial and hoped to never see each other again. Nevertheless, they must now work together to find the killer before the killer finds them.

4. While murder is a serious issue, the antics of these four amateur detectives on the hunt for a killer will have you laughing regardless.

5. The story explores themes of friendship and betrayals, both personally and within their group, as they navigate the danger surrounding them.

6. The novel offers insights into the responsibilities and risks associated with serving on a jury, highlighting how verdicts can impact not just defendants but also jurors' lives.

7. Readers can anticipate unexpected twists as the plot unfolds, keeping them guessing about who might be behind the threats against the jurors.

8. Each character faces unique challenges that lead to significant personal growth throughout the story, adding depth to their personalities and relationships.

9. The story is told from four points of view. This significantly enhances the narrative by providing depth, complexity, and a multifaceted understanding of what each of the four characters are going through as they face both personal and outer fears.

10. Writing as Margaret Brownley, the author has published more than forty-six novels and is a New York Times bestselling author. Known for her memorable characters and humor, Jury Duty is Murder is her first mystery.

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When Kate Damon is not writing, she and her husband enjoy RVing, spending time with family and friends, raising Monarch butterflies, and playing a wicked game of bridge.

Writing as Margaret Brownley, she has published more than 40 novels and is a New York Times bestselling author. Known for her memorable characters and humor, she is a two-time Romance Writers of America Rita finalist.

Not counting the book she wrote in sixth grade, and the puzzle of the missing socks, this is her first mystery.

Website ➜http://margaret-brownley.com/

Twitter ➜https://www.x.com/katejuryduty

Facebook ➜https://www.facebook.com/MargaretBrownleyAuthor/ and https://www.facebook.com/p/Kate-Damon-61565155275435/

Instagram ➜https://www.instagram.com/katedamonbooks

BookBub➜https://www.bookbub.com/authors/kate-damon

Goodreads ➜ https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4072660.Kate_Damon and https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/163681.Margaret_Brownley

Straight From the Mouth of Classic Epic Fantasy Author Christopher Kaufman

 

The Inspiration Behind Tales of the Ocean City 

By Christopher Kaufman

First, I would like to share that I am a creative artist of long standing. I have my ongoing classical epic fantasy series, Tales Of The Ocean City, music works for the classical concert stage and film, and ‘environmental works’ featuring live performance and soundscapes crafted from hundreds of natural sounds. I also have family audience-based theatrical works which, like Tales Of The Ocean City, are simultaneously books with colorful illustration where each page is a work of art, effulgent audio albums filled with cinematic/symphonic music, performance films and concert performance pieces. My readings performances of TOC feature live narration as the graphically illustrated pages stream on screen and the music pours through speakers.

I began writing fantasy stories with colorful illustrations when I was nine years old. Later, as a young student at The New Orleans Center for the Creative Arts, I discovered music; there I played oboe and piano, sang bass solos in Handel’s Messiah and began composing. I continued my schooling in music all the way through a Doctorate in Music Composition (Cornell University) and followed that with leading a performing arts group titled CHIRON Performing Arts - through which I’ve presented the work of hundreds of artists of all disciplines. Later, I founded a series titled The Phantastic Theater - new music for people of all ages all at once, where I find creative ways to present new music and art and for which I’ve created and produced my theatrical pieces mentioned above.

All through the years of music school my stories never left me.  

I am the type of person that needs to dive into imaginative fantasy scenarios every night to get to sleep.  So, I finished my schooling phase with my music degrees and the vast event structure for Tales Of The Ocean City - through book eight, which I am completing now!

I started writing down these stories in the early 2000’s, but it was only when I initiated my home music ‘lab’ and began creating the text, music and narration at the same time that I found my voice as a storyteller. After two Audio Albums (TOC books 1-2), and then adding the element of the graphically illustrated pages filled with art and color, the style for these works was established.

Tales Of The Ocean City tells the tale of a young civilization turning the corner into the future. The city as a whole must do this by facing a terrible enemy from the deepest past, The Vorm - with whom they co-evolved in ages past on their ancestral isle. The main characters are young Harl’ut and his lifelong companion, Vispushin - who is a perianth (a kind of telepathic pegasus).  They are very close, like family. They speak to each other mind-to-mind.  Harl’ut too must face the past.  At the end of book two he undergoes an initiation adventure where he descends into the volcanic mountain, Pla’than’taa - from the belly of which The Ocean City was delved. There, he interacts with personifications of past god-like figures and battles a terrific monster. He then leads a cadre of young warriors into the Vorm Hive on a vital mission.

My work as a composer has informed my storytelling.  In musical harmony you have chords with great tension that resolve (cadence) into more consonant ones.  In TOC there are situations of conflict that resolve, such as the visceral battle scene of book one that ends with a heightened and inspiring resolution. Music has given me a strong sense of pacing. I know when to write short, direct sentences to move the action (of which there are tons) at a terrific pace, and when to take time and paint a glorious picture.

I believe in the transforming power of imagination. This is a theme that runs throughout all of my creative projects. I hope that the experience of my stories helps people see, hear and live with imagination more fully - this is the cure for all that ails us. 

I would like to acknowledge the writers that have informed my work and imaginative life and to whom I am eternally grateful; Tolkien, Lovecraft, McCaffrey, Dunsany, Lewis and my favorite,  Lloyd Alexander - who spoke about writing for adults for many years and enjoying it, yet, when he started writing for young people, the emotions became deeper and more powerful, not less so.

This may be why my Tales Of The Ocean City appeals, not only to YA audiences, but to Adult Fantasy Lovers as well.

Thanks for tagging along! Live with Imagination! 

See you in the places Beyond The Fields We Know, to paraphrase Dunsany.

Christopher Kaufman

My works are available at kaufmantales.com.

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Christopher Kaufman is an author, composer, presenter, illustrative artist and performer. He started imaginative fantasy books with illustrative art at the age of nine. During high school years he found music and attended The New Orleans Center for The Creative Arts and went on to major in music composition in college. He finished his schooling – earning his DMA in music composition at Cornell University where he studied with Pulitzer Prize Winning composers who prize his abilities as a composer.

Christopher is the type of person who needs imaginative fantasy scenarios to get to sleep. Therefore, he emerged from Cornell, not only with his degrees in music, but with the full event structure for his classic epic fantasy series Tales Of The Ocean City in his mind.

He began writing the story down in the early 2000’s, but it did not really come to life until he developed his home music ‘laboratory’ and started creating the music and text at the same time. Thus books one and two of TOC came about simultaneously as both graphically illustrated pages and effulgent audio albums filled with cinematic epic symphonic music.

They exist now as physical books and audio albums (that go together) and the new Video Book version.  He performs live tours with the music pouring through speakers, live narration and the colorful pages streaming on screen – a true immersive multi-media experience.

He also maintains his career as a composer for the concert stage with a full body of work, from solo works thru orchestral. He specializes as well in ‘environmental works’ which feature soundscapes crafted from hundreds of natural sounds, live musicians (from soloists, chamber groups and to full orchestra), videos filled with both natural and artistic images and readings from the works of John Muir and others.

Kaufman’s books feature full-page graphic illustration and go-with audio albums filled with epic cinematic music, narration and sound design.  All available, with generous discount packages, at kaufmantales.com (epubs and the new Video  Book version available there!).

His author page is talesoftheoceancity.com.

His you-tube channel is SOUNDARTUS.

Visit him at Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/talesoftheoceancity.

Christopher believes in the transformative power of imagination.

“Live with imagination!”

 

Straight From the Mouth of Fantasy Author Nancy Golden

The Inspiration Behind Ring of Rosin

By Nancy Golden

Ring of Rosin is the second book in the Dynamis Novels and continues the story of young King Rugal. It was the natural next book in my Dynamis series. In Book 1 we learn about the main character and his journey to become king of Elayas. We find out about the three symbols attached to the true ruler of Elayas: the Sword of Fate, the Ring of Rosin, and the Key of Power. The three books in the Dynamis trilogy each draw special significance from one of these symbols. I had a lot of fun with the characters and plot twists, and I think you will, too.

The first draft of the first book in the Dynamis Novels was written in 1986. Last year I took the draft from so long ago and worked it into what became the final manuscript of Sword of Fate. Interestingly, I had also written the first three chapters of Ring of Rosin back then. While it has evolved into a very different book from what I envisioned so long ago, the inspiration from those first three chapters is intact and drives the plot line. Once I started work on Ring of Rosin, it moved rapidly, and I completed the final version six months after I returned to those three chapters. Ring of Rosin officially launched on September 2, 2024.

I am a big fan of encouraging others to open their hearts and minds to people who are different from them, especially people from different cultures. We have so much to learn from each other and even though it can be uncomfortable, we are richer for doing so. We often find we have much more in common than we are different. That is definitely a theme that is explored in Ring of Rosin. My characters go through a myriad of challenges, but they learn and grow from them.

I decided to self-publish for numerous reasons. I love having the control of my content and book covers. I appreciate scheduling my own publication dates and it is much faster than if it was on a traditional publisher’s schedule. I must say it is a tremendous amount of work – I have hard-earned knowledge that allows me to do what needs to be done. It is also very expensive. I am very committed to representing myself and my books with integrity and to do the best job that I am able. This means I hire beta readers to read early versions and provide feedback. This means that I hire a professional editor and even after my final draft is edited, I go through it a final time before publishing. This means I hire a professional graphic artist that (with my input) designs the cover. All of these are very expensive and time-consuming, but they are worth it because the book that you, dear reader, will have in your hands, is the best possible version that I can produce.

To sum up why I write: I love having a positive impact on my readers. When my writing touches someone’s heart, or they find themselves immersed in the story as an entertaining haven away from the trials of this world, or the message in its pages provides someone with hope – it doesn’t matter how hard it gets (and being an author gets very hard)– it makes being an author worthwhile. Ring of Rosin was written with that in mind. My hope is that it is a “light in the darkness” that entertains you and brightens your day.

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Nancy Golden wears a lot of different hats – She is a wife and mom, author, engineer, professor, horsewoman, and small business owner. She is also the founder of a writing group – the Carrollton League of Writers. Nancy lives in a suburb of Dallas, Texas and she loves to ride bicycles and horses. She is a member of the National Space Society, and she has been a Trekkie for as long as she can remember. Nancy Golden Books provides a great reader experience with well-crafted writing that will brighten your day.

Website ➜ nancygoldenbooks.com

Twitter ➜ https://www.twitter.com/ncgolden1  

Facebook ➜ https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61564426002283 

Instagram ➜ https://www.instagram.com/ncgolden1 

Goodreads ➜ https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/216235312-ring-of-rosin 

Ring of Rosin is available at Amazon. 

 

Straight From the Mouth of Memoirist Terese Luikens

 

The Inspiration Behind A Heart's Journey to Forgiveness

By Terese Luikens

The Inspiration Behind A Heart's Journey to Forgiveness

I was thirteen when my father ended his life by suicide. Back in the 1970s, suicide was not a topic families openly talked about and for that reason, my mother’s explanation to me about my father’s death went like this;

“Your father is dead.”

“How?”

“His heart just stopped.”

Her explanation for his death left me with a load of suspicion and finding out the truth became paramount to me. As the sixth of seven kids, I knew from experience that the older siblings always knew more than me. But, if I asked an older sister for the truth, I knew she would tell me. Indeed she did, yet her honesty left me reeling in confusion. 

Even though my siblings and I shared the same tragedy, we did not share our grief. We didn’t know how to comfort each other, let alone talk about a topic no one else wanted to talk about. 

None of the adults in our lives came to our aid. No one showed or told us that it was okay to be sad, that confusion was normal and that we might even feel angry.  In essence, we were left to ourselves to sort through our emotions and find our own way to survive. 

After I married and became a mom it seemed like the right time to begin understanding the grief I’d never understood, to face what I’d only tried to ignore and to put some order to the chaos in my mind. 

As a result, I began journaling and talking with a few trusted friends. Over the years, I began to understand some of the events that led to my father’s death by suicide, my mother’s silence and my inability to grieve.  

Finally, I gained enough courage to join a writer’s group and began sharing my story in small bits and pieces. With their encouragement, I finally wrote the whole story and with their help polished it and sent if off to Redemption Press. 

Redemption Press is a publishing company that offers independent publishing services with the project management style of a traditional publisher.

 

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Terese Luikens has been married for forty-four years to the same man, although she is on her third wedding ring, having lost one and worn out another. She lives in Sandpoint, Idaho, enjoys being mother to three grown sons and grandmother to her much-loved grandchildren. She is the author of A Heart’s Journey to Forgiveness, a Memoir of her inspiring journey of emotional healing from her father’s suicide. She facilitates retreats and workshops focusing on forgiveness, and publishes her own blog, Why Bother? 

You can visit her website at www.tereseluikens.com.

 

 

Straight From the Mouth of Fantasy Time Travel Romance Soul Love by D.F. Jones

 

The Enchantment of Historical Fantasy & Time Travel Fiction: An Invitation to Adventure

By D.F. Jones

Greetings, seekers of adventure and wonder! Have you ever yearned to step beyond the confines of your everyday life and journey to a world where history and fantasy entwine? If so, I invite you into the enchanting realms of historical fantasy time travel, a genre where the past comes alive with magic and mystery.

 

Imagine the thrill of standing on the battlements of a medieval castle, the air thick with the promise of adventure, as you draw your sword to defend the realm. Or perhaps you find yourself in ancient Egypt, deciphering hieroglyphs that reveal secrets long buried in the sands of time. In these moments, history is not just a series of dates and events; it’s a living, breathing narrative filled with heroes, villains, and fantastical elements that defy the ordinary.

 

I strive to create worlds where time is not a linear path but a vast, intricate web of possibilities. Where the present constraints do not bind love and destiny, characters may leap across centuries, their journeys intertwined with historical events and mythical landscapes. They encounter challenges that test their courage, wisdom, and hearts.

 

The beauty of historical fantasy time travel lies in its limitless potential. You can walk the bustling streets of Renaissance Florence, study alchemy with a medieval sorcerer, or even join a secret society of time travelers determined to protect history from those who would alter its course. Each story is a doorway to another era, a chance to explore the rich tapestry of our collective past, imbued with the wonder of the fantastical.

 

So, dear reader, I encourage you to pick up a book that promises to whisk you away to another time and place. Embrace the magic, the history, and the adventure that awaits. In the realms of historical fantasy time travel, the only limits are the bounds of your imagination.

 

Happy reading trails!

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USA Today Best-Selling Author, #1 International Bestseller, #1 Amazon Bestseller, D. F. Jones began her career as a broadcast consultant at the ABC Affiliate in Nashville, which led her to open an advertising agency. She downsized her agency to care for her parents. Writing is a source of creative expression for D.F. Jones, but it also releases stress. Writing takes her to a place where anything is possible, and fiction takes her to a place made of dreams.

Whether it’s angels and demons, time travel adventures, witches, wizards, or ghosts, her books are action-packed with supernatural and romantic elements.

She’s happily married to the love of her life and best friend. They have two beautiful sons whom she loves and adores more than life itself. She loves to laugh, and her husband keeps her in stitches! She’s a fan of the Tennessee Titans and enjoys working in her flower gardens.

Website ➜ http://www.dfjonesauthor.com 

Twitter ➜ https://twitter.com/Author_DFJones 

Facebook ➜ https://www.facebook.com/DFJones.author  

Instagram ➜ https://instagram.com/D.F.Jones_Author 

Goodreads ➜ https://www.goodreads.com/GoodreadscomdfjonesAuthor 

 

Straight From the Mouth of Mystery Author Mike Martin

 

 

The Inspiration Behind Better Safe Than Sorry

By Mike Martin

Better Safe Than Sorry is a light mystery with some heavy themes underneath it. In some ways it captures the essence of a Sgt. Windflower Mystery. Dealing with difficult things while still managing to maintain a positive outlook. The story begins when the main protagonist, Sgt. Winston Windflower is on a break from his job as a Mountie, a member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. He is spending more time in the small town of Grand Bank, Newfoundland with his young family, but feeling a little restless.

That all changes when a new kind of drug threatens the community. A deadly drug called a Green Monster which combines a number of potent drugs into a killer combination. That’s the starting point of the story and in real life there are such drugs circulating around all our towns and cities. You can’t ignore it and when faced with that reality, neither could Sgt. Windflower.

But crime and death and murder and mayhem are only parts of the story of Better Safe Than Sorry. There is also Windflower’s family and spiritual life, steeped in the lore of his people. He is a Cree from Northern Alberta. He sees things that others may miss, even in his dreams. And we are brought back to his love of food and music. He is exploring classical music these days under the tutelage of a trusted friend. 

He uses music to make a connection with what some may see as an unsavory character but together they listen to each other’s taste in music, finding a common appreciation. Above all Windflower stories like Better Safe Than Sorry are about finding a point of contact with people. One that is driven by his kindness and compassion and his openness to lifelong learning. 

Better Safe Than Sorry is the 14th book in the award-winning Sgt. Windflower Mystery series, but it, like all the other books in the series, can be read as a stand-alone story. The books have been nominated for many awards and Darkest Before the Dawn, Book 7 in the series, won the Bony Blithe Mystery Award as the best light mystery in 2019. All That Glitters, Book 13 was an Amazon best seller and shortlisted for the LOLA Must Read Book of the Year for 2024.

Better Safe Than Sorry is available at Amazon & Other Retail Outlets.

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Mike Martin was born in St. John’s, NL on the east coast of Canada and now lives and works in Ottawa, Ontario. He is a long-time freelance writer and his articles and essays have appeared in newspapers, magazines and online across Canada as well as in the United States and New Zealand.

He is the award-winning author of the best-selling Sgt. Windflower Mystery series, set in beautiful Grand Bank. There are now 14 books in this light mystery series with the publication of Better Safe Than Sorry. 

Mike is Past Chair of the Board of Crime Writers of Canada, a national organization promoting Canadian crime and mystery writers and a member of the Newfoundland Writers’ Guild and Capital Crime Writers.

His latest book is the mystery, Better Late Than Never.

Author Links  

Website | Facebook | X (Twitter)

 

Straight From the Mouth of Business & Careers Author Dr. Helen Ofosu

 

10 Things You Might Not Know About How to be Resilient in Your Career: Facing Up to Barriers at Work

By Dr. Helen Ofosu

1. This book was inspired, in part, by someone in my business network who said he planned to write a psychology book. He had no work experience or formal training in psychology. I thought, “If he can do it, I can definitely do it!”

2. The book started as a pandemic project to give me something to do that wouldn’t bother my husband or son during the lockdowns.

3. Fourteen publishers rejected this book before Routledge accepted it. Although that sounds like a lot, many famous authors had their first books rejected many more times. Stephen King, Alex Haley, and James Patterson are a few examples. 

4. My approach to writing is based on advice from a close friend named Amber. She's a former journalist and an extraordinary writer who helped me find my authentic voice when I started blogging in 2013.

5. I wrote this book for many reasons. One of them is that I believe if I had learned the lessons shared in this book earlier in my career, I’d have been more successful much sooner.

6. My original title for this book was simply The Resilient Career. The marketing folks at Routledge strongly encouraged me to change it to How to Be Resilient in Your Career: Facing Up to Barriers at Work.

7. Although I am very proud of this book, the ideas and content I set aside for future projects are at least as compelling—but also more niche and possibly more provocative. Lately, I’ve been reflecting on leadership challenges unique to people who are part of traditionally marginalized groups. If you’re curious, check out my recent blogs and podcast interviews. 

8. How to Be Resilient in Your Career: Facing Up to Barriers at Work has been nominated for a 2024 Trillium Award! This prestigious award is the province of Ontario's leading award for literature. Past Trillium winners include Margaret Atwood (author of The Handmaid's Tale) and Michael Ondaatje (author of The English Patient). The Trillium Award is open to books in any genre: fiction, non-fiction, drama, children’s books, and poetry. I could not be more excited. 

9. Through the magic of analytics and algorithms, it’s clear that the key messages in this book are not reaching the people who could benefit—especially if they have traditionally been marginalized. This book does not spark outrage or polarization—it’s mostly helpful and affirming. This means my book’s reach has been limited.

10. This book is also available on Audible. When my young adult son started listening to it on Audible, he said it felt amazing, like I was talking just to him. Other listeners who are not close to me have said the same thing.

Pick Up Your Copy at Amazon

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In good times and bad, resilience is one of the major keys to success – including career success. Dr. Helen Ofosu believes this applies to employees and entrepreneurs, individual contributors, subject matter experts, leaders, and executives.

That’s why her approach to career and executive coaching is to help people get ahead in a way that insulates them from future setbacks – or recover if things have gone sideways. This is also why, as a consultant, she helps organizations become stronger and more resilient, so they are ready for both the anticipated and the unexpected challenges that all organizations face at some point.

Part of what sets her apart from many career and executive coaches is her experience on the inside, as an HR and professional development professional, within large corporate workplaces and her intimate knowledge of typical HR processes and systems.

Clients come to her when the stakes are high. They can count on her to share insights and customized services that few others can deliver. They love that she has developed countless hiring tools and helped to resolve many HR problems over the years.

Her “insider” experience gives her clients an edge in getting hired and promoted in the public (and private) sector, and in managing their careers as they progress.

And as an Industrial/Organizational Psychologist (her field is more commonly known as Work and Business Psychology), she takes an evidence-based approach by using the latest research and best practices to increase the odds of her clients’ success.

Author Links  

Website | Brainz Magazine | Podcast Interviews | X (Twitter) | Facebook | Goodreads | Instagram

Straight From the Mouth of Nonfiction Christian Author Amy W. Vogel

 

 10 Things You Might Not Know About Me - Amy W. Vogel

By Amy W. Vogel

1. I love to connect with people, so I hope these ten things about me help you relate to me – and to my work! It’s a very fun life I lead. I’m honored it is mine and to get to write you a little note to share with you who I am!

2. I’ve been writing for almost two decades, but this is the first time I’ve self-published a book (but not the last!) 

My first book – Third Person – was published through a niche traditional publisher called Seedbed in 2018.

2. We’ve lived through the teenage phase twice. I have three daughters, and both are older teens now. It was rough till about 17 (about the time they hit senior year) so if you are going through it, hang in there! I’ve got another one to see this tumultuous period of life, so that’s good advice for me too.

3.  I’ve been in two plane crashes! That’s usually one of the things I use during the game two truths and a lie so I’m going to have to think of new ones now. They were both minors and no one else was hurt but it was freaking scary, nonetheless.

4.  I used to be a pastor. While I was not ordained in any church, I was in ministry for a decade and served in a pastoral role. It was a wonderful way to serve and love people. I’m still doing that just in a different way now.

5. My husband and I had a destination before it was cool. Back in 2002, destination weddings were just on the cusp of becoming “a thing,” so we learned a lot about what we would do differently. However, it is still the best party I’ve ever been to, despite being badly sunburned!

6. Being an author, speaker and consultant is my third career. I was in sales for over a decade, then was home with my kids before going into ministry. When that season concluded in 2022, I begin exploring how to do this full-time. Everything I’ve done before definitely contributes to work for myself.

7. What you see is what you get with me. I once had someone say there is no way I could really be the same person in public as I am at home, but you can ask anyone. I really am. I might not curse if I don’t know you but then again, I might. 

8. My family and I have lived overseas twice. We lived in Trinidad for a year and then in Italy. They were incredible times of growth and education for our whole family.

9. My middle daughter is a cancer survivor. She was diagnosed when she was four and we walked through almost a year of treatment to get her to where she has been for thirteen years – cancer free! She also has no side effects, and we are constantly in awe at God’s grace and mercy on her (and our) lives.

10. I LOVE to read. I also love to work out. I try to do both daily and it helps keep me sane, because we are always coming and going. My TBR can be anything from theology to hard core smut. I love it all.

Thanks for getting to know me and please pick up a copy of my book Come to Me: A Devotional for Healing from Hurt on Amazon. May Love bless you, keep you and fill you!

 

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Amy W. Vogel is an accomplished author, speaker, podcaster, and ministry consultant. She loves learning and sharing her knowledge through stories in her inspirational projects and fiction novels.

Amy creates, leads, and speaks to large and small groups and churches to help people understand their inherent worth and goodness by giving them a vision of hope for everyone, everywhere. She is married to David, has three daughters, and lives in Houston, TX.

Website: https://amywvogel.my.conva.site/

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/amywvogel

Facebook: www.facebook.com/amywvogel

Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/awvogel

 

Purchase Information for Come To Me: A Devotional for Healing From Hurt

Amazon: https://a.co/d/69jzFNZ

Straight From the Mouth of Mystery Suspense Author Sean Keefer

 

 10 Things You Might Not Know About Sean Keefer

Being a writer is about a lot more than just writing. Much goes into the process, but not all ends up on the page, though many different factors influence the final product. I wanted to talk about the top 10 things that not everyone knows about me, many of which have a decided impact on my writing. Other? Not so much, but I thought I would share nevertheless.

1 - Though I ended up practicing law as a profession, that was not my initial plan. In high school, I was very involved in student media. When I started college, my first major was computer science, but, well, because of math, that just didn’t work out. I bounced around for a bit and ended up studying journalism with a concentration in photojournalism. While I ended up in law school, even today, I spend a great deal of time behind the camera.

2 - I have found I have a great love of writing and intend to keep writing Noah Parks books (and maybe delving into some other non-Noah storylines), but folks who have known me for a while, were surprised when my first book was released. They thought it would be an album. While I had dabbled at writing on and off in a sporadic fashion, I had been a musician since high school. So while everyone had been waiting on an album, a book appeared. Then another. But not to worry, while The Code was delayed a bit as a result, during the delay, I recorded my first two EPs of original music.

3 - Much like writing, there are a few things that I never planned to do. Cooking is one of these things. I’ve been lucky to have made several friends in the restaurant business, among them some incredible chefs. The more I learned, the more I realized I was fascinated by the art and science of cooking. As a result, I love to spend time in the kitchen. Through my writing, I try to convey some of that love with details about meals or various kinds of food, and, well, drink. Who knows, maybe there will be a Noah Parks cookbook in the future. 

4 - Growing up on the coast of South Carolina, water sports are just a way of life. While I love the water, I’ve never gotten into boating. Not that I don’t enjoy every opportunity I get to be on a boat, I’ve just never owned my own boat. That is partly because as much as I realized how much I loved being on the water, my true love was being under the water scuba diving. 

5 - Never being one to rest with just one, multiple dogs has been a reality for the majority of my adult life. Presently, there are four dogs (Australian Shepherds) in the picture ranging from the age of, at the time of this writing, four months to 14 years. Oh, and there is also a horse that is, after all, just a pasture puppy. 

6 - Not being content to write fiction, I decided to try my hand at non-fiction. The result was a book published by the South Carolina Bar Association entitled “Mediation in the Family Courts of South Carolina.” This of course, begs the question: How many readers have all three of the Noah Parks books and the mediation book?  

7 - While this point is related to cooking, I decided to delve into hot sauce making based on a conversation I had with a friend a little over two years ago. From planting pepper plants to fermenting to even putting the finished product in woozy bottles (yes, that’s what those little bottles are called), it’s been a fun diversion, and the final product has been rather enjoyable. To date, there are 9 versions.

8 - Years ago, Apple had a slogan for their app store when the first iPhone came out. “Yeah, there’s an app for that.” So one day, I went to the app store to get an app I needed. Much to my surprise, I found out when Apple said there was an app for that; well, that was a somewhat fluid term - meaning there was no app for what I needed. So I designed and marketed my own app.

9 - Somewhere in my DNA, there is a gene; I’ve come to call it the collector’s gene. I’m pretty sure it is not far from a hoarding gene if that is a thing, but I curate several collections. Most notable, besides guitars, would be signed baseballs. 

10 - I just love the X Files. 

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Sean Keefer is the award winning author of three legal thrillers, The Trust, The Solicitor, and The Code, all set in and around coastal South Carolina.

He is also the author of Mediation in the Family Courts of South Carolina, a legal treatise on family law mediation.

He lives and writes in Charleston, South Carolina.

In addition to his writing, Sean is a recording and performing guitarist/singer/songwriter of Americana and Alt-Country music. Watch him sing Carolina Sunset which was inspired by his latest book, The Code. Listen here!

For more information about his writing and music, visit SeanKeefer.com and ADogNamedBear.com.

Follow him on Facebook @theNoahParksMysterySeries and @SeanKeeferMusic. Follow him on Instagram @NoahParksMysteries and @1ADogNamedBear1 

Website | Instagram | Facebook | Goodreads

Purchase Information for The Code

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3IETRpM