I Should Write A Book to Good Writing with Erin Sands @TheDunesBook #AmWriting #NonFiction

FROM IDEA TO AUTHOR

We have all heard someone throw out the, “I should write a book” line. Heck, I’ve even jokingly said it myself whenever a friend asked me about a subject I felt pretty well versed in. I should write a book, five little words that are easy to say, but those of us who have dared to plunge into the deep and surfaced with book in hand have learned that the journey from idea to author is no small feat.

The most important aspect of any book is good writing. Whether you are an indie writer or a best selling author, the litmus test remains the same; is the book well written? The answer will be found on page one of your manuscript, which is why every author must get comfortable with a very simple truth. A first draft is merely that, a “first” draft. Excellence comes from writing, re-writing, re-writing again and then re-writing some more after that. There were many times while writing The Dunes that I would give a draft to my husband and he would shake his head indicating that it was not good enough yet. As infuriating as that was, he was absolutely right. It made me go deeper, search for better words and a clearer vision of how to share my ideas with readers. Writers become better through exposure and feedback from editors and people we trust. It is a part of the process that should never be avoided. http://bit.ly/1pwryZK

The aesthetic design of your book is also essential. The cover of your book is your first “hello” to the reader. It is your 3-second commercial and it needs to give readers insight into your story at a glance. Finding someone who is able to graphically illustrate the heart of your book is key. I worked with my cover designer for months before we finally settled on a cover that I believed masterfully articulated the beauty and the transformative nature of The Dunes. Getting the interior design of my book just right was also an integral aspect in my publishing journey. The choice of font, the font size, the layout and page color are all things that can make your book flow seamlessly in the readers mind or be disruptive and jarring. It is important to take the time to make sure that those choices compliment your book and allow for the experience you want your readers to have. http://bit.ly/1pwryZK

Another important aspect of publishing is one that I am still learning, the necessity of marketing. Finding unique ways to spread the word about your book requires creativity and tenacity. These days, utilizing social media is paramount, but a “following” isn’t born over night. It is important to be consistent and patient. This process is indeed a marathon. Also, never discount the grass roots approach. Networking with other authors and good old-fashioned word-of-mouth are still priceless tools for any author.

http://bit.ly/1kO8xOR

Born in Cincinnati, Ohio and raised in the Bay Area of Northern California, Erin grew up with an innate love for dance, theatre and the written word. A graduate of Loyola Marymount University, Erin began her career in the arts as an actress and choreographer. After booking several notable roles in television and film, Erin began to use her gift of writing in blogs featuring political and social commentary, as well as developing content for theatrical use.

Although The Dunes, is a divine departure from Erin’s previous writings it is by far her most cherished work to date. “I wrote The Dunes initially as self therapy because I needed to release some painful experiences and disappointments from my past. I had this thirst to walk in the complete fullness of life with joy as my constant companion. I had no idea what effect it would have on other people. But when I saw people read it and be released from fears that had held them back for years…when I saw people forgive and be able to walk in the freedom forgiveness brings…when I saw people commit and serve and how those things opened up new opportunities in their life, I was just humbled. Humbled by the awesome power of God and humbled that I had been allowed to go along for the ride”.

When asked why she writes, Erin pauses and reflects on the truth of her heart. “I write because although I am only now beginning to truly love the process, I have always loved the outcome. Like a composer, words become my notes. I string them together in song eliciting the response of my reader, grafting a picture of my soul. Where besides the written word can you effect change so utterly and so succinctly? What besides the written word can pierce the universal collective mind? Everything begins with a thought, but it isn’t until that thought is articulated in written word and those words passed down can life changing movement happen. It must be written, it must be expressed on tablet, and when it is, we all become greater, whether the writing be genius or fatuity, it has evoked thought and debate. Why wouldn’t I want to be apart of that phenomenon? Why wouldn’t I want to share my story, give my testimony…add my paradigm to the mix? Whether it is a novel, a poem, an essay or an article, it is humanity visited. An insight into a new or sometimes shared truth. In the beginning was the word, and the word was with God and the word was God. And with that I live my life”.

If there was a journey that could masterfully change your life in seven revelations...would you take it? 

In life, sometimes the kernels of wisdom and the richness of revelation can be found in the most innocent of stories; and so it is with The Dunes. Join one man and one woman in an exquisitely simple yet remarkably profound journey as you discover with them that the mountain you must climb in order to live the abundant life of your dreams is located squarely within your heart. 

Illuminated in seven revelations; The Dunes carries the reader on a journey to not only examine the obstacles that are holding them back in life but to conquer and over come them as well. With each revelation The Dunes intimately calls on the reader as the journey companion to face a challenge…a dare if you will that requires an uncompromising commitment to change. In the family of faith-based self help books, The Dunes stands alone, simultaneously taking the reader from fiction to life and back again, equipped with a tailor made journal for the readers inner most secrets and reflections. The Dunes is part allegory, part testimony and part journal, but the best part is the healing it offers your heart. When you’re ready to step out of your comfort zone and step into the miracle of your life…The Dunes awaits. 

CAUTION: Readers of this book are subject to significant changes for the better. Side effects may include frequent smiling and enjoying life in every season.

Buy Now @ Amazon

Genre – Non-fiction

Rating – G

More details about the author

Connect with Erin Sands on Facebook & Twitter

Website www.thedunesbook.com

From Stress to Stillness: Tools for Inner Peace by @GinaLake #ReviewShare #SelfHelp #TBR

From Stress to Stillness: Tools for Inner Peace by Gina Lake
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

From Stress to Stillness takes an unusual approach to examining the origins and dissolution of stress. The book is written with a mixture of personal anecdotes and scientific or psychological research, while maintaining a simple and straightforward writing style that will appeal to the average reader.

Gina Lake delves into the explanation how each person's inner ego causes stress by instilling fear, doubt, and dissatisfaction through a distorted lens of reality. In simple terms, the ego is the voice in your head that tells you a small mistake means total failure or makes you worry that a future event will go poorly before it even happens.

It contributes to low self esteem and also distracts you with greed for material or social gains. Gina talks about how negative emotions are on the Stress Channel, whereas you want to be on the Stillness Channel with emotions like calmness, satisfaction and confidence.

As a person with high energy, it makes sense to me how important it is to connect with my thoughts so my energy is channeled in the right path. The energy is always within me, so I need to control the path it takes.

Interestingly, while many books in this genre attempt to teach ways to "reprogram" thinking to end all negative thoughts, Gina's focus is different. Gina's techniques for reducing stress involve a lot of work on becoming self-aware as you learn ways to recognize the difference in your true self and your ego.

Gina's techniques are useful no matter your level of dedication so you can go at your own pace as you learn to stay in-the-moment and slowly change your lifestyle. I noticed that the benefits started right away as I applied her techniques and I'm confident they will continue to grow as they are used more often!

Disclosure - As a Quality Reads UK Book Club member, I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I received no monetary compensation for my book review. This book review is based on my thoughts, opinion and understanding of the book. This book review does not reflect the opinion of other book club members.


View all my reviews

Ty Johnson-Anderson on Personal Therapy, Personal Superpower @invisible_soror #sexualabuse

If you had a superpower what would it be?

Well I sort of have one; I have vivid selective amnesia.

I literally block out mass amounts of time in my life; and most of it isn’t with pure intention in doing so.

It seems as simple as taking a caustic smelling Sharpie and marking big red X’s on whatever it was I wanted to negate, like you would dates on a calendar.

I blocked out bullying, having little friends, my sexual assault as well as a slew of other things.

To me, those things were in the past; done and over with.

It’s totally weird, I remember very little of anything before I was 23.

It’s like having my own personal superpower, but before I had that I had a sharpened No. 2 pencil and a raggedy spiral bound notebook. That’s how I used to negate all the negativity.

Hours were spent in a closet with a flickering 13inch black and white T.V., a pen and pad, and my thoughts.

In that closet I escaped from everything; the bullying, my siblings and reality.  It didn’t just take me away from negativity it allowed me to just BE; without ridicule or judgment.

Poetic prose got me through my youth.

However, I abandoned writing as I entered high school, as mandatory reading and writing overshadowed my recreational wants.

Next came the side effects of life and being an adult.

Everything else seemed to take precedence; military deployments, college, spouse, kids…LIFE!

I actually lost my love of it, as I write for a living now. All creativity has seemingly oozed out of any orifice it was capable of seeking refuge, leaving me just a walking talking flesh pod of military jargon and writing style.

There is little room for creativity in military writing.  And my blocks of time where forever to remain lost.

However, when I started to the write The Invisible Sorority:  Surviving being a Survivor of Intimate Partner Sexual Assault it forced me to face those images I vowed to forget, all with the intent to help other women.

While trying to help other women I seemed to have helped myself.  I was forced to talk through my issues with what happened to me.

Instead of burying my head in the sand like an ostrich, I was now pointing my head to the heavens and picking the sand crystals out of my feathery eyelashes.  My vision was blurry at first, but with continued writing some of my quirks found its root in my tragedies.

I call them the “side effects of me”.

I developed habits and personality traits out of my darkness, but I never related them to that incident. They were and are my protection mechanisms.

Writing the book eased my sensibility in regards to my sexual assault.  It helped me to see why I was having problems with intimacy and why I am so overprotective of my only child.

The pen (well pencil) can get right to the middle of your psyche and put it right in your face.

It can soothe your soul like that warm glass of milk you’d drink to release melatonin to force you into deep slumber.

And in my case, it may save your relationship.

Ty Johnson-Anderson is the creator of The Invisible Sorority, a community of intimate partner sexual assault victims ushering one another into healing and thriving post-assault. Ty launched the movement, I Am Not Invisible, in an effort to humanize the victimless statistics. Once a young adult spiraling out of control, she has managed to emotionally liberate herself from her dark past and move forward to manifest her future. She lives in Edgewood, Maryland with her wonderful husband and beautiful little girl. Visit her at www.theinvisiblesorority.com

The Invisible Sorority will show you:

Why forgiveness can be your best healing tool

Several techniques you can use to heal your heart through mastering your mind via hypnosis and guided meditations

How to increase your ability to manifest your ideal future

How to embrace your tears to strenthen your emotional stability

Improve your sex life using several intimacy exercises designed to show you to live in the NOW

The invisible sorority is like a phone conversation with your best friend. It will inspire you to make positive changes in your life while helping you to ease the pain of your past assault.

Buy Now @ Amazon

Genre – Non-Fiction, Self Help-Abuse

Rating – PG-13

More details about the author

Connect with Ty Johnson-Anderson on Facebook & Twitter