The Spiritualty Trap by Dr. Donna Lee

Click on the image to visit Dr. Lee's Meet and Greet on VBT Cafe.

The search for happiness and peace leads us down many paths. Often the path of spirituality is taken in order to seek healing and the ability to find relief from our problems. The key is to remain true to ourselves and to never lose compassion for our self and others. Happiness is not achieved by denial of emotional pain but through finding balance with the good and the bad that comes with our life's journey.

Genre- spirituality/self help

Available on Amazon

Ever since I was a young girl, I wanted to be a doctor. The reason why is because I thought that that was the only way that I could take care of people. At first, I pursued pre med which led me to to want to become more holistic. I decided to become a Chiropractor. While in Chiropractic school, I learned the most about myself. I was exposed to many people. My fellow students were from all around the world. I was no longer in my little bubble. I realized that every belief that I had about myself was not unique to me. My greatest life lesson is that everyone has a journey of self acceptance. Race, social class, gender, sexual orientation, religion, etc had no effect. We were all the same. Humans trying to get through life and search for happiness and peace. ~Dr. Donna Lee

Visit Dr. Lee

Web site, Facebook

http://www.virtualbooktourcafe.com/ 

"Saving Mary, The Possession" by Deidre Havrelock

 Saving Mary, The Possession

 

If you’re a fan of supernatural fiction then you will be captivated by this true story about a spiritually sensitive girl and the path that led to her possession. Part one of a two-part series, Saving Mary is the story of a modern-day Mary Magdalene—the woman from whom Jesus cast out seven demons.

Deidre Daily is drawn to anything seemingly spiritual, desperately seeking a spiritual existence. But inside this vibrant girl hides a terrified child who sincerely believes she has married the devil. Through a series of spiritual encounters her fear turns into reality, and she ends up possessed.

Deidre’s fascinating memoir relays her story from childhood to adolescence: invisible eyes leering at her from the corner of her bedroom, horrible nightmares tormenting her, and her desperate attempt to find God—only to end up possessed. It is a candid account of possession from a first-person perspective. This dark memoir brings to light an intricate world of deceitful spirits hell-bent on manipulating and damaging an innocent girl’s life, not only through her dreams, but also through seemingly every-day encounters.

 On Amazon

 

Debbie Begg:  A gripping must read memoir.

Grab a coffee and a comfortable chair because once you start to read this memoire, you won't be able to put it down. I became more and more drawn into Deidre's heartwrenching childhood with every word that I read. I can't wait for part two to come out because I have to know what comes next for her. 

Deidre Havrelock:

Deidre believes theology is for everyone! It’s for working moms and soccer parents and for introverted engineers who don’t know what to say at dinner parties. It’s for energetic athletic-types who traverse mountains on cool bikes and for lethargic teenagers who write dark poetry. It’s for Trekkies and Twihards and Gleeks, nurses and teachers and those who Twitter and Ping. It’s for older people with Labs and round-faced happy people with too many cats. In other words, theology is not just for theologians. Did you get that? You do not have to be an intellectual to comprehend theology. You do not have to be a preacher. And yes, there is so much more to the Bible than what churches, on average, are currently teaching. Understanding the spiritual teachings of your Christian faith is fun … and more than that, it’s important.

What is your favorite scene(s) in the book and why do you love it? (Borrowed from Author Ruby Abraham - Orangeberry Phoenix guest post)

My favorite scene is at the beginning of the book when I’m in my room playing barbies and suddenly my dad screams out bloody murder, making my mom sprint down the stairs to save him. I like this part because my dad remembers the event so well. While lying on the couch, a tall and extremely thin man appeared to him; the spirit pointed one of its long bony fingers at my dad as if to say, “You’re coming with me.” My dad says he had never been so terrified in his life. The spirit he describes, by the way, sounds exactly like the spirit I call Fred (in the book)…who appeared to me in my dreams. Even though this isn’t a great memory for us, my dad and I feel connected through the event. The fact that we both saw the same spirit helps us to feel not so odd…or crazy. Actually, my dad saw two spirits in his life. Once, when sleeping over at my mom’s aunt’s house, he saw a little boy, plain as day, walk into his bedroom. He said he talked to the boy saying, “Hi there, who are you?” The boy said nothing and left. Later, he asked my mom’s aunt who the kid was and she said, “There’s no kids here!”

My other favorite scene is when I go and toss all my teddy bears and dolls out in the trash bin. I think I like this scene so much because it really captures the intense fears I had as a kid. I mean, seriously…I snuck all my toy dolls and teddies out of the house and threw them into the trash bin so they wouldn’t stare at me or (heaven forbid) kill me! I remember hoping that they wouldn’t come sneaking back into my room at night. I was always terribly afraid that they could come to life.

Am I afraid now? No. Things are drastically different now.

Protect Your Teens VBT Tour with Diane Griffin May 11

Diane Griffin is the founder and President of Security First and Associates. Ms. Griffin works with a variety of clients throughout industry. Ms. Griffin has also worked in a wide array of fields to include training, facilitation, communications, human resources and industrial security management and Ms. Griffin is the current Chaper Chair for National Classification Management Society (NCMS), Chapter 26.


Security Website - http://securityfirstassociates.com 

Teens Texting, Driving While Texting, and Sexting

As a security expert, I tend to see things through a different set of eyes than others—seeing dangers they might not realize exist and consequences they might not be prepared to handle. And while I deal with a wide variety of growing trends that interfere with the safety of government agencies and businesses, I also follow those trends that may interfere with the safety of people in general. One such trend: texting.

It’s no surprise that texting has become the communication tool of choice for teenagers—and even many adults. But, what might be surprising to learn is how this new trend can have harmful—even fatal—consequences. From texting inappropriate photos (1 in 5 teens have sent a nude or semi nude photo of themselves via their cell phone) to participating in bullying activities (42% of teens have been bullied while online) to texting while driving (24% of all fatal car accidents involving teens between 16 and 19 were a result of cell phone usage), today’s teens (and their parents) could be setting themselves up for a lifetime of emotional scars, legal ramifications or even death.

So, what should parents know about today’s texting trends? I have written a new eBook, Safe Text: Protecting Your Teen from the Dangers of Texting, in hopes of educating parents and teachers about some of the risks of cell phone usage and giving them the resources and tools they need to be empowered to help their teens make good choices—keeping the parent/teen relationship healthy while keeping their teens safe.

For this Virtual Book Tour, I will be sharing more insight, statistics and tips from my new three new eBooks which also include, Protecting Your Teens on Facebook, a and Social Media Secrets Every Parent of College Bound Teens Should Know. I hope that you will follow the tour asking questions and sharing some of your “safe texting” tips as well.

This is the first book in a series to help parents protect their teens from the dangers of technology and the Internet. Not only does the book describe the dangers and legal implications of texting, but also gives tools and information how to dialog with teens about the dangers of texting. This is a very practical book. Also by May, there will be a project to go with the book on Diane's website that is based on best practices in education to help teens understand the dangers and how to deal with them. This project will include lesson plans for teachers and parents who home school their teens based on national educational standards and learning targets.
 

Purchase Link: Amazon

This is the second book in a series of books to help parents protect their teens from the dangers of the Internet, texting, and social media sites. This book is about Facebook. Not only does it spell out the dangers of Facebook for teens but also the positives. It describes the problems and actually tells parents what to do about them. The book gives links to a good amount of useful resources.
 

Purchase Link: Amazon

There are a growing number of teens who are engaging in seriously harmful texting on their cell phones that can have long-term repercussions, from emotional scars, to legal ramifications or even death. Help your teen text safely.

…even if your teens are online at home while you are there, are you aware of who they’re hanging out with and what activities they’re engaging in online?

Did you know …
In 2008 only 10% of colleges checked applicants’ social media activities and now approximately 80% check.

Have a teen planning to go to college? This is the book for you. It is a book to help parents and teens use Social Media to help the student get into college and describes the traps that might have an adverse effect on admittance into a college of choice. The most popular social media sites are described as well as some newer sites that a becoming more popular. This is a must have book if you want to help your teen capture an advantage in being accepted to the college of their choice.

Purchase Link: Amazon

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Divatiel: Reflections of a bird’s companion, is the true story of life with a diva-tastic cockatiel, a story any bird & animal lover will enjoy. Author Cindi Maciolek, VBT Pit Stop Mar 9

Click on image to visit the Meet & Greet with Cindi at VBT Cafe

Cindi joins me today to chat about her new release:
Divatiel: Reflections of a bird’s companion will tug at your heart strings and bring a smile to any animal lover.

Louise: Cindi, welcome to my blog! I’m so excited you could join me for a chat. When did you first decide to submit your work to be published? Tell us what or who encouraged you to take this big step.

Cindi: Hi Louise! Thanks for taking the time to interview me. I started working on my newest book about three years ago. I had so many stories to share about my roommate that everyone encouraged me to capture them and write a book. It started as just a collection of stories – about 18,000 words – and grew to be a complete memoir of about 53,000 words. 

Louise: Please tell us a little about your new release Divatiel: Reflections of a bird's companion without giving too much of a spoiler away.

Cindi: Divatiel is the story of what life is like when you let your bird rule the roost! In the 17 years Jaké and I lived together, so many things happened that I wanted to document it and share the story with others. I don’t think most people know what it’s like to live with a fine-feathered friend, especially one who flies around the house and chirps orders at you!

Can four ounces of feathers and personality change a person’s life?

She can if she’s the Divatiel!

Cindi was looking for a roommate, and finally settled on a fine-feathered friend who was a gift from a co-worker. What she got was a loving, intelligent, fun, free-spirited, demanding – Jaké.

After recovering from illness that put her near death’s door, Jaké healed and was let out of the cage so she could spread her wings. She lived her life with gusto. Jaké took risks, used her intelligence to her advantage and loved unconditionally. She took charge, not only over her surroundings but over her owner as well. Luckily, she had a cooperative Mommy in Cindi.

Not only was she demanding, Jaké did things some humans have never done. She flew on an airplane several times, went on numerous road trips and ate fresh vegetables daily.

Jaké lived a very long life and had many adventures along the way, most of which are captured in this book.

Jaké was first a gift to William, then a gift to Cindi, and now a gift to the world.

Louise: Do you plan all your characters out before you start a story or do they develop as you write?

Cindi: This particular book is non-fiction, so picking the characters was pretty easy. However, when I do write fiction, I know the main characters before I begin, but others seem to enter the story as needed, just like in life.

Louise: How much research do you do for your books? Have you found any cool tidbits in your research?

Cindi: The amount of research I do depends on what I’m writing at the time. I stay away from writing historical fiction, and if I include a particular location in a story, I tend to have first-hand knowledge of it, or a love of it that makes the research easier. 

 

Louise: What is your writing process? Do you outline, write by the seat of your pants (Pantser) or a combination of both?

Cindi: When I begin a book, I know the beginning, the end and a few of the twists and turns in between. However, I tend to enjoy having the characters tell me the story and allowing me to be a conduit for that. In the novel I’m currently writing, the characters led me to a situation that I had not thought of, but it totally works! So, trust your characters and tell their story.

Louise: Do you write full time? What did you do before you became a writer or still do?

Cindi: Wouldn’t that be wonderful to write full time! I’m a business consultant, which I thoroughly enjoy, but I write as much as I possibly can. I write a lot in business as well, everything from strategic plans to press releases to brochures.

Louise: Do you have a ritual when it comes to writing? Example….get coffee, blanket, paper, pen, laptop and a comfy place.

Cindi: I always write at my office desk, with a beverage handy – usually water. I’m good for about an hour at a shot. Then, I have to get up, stretch, walk around, refill my glass and get back down to business.

Louise: Describe a typical writing day for you.

Cindi: I really don’t have a typical day. My schedule varies due to my consulting work. At times, I jump out of bed in the morning and lay down a quick chapter. However, I tend to be a night owl, so you can find me writing at midnight or later. Writing can be anything from reviewing notes to rereading or editing chapters to planning out the next few chapters to actually composing something new.

Louise: Please give us a sneak peek at your future books. What’s on the horizon?

Cindi: I’m very excited about my upcoming books. One is a business book aimed at owners of small businesses or aspiring entrepreneurs. The other is a chick-lit novel that I love love love! I don’t think I’ve ever been so excited to write something.

Louise: What is your favorite genre to read and who is your favorite author?

Cindi: Just as in music, I like a wide variety of genres. I prefer to either learn something or escape when I read. Sometimes I’m lucky and I get both in one book! The author I’ve most enjoyed in the last few years has been Sophie Kinsella. I read everything she writes because I know I’m going to enjoy it and have fun at the same time.

Louise: Is there anything else you would like to tell the readers we have not touched on?

Cindi: I’d like your readers to know that Divatiel is a book that any animal lover will enjoy. If someone is not familiar with birds, I hope they’ll learn just how smart some of those little creatures can be!

I’d also like to thank you for the chance to reach out to your readers and share just a little bit of myself. I look forward to learning from them as well.

Louise: Where can the readers learn more about you and find your books on the web? 

Cindi: E-books are available on Amazon and Barnes and Noble. Print copies can be purchased at www.divatiel.com/shop.
 
I also encourage readers to come back and visit the Divatiel site or to sign up for my mailing list so they can be the first to know when new merchandise is available. Tiaras will be arriving shortly, and more merchandise will be available throughout the year.

My personal website is www.cindimaciolek.com, and readers can follow me on Twitter @cindimaciolek, or like my Facebook page: Cindi Maciolek – Writer.

Purchase Links:
Divatiel Shop
Divatiel Amazon Store
Amazon  

Excerpt:

My Little Divatiel

“She’s the fattest cockatiel I’ve ever seen!”

Okay, that was the fourth vet to make the same comment. The average cockatiel weighs between 90 and 110 grams, and Jaké was generally 115-125. I didn’t see what the big deal was. What’s a few grams between friends…

“I don’t clip her wings,” I countered. “Those extra feathers must weigh something!”

I mean, we’re talking half an ounce here. The feathers must have accounted for a few of those extra grams.

The vet seemed unconvinced.

“I allow her to fly around the house. She has great cardio,” I added in her defense.

“So, now you’re telling me it’s muscle weight?” The vet nearly doubled over in laughter. “She’s fat! Get over it!”

I packed up my princess in her cage and took her back to the palace, where she could eat her healthy food (vet prescribed, by the way), have her run of the house, and nap at her desire.

Fattest cockatiel, indeed, I thought. She’s not fat. She’s just big boned.

I knew my life was in for a big change when, just three seconds after I put Jaké on my shoulder, she had unhooked my necklace.

I had heard birds were intelligent, but I really had no idea just how smart they are. Generally, when people think of talented birds, they think of the large ones – parrots, macaws, even mynahs. No one pays attention to the little ones that can infiltrate every aspect of our lives when given the opportunity.

Jaké was an absolute blessing. Sure, she had her moments, but I’m certain she felt the same way about me. I never had children, so Jaké became my child. She was spoiled as much as you could possibly spoil a fine feathered friend, and her hours of blissful companionship were my reward.

While many pet owners carry around their designer dogs in custom made totes, I’m certain they have no idea what joy a cockatiel could bring into their lives, if they only allowed it. Or, maybe I just had the “perfect storm” of bird and owner and I’m very grateful for that.

Like a dog, Jaké was my faithful and loyal companion from the very first day we met. Like a dog, Jaké sat on my leg while I typed on my computer, nipping at my elbow when I moved and disturbed her naps. Like a dog, she sometimes chased her tail, particularly when a feather was ready to come out and it got stuck in an upright position, like a rudder on a plane. And, just like a dog, Jaké liked to take naps with her owner, picking the time and the place regardless of my plans for the day.

Jaké had her quirks, and just like humans, they changed over time. One that always made me laugh was how she hated to hear the sound of a utensil scraping a dish. I don’t care where she was in the house – sometimes even sleeping in the bathroom – but as soon as she heard it, she started to yell!

She also found comfort in taking naps on the rungs of my office chair. Sometimes when I’d been out for the day, I’d go into my office to find her sound asleep, waiting for me to come home. You gotta love that.

It’s been said that cockatiels have the brain power of a two-year-old child, and their behavior is not much different. If I wanted Jaké to stop doing something, I’d tell her, “No!” She’d acknowledge my request with a little chirp, but proceed on, totally ignoring me. She knew I didn’t want her to do it, but she didn’t care. Sound like a two-year-old, parents?

Like a kid, she hated the toys I bought her, preferring to rip up the boxes they came in. And, instead of sticky fingerprints on those nice greeting cards that were ready to mail, Jaké left a bite mark in every one of mine.

Since birds in the wild fly all the time, I never gave it a thought that they have to improve their cardio when the need arises, just like humans. When I moved from my tiny condo to a house with a really long hallway, Jaké would follow me to my office only to be winded for about five minutes, until she built up her stamina.

Jaké was never really like a bird; she was always more like a spoiled Diva, from the first moment I let her out of her cage and welcomed her into my household. My Divatiel discovered a side of herself that would have remained buried if not for the freedom she was given, and the communication we developed.

Most people don’t realize just how much personality a little bundle of feathers can have, but I assure you, if you nurture the relationship, that personality will not only appear but will strengthen over time.

So few books have been written about pet birds, particularly from an owner’s perspective, that I felt it was time to change that. Here’s my account of life with the sweetest little thing to cross my path. Everything is to the best of my recollection although I’ve changed or omitted a few names. Jaké and I were together a long time, so I’m sure her version of some of the events would differ from mine, but I guess we’ll never know.

Enjoy!

Giveaway:

I’ll be giving away one signed copy to one lucky person who is new to my Facebook follow list between now and the end of the book tour on March 12^th. I’ll post the winner to my Facebook page on March 17^th.

Cindi R. Maciolek is a writer and business consultant, whose published works include Divatiel: Reflections of a bird’s companion; Java Jems: 5 Minute Inspirations for Busy People and The Basics of Buying Art. She’s also a contributing author to the books Life Choices: Pursuing Your Passion and Life Choices: It’s Never Too Late. Maciolek has written numerous articles for the luxury marketplace, including the Robb Report and Luxury Las Vegas. Maciolek lives in Las Vegas, Nevada. www.cindimaciolek.com.

From sex with a purpose to ankles swelling into cankles: "Mommy but Still Me" Author Mohana Rajakumar VBT Pit Stop Mar 2

The modern woman's guide to switching from jet setter to incubator, MOMMY BUT STILL ME retells the story of a first time mother with humor and honesty. From sex with a purpose to ankles swelling into cankles, this is a no-holds barred look at the all the changes, big and small; from knowing "hipster" as a term that describes your generation to using it to describe where you like to carry things.

Imagine a man volunteering to trade in his game nights for heart burn and back ache. Good thing there are women around to ensure the survival of the species. This hilarious look at the journey from high heels to high blood pressure, as a jet setter turns into a bed wetter, is what your doctor won't tell you and your own mother may have forgotten in the years since she was blessed by your arrival.

"At our first meeting my future father-in-law waited until we sat down in the Thai restaurant, the oblong menus placed in our hands and the waiter was a distance away, tending to other diners, before turning towards me, his eyes glowing. This was the first time we were all seeing each other after his son had proposed to me. 
"When will I get to hold my first grandchild?" He asked. For my father-in-law and everyone else, I have a question of my own: When will any of you be satisfied?"

Join me in welcoming Mohana Rajakumar to my blog on her virtual book tour for Mommy but Still Me. I can relate to the title alone having four kids of my own (all grown now). How many times have I heard: "Hi Ben's Mom." - or Austin's Mom and so on. I can't wait to read Mohana's book and LOL with her!

Excerpt:

I'm Pregnant Not Handicapped

I used handicapped bathrooms and parking spaces (with negative consequences). It's a toss up in the Middle East; people are much more lenient with pregnant people than in western countries. I didn’t use being pregnant to get away with much at work, but in my personal life I wanted a little more leeway.

I was at the mall with a friend and thought I should have gone to the bathroom before leaving the conference we were both attending, but I didn't. We started laughing so hard I knew I had to go to the bathroom before it looked like my water had broken. I dashed to the bathroom without any of my belongings in the effort to get there faster. And before I came to the one with the stalls, I saw a female handicapped one. Without a second thought, I ducked inside. I may not have been in a wheelchair, but I was pregnant and my body in an altered state from what it normally was.

Imagine my relief turning to dismay when, after washing my hands, the lock wouldn't turn in the tumbler. I panicked because the person I was with didn't know where I was – in my rush to get to the bathroom – I didn't have my phone or my purse.

There was I was: in a foreign country, at the mall, locked in a bathroom. If I hadn't been worried I'd spend all night in there, I would have laughed. Instead I started pounding on the door, unsure how I would communicate with the passerbys that I was stuck, reviewing my Arabic, hoping someone would hear me over the noise, as twenty minutes went by and my heart beat threatened to floor me.

Mohanalakshmi Rajakumar is a South Asian American who has lived in Qatar since 2005. Moving to the Arabian Desert was good in many ways since that is where she met her husband, had a baby, and made the transition from writing as a hobby to her full time gig. She has published three e-books this year including Mommy But Still Me, So You Want to Sell a Million Copies, and Coloured and Other Stories. Since she joined the e-book revolution, she dreams in plotlines.

Her work has also been published in AudioFile Magazine, Explore Qatar, Woman Today, The Woman, Writers and Artists Yearbook, QatarClick, and Qatar Explorer. She has been a guest on Expat Radio, and was the host for two seasons of the Cover to Cover book show on Qatar Foundation Radio. She was the Associate Editor of Vox, a fashion and lifestyle magazine.

Louise: Mohana, welcome to my blog! I’m so excited you could join me for a chat. Please tell us a little about your new release Mommy But Still Me without giving too much of a spoiler away.

Mohana: This is a book made up of blog entries I kept in the process of conceiving and then having/raising our baby. I wanted to write things down so I didn’t forget as even during the intense desire to sleep during pregnancy can help erase your memory banks.

Louise: Do you plan all your characters out before you start a story or do they develop as you write?

Mohana: The great thing about memoir is that you get to go back and see what themes, people and events stand out – and then expand if needed. In this case the hilarious incidents were made even funnier as time went by and I realized how panicked new mothers can be. So I left those in and also kept writing as many books stop after the delivery and you are most at sea in the first few weeks the baby comes home.

Louise: How much research do you do for your books? Have you found any cool tidbits in your research?

Mohana: I read more than 9 other ‘momiors’ and thought – wait, I can write one of these! So this got me started on the blog.

Louise: What is your writing process? Do you outline, write by the seat of your pants (Pantser) or a combination of both?

Mohana: When I’m doing fiction or an academic work, I do tend to write with a main character and a few dramatic events in mind. This keeps me on track and also gives me a point towards which things are focused. For blogging I try to go week by week and then at the end of a period of time, say a few months or years, go back to see what I have.

Louise: Do you write full time? What did you do before you became a writer or still do?

Mohana: I teach at the university level and also write more or less full time. I’ve worked for a publishing company, served as an educational consultant, and also in academic administration but writing has always been there and is my passion.

Louise: Do you have a ritual when it comes to writing? Example….get coffee, blanket, paper, pen, laptop and a comfy place.

Mohana: I go off on Saturdays or some weeks nights, depending on deadlines, and really get on headphones (if I’m at the library) or play music, open the document, review notes, and then go for it. I generally need at least 2-3 hours to make it to a goal: whether it’s word count or manuscript editing.

Louise: Describe a typical writing day for you.

Mohana: Ideally it would be a day where I sleep in, exercise for an hour, and then spend 5-7 hours at the desk. This doesn’t happen very often! It’s more like teach a class, have lunch with a friend, attend a few meetings, teach another class, reply to fifty emails, and then squeeze in two hours of writing, hoping for 5,000 words, being happy with 2,000.

Louise: Please give us a sneak peek at your future books. What’s on the horizon?

Mohana: I’ve got four others already published, among them a short story collection, novel, and writer’s guide besides the momior. So check out my Facebook page and see which one suits you.

Louise: What is your favorite genre to read and who is your favorite author?

Mohana: I love literary fiction and Alice Munroe is my absolute favorite. But I read everything from teen paranormal to romance. I will give everything a try.

Louise: Is there anything else you would like to tell the readers we have not touched on?

Mohana: Readers don’t know how much their reviews matter: whether on Facebook, Amazon.com, Goodreads, if you like an author, take the time to leave a review for them. And if you hated a book, try to tread lightly, keeping in mind that someone worked really hard (even if you don’t think so). 

Louise: Where can the readers learn more about you and find your books on the web?

Mohana: @moha_doha on Twitter and my Website- www.mohanalakshmi.com

Purchase Links: 

So You Want to Sell a Million Copies
      Mommy But Still Me
      Coloured and Other Stories

YouTube Channel - TheMohaDoha YouTube Channel

Jonathan Wutawunashe VBT PIT Stop Feb 22 - "Fulfill Your Threats"

Click on the image to visit the Meet & Greet with Jonathan on VBT Cafe.

Today I welcome Jonathan Wutawunashe to my blog. Jonathan promotes his new release Fulfill Your Threats, a powerful manual that could well come with a warranty.

Enter Jonathan's contest to win a Kindle Fire. Details and form below the interview. Contest ends Feb 23.


A little bit about Jonathan:

Ambassador Jonathan Wutawunashe cut his teeth as a diplomat in Washington, DC and New York during the 1980s. Educated and trained in his native Zimbabwe, in Australia, the United States and Belgium, Wutawunashe played key roles as a top manager and leader in key posts and functions in Zimbabwe, North America, Europe and Asia. One of his more widely publicized accomplishments was his presentation of the case against nuclear weapons at the International Court of Justice in November 1995.

Ambassador Wutawunashe is a sought-after speaker and counselor who has motivated audiences at universities, churches, training seminars, trade symposiums and in other contexts in Africa, Asia, Europe and North America. His personal achievements include writing for magazines and academic journals from an early age, musical compositions and an extensive discography that has caught the attention of researchers and writers on global culture. He has done creative work for television, for which he has received plaudits, and has also established several  audio-visual recording and mastering studios. The Ambassador holds  post-graduate degrees in literature and social sciences. He is married to Shuvai, and the couple have three children, Tinashe, Tendai and  Paidamoyo.  You can read more about Wutawunashe on Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jonathan_Wutawunashe.

Louise: Jonathan, welcome to my blog! I’m so excited you could join me for a chat. When did you first decide to submit your work to be published? Tell us what or who encouraged you to take this big step.

Jonathan: Well, Louise, I have been an author since I was fourteen, believe it or not! At that age, I wrote a story and it got serialized in a magazine, and that got the creative juices going. I became a regular writer for the magazine, and after a while I guess I got bored and switched to poetry, which also found fans among the publishers. Later on at University, I wrote for a serious literary journal, and I am thrilled to see that people still pay money to download my articles, although I have not seen a single penny from those sales-but that’s life for you! Fulfill Your Threats is my first book-length effort, and there is a weird irony about its timing. My middle school teacher, a mild-mannered gentleman by the name of John Jarvis, used to counsel me not to attempt a book before I got to age 30 or 40 as, according to him, serious content required serious experience. Well, I always meant to defy him by publishing a book before I hit any of those senile landmarks, but here am I, well past both ages, and it’s my first book! I’m glad, though, because my book would be pretty light on impact without the real life examples I share in every chapter. So there it is; I have told you who told me NOT to publish!

Louise: Please tell a little about your new release Fulfill Your Threats without giving too much of a spoiler away.

Jonathan: It’s hard not to give a lot away, but I’ll try! The simple message of my book is: stop threatening to do great things that will improve the lives of many people, including you and your loved ones, but instead DO those great things, because we are all capable of identifying tools to use to produce what we want in life. I light a bonfire under the reader to make them jump out of their reverie and into action that translates their dreams and aspirations into things that can be seen, touched and tasted. Is that cryptic enough, Louise?

This incisive, well-written book shares profound insights into the psychology that drives doers to do what they do, and to do it with confidence, method and persistence. Its energizing claim is that we can all be effective doers if we take simple steps to yank our ambitions from the realm of idle thought and idle talk, and to mobilize those dreams and aspirations into projects that achieve results that can be seen, touched and experienced. Wutawunashe draws from experience and observation to illustrate how business ideas, personal development efforts, social influence and other schemes can be pursued in a manner that assures effective, sustained impact.

In an engaging style that melds entertaining anecdotes, humorous turn of phrase and powerful didactic principle in a uniquely seamless manner, Wutawunashe delivers a powerful manual that could well come with a warranty, given the ease with which the reader can apply these lessons and see results.

Louise: Do you plan all your illustrations out before you start your book or do they develop as you write?

Jonathan: Before I wrote the first word of my motivational/business book, I trawled my personal experiences for examples to illustrate each major point and lesson in the book. I set out to write brass tacks, real life book, and to do that, I owed it to my readers to give real world, not fanciful, examples.

Louise: How much research do you do for your books? Have you found any cool tidbits in your research?

Jonathan: My belief is that, for a book of the kind I wrote to be worth reading, both author and reader must learn something new at least in every chapter. To flesh out my ideas, I leveraged a lot of resources, including my old psychology notes from University, my travel journals, my notes from counseling sessions with people who needed my help, newspaper stories, coffee shop gossip and even how-to videos online. After I wrote the final paragraph of my book, I was astonished to see the thick stack of index cards I had not used, but on which I had scribbled so much interesting stuff. I guess a follow-up book is justified!

Louise: What is your writing process? Do you outline, write by the seat of your pants (Pantser) or a combination of both?

Jonathan: I tend to be frenzied and methodical by turns, but in my case, method always wins in the end. If I wake up one morning and the pen is flowing fast, I know at the back of my head that the day will come when I shall have to go through what today’s muse is saying with Ocam’s razor, to ensure that enthusiasm does not get in the way of the facts. I am quite good at evolving outlines in my head, but I do scribble down pivotal elements to construct the logic of what I write. Right now I am working on a book about life lessons I learnt when I was hospitalized, and I am finding the Manuscript app on my iPad to be extremely useful, as it encourages a structured approach to writing.

Louise: Do you write full time? What did you do before you became a writer or still do?

Jonathan: I am almost always writing something, be it book chapters, blog posts or tweets (nuggets from my book), but I do have a full-time job as an Ambassador, and the heavy schedule that goes with that position means I have to create a 25^th hour for writing! It’s a good thing I am one of those blessed people who can pack eight hours’ worth of sleep into four. I had ample practice of that feat when I was a teacher of hearing-impaired children, and I had to do an individual plan for each child every school day.

Louise: Do you have a ritual when it comes to writing? Example….get coffee, blanket, paper, pen, laptop and a comfy place.

Jonathan: I like to change locale frequently. During the rare free weekend, I might take the laptop to a park, a hotel lobby or a country club. When I am in the house, I might write one night in the study, another in the bedroom, the study and so forth. The constant is a mug of tea or coffee.

Louise: Describe a typical writing day for you.

Jonathan: I’m afraid I’d have to pass on this one, because there’s nothing like a typical writing day for me-I work in episodes as the opportunity offers itself. These days I take my iPad with me just in case inspiration hits while we are stuck in New Delhi’s famous traffic.

Louise: Please give us a sneak peek at your future books. What’s on the horizon?

Jonathan: After I finish the one I am working on now (titled The Sixth Floor), I plan to write a nuts-and-bolts follow-up to Fulfill Your Threats. The idea that keeps yelling in my head is project planning, but not in the language of a text book. I want to extend the can-do of my first book into a book-length to-do pad, which I believe will offer an exciting way to bring projects to life.

Louise: What is your favorite genre to read and who is your favorite author?

Jonathan: I enjoy reading business biographies because through them I meet daring doers. My recent favorites are Rod McQueen’s book on Mike Lazarides and Jim Balsillie of Blackberry fame and (of course) Walter Isaacson’s biography of Steve Jobs. Apart from my interest in entrepreneurial success, I am quite eclectic, and can find enjoyment in reading Chaucer, Tolstoy, Richard Wright, Alex Haley, Robert Frost, John Seinbeck, Plato, Bishop Berkeley or James Hadley Chase.

Louise: Is there anything else you would like to tell the readers we have not touched on?

Jonathan: Louise, you have been quite thorough, and I’m grateful to you for giving me this wonderful opportunity to discuss the book I wrote with every human being in mind. My greatest joy has been to hear from people who have read Fulfill Your Threats that it has changed their lives in concrete ways. One reader, a retired Colonel, told me that my book had inspired him to leave a company he had worked for a number of years to start his own, which has now landed lucrative international contracts. A couple of days ago, a pastor told me that he was passing the book around in his congregation (I failed to suggest that he should encourage them to get their own copies!) because the book had helped him profoundly. Very few writers make big money from writing; our real reward is to be read on trains, buses and planes and around warm hearths, and to receive the occasional feedback that something we said struck a melodious chord.

Louise: Where can the readers learn more about you and find your books on the web?


Jonathan: I pour my heart into my Blog. My book page is on Facebook. I figured that most people, like I do, connect best with visuals, so I started a YouTube channel on which I present aspects of my book in person. A popular video on this site is http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mloZ2dVplpg&feature=related.

My book is obtainable from the following sites:

Amazon

Innov8Bookshop

Louise: Jonathan, thank you for stopping by today. I wish you good luck on your new book and your future projects.

 Jonathan is sponsored by Assisting Authors Online

Jonathan's Book Launch Contest  February 4 -23

First Prize is a Kindle Fire

Two runner up prizes :   $50.00 gift certificates

Contest Form Code

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