"A Chronicle of Endylmyr" by Charles Hall

When I sit down to read, I want a book to escape and get lost in. I want something that will take me away from a long day and the mundane trivialities of life. That is probably why I love fantasy so much. It can take me to some of the most amazing places created in the mind of the author and shared only with those that dare to open the cover and read. Lately, I haven't found much in the fantasy genre that has excited me - until now.

I'm very excited to be able to introduce you to Charles Hall. Charles has published his first novel, an epic fantasy that is not only very well written, but I would say it is exactly what I've been craving in a fantasy. His prose is brilliant and his storyline is engaging and well developed. I adore his characters, especially Gylfalin, who, to me, is as perfect of a character as Aragorn from The Lord of the Rings. They are well developed and with the multiple points of view, one can become quite intimate with them.

I'm thrilled that I have finally found a fantasy that has left me not only feeling satisfied, but that I read something of quality. I'm very excited about this series and I cannot wait until the next installment is in print!! Mr. Hall is a brilliant author who has made it on my favorite author list.

With that being said, you can imagine how exciting it is to be able to post an interview with him here today. I hope you enjoy reading his interview as much as I did!

A Chronicle Of Endylmyr: The Witches of Endylmyr
Author: Charles Hall
Publisher: Outskirts Press
ISBN: 9781432750282
Genre: Fiction, Fantasy, Epic
To purchase A Chronicle of Endylmyr in paperback or e-book, please click here

Author Interview:

Tell us briefly about your book.

It is a literary epic fantasy involving the attempts of an ambitious and power hungry Eastern despot to seize and control all magical items in the world of the novel. In an attempt to seize a magical falcon he besieges the Western city of Endylmyr, only to be temporarily defeated in the end by three women who use a combination of the magical devices to harness the power of an electrical storm to destroy his armies.


Do you have a favourite character? Why is s/he your favourite?

My favorite character is my protagonist, a retired mercenary, and the most experienced fighter in all of Endylmyr. I think he’s my favorite because I have projected much of my own experience on him.

What inspired you to write this book?

As a former creative writing instructor, one of my sons sent me a story to edit. A character and a magical device in his story caught my imagination. With his permission I used them as the seeds of the novel. His story now forms the prologue, as noted on the cover page.


What message would you like readers to take away from your book?

That love and loyalty can triumph over ambition and greed, and that we must take whatever fate brings and make the best of it, relying on the loyalty of friends and our own skills and strengths to get through.

What/who do you draw inspiration from?

Ancient and contemporary native cultures, Western literature (starting with Homer, through Beowulf, Chaucer, Shakespeare, and J.R.R. Tolkien) my personal experience of having lived and delivered a son at home on the Flathead Indian Reservation, among other things.

Is there anyone who has inspired, motivated, encouraged or supported your writing?

Yes, my now deceased wife, once a student of mine, and our two sons, both college teachers and aspiring writers.

What's the best/worst part of being a writer?

The best part is entertaining readers, the worst is wondering if my work is worthy.

When growing up, did you have a favorite author, book series, or book?

As a young boy I was entranced by the Hardy Boy Mysteries (Franklin W. Dixon), Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes series and Mark Twain’s Huckleberry Finn (which I remember reading seven times.)

What about now: who is your favorite author and what is your favorite genre to read?

My favorite author is probably J.R.R. Tolkien, on the basis of his excellent prose and sheer imaginative genius. I like Fantasy, but I read a wide variety of new and old writers, including C.S. Forrester, John LeCarre, John Steinbeck, Ellis Peters, and Robert E. Howard, to name a few.

And now for a little fun...


If you were stranded on a deserted island what 3 things would you want with you?
A library, my girlfriend and a cat.

What is one book everyone should read?
“The Lord of the Rings”

If you were a superhero what would your name be?
The Wizard

If someone wrote a book about your life, what would the title be?
“To sleep, perchance to dream…”

Write a haiku about your book.
“Of birds and orbs and magic gear,
And archers without fear”

A HUGE thank you to Mr. Hall for allowing me to participate in hosting him.!!!

About the Author

Charles has been fascinated by book reading and writing since a very early age. Because of traumatic experiences in his home and family life, he often found himself lost in mystery and adventure stories. He had such a deep love for language arts that he began his college career as a French major. However, he soon realized where his passions lied and graduated with B.A. and M.A. degrees in English Literature.

During that time, he also began to experiment with writing poetry. Some of his work was published in small campus magazines, and keeps most of the pieces he wrote stashed away in his bookcase. His love for poetry also led him into a co-editor role with a popular poetry magazine at the University of Wyoming. His love for writing soon had an added benefit as Charles went on to marry the best writer in the advanced composition course he taught there.

Inspired by authors such as James Lee Burke and James Crumley, Charles wrote his first novel, titled Indian Summer. He wrote two other novels, Crude Surgery and Green Reaper, before the pressure of family demands pushed his professional life into another direction.

Other circumstances kept Charles from writing for several years after that. It was not until his son sent him a short fantasy asking for his opinion that his passion arose again. From there, the idea of his most recent literary epic fantasy, A Chronicle of Endylmyr was born and the rest is history...

 Book was supplied through Outskirts Press for me to honestly review.

INSPIRED DESIGN Blog Tour with Roxanne Hughes Packham and Hannah Packham

I feel very lucky to have been able to join in this tour with Roxanne Hughes Packham and Hanna Packham! Their book, "Inspired Design" is not only gorgeous, but very, very helpful in creating a beautiful home to live in.

Below, you will find an very interesting interview with the authors as well as information about the book and how to get your own copy. Feeling lucky? There's also information on how to enter to win a copy of this beautiful book.

Why did you write Inspired Design with your daughter? My grandfather (Silversmith Allan Adler) passed this love of design to me, so it just seemed a natural, alongside a book about the design and subsequent use of our homes, infused with family heritage that my daughter who lives along side me take a large part the powerful subject of "the home". I also wanted to create a place where we could initiate, create, and complete a project where my daughter, Hannah, could learn along side me both the practical and the ethical implications of a project this size, where all the profits go to a charity that is dear to our hearts, Heart of Hope Ministries, Intl. I wanted show her an example of using our talents and gifts for the enjoyment of others, while benefiting others, not ourselves. It wasn't to be pious, but just a fun way to give back and truly make a difference while doing something together that we loved!

What is Inspired Design?
A book about three aspects of the home and how it's power to touch the souls of those within. Those three aspects are Designing for warmth and beauty to nurture others, meaningful touches and gestures to celebrate and honor your loved ones on special occasions and ordinary days, and lastly that it is not what we have or do not have that blesses others, and changes lives, but how we use what we have. It is about incorporating YOUR family heritage, and your unique gifts, into making a beautiful, family home.

Inspired Design has had such a wonderful response, without a traditional publisher, distributor, or agent why do you think that is?
It resonates in the spirit of women, who want to make a positive impact on their families and loved ones. The blessing of word of mouth publicity has really caused this book to sell and touch the hearts of every woman that has read it. They tell one friend, and so on and so on. For example, Jill Foster, Author of Creative Cakes Anyone Can Make, raves, "Your Inspired Design is amazing. I have devoured it, sipping coffee as I have enjoyed reading each page. Your family legacy is depicted in beautiful illustration. Having Hannah's words throughout the book is wonderful.”

We heard that one customer in Coronado, California has reordered about 10 books, each one as a gift for friends birthday, what is it that she find so touching?
She is someone I have never met, but she said she found it so real, beautiful, uplifting and from such a realistic perspective on touching others with the bonus of spectacular homes and photography the combination makes her want to give it to all her friends for their birthdays. She loves the blog that goes alongside it as well, with weekly tips and suggestions to make others feel special. http://www.inspireddesignpublications.blogspot.com

I know that a mother-daughter ministry, "Inspired 31", has begun along side of Inspired Design, why do you think it has resonated so powerfully?
Especially in this economic climate so many women are more resolute than ever that their families are the most important thing in their lives and their daughters, or close friends, should be celebrated and cherished. Without exception our gatherings (3 so far, in it's first 3 months) have attracted hundreds of mother/daughter/sister/friend combinations wanting to come, for 2 hours, and celebrate what is good, pure, worthy of praise especially each other. Inspired 31's mission is to teach girls (and now even woman of all ages) to find and follow God's unique path for their lives. We have inspiring speakers, and a wonderful positive/uplifting program. We have people inquiring about beginning a chapter in their area, in many cities.

Where can we purchase a copy of Inspired Design? Also, we heard this book is helping orphans and teenage girls as well.
Inspired Design makes a perfect gift with so many ideas for making Christmas, or any holiday, more special with all kinds of thoughtful little details.
100% of the profits go to Heart of Hope, which benefits orphans in Romania, and Inspired 31, a Mother-teenage girl ministry. With each purchase you are helping all kinds of different children.
Please visit my web site at http://inspireddesignpublications.com/.

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About the Book

Hannah & Roxanne Packham

Inspired Design by Roxanne Hughes Packham and Hannah Packham (Inspired Designs Publications, 2010)
Drawing from the highly-published designs she's created for hundreds of clients, Packham will inspire you to create a home that touches the souls of those within. Amid Stunning photography, stories of treasured family traditions and poignant observations by 16 year old daughter Hannah, she shares ideas that will help you create beauty, warmth and passion in your home, and make it an inspired design. "Do not underestimate the power of your home, nor its ability to change lives," writes designer Roxanne Hughes Packham. "A cup of hot tea and an hour in a cozy nook spent listening to a friend can be life-altering. "Sending well-loved, cared for children into the world to contribute to our society in positive meaningful ways is one of the most significant contributions, if not the most significant contribution, you will ever make, and your home is a major part of this endeavor.

100% of the profits of this book go to charity: Heart of Hope, Local Food Pantry, Inspired 31 and more Produced and made 100% in America.
Written by Granddaughter of Allan Adler, noted American silversmith, and Great Granddaughter of Porter George Blanchard, also known as "silversmith to the stars", Packham's history and knowledge of silver and flair for table settings prove to be a winning combo. Ideas for Sentimental Parties, and occassions for teenage girls, and mothers & others, Celebrating friends & friendship. Inspirational for incorporating family history, talents, and passions into the design of the family home.

About the Authors

Roxanne Hughes Packham is an acclaimed interior designer whose classic designs grace hundreds of California homes from San Francisco to San Diego. She comes from a long line of gifted artisans, including world-renowned silversmiths Allan Adler (her grandfather) and Porter Blanchard (her great-grandfather). Roxanne is a graduate of the University of Southern California and Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising, Los Angeles; she studied design at Paris Fashion Institute and the Sorbonne. Her work has been featured in numerous design publications, including Life: Beautiful, California Homes, Dream Homes of Coastal California, Kitchen Style & Design, Dream Log Homes, Westlake Malibu Lifestyle, Kitchen Ideas That Work, Bath Ideas That Work, The Smart Approach to Kitchen Design, The Smart Approach to Bath Design, The Color Idea Book, The Window Treatment Idea Book, and more. She makes her home in Southern California, with her husband Scott, and their children, Hannah and Justin.

Hannah Packham is continuing her family’s long tradition of design excellence. Last summer, Hannah studied design at the University of Southern California. Hannah is a top scholar, and has been named to the Headmaster & Deans List at Oaks Christian High School, where she is currently a student. She was selected to represent OCHS as a member of the “Lion’s Voice,” a school-selected tour guide program. She is also a varsity athlete in pole-vaulting and studied pole-vaulting at the University of California Los Angeles during the summer 2009. Her interests include Classical ballet dancing, skiing and modern dance. She has made mission trips to Costa Rica (2009) and Romania (2010). She has been selected to participate in Rotary Leadership Conference 2010.

Mark Lohman is a southern California-based photographer whose specialties include interior, garden and architectural photography. His distinctive photographs have appeared in numerous design and architectural publications, including Veranda, Architectural Record, Luxe, Coastal Living, House Beautiful, California Homes, and many more. Mark is a graduate of the University of Southern California and Brooks Photography Institute.

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Contest Information

For a chance to win a copy of "Inspired Design", all you need to do is go to the Inspired Design Tour Facebook page located at: http://www.facebook.com/CSSVBT.RoxanneHughesPackham.InspiredDesign

and follow the instructions. Good Luck!!!

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A complimentary copy of this book was provided to me as a blog tour host by Inspired Design Publications in exchange for posting this interview on my blog. Please visit Christian Speaker Services at www.ChristianSpeakerServices.com for more information about blog tour management services.

Author Tour: Tinisha N. Johnson "Lessons Learned"

It is with great pleasure to introduce Tinisha N. Johnson, author of Lessons Learned: Loving Yourself as a Black Woman.

The target audience for Lessons Learned: Loving Yourself as a Black Woman says it all in the title – primarily black women. The secondary audience is all women. I decided to write a book specifically catered towards black woman, because sometimes African-American women experience challenges and situations that other races of women may not necessary face on a day-to-day basis or ever. These challenges and situations range from hair texture, culture, relationships with black man, negative stereotypes, conquering racism and sexism, and being the minority of minorities, just to name a few. Of course, all women regardless of race deals with issues of self-esteem, and this too is addressed in the book.


When women read this book, I hope to revolutionize their mind into a whole new way of thinking about themselves. Day in and day out, can sometimes seem like a struggle or fight, but I want to open new ways of thinking about what happiness is. I want women to realize how important self-love is and regularly take advantage of it in their lives. 

Tinisha Nicole Johnson is an author, writer, and poet. She resides in Denver, Colorado with her two children. Besides writing, Tinisha also hosts political and sports teleconferences as a profession. To date, Tinisha has written five books. She is also co-founder of Authors Supporting Authors (ASA) a non-profit group that provides support to other authors and promotes literacy. You can visit Tinisha’s website at: www.tinishanicolejohnson.com

Article provided by  Pump Up Your Book. Posted with permission.

Author Tour: U.L. Harper - "The Flesh Statue"

The Flesh Statue
Author: U.L. Harper
Publisher: iuniverse
ISBN: 9781440153228
Genre: literary fiction
Pages: 364

Synopsis:

Langley, sick of his suburban life and sick of watching the man who raised him wither from the relentlessly ugly clutches of Alzheimer's, moves to Long Beach with the hopes of finding more. What he finds is a group of poets with a message, a message they want to get out.

When Langley moves to Long Beach he instantly finds himself in a new world of poetry and graffiti. A world that is in the throws of destruction and in the need of revolution. Langley is forced to make the decision; does he stay in this new world with its collapsible revolution, or does he attempt to endure a life marred in the memory of his death mother and in the current state of his Grandfather.

The Flesh Statue follows Langley on this search for answers and along the way introduces us to an array of characters from the eratic Cinci who is trying to escape a troubled past, to Bert, a man who is willing to fight and burn for his ideals, to Latrail, a young woman taking on the role which Langley should himself be filling

Book Excerpt:

"Your grandfather left us a while ago, when the disease took over his mind. Then again... If he was here this whole time, did he want to be here? He'd move-on, on his own time. He'd leave us when he wanted. Couldn't keep him against his will, if I knew him any."

To Langley, how this situation summed itself up seemed all too close to what he remembered from some class discussion he had on the sacred cow. The cow was sacred mostly because of all it could offer society—dairy products and such. The bull on the other hand, which was basically only good for mating, well, they let it die because they didn’t need so many of them. To his Grandma, Grandpa had served his use with the world or maybe just served his use to her, and because she couldn't watch his useless carcass wither in an expensive hospital, she let what was no longer useful just die. She didn't kill it. She let him starve and become weak so he'd "move on" a little faster, at his own choice, perhaps.

"You know what I feel?" she said, finally taking a glance at Langley. "I feel free." She took a deep breath. "That's why you should go to college. You'll find some teacher that'll ask you good questions, like what freedom is. My philosophy teacher asked me that. What is freedom, he asked. That whole class was over my head, fifty some odd years later, I can answer that question out of experience."

This caught his ear. He could save himself about fifty years of thinking if he just listened now. Langley tried to yawn as to clear his ears as much as possible.

"Everything certain already happened to me,” she said. “You know what I think freedom is? Having no expectations. I don't have a goal in front of me, and it's scary. I have a lot of life in me." She was ready to cry again. "Too much life."

"You're young for your age. That's what I think."

"Too much time to do too much by myself."

"I'm about twenty and I feel like I'm almost out of time. Here you are at, how old are you?"

"Freedom is having nothing to grasp on to,” she said. “Having no basis for anything, having no point and no reason. No reason at all. None," she waved her hand at him. "None."

"In the end, we'll all be free, then?"

"Who's we?"

"Everybody."

"Everybody will be free if they live long enough to have nothing to look forward to. I hope that's not what all this really is, come to find out." Then she stood and casually stepped towards the door. She said, "Are you fine to make your own meal tonight?"

"Grandma," he said. "Grandpa’s not dead is he?"

"Make some for Latrail. We're expecting her. I'm going to ride the bus somewhere."

"What do you mean ride the bus?"

"I need to be away from here for a little while. I'll be back." She left the room, not looking back. "And Langley," she said from the dining room, "don't walk Grandpa."

For quite some time Langley sat there peeling his eyes at Grandpa, indecisive on whether this man was dead or not. Surely no one could stay in one place for that long, alive. Then again, he didn't check for a pulse. Grandpa’s chest wasn't going up and down like it would if he were breathing, something people did when they were alive. Langley couldn't gather the motivation to leave the room. Something, he couldn't tell what, kept him there. In this time, he didn't think too much about the outside world. He wondered how Grandpa’s skin felt. How he slouched in the wheelchair—was he weighted differently?

Gravity pulled Grandpa towards the floor, the grave, as he inched lower in his wheelchair, kind of sinking per minute. Grandma had cleaned the dead man before sitting him there, like a flesh statue. When it finally settled in that his Grandpa was dead, Langley's back went stiff. He remembered tiny pieces of memory. Not whole moments.

There was the time having the flu and Grandpa telling him that people used to die of the flu. Its full name was Influenza. Learning to drive a car. Being made fun of because of his car. He and Latrail playing with each other when they were young enough for him to push her on her chest and there not being any breasts there. Langley being bashful at Grandpa saying Langley had a crush on Latrail.

A car pulling up in the driveway shook him from his memories. He didn't bother to see who it was. A moment later, the door rattled with a knock. If Latrail had been dropped off by her mom she could let herself in.

Sometimes Grandpa pretended he was on the air at the radio station and acted like Langley was a guest on his show. As a guest on the show, a young Langley confessed to wanting to be a professional basketball player. In reality, he didn't like the sport all that much. Then again, he couldn't think of another job he might want to do. That, and Grandpa, back when he had a healthy pot belly and not a sagging one, loved sports, and Langley didn't want to let him down. Besides, Langley loved going to the Dodger games, especially when Grandpa would suddenly decide that they had to go, "pronto". Grandpa might not have wanted to go if he knew he didn't like sports too much to begin with. The fact was that Langley had been so well pampered his whole life—now he knew this—that he thought his grandparents would always be there to take care of him. Not true. Not true at all.

Grandpa was a starved bull.

About the Author

U.L. Harper is an author at heart but works with children in the Long Beach area. California. He has fun. Tetherball rules. Think of the phrase, “I would rather starve than feel better than this.” It’s a sentence into his thought process. If you would like to learn more about the author, you can visit his website at: www.ulharper.com

Book excerpt was provided by Rebecca of Pump Up Your Book and was used with permission.

Author Tour - Paul V. Stutzman "Hiking Through"

Hiking Through: Finding Peace and Freedom on the Appalachian Trail
Author: Paul V. Stutzman
Publisher: Synergy Books
ISBN: 9780984076055
Genre: Nonfiction, Memoir

Synopsis: (from publisher)

After losing his wife to breast cancer, Paul Stutzman decided to make some big changes. He quit his job of seventeen years and embarked upon a thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail, a 2,176-mile stretch of varying terrain spanning fourteen states. During his nearly five-month-long hike, he battled brutal trail conditions and overwhelming loneliness, but also enjoyed spectacular scenery and trail camaraderie. With breathtaking descriptions and humorous anecdotes from his travels, Stutzman reveals how immersing himself in nature and befriending fellow hikers helped him recover from a devastating loss. Somewhere between Georgia and Maine, he realized that God had been with him every step of the way, and on a famous path through the wilderness, he found his own path to peace and freedom.

My Comment:

This is not the first book I've found about hiking the Appalachian Trail, nor will it be the last. What makes this book different is the message and the reason behind it. When Mr. Stutzman's wife died, he realized that all he worked for was nothing compared to what he lost with his wife. The importance was spending time with your loved ones, and live each day like it's your last with them. He took that message along with him on his 5 month trip on the Appalachian Trail.

Mr. Stutzman writes his adventures with both humor and truthfulness. He examines his relationship with God and finds that the longer he is on the trail, the more his relationship with God changes. He tells about triumphs and hardships along the way, and leaves you nothing but amazed and in awe by the end.

To say this is a fantastic book, is an understatement. Mr. Stutzman's message is quite personal to me, as I realized how we put things off when my parents died. Going through things and seeing items that were kept for that special someday that never came, brings a harsh reality that we shouldn't wait for tomorrow, but enjoy what we have today.  For this reason alone, I had wanted to participate in this tour, but I found that the book held so much more. It's about regrets, love, healing, forgiveness, and finding peace and freedom. It will tug at your heart and make you laugh and cry, and you will be cheering Mr. Stutzman along throughout the book.

Do yourself a huge favor and read this book. It will definitely change how you look at yourself and your loved ones. It has a powerful message that everyone should hear!

About the author:

Paul V. Stutzman left a restaurant management career to thru-hike the Appalachian Trail in 2008, after losing his wife to breast cancer. He tells the story of chasing his dream from Georgia to Maine in his new book, Hiking Through: Finding Peace and Freedom on the Appalachian Trail.  See photos from his hike on his website, www.hikingthrough.com.

This book was sent to me by Dorothy of Pump Up Your Book for me to honestly review.

Author Tour and Review: Anne Vincent - "The Way to Stillness"

The Story of Mike

Mike was a legally blind young boy from an economically disadvantaged home in the rural south. Somewhere in first grade the schools had given up on him. Students and teachers had pushed him aside saying, "Never mind Mike, he can't read." And Mike cooperated – if he “couldn't read,” he wouldn't read.

Dr. Kirk, a psychiatrist at Vanderbilt had worked and worked with this boy and had been unable to determine why he was not reading. She heard that I had a special gift for teaching kids to read, and asked me to assist.

Mike's family drove him from Kentucky to Nashville to meet with me. Since it was all they could do to put together the gas money for the drive to Nashville, I knew I had to make every moment count.

We started talking and Mike expressed an interest in machines. I checked with his parents and took him down to the boiler room at Peabody College on the campus of Vanderbilt University, where we went in and asked to meet the engineer.

The engineer was a patient man with a wonderful heart, and Mike asked him all sorts of wonderful questions about the boiler and the heat it was radiating. The engineer allowed Mike to touch and explore the machinery - and I realized that Mike inherently knew more about science than he could learn from any book. He already knew more than many students at the graduate level, and here he was coming to me because his school thought him slow!

His parents found the gas money to bring him back again the next week and at the next session, I gave him an article on heat. I told him “Don't read it. Just look at the words that you can make out." He started picking out just choice words so that he could get the idea - and of course, he could tell I knew nothing about the subject. Here, in my complete ignorance of this subject, was a boy who knew so much.

I thought to myself "He is my teacher! Here I am with this treasure, this miracle in my hands!"

After some time his teacher from Russellville, Kentucky called me, amazed at his improvement, saying, "This boy's never read before, and suddenly, he's scanning the material in class and raising his hand to respond to my questions. The other kids just look at him now in disbelief. I have to look at the book just to stay ahead of him!"

It was disturbing to me because it happened so fast. These wonderful things were happening for Mike and I knew they were real; yet, it seemed like magic, and I had difficulty accounting for everything that was happening. I wasn’t completely sure what to think. I experienced great self-doubt because the results of my work with Mike far exceeded what I had believed possible.

One of the things that made me more comfortable with Mike's turnaround was this: I had invited Dr. Lillian Bloeschl to come to Nashville. She was in charge of counseling at the University of Graz in Austria. I had met her there, and invited her to spend a month here in Nashville. Having sat in on one of my sessions with Mike she said, "You know, Gayle, you don't have to know clinically what's happening here - it's enough to know that Mike is now reading at grade level and beyond."

But I wanted to fully understand how I was able to achieve these results, and I couldn't. “Lillian," I said, "If I could explain this scientifically, it would be one thing, but I feel kind of like the medicine man at the circus or a magician at the carnival that magically unlocks the box through some kind of trick. What's happening here that this boy can read?"

Mike’s success was not coming from me.


About the Author:
Anne Alexander Vincent, Ordained Minister of Pastoral Counseling, is the Owner of Cottage in the Woods, a licensed ministry center of the National Christian Counselors Association. She is completing her PhD in Clinical Christian Counseling through the NCCA. With more than 30 years of counseling experience, she has completed her 8th year of intensive training under Dr Patrick Carnes, PhD as a Certified Multiple Addictions Therapist and Certified Sexual Addiction Therapist and with the International Trauma and Addiction Professionals as a Trauma and Addictions Therapist.

If you would like to learn more about Anne, you can visit her website, "Cottage In the Woods" at http://www.annescottageinthewoods.com/

The Way to Stillness:Powerful Tools for Those in Helping Professions
Authors: Anne Alexander Vincent & Gayle Alexander
Publisher: Cottage in the Woods
ISBN: 9780984087600
Audience: Adults
Rating: 5 out of 5

Synopsis (from Pump Up Your Book):

As she approaches her 90^th year, Gayle Alexander, looks back over a career of service as a master counselor, gifted teacher, and minister. She was blessed to be mentored by some of the great souls of our time, Viktor Frankl and Norman Cousins as was her late husband by Mother Theresa. She shares the Love Motif, her unique approach to connecting with others at a deep level, offering a practical guide that anyone might use as a manual on their spiritual journey.

Full of rich insight and profound and inspiring life lessons gleaned from 50 years of private practice, being a “companion on the way” to thousands of individuals, she offers powerful tools to a new generation of helpers. It is her hope that educators, clergy members, physicians, clinicians, therapists, counselors, and anyone involved in the mentoring process find their own Way to Stillness and pass it on.

My Comment:

Let me start off by saying, I'm not in a helping profession - or maybe, in a way, I am. I'm a mom, wife, sister, friend, daughter... and in those instances, I have helped someone - but certainly not professionally, nor do I claim to be a professional. With that all said, when this book arrived, I had no idea what to expect, and thought it would be way over my head. Instead, I got a beautiful book that I believe can be used by anyone.

First, let me tell you about the beauty of the book. The cover gives no clue to the amazing photos that are inside. Every other page has a breathtaking black and white photo that makes you stop and study it. You just can't glance at them. You really need to look at them. They demand it!

The book itself is divided into small sections and focus on things like hope, dreams, spirituality, love, etc. and appear to be in meditation form. When reading and meditating on both the photos and the prose, I found many useful messages that I personally could use in everyday life. These meditations helped me to be more aware of myself and my surrounding friends and family.

One of my favorite sections is called "Character and Courage". Another that I really enjoyed was the Story of Mike (see above).

I enjoyed the Christian insight and views as well as the Bible references. I know that this will be one book I will be reading and using over and over.

This book was supplied for review for this tour by the author and Cheryl at Pump Up Your Blog. Thanks so much Cheryl!!!