Local Voices
#iBetOnMe: The Power of Discipline is a seasonal devotional that presents five "seasons" (not chapters) of unknown motivational quotes and passages that define our thoughts, actions and reactions to actively climbing yet another mountain of success. These quotes inspire the reader, as the passages stimulate their mind and interests, transitioning from hoarding thoughts to putting pen to paper. Discipline is an interactive book that expresses the importance of organization, actively engaging with what the reader is reading and giving ample space to define why remaining disciplined is so important to achieving our definition of success. This book was written to trigger our thoughts, ask ourselves questions and most importantly, answer those very questions, because we are in control of our ascend. The power of Discipline means a lot to me, it's the noun I leaned on heavily when not only climbing my first mountain, but it was my sanity to climb down, search out another mountain and climb again. Now at the top of yet another success this interactive body of work is part two that can serve as a journal or inspiration to creative our very own book, I did, why can't you?
Author: I'm Coach Donte' Davis, college head men's basketball coach who created a brand predicated towards self-motivation. My drive and motivation to achieve a manifestation transformed into a lifestyle and career. My #iBetOnMe brand slowly metastasized from a simple thought to my full-fledged confidence, taking over my mentality and reactions towards my definition of success. The game of basketball has always been in my life, after successfully playing college basketball I knew coaching the game was my calling. I didn't play at the highest level, yet I knew I was capable of coaching at the division one level. My goal of accomplishing that manifestation became an obsession, that's when #iBetOnMe was created. I decided to combine the aspects of my successful college playing career along with what it took to graduate college to fuel the direction of achieving the goal at hand. Coaching at the highest level would require more in-depth motivation, thought process and strategic discipline. Hence the titles of my books; (The Power of Self-Motivation & The Power of Discipline). After achieving that goal, I knew there was more to accomplish, being the head coach of a college program was now on my radar. Sitting at the top of that mountain of success, I have one more mountain to climb. These books are a microcosm of what it takes to not only achieve our definition of success, but what it takes to learn on the way up, with our sights set on exceeding all expectations.
The word "manifest" is the underlying purpose of not just my book, but my blog, website, and my personal journey. What I manifested drove me to sacrifice more than I'd ever thought. It forced me to work harder than I knew and it tightened my focus. It developed into an obsession. Its why we are talking today. So "Hello" to everyone who is taking the time to read my thoughts, navigate through my journey, all while sharing every inch of your own progress with me. This book is entirely interactive. #iBetOnMe is for everyone who's ever second-guessed their ability to reach their definition of success. Every quote identifies a stage of progression. Every passage defines my thoughts, ideas, struggles, and successes. The empty lines labeled "thoughts" are for you. As you read, jot down your thoughts and past failures ... and where you're heading. This will help you to successfully navigate through your journey. Welcome to the beginning of your progression! Take advantage of your thoughts. Question the path you're taking and enjoy every moment of having the control of reaching a goal you've manifested.
A hate crime strikes the house of Max, Brian, and their newly adopted son Donte. Clinging to his idealism, Max helps his family navigate this difficult time with grit, faith, and acceptance. This novel was written by Malcolm Varner of Grove City, Ohio who is a social worker and mental health advocate. He received his undergraduate degree from Oberlin and his MSSA from Case Western Reserve University.
At the age of 20, Brandon Grimm was diagnosed with a brain tumor in the pituitary gland. The ensuing surgery removed a large portion of the tumor; however, residual tumor was located a few months later. After recovering from the surgery, Brandon was diagnosed with the rare and chronic disease, Acromegaly. This disease causes too much growth hormone to be produced in Brandon's body which reduces life expectancy by several years if left untreated. Over the last 14 years, Brandon has received over 4,000 injections to reduce the level of growth hormone and restore life expectancy back to normal range. This book documents his experiences, including battles with anxiety, fear, doubt and hopelessness. Brandon provides a first-hand account of how God provides all of us with the tools needed to overcome these relentless enemies. In this book, you will unlock the life-saving power of perspective regardless of your current circumstance and learn how to find freedom in fear, belief in the doubt and light in the darkness. Brandon also provides practical applications for unleashing the power of a new perspective by doing instead of having, focusing on how well instead of how long and what it means to sacrifice for the benefit of others.
In The Beautiful Journey, Andrea takes you on an emotional rollercoaster as she chronicles her journey through cancer. You'll laugh (yes, laugh), cry, and cheer her on as she battles to become victorious over this disease. Andrea shares her raw, honest experiences as she is forced to make heavy, life-saving decisions.
However, The Beautiful Journey is more than a story about cancer. Andrea includes many valuable lessons she learns as a result of facing this adversity, including:
- How to overcome fear
- How blessings can be found in adversity
- The difference between living a successful life vs. one of significance
- The importance of living...on purpose
- Finding the beauty in all things
- The importance of listening to your body
As you follow Andrea's story of how she claims victory over cancer, you'll be able to go on your own "beautiful journey" of self-discovery and awareness.
Many are asking, what is wrong with teaching, learning, schooling, and education, and what can be done? You will get the answers (panacea) from the letters of a mad public school teacher: intrepid, irascible, cantankerous, provocative, passionate, thought-provoking, iconoclastic, and enhanced with vitriolic demagoguery.
As a grad student / colleague said, Thanks for an enjoyable class on education issues in society. I also enjoyed your letters to the editor. I've been told that I say what other people think. Well, you write and publish what we're all thinking.
Chasity Strawder, a Black woman in northern Ohio, recounts her high risk pregnancy and healthcare disparities in this urgent memoir. She also tells stories of kindness, such as when her chiropractor gave her free treatments and herbs to assist with her pain. Her memoir is a powerful call to action for Black women’s maternal health and a universal story of motherhood. Strawder is a well-known advocate for black women's maternal health through Cuyahoga County.
Listen to an interview with Chasity on Lines of Loganberry on Spotify.
As a middle aged, single, black woman, Karen Todd is content with living life simply. She goes to work, keeps in touch with her family, and loves her God. But one day, on her day off, she wakes up and finds that she is having trouble moving her left hand. Thinking she needs to sleep it off, she takes a nap. When she wakes back up, she fixes a bowl of oatmeal and the bowl slips right out of her hand.
Not knowing what else to do, she calls the nursing hotline and they advise her that she needs to go to the emergency room right away; she could be having a stroke. Karen immediately gets in her car and drives to the hospital. While there, she loses feeling on her left side and is admitted for further testing. Results determine that she suffered from an "old stroke." With the cause determined, she is released to a nursing home to be rehabilitated through occupational and physical therapy.
She is only there for three days before she loses consciousness and dies. Neither of her two daughters are notified until the next morning.
What happened to Karen Todd? Although the cause remains unknown, in this brief retelling of a small piece of Karen's life through the eyes of her oldest daughter, Cori, you will travel alongside her as Karen lives her final days.
A Note From Cori
If you've lost a loved one while they were in the care of a hospital or nursing home, this story may trigger painful memories or thoughts. If you find that you are unable to continue reading The Clouds Will Catch Me at any point, please put the book down. Believe me, there were many times while writing this that I had to put the book down. Therapy has helped but there are still days when I figuratively put down my book, and that's okay.
Our country is divided in so many ways, with a growing chasm between men and women.
The news cycle is discouraging. Emotional and physical toxicity is at an all-time high. We're all starting to feel it in some shape or form, and many of us are struggling with how to keep our children protected from it all.
The problem is we're suffering from an empathy deficit.
But the really good news is there's a way out.
Healing starts with re-examining our modern myths about how we work, what "quality time" at home really means, and why the age-old battle of the sexes persists.
We can't continue down the path of least resistance. We need to carve a new way.
Currency of Empathy sets the stage for that new way by tackling disturbingly common issues like:
But here's the real kicker - it's not about gender - it's about nurturing empathy in our children and ourselves so we can help shape and mold happier, healthier, more productive communities and societies.
What is the hope of this book? That we all start valuing caring - especially parenting - in a way that helps us reprioritize how we spend our time, grow the superpower of affective empathy in children and adults, and heal our empathy deficit.
It's that simple, even if it doesn't seem easy, but we're willing to bet this book is the motivator you've been waiting for.
Currency of Empathy already at work:
"The revolution of the future will hinge on the empathy-inducing "co-creation" explained so masterfully and entertainingly in these pages."
"If someone feels that they could use some advice on improving their quality of life - this book is an answer."
"This book is academic without being dense and warm without being overly sentimental or new-agey."
"... an uplifting, inspiring book. It makes you think. It makes you smile. And it makes you feel more hopeful than you did before you picked it up!"
"The book will cause you to self-examine. It will provoke you to think, and think again."
DESTINY’S DARK LIGHT by Sara Dobie Bauer is contemporary adult paranormal romance focusing on Cyan Burroughs, a white witch whose birth has been prophesied to save the world in a battle with the dreaded Dorcha, a dark and powerful sorcerer. It is a story of magic, power, witches and love.
This is a story of nearly 100 years of determination. Albert Pollack's determination was evident at a very young age, as he learned valuable skills - especially woodworking - that last a lifetime. Narrowly escaping the Nazi invasion of his hometown in Chorostkov, Poland, Pollack survived the Holocaust and World War II, where he served in the Russian-formed Polish Army - helping defeat Nazi Germany and bringing all 64 soldiers in his charge safely home to their families.Upon leaving the military, Pollack, a refugee, discovered a new passion for photography. From humble beginnings, he brought his skills to America, where he established a photography studio and custom framing business.Pollack embraces every opportunity in life with energy and determination and freely shares what he has learned with others.
He and his wife, Madelyn, remain active in their community in South Euclid, Ohio, and continue to enjoy their ever-growing family.
One of seven children of a high-ranking government official, Loung Ung lived a privileged life in the Cambodian capital of Phnom Penh until the age of five. Then, in April 1975, Pol Pot's Khmer Rouge army stormed into the city, forcing Ung's family to flee and, eventually, to disperse. Loung was trained as a child soldier in a work camp for orphans, her siblings were sent to labor camps, and those who survived the horrors would not be reunited until the Khmer Rouge was destroyed.
Harrowing yet hopeful, Loung's powerful story is an unforgettable account of a family shaken and shattered, yet miraculously sustained by courage and love in the face of unspeakable brutality.
When a recent college graduate with a smoking habit is called to serve on the board at his local church, he immediately struggles with separating his public and private lives. His fantasized ideas of religion suddenly become dangerously real as he's enmeshed in a perfect storm of events which leads to, of all things, spending three extremely paranormal days behind bars. When it's all said and done, it seems as though he has entered through the gates of hell and been released to the flip side of life.
There, friends and family often appear as enemies and everyone speaks using a strange, coded lingo. With a mind full of problems, but no solutions, he tries to navigate in this bizarre new world, experiencing strange phenomena on the highways, unnatural episodes during house visits and hospital stays, and futuristic visions while at sea. He journeys across the United States trying to get home, veritably touched by a host of eclectic men and woman along the way.
Hades' Melody is a remarkable coming-of-age memoir which unabashedly explores abandonment, solitary spirituality, prophecy and the dark songs of language. It's a spectacular narrative that delves into the psyche of an individual searching for answers during the subtly explosive dawn of a new era.
Something had to change. Two parents challenge one another to find balance between work and family life. Their stories are both uproarious and poignant as they raise children and strive to leave their mark on the wider world. Filled with tender moments and plenty of laughs, Here Be Dragons recounts the adventures of a family trying to stay afloat, and offers a life raft to the rest of us in choppy waters.
Hidden in Plain Sight is a down-to-earth subjective account of the author's abbreviated brush with cancer. An abrupt melanoma diagnosis threatens to unhinge an otherwise unproblematic orientation. There is an unsettling role reversal as the author, a registered nurse, becomes the patient.
Past and present intertwine as vivid examples of God's provision are illuminated during a crisis that seemingly surfaced out of nowhere. The universal themes are thought-provoking and relatable, regardless of one's status or circumstances.
May 9, 2019 marks the ten-year anniversary of the author's cancer-free status!
It is entertaining to be anti-Masonic and perpetuate conspiracy theories and stories based on satanic worship rather than join Freemasonry or any other private organization primarily structured with improving the individual in society. The Masonic term "making good men better" is the desire of the craft concerning all people living in a multicultural society to better themselves. This is masonry in a nutshell. To achieve this betterment takes a great deal of work and self-introspection, which the critics of the craft refuse to endure and fail to examine the important historical esoteric symbols associated with the craft. This book is dedicated toward neutralizing such superficial negative ideology pursued by critics who have a personal interest in negating the significant works of the greatest fraternal organization in the world. Contained herein are chapters on women in Freemasonry, the Catholic Church, and Freemasonry (which contains an addendum relating to over one hundred cardinals and bishops who, under pseudonyms, were Freemasons), a chapter on the 133rd Psalm (providing a line-by-line interpretation of a work which provides the important ideological, humanistic basis for both society and Freemasonry) with an important chapter analyzing the final end-period of a man's life as it related to Ecclesiastes Chapter 12. Men join Freemasonry because in their hearts, they seek to improve themselves. In a reality, any can start living as principled individuals, exercising the same values without being a Freemason. All that is required is desire and work effort, with a foundation from the Holy Bible to betterment of himself. However, the Masonic Craft assists an individual in this journey by providing defined structure, support, and a roadmap that helps focus the advancement and, as such, increases the probability of a successful outcome. Freemasonry centers on learning how to charge one's self with thought and physical conduct. However, in order to improve, one must read, study, and understand the true nature of reality in life, buttressed by the role of oneself and those with which one socializes. This philosophy underlines why the most important virtues of Freemasonry are symbolic and teach us to be better humans. Freemasonry gains its structure and foundation through an inherent love of an adherence to the Holy Bible and would not exist without that devotion. The foundation of Masonry is predicated on the fact that the craft and the Bible are intricately interconnected, just as other holy books around the world are central to their Freemason organizations. Much of Masonry's symbolism is taken from biblical sources, especially Genesis and the stories surrounding the building of King Solomon's temples. Great emphasis is placed on the development of moral and ethical virtues and the building of character, with truth being the guiding principle of our lives. Thus, brotherhood and charity are natural outcomes and further define one of Masonry's major tenets. Masonry uses proven methods to enhance the lives and spirits of members in a tangible way. In every Masonic lodge, upon its altar, there is a Holy Bible supporting the square and compasses. This old familiar book, so beloved by so many generations, is our Volume of the Sacred Law and represents the Great Light in Freemasonry. The Bible is open when the lodge opens; the Bible is closed when the lodge closes. No lodge can transact its own business, much less initiate candidates into the mysteries of the craft, unless the Book of Holy Law lies open upon its altar. It is the true responsibility of each individual Mason to seek out and understand the true nature of reality through the teachings of Freemasonry discovered in the symbols of the craft. The individual must learn to recognize and interpret the footprints of the deity and the sublime methods that he uses to reveal his message. So mote it be. May the mystery begin
Valencia Joy, affectionately known as Vee, is best known for her witty comebacks, inspiring others to Stay in Their Joy because God said they could, and for sparking healthy relationship debates between the opposite sexes. Forever a conversationalist and a lover of the wonderful, and sometimes complicated, world of being a female, Vee is bringing the conversation to your home. Do you need to wail to God? Vee will pray on your behalf. Would you like to slap Eve? Vee has saved you a space in line. Have you met a guy? It's time to spill the tea.
In the way that only Vee could, she's pushing the boundaries of all things taboo to talk about as a woman, like the pure joy of walking around without panties. Speaking of joy, how do you self-care? Do you self-care? Should you self-care?
In her comedic debut release, Vee is telling it like it is and leaving the boundaries behind because even if we don't want to, we still may have to deal with things such as miscarriages, divorces, and periods. Regardless of where you are on your sisterhoodship journey, grab your drink, some food, and stretch out. It's time to discuss sex, waist trainers, and bras with your favorite SisterGirlfriend.
'I Used to Be Racist is about my life growing up in NYC pre and post-9/11. I never discriminated or judged anyone based on their religion and/or race until that tragic day and the weeks that followed. At 10-years old, I loaded up on the information being shared by the local news stations about what the terrorists looked like, and how they could be potentially lurking in various parts of the city. After moving to Ohio, I experienced racism for the first time, which opened my eyes on my own ignorance. Eventually, I became brave enough to encounter the "enemy."
With backing from the two privileged white boys she raised deep down in Mississippi, Liz Hampton's Biological sons rose to wealth and prominence in the north. But, into each life a little rain must fall as the Hampton dynasty experiences more than its share of storms from illegitimate children to thieving employees.
Vernalee is an entrepreneur turned author. Lee writes about “life” and relationships - both personal and professional.
Growing up in the south in a small business environment, her writings are often flavored with actual and visual revelations that reflect her life experiences derived from the quaint town of Glen Allan, Mississippi. “There was nothing that you didn’t see/witness in Glen Allan. The town is rich in life lessons.”
Sometimes it takes going back to finally BREAK FREE.
After fleeing the Theosian authorities and acclimating to their new home, teenage aliens Joshua and Mani have at long last carved out lives for themselves on Earth. With a circle of human friends more supportive than they ever imagined, Joshua and Mani discover true friendship is universal. And, for Joshua, so is true love, in the form of an Earthling named Emma.
But the Theosian authorities are not so easily thwarted. The decree of no first contact with Earth must be upheld. A spy sent to Earth aims to find, capture, and return Joshua and Mani to Theos for prosecution.
To protect Mani, safeguard his human friends, and preserve his idyllic existence with the love of his life, Joshua risks going back in order to finally BREAK FREE.
Get your copy today!
Joshua: Life After Theos (Book 1 in the series) was a finalist in the 2019 Next Generation Indie Book Competition in the category of Young New Adult (ages 17+).
The government of Theos prohibits contact with Earth, having deemed it a hostile and unevolved planet of inhabitants. Two of their leading scientists have worked for years to prove Theosians can successfully survive on Earth, but not before a deadly and fatal explosion takes their lives. Their son, a young, scientific phenom, vows to defend his parents' theories as he disobeys law and escapes his planet, plummeting his craft toward Earth's surface with his ex-girlfriend secretly stowed away.
On Earth, their personality differences erupt causing them to live separate lives. However, an unknown atmospheric anomaly, results in a break-down in body strength, requiring them to meet yearly to perform a regenerative ritual for survival. Despite each being 17 years of age, one chooses to regress to high school for fun, games and no responsibilities, while the other takes on the identity of a college freshman, for a life of logic and pure reason.
Despite their differences, they each struggle to acclimate and find themselves up against deadly illness and evil forces, aimed at exposing their secret existence. But nothing poses a greater threat than a battle against the heart.
A gardener tends her vegetables and flowers while devising a way to manage her burgeoning chipmunk problem. A daughter pens a letter to her dead father. Jesus saunters into hot yoga and dazzles the assembled practitioners. Three sisters play on their swing set in the middle of the night. In these-and other-poems from Just the Girls: A Kaleidoscope of Butterflies; A Drift of Honeybees, women support, cheer, challenge, and, ultimately, sustain each other. Just the Girls celebrates women and what it means to be connected to the female whole.
"We're in the presence of a poet with an ear for how language shapes our worlds, and an eye alert to the details that make those worlds real to us. What a splendid, moving collection of lyrics!" Dr. Steven Reese, authorExcentrica: Notes on the Text
"Anderson gives our everyday lives a voice that is rich and cuts to the quick. She has a gift for articulating the beauties and mysteries of our lives in poetry that will leave you wanting more." Diane Laney Fitzpatrick, author and social media strategist
"These poems are a poignant catalog of what we learn from girls and women, inspiration and cautionary tale, and our complicated memories of domestic life." Karen Schubert, author of The Compost Reader
In this enchanting and unforgettable memoir, Judi Lifton captures her luminous years growing up in a small Minnesota town where childhood was a time to read a book, ride your bike, explore the neighborhood and let your mind shift through unexpected discoveries. Lifton's memories are creatively presented as letters written by her fourteen-year-old self to a beloved and terminally ill friend who frequently travelled to her hometown, Chief White Feather, an America Indian storyteller/singer and advocate for Indian rights. In reality, the letters were "letters of the heart," thus never written down until rendered now in sepia-tone prose that glistens with fondness for family and friends, nostalgia for the simple pleasures of childhood in the 50s, and the heartache of loneliness and loss. This is a story that will stay with you for a long time.
Medium Brave is the poignant story of what it was like growing up transgender in 1950s Ohio-the challenges, the confusion, the struggle of growing up different twenty years before the term that defines that condition has even been created. Told with gentle humor, insight, and heartbreaking honesty, Medium Brave will touch the heart, inspire the mind, and encourage any soul still struggling with their authenticity and freedom to find out what it means to be medium brave.
Singing specters, secret passageways, unsolved clues, abandoned mansions, old photo albums and hidden motives are all found in the four stories making up this unique collection, Mysterious Tales of the Unexplained. A young sleuth solves a mystery surrounding a creepy, community theatre in Break A Leg & Knock 'Em Dead. She then goes on to investigate the apparent suicide of a wealthy factory owner in House up on the Hill. In Picture on the Wall, a mother/daughter restoration team experience ghostly encounters in an old, abandoned mansion. And six young friends go on a mystery weekend at a spooky inn, deciphering clues and exploring the mysterious property, only to find much more going on than they thought.
Marjorie Preston and her friends compiled a bunch of the best Ohio jokes and spun them into a little joke book! Some they wrote and others have been passed around for years. Old gems, new twists on old themes, plays on words and local Ohio color are all here. This book is a perfect gift for die-hard Buckeyes as well as for those who are just passing through.
Are you concerned about time slipping through your fingers like wet sand in the ocean's tide? Like other precious resources, our time must be protected from loss, from theft, and from waste. Most humans are acquainted with fear of running out of time. Each measured movement by the hands of the clock take us closer to being out of time and into eternity.
Redeeming Wasted Years will help you identify time wasters and help move you into a life of placing proper value on your time. It will alleviate the despair you may be experiencing over months or years of living outside of purpose, and help you anchor your hope in the gracious redemptive power of God. You will be warned about a road called Regret and learn that on this journey, U-Turns are allowed. The Lord is a Redeemer, and he alone can redeem your wasted years!
Georgia Pritchard's dream house has a dead child in the attic and a monster in the basement but she can't tell her husband because she's not sure it's really him anymore.
"Dark and absolutely riveting...flawlessly paced and suspenseful. This taut tale of horror provocatively keeps the reader waiting for final revelation as an eerie juxtaposition of good and evil is revealed. This is a winner." -The Prairies Book Review
"A Gothic tale of horror with a touch of fantasy, Roseneath reads like a beloved book from your childhood that you've just rediscovered in your mother's attic. McSwain's prose is poetry, smooth jazz, and oftentimes charming even when describing the darkest terrors. In the tradition of The Yellow Wallpaper, Flowers in the Attic, and Rebecca." -James Renner, author of The Man from Primrose Lane
"...an unsettling, psychological terror that slowly builds into a nightmarish crescendo... a deft blend of deeply human horror and personal internal conflict...Replete with lyrical prose and bone-chilling horror, Roseneath is a twisted, grotesque haunted house story." -Indie Reader
"...a solid literary horror page-turner... exceptional... more than just heart-stopping surprises and supernatural encounters." -Diane Donovan, Senior Reviewer, Midwest Book Review
"Amazing... McSwain uses her poetic voice to paint a portrait of a couple... and the true demon they have to fight...." -Brendan Whitt, screenwriter and author of A Summer in Harlem