The Helper

Title: The Helper 

Author: M. N. SNow

Publisher: 2016 by M. N. SNow

Pages: 293

Genre: fiction

Obtained: from the author in exchange for an honest review

Summary: John Sloan, Dusty Hakalla, and Deena Morrison, although from very different backgrounds, all have something in common.  They are all "Helpers".  They have the power to emotionally help people by being a channel for a healing light.  What happens when John finds he has lost his power and needs some of this "help" himself?

Thoughts:  I enjoyed this story because it was different and I remained interested throughout the whole book.  It was a group of short realistic fiction stories, each about people hitting the point of no return or rock bottom, brought together by the main story which was a magical, or some may think, a spiritual one.  I really enjoyed this author's writing style.  He took a group of basic stories and through his story telling connected them together into one in a seamless way.  His writing is organized and his characters are not only well developed, but are believable and interesting.  The story takes place in Michigan, Wisconson, Florida, Parris Island, and the war zones of Kuwait and Afghanistan.  Although the story jumps around from person to person and place to place, it is told in such a way that it is easy to follow.
     After completing this novel, I did find myself thinking about it.  Although it is not a really deep book, this is one of those books that you can get what you want out of it.  For me, I got the message that there is always hope.  I also found myself thinking that there are choices in life, but they are not always mine to make.  There were so many more spiritual and life ideas throughout the book, but I believe each reader would pick out different meanings and focuses.   Some may just see it as a simple story.
     Please note, there was A LOT of profanity in this book, so if that bothers you, this is one you should skip.


             
                                                                 

                                                                     

Company: Tea Forte

Tea: Peach Brulee

Obtained: gift

     This Peach Brulee tea is from Tea Forte.  It is from the Noir Single Steeps Sampler which is a collection of robust black teas.  This sampler would make a wonderful gift.  It comes in a beautiful package, and you get 3 single steep pouches of 5 different teas for a total of 15 cups of tea.  The good quality pouches each contain tea leaves that are measured for 12 ounces of water. They are easy to open, and are perfect for those with a busy lifestyle who enjoy loose leaf tea.
     This tea is a mix of organic black tea leaves, organic mango pieces, organic coconut pieces, natural peach flavor, organic marigold flowers, natural vanilla flavor, and natural cream flavor.  The leaves of the Peach Brulee were mostly thin and black, but there were yellow leaves and chunks of all different sizes mixed in.  The scent of the leaves was of tropical fruit.  I poured 12 ounces of water over the leaves and let this brew for 3 minutes.  The liquid was a cloudy orange brown and there were some very small pieces of tea leaves in the liquid.  The scent was of black tea and warm, sweet fruit.  The taste was of slightly sour fruit and strong black tea.  After swallowing, I could also discern a creamy vanilla flavor.  The tea leaves settled to the bottom and I did not notice them again until I got to the bottom of the cup.
     This tea was just okay to me.  It did not seem to blend well.  Also, the peach flavor just did not stand out for me.  So because of it's name, I was expecting something that tasted less tropical and more like peaches.
   

  

Interview with D.J.Williams

D.J. Williams was born and raised in Hong Kong.  He has traveled around the world, experiencing many cultures including the slums of the Far East, the bush of Africa, and the jungles of the Amazon.  He has worked in both the entertainment industry and the nonprofit sector.  He has used this wide range of experience in his writing.  His stories encompass the whole globe, and it is clear that he has immersed himself in different cultures and social classes and uses this understanding to tell his stories.  His experience with producing and directing have given him artistry which he has used in his writing so that his books read like a movie.  Waking Lazarus (which I have read), the second book of the Guardian Novels is a page turning action packed adventure that has the reader traveling the world.  I am assuming The Disillusioned, the first book of the Guardian Novels, is the same.  What really got my attention and made me want to explore the Guardian Novels was that D. J. Williams worked with a composer, Jene Nicole Johnson, to develop a soundtrack that goes along with Waking Lazarus.  Music arouses our emotions in a very powerful way, even more so than language can.  It makes us feel a movie or television program even more intensely than the images or words in the production.  What could this do to the reading experience?  D.J. Williams describes his writing as "cause driven".  It is his hope that his books will make the reader aware of the human trafficing problem and encourage them to make a difference in the world.  On his website, each month, he features a different organization that is reaching the world.  Part of the proceeds from each of his books sold go to this organization.  I am excited to have D.J. Williams tell us a little about his innovative projects.                                                          

Me: What inspired you to write these novels?

D.J. Williams: From an early age, I've been captured by stories that left me turning the page. The first book I remember reading cover to cover was Treasure Island. At eight years old, those few days I spent in my room lost in a world of adventure, suspense, and mystery left me with the dream of one day becoming a storyteller. At the time I wasn't sure how that would become a reality.

After a decade in the music business, and the rise of iTunes, I found myself transitioning in a new career as I stood on the set of a new TV series as an Executive Producer and Director. I produced hundreds of TV episodes, still searching and dreaming of the perfect story to write.

After a year of writing late at night I sent a draft of my first novel to a friend in the TV industry with the disclaimer, "If it's not any good, the only two people who'll know about it is you and me." Within a few days she called with a thumbs up and that began the search for an agent and a publisher. When The Disillusioned was released it captured what I've now defined as a "cause-driven" novel. Throughout the pages of the story the adventure takes the main characters into the heart of Africa and the trafficking trade. I was fortunate enough to do a 15-city book tour with Barnes and Noble, and realized I was hooked. I needed to write the next story.

In my second novel, Waking Lazarus, I raised the stakes. I couldn't simply follow the template I'd created in The Disillusioned. So, I returned to my roots, to a story I heard from an early age about a controversial evangelist from the 1920's. I was fortunate to spend an afternoon with a family friend who was in his nineties as he shared with me how her life shaped the history of Los Angeles. I didn't want to write a biography, so I created a character based off of this real life celebrity figure.

As the story unfolds, readers will find themselves following two mysteries, one from the 1920's and one present day that are on a collision course. What was exciting about the writing process was that I could live in two worlds, and create a storyline that spanned nearly a century. And, for those who read The Disillusioned, they'll find themselves in a parallel timeline between both books but with all different characters and a standalone story. My plan in the third book of the Guardian Novels is for those characters and storylines from the first two books to crossover. I guess you could say it's part of my master plan!

Me: What drives your writing?

D.J.: When I stood on the shores of the Zambezi River a spark for a story pierced my soul. After three weeks of traveling across the country, witnessing the reality of those forgotten by the world, and facing a major change in my career, I knew that one day I'd write about this place. Little did I know that it would be years before I found the courage, but those days on the Zambezi defined my passion as a storyteller.

What I discovered throughout the writing process was that using my experiences traveling to the poorest places in the world fueled my drive to create the Guardian Novels, a series filled with mystery, suspense, and adventure. All of those were aspects of the story, but from the first novel the reality of the fight against human trafficking was an underlying thread throughout. It's one reason why I've defined this series as cause-driven novels. My hope is that readers will be entertained, but will also be inspired to make a difference in the world when they flip that last page.

Writing the second novel, Waking Lazarus, was challenging to continue in the cause-driven storytelling style. To capture this story in a unique way, the novel spans nearly a century as readers are taken back to the 1920's and then return to present day on a global adventure. It also pushes readers further into the worlds of child slavery, poverty, and the darkness of secrets. I'm humbled that the Guardian Novels, and the cause-driven storytelling style, have garnered the attention of Hollywood's elite.

I'm writing my third novel, The Auctioneer, and experimenting with ways to continue in telling stories that raise awareness for causes and issues around the world. It's like writing layers, where the story that draws readers in leads to a deeper place that travels a road between fiction and reality. My hope is that others who are passionate about storytelling will embrace this same approach and will write books that not only entertain, but also challenge readers beyond the last page.

Me: What has been the greatest challenge you’ve faced in writing the Guardian Novels?

D.J.: When I first began writing the series there was one story, and one set of characters, that were in the world. But as I've continued into the second book, and now into the third, the world has expanded with new characters, plot points, and underlying secrets that are yet to be revealed. Keeping track of who everyone is, where they are in the world, and when or how to unlock the secrets has been challenging.

While there are those authors who outline every chapter, my writing style is more fluid. I know where the book begins and where it ends. However, what happens in between is what I discover during the writing process. Believe me, I'm as surprised by some of the twists and turns as my readers are when they turn the page. I feel that it makes the writing more exciting, energizing, and helps me avoid being locked down to an outline that will most likely change significantly. But that does make writing the series more challenging. There are times when I stare at a blank page with fear that the words won't find their way out of my imagination. Still, I believe the end result is worth the effort!

Me: In Waking Lazarus, the second of the Guardian Novels, the story takes place from the 1920’s to the present, and takes readers on an adventure around the world.  What made you decide to encompass so much, rather than to have a small focus?

D.J.: When I first started there was a question of whether or not I could pull it off, but I accepted the challenge. The more the story unfolded, the more I realized that the world my characters were in had to be global and span nearly a century for a deeper, more intense, plot. The stakes had to be continually raised with each chapter. Every choice was a life-changer, not only for the characters but for the eras and cultures those characters were from. And, I knew there were more books in the series that would push the world even further so I needed to establish a global influence from the beginning.

Me: Where did you get the idea to record a soundtrack to accompany Waking Lazarus?

D.J.: When I began writing Waking Lazarus I searched for musical inspiration as the story spanned nearly a century. I scrolled through my iTunes playlists and picked out a sequence of soundtracks to help set the tone and mood to help capture each scene as it played out on the page like a film. Working in the entertainment industry as an Executive Producer and Director, I understand how important a piece music can be to enhance the story you're trying to tell.

As the months passed, Waking Lazarus came alive on the page and I had a thought...what if we created a soundtrack to go with the book. It was something I hadn't seen done before. A soundtrack customized for the story, and done in a way that readers of all kinds could use it without being lost.

I reached out to a young composer, Jené Nicole Johnson, and shared with her the vision I had for a soundtrack to enhance the reading experience for Waking Lazarus. Under a tight deadline, she accepted the challenge and broke the code on how best to put the soundtrack together. She created layers of music that not only captured the 1920's era through present day, but also the mystery and suspense as the story travels from the Southland to the Orient. All of the music tied together with specific chapters so it was easy for readers to follow. I found myself writing to the soundtrack as I worked on the final draft. It was an energizing, creative, experience, one I believe I'll do again in the next Guardian Novel.

Me: What can you tell us about the third Guardian Novel?

D.J.: Right now, I'm working on the third novel, which will bring the characters and storylines from the first two books together. I'm not sure I can say much more!

Me: Do you have any other projects planned that you’d like to share with us?

D.J.: I'm also writing a standalone novel, The Auctioneer, which I'm hoping to finish later this year.

                                   

Choices and Illusions

Title: Choices and Illusions

Author: Eldon Taylor

Narrator: Mikaal Waters

Publisher: Hay House Audio, 2016

Format: 7 compact discs

Genre: nonfiction, self-help

Obtained: from publicist in exchange for an honest review



Summary: Through stories, quotations, studies, testimonials, and personal experience, the author shows how our unconscious false beliefs can prevent us from becoming who we are meant to be.  He then goes on to show us what we can do to change our unconscious false beliefs to become our true selves.

Thoughts:  Wow! Information overload!  That is how I felt when I finished listening to this audio book. I was given just so much information that there is just no way I could remember it all.  I have a BS in psychology and MS in rehabilitation counseling.  None of the ideas presented here were new to me, and I still felt like this.  I wonder how someone without any prior knowledge in these areas would feel reading this book.  I would think, overwhelmed.  On the other hand, the author attempts to get his ideas across in many different ways, giving more than one example for each point he is trying to make.  If you are to read or listen to this book, at least one way of understanding what he is trying to get at will probably get through.  If you understand each example, it reinforces his point and helps you to remember it.  Also, he does repeat what he feels are the key statements which helps you to recall the most important points.  The fictitious stories the author told to demonstrate his points also stayed with me.  So, even though I couldn't remember everything, the main ideas did stick.  To me, this is a book to read a little at a time and let sink in, maybe rereading parts important to you.
     The author provides evidence backing up his ideas throughout the book.  I liked this because readers serious about implementing the techniques described, or about the author's programs, can look up the actual studies. They can see how many test subjects there were, if there was a control group, the procedure of the experiment, if the results were statistically significant, etc..  The author cited MANY studies in different settings, countries, and with different populations.  The research noted was from over a number of years.  The author provides the names of books where more information can be found on different subjects.  Toward the end of the book the author has testimonials about his program "Inner Talk" with an appendix containing more.  I was very glad that most of the testimonials were in an appendix because the book started to feel like a sales pitch for his compact discs.
     The narrator had a pleasant voice and held my attention with his lively reading.  He read at a good pace,  pausing appropriately.  However the tracks were very long.  If I wanted something repeated or wanted to switch compact disc players in the middle of a track, it was annoying.
     This book contained many ideas that have been around for a long time and that are known to increase quality of life.  The author brings them together looking at the whole mind (conscious and unconscious).  He also discusses both the spiritual and scientific aspects of the brain and mind.  I found this book to be inspirational, interesting, and well-organized.  I will listen to this book again to digest it, and I will reflect on these ideas.  Personally, I have found doing "good deeds" and meditating rewarding.  Maybe I will try some of the other suggestions the author has made.  After completing the book, even though I had that overwhelmed feeling, I still wanted to know more!
     This is an in depth self help book.  It focuses on mostly why you should follow the author's suggestions rather than how.  However, the author does give enough information on how to start on this path and where to get more information to continue.  The goal of the book is to help to increase quality of life by changing unconscious false beliefs.  To see huge results, this is a major journey and commitment.



                                                                 

Company: Yezi Tea

Tea: Bi Luo Chun

Obtained: purchased








     Yezi Tea sells delicious, high quality tea grown in China.  This company is one of the best finds I have made while doing this blog.  The company allows you to try six samples for only $5.99, and you can choose 3 free samples with every order!  This is a great way to explore their teas so you can order your favorites.  Their teas have no additives.  They are simply tea and taste like tea.  I have not yet tried a sample from them that I did not like. Their tea is always very fresh and of excellent quality.
     Bi Luo Chun is a green tea.  This sample was from the Farmer's Favorites Tea Sampler.  The long black and  grey leaves had a grassy or hay like scent.  I poured 10 ounces of water that had been boiled over 5 teaspoons of leaves.  I let this steep for one minute.  The liquid was a very light greenish yellow that had the same hay like scent as the leaves.  There was much more to the taste.  It was a blend of grassy, hay, and woodsy flavors with a very slight astringent aftertaste.  It was a very flavorful, refreshing green tea.