A True Tale - A Poem in the book I am Cancer Free: A Memoir

The poem in the video was written by Author Brenda Mohammed


Listen to the book description in Video.




Here is Brenda's biography in Video





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Author Spotlight with Jeffrey Von Glahn

I had an amazing interview with a psychotherapist, Jeffrey Von Glahn. He is a member of the Real Lives Team, a sub-group of Books Go Social.

Tell us a little about yourself

When I was about 14 or 15, I wanted to study the Mind. I wasn’t all that sure what the “Mind” was, but it sounded fascinating. At that time, though, I thought that only psychiatrists did that and that you had to be a genius to be one. Since I didn’t consider myself a genius, nor did anyone else seem to think so, I ditched that idea. After getting an undergraduate degree in physics, I decided I wanted to study human nature instead of physical nature. So I switched to psychology and became a therapist. Best decision I ever made. If I believed in reincarnation, I would want to come back as one. It’s been more exciting than I ever imagined.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?

(I’ve changed this question to: When did you first consider that you might be a writer?) When I was in high school, once in a while I received high praise from teachers about an essay I had written. At the time, I couldn’t understand why they said that, in part, because in all subjects I was an average student. The key seemed to be if I found the stated theme of the essay interesting enough, creative impulses I didn’t know I had started operating on their own. I was also aware that I would never have thought of that particular topic on my own.

What inspired you to write your first book?

My only book is Jessica: The autobiography of an infant.

The story was so unique it had to be told. Since I was her therapist, the one who had a front-row seat and saw it all, who else could write it. Besides, there were about 200 hours of audio recordings to listen to. It took me 20 years to write the book, and it took the first eight for me to realize, aided by rejection letters from agents, that even though it’s a true story it has to be written in the style of fiction; i.e.; the appeal is to the reader’s emotions.

Do you have a specific writing style?

Interesting question; not sure I know how to answer it. Here’s what I seem to focus on. I try to have the next sentence clarify further whatever was hinted at in the last sentence and/or needed to be more fully explained. That it is not a formula for how to write fast. It is how to describe/ capture in words, a person’s experiencing. From my many years as a therapist, I’m quite good at sensing what a person is experiencing; i.e., what’s there but not being said.

What are your current projects?

At present, I’m focused on straightening out the theory and practice of psychotherapy. I concluded – though I’m certainly not the only one – that after 120 years it still doesn’t understand itself. Guess what? My major reason for thinking that is because it has yet to understand the client’s experiencing well enough. I seem to be finally getting recognition. I’ve been invited to submit a chapter for a book that’s about “re-envisioning” the theory and practice of psychotherapy.

Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?

In writing for the public; i.e., in the style of fiction, the greatest challenge is how to provide just enough detail to engage the reader’s mind. The human mind is happiest when it has information to process. It tends to shut down, however, when too much info is provided, as in “telling,” though in school that of course is necessary. I think it was Hemingway who said something like: Writing is very easy. All you have to do is to cross out the right words.

Who designed the covers?

The cover was designed by iUniverse, based on my suggestion. Fortunately, I own the rights to it.

What was the hardest part of writing your book?

My client’s basic problem was internal. As a friend of mine said, “Too bad she wasn’t an axe murderess.” In her words, she didn’t have a “me.” She made her way through life by doing whatever she sensed was expected of her. When asked a question that had “you” in it, she always gave an answer she hoped would end the conversation. Every time I arrived at a better description of her internal experiencing, I had to go back and re-write all previous descriptions. In her therapy, she discovered that as a newborn her mother’s hurried behavior and not too gentle handling made her feel that the needing, wanting part of her was dangerous. So at the time, her survival instincts said, “Stay away from it!”

Do you have any advice for other writers?

Try to never miss an opportunity to re-read, especially before going to sleep. Your brain will thank you the next time you sit down to write for giving it info to work on during the night. Also, when I’m feeling ambivalent about writing and not sure if I need a break or my mind is rebelling at another attempt at a passage that I’m struggling with, I sit in my writing chair, place my fingertips on the keyboard, and often find that if my brain could speak, it would say, “About time you did that!

What TV shows/films do you enjoy watching?

Nature/science/human interest programs. Rarely go to the theater, unless it’s a film like Lincoln or Hidden Figures.


Connect with Jeffrey at Twitter

You can buy Jeffrey's book at the link below.

Amazon link

Retirement is Fun: A new Chapter

SYNOPSIS

Retirement is Fun - A New Chapter is a sequel to "My Life as a Banker - A Life Worth Living."
The author learned through her many experiences at the end of her banking career, that retirement is a time to enjoy life.
She faced many challenges such as cancer, deaths of loved ones, and an accident, which made her realize that life is very short.On the other hand, she landed a new job in an Insurance company and had numerous travel opportunities after she left her job at the bank.
The author has surely proven that when she retired from her first job she definitely did not retire from life. For her, Retirement is indeed fun.


REVIEWS


Review by Readers Favorite:

Retirement is Fun: A New Chapter by Brenda Mohammed is an interesting memoir where the author shares with readers her moments after retirement and how it is a time when everyone should sit back and enjoy life. After reading this book, no one will dread retirement. They will all look forward to it and use that time to enjoy the beauty of life, spend more time with the family, and experience their unconditional love. Retiring from the job does not mean one retires from life because one gets time to appreciate the beauty of unlimited time and use it effectively by doing things they missed out on doing while they were working
.
The book is uplifting as it makes everyone who is going to retire look forward to it. The author's experiences and adventures after retirement give readers ideas on how to handle their lives in a good and happy way after retiring from their jobs. Brenda Mohammed shows by example how one's attitude can make a difference to everything and life can be enjoyed at any age, irrespective of whether you are young or not.
The memoir is simple and chronicles the author's life and events, taking readers into her space. The memoir is a good read; readers can connect well with what the author says and the events and experiences in her life and the way she handles life is tangible. The words of wisdom from Dr. Murdoch quoted at the end of the book are very inspirational and will help readers look at life in a positive way. An interesting book for all those who are going to retire from their jobs and want to know how to handle life after that.

Comment by a British Writer Margaret Lossl shared on LinkedIn

"We all face challenges. I have found that 'what doesn't kill you will make you stronger' to be true. I have recently met an inspirational writer Brenda Mohammed and in her book 'Retirement is Fun: A New Chapter' (Amazon) she reveals her triumph over hazardous challenges. Her positive outlook and faith carry her through the difficult phase between her high-profile job in a bank and retirement, but it is in these halcyon days of retirement, that life really throws her a curved ball. No matter what you are going through, make it count and enable growth. You are not alone.
Retirement is Fun: A new Chapter was a nominee in the Metamorph's Publishing Summer Indie Book Awards 2016.

Available at Amazon
Books2Read Universal Link
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Introduction to Blog Author

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Do you love to Travel? Read Travel memoirs with Pictures: Exploring the World

Book Description

Travel Memoirs with Pictures: Exploring the World is a book filled with reflections of the author's travels around the world.
She relates the family adventures and treats readers to a pictorial story of priceless memories. She.describes places visited and the wonderful times she and her family had in their tourist trips. The book is great to read while on a vacation or for some travel inspiration.

Top Review

A great and inspirational book!
ByKatieon March 18, 2017
5.0 out of 5 stars
Format: Kindle Edition|Verified Purchase

Brenda Mohammed is an award-winning author who writes in many genres. While many people travel, few of us are capable of sharing our experience in a meaningful and relevant way with strangers. This author does a superb job.

Her book is very personal and one can feel as if a friend were relating her travel impressions and giving us her tips. Paradoxically, this personal and openly subjective touch makes the tips about restaurants and other commercial places for tourists sound less biased than a professional guide book where it is often difficult to distinguish an honest review from a paid ad. In this book, we can read real first-hand accounts that are very precious to any explorers and travelers.

This book can inspire us when we plan our next vacation, it can also make us reflect on our own experience and realize what we might have missed when we visited a particular place, but it can also take us to places we do not have time or money to visit anytime soon. It’s also interesting to read a short entry about places that we consider our home since we cannot always see what makes them special unless we step away and look at them from a distance through a tourist’s eyes.

I found it exciting to read about places I visited and lived since the author has a keen eye and often notices thinks I don’t. But her chapter on Trinidad and Tobago, a place I have not been to, was probably the most interesting one to me. The author was born there and seems to know it very well. The ghost stories about the village of Lopinot make me want to visit and explore the place.

Get the Book at Amazon Universal Link

Fascinating Memoirs written by Author Brenda Mohammed

Book Description

My Life as a Banker: A Life Worth Living is a fascinating, Intriguing, Inspiring, Positive, Heartwarming, and Motivational Memoir.
Brenda proved that hard work and determination pay, as she moved up the ranks, and received several promotions, leading up to senior managerial status.
Read about Brenda's first mega trip abroad to New York, Canada, London, Germany, and Holland, as well as other fabulous vacations she enjoyed.
How and where she met her husband and other wonderful family memories will interest readers.
Brenda describes changes in the banking system and changes in the bank's attitude to its employees throughout her working years in a Trinidad bank with ties to the United Kingdom.
Life is not always perfect and there were sad moments that will tug at your heart.
Read how the power of prayer worked in Brenda's life.
My Life as a Banker: A Life Worth Living was voted second in Bio/Memoirs in Metamorph's Publishing Summer Indie Book Awards 2016

Purchase Link

Book Description

Life is not always Wine and Roses.
When Life throws you a lemon, make Lemonade.
When one door closes, another opens.
In her memoir Retirement is Fun - A New Chapter, which is a sequel to her first memoir My Life as a Banker - A Life Worth Living, Brenda describes her many wonderful experiences at the end of her banking career.
Her new job brought many opportunities to travel the world, have fun, and enjoy life.
She grasped opportunities as they fell in her path.
Is your life over when you retire?
Brenda dispels that fear.
She proves that retirement is a time to enjoy life and earn too.
Despite facing many challenges such as cancer, deaths of loved ones, and an accident, which made her realize that life is very short, she triumphantly moves on to accomplish more.
Brenda increased her skills in areas she never thought possible.
Brenda has surely proven that when she retired from her first job she definitely did not retire from life.
For her, Retirement is indeed fun and she has written about her fun experiences in this personal memoir on Retirement.
Retirement is Fun: A new Chapter was a nominee in the Metamorph's Publishing Summer Indie Book Awards 2016 in the category Bio/Memoirs.
This is a book you would want to read.
Purchase Link

Book Description

Travel Memoirs with Pictures: Exploring the World s a book filled with reflections of the author's travels around the world.
She relates the family adventures and treats readers to a pictorial travel book of priceless memories.
She describes places visited and the wonderful times she and her family had in their tourist trips, not only in words but with an amazing photo collection.
The book is great to read while on a vacation or for some travel inspiration.

Purchase Link

Book description

In this book, Your Time is Now - A time to be born and a time to Die, the author connects powerful words of wisdom with events in her life and the lives of others.
It is written, based on powerful words spoken by King Solomon in the Book of Ecclesiastes about times and seasons. "There is a time to be born and a time to die, and a time for every purpose under the Heaven."
The book is intended to help people understand their own lives and to realize that we are all here on earth for a purpose.
Poems and a section on A Brother's Wisdom are included.

Purchase Link

Book Description

Have you ever been touched by cancer or know someone who has?
Has a doctor. ever told you she could do nothing more for you?
Do you know what it is like to undergo several months of chemotherapy sessions and cancer surgery in a foreign country?
Have you experienced that feeling of imminent death?
I am Cancer Free - A Memoir, is a touching and emotional true story of a woman's battle with Ovarian Cancer. The killer disease threatened her life and financial well- being.
Her strong faith in God saw her through all the trials she had to undergo.
Cancer does not have to be a death sentence.
I am Cancer Free - A Memoir was voted Winner of Mc Grath House Indie Book Awards 2016 in the category Non-Fiction.
Extract of a five-star review from Readers Favorite:
'The author's 'never say die' attitude, the decision not to give up in life, and finally being cancer-free will encourage everyone who has been diagnosed with the disease or who have suffered from cancer.
The memoir recounts from the time of diagnosis the experiences the author went through during the treatment, her emotions, fears, finances, until the successful treatment of the disease.
Purchase Link

Book description

Memoirs of Dr. Andrew Moonir Khan: Journey of an Educator, is the memoir of a great Educator.
Do you know that at one time Education was not a priority?
The young teacher Andrew overcame all obstacles and became a trailblazer in Education in his country climbing the ladder from classroom management to school principal.and superintendent of schools.
Later in life, he became a Presiding Elder in his church and preached many sermons, some of which are appended to his biography.
His story is both motivational and inspiring.
An Amazon Reviewer stated, "The book in its lifelike and meaningful way depicts the story of a great man, a true exemplar, a national hero."

Purchase Link

She Cried for Me: Autobiography of a Dog is a story for pet and dog lovers.
It is about a young dog who became tired of being underfed and abused.
Scared of her owner's threat to kill her, she ran away.
The owner of a dog sanctuary rescued her from dog catchers.
She finally found a loving home with a loving family that adopted her.
Proceeds of sales of the Book will go to the Animals Alive Dog Rescue Shelter, the Sanctuary referred to in the Book.
A Book Fan said this about the book.
"Love rescue dogs? Then you'll absolutely fall head-over-heels in love with Author Brenda Mohammed's canine tale."

Books are available at Amazon Universal Link

Author Spotlight with Sarah Stuart: Author of the Royal Command Book Series

How often does one get the opportunity to interview an award-winning author like Sarah Stuart?
The pleasure was all mine today.
Sarah has a wide mix of interests which are reflected in her sizzling romantic suspense novels, royalties from which, she donates to animal conservation and rescue charities worldwide.
Not only is she a talented author, but she is generous too.

Tell us a little about yourself

I have a lot of interests and I’ve been very lucky to be able to follow them.
Theatre, music, travel, history and wildlife conservation probably seem an odd mix, but they do come together in the one thing I love most: writing.
I was thrilled when my first two novels, Dangerous Liaisons, and Illicit Passion, began winning awards.

It increased sales and the amount of royalties: I donate 100% to animal conservation and rescue charities worldwide.

Do you have a specific writing style?

I do. I never use dialogue tags.
I think actions that identify the speaker drive the story forward, and that seems confirmed by the number of reviewers who use “fast-paced”.

Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?

Yes. Hunting for sport or financial gain is deplorable.
I demonstrate it with Lizzie, the heroine of Dangerous Liaisons; she grew up on a shooting estate and her parents took a financial gamble to change to a wildlife reserve.
Kinloch House, the hotel on the estate, is a setting to some degree throughout the Royal Command series.

What book are you reading now?

On Distant Shores by Rebecca Bryn.
It’s part of a trilogy called “For Their Country’s Good”.

What are your current projects?

Writing book four of what was supposed to be the Royal Command Trilogy.
Several reviewers and dozens of Goodreads fans have asked for “just one more”.
The title is Sweet Temptation.

Name one entity that you feel supported you outside of family members.

All my Facebook friends.
I’ve actually met very few of them but I find they rally around when I need them, and I do my best to reciprocate.

Do you see writing as a career?

No. I teach Adult Literacy.
Most of my students are very bright: they got bored with school, played truant, and now regret it.
A few simply want to be able to write a shopping list.
They are ashamed to admit that they are poor readers and virtually can’t write at all: the toughest step for them is coming for help.
I feel very honoured by their trust. (For them, it’s free; it’s funded by a Further Education College.

What makes you laugh/cry?

Courage, shown by others, makes me cry, they are so brave.
Unplanned moments make me laugh, like when one of my dogs crept up behind a very grand lady, hopelessly overdressed for a walk on a country trail, and stuck his cold nose on the back of her leg.
She shrieked, and I, temporarily, only owned one dog: the one that didn’t do it.

Other than writing do you have any hobbies?

I’ve always had dogs, trained for Obedience Competition, and I owe the ones who enjoy the limelight a lot.
The handler of a dog onstage, playing Sandy in the musical, Annie, for example, must be backstage for every rehearsal and every performance.
It made writing realistic showbiz characters and settings possible.


What TV shows/films do you enjoy watching?

I hate television with its endless adverts, and I never go the cinema.
I do have a collection of DVDs as diverse as the twelve Fawlty Towers programmes to films like The Sound of Music and my all-time favourite, Goodnight Mr. Tom.

Connect with Sarah at

Twitter

Goodreads

View her Books

viewbook.at/DangerousLiaisons
viewbook.at/ILLICITPASSION
viewBook.at/DynastyofDeceit