The Authors’ Corner

Welcome to The Authors’ Corner. This week’s featured authors are Al B. Quarles II  and Lourraine Deluna.

 

What makes this book special is Al and Lourraine are a father-daughter team. It’s their desire to increase awareness of  bulling and to help put a stop to it. This is Lourraine’s first publication and Al’s third.

Book Synopsis

Bullying is a form of abuse. Bullies use their power to intentionally, repeatedly harm others that seem to be less powerful. However, you can help stop it. It is our hope that this book sparks conversations, inspires activities that teach about bullying, and gives students that are being bullied a voice. It does not have to be a formal program for bullying awareness to be effective. Whether you are an educator, parent, student, or member of the community, it takes all of us to help eliminate bullying. Please remember that bullying is a big deal, and it is not just kids being kids. Please let bullying prevention start with you!

For more information and to purchase,  Bullies Are Not Just Boys: http://amzn.to/2wyYCx1

To email Al and Lourraine: abquarles2@gmail.com

Please consider supporting them by purchasing their book and spreading the word. I was bullied as a child and teenager, and even in my adult years in my profession until I said, enough. I now speak up and speak out  for those being mistreated, whether children or adults. Bullying needs to be stopped once and for all. Together we can make it happen!

As always, thanks for stopping by.

Ciao!

Savannah J. providing a place of tranquility away from the stress of life.

http://www.thesavannahjpublications.com

Follow Savannah on Twitter http://bit.ly/1tBBC6o

on Google Plus http://bit.ly/1pnq9sP

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Savannah is the author of The Prey now available in eBook on Kindle http://amzn.to/1xg0pgM and on Google Play Books http://bit.ly/1q5hncz

Also look for Raising Tristan on Google Play Books http://bit.ly/1pL4GqN and on Kindle http://amzn.to/1AlHl6g

 

 

The Authors’ Corner

Welcome to The Authors’ Corner. This week’s featured author is Carla Youngblood.

Carla D. Youngblood is a life strategist, speaker, and author of three books. She is an expert at teaching women how to bring order and structure to their lives and build a life in preparation to meet life’s challenges. As a coach she works with women leaders in business and ministry, who need a place where they can share openly, without fear of retribution. As a preacher’s daughter she knows first-hand the necessity for leaders to honestly be able to share their stories. Carla believes that when women are able to care for themselves they are better able to care of others; it is a philosophy she practices daily.

 

 

Book Excerpt 

Emotions of the Mind
Fragile minds exist because we struggle with trying to tell the mind what it already knows. The renewed mind is one that is accepting of the finished work of Christ. The fragility of our minds is necessary to push us to easily embracing the truth of our minds. Part of my own journey to this place of renewal, was being able to keep the process free of struggle. The work was to not give in to my thoughts that were contrary to what was already true about me.
Every day I was tested with thoughts which tried to persuade me to think differently. It meant that when the contrary thoughts came I had to search for another thought to think instead. I spent a lot of time reading Philippians 4:8. I had to allow my thoughts to go to my divine nature’s way of thinking and being. The work was for me to decide to come to a place called rest. We will talk more about this in another chapter.
A wondering mind will think about anything, it is subject to those 60,000 thoughts. I believe we are all just one thought away from victory or defeat depending on what you choose to think. If you want to renew your mind, the thought process must become intentional. You cannot afford to allow the mind to drift into places unguarded. The mind is so powerful, it will create whatever it wants.

 

For more information on Carla Youngblood and her books and to stay in touch with her:

Website: http://www.designingwithcarla.com
Fb Public Official page https://www.facebook.com/carladspeaks
Women Leaders page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/leaderswhoarewomen

 

As always, thanks for stopping by.

Ciao!

Savannah J. providing a place of tranquility away from the stress of life.

http://www.thesavannahjpublications.com

Follow Savannah on Twitter http://bit.ly/1tBBC6o

on Google Plus http://bit.ly/1pnq9sP

and on Facebook http://on.fb.me/10p1o32

Savannah is the author of The Prey now available in eBook on Kindle http://amzn.to/1xg0pgM and on Google Play Books http://bit.ly/1q5hncz

Also look for Raising Tristan on Google Play Books http://bit.ly/1pL4GqN and on Kindle http://amzn.to/1AlHl6g

 

The Authors’ Corner

Welcome to The Authors’ Corner. This week’s featured author is Karl Anthony Francis.

Karl Anthony Francis who writes under the pseudonym Anthony Pathfinder was born in Kingston, Jamaica and moved to the United States as a child. Like most young boys in the inner-city, Anthony soon became fast friends with several of the neighborhood tough guys. Not one to let his adolescents mishaps dictate how he would spend the rest of his life; he embarked on a path that would forever change his life. He attended CUNY Queens College where he double majored in African Studies/Political Science and minored in Sociology; obtaining his bachelor’s degree. Meeting John Henrik Clarke, Cornell West, Al Sharpton and Yolanda King at his former college, had a lasting impression on him.

Anthony is a firm believer in second chances, convinced that desire and determination overcomes any obstacles. His remarkable coming of age life story, coupled with his work as an ESL (English as a Second Language) instructor, and working in the homeless shelters in New York City, where he was exposed to a number of unfortunate situations; consequently were the backdrop for some of the stories which he would later write.
​
A self-published writer, he has written several novels, ranging from urban fiction to historical, suspense and romantic novels. He has never pandered to the expectations of the typical reader, but rather to their unpredictability and the simplicity of their human experiences. A voracious reader and lover of Anton Chekhov, Chinua Achebe, James Baldwin and Toni Morrison’s writings, Nina Simone’s music and Motown Soul, Anthony is insatiably curious about the complexities of our world.

Book Synopsis 
Treasure chronicles the de jure racial segregation of the Jim Crow era in the south. It is a candid account of sisters raised in a family of freed blacks who for generations had passed for white. Forbidden to marry black men, Treasure, the eldest provides as much protection as she can in shielding her younger siblings from the constant exchange of ideas they are exposed to growing up. However, in doing so, she may have taken them to a darker place, where the family secrets are revealed and where few can be trusted.

For more on information Anthony Pathfinder and to stay in touch with him:

Visit his website at http://anthonypathfinder1.webs.com/
Email him at Anthonypathfinder307@gmail.com

To purchase Treasure and other books by Anthony Pathfinder:

All titles are available on Amazon and at his website http://anthonypathfinder1.webs.com/

As always, thanks for stopping by.

Ciao!

Savannah J. providing a place of tranquility away from the stress of life.

http://www.thesavannahjpublications.com

Follow Savannah on Twitter http://bit.ly/1tBBC6o

on Google Plus http://bit.ly/1pnq9sP

and on Facebook http://on.fb.me/10p1o32

Savannah is the author of The Prey now available in eBook on Kindle http://amzn.to/1xg0pgM and on Google Play Books http://bit.ly/1q5hncz

Also look for Raising Tristan on Google Play Books http://bit.ly/1pL4GqN and on Kindle http://amzn.to/1AlHl6g

I Call It Divine Intervention

In preparation for work tonight, I decided to make myself a pizza. Lately, I’ve been cooking my favorites instead of eating out; it’s saves money and it’s healthier. Today I prepped my pizza, put it in the oven and sat down to enjoy a cup of coffee as it baked. About five minutes later I heard my front door open.

I looked at the clock and it was a little past three in the evening. I knew it was my son entering our home, but I didn’t know why he was at home instead of working. When I asked he said they didn’t need him until later. Now it was about 3:15 at this point and he was needed back at work at 3:45.

Just as he finished talking our smoke alarm sounded. As my son fanned the alarm to quiet it, I removed my pizza from the oven; I was sure it was burning.  As it turns out, I’d neglected to remove the cardboard backing from the dough before cooking. My son noticed as soon as I pulled the pizza from the oven.

After my son left for work, I thought about the series of events. Had he not come home even though he only had fifteen minutes, I wouldn’t have realized the cardboard was in the oven. I’m sure it would have eventually caught a fire and I would have panicked.

Some may call it coincidence, I call it Divine intervention. I believe God used this incident to show me He is faithful at all times. You see, I had just finished praying about a situation that seems unending. A situation I’ve been praying about for over thirty years. God spoke and let me know He is here with me in the midst of this trial.

I share this story because perhaps you need encouragement today. I want you to know, God see and He hears. It may seem as though He doesn’t hear but remember, sometimes He works in silence.

As always, I hope my thoughts encourage you.

Ciao!

Savannah J. providing a place of tranquility away from the stress of life.

http://www.thesavannahjpublications.com

Follow Savannah on Twitter http://bit.ly/1tBBC6o

on Google Plus http://bit.ly/1pnq9sP

and on Facebook http://on.fb.me/10p1o32

Savannah is the author of The Prey now available in eBook on Kindle http://amzn.to/1xg0pgM and on Google Play Books http://bit.ly/1q5hncz

Also look for Raising Tristan on Google Play Books http://bit.ly/1pL4GqN and on Kindle http://amzn.to/1AlHl6g

 

A Dream Deferred Part 2

The day I entered nursing school I was determined to give it my best. There were things I had to participate in as a part of class I ordinarily wouldn’t do, but I told myself, just take a deep breath and get through it. After completing the course work, I graduated and found a job.

My first job rotation was in adult nursing although it really wasn’t for me. I knew from the beginning, I wanted to work with children but our instructors felt all new nurses should work with adults. I lasted about six months. During this time, I still kept my music up as best I could, singing at church and doing concerts when asked. It wasn’t what I wanted but it was something.

I remember my mother and others telling me how talented I was. It made me wonder why I wasn’t singing professionally if I were so gifted. Granted, I’d chosen a different path when deciding on a college, but I never stopped trying to make a name for myself.

There was a period in my medical career when nursing seemed more of a chore than something I enjoyed. After the birth of my son, my ambivalence increased; in my mind and heart, I was trapped. I would often watch professional singers on TV with envy; that was supposed to be my life. What had happened to my dream? Was this a desire I was destined to be denied? And then, years later the unthinkable happened.

I was stricken with a virus that left the right side of my body weakened. I could no longer sing with the power I was used to possessing. I remember trying to explain to my family and friends after I recovered, the struggle that ensued when I tried to sing, but to no avail. They felt I was being lazy; that I didn’t want to sing any longer. And so, I felt alone.

As time passed my ability to sing decreased  even more, but something unexpected was about to take place. I had enrolled in college to get my degree in nursing and my english professor suggested I take up writing. I remember him telling me I had talent I should pursue a writing career and me thinking he’d lost his mind.

Five years would pass after the statement by my college professor before I put pen to paper. I received much opposition from some family and friends. I almost gave up until a cousin gave me some words of wisdom. I was telling her about comments being made that I was a singer and nothing more. She looked at me and said, “some people are multitalented.”

Since that time, I’ve written and independently published five titles. No, I’m not taking broadway by storm as I dreamed I would, but I’m creating and that’s what matters. I plan on taking voice lessons and acting lessons soon. The way I see it, perhaps my dream wasn’t deferred after all. Perhaps it was just redefined.

My mother use to tell me, a famous painter named Grandma Moses didn’t begin painting until she was in her eighties. I’m saying that to remind you and me, it’s never too late to start or start again. I intend to go after mine and I encourage you to do the same because not all dreams are deferred, some are just transformed.

As always, I hope my thoughts encourage you.

Ciao!

Savannah J. providing a place of tranquility away from the stress of life.

http://www.thesavannahjpublications.com

Follow Savannah on Twitter http://bit.ly/1tBBC6o

on Google Plus http://bit.ly/1pnq9sP

and on Facebook http://on.fb.me/10p1o32

Savannah is the author of The Prey now available in eBook on Kindle http://amzn.to/1xg0pgM and on Google Play Books http://bit.ly/1q5hncz

Also look for Raising Tristan on Google Play Books http://bit.ly/1pL4GqN and on Kindle http://amzn.to/1AlHl6g

A Dream Deferred Part 1

“What happens to a dream deferred?” This is opening line to Langston Hughes’ poem by the same title, which inspired Lorraine Hansberry’s  play A Raisin In The Sun by . It speaks about the outcome of an unfulfilled dream. The Bible also speaks of unfulfilled dreams.

In Proverbs 13:12 (NIV) it says, Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a dream fulfilled is a tree of life. It would seem to me our dreams can have a great impact on us and I can personally attest to that fact.

I received a video today from a good friend. In the video, the young lady was speaking about not stopping our “hustle” once we realize our dreams. She talked about how many people once they achieve their dreams, back off moving forward as if not knowing what to do next. The author created the video because she had taken a job after her dream was fulfilled and at first felt a bit uncomfortable doing so.

As I watched the video, I couldn’t help but think of my own dream. From childhood until my young adult years my desire was to sing professionally. As a teenager, I wanted to take Broadway by storm. I was even accepted into Boston University with the plan to do an internship in New York my junior year. To my determent I chose another school; this would prove to be beginning of the end of my music career.

I attended the alternate college for one year and then transferred to The Peabody Conservatory at Johns Hopkins University but I was ill prepared for the challenge of conservatory. My best effort proved to be too little and so after two years of struggle, I left Peabody.

Once back at home, I knew I needed a job but more so, I began to realize my career as I’d envisioned it wasn’t coming to fruition. I still sang around town and even met with a few people recommended by family. These people were so called music producers and were going to help launch my career. Of course, we all know that was far from the truth.

The people introduced to me by others, took my name and number, gave me a list of songs to perform for auditions and disappeared. To say I was disappointed is an understatement. To make ends meet after leaving college, I worked in retail but that was no permanent career move for me. Following a bit of contemplation, I chose nursing.

For the sake of time, I’ll share the rest of my story in my next post. In the meantime, if you have a dream, I say go after it and go hard. It may seem a far off but I promise you, all the hard work will be worth it.

As always, I hope my thoughts encourage you.

Ciao!

Savannah J. providing a place of tranquility away from the stress of life.

http://www.thesavannahjpublications.com

Follow Savannah on Twitter http://bit.ly/1tBBC6o

on Google Plus http://bit.ly/1pnq9sP

and on Facebook http://on.fb.me/10p1o32

Savannah is the author of The Prey now available in eBook on Kindle http://amzn.to/1xg0pgM and on Google Play Books http://bit.ly/1q5hncz

Also look for Raising Tristan on Google Play Books http://bit.ly/1pL4GqN and on Kindle http://amzn.to/1AlHl6g

Tincture of Time

“Tincture of time.” Those were the words spoken to me by a co-worker during a dark period in my life. I was struggling to get through a tough season and she wanted to encourage me. It seemed to me back then, time was more an enemy then a friend. I was hurting badly and I wanted the pain to cease.

As I look back, I realize, she was absolutely correct. I’d lost two pregnancies back to back and I didn’t think I’d survive. A couple days ago, I was cleaning out a drawer and I found two positive pregnancy tests I’d saved from that time. I was able to look at them and remember without pain. I was healed.

I desperately wanted more children and was unable to carry either pregnancy to term. I also found the picture of a young lady I wanted to adopt in that drawer. We had tried to adopt when we realized I couldn’t have children but for some reason, adopting didn’t work out either. I wondered where she was and how she was doing. I wondered if a loving family had adopted her.

It’s true, time did heal my wounds although as I said back then, I didn’t know how I would make it. Perhaps you have a pain in your heart that feels as though it will consume you at any moment. I wish for you, Tincture of Time. I wish God’s healing balm on your hurt.

I know time can seem more an enemy than friend and God’s timing can be perceived as incredibly slow. But I pray you too will one day look up and be pain free. And your heart though scared will be mended.

As always, I hope my thoughts encourage you.

Ciao!

Savannah J. providing a place of tranquility away from the stress of life.

http://www.thesavannahjpublications.com

Follow Savannah on Twitter http://bit.ly/1tBBC6o

on Google Plus http://bit.ly/1pnq9sP

and on Facebook http://on.fb.me/10p1o32

Savannah is the author of The Prey now available in eBook on Kindle http://amzn.to/1xg0pgM and on Google Play Books http://bit.ly/1q5hncz

Also look for Raising Tristan on Google Play Books http://bit.ly/1pL4GqN and on Kindle http://amzn.to/1AlHl6g

The Wisdom Of Bagger Vance part 2

Wisdom can be found in any medium if we look for it. The movie The Legend of Bagger Vance is chocked full. There is a scene where Bagger gives Junnah a lesson on finding his swing by observing another player in the golf tournament Junnah is playing in. Up until this point in the movie, Junnah is still searching for his “swing” or as is obvious, himself.

Bagger points to the other player and simply says to Junnah, “… He got a lot of shots he could choose from… Duffs and tops and skulls, there’s only ONE shot that’s in perfect harmony with the field… One shot that’s his, authentic shot, and that shot is gonna choose him… There’s a perfect shot out there tryin’ to find each and every one of us… All we got to do is get ourselves out of its way, to let it choose us…”

The words Bagger speaks are so indicative of our search for our authentic selves in life. How many times do we allow ourselves to become someone else to please others. Psalm 139:14 says we are fearfully (uniquely) and wonderfully made. There is no mistake to our personalities.

Freedom comes when we release the world’s definition of who we should be and embrace our genuine selves. We allow that perfect shot to find us and it’s a good fit. It’s easy to become influenced by society’s definition of how to fit in, especially if we’re deemed odd. But I’ve learned it’s better to accept our true selves than live a lie.

As always, I hope my thoughts encourage you.

Ciao!

Savannah J. providing a place of tranquility away from the stress of life.

http://www.thesavannahjpublications.com

Follow Savannah on Twitter http://bit.ly/1tBBC6o

on Google Plus http://bit.ly/1pnq9sP

and on Facebook http://on.fb.me/10p1o32

Savannah is the author of The Prey now available in eBook on Kindle http://amzn.to/1xg0pgM and on Google Play Books http://bit.ly/1q5hncz

Also look for Raising Tristan on Google Play Books http://bit.ly/1pL4GqN and on Kindle http://amzn.to/1AlHl6g

 

 

The Wisdom Of Bagger Vance

The movie The Legend of Bagger Vance is one of my favorites. It’s full of wisdom that can be applied to anyone’s life. Each time I watch it, I learn something new. My favorite line is “Inside each and every one of us is our one, true authentic swing. Something we was born with. Something that’s ours and ours alone. Something that can’t be learned… something that’s got to be remembered.”

I do believe each of us was born with a gift, a gift uniquely our own. I liken Bagger’s comment to speaking about that gift. There are many talents and many people have the same talent. But only we have our unique gift and it’s up to us to find and use it. The question becomes, and how do we find it.

I have a theory that children show us what they were created to be. I can remember my nephew always climbing and jumping and tumbling as a little boy. Today he is a gifted athlete. Some children like to draw, some like me enjoy reading. If we pay attention to our children, instead of directing them to what we feel is the best course for their lives, we would see their natural gifts.

As adults we often struggle with the questions “What is my purpose? And how do I find it?” Well, I can only share how I found mine. I discovered my purpose or my  gift by spending alone time in quiet reflection. I paid attention to not only what made me happiest but what left me most gratified. I found it was in giving or the ministry of helps as I call it, I felt fulfilled.

In my humble opinion, that’s the one true authentic swing Bagger spoke of. It can’t be learned, only remembered because it’s a gift. I encourage you to spend time alone with yourself and find your gift if you haven’t already done so. There is nothing more satisfying than doing the one thing you were born to do.

As always, I hope my thoughts encourage you.

Ciao!

Savannah J. providing a place of tranquility away from the stress of life.

http://www.thesavannahjpublications.com

Follow Savannah on Twitter http://bit.ly/1tBBC6o

on Google Plus http://bit.ly/1pnq9sP

and on Facebook http://on.fb.me/10p1o32

Savannah is the author of The Prey now available in eBook on Kindle http://amzn.to/1xg0pgM and on Google Play Books http://bit.ly/1q5hncz

Also look for Raising Tristan on Google Play Books http://bit.ly/1pL4GqN and on Kindle http://amzn.to/1AlHl6g

 

No Do Overs!

In life there are no do-overs. I’m sure every person on this earth wishes at one time or another to change something from the past. We all have painful and/or disappointing memories. Well, to that I say we must move on.

I’ve found myself more times than I can count ruminating on something I’ve done or said that I wish I could take back. I finally learned rehashing those times was only hurting me. I’m a firm believer in filling our mind and spirit with as much positivity as possible and mulling over things we can’t change does no good.

It’s one thing to learn from our past mistakes, it’s another to beat ourselves up. So for this year and years to come, lets make a promise to ourselves to leave the past exactly where it is. Let us look to the future with the excitement and expectation of a child. Have you ever noticed the look in a child’s eyes when experiencing something new? Their eyes radiate with joy. As adults we can learn from them.

The time is now and so lets “seize the moment” and only look back when we need a reminder not to make the same mistake twice. We have today. Lets be present and live for now.

As always, I hope my thoughts encourage you.

Ciao!

Savannah J. providing a place of tranquility away from the stress of life.

http://www.thesavannahjpublications.com

Follow Savannah on Twitter http://bit.ly/1tBBC6o

on Google Plus http://bit.ly/1pnq9sP

and on Facebook http://on.fb.me/10p1o32

Savannah is the author of The Prey now available in eBook on Kindle http://amzn.to/1xg0pgM and on Google Play Books http://bit.ly/1q5hncz

Also look for Raising Tristan on Google Play Books http://bit.ly/1pL4GqN and on Kindle http://amzn.to/1AlHl6g