
DR. MEL'S MESSAGE - From my novels to my other projects, no telling what you will read. This is the only place you will get to read about how I developed a screenplay into a novel and what is the driving force. I will talk about many things from films to books to acting to producing. It really will depend on where my mind takes me. I hope you will join me on this journey.
Wednesday, June 7, 2023
Emily's Rose by Mark Allen
My Canvas Bag by Lucas Kinkaid
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My Canvas Bag
"A heart-wrenching story about a young man who is born into a family who, at times, I felt that I disliked so strongly, I wish he'd have run away and never seen them again. But resilience is his best ally, humor, wit, wisdom, and bravery. This story is told so well that I was riveted to each page. I could visualize every scene unfolding through this writer's amazing words. A great book for discussions in family groups, and good for others who may have gone through a dysfunctional childhood and felt as if they were the only one." Karen Malena, Author
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Mark is a young man born into a bad situation. His parents drink too much, and his family often forgets him. He works hard to hide the harsh reality of his home life from those around him. Mark does this to avoid feeling shame. He escapes the chaos of his family by spending time in nearby woods. Mark keeps a canvas bag hidden close to his house. It contains blankets, a flashlight, cans of food, a transistor radio, things to read, and more. It has everything he needs to escape from his family's dysfunction for a while. Mark truly enjoys the peace and solitude he finds in the woods.
He constantly struggles with the judgments of others when it comes to his family. It hurts Mark when people share their negative opinions about him and his family. He is often avoided by other kids and usually not included in things.
The anger and resentment Mark feels increase as he gets older. He makes some bad decisions and gets into trouble. There comes a time when he must choose a path for his life. Mark decides to try and separate himself from the dysfunction of his family and past mistakes. He refuses to give up.
Mark realizes he has a talent for writing and then discovers himself.
He comes to understand his experiences in life have made him stronger than most people. Mark eventually makes peace with his family and his past. This results in him finally feeling good about himself. When he graduates from high school, Mark is ready to move into adulthood.
REVIEWS
I was captivated from the very first page of the book. The narrative progresses at a steady pace with simple grammar. Also, the narrative switches between different periods in the life of the protagonist. This added a layer of intrigue to the story.
I love the depth of detail provided by the author. It made the story come alive. The descriptions in the narrative leave nothing to one's imagination. A sentence on page 137 reads, "We eventually get to Roger's house. He doesn't live in a crappy apartment; his family lives in a crappy house. There are old, rusted cars on his lawn as well as an old washing machine and more." It is my favorite feature of the book.
I love the morals being taught in this book. It has enlightened me on how a young child can be affected by a dysfunctional family. Most importantly, it shows that if there is a will to change and become a better person, it is always possible. Despite his criminal history, Mark did not give up on himself.
I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars. It was exceptionally well edited. The story was well-developed and intriguing. I have no dislikes about it. Readers who enjoy interesting stories about difficult family backgrounds will find this book intriguing.
About the Author
Lucas Kinkaid is the Pen name of J. Michael Krivyanski. He is a syndicated columnist with Continental News Service. He is also the author of four Christian books. He has published four books of his humor columns that previously appeared in various media. When not writing, he is busy biking, hiking, and enjoying the outdoors with his wife.
Monday, June 5, 2023
Sapience by Jason Bengtson
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Sapience Kindle Edition
But something has been happening to the ants on Holiday Island. Something horrible. A cognitive evolution that has granted them collective intelligence. Now, newly and fully sapient, they have decided to make Holiday Island their own.
Product Details
- ASIN : B0C71YHBGD
- Publication date : June 2, 2023
- Language : English
- File size : 509 KB
- Text-to-Speech : Enabled
- Screen Reader : Supported
- Enhanced typesetting : Enabled
- X-Ray : Not Enabled
- Word Wise : Enabled
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Not Giving a F*ck: The Ultimate Guide to Living Your Best Life on Your Own Terms by Ali Ansari
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Not Giving a F*ck: The Ultimate Guide to Living Your Best Life on Your Own Terms Paperback – Illustrated, February 26, 2023
Ready to take control of your life and start living on your own terms?
"The Ancient Art of Giving or Not Giving a F*ck" is your guide to finding balance, meaning, and happiness in the modern world. Drawing on principles from Confucianism, Taoism, Stoicism, Epicureanism, and Socraticism, author Ali Ansari offers practical and relatable advice for those looking to live a more fulfilling life.
In this engaging and humorous book, you will go on a journey through the world of ancient philosophy, showing how these teachings can be applied to modern-day problems.
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"An amazing book to read." Dr. Mel |
From the importance of self-examination and critical thinking to finding balance and meaning in life, "The Ancient Art of Giving or Not Giving a F*ck" is a practical and relatable guide for those looking to live their best life on their own terms.
Through relatable examples and anecdotes, Ali aims to demystify complex philosophical concepts and show readers how to apply these principles to their own lives.
Whether you're feeling lost, stuck, or simply seeking a new perspective, this book will help you navigate life's challenges with clarity and purpose. Order your copy now and start giving (and not giving) all the F*cks in the world!
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ali Ansari is a philosopher, meme enthusiast, and world traveler. Born in the Middle East, and raised in Europe, Ali's unique perspective on life has been influenced by his extensive travels and academic pursuits. He studied philosophy in North America and has been to Asia numerous times, gaining a deep appreciation for ancient wisdom and its relevance to the modern world.
Ali's passion for philosophy and his ability to distill complex ideas into relatable insights are at the heart of his new book, "The Ancient Art of Giving or Not Giving a F*ck." With his trademark wit and humor, Ali encourages readers to embrace ancient wisdom in order to navigate the complexities of modern life. Through his engaging writing style and down-to-earth approach, Ali helps readers discover a new way of living that's both fulfilling and grounded in wisdom.
Note from author: Hey there friend. Thanks for checking out my book! If you enjoyed reading it, I would be thrilled if you could take a few moments to leave a review on Amazon. Your feedback helps me improve as an author and reach more readers like you. Don't wait – leave your review today and let me know what you thought of the book! Ta ta for now
Saturday, June 3, 2023
The Stranger He Knew by Debbie Stokes
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DEBBIE STOKES Website: www.authordebbiestokes.com Instagram: instagram.com/authordebbiestokes TikTok: TikTok.com/authordebbiestokes |
Tell your readers a little about yourself, where you grew up, where you live now, where you went to school etc. Let them get to know the personal you.
I was
born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland. My family, faith, and writing are
extremely important to me.
From a young age, writing has been my refuge. Being an extremely shy person who
was afraid to talk in front of people or to speak up for myself, I found my
voice through writing. The pen became my voice and my strength.
Later in life, I made the decision to follow my dream of being a published
author of a fiction novel, despite my shyness, so I went for it. As my passion
for writing increased, so did my imagination. I will always share with people
how my story ideas come to me in my dreams and how I will jump up to write them
down.
For most of my life, fear has stood in my way. Finally, I pushed past my fear
and allowed my vision to come to past. I'm now a published author and, The
Stranger He Knew, is my first book. Yay!!
Since I loved to write so much, I had previously started a women's empowerment
blog on a previous website called, 3 Women Voices, where I shared empowering
stories of how people overcame odds to live their best lives in both written
and video interview formats. In addition, I have been a contributing writer for
FEMI Magazine, a cultural lifestyle magazine where I interviewed and shared
people’s lifestyle stories.
When I'm not writing, I enjoy spending time with my family, and singing and
dancing; although, I can't do either... LOL. I do it for the enjoyment. I think
we all should do what makes us happy; and singing, dancing, and writing does
that for me.
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What inspired you to author this book?
Actually,
this book was inspired by a dream that I had. The dream was so vivid that it
made me jump out of bed and write the gist of the story down. Once I woke up
for the morning, I couldn't let the story go.
At that point, the characters and a description of the story came to me. Once
I put pen to paper, the words began to flow. And it was like music to my ears.
I had no choice, this was my passion tugging at my heart and knocking at my
door. So, I asked myself, if not now, then when?
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And strangely, the moment I asked that question, an AD appeared in front of my eyes a few days later. Starting pay $100 to write a book in 90 days. If you wrote the book in 90 days, you would get your $100 back. That was my confirmation to go all in, and I did. Needless to say, I wrote the book and received my $100 back. That was in 2018.
Of course, life's distractions got in the way, but I'm a firm believer that if you don't quit on that thing you want in life, it won't quit on you. And I also believe everything happens at the right time in our lives. So, I held tight to that dream. Although I took breaks, I didn't let the dream go. And here I am 5 years later. Now, a published author.
Where did you get the inspiration for your book’s cover?
Well, I
saw in my mind how strangers we know present themselves to each of us every day.
Then, I imagined that person being in a thriller-type story.
So, in my mind, the person would appear warm and friendly but move in
calculated ways. So, I wanted the cover to be dark with colors that popped. And
I wanted my protagonist, David, to be unsuspecting... like a lot of us are.
The light signifies how although there is light in our lives, sometimes it's
not clear, so we may miss the truth or what's real. And it's the cloudiness
between light and dark that creates the chaos we encounter in our
relationships. Thereby, introducing us to the strangers we know.
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Who has been the most significant influence on you personally and as a writer?
My
mother has been the most significant influence on me because she made me
believe that I was just as smart, beautiful, and capable as anyone. And to
never shrink myself, deny myself, or give up on myself because I deserve
whatever it is I want in life. She made me believe I could do or be anything as
long as I believed it and put it the work. There was a time when I would rip
myself apart from head to toe, believing I wasn't pretty enough, even though
other people would always compliment me about my looks daily. In my mind, I
convinced myself they were lying to me. Until one day, my mom say me down and
made me realize that I was just as pretty as anyone else on the inside and out.
She really empowered me before empowerment was a big thing, like these days.
And I started to believe. My whole attitude changed.
My mom was special like that; she had the unique ability to lift me up to the
point where I felt like I was on top of the world and could do anything. I'm so
thankful for her.
And Truthfully, Tyler Perry influenced me to take my writing seriously and to
the next level. I remember going to see his stageplay called, I Can Do Bad All
by Myself,, and it changed my mind and opened my eyes to my possibilities.
It had me saying, "I can do that." And immediately after the play, I
went home, it was like God said get out a paper and pen, and so I did. I wrote
an entire play just like that. I always say it's the play that was inspired by
Tyler Perry and touched by God. Sadly, it's just sitting in my archives ever
since then.
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What were your struggles or obstacles you had to overcome to get this book written?
The
obstacles I faced were life distractions and issues. I started the women's
empowerment blog, which took up a lot of my time. Then, I started writing for
FEMI Magazine thinking it was going to be part-time, but it turned out to be
overwhelming time-wise. It didn't allow me to do anything else. So, although I
loved both, I made the decision to walk away from those things to pursue my
dream.
I realized that I had to put myself and my dream first if being a published
author was ever going to happen. And here I am now... published.
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Tell your readers about your book.
My book
is a thrilling capture of the human spirit when a man is tested, and he has to
fight for his life and everything he believes in. Here is the description:
What if you woke up one morning and everything you had was gone?
David Wellington’s life is fabulous. He has it all: a beautiful home, prestige,
power, and friends. His dream job as a high-powered exec at an investment
company has allowed him to build a comfortable lifestyle for himself and his
family.
Then, one day, it all changed.
After working diligently at the company for 20 years, David is called into his
boss’s office. He is sure he will be getting a big promotion, but instead, he
hears the shocking words… YOU’RE FIRED!
As time goes on, he is forced to fight for his life, and a shocking betrayal
and dark secrets cause him to spiral dangerously out of control.
How will he find the will to fight when everything he loves is gone?
Who can he trust?
Dive into this captivating fiction thriller book full of conflict, revenge,
love, and redemption as it takes you on a roller coaster ride of surprising
twists and turns that will have you on the edge of your seat.
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Who is your target audience, and why?
I think
so many different categories of people will enjoy my book, and they will be
able to relate to the subjects within it.
But for the sake of picking a target audience, I would say it's for working
women and men who are married, divorced, or single with kids. And they would be
between the ages of 38-65.
But again, it's a book that a lot of different people of different ages would
enjoy.
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What do you consider your greatest success in life?
Well,
that's a hard question because I could say that becoming a mother of two
daughters is the greatest success, or being married to my high school
sweetheart for 34 years and we're still together for a total of 45 years is the
greatest success.
I could also say that being a successful beauty salon owner is the greatest
success.
Then, I could say that finishing my book and becoming a published author is my
greatest success.
With that being said, how can I choose between them? They are all important and
epic in their own right. So, it all depends on what perspective you're
talking about.
So, for this question, I prefer to say each of these successes has greatly
enriched my life, growth, and experiences, and added to my happiness. Therefore,
I'm grateful for all of them.
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What one unique thing sets you apart from other writers in your genre?
I think
one unique thing that sets me apart is that I am a woman writing from a man's
perspective. To take it further, I am a black woman writing about a white man's
story.
I think that in itself is unique. And the truth is, as I said, this story came
to me in my dream. So, to stay true to the dream and not waiver, I went full
speed ahead with writing it. I let my instincts lead me. And I know in my heart
it is endorsed by God.