Book Blast: Voices of Cancer

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Lynda Wolters will be awarding a $25 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

"I don't know what to say" and "I don't know what to do" are common responses to a life- threatening diagnosis. Voices of Cancer is here to help.

Every cancer story is different, but there is one commonality: both patients and the people supporting them often struggle to properly articulate their wants and needs through particularly challenging and in many cases, uncharted territory. Lynda Wolters knows firsthand: she was diagnosed with stage 4 terminal mantle cell lymphoma in August of 2016.

Voices of Cancer offers a candid look into the world of a cancer patient, informed by Lynda’s own story and conversations had with dozens of patients weighing in on their needs, wants, and dislikes as they navigate the complex world of diagnosis, treatment, and beyond. With comprehensive and accessible insight from people who’ve been there, Voices of Cancer helps educate, dispel fears, and start positive conversations about what a cancer diagnosis truly means, while shining a light on how best to support a loved one on their own terms.

Read an Excerpt

Voices on Thoughtless Words

There is no perfect thing to say to someone with a devastating disease, but honest conversation and true statements are better than fluffy words that are best suited for use as a slogan. It’s okay to let the patient know you don’t know what to say. It’s okay to let them know you are afraid of offending them or making them feel sad with your words or your personal fear of what they are going through. And it’s okay to just sit with them, cry with them, listen to them vent, or just share space.

Some of my most comforting times were when people just shared space with me. Every time I was hospitalized, my dear friend Michelle would bring all her “gadgets”—cell phone, laptop, etc.—and work from my hospital room. Sometimes staying an hour or more, often not speaking but just sitting with me and working on her laptop, she shared space and her love.

About the Author:

Lynda was born and raised in a tiny farming community of 400 in northern Idaho. She worked on the family farm, with her first job being picking rocks out of the fields and ultimately graduating up the ladder to driving a grain truck and combine during harvest. Following high school, Lynda continued her education in Las Vegas before she moved back home to Idaho to raise her three sons.

Lynda still resides in Idaho with her husband and their peekapoo, Max.

Lynda has worked in the legal field for 30+ years and enjoys ballroom and swing dancing, horseback riding, kayaking, and river rafting. She has a heart for people and enjoys regularly volunteering. She spends the bulk of her spare time reading and writing.

Lynda was diagnosed with terminal stage 4 Mantle Cell Lymphoma (MCL) in August 2016. She touts herself as being a thriving warrior of the disease.

Lynda has completed two books of nonfiction: Voices of Cancer, released in October 2019, and Voices of LGBTQ+, released in August 2020.

The Placeholder, Lynda’s debut novel, was released in November 2022.

Lynda has published the following articles: Navigating the Workplace with Chemo Brain, February 23, 2020, Elephants and Tea. and When Masks Weren’t Popular, March 24, 2020, Patient Power. She has spoken on several podcasts, been a guest on a local talk show regarding Voices of Cancer, and given interviews for other outlets and print.

Jane Brody wrote up Voices of Cancer in the New York Times, her article entitled What to Say to Someone with Cancer, on January 13, 2020, with a follow-up on January 20, 2020, entitled, When Life Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lynda.wolters24< br> Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/lyndawolters1
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lyndawolters/
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/Wolters_Lynda

Amazon links:

KINDLE: https://www.amazon.com/Voices-Cancer-What-Really-Want- ebook/dp/B07YLZKSTX/
HARD COPY: https://www.amazon.com/Voices-Cancer-What-Really- Want/dp/1645430391/
AUDIBLE: https://www.amazon.com/Voices-Cancer-What-Really- Want/dp/B0839PK3GJ/

a Rafflecopter giveaway Throws You a Curveball, Embrace the New Normal.

The Chinese translation rights of Voices of Cancer have been purchased by a grant to offer the book to medical students in Tawain.

Lynda donates Voices of Cancer books and a portion of its proceeds to Epic Experience, a nonprofit camp for adult survivors and thrivers of cancer located in Colorado.

WEBSITE: https://www.lyndawolters.com/

Book Blast: Welcome to Wonderland

 

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Bobbie Candas will be awarding a $25 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

 

A recently fired biologist with mommy issues, a successful entrepreneur with a dead wife, and an immigrant hiding from gang violence…These three have only one thing in common.

They’re all screwed up

Biology researcher, Violet Hill, was just let go and is devastated. She found the solitary lab and long hours the ideal respite for her anxiety issues--doing meaningful work while avoiding people and conversation. Now unemployed, with diminishing finances, Violet is forced to face the enemy, her mother.

For years, Turner Cooper was consumed with building his company’s client roster, until the sudden death of his wife throws him totally off kilter. Now, instead of work, Turner’s guilt and alcohol issues Living a reclusive life in Dallas, Rosario Guzman is hiding from a Mexican cartel while working in the shadows at three part-time jobs. Finally, the item she covets the most, a Green Card, arrives in her mailbox. But Rosario quickly realizes the paper card doesn’t solve all her problems.

While navigating social issues, private demons, and nightmare memories, these three lives collide as they find each other at a place none of them ever imagined they’d be working at. As their mutual relationship evolves, Violet, Turner and Rosario lean into each other and unexpectedly find their lives unfurling in remarkable and magical ways.

Read an Excerpt

The Gladiator
Turner Cooper

The landline was ringing again but I didn’t bother to pick up. Letting it go to voicemail, I listened to my wife’s warm Texas accent roll softly through the office over the speaker of an antiquated answering machine.

Hi, there. It’s Allie. Turner and I aren’t here. You know what to do; bye now.

Sighing, I ruffled the soft shiny fur of our Irish Setter, Blaze. Leaning back on my leather sectional, I stretched my legs out over the ottoman, closed my eyes, and wondered how many more hours it would be before I could go back to bed without seeming too pitiful. Perhaps a half-tumbler of Dewar’s Scotch and a movie would help pass the time. I silenced my cell and closed the office door so there would be no interruptions. Amazing how many solicitations there were after you signed up for the no-solicitation list. I never realized before… because I rarely was home to hear them. I smiled, recalling a recent conversation with Allie.

‘I swear, Turner, we need to get rid of that phone. Unless you’re in the market for a time share or extended car warranty, it’s useless. No one we know has a landline anymore.’

consume him.

‘But Allie, what about missing out on the all-expense-paid cruise of our dreams, or lending my social security number to a Nigerian prince?’

‘Uh, those guys don’t call much anymore.’

‘I promise, babe… I’ll get around to it.’ But there it was, still ringing.

Petting Blaze’s head again, I said, “Yeah bud, you get what they say about old dogs and new tricks, don’t you Blaze?”

Hearing his name, my dog looked over at me expectantly, and then laid his head down on the thick rug. Back to a movie choice. I could punch up something on Netflix, but lately, most of those movies were lame. Either stupid rom-coms or crazy fantasy. How about an old favorite instead?

I got up and perused our shelves of old DVDs on either side of the six-foot screen. “Here’s a good one, Blaze. Haven’t watched this in years. You’ll love it.” I popped in Gladiator, starring Russell Crowe, sat back down, put my feet up and took a deep sip of Scotch. It was a long film; maybe it would require a full tumbler. Or two.

Three hours later, I’d surprised myself, managing to remain awake through the entire film, and on this viewing I saw the story so differently. That happens sometimes when rewatching a film. My previous memory of it was all about warring strategies, power struggles, and grisly scenes of bodies being torn apart. But this afternoon, I realized the gladiator’s greatest desire was to leave all power and politics behind him and return home to his wife and farm. Somehow before I’d totally missed that aspect.

I got up and stretched, checking my watch. “Well, boy…time for that walk now, right? Let’s go.” Blaze was ready. Hearing the word walk, he began looking anxiously about. “Come on, downstairs. She’s not here today.” I walked through the utility room, switched from bare feet to slip-on tennis shoes, attached his leash, and left through the garage.

The sun was still thirty minutes away from sizzling into the lake, with the air feeling less humid than usual. Even in September, Dallas weather could be brutal. “So, what are you up for? Long one or short one?” I looked at the dog’s inquisitive golden-brown eyes. “That’s what I thought too.”

We headed down our street, turned at the corner and walked down to the bike trail. Under the shade of trees, wearing a loose tee-shirt and shorts, it actually felt good to be out. We walked the half-mile to the large dog park by the lake. I unleashed Blaze, sat down on a bench, and watched him run, dodge, and scamper with joy among the wide range of large breeds released for play by their work-a-day parents.

Eventually, another guy came and sat down next to me and, like a proud papa, pointed. “Mine’s the Goldendoodle. Which one’s yours?”

“The Irish Setter with all the pent-up energy. He’s used to getting out more.”

“Oh, yeah. He’s a beauty. Wait…is that Blaze? Man, I’m so sorry. I didn’t realize…your Allie’s husband, right? She was up here with Blaze all the time. Great lady. I’m so sorry, dude. I’m Kevin. Kevin Wells. My wife and I live nearby.”

I nodded, smiled stiffly, and stood up. “Good to meet you, Kevin. Thanks. I’m heading out now.”

I walked toward my dog, knowing he’d hate being pulled out so soon, but it was time for us to leave. Kevin got up and called out after me, “Hey, if you ever need to talk or anything, I’m here most evenings. Allie, she was awesome. Really gonna miss her around here.”

I nodded, putting the leash back on the setter. “Sure, thanks man.” We weren’t ready for those conversations yet. Blaze and I were damaged goods.

About the Author:

Bobbie Candas lives in Dallas, Texas with her husband, Mehmet Candas, a stray gray cat, and a jealous tabby who does not enjoy sharing affection with the interloper. Bobbie attended The University of Texas in Austin, earning her degree in journalism. She took a detour with a career in retail management, and found her happy place when she returned to writing fiction about nine years ago.

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/auth or/B00MNS6KV0
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/bobbiecandasautho r
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.co m/author/show/8292457.Bobbie_Candas
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bobbiecandas

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CGYSJL4P
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Book Blast: An Eye for the Highest and Best

 

by Dr. Nancy-Angel Doetzel 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 GENRE: Memoir/Self-Help

 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

BLURB: 

Living in this world of such disruption and uncertainty can result in us facing despair.

How can we attune to the rainbow after a storm, and create hope and happiness? How do we

develop an eye for the Highest and Best, when faced with what appears to be the worst? What

steps should we take to reconnect with our ability to be resilient?

In this book, Dr. Doetzel shares some important insights gained from her own experiences of

teaching university, battling cancer, being a journalist, travelling worldwide, dealing with grief,

and facing the global pandemic. Along the way, she introduces her readers to fresh ways of

viewing their lives, by applying an Appreciative Inquiry lens that inspires the practice of a more

conscious way of living, resulting in discovering serenity.

Readers may start to re-examine their own challenges, while discovering their own gems that

warrant gratitude. The reflective questions and stories suggest ways of removing blocks to

happiness and constructing healthier relationships.

The book is also an ideal tool for educators to apply to teaching Appreciative Inquiry as a

qualitative research methodology.

 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

EXCERPT:

As she was eating, a young aboriginal child suddenly came running towards her to offer her a

candy. Perhaps the child sensed she had been upset. Angel learned that he and his parents,

who were all travelling together to take this young boy to a hospital for special care, had also

missed the plane.

Angel’s perspective was already starting to shift as she re-visited her own circumstances

through the heart -centered eyes of a child.

What’s your name? she asked him.

“My name is Sunny”, he replied. “I’m going to the hospital to have an operation. I might be going

to live with the Angels soon. I have a hole in my heart, and mommy says I’m very sick, and

says I may need a heart transplant soon, to stay alive.”

 As Angel stared into the dark-skinned child’s piercing brown eyes, she became mesmerized by

the light and joyfulness that they exuded. He was very happy and fearless. Then he lifted his

shirt and showed Angel a jagged scar from a recent heart surgery.

Author Bio:

Dr. Nancy-Angel Doetzel has been teaching in the Sociology Faculty of Mount Royal University

since 2006, and as a seasonal sessional instructor in the Faculty of Education at the University

of Calgary since 2005.

An award-winning scholar, journalist, and musician, she won a Distinguished Dissertation Award

for her doctorate dissertation, leading to the publication of her two books: Cultivating Spirituality

in Education: Synergizing Heart and Mind and Old Heart Child's Eyes: A Diary of Miracles.

In 2017, her students at Mount Royal University honoured her with a Teaching Excellence

Award. In 2018 her students also acknowledged her for promoting wellbeing and good health

within the classroom, and for being a good mentor. She received her MA, HBA, HBSW, and BA

degrees from Lakehead University.

She received her PhD from the University of Calgary in 2004. She studied Intuitive Medicine in

Vancouver and received a professional certification (I.C.A.D.C) from the Canadian Council of

Professional Certification. She also was awarded a Broadcasting Radio and Television diploma

from Confederation College. She encourages her students to examine the world through

different lenses, exercising altruism, promoting social justice, and learning to be a good

sociologist.

Her Mount Royal University blog is titled, Debunking Deceptive Myths. In addition to her recently

published books, she has also authored and published eight scholarly articles in her field.

In February 2020, the Calgary Herald, rated one of her books (a pre-amble to this one) as a

local best seller. She is currently conducting research about complementary medicine and

continuing to teach at Mount Royal University.

Aside from teaching and conducting research, Dr. Doetzel has hosted a radio show "From the

Heart," airing on AM 1140 High River, for the past 10 years. She has recorded four albums of

her own original songs.

Website

~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

GIVEAWAY 

Dr. Nancy-Angel Doetzel will be awarding a $10 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner during the tour.

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Book Blast: Happiness Mountain

 

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Amal Indi will be awarding a $10 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

 

Happiness is the most important experience that we as human beings seek throughout our entire lives. Yet there is no one clear definition of happiness in the world today.

How, then, can we expect to be happy to our fullest if we do not know what happiness is?

Everyone has happy moments in life. Suppose you are awake sixteen hours a day after eight hours of sleep—how much time are you truly happy in these sixteen hours?
If you are happy only 20 percent of your day, you will not feel truly happy in life.
If you are happy 50 percent of your day, you will feel like you have an OK life.
If you are happy 60 percent or above, you are living a happy life.
If you are happy 80 percent and above, you’re living a phenomenally happy life.
What if you could change the times that you are not happy to happy moments?

If you want to get better at something, you must study and become proficient in that subject. You do not know what you are missing if you do not learn. The same principle applies to happiness. If you want to be happier, study what happiness is. If happiness is important to you, master it.

By knowing happiness, you can consciously live a happier life. You can minimize the external factors impacting your happiness. You can get happiness under your control.

Irrespective of where you are in life today, by reading this book and following the happiness definition, philosophy, and methodology, you or anyone can live a happier life.

Read an Excerpt

Living with a higher vibration is a blessing. You feel inner peace. You are resilient to what is happening around you, especially since the world is attracting a lot of negative energies. You must protect your inner peace with your higher vibration. You can only be at your higher vibration with your Higher Self. You can activate your Higher Self by establishing:

Higher Self beliefs
Higher Self values
Higher Self purpose

Oftentimes people do not have clarity of their beliefs, values, and purposes for happiness, which causes their Lower Self to take control of their life. Let’s change that for you. Let set up a great set of beliefs, values, and purposes for Inner Happiness. You can always add more or make some adjustments. Please note that these are not religious beliefs, and they are not intended to conflict with any religious, cultural, or political views. These beliefs, values, and purposes are purely defined for your happiness and wellbeing.

Higher Self Beliefs

The following are nine Inner Happiness beliefs will take you to your higher vibration. You have to believe in them and then practice them.

1. Take care of your mind and body first.
2. Objectively experience life’s duality.
3. Accept impermanence.
4. Be in service to others.
5. Be yourself, be authentic.
6. Surround yourself with quality people.
7. Stop energy drops and create.
8. Maintain a higher consciousness with mindfulness.
9. Believe in yourself and your higher power.

This chapter will give you foundational knowledge. Then you need to apply your new knowledge to your day-to-day life. After practice, these become new patterns in your mind, and you can enjoy Inner Happiness for your whole life.

About the Author:

With over 20 years of experience working for financial institutions as a Solutions Architect, Amal set out on a mission to find true happiness. After researching happiness for many years, he is ready to share a definition, philosophy, and methodology for happiness so that anyone can follow and find true happiness with inner peace, joy, and fulfillment. He has written an incredible book called “Happiness Mountain – Make every experience a happy experience”. Amal is also a father of two kids and lives in beautiful Vancouver, Canada. Amal’s mission is to heal the world and allow everyone to enjoy true happiness.

Find out more on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CBSXPNHM< br />
Or visit

http://www.happinessmountain.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/amal-indi- 6874064/
https://www.facebook.com/happinessmo untain.inc/
https://www.spreaker.com/show/happiness-mountain
https://www.instagram.com/happiness_mo untain/

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WWBC #28: Combined Topics 2

 Hello.

It has been a while for me. There were a couple of topics that I missed. So I will answer each one this week.

May 3rd = My Thoughts on Small Talk.

Answer:  I prefer to not talk at all if small talk is my only other choice.

May 24th = Favorite YouTube Video

Mine: https://youtu.be/kyV_nE0b7Gs?si=Joc7h4Dpuo1VPNNn

This week's: Misheard Song Lyrics

Answer:   The Power of Love (by Huey Lewis and the News)

"Change a hawk into a little white dove"

I used to think it was "change a heart...."

*** Wednesday Weekly Blogging Challenge is a weekly meme hosted by: Long and Short Reviews