BOOK BLAST: Don't Call Me Crazy! I'm Just In Love With God by Swiyyah Woodard

Title: DON’T CALL ME CRAZY! I’M JUST IN LOVE WITH GOD

Author: Swiyyah Woodard

Publisher: Swiyyah Productions, Inc.

Pages: 229

Genre: Inspirational / Motivational / Romance / Christian

BOOK BLURB:

Because of God, nothing will stop Anika from marrying the love of her life, not even paranoid schizophrenia. You don’t want to miss this spiritual journey filled with inspiration and power.

This book is insightful and perceptive. Inspired by a true story. Few people consider the God factor in mental health. Join Anika and journey with her as she receives revelations from God while on her walk to overcome mental illness and naiveness towards religion. Required reading for High schools and colleges.

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     Anika begins to lose her mind. While continuing to stare at the television set, Anika sees a vision of Jesus. He appears to her in just as perfect form and image as the paintings on Mary’s wall. She then hears Jesus speak, “I am the son of God.” Then just as fast as he appears, he leaves her vision.

     “Did you see him? Did you see Jesus?” Anika turns and looks at her friends. Words are stuck within their throats.

     “Did you see him? Did you see Jesus?” Anika repeats once more.

     “Anika, you’re really scaring us. I thought you were Muslim?” Mary says.

Anika then feels as if someone was controlling her thoughts. “Forgive yourself.”  

She then begins to ramble, “Atoms are neither created nor destroyed. There was always an existence. You have to take baby steps to understand how this existence works, where we came from, how it started. Don’t jump from A to Z. No, you must go from A to C. Take a break. It has been painted. First there was nothing; it was blackness, pitch blackness. There was first the black hole. A plumber can understand the black hole. There was a white light. The creator is positive energy. We all have a little bit of positive energy. A person of positivity can change your life without saying a word. We try to increase positive energy which is the same as increasing spiritually. Once we are of that same positivity as the creator, we become one with him. Only a few souls have reached this level of existence. The rest of us are growing spiritually so we can reach that level.“

     It appears to Anika that she is making sense as she began to explain herself, justifying her words.

   “Positive times positive equals positive. Negative times positive equals negative. Therefore, if you have any negativity in you, you cannot become one with positivity.”

   “The creator is all positive energy. Negative times negative equals positive. If you learn from loads of negativity you will learn from your mistakes and become all positive. It’s mathematics. Everything stems from mathematics. Less than a cup of wine is what I need to rest. Don’t want to scare away this beautiful spirit controlling my thoughts.” While holding the sides of her head trying to rid her racing thoughts, she runs into the kitchen and pours herself a cup of wine. She then thinks, “no one will ever have to go through what I went through again!”

Anika takes a look at her past to see how in the world she got to this point in her life.

Swiyyah Nadirah Woodard was selected as a Bay News 9 Everyday Hero, which was seen by two million viewers, for publishing a book and teaching the community about her own battle with mental

illness. She was hospitalized six times and misdiagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia. Her first book, Don't Call Me Crazy! I'm Just in Love, became required and suggested reading in Reading, Writing, Abnormal Psychology, and General Psychology classes at a four year Institution. 

She was born in the housing projects of Saint Petersburg, FL. Her father left when she was three so she was raised in a single parent home. At the age of five she was
molested by her eight year old brother. She later started school, she had slurred speech and didn't care to make friends so she was bullied by her peers. At the age of eight, she wanted to kill herself because a girl wanted to fight her. She looked into the medicine cabinet for medication. Thank God, she couldn't find any.

As a teenager she was physically abused by her step dad. The abuse was so severe, God blocked it from her memory. At the age of 20 the brother that molested her committed suicide, which was devastating to her and the entire family. Swiyyah has always viewed herself as normal. She never received any disciplinary problems in school, made good grades, and received her BA degree in Psychology from the University of South Florida.

When the doctors misdiagnosed her with the most debilitating mental disorder known in mental health, paranoid schizophrenia, she denied it. She questioned their expertise. She refused to take medication. She was then hospitalized six times. Her family took a picture of her at her worst and that's when she knew she needed help. She has been taking medication now for ten years without a relapse.

She is now a published author and a National Inspirational Speaker. Her first book is entitled, “Don't Call Me Crazy! I'm just in Love,” and is inspired by her true story. 

She was raised Muslim and the revelations she received from God and placed in her books, didn't make any since until she meet her Christian husband 14 years after her first relapse. 

Please contact Swiyyah to book speaking engagements, life coaching, author and speaker coaching, radio and TV interviews, or to purchase her books at 727-495-3217, Swiyyah@swiyyah.com.

WEBSITE & SOCIAL LINKS:

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Too Blessed To Be Stressed. . .Inspiration for Every Day: 365 Devotions for Women by Debora M. Coty

BOOK INFORMATION

Genre: Christian Living, Inspirational, Devotional

• Hardcover: 384 pages
• Publisher: Shiloh Run Press (January 1, 2017)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1634098102
• ISBN-13: 978-1634098106

Synopsis: Thousands of women have had the pleasure of reading the wit- and near-wisdom-filled books from beloved inspirational humorist, Debora M. Coty. Her Too Blessed to be Stressed has become a perennial favorite, selling upwards of 46,000 copies since its 2011 release. Now, ready to rescue you from the joy-sucking dully-funks, is an all-new 365-day devotional featuring just-right-sized, truth-filled readings (gift-wrapped in humor) for your heart. The Too Blessed to be Stressed daily devotional touches on everyday life topics like relationships, love, boundaries, hope, brokenness, and praise, while helping you to arrive at healing, refreshment, and revitalization of spirit, body, and faith.

Review: I'm always on the lookout for a good devotional book for the new year, and this one is amazing. I've read a few other books by this author, and enjoy her insight and humor, so I had high hopes for this devotional. After spending time with it each morning for thirteen days now, I am not in the least disappointed. 

Each day's entry is a quick read (less than five minutes), but it will leave you with things to think about for the rest of the day. Each entry has a short catchy title, a Bible verse which shares God's love for us, a short story that feels like a friendly conversation with the author, and a short one or two sentence prayer to start your daily conversation with God. 

I highly recommend this to any woman of faith who is looking for a resource which will aid your walk with God.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.

Rating: Five stars

About the author

A poster child for "It's never too late to chase the dreams Papa God places in your heart,"Deb began writing professionally after her youngest chick flew the coop back in 2002 Since then, Deb has been blessed with over 140 published articles, and 15 award-winning inspirational books, including Too Blessed to be Stressed; More Beauty, Less Beast; Fear, Faith, and a Fistful of Chocolate; and Too Loved to be Lost. She loves to swat a tennis ball around a court and hike in the mountains. Deb lives, loves, and laughs in central Florida with her husband of 36 years, Chuck, and her desperately wicked pooch, Fenway. Debora would love to visit you at http://deboracoty.blogspot.com/

MOVIE BLAST: The Secrets Of The Keys produced by Robin Jay

We're thrilled to be hosting Robin Jay's THE SECRETS OF THE KEYS Movie Blast today! 

Title: The SECRETS of the KEYS
Producer: TwoBirds, Inc.
Genre: Inspirational/Motivational

Imagine getting a life-altering call from your doctor.  That’s exactly what happens to motivational speaker and author “Elizabeth" in The Secrets of the Keys. Now, the inspiration she has used throughout her career to guide others comes back to her as she attempts to make sense of her situation. 

Elizabeth comes face-to-face with her spiritual guide, “Gwen,” who has an intriguing opportunity for her. Gwen takes Elizabeth on a mystical journey where they encounter impressive experts eager to share the importance of 7 Keys: Appreciation, Harmony, Courage, Passion, Faith, Vibration, and Empathy. 

Will she accept Gwen's unique offer of a new kind of existence? This empowering and transformational film is both entertaining and beautiful . . . and will forever change the way you look at life .

For More Information

• The SECRETS of the KEYS is available at Amazon.
• Link to film on IMDb: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt4703382/ 

Cast:

Watch the Trailer!

About the Producer

Robin Jay is an award-winning filmmaker, author, speaker, and publisher. She began her career in Personal Development as “The Queen of the Business Lunch™,” a Business Relationship Expert who shares the nuts-and-bolts of building profitable business relationships, with an emphasis on smart ways to network and socialize with clients.

Robin’s award-winning book, “The Art of the Business Lunch ~ Building Relationships Between 12 and 2” (Career Press) is in 12 languages worldwide. She is also a contributor to “Chicken Soup for the Wine Lover’s Soul.” Robin has been featured internationally on MSNBC-TV, Newsweek Magazine, CNN, the BBC, the New York Times, The London Financial Times, Forbes.com and other well-recognized media outlets.

In 2006, she founded the Las Vegas Convention Speakers Bureau. As president, she not only runs the bureau and coaches speakers to success, Robin also published “The Power of the Platform,” a series of anthologies that feature messages from today’s top motivational speakers, including Jack Canfield, Brian Tracy, and Les Brown.

Robin’s first film was “The KEEPER of the KEYS” – the first FUNNY personal development movie, which stars Jack Canfield, John Gray, and Marci Shimoff. Robin wrote, produced, and costars in the movie. Her goal was to empower viewers by keeping them engaged and entertained. She was thrilled when the movie won the Las Vegas Film Festival Award for Best Independent Film, and The INDIE Fest Award for Best Documentary.

Her latest project is titled “The Secrets of the Keys”, which features a fun, engaging fictional story along with expert testimonials and personal accounts from some of the top names in the self-help industry, including Brian Tracy, don Miguel Ruiz, Gloria Loring, Dannion Brinkley, Michael Beckwith, and John Assaraf. The film was released in January 2016 and immediately won awards, including two gold awards for Concept & Original Song from the International Independent Film Awards.

For More Information

• Visit the movie’s website.
• Visit the movie on Facebook and Twitter.

Giveaway

Robin is giving away 3 DVDs and 3 downloads!

Terms & Conditions:

• By entering the giveaway, you are confirming you are at least 18 years old.
• Six winners will be chosen via Rafflecopter to receive one THE SECRETS OF THE KEYS DVD or one download
• This giveaway begins April 4 and ends on April 29.
• Winners will be contacted via email on April 30.
• Winner has 48 hours to reply.

Good luck everyone!

ENTER TO WIN!

  a Rafflecopter giveaway

BOOK BLAST: Mind Matters by Tanya J. Miller

#newrelease #inspirational #selfhelp #motivational @amreading

Mind Matters: Get Out Of Your Head, and Jump Into Life

by Tanya J. Miller

This book blast will run February 29, 2016

Do you ever get lost in the maze of your mind? When your thoughts start spiraling in a continuous loop—positive or negative—it can seem impossible to consider a different idea or even catch your breath. If the way you think greatly influences the way you live, then it’s important to know how to manage your thoughts and channel their power to improve your life, rather than hinder it. Mind Matters explores practical ways you can bring balance to your thought life, from replacing anxious thoughts with hopeful ones to curbing unnecessary thinking altogether. It also points out traps that keep you stuck, like “clearing your mind” by airing your thoughts to anyone that will listen via Facebook or the occasional tantrum and outburst. As you learn the art of controlling your thoughts, you will be able to focus on what you can do in the present to experience the life you want in the future. Whether you struggle with anxious thoughts or just need a few tips to better manage your mind, this easy-to-read guide provides you with simple instructions you can immediately put into practice.

Tanya J. Miller is a certified life coach with over eighteen years’ experience working with youth, young adults, and women throughout the community and in ministry to pursue purpose, passion and destiny. Tanya holds a BBA in finance and business management from Northwood University and an MBA from Regent University and is also certified as a Lean Six Sigma Green Belt and Scrum Master. Her lifelong passion for writing eventually led her to start the blog Talking with Tanya in 2005. Mind Matters is her debut book. Tanya is married and currently lives in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex.

I'm Happy For You (Sort Of...Not Really):Finding Contentment in a Culture of Comparison by Kay Wills Wyma

Book Information

Genre: Inspirational self-help

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: WaterBrook Press (May 5, 2015)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1601425953
• ISBN-13: 978-1601425959

Synopsis: Is comparison living hijacking your life? 

Do you find yourself measuring your value against your friend’s house, body, marriage, resume, paycheck, organic garden, or Pinterest-worthy holiday décor, and coming up lacking? Do your college roommate’s Instagram snapshots bear little resemblance to the scene at your house this morning?

Excessive comparison and competition sap our energy and steal our joy. Our friends become our audience and judges, and our kids become part of our brand. Add social media’s constant invitation to post and peruse, and it’s no wonder that we’re left exhausted, discontent, and lonely. Thankfully, there is another way!

With  refreshing candor and humor, Kay Wyma shares her experiences with comparison living and offers readers the simple remedies that helped her and her family reboot their perspective and discover freedom, authenticity, and joy.

Review: This is a very thought-provoking, inspiring book. This quote rather succinctly sums up the theme of the whole book: "Looking at what we lack prevents us from noticing how sweet the world already is. But when we shift our focus from what could be to what actually is, we find extraordinary joy in our ordinary lives."

We have all fallen victim to comparing ourselves to others, and finding ourselves wanting. And now, in the age of social media, we have even more opportunities to look at someone else's life (real or idealized) and wish we could be more like them.

The author suggests that using the phrase "I'm happy for you," and actually meaning it, is a much healthier way to react to the good fortune of those around us. She shares some stories from her own life, the perspective of a wife and mother, and uses quite a bit of humor to get her points across. 

This book is very easy to read, and is relatively short at 240 pages. There are "You Are Not Alone" quotes sprinkled throughout, many of which touched a chord with me from the past or the present. 

There is a Christian component to the book, showing that God has a unique plan for each of us, and that we should focus on that more than on what He gives our neighbor.

Highly recommend this book to everyone...will be sharing it with some of the women in my life, for sure!

Rating: Four stars

About the author

Kay Wills Wyma has five kids, ages four to fourteen, and one SUV with a lot of carpool miles. Before she transitioned to stay-at-home mom, she earned an MBA, worked at the White House, and dabbled in international finance. Happily married to Jon, this self-described recovering enabler is committed to equipping the next generation to achieve great things in the future by piling on the responsibility today.

The Girl From The Train by Irma Joubert

Genres: Historical, Inspirational

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Thomas Nelson (November 3, 2015)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0529102374
• ISBN-13: 978-0529102379

Synopsis: Six-year-old Gretl Schmidt is on a train bound for Auschwitz. Jakób Kowalski is planting a bomb on the tracks.

As World War II draws to a close, Jakób fights with the Polish resistance against the crushing forces of Germany and Russia. They mean to destroy a German troop transport, but Gretl’s unscheduled train reaches the bomb first.

Gretl is the only survivor. Though spared from the concentration camp, the orphaned German Jew finds herself lost in a country hostile to her people. When Jakób discovers her, guilt and fatherly compassion prompt him to take her home. For three years, the young man and little girl form a bond over the secrets they must hide from his Catholic family.

But she can’t stay with him forever. Jakób sends Gretl to South Africa, where German war orphans are promised bright futures with adoptive Protestant families—so long as Gretl’s Jewish roots, Catholic education, and connections to communist Poland are never discovered.

Separated by continents, politics, religion, language, and years, Jakób and Gretl will likely never see each other again. But the events they have both survived and their belief that the human spirit can triumph over the ravages of war have formed a bond of love that no circumstances can overcome.

Review: I thoroughly enjoyed this story. I've been a long-time fan of WWII novels, especially when they involve Jewish characters. This one, however, is a truly unique look at the time period, in that the main character manages to avoid a concentration camp by pretending to be a German Protestant child and being sent to South Africa to start a new life.

The majority of the story is told from the perspective of young Gretl, from the ages of 6 to 21. That also makes this story unique and fascinating. I also enjoyed the story of the lasting bond which forms between Gretl and her Polish guardian, Jakob.

Both of the main characters are very well written, and I was drawn into their story from the start. The various settings are described vividly, as are the living conditions during such a difficult time. The ending of the story was wonderful as well.

I was given a copy of this book through the Fiction Guild in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are entirely my own.

Rating: Four stars

About the author 
Irma Joubert was a history teacher for 35 years. This experience has stood her in good stead when it comes to doing extensive research for her historical novels. She writes with empathy and a deep insight into personal relationships. She and her husband live in Bloemfontein.

More Than A Whisper: One Woman's Journey Through Pain To Grace, by Anne Sano Keller

Synopsis: More than a Whisper tells the intimate story of Anne Sano Keller’s journey from the emptiness of being raised by parents who couldn’t love her, to suffering a mother’s greatest sorrow, and finally emerging into the fullness of grace. When her heart is shattered and she can no longer go on, the universe shows her its divine plan. 

After giving up all hope of reconciliation, Anne receives a letter from her estranged father, who is dying of cancer. She finds herself embarking on a ten-year journey into a world of surrender and forgiveness. As she tries to maintain her normal life, she finds herself living with one foot in this world and one foot in the spirit world. 

More than a Whisper started as a private journal meant only for her children to read someday. It became a book when Anne received “more than a whisper” from her spirit guide and departed loved ones, urging her to tell her story, with the hope that others might take from it the courage to face life’s greatest challenges and ask, “What is this here to teach me?”

Thoughts: **I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.**

This book resonated with me from the very beginning. I also spent years trying to make myself into someone my parents could love, and finally started to just be ME in my forties. I had to let go of one relationship,but the other has grown stronger and deeper over the last few years.

The author of this book had a lot of tragedy in her life in a very short time, but she got through it all with a belief in a higher power and an afterlife. She shows how we can all become open to recognize daily miracles, signs from our lost loved ones, and visits from angels.

At the end of her story, the author shares two different meditations which she had written about. I haven't tried either of them yet, but I have every intention of doing so very soon. There are also discussion questions included which would be good for a book club to use.

This was an inspiring story, and a very easy read.
My rating: Four stars