Book reviews are a great way for self-publishing authors to gain exposure. After all, how can someone buy your book if he or she doesn’t know it exists? Paired with other elements of your book promotion strategy, requesting reviews is a great way to get people talking about what you’ve written.
When we read good reviews, we definitely like to share them. It gives the author a few (permanent) moments of fame and allows us to let the community know about a great book. Here’s this week’s book review, courtesy of OnStage:
Discovering the It Factor Within You: Developing Your Charismatic Personality
by Leesa Rowland
Publisher: Outskirts Press
ISBN: 978-0578156293
Synopsis*:
Discovering the It Factor Within You : Why do some people light up a room instantly, while others shrink into the shadows? The answer is the “It factor.” The “It factor” is that inner, positive light that illuminates the darkness and dispels the negative. That vibrant sunshine of charisma resides within every individual soul – and it only waits to be revealed within you! Author Leesa Rowland shares her own compelling journey and helps readers reveal their own inner light to the world in Discovering the It Factor within You: Developing Your Charismatic Personality. The inspirational memoir should serve as a go-to guidebook for anyone starting a personal journey or striving to be the best they can possibly be. The book incorporates Rowland’s secret methods – from spirituality and religious views to auras and chakras to mantras and more – to help each reader build their charismatic personality, discover their own bright light and excel in life.
Critique:
Have you ever seen a Broadway performance, or seen an actor who just filled the stage with their presence? They light up the room with their inner glow and light within them. They have something inside them that sets them apart and makes you pay attention. That is called charisma.
When I saw the title of this book; Discovering the It Factor within You: Developing Your Charismatic Personality, I knew it would be a great book for performers, designers, and other theatre hobbyists and professionals. I was delighted when author and actress Leesa Rowland graciously provided a sample copy for review.
Rowland has a wonderful voice that shines through her writing. Her tips are gentle but firm, soft but straightforward. I found myself highlighting a great deal of the text, as I found much of the book to be very moving and a joy to read.
When I was in my first year of undergraduate school, a friend of mine and I were in both a world religions class along with our basic acting class. One day during a lecture, my classmate and I just couldn’t believe how much the religion class lined up with our acting class. Our professors were saying almost the exact same things, just using slightly different vocabulary. I was remembered of this serendipitous union while reading this book. Rowland writes lovingly of deeply spiritual feelings and a strong belief in God. It also includes wisdom from Eastern philosophy that adds to the development of charisma.
An artist sometimes needs a mentor, someone with experience, wisdom, and knowledge to help guide us along the way. Discovering the It Factor is a mentor in book form. While this book could help people in many professions, I feel that it could be a very helpful tool in aiding performers to give a more authentic performance and avoid burnout.
I am hopeful that it can help other stage performers find their inner glow, and light up the room from within.
[ reviewed by Brittany Strelluf at On Stage ]
Here’s what other reviewers are saying:
While it’s probably true that some people are simply born with the “It Factor” right on the surface and have no pains in finding their charisma, I believe wholeheartedly that we all have it within us. We each have the God-given ability to be great and to influence others with our words and actions. This is an idea that is expressed so well in author Leesa Rowland’s new book “Discovering the It Factor within You”.
An incredibly insightful look at just what charisma is by taking a look at some of those people who we are pretty clear about having “it”, such as Oprah, Andy Warhol, and even Abraham Lincoln. Rowland spends time dissecting charisma, giving us a list of the qualities that constitute charisma and how they are tied to our personalities. Some of the key areas in her book deal with developing and enhancing charisma for those of us who are not those natural born charismatic giants. There are some solid ideas and action steps given for anyone interested in developing and nurturing charisma in their lives. Equally as important, I found the discussion on spirituality and knowing oneself to be indispensable. In truth, aren’t we more confident and “alive” when we are comfortable with our surroundings and who we are? I know I am.
I found this to be the most thorough, well-researched and well written book on the subject of charisma and the “it factor” that I have seen to date. It covers all of the bases and does so with ease. Rowland is an excellent writer and brings a personal touch to her work. I think it’s safe to say that she is a credible source as someone who has “It”.
– Amazon Reviewer TFLReader
One of my favourite things that I like to read is the occasional self-help book, not the type that try to get you looking from negative to positives but the type that help you discover an even more amazing side of you that you had hidden away, or that you didn’t even know had existed. Books like Leesa Rowland’s Discovering the IT Factor helps readers like yourself take one step closer and examine yourself carefully and with that positive energy and enthusiasm that you already have for life with your addictive and bubbly personality and turn it into something more fantastic – a ‘Charismatic” personality where others around you will find you their beacon point and they wont be able to help it but be happy and bask in your presence when they are near you. Each and everyone has a talent, whether you believe it to be a talent is up to you, but we all have one thing that we are amazing at and if you are lucky – you may have more than one. For me , my talents are Reading and Writing – they are my passions. One of my hobbies is self-discovery and reading about how we can better ourselves which is why Leesa Rowland’s book “Discovering the IT Factor” appealed to me. Leesa Rowland’s book, Discovering the IT Factor brings to light all the intricate details of how to access our personal uniqueness – the stuff that makes us who we are and the individual we all strive to be as no-one wants to be called a lemming , charisma, and ultimately own it! Every reader here will learn how to harness their authentic power and with that, become fearless and excel in life. This book can make all the difference-it’s not to be missed. Like most self-discovery books , Leesa’s book is not only inspirational but also motivational and scattered throughout the pages are anecdotes and stories from her experiences.
So readers, what are you waiting for – today is the day where you can Discover the IT factor within you and unlock that charismatic personality that you have been hiding away or didn’t know existed until now.
– Amazon Reviewer Paula L. Phillips
Book Tour Interview:
* = courtesy of the book’s Amazon book page.
Thanks for reading! Keep up with the latest in the world of indie and self-published books by watching this space every Saturday!
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