Self Published Book Review of the Week: Unstoppable Confidence

Unstoppable Confidence

by Astrid Harris

This self-published book was recently reviewed by www.readerviews.com:

Life coach and author Astrid Harris describes her new book, “Unstoppable Confidence,” as ‘lifechanging’ and ‘a ticket to a whole new life.’ Are these things possible coming from a workbook comprised of only 29 pages? Harris thinks so.

“Unstoppable Confidence” is divided into six different lessons meant to be read individually and their strategies practiced thoroughly before moving on to the next section. Within each, there are ample writing areas for the reader to answer questions relating to their own situation, thereby personalizing the exercises and assignments. Harris utilizes each reader’s personal belief system and a deserving role model to further explain her empowering techniques.

As someone who has studied Daniel Goleman’s “Emotional Intelligence,” I had great doubts as to Astrid Harris’ ability to get the basic concept of self-awareness and self-confidence across in a mere 29-page workbook but I was pleasantly surprised. Without going into an enormous amount of detail, she explains self-confidence and the importance of knowing the ‘why’ behind various integral aspects of personality such as religious beliefs, personal convictions, opinions, etc. Her questions to the reader are thought-provoking and lead them on to further questions and deeper considerations. Her language and intents are easily understandable and free of the psychological jargon commonly found in books of the same genre.

“Unstoppable Confidence” is an easy to absorb book and perfect for someone with no prior studies or background in psychology. Its succinct format allows for even the busiest person to learn its methods without a great deal of time spent reading. Although additional resources at the end of the book for further study would have been nice to see, Harris gives her readers enough to get their confidence-boosting balls rolling. Ironically, the excitement and motivating nature she exudes in the pages of “Unstoppable Confidence” is not reflected in its bland and nondescript cover.

“Unstoppable Confidence” by Astrid Harris is a surprising find. Short, sweet, and to the point, these methods cater to already-overflowing schedules and frazzled minds with too much going on. Astrid Harris’ work is more like the ‘executive version’ of much thicker confidence building books yet with the same crucial information. Higher confidence and deeper self-knowledge is as quick as today.

For more information or to order the book, visit the author’s webpage: www.outskirtspress.com/unstoppableconfidence



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Self Published Book Review of the Week: Painting The Invisible Man

Review_CoverPainting The Invisible Man

by Rita Schiano

This self-published book was recently reviewed on BookFinds.com:

What is often talked about in fiction writing is that every novel has pieces of the author’s life hidden in the details. In Rita Schiano’s emotionally riveting novel, Painting the Invisible Man, there is no hiding the parallels between Rita’s life and that of her main character, Anna Matteo. And yet it is with this honesty and quiet depiction of reality that Schiano creates memorable characters and beautiful prose. Schiano explores the emotional ties that bind us to our family and our history. She shows that it is our past that gives birth to our dreams and it is our future that gives us hope. Rita Schiano’s Painting the Invisible Man explores truth through the veil of fiction and highlights these truths with honesty and emotional intensity. A beautiful poetic read! — BookFinds.com

For more information or to order the book, visit the author’s website: www.paintingtheinvisibleman.com



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Self-Published Book Review of the Week: Moaning Banshee

The Mystery of the Moaning Banshee

by Barbara Carroll

This self-published book was recently reviewed by www.readerviews.com:

I forgot how much I love reading a good Gothic tale until I read this story. The author captures the reader from page one until the very end. It is a great story to read as a family, or for older readers to read alone.

When Cassie Baker inherits her great grandfather’s old Victorian mansion in a small town on the Maine coast, she gets a lot more than she bargains for. Cassie, at thirteen, is the oldest of eight very adventurous siblings. The estate includes an old mansion with secret passages and unexplained happenings, a Carriage House, Care Takers cottage, an old lighthouse, a spooky marsh and cemetery and a beach house. Silas, the spooky old caretaker, warns Cassie about the dangers of the estate.

As Cassie and her brothers and sisters begin exploring the old estate they encounter many scary and unexplainable things. Apparently ghosts and banshees come with the estate that has been closed up for over fifty years due to an unexpected death of a relative. But it is rumored that the estate is also home to a hidden fortune and Cassie needs to find it to pay off long-time unpaid bills and save her family’s home from auction. Many exciting adventures await Cassie and her family as they look for the treasure and the answers to so many mysteries.

As these brave children encounter puzzles, ghosts, crooks and thieves, elements of this story remind me of one of my favorite movies “The Goonies.” Hopefully “The Mystery of the Moaning Banshee” by Barbara Carroll will not be the last time that we have heard from Cassie and her family.

For more information or to purchase a copy, visit the author’s webpage: www.outskirtspress.com/moaningbanshee



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The Dont’s of Pitching Your Self-Published Book to Producers

After your book is published, here are 5 things to avoid when pitching to a radio or television producer:

1 – Don’t pitch your book. Pitch an idea for a show.
2 – Don’t over promise. Be able to deliver what you say.
3 – Don’t be dull. Your letter has to communicate how vivacious you are.
4 – Don’t hide your message. Make sure it’s clear what you are suggesting.
5 – Don’t be annoying. Producers are busy. Bombarding the with correspondence or emails will hinder your chances for success.

– Karl Scrhoeder



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Have fun and keep writing.

Self-Published Book Review of the Week: Pajama School

banner250400Natalie Wickham submitted the following review she received for her self-published book. Here is the link to review online: http://blissfullydomestic.com/homeschool-bliss/pajama-school-review-and-giveaway/

Pajama School is the autobiographical journey of Natalie Wickham, a homeschool graduate who chronicles her journey through honest, vivid, and candid stories.

While chronicling her journey, Wickham provides a strong message that God’s plan for her family far surpassed what her parents could ever have planned for their children. As she willingly tells all, Wickham discloses the reality of her educational experience and its relationship to the many challenges she faced growing up.

She illustrates how God took her classmates (her sisters) and transformed their relationship into that of best friends. She expresses the highs and lows of switching churches, finding a curriculum, living with an ailing grandmother, living with a sister with a disability, mending relationships with family members (including her father), and surviving terrible tragedy.

And as she tells her stories of being homeschooled, she seems to be expressing thanks to her mother, father, and sisters who made her journey more complete.

One of my favorite passages in the book is this:

“That’s what the world of homeschooling is like. It stretches far beyond the boundaries of a single family, a community, or one local church. It is comprised of all sorts of people, from varied backgrounds and different walks of life, but who are united in a common goal – to take seriously the upbringing of their children and provide them with the best education possible. That will mean different things for different people. But that’s the beauty of homeschooling. Stereotyped as we may be, no two homeschool families are exactly alike. A peek into any homeschool will quickly reveal that. But still, there persists a familial bond of sorts as we are brought together as part of a bigger community for events such as these.” (p.57)

Wickham’s book is entertaining, but more importantly, it is a ministry. As she expresses in her own words, “Homeschooling has prepared me for a life of learning, because one of the most valuable things I’ve learned is that true education is not limited to the walls of a classroom. True education takes place every day as I learn from the expertise and experience of those whom God has placed in my life. This understanding is what has helped me learn and grow, even through the difficult life lessons that God has allowed me to experience.” (p.204)

Pajama School is a delightful book that I would recommend to anyone, not just a homeschooler.