Suitcase of Memories

I was destined to be a peacemaker. Doesn’t every family have one?

My family, with its traditional values, loving grandparents, and family heirlooms, has always provided a comfortable base and a home. My expectations were that my home and family would be safe, cozy, and unwavering.

What of words translated by a peacemaker, certain it was for me too? No protests, make a loving family, keep the peace. I was convinced it would be mine.

What of words from love, prideful of my values, celebrating my accomplishments, joyful for my happiness, and hopeful for my future?

Seasons change, years pass. I remember joyous moments of splendid solace with so much hopeful anticipation. I’ve learned one can search for serendipity, but it cannot be contrived. I remain hopeful beyond possibility.

What of words of hurtful intention—stinging, humiliating, torturous, and demeaning, as intended?

I am the peacemaker.

I must not be defeated.

Seven Brief Lessons on Computing

Have you ever looked down at your phone and wondered, “What’s going on in there?” If you’ve ever wondered how modern computers and digital devices work, Seven Brief Lessons on Computing takes you through an entertaining and educational journey of mankind’s desire to count, compare, and compute our world.

My Time with Astronauts

In this candid, courageous, and often unexpectedly funny memoir, Faby Kushner invites readers into a world of rocket launches, astronaut encounters, and the delicate art of rationing shrimp at cocktail parties.

But behind the glamour of shuttle missions, personal ties to space icons, and visits to NASA lies a deeper story, one shaped by challenge, reinvention, and quiet resilience. Faby faced unrelenting workplace gossip, the pain of divorce, and moments when life knocked her flat. And yet, through each setback, she rose, rebuilding her life piece by piece, discovering not just how to survive, but how to thrive.

This isn’t a story of perfection. It’s a story of perseverance. Of daring to believe that the best chapters might still lie ahead.

If you’ve ever found yourself staring down a version of life you didn’t ask for, this book offers more than just a glimpse of hope; it’s a witty, heartfelt reminder that reinvention is always possible, and joy can reappear when you least expect it.

Fire Within

Ava Celeste Hennessey's Fire Within is a poignant and stirring memoir that delves into the tumultuous life of a family striving to keep afloat amid the challenging times of the 70s and 80s. Set against the contrasting backdrops of New England’s biting cold and Maui’s embracing warmth, this narrative unfolds through the innocent yet perceptive eyes of a child, Ava.

Ava’s childhood is marked by a series of escapes from literal and metaphorical fires, painting a vivid picture of a family often ensnared in chaos and struggle. Despite the hardships, her story is not just about the trials but also about the unyielding spirit of a young girl. Ava’s perspective, tinged with a child’s tendency to romanticize, provides a unique lens to view the odd and sometimes disturbing behaviors of her family members.

Backyard Rehabbing

“Save some for Inky,” the Roper children chant at meal times after their father found and brought home an abandoned baby crow. Two years later, their parents find an injured wild bird, take it to a wildlife rehabilitator, and begin the process of becoming rehabilitators themselves. What they find is that the most difficult part of rehabbing is not working with the birds. The public, who know little about wild birds, can hamper a bird’s healing and even become a danger to their lives.

...a man saw an injured pigeon... “But I didn’t touch it,” the man said. “I didn’t want to catch rabies.” I explained to the man that rabies can be caught from...wild and domestic animals. Birds...cannot catch nor carry rabies. I then asked the man to pick up the bird and bring it to us in a covered box. “You want me to touch that bird?” the man asked...and hung up.

An injured bird may need immediate attention from the person who found it, and that could be YOU! Suggestions are included as to how to help the birds.

And So, We Dance

In And So, We Dance, Leigh loses herself in memories of her life and her wife’s cancer journey. The novel started out as a memoir, and then I began to hear Leigh (LL) and Lizzie’s (LiLiz) inner children talk to me. The magical elements that emerged soften the tragedy of losing a loved one. Blending emotional intimacy with quiet surrealism, the story explores lesbian love, grief, and the inner selves we call forth to help us navigate when everything else is lost.

Leigh finally comes out of the closet where she had lived since she was 15. She meets and marries the love of her life, Lizzie, only to face a battle much worse than closet dwelling. Lizzie’s cancer diagnosis turns their lives upside down. As Leigh loses herself in her memories, she finds her inner child in the body of a six-year-old hitchhiking on the highway, waiting for her. Little Leigh (LL) tries to help her through the battle she and Lizzie fight. Lizzie’s inner child, LiLiz, also joins, and the four struggle against the Stranger, cancer, who threatens their lives.

The author holds a PhD from Emory University, has studied under Anya Auchtenberg, and is a member of a weekly writing group and Pitch to Published. She is a published poet, and her book is entitled Journeys.

Main Character Energy

Unlock your potential and become the hero of your own story.

In a world where many people live on autopilot, following the expectations and scripts set by others, it’s time to break free and step into your true power. Main Character Energy: Reclaim Your Life and Live Authentically is your ultimate guide to transforming your mindset and embracing a life filled with purpose, confidence, and joy.

Inside this book, you’ll:

• Learn how societal conditioning and personal experiences can trap you in the NPC (Non-Playable Character) mindset, and identify the signs that you’re living someone else’s script. • Develop self-awareness and adopt a growth-oriented, main character mindset that empowers you to take control of your destiny.

• Establish healthy boundaries and integrate essential self-care practices into your daily routine to protect your well-being and fuel your success.

• Craft a compelling life story that reflects your true values, passions, and goals. Visualize and manifest your desired future with clarity and confidence.

• Create actionable plans, build effective routines, and stay accountable to your goals. Learn how to adapt and thrive through challenges and setbacks.

• Connect with like-minded individuals and communities that provide encouragement, accountability, and inspiration on your journey.

• Stay ahead with emerging practices and innovative tools that support your growth and well-being.

Empower yourself with the tools, strategies, and mindset shifts needed to reclaim your life and live authentically. Main Character Energy is not just a book; it’s a transformative journey to becoming the hero of your own story. Step into your power and transform your life today!

New Horizons in Astrology

Couture offers a transpersonal view of astrology. Rather than the planets’ apparent position to the Earth, he places them in position to the Sun. This would be a heliocentric view, and his work is dedicated to being of help for humanity in the development of a non-dualistic spirituality. This view is supported by the development of the quantum scientific viewpoint. I highly recommend this detailed view of astrology that promotes a sense of universal connectedness and interdependence, including empathy, social responsibility, and ethical action.

Justine Willis Toms

Co-founder, Creative Producer, Host

New Dimensions Radio

Nuworld Botanicals DIY Raw Skincare Recipes 2

Nuworld Botanicals DIY Raw Skincare Recipes 2 features simple, quick, and effective recipes you can easily create in your own kitchen. Perfect for DIY enthusiasts looking to experiment with vitamin-rich superfoods and natural ingredients for healthy, glowing skin, this book offers a practical guide to crafting high-quality skincare products.

Inside, you’ll find a handy how-to guide on natural plant-based AHAs and antioxidants, along with a superfood color guide for product inspiration. Whether you’re creating skincare for personal use or building a business, Natalie’s recipes are tested, proven, and retail-ready.

Conflict & Peace: At Home with Jesus

Those of Christian faith and those without all carry personalized perceptions about Jesus of Nazareth – some form of god and/or man who sojourned briefly on earth 20 centuries ago. Perspectives vary wildly. But few, whether of Christian or non-Christian persuasion, feel comfortable characterizing this Jesus as one who brashly declares that he came not to bring peace on earth… but rather division.

In this book, author Eric Hovee traces a seemingly never-ending Christian dialogue and practice that may espouse peace but often engages in conflict. The author explores this interplay through the lives, beliefs, and practices of 12 pioneers who helped shape Christianity as it has been handed down to us today. We begin with the contrasting perspectives of the four gospel writers – Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John – and continue with pivotal, yet sometimes conflicted, early church leaders such as Paul, James, Peter, Thomas, and Mary Magdalene. The journey then skips forward three centuries to the Roman Emperor Constantine, who sought to marry church and state, before moving another millennium ahead to Martin Luther, who sought to radically reform it all, and finally circles back to our starting point: Jesus, as the one who intended it all.

How best to experience conflict, and yet find peace? Every day and through every phase of human existence, there is an opportunity for resolution and partnership, in step and at home with Jesus. We seek a Jesus who consistently demonstrates that, just when we think we have the answers, new questions arise. When we feel we’ve run the race, we find we’ve only just begun.

When There Are Two Patients in One Body

In When There Are Two Patients in One Body, an experienced Labor and Delivery nurse shares a collection of birth stories, some joyful and others harrowing, that reveal profound life lessons from one of the most intense human experiences. While babies arrive either by vaginal delivery or caesarean section, each birth unfolds uniquely, whether as a momentous and thrilling event or an unexpected and life altering ordeal.

This book follows the author’s career, presenting a chronological journey through a diverse array of births, from routine and uneventful to tragic, each story interwoven with her personal reflections. Readers are drawn into the delivery room to witness the intimate details and drama of the birthing process, revealing the complexities of patients’ lives and circumstances.

As these stories unfold, readers gain insight into how factors such as healthcare access, race, culture, socioeconomic status, and education profoundly shape each birth experience. Beyond the joys and challenges, the author reveals that being a Labor and Delivery nurse is far more than just ‘a great job where you get to cuddle babies.’ It is a vocation that demands resilience, empathy, and an unflinching dedication to supporting patients through life’s pivotal moments.

Endorsement:

“Twenty-six years ago I was a brand-new intern on labor and delivery. The nurses rightfully didn’t trust us newbies.

Over the next four years, I became an OB/GYN under the direction of the attending doctors and hands-on nurses. In our first two years as fledgling doctors, we quickly learned that the nurses knew more than we did, and could make or break our experience. As we became part of the team, we all supported one another through the best days and the worst, for our patients and for us. I still hear some of their voices and advice.

Steph’s is one of them. Her stories are written just as they would sound over a beer or cup of coffee.”

– Jeanette Thomas, MD. Author of the blog Healing Is Hard. (www.healingishard.net)

Todor Todorov Karagochev

The pages of the novel resurrect before the reader the events of a hundred years ago from 1912 to 1925 in the Balkans, in particular, in Bulgaria during the two Balkan wars, the echo of which was the Great War, which drew all countries and continents into its orbit and gave birth to a lost generation.

Three wars led to dramatic events in Bulgaria: a coup d’état and the establishment of despotism, against which the heroes of the country rise to fight. Brave, fearless, daring, elusive, they defy the executioner’s power and prepare the people for the uprising to overthrow the junta. The noble at heart and free spirited, they wage a heroic battle for freedom, risking their lives to save the life of another.

It is a hymn to the beauty of nature of the Balkans. It is a wide panorama of life of the era and society. It is based on real events. It is dedicated to the memory of Alexander Stamboliysky, it is dedicated to the memory of all the freedom fighters of all the times and countries.