Lyon Book Promotions Welcomes Author & Recovery Coach, Roger Stark …

June 25, 2016June 25, 2016 Catherine Lyon Author/Writer Author News, Featured Guest, New Book & Author Press Release addiction recovery writer, Author Roger Stark, Co-author Irwin Morse, featured spotlight, new author to lyon book promotions, New Book, press release

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Author, Roger Stark writes addiction/recovery books, with two under his belt so far. His first release is titled; “The Water Fall Concept, A Blueprint for Addiction Recovery.” His most recent new book has just released early June 2016 titled; “Reclaiming Your Addicted Brain: A Recovery GPS: How to find your path to recovery and not get lost.” Both books are available in e-book and paperback and sold online on Amazon.com, Amazon Kindle Store, and on the author’s websites: The Waterfall Concept & Reclaiming Your Addicted Brain .

Now one of my favorite social media places believe it or not is over on LinkedIn! This is where Roger and I connected. He sent me a message ‘begging me’ to help him promote his new book, well, …. OK, he didn’t quite beg, but he did ask about my promotion services! LOL. LOL. Here is more about both of his books and a wee bit more about him and his co-author, Irwin Morse ….

About The Book Waterfall Concept:

This is an addicts owner’s manual. It is truly a blueprint for recovery. It is a practical description of addiction and what must be done to recover. Whether the struggle is drugs, alcohol, gambling, pornography or any other sexual addiction, it is all covered in this book. It is written with the understanding that only an addict/clinician can have It is the book I wish had been given to me the day I realized, I was in fact, an addict.

In my own recovery from addiction, in my studies which qualified me to practice as an addiction counselor and in my ensuing work with addicts, I have been taught. What I have come to understand is presented here.

Are you seeking to understand addiction or looking to find recovery? Please, let us help. Our goal is to help you understand the mess addiction is.

The Waterfall Concept, A blueprint for addiction recovery, is the new standard in LDS addiction recovery books. It provides insights that give understanding to addiction and well as solutions that lead to recovery. It was written by a recovering addict and trained addiction counselor who combines his life experience, education, cases studies and clinical best practices to produce a truly unique recovery guide.
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The Waterfall Concept
(click book to Amazon)

About The New Book Reclaiming Your Addicted Brain:

Inexplicable logic is normal fare in addict land. Friends and family are baffled by the behaviors, antics, and thinking of the addicted one. Their patience, tolerance, and love are depleted quickly. Eventually, their empathy and compassion exhausted, they say the inevitable, “He will just have to hit bottom,” as they shake their heads and walk away.

The tool of self-destruction so effectively wielded by the addict is his own mind. The addict takes a perfectly good brain and, by relying on thinking errors, rationalization, justification, and every form of denial known to man, creates an addict where a person used to be.

“Reclaiming Your Addicted Brain” reviews the return journey from addict land, the learning of how to leave our thinking errors behind. Written around the recovery story of one man from alcohol and sex addiction, clinical notes, and comments appear throughout the story helping the reader to understand this baffling disease. Addicts report being able to see their own behaviors that were previously hidden from them when they are manifest in someone else. Reading George’s (the book’s addicted character) story and misadventures creates ‘aha’ moments of understanding that can open the doors to recovery.

This is definitely a “How To” book. George presents his “legs of a stool” analogy that eloquently describe the needed steps to recovery. The clinician’s voice adds step by step directions on how to gain the key ‘Skills of Recovery.”

Reclaiming Your Addicted Brain: A Recovery GPS: How to find your path to Recovery and not get lost along the way
(click book to Amazon)

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About The Author:

Roger and his wife Susan live in the Pacific Northwest in the great State of Washington.

Roger is an avid bicyclist. Married to his wife Susan for over 45 years, they raised seven children, have eight grandchildren with two more on the way. He and Susan love to travel and see the sites and cultures of the world. They indulge in the sport of Geocaching on their travels. Roger works as a licensed addiction counselor in the State of Washington, (CDP), and is Founder of The Waterfall Concept, located in Vancouver, WA. Visit his website for all the services he offers: Waterfall Concept .

Roger also offers Mini-Camps through Reveille, Awaken To Recovery.

Designed specifically for addicts, their families and helpers, Reveille Speaking Engagements and Mini-Camps are intensive recovery experiences. The curriculum brings understanding by making sense of the addiction mess and provides the solutions that make recovery possible. These events are specially designed for those who have struggled to find healing or have experienced treatment failure.

Mini-Camps are cost-free and work on:

Education – Understanding the disease
Planning — Charting the Recovery Path
Goals — Outlining the goals of recovery
Change — How compulsions are extinguished
Helpers — The helpers role
Rules of Recovery — The rules that lead to recovery
Benchmarks — How we measure success
12 Step Work – The key to spiritual healing
Skill Building — Raising the ability to change
Tool Gathering – Acquiring the tools of recovery

Usual Suspects — These guarantee recovery failure

“Bring your desire to change, we will show you how.”

About The C0-Author, Irwin Morse:

“Reclaiming your Addicted Brain” is Irwin Morse’s first writing effort. Irwin writes about addiction and recovery from the perspective of his first-hand experiences. This book includes events from his life including his 26-year journey of recovery, some of those events successful, many not. He shares his experiences in an effort to be true to Step 12 of Alcoholics Anonymous: to reach out to the addict who still suffers. Irwin was born and raised in New York and has traveled extensively, including living overseas. He currently resides in the South and is an active supporter of both the AA and SAA communities there. You can learn more on his website: Reclaim Your Addicted Brain . . . .

Now, I have been working closely with Roger for past the few weeks, and I can tell you he has a great sense of humor and down to earth. I just finished reading his first book, Waterfall Concept and my is it truly a guide to a successful recovery for those who are in early recovery. Great advice and resources in this book! I also have just started his new book with Irwin, and so far it is an exceptional read. Here are a couple book reviewers take on just how well written and fantastic both books are!

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Book Reviews:

WaterFall Concept: “Packed with helpful suggestions”

Format: Paperback

“This is an excellent book, filled with information and suggestions to help someone as they struggle with addiction recovery.

Roger Stark is not only an addiction counselor and a recovering addict himself. He approaches this book with the same attitude required of anyone attempting recovery — humility. He offers so many tools in this book and covers all the bases: spiritual, emotional, physical. His suggestions progress from the easiest to follow early recovery techniques to more challenging techniques in later stages and the maintenance phase.

Stark clearly defines what an addict is and describes how they got to their place of addiction. I found it to be a good book for any parent who may have a child that is beginning to use drugs or alcohol as a coping technique for their feelings. I think many of the suggestions could be used as preventative tools, not only as recovery tools.

Stark is positive and encouraging throughout the book. He helps put relapses into perspective so they can become learning experiences rather than stumbling blocks.

What I loved most about his book is that many of his techniques are helpful overall life skills. Anyone can benefit from learning and incorporating the suggestions for coping, self-care, and expressing feelings.

The book had a lot of grammar and punctuation mistakes that made the reader have to work a little too hard. But it was well worth the effort. I strongly recommend this book to anyone, those who are currently in addiction recovery, parents, or anyone looking to become healthier emotionally.

Review of Reclaiming Your Addicted Brain: “Great Resource”

Format: Kindle Edition

“This is a great book about the addict brain and the crazy rationalizations. The book does a great job of helping everyone see how an addict convinces him/herself to act out and not see anything wrong with it. The author offers great advice and sound steps on how to combat this faulty thinking and behavior. I would highly recommend for anyone suffering from addiction.”

.Connect With Roger on Social Media here:

Twitter: @author_RStark
Facebook: Waterfall Concept FB
Facebook: Reclaim Your Addicted Brain FB
Google+ Circle and connect on Follow on GoodReads

Again I Welcome Roger to “Lyon Book & Social Media Promotions!”
Author/Columnist, Catherine Townsend-Lyon

Press Release ~ New Book “Reclaiming Your Addicted Brain”

June 17, 2016June 17, 2016 Catherine Lyon Author/Writer Author News, New Book & Author Press Release, News Around The Web Amazon Kinde, Author Roger Stark, Co-author Irwin Morse, New Book Release, PR, Reclaim Your Addicted Brain

Author, Roger Stark & Co-Author, Irwin Morse Release New Book.

Lyon Book Promotions announces a new addiction/recovery book release by Author, Roger and Co-author Irwin Morse titled, “Reclaiming Your Addicted Brain: A Recovery GPS: How to find your path to Recovery and not get lost along the way.” Now available on Amazon in The Kindle store and now in paperback and available on their website: Reclaiming Your Addicted Brain

Phoenix, Arizona, June 16th, 2016., Lyon Book & Social Media Promotions is pleased to announce that Author, Roger Stark and Co-author, Irwin Morse are now featured on the popular book site Lyon Book & Social Media Promotions – joining the ranks of many fine authors we represent and promote. As featured recovery writers, we are honored to showcase their books here on Lyon Book Promotions. Also, at Lyon Promotions, book fans can browse and search all our authors and their new releases, read book reviews, and learn more about new authors from our “Author Spotlights.”

Stark of Washington state and Morse of New York are currently promoting “Reclaiming Your Addicted Brain.” A fantastic recovery “how to guide” about friends and family who are baffled by the behaviors, antics, and thinking of the addicted one. Their patience, tolerance, and love are depleted quickly. Eventually, their empathy and compassion exhausted, they say the inevitable, “He will just have to hit bottom,” as they shake their heads and walk away. “Reclaiming Your Addicted Brain” reviews the return journey from addict land, the learning of how to leave our thinking errors behind.

Written around the recovery story of one man from alcohol and sex addiction, clinical notes, and comments appear throughout the story helping the reader to understand this baffling disease. Addicts report being able to see their behaviors that were previously hidden from them when they are manifest in someone else. Reading George’s (the book’s addicted character) story and misadventures creates ‘aha’ moments of understanding that can open the doors to recovery.

Visit Stark’s at Reclaim Website and connect with them on their Facebook Page as well. Like many other authors, Stark and Morse are making use of the exceptional promoting services for writers to market their books.

Launched in May 2013, Author, Catherine Lyon of Lyon Book Promotions has rapidly become a leading source to help new authors learn how to promote and market their books here: Lyon Book & Social Media Promotions

PRESS CONTACTS:
Author & Recovery Coach/roger@waterfallconcept.org
Lyon Book & Social Media Promotions/LyonMedia@aol.com

My Guest Today is PR Expert Marsha Friedman.

June 15, 2016June 15, 2016 Catherine Lyon Author/Writer Book Promotion Tips For Authors, Featured Guest, Marketing and More, Posts Author Marsha Friedman, Branding, EMSI PR Firm, Guest Articles, Mainstream Media, PR Firm, PR Insider, Social Media Tips

I am excited and honored to have my good friend back, PR Expert Marsha Friedman from “The PR Insider.” Marsha is CEO of http://emsincorporated.com/about-emsi/, an award-winning, top national public relations agency; EMSI has been delivering highly specialized publicity campaigns for over two decades. “Our specialty is creating angles we know the media will want to cover and will obtain quality media exposure for our clients.” Marsha is a lot like me, as she enjoys helping others by sharing many Social Media tips and advice through her awesome newsletter which I get each week, and highly suggest all authors do on when you visit her website.

She happened to share a couple of articles this past week that I felt needed to be shared as it stress’ the importance of media and social media as part of your book promoting platform or brand. Since I book promote throughout social media, because as we all know, many authors can not afford to hire a PR Firm. So let’s see what advice Marsha has for us today …

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* When Media Opportunities Knock, Swing Your Door Wide Open! *

One piece of PR advice that I have shared with clients over the years is that they need to take advantage of every media opportunity they possibly can no matter how big or small.

Why? Because the media follow the media – or in more generic terms, one thing leads to another!

Here’s what I mean: Members of the media routinely check what topics other members of the media are reporting about and who they are using as sources. If they see that some other media outlet has made use of your expertise, they are more likely to view you as credible and someone they might want to turn to as an authority on your subject.

Just within the last week we experienced a terrific example of this phenomenon when one of our EMSI clients wrote an opinion piece we got published in the New York Daily News.

After the piece appeared, our client was sitting down to dinner with his wife when his cell phone rang.

On the line was someone from MSNBC, calling to check on whether he might be available to be interviewed for the network’s “Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell” show.

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The reason he made their list of potential guests: Someone at MSNBC had seen that New York Daily News article. One thing had led to another!

So with that in mind, what are some steps you can take to improve the chances of getting the media to follow the media that’s following you? Here are a few:

Be prepared to say “Yes!” to interview requests. You’re right! I’m back to the advice I opened this piece with, but it’s an important bit of advice. The first step for a good publicity campaign is to get on the playing field. If you aren’t in the game, then nothing is going to happen. In my experience, the people who have some of the best publicity campaigns are those willing to snatch every opportunity that arises, from the local weekly newspaper to major broadcast operations. Momentum can’t build if you don’t get the ball rolling and keep it rolling.
Be willing to step outside your core message. Often, much to our frustration, clients turn down media interview requests because they don’t see the reporter’s angle as the right fit for them. These clients have specific messages they want to push, and though they are qualified to discuss the topic the reporter is calling about, they view doing so as getting “off message” or being outside their comfort zone. So they pass. I think that’s a mistake. Not only do they miss out on another opportunity to get their name out there, but with a little skill they can steer the interview toward what it is they really want to say.
Link your topic to current events. This one might be the most important of all! At EMSI, we regularly follow what’s happening in the news to see if we can tie a client’s message to something that’s trending. Is there a change in Social Security that a financial planner could discuss? Is there new medical research that a doctor could weigh in on? You can do this too by following Google Trends or other online resources that will keep you abreast of what everyone is talking about. Then you can pitch yourself to the media using a breaking news angle. One major reason our client drew the attention of MSNBC is because his New York Daily News article connected his message about branding to the current presidential election.

Another thing worth keeping in mind is you need to stay persistent in your efforts and not expect quick results. Unless you happen to be incredibly lucky, one article is unlikely to do the trick. The more you take advantage of opportunities, the more your name is out there and the better the odds that the larger media operations will take notice.

Of course, when that happens, you better be ready! Media opportunities don’t knock every day ….

“Now here is the other article I feel is very important to all authors when out promoting your books. Social Media is a great place to be and Marsha tells us WHY.”

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* The Key Ingredients To Developing A Social Media Strategy *

It’s hardly a secret that, if you’re promoting a brand like let’s say books, a great tool at your disposal is all the social media sites that have sprung up over the last several years and continue to flourish, such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Google+, and others.

But, as I hope everyone also knows by now, it’s easy – much too easy – to make brand-damaging mistakes on social media if you’re not careful. Big mistakes!

In fact, if your aim is to promote your brand successfully, you shouldn’t even attempt social media without a carefully planned strategy. The willy-nilly approach won’t do it, and you even could end up in worse shape than before you started.

So how does someone go about developing a social media strategy that works?

Glad you asked!

To answer the question, as I often do in such circumstances, I turned to one of the team members here at EMSI for assistance. In this case, it was Jay York, our senior social media strategist, who understands the nuances of social media and how to make the best use of social media’s advantages while avoiding the disadvantages.

Jay says these four steps are critical as you develop your social media strategy:

Identify your target audience. It’s important to decide just who it is you are trying to reach because that will affect the subsequent steps in your strategy. For example, knowing the likes and needs of your target audience will help determine the type of content you share on social media. If you sell a pricey item for teenagers, for instance, your target audience might actually be their parents who have the money and the final say on purchasing decisions.
Choose the social media platforms you’ll use. Each social media platform appeals to a difference type of audience, though there definitely is overlap. Each attracts niche audiences that may or may not be useful to your brand. For example, Instagram might not be the right choice for you unless you’re promoting a lifestyle product to Millennials and Generation Xers. If you are in search of Baby Boomers, Facebook would be a good place to look because that’s far and away their favorite social media platform.
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Solidify your content strategy. Once you know your target audience and the platforms you will use to reach them, it’s time to focus on your content. You want to develop a stream of content that will be relevant and valuable to the right individuals through the right channels. Here’s where it’s important to remember that each social media platform has different ways of handling and displaying content. It’s not a one-size-fits-all approach. Twitter puts a limit on the number of characters you can use, yet there are still ways to get across a timely, interesting and valuable message. Facebook allows room for more detailed messages. Regardless of the platform, variety is important. Don’t just post links, for example. Your content should be a mixture of links, images, videos, and articles.
Define how you’ll network. Once your social media strategy is in place, you’ll want to attract and increase your following. Determining how and when you’ll do that is important. Will you follow like-minded people in an effort to get them to follow you back, or will you let your content do the talking to attract new followers? With Facebook, perhaps you would want to consider purchasing social media advertisements to help keep your momentum going.
Finally, Jay emphasizes that consistency is incredibly important. You can’t post on social media once a week or once every two weeks and expect followers to start multiplying as if by magic.

It simply won’t happen!

Your social media platforms need tender, daily care, because once you’ve grabbed your audience’s attention, you don’t want to lose it. That doesn’t mean cluttering their news feed with an avalanche of posts, but it does mean checking in regularly to remind your followers of what you have to offer and that you’ll be there when they need you.

Strategically yours!

Marsha!

You can connect with Marsha on Social Media to stay up to date on more PR Insider Tips and Advice below:

Website at EMSI: emsincorporated.com
@EMSIPR
Facebook
LinkedIn
Follow on Twitter

Now Orlando? Action On Gun Laws Needed NOW!

June 13, 2016June 13, 2016 Catherine Lyon Author/Writer A Writer's Thoughts, Just A Blog Post, News Around The Web Gun Laws, Mass Shooting, Orlando, Prayers, Senseless Act

Here we go again! Another mass shooting in Orlando and again, NO GUN CONTROL LAWS passed. Here is my rage I posted on Facebook when I heard on CNN another shooting has happened in Orlando, FL.

MY FACEBOOK POST:

‎Catherine Townsend-Lyon Author‎ to Catherine Lyon

12 hrs ·

“My thoughts and prayers to the families and those passed and wounded in another senseless shooting in Orlando, FL. … I posted this on my Author FB page first thing this morning. My heart goes out to those still looking for their loved that were inside the nightclub until all victims are accounted for” ….

OK, when is enough going to be enough? Was The San Bernardino Shooting a “Wake Up Call” that shootings will not stop unless we begin to change, add or enforce the “Gun Control Laws” in this Country?

How passing a bill to close the F _ _ KING loop-holes at “Gun Trade Shows and Internet Sales?”

NRA’ers you can complain all you want that any bill passed will take away your guns?

Bullshit!

I am getting really TIRED of That EXCUSE!!

It is called “Gun CONTROL” PEOPLE, not “GUN Take Away” … I’m sure any of those who think just because a bill is passed we are trying to take your guns away when deep down YOU know that is not the case!

I am pretty Damn SURE ONE of the 50 people in this nightmare was YOUR wife, husband, son, daughter or someone you love was KILLED, your opinion about “Gun Control” would change real fast.

We can not afford more “DEAD BODIES OR MORE CARNAGE LIKE THIS!!!”
PASS GUN CONTROL LAWS NOW!!! It is time!

Catherine Townsend-Lyon Author & Lyon Book Promotions by Author Catherine Lyon

50 dead in Florida nightclub shooting, worst in US history

A gunman wielding an assault-type rifle and a handgun opened fire inside a crowded Florida nightclub early Sunday, killing at least 50 people before dying in a gunfight with SWAT officers, police said. It was the worst mass shooting in American history.…

MSN.COM

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OF Course, there were some comments left. But, it was interesting how it was kept civil and we all were able to agree to disagree on our feelings without Nastiness or HATE.
It was just a very Healthy Debate.

COMMENTS:

Christine Campbell so awful…..how much warning do we need

Unlike · 1 · 22 hrs

Catherine Townsend-Lyon Author I Know!!! And I am SO tired of the gun owners saying they are afraid that if any gun control laws are passed that it will mean the government will take away guns when they KNOW that is not going to happen! Tired of The NRA scaring people into thinking that will happen when it won’t!

Like · Reply · 22 hrs

Catherine Townsend-Lyon Author Thank You for Sharing!!

Like · Reply · 22 hrs

Christine Campbell anytime we were warned not if but when?

Unlike · Reply · 1 · 22 hrs

Trey Clarke There has never been a gun involved crime where the gun acted alone. There is always a “person” behind it. Although, it is far easier to “control” or take away, or “gun grab” the weapon than it is to predict the “criminal” intent of a person or the lunacy of the mentally impaired soul.

I am a member of the NRA. I was raised around gun-toting rednecks and not once did any of us killed one person or a large number of them.
Nor did our guns act of their own accord.
Guns can be controlled. People can’t, to an extent. It is a slippery slope. But, I agree; there is a need for some RATIONAL control.
But, remember this….
If a madman wants to kill, he WILL.

Unlike · Reply · 1 · 22 hrs

Catherine Townsend-Lyon Author Well, I agree but Let’s Just see if “The Mad Man” has Mental illness of some kind and HE should not be able to have a gun to do this Carnage … That’s the whole Point ….

Like · Reply · 1 · 21 hrs

Trey Clarke Oh yes. He was definitely mad.
RELIGION.
And no, he shouldn’t have had access to a gun.
Problem is, he was an American citizen by birth. He “enjoyed” the same rights as all citizens. The problem is he was “radicalized” and appears from early reports that he was a little cracked.
Mark my words, Cat… Catherine Townsend-Lyon Author.
1) There will be an increase in troop involvement in the middle east.
2) There will be escalation of huge proportions in air raids to the extent where the welfare of non-combatants will no longer be a concern.
3) There will be a be a more insistent call for Muslim registration. (circa WWII)
4) Internment
Watch and see

Unlike · Reply · 1 · 21 hrs ·

Catherine Townsend-Lyon Author Look, I too was raised around guns as a teen, my brother-in-law was Military Police and a County Sheriff in So. Cal. and he and I would go target shooting out in the country. And, he was a member of the NRA.

But he understood the other side of things …

Like · Reply · 21 hrs

Catherine Townsend-Lyon Author Isn’t it awesome that we all can have this discussion, and maybe agree to disagree on some points without any hate speech or some feeling it is their way or NO Way???
Important aspect of a Healthy Debate & Conversation right Trey Clarke <3“-)

Like · Reply · 1 · 21 hrs

Trey Clarke That’s because we are intelligent

Unlike · Reply · 1 · 21 hrs

Catherine Townsend-Lyon Author LOL.. Of Course! <3

Rebecca J Detar · Friends with Jennifer Owenby

It’s the HEARTS of the people. Controlling guns will not fix the problem. Evil is in the hearts of these people. They will find another way!

Unlike · Reply · 2 · 21 hrs

Catherine Townsend-Lyon Author YES, they may find another way, but if we have laws it makes it Harder for it to be “The Way of a GUN.”

Unlike · Reply · 1 · 21 hrs

Patrick Ferguson 🙏🏿🙏🏿🙏🏿🙏🏿

Unlike · Reply · 1 · 18 hrs

Catharine MacDonald · Friends with Carol Weir

Why are assault rifles available anyway? Last I heard, the deer weren’t shooting back.

Unlike · Reply · 1 · 16 hrs

Catherine Townsend-Lyon Author RIGHT??? Makes no sense.

Michelle Redmon You can go door to door collect every gun. People will find a way to hurt others. They can go to their local feed store etc, pick up fertilizer or some other chemical and make a bomb like they did in Oklahoma City and do way more destruction. Evil will always be with us. Look out for one another. Don’t be afraid to report suspicious activity. Protect your neighbors, your fellow-man!

Unlike · Reply · 1 · 13 hrs

Catherine Townsend-Lyon Author AMEN Michelle! You are correct. When people have Hate in their Hearts, they will and can find another was to hurt others. I do feel, and I am not a religion nut, all need to read The Book of Revelations in the Bible …. it does say how our world and society will change and become full of evil … I feel it is coming to pass. Very Sad ..

Like · Reply · 1 · 12 hrs

Michelle Redmon

Like · Reply · 12 hrs

Michelle Redmon Catherine Townsend-Lyon Author we need each other to love but to be wary of our surroundings. Our country is dividing instead of coming together like a neighborhood watch.

Unlike · Reply · 1 · 12 hrs

Catherine Townsend-Lyon Author Very true. But it seems NO one wants to get involved these days. Very sad. You see it on the news all the time when a shooting happens and police and investigators go door to door asking if they seen anything, they are fearful to come forward. People need to be aware of what is going on and Report It …

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SEE, people can have passion about how they feel and not have to rude or full of hate to carry on a healthy conversation. We were all made different for a reason, but we can all agree to disagree in kind friendly manner. Now I want to share below a post made, and also what I had seen on the news about someone who was looking for a person, who ended up one of the victims that died and the last communication he had with his mom. It so heartbreaking!!!

“A young man who is now confirmed dead sent this text to his mum from inside the club:

“Mommy I love you”

“I’m in club they are shooting.”

She shared the text message exchange with the Associated Press, in which her son told her that he was trapped in the bathroom at Pulse, and asked her to call the police. The 9-1-1 dispatcher had her stay on the line.

At 2:39 a.m., the most devastating texts began to come:
“Call them mommy / Now. / He’s coming / I’m gonna die”…

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“So what are your thoughts and feelings about this tragedy? How do you think we can make changes be it Gun Control Laws or other means to hopefully stop these tragic shootings and events from happening so often? Is this just the society we live in these days? Can we ever have Harmony and Peace in our World? I scratch my head and think? How as people did we get to this point in our society? Can we ever go back to the “Good Ole Days ?”

“With the internet and tech explosion, I really don’t think so. Is this more of a religious thing? Like the writings in The Bible of The Book of Revelations and the last days on earth? I don’t have a clue, but many things in the last few decades seems to be happening. Just my opinion and how I see our world. Share your thoughts” …

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“My Thoughts, Prayers, and Sympathies to the families who lost a loved one in this tragic shooting. And to those hurt as well a speedy recovery. No words can ever take the place of what you went through in that night club. Just know YOU ARE NOT ALONE” ….

Fox Orlando Shooting ….

Prayers to the victims accounted for so far ….

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Author, Catherine Townsend-Lyon & Lyon Book Promotions

Guest Author Article by John White. Turn That Career Around Into SUCCESS Author’s and Business People.

June 4, 2016June 4, 2016 Catherine Lyon Author/Writer Featured Guest, Featured Guest Writer Career Power Tips, Failure Not An Option, Guest John White, How To, Success

I Thought My Career Was Over Until I Did These 5 Things ~Here are 5 tips to turn your career around.

BY JOHN WHITE

Founder and CMO, Social Marketing Solutions @juanblanco76

(CREDIT: Getty Images)

It was just over three years ago that I thought my career was over.

I remember the exact moment well: There I sat in my drab, mundane-looking cubicle, which sat in the middle of a rather large call center. Most days I could drown out the noise.

However, on that day, the sound of what seemed like 1,000 simultaneous conversations going on left me unable to focus. I sat there with my head buried in my hands.

You see, I had just realized at that very moment that the company I had recently joined was far more dysfunctional than the one I had just left.

This wasn’t the first time I had left a job to go to another company in hopes of greener grass only to end up being worse off than I was before. I was depressed and unhappy to think that a career that only a few years before had looked quite promising was in jeopardy of going nowhere, and I felt like a complete failure.

I needed to do something to change the course I was on, and it wasn’t simply to change companies again. I attribute reversing my career path to five things.

1. Take ownership of your career.

Up until that point, I had been quick to blame external factors for my unhappiness and the shortcomings in my career. I put the blame on things like bad management, company policy, poor timing, etc.

The result is that I stopped improving as a professional, and if I’m honest, I probably regressed a bit.

Making a change in your career is tough. However, perhaps the hardest part is admitting that you need to change yourself to make the career change you desire.

2. Be bold.

If doing things the way you’ve always done them has gotten you to the point in your career where you’re feeling like a failure, it’s time to try something new and bold.

For me, that was starting a blog. Before I started my blog on LinkedIn just over two years ago, the only people who had ever read my writing were my college professors and my mother.

In fact, there was almost nobody from my inner circle telling me I should start a blog. I decided to do it anyway.

Can a blog change your career? After a few of my blog posts went viral on LinkedIn and received over a million page views, I began to get offers to write professionally, which led to the start of my company and the career path I’m on now.

3. Continue your education.

For me, that meant getting an MBA at age 39. I needed additional skills and knowledge to move ahead in my career.

I reached the point where I was no longer learning in my position. I needed an outside source to inspire me to develop the new skills I lacked, which was preventing me from reaching my career goals.

You don’t have to pursue a fancy degree from a formal institution. In today’s online world, there are all sorts of ways to further your learning and gain the skills you need to move ahead: certificate programs, short-term courses, webinars, online learning programs, etc.

4. Become entrepreneurial.

You don’t have to quit your day job! However, if you’re like I was and you feel stuck in a position where your skills are being underutilized, consider doing some consulting work or starting a side business.

Doing so could lead you to several positive career outcomes: additional income added skills that you can use to gain a more fulfilling position or a successful startup that ultimately replaces your corporate job.

Today, I’m working with two startups–my own Social Marketing Solutions, a social media marketing agency, and beBee, a high-growth business social-media and blogging network with 11 million users.

5. Get social.

Before I invested in social media, I was always the one reaching out to people about opportunities. My networking activities were 100 percent outbound-based.

Once I started to grow my online community and produce insightful content, a significant shift occurred: People began to contact me. In fact, all of the business for my company has come from my online activities. Instead of me always being the one to initiate contact, now people regularly seek me out to discuss opportunities.

While my career journey is far from complete, I now feel as though my work is appreciated, meaningful, and fulfilling. I’ve stopped blaming external factors and switching jobs when things don’t go my way.

“I finally realized that when it comes to my career, the grass is as green as I make it.”

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About John White & Social Marketing Solutions:

Columnist at INC Magazine. Founder and CMO, Social Marketing Solutions LLC.

Social Marketing Solutions, (SMS) is located in historic Old Town Fort Collins, Colorado, servicing clients locally, nationally, and internationally. SMS specializes in online branding utilizing today’s latest inbound marketing tactics to tell your brand story to potential customers, making it easier for them to find your website and purchase your products or services.

“Marketing is no longer about pushing a product, rather it’s the stories you tell about your brand value that sets you apart from the competition.”

Connect with them for more tips on Twitter
Over on Facebook
And with John White on LinkedIn or Email John: juanblanco61@gmail.com

Congrats To Author, Jodi A. Wright on All Her Book Awards! How Many?

May 31, 2016May 31, 2016 Catherine Lyon Author/Writer Author News, Featured Guest, Updates and More Author Jodi A Wright, Author News, Fabulous Book Awards, New Zealand Writer

What can be a better feeling than your first published book in your hands? How about many, many Book Awards! Congrats Jodi A. Wright ….

It sometimes takes the craft of being a writer with a beautiful imagination to create an Award Winning Book. That is exactly what New Zealand Author, J. A. Wright has done with her new release titled; “How To Grow An Addict.” Here are some of the awards she has won so far. So, you know her book is fantastic.

How to Grow an Addict: a novel (She Writes Press)

2016 Bronze Medal – Literary Fiction (IPPY) Independent Publisher Book Awards
2016 International Book Awards – Winner in Addiction & Recovery
2016 Winner NIEA Awards – Addiction & Recovery
2015 INDIEFAB Book of the Year Award – Finalist for General Fiction
2015 USA Best Book Awards – Finalist for General Fiction
2015 Best Book of year – Redbook

Like many authors and writers, Jodi does have a day job. She works and helps put on the The New Zealand International Jazz & Blues Festival … (This is their Facebook page.) Check out their website here: NW Jazz and Blues Festival She is also a mom and lives life in recovery like myself. So Let’s learn more about her writing and an excerpt share of her award-winning book

Targeted Age Group: Women

What Inspired You to Write Your Book?

I wanted to write a book that accurately reflects the impact a dysfunctional family can have on a sensitive child. I know many recovering drug addicts and alcoholics who lived in a state of despair for years before hitting bottom and getting help. Most of them came from a family similar to the one outlined in my novel. I’ve been in recovery from drug addiction for more than 30 years, and I’ve had for the past fifteen I could (should) write a story that non-users could relate to, and that problem drinkers and drug users could identify with.

How Did You Come up With Your Characters?

This might sound weird, but a few of them came to me. I think Randall began talking to me years before I began writing about her. Some of the other characters, such as her father, are based on men I’ve known throughout my life (unfortunately).

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*Book Sample of ~ How to Grow an Addict: An Award Winning Novel*
Excerpt from Chapter 10

Aunt Flo got married again in February of 1989, only this time she married a man with “real money,” according to Dad. Arnold Smythe and Aunt Flo had a Valentine’s Day wedding at a fancy yacht club not far from his house in Malibu. It took an hour and a half for us to get there. That’s an hour and a half of Dad driving while swigging from a fifth of Jack Daniels and listening to his favorite Waylon Jennings cassette so loud that it was almost impossible for me to talk to Mom about why I shaved my legs even though she’d told me not to. I’d been asking her for months about shaving because I knew lots of girls who were thirteen who shaved their legs and underarms, and some who even shaved their privates. I begged Mom to let me shave and even made her have a close look at my legs one day, outside in the sunshine, but she said there wasn’t enough hair on them to shave off. She told me to rub my legs with lotion.

I tried the lotion but it didn’t do much to hide the hairs, and although I did my best to ignore it, I found myself thinking about it all the time. Sometimes at school, I’d sneak off to the bathroom just to have a look at what was happening with my leg hairs. On the morning of the wedding, I found ten new little black hairs on my right shin. I thought about plucking them out like I’d done to the ones on my left leg, but there wasn’t time, so I used Dad’s razor while I was in the bathroom. I’d watched Dad shave a few times, so I knew I was supposed to put shaving cream on my skin first, but the shaving cream can was empty so I just used water. It took forever for the bleeding to stop, and even though I put flesh-colored Band-Aids on the seven or eight places where my skin had come off, red was showing through them. Mom noticed right away. She yelled at me most of the morning. “I went to a lot of trouble and spent a lot of money on that beautiful dress you have on. Now no one is going to notice because they’ll be too distracted by your bloody shin.”

The outfit Mom bought for me was a bright yellow satin midi dress, complete with shoulder pads and puffed sleeves. She got it because she thought it matched the purple satin mini-dress she’d bought for herself. Dad was supposed to wear the tuxedo she rented for him but he didn’t. Instead, he wore his black jeans and cowboy boots and put a brown suit jacket on, but only after Mom insisted he wear one. Aunt Flo gave Dad a dirty look when she saw him and mentioned something about his bad dress sense and bad manners. She loved my outfit, though, said it was a nice style for me. “Not many people can wear lemon yellow as well as you. And with those beautiful earrings you look like a princess.” She also liked my red headband and lip gloss, and she didn’t mention my Band-Aids.

A few people did ask me about my leg, and I told them about a stray dog that had attacked me when I was taking the garbage out the night before. I think they believed me. Even if they didn’t, after my second glass of champagne, I didn’t care. I was dancing by myself next to the bar when I saw Mom motion me over to the reception hall kitchen area. “You promised to help me pass out wedding cake, remember?” she said. “Sure Mom, I’m only here to serve,” I laughed.

I winked at Mom as I picked up two plates of wedding cake and tucked little forks under the cake like she suggested. I was about to walk out to the reception hall to pass them out when I heard her say, “Don’t forget the napkins—and why are you so happy? Have you been drinking?” “Just the glass of champagne Aunt Flo gave me for the toast,” I lied.

Mom gave me her half-grin, eyebrows-up stare, the one she always gave me when she was upset with me, but I didn’t respond. Instead, I picked up a third plate and placed it a bit higher up on my forearm and pretended I was one of the Denny’s waitresses I often admired—the ones who could carry four or five plates at one time, cradling them all the way up their arms. I was doing a pretty good job passing out cake until I slipped and dropped a piece at the feet of Aunt Flo’s maid of honor, Helen, and it got all over her silver shoes. While I was stooped over trying to pick up the cake, I heard Helen tell Aunt Flo that I was either drunk or a complete spastic and that I shouldn’t be allowed to hand out anything.

“I’m sorry, Helen, the plate just slipped out of my hand,” I said.
The next second Mom came running out from the kitchen with a dish towel and bent down to wipe the icing from Helen’s shoes. Helen told her to stop and took over cleaning her own shoes. “You should attend to your daughter. She doesn’t look well,” Helen said. Mom pushed me into the ladies’ room. “What’s wrong with you? No one gets drunk from one little glass of champagne. You’d better not let your dad see you in this condition,” she said.
“He’s too wasted to notice,” I replied. “He might be, but I’m not,” she said.

She made me splash water on my face and said I needed to get something in my stomach, including a cup of coffee.
The buffet table had so many different types of food on it that I couldn’t decide what to eat, so I just stared at the chicken until Mom jerked the plate from my hand, said something about hating being a mother sometimes, and then piled as much food as she could onto it before handing it back to me and telling me to eat every last bite. I took a seat at a table occupied by a really old man who seemed to be asleep. A few seconds later, Mom walked up behind me with a cup of coffee.

“I put three sugars in it, so drink it all. I’ll check on you later, but I need to get back to your dad before he drinks the bar dry,” she said. It took me a while to eat the potato salad, corn on the cob, prime rib, and roasted chicken, but I did. I also finished the half bottle of beer someone had left on the table …
.

More About The Author:

J.A.WrightBWHighres
.

J.A. Wright was raised in the Pacific Northwest and moved to New Zealand in 1990. With more than thirty years in recovery from drug addiction, she’s been crafting her debut novel How to Grow an Addict for years.

How to Grow an Addict is J.A. Wright’s debut novel. Named best book of 2015 by Redbook/Good Housekeeping magazine and a finalist in both the 2015 USA Best Book Awards and 2015 Foreward Reviews’ INDIEFAB Book of the Year Award and a Bronze winner in the 2016 IPPY Awards for Literary Fiction. (And a few more above).

How did you decide how to publish your books?

I’d been working for years on a way to write a realistic account of how a family that isn’t quite right can influence and nurture an addiction in a child. My hope is that people who read it will gain a better understanding of how a misfit and sensitive child can easily get into more trouble than she ever intended.

What do you think about the future of book publishing?

It’s scary and exciting. I’m not always sure what to do or who to approach for promotional help. Entering writing contests has benefitted me and my novel How to Grow an Addict and has joined various online support networks. But there is so much out there about how to publish and promote and hard to understand which way to go.

What do you use?: Professional Editor, Professional Cover Designer, Beta Readers

What genres do you write?: Fiction, Faction

What formats are your books in?: Both eBook and Print

Website(s)
J.A. Wright Home Page Link
Link To J.A. Wright Page On Amazon

Your Social Media Links
Goodreads
Facebook
Twitter

Where To Purchase Her Award-Winning Novel:

Links to Purchase Print Books
Buy How to Grow an Addict. a novel Print Edition at Amazon
Buy How to Grow an Addict. a novel Print Edition at Barnes and Noble

Links to Purchase eBooks – Click links for book samples and reviews

Buy How to Grow an Addict. a novel On Amazon
Buy How to Grow an Addict. a novel on Barnes and Noble/Nook
Buy How to Grow an Addict. a novel on Kobo

“Presented and Some Info Courtesy of Bookgoodies A Great Place For Readers and Lyon Book Promotions”