Tag: Biographies

‘Think Bigger, Lead Better’ is Rick Tollakson’s Blueprint for Transformational Leadership

In his new book, Rick Tollakson presents his eight principles for success. Photo: Barnes & Noble

Think Bigger, Lead Better: Eight to Great Principles for Organizational Success

A fresh take on leadership from Rick Tollakson

In today’s fast-changing business world, leadership can’t be about playing it safe. The most effective leaders are those who think bigger, challenge assumptions, and inspire others to reach new heights. That’s the central message behind Rick Tollakson’s new book, Think Bigger, Lead Better: Eight to Great Principles for Organizational Success. It’s a practical and inspiring guide to building stronger teams, smarter organizations, and more impactful leaders.

Beyond the Bottom Line

Efficient leadership isn’t about maintaining the status quo, it’s about creating meaningful, lasting change.

Drawing from his decades of experience transforming a modest real estate company into a thriving, diversified enterprise, Tollakson shares the “Eight to Great” principles that powered that journey. Through engaging stories and actionable insights, he encourages leaders to move beyond short-term wins and embrace a long-term vision that drives growth and purpose.

Readers will learn how to:

  • Cultivate passionate, high-performing teams
  • Encourage innovation and calculated risk-taking
  • Streamline operations with process-driven thinking
  • Lead with purpose while balancing profitability and impact
  • Build a legacy of leadership that outlasts any single role

Think Bigger, Lead Better is a call to action for CEOs, entrepreneurs, and professionals who refuse to settle for mediocrity. Whether you’re leading a Fortune 500 company or growing a small startup, Tollakson’s proven framework will help you push past limitations and build something truly great.

Are you ready to think bigger?

About the Author

Rick Tollakson is a nationally recognized real estate executive, community leader, and author of Think Bigger, Lead Better: Eight to Great Principles for Organizational Success.

As CEO of Hubbell Realty Company, he has led the organization through transformational growth, expanding its development, construction, property management, and homebuilding operations across Iowa and beyond.

A respected voice in both business and civic circles, Tollakson’s leadership philosophy blends innovation, integrity, and community stewardship. He continues to serve on numerous boards and committees, offering insights that extend far beyond traditional business metrics to include ethical leadership, sustainable development, and meaningful community partnerships.

Why This Book Matters Now

In an era defined by disruption and uncertainty, the need for bold, ethical, and visionary leadership has never been greater. Think Bigger, Lead Better provides the clarity and tools leaders need to navigate change, inspire trust, and create organizations that make a difference.

If you’re ready to elevate your leadership and build a culture of excellence, this book is your next essential read.

📘 Learn more or order your copy of Think Bigger, Lead Better wherever books are sold.

‘A Remarkable Man’: Marc Petitjean’s Portrait of a Hiroshima Survivor

‘A Remarkable Man’ is an eye-opening portrait of a man who dedicated his life to treating and advocating for radiation survivors. Photo: Other Press

📚 A Remarkable Man: Honoring Dr. Shuntaro Hida, From Hiroshima to Fukushima

Book Release: June 24, 2025

In “A Remarkable Man: Dr. Shuntaro Hida from Hiroshima to Fukushima,” author Marc Petitjean—known for “Back to Japan” and “The Heart: Frida Kahlo in Paris”—delivers a powerful and intimate portrait of a man whose life was defined by resilience, compassion, and truth-telling in the wake of unspeakable devastation. (Other Press, 2025)

Dr. Shuntaro Hida (1917–2017) was a young military physician stationed just six kilometers from ground zero when the atomic bomb fell on Hiroshima. In the aftermath, he played a vital role tending to the overwhelming number of victims, eventually dedicating more than six decades to treating survivors and warning the world about the long-term dangers of nuclear radiation.

Through thoughtful interviews and detailed reportage, Petitjean paints a vivid picture of Dr. Hida’s unyielding commitment to justice and care. “A Remarkable Man” is both a tribute and a timely reminder of the human cost of nuclear warfare and energy misuse—particularly relevant today amid rising global authoritarianism and escalating geopolitical tensions.

The book also highlights the ongoing work of Nihon Hidankyo, a survivors’ organization co-founded by Dr. Hida, which was awarded the 2024 Nobel Peace Prize for its tireless advocacy.

👩‍💻 About the Author

Marc Petitjean is a writer, filmmaker, and photographer. His documentaries include From Hiroshima to Fukushima, which profiles Dr. Hida; Living Treasure, about kimono artist Kunihiko Moriguchi; and Zones Grises, a personal exploration of his father’s past. His books include “Back to Japan” (2021) and “The Heart: Frida Kahlo” in Paris (2020), both published by Other Press.

✍️About the Translator

Adriana Hunter has translated over 90 books from French to English, including Petitjean’s “The Heart: Frida Kahlo in Paris” and Hervé Le Tellier’s “The Anomaly.” She is the recipient of the French-American Foundation’s 2013 Translation Prize in Fiction and resides in Kent, England.

“A Remarkable Man” is more than a biography—it is a call to remember, to resist, and to act. Don’t miss this essential read when it hits shelves on June 24, 2025.

Praise for Marc Petitjean  “A Remarkable Man”

“Remembering a heroic doctor. Shuntaro Hida (1917-2017) was a longtime antinuclear campaigner whose work as a young doctor began when tending to victims of the destruction of Hiroshima in 1945…Petitjean’s short book offers a warm tribute to this “frail figure” whose eyes “gleamed with intelligence and humanity” as he recounted his experiences in Hiroshima. In excerpts from interviews and speeches, Hida offers a rare account of the horrors that he witnessed…True to his word, he kept traveling throughout Japan—speaking out against the dangers he had seen with his own eyes—until he was nearly 100. Invaluable testimony from a witness to war.”
—KIRKUS REVIEWS

“Shuntaro Hida saw the destructive and long-lasting consequences of nuclear weapons firsthand, and dedicated his life to understanding and revealing them for decades after the United States dropped atomic bombs on Japan. Now, eighty years after the radioactive end of World War II, A Remarkable Man looks back on Hida’s life of research and advocacy. With an intimate narrative style, including Hida’s own words and Marc Petitjean’s vivid reporting and observations, A Remarkable Man illuminates not just the damage of our nuclear past but what it means for our future.”
—Sarah Scoles, author of Countdown: The Blinding Future of Nuclear Weapons

“Dr. Shuntaro Hida, who witnessed the atomic attack on Hiroshima eight decades ago, spent the rest of his life helping survivors and warning of the dangers of nuclear weapons. Now, writer and filmmaker Marc Petitjean has spotlighted Dr. Hida’s powerful crusade in his excellent narrative A Remarkable Man. From the ashes of Hiroshima to the tragedy of Fukushima, Dr. Hida’s powerful and haunting story is as relevant today as it was on that fateful August morning in 1945. This is a book not to be missed.”
—James M. Scott, Pulitzer Prize finalist and author of Black Snow, Rampage, and Target Tokyo

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Why Character Still Matters: A Review of Robert L. Dilenschneider’s ‘Character’

‘Character’ is Robert L. Dilenschneider’s latest motivational book. Photo: Barnes & Noble

Robert L. Dilenschneider is founder of The Dilenschneider Group, a firm that provides strategic advice and counsel to Fortune 500 companies and leading families and individuals around the world, with experience in fields ranging from mergers and acquisitions and crisis communications to marketing, government affairs and international media.

Dilenschneider has been called the “Dean of American Public Relations Executives” and is widely published, having authored 14 books, including “A Briefing for Leaders,” “On Power,” “The Critical 14 Years of Your Professional Life,” and “Power and Influence: The Rules Have Changed.” His new book “Character: Life Lessons in Courage, Integrity, and Leadership” addresses the need for character as a vital dimension in public and private life, based on iconic historical figures who embodied such qualities of character. (Barnes & Noble, 2025)

In “Character,” Robert L. Dilenschneider explores what it means to possess and foster strong moral character. Through the lens of noted historical figures—ranging from Stephen Hawking to Mother Teresa—he illustrates how integrity, resilience, and ethical leadership have shaped both personal legacies and societal progress.

Dilenschneider contends that character is not merely a trait but a fundamental necessity in our daily lives, especially in today’s complex and often morally ambiguous world. By combining historical narratives with modern-day reflections, he makes a strong case for why individuals, particularly those in leadership positions, must prioritize character over personal gain.

He begins by defining character as exhibiting traits such as honesty, integrity, and loyalty while inspiring others around you. The goal of this book is provide examples of character and how it can drive people to achieve their dreams and how to recognize it and nurture it in others, especially those with leadership positions.

Each chapter profiles a different group of people who were known for a specific trait, such as Innovation (Steve Jobs, Walt Disney), Courage (Winston Churchill, Arthur Ashe), and Loyalty (Eleanor Roosevelt, John McCain). At the end of each, he includes a list of lessons learned.

Chapters include:
Chapter 1 – What is Character?
Chapter 2 – Leadership
Chapter 3 – Innovation
Chapter 4 – Resilience
Chapter 5 – Breaking Barriers
Chapter 6 – Courage
Chapter 7 – Loyalty
Chapter 8 – Integrity
Chapter 9 – Transparency
Chapter 10 – Transcendence
Chapter 11 – Lessons

Highlights:
Chapter 4: Resilience – when we are tested, resilience is what allows us to keep fighting. Nelson Mandela was a vocal opponent of apartheid: “Never give up when your cause is just.”

Chapter 5: Breaking Barriers – profiles of people who broke barriers when they refused to be held down because of their sex, color, or political beliefs. Margaret Chase Smith stood up against McCarthyism in the 40s and 50s: “Speaking your mind may not always be popular but it will win you respect.”

Informative and inspiring, it offers valuable lessons on courage, humility, and perseverance. Dilenschneider’s writing is engaging, and his selection of historical figures ensures a broad perspective on how character manifests in different circumstances.

Overall, “Character” serves as an insightful guide for those seeking to understand the enduring power of virtue in shaping history and how we, too, can attempt to embody these qualities in our own lives. It is recommended for readers who enjoy biographies and leadership/motivational books.

“Learning is a classic way to overcome barriers, by equipping yourself with knowledge that nobody can take away.”

*The author of this blog received a copy in exchange for an honest review. The views and opinions expressed here belong solely to her.

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Exploring Jim Morrison’s Esoteric Legacy in Paul Wyld’s New Book

‘Jim Morrison, Secret Teacher of the Occult: A Journey to the Other Side’ by Paul Wyld. Photo: Amazon

Jim Morrison, the enigmatic frontman of The Doors, was a pioneering figure in rock music, known for his distinctive voice and charismatic stage presence. Born on December 8, 1943, Morrison’s lyrics often explored the themes of existentialism, love, and rebellion, making him a symbol of counterculture in the 1960s. His poetic and provocative performances captivated audiences and influenced countless musicians. Despite his profound impact, Morrison’s life was tragically cut short when he died on July 3, 1971, in Paris at the age of 27. His legacy endures through his innovative contributions to rock music and his status as an iconic cultural figure.

In today’s book news, there’s a new book coming out next month that shines the spotlight on this charismatic rock legend.

Paul Wyld is a singer-songwriter, artist, poet, and author with a liberal arts degree in history. His new book “Jim Morrison, Secret Teacher of the Occult: A Journey to the Other Side” is a journey into the mystical and spiritual side of the famed Doors front man. It will be released on September 10, 2024 (Inner Traditions, 2024)

“Jim Morrison, Secret Teacher of the Occult” – The groundbreaking 1960s band The Doors, named for Aldous Huxley’s The Doors of Perception, achieved incredible acclaim and influence, ultimately serving as a key group in the development of psychedelic and progressive rock. At the center of it all was front man Jim Morrison, who died in 1971 at age 27. Yet, as author Paul Wyld reveals, despite Morrison’s reputation as a lewd, drunken performer, he was a full-fledged mystical, shamanic figure, a secret teacher of the occult who was not merely central to the development of rock music, but also to the growth of the Western esoteric tradition as a whole.

Wyld looks at the mystical works that inspired Morrison, including Kurt Seligmann’s The Mirror of Magic, Colin Wilson’s The Outsider, and the writings of Nietzsche and Jack Kerouac. Drawing on Morrison’s lyrics and poems, his intimate writings, and the recollections of friends like photographer Paul Ferrara and Doors keyboard player Ray Manzarek, the author makes the case that Morrison was not simply a superficial dabbler in the occult but an actual secret teacher transmitting knowledge through the golden thread stretching back to Egypt and Thoth-Hermes.

Explaining how Morrison sought to use his role as a rock singer to express the power of inner experience, Wyld shows how praxis was at the heart of Morrison’s approach, revealed in his journey through the arduous ordeals of shamanic initiation. He was a shaman, mystic, and sage—and an essential part of a great spiritual awakening to which he gave himself over fully.

This book:

• Reveals Jim Morrison as a shamanic initiate and esoteric teacher who used his role as a rock singer to promote the adventure of the spirit and express the power of inner experience

• Examines Morrison’s deep occult and artistic influences, including Kurt Seligmann’s The Mirror of Magic, Colin Wilson’s The Outsider, and the works of Jack Kerouac

• Draws on Morrison’s lyrics and poems, his intimate writings, and the recollections of friends like photographer Paul Ferrara and Doors keyboard player Ray Manzarek

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Exploring Maternal Narratives: ‘A Journey into Motherhood’ Book Review

‘A Journey into Motherhood’ is an intimate look into the mind of a mother. Photo: Amazon

“A Journey Into Motherhood” navigates the journey of becoming a mother with sensitivity and insight. Monica Goodman became a single mother by taking in a baby that her friend did not want. She was young and unprepared for the challenge but remained strong and persistent knowing she was doing the right thing. Through a series of personal anecdotes, Goodman weaves a narrative that resonates deeply with anyone who has embarked on this life changing path.

The book explores the emotional highs and lows of motherhood, offering a candid portrayal of the challenges and joys that come along with it. Goodman’s writing is refreshingly honest, capturing the raw vulnerability of adjusting to a new identity while navigating the complexities of relationships and self-discovery.

Chapters include:
Chapter 1: My Plans
Chapter 2: Surrender
Chapter 3: Learning Love
Chapter 4: First Three Months
Chapter 5: My Tribe
Chapter 6: Beautifully Broken
Chapter 7: Woman in the Mirror
Chapter 8: Fear and Anxiety
Chapter 9: Divine Providence
Chapter 10: Forgotten and Redemption
Chapter 11: Conclusion

It blends personal storytelling with universal themes of family, faith, and redemption, making it a compelling read for those reflecting on their own experiences. Goodman’s prose is poignant yet accessible, inviting readers to connect with her journey on a profound level. She finds strength in her faith and begins each chapter with a bible verse and includes prayers that have brought her comfort during her most difficult struggles.

Overall, “A Journey into Motherhood” is a heartfelt exploration of the power of motherhood, offering solace and wisdom to those navigating similar paths. It’s a short read and briefly touches on each subject, but it’s a must-read for anyone seeking a deeper understanding of the emotional landscape of becoming a mother.

*The author was contacted for an honest review of this book. The views and opinions expressed here belong solely to her.

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Paul Kane’s Travels: A Cultural Odyssey through Indigenous North America

‘Paul Kane’s Travels in Indigenous North America’ by I.S. MacLaren explores the life, times, and challenging legacy of 19th Century Canadian artist Paul Kane. Photo: Amazon

McGill-Queen’s University Press announces the release of the four-volume publication “Paul Kane’s Travels in Indigenous North America: Writings and Art, Life and Times” by I.S. MacLaren, the first comprehensive survey of Paul Kane’s (1810–1871) life and work in more than fifty years. Kane’s field sketches made between 1845 and 1848 constitute the first visual record of Indigenous life all the way from the Great Lakes to the Pacific Ocean by a Non-Indigenous artist. (Bow Bridge Communications, 2024)

Beginning his research three and one-half decades ago, MacLaren, professor emeritus at the University of Alberta, provides a singular opportunity to examine the impacts of Kane’s travels in Indigenous North America through his writings, art, life, times, and complex legacy. A meticulous, panoramic examination, “Paul Kane’s Travels in Indigenous North America” also studies the artist’s legacy in terms of his contemporaries’, his technique, and the complicated history of the source of the works. The author examines Kane’s travels and output by focusing on four areas of study: history of the fur trade, book publishing history, art history, and ethnohistory.

Paul Kane, a portraitist based in Toronto, set out from the city in 1845 for Lake Huron and Wisconsin. From 1846 to 1848, he continued to the upper Great Lakes, the Prairies, across the Rockies, down the Columbia River, and through Oregon Territory to Puget Sound and Vancouver Island. MacLaren reconstructs the colonial processes that turned Kane’s unique descriptions and depictions of Indigenous peoples into benighted stereotypes, teaching contemporary readers valuable lessons about what we thought we knew about Kane and his art, how he let himself be turned into a detractor of Native Americans, and how society endowed him with authority that was not always warranted. 

Kane has been called the founding father of Canadian art, and his “Wanderings of an Artist among the Indians of North America” (1859) is considered a classic of Canadian literature, albeit a controversial one if viewed from a contemporary perspective. More recently, he has been vilified as having misrepresented and exploited his subjects.

“Paul Kane’s Travels” features reproductions of nearly all Kane’s sketches—many published for the first time—and many of his studio paintings, as well as transcriptions of his field writings. The writings, which show the artist to have been a curious traveler fascinated by Indigenous lifeways, contain no negative references to Indigenous people. MacLaren’s work also features a transcription of manuscripts not in Kane’s handwriting (by unknown scribes), the text of the first edition of “Wanderings of an Artist,” an updated catalog, and detailed maps of Kane’s routes. Through the author’s in-depth research, the publication offers scholarly and first-hand understandings of the lives and histories of the real people Kane described and depicted while providing an authoritative biographical portrait of the artist. Thanks to family descendants’ support, MacLaren has identified 26 Indigenous people depicted in the portraits.

Publication Specifications
2,408 pages, 9 x 12”, 4-volume set, full color throughout | Cloth 9780228017479
$450 CDN / $375 USD | Available for purchase here.

Upcoming new book release: ‘On My Way Back to You’ by Sarah Cart

‘On My Way Back to You: One Couple’s Journey through Catastrophic Illness to Healing and Hope’ by Sarah Cart with Glenn Plaskin. Photo: Amazon

Raised and educated in New York and New England, Sarah Cart, a freelancer, wrote for multiple local publications while she and her husband, Ben, raised four sons in northeastern Ohio. Upon becoming empty nesters, they moved to the Florida Keys, but they returned every summer to the Pennsylvania Poconos. Then came Covid. The pandemic, combined with Ben’s health issues, necessitated their sheltering in place in Florida for the entirety of 2020. In the wake of Ben’s undergoing miraculous lifesaving measures, they have been afforded the unanticipated gift of a future and, more than ever before, relish time spent with family and friends. In her upcoming new memoir, “On My Way Back to You: One Couple’s Journey through Catastrophic Illness to Healing and Hope,” Sarah Cart shares how she became one of 39 million Americans taking care of an ailing loved one. It will be released on April 2 and is available for pre-order through Amazon. (Meryl Moss Media, 2024)

“On My Way Back to You,” – In suspenseful and heart-rending detail, Cart recounts how, beginning with an incurable autoimmune disease, her husband developed one life-threatening condition after another. As each month passed, she felt her best friend, this brilliant businessman, successful entrepreneur, and energetically engaged and organized father to their four sons, slipping away, until eventually they received devastating news: Ben needed a heart transplant. But that was only the tip of the iceberg. Two weeks after the COVID-19 lockdown, they realized Ben’s body was shutting down and his only hope was to get on the list and get that transplant now—in the midst of a pandemic. And that wasn’t even half of what was to come.

Thrust into the role of nurse and caregiver, Cart required a deep well of faith, grit, and grace as she confronted doubts, fears, endless setbacks, aggravations, and red tape while struggling to help Ben regain whatever he could of all that had been lost.

Cart reminds us that “there is certainly no promise that the health we enjoy this evening will be with us in the morning” and provides guidance for others in her shoes. Sooner or later, everyone will either become a caregiver or need one. To help when time comes, she shares the questions to ask, the notes to take, the signs to never overlook, and the self-care necessary for the caregiver.

“On My Way Back to You” is more than a chronicle of Ben’s illness. It’s about love, resiliency, and the power of community: “When Ben was in the hospital, I felt all the people who’d ever loved him shining their light from the far reaches of the universe each time I begged them to do so.” It’s a roadmap through some of life’s greatest challenges and the journey of two people who used the power of love, determination, and endless patience to find their way back to each other.

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Upcoming new book release: ‘The Wandering Pianist’ by Congyu Wang

‘The Wandering Pianist’ will be released December 27, 2023. Courtesy photo, used with permission.

Memoirs and biographies can be so inspiring to read because they remind us that achieving a dream takes time, dedication, patience, and most of all, hard work. Indeed, nothing in this world comes easy but it does come with an immense feeling of satisfaction. If you are a music lover and enjoy biographies of artists, today’s upcoming new book release might interest you. “The Wandering Pianist” is the inspiring biography by Congyu Wang about living up to his name, though far from the aspirations his parents had for him. It is a story of resilience, faith, and unbridled passion and ambition.

Congyu Wang is an internationally renowned soloist who has garnered acclaim as a recitalist, accompanist, and chamber musician. Born in Singapore, he started playing the piano at the age of 3 under the tutelage of Sylvia Ng. He was selected for a scholarship that enabled him to attend the prestigious École Normale de Musique de Paris, where he studied with renowned French pianists Jean-Marc Luisada and Odile Cartelin-Delangle. His new book “The Wandering Pianist” is a heartfelt reminder that no dream is too big, and no obstacle is insurmountable if one’s passion is unyielding. This book will leave you inspired and deeply moved, proving that the pursuit of dreams is worth every sacrifice, every tear, and every note played. It will be released December 27, 2023 through Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other book sellers. (Congyu Wang, 2023)

“The Wandering Pianist” – He defied his family’s expectations and society’s norms. From the very beginning, Congyu Wang was a true underdog, not a musical prodigy, and even once dismissed the piano as being “for girls.” However, one teacher, one movie, and a new status in his young life will drive him to wanting to become a pianist.

Despite the relentless pressure to conform to traditional education and career paths, Congyu’s heart was set on pursuing this dream. Forced to escape the pressure cooker that he was living in, he embarked on a courageous quest that led him to studying at the prestigious École Normale de Musique de Paris on a scholarship at only sixteen years old. His journey wasn’t a fairy tale in Paris, though; it was daunting and sometimes heart-wrenching.

From being homeless and hungry on the cold streets of Paris to navigating the challenges of pursuing his musical ambitions, Congyu’s story is one of resilience, faith, and an unshakable passion for the piano. His encounters with piano masters who he looks up to are set against the backdrop of adversity, heartache, and rejection.

Through the highs and lows, Congyu’s journey is a testament to the power of hard work, passion, luck, and dedication in bringing talent to life. From the depths of despair to finding God’s grace, he emerges not only as a concert pianist but also as a symbol of hope, determination, and the pursuit of dreams against all odds.

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Congyu Wang. Courtesy photo, used with permission.
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New book release: ‘The In-Between: Life in the Micro’ by Christian Espinosa

‘The In-Between: Life in the Micro’ is the new book by Christian Espinosa. Photo: Christian Espinosa, used with permission.

Regardless of our life experiences, we all have those moments when life starts to make sense. Even then, we should always keep learning and growing as human beings. I like reading biographies and memoirs because the authors share what they have learned in the hopes of inspiring others to improve their lives. In his new memoir, Christian Espinosa shares the journey that transformed him into a compassionate global citizen. In “The In-Between: Life in the Micro,” he explains that some regrets do not hit you all at once. They seep in at the corners of your life, at night or on a long drive, until they become a refrain. Those are the worst regrets of all. Pick up your copy today from Amazon and read all about his fascinating journey. 

Christian Espinosa is an esteemed thought leader and best known as the bestselling author of “The Smartest Person in the Room,” a book that explores the limitations of seeking validation through achievement and the desire to be the brightest intellect in any room. He is also a successful entrepreneur, white hat hacker, captivating speaker, real estate investor, and heavy metal enthusiast. With a deep desire to inspire others to harness their innate wisdom, overcome perceived barriers, and summon the courage to tread new paths, Christian has written his latest book, “The In-Between: Life in the Micro.” This book chronicles his remarkable transformation from a “me against the world” mindset, cultivated during his tumultuous upbringing, to his evolution as a compassionate global citizen committed to uplifting humanity. (Christian Espinosa, 2023)

“The In-Between: Life in the Micro” – Christian Espinosa was living in a bubble, and it burst on May 9, 2022. It was the middle of the afternoon. As he and his partner Vanessa approached a major intersection, a blue car accelerated, ran the red light, and T-boned a black truck directly in front of them.

The blue car’s hood crumbled like an accordion to absorb the impact. Within seconds, its front end was completely smashed and its windows were broken. Then everything went out of focus, except for what he needed to do—assess the scene for safety, check on the drivers of the blue car and black truck, and call 911. Nothing else mattered—he felt a heightened sense of purpose.

He had always focused on one macro moment after another—the next mountain to climb or business to start. He had not spent any time appreciating the micro-moments—life in between the macros. He had been living in a macro-moment bubble.

The accident awakened in him a desire to paint a complete picture of who he wanted to be and how he wanted to approach his life. This is his story of learning how to value the in-between and prioritize consciously living in the micro.

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New book release: ‘Things My Husband Said’ by Jennifer Free

‘Things My Husband Said: The painful reality of covert verbal and emotional abuse in a marriage from the perspective of a wife who got out and the plan that empowered her to leave’ by Jennifer Free. Photo: Jennifer Free, used with permission.

The subject of abuse is all too often taboo but needs to be addressed. Aside from physical abuse, there is also emotional and verbal abuse, which consists of actions that are meant to control, isolate, and frighten you. In romantic relationships, this often includes threats, insults, manipulation, humiliation, intimidation, and other such behaviors. Today’s new book release touches on this issue and is written by a woman who experienced abuse. In “Things My Husband Said,” Jennifer Free shares her journey beginning with how she met her husband, how she got out, and what she told her daughter. If you or someone you know is in a similar situation, let her first hand account inspire you and guide you to get help and live a better life. Don’t wait, get your copy today; it is available on Amazon.

Jennifer Free is an author and advocate for awareness, prevention, and support for victims of covert verbal and emotional abuse perpetrated by spouses. She is a survivor of childhood and marital abuse and writes about her experiences to help others. (Jennifer Free, 2023)

In “Things My Husband Said,” author Jennifer Free outlines the painful reality of covert verbal and emotional abuse in a marriage and the detailed plan she developed over several years that ultimately empowered her to safely leave while maintaining primary physical custody of her daughter without a lengthy legal battle.

In this book, she shines a necessary spotlight on the type of marital abuse that does not leave physical bruises but still causes harm by sharing the ugly covert verbal abuse she endured for years, one raw line at a time. She includes the the detailed plan she developed to safely leave with her daughter. Most importantly, she speaks to and validates the pain of those victims who are still in abusive marriages as well as those who have been able to escape. It serves as necessary required reading in continuing education programs for Family Court professionals and victim advocates.

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