Kathleen Patel's Blog

The Black and White of Racism-MUST read!

Don’t hate me because I’m white!

Even though I grew up in a predominately white middle-class neighborhood, I have never been racist. When the first black families started moving into the neighborhood I was more curious than anything else. It’s still a family joke about how they could always find me sitting at the table whenever our African-American neighbors had big family barbecues. (I’m so fair skinned I stick out like a sore thumb- even with other whites).
I have always empathized with the struggle that African Americans have endured. As an Irish American, we share many common threads. The Irish were sold into slavery, along with Africans. The Irish slave trade began when James VI sold 30,000 Irish prisoners as slaves to the New World. His Proclamation of 1625 required Irish political prisoners be sent overseas and sold to English settlers in the West Indies. By the mid-1600s, the Irish were the main slaves sold to Antigua and Montserrat. At that time, 70% of the total population of Montserrat were Irish slaves.
Ireland quickly became the biggest source of human livestock for English merchants. The majority of the early slaves to the New World were actually white. After emancipation, the Irish and Africans both faced prejudice and abuse for years. It’s been a tough road. I get it.
What I don’t understand is how this country has come to a state of extreme white hatred. It’s not just people of color, its other white people spewing white hatred. It’s time to stop ALL the hate.
I recently heard about a book by Waylon Allen, called ‘The Black and White of Racism’. I was drawn to the book initially because of the back story that motivated the author to start writing. It was actually a conversation with his (white) teenage granddaughter.  She told her grandfather that she did not like white people. She believed that most white people are racist. She also had strong feeling about police officers being racists and “bad cops”. Mr. Allen was shocked and understandably confused. He felt strongly that he had to address this and set things right. He sat down and he began to write…from a place of love.
I read the book from cover to cover, in one sitting…with a raging migraine. This should illustrate the compelling nature of this enlightening information.
The book should be mandatory for students. Mr. Allen illustrates how a slanted version of history has contributed to years of misunderstanding, resentment and fear. 
The truth that the author uncovers is a game changer.
The practice of slavery is disgusting and barbaric, but the blame goes much further than the cruel slave-owners. (Some of which were actually black)
Slavery and human trafficking is alive and well. Thriving, actually. Like many other atrocities, it is a global money maker...a multimillion dollar business. For thousands of years greedy, heartless people have become rich through this horrific practice. Everyone involved has blood on their hands. The blame must be shared. It was actually black African men that rounded up the slaves that were sent to the New World. 
There are so many unbelievable revelations in this book it will change your whole way of thinking. For example, the way that politics and the media manipulate race relations, and how it’s beneficial to keep the climate of hatred alive. You will start to see how we are all pawns in this emotional manipulation of misunderstanding and half-truths. 
Read this book. Tell your friends and family about it. It’s time to unite as a people. Now more than ever.
ALL lives matter.
As Mr. Allen says, We need to get to a place where we refer to ourselves as American citizens... not black, not white, not brown...American

Why walk when we can fly- book review

I truly enjoyed this book. 

D.A. Kori Prier has a lovely writing style…it feels musical; melodic.
The book takes you on a journey where you will meet well-developed characters in scenes that are so detailed you can see them clearly in your mind. You will also be educated on the various aspects of storms and how they can cause an avalanche.

Ebbie McSwain and her teenage daughter, Shanna begin their fateful day when they set off on a road trip to Breckinridge, Colorado. It should have been a simple two hour drive, but the blizzard changed everything.
An ugly chain of events caused an avalanche leaving the mother and daughter entombed in their car, suspended above a 700 foot drop!
Ebbie had to draw on her science background and knowledge to keep them alive, all the while battling extreme anxiety due to her own personal fears and phobias; especially her serious fear of heights! 
When she finally makes some headway and they can actually see light at the end of the tunnel, the unthinkable happens. 
I don’t want to ruin it for you, you’ll have to read it yourself to find out what happens : ))
Buy the book here

I’ve been keeping a secret…

For the past few years, I’ve been living a lie. I’ve been reluctant to share my experience with the world, only providing an “edited version” to my family and close friends.
The truth is this: I’ve been sick. I’ve been so sick that for the past couple of years I have been homebound for the most part; only going to a select number of events, when I am able.  Although it’s completely irrational, I felt somehow embarrassed to admit to this. It was as though I was viewing my illness as a personal failure. Sick shaming… I never imagined that I would become so debilitated. 
I don’t know why, but I somehow thought I could beat anything that came my way. I figured that if I was ever faced with a serious illness, I would be one of the people that turned it around. I would change my diet, practice yoga and meditation, positive visualization and whatever it took and I would get better.
That plan might have worked, but it’s complicated. Until very recently I didn’t have a definitive diagnosis to explain my long list of symptoms. Since it was the predominant problem,  I had focused everything on healing my painful abdominal issues. Several years back I started experiencing attacks of Diverticulitis; an inflammatory bowel disease. These attacks became so severe and life threatening that I would end up hospitalized for several days on intravenous antibiotics and pain medication. I was advised that the only answer was to have colon resection surgery and remove the diseased part of the colon.In August of 2013 I had 2/3 of my colon removed.  It was (has been) a tough recovery and I kept waiting to feel better. 
Unfortunately I did not get better. I got worse. My abdominal issues multiplied, my unrelenting fatigue increased, my migraines became an almost daily occurrence, frequent vertigo, hair loss, a bizarre condition that causes my tongue and mouth to burn from morning to night, sinus issues, sun and heat sensitivity, morning chills with low grade fever, strange rashes, dry eyes, mouth, skin…it goes on and on.
With my growing list of symptoms, I started to worry that people would think I was a hypochondriac. I felt that perhaps my family and friends thought I had become a chronic complainer. To make matters worse, every specialist I have seen, since the surgery, could find nothing to explain my increasing ailments. My case was tossed in the trash bin that they call Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS).  That is a medical code for “We don’t know- we give up”.
Life as I knew it had slipped away. Not only was I  increasingly unable to work, I was no longer able to do so many of the things that I loved. On the rare days that I wasn’t dealing with extreme abdominal pain or a mind shattering migraine, the least bit of exertion would leave me completely drained.   I couldn’t attend evening events because I was so exhausted I could rarely stay up past 9pm. In fact, I was in bed by 8pm every night. Going to restaurants became a problem because no matter what I ate, I would feel sick immediately after.  Shopping was no longer fun- it was exhausting.
My mind wanted to do so many things, but my body was not cooperating. I would accept invitations, make plans, and make airline reservations…only to end up having to cancel them because I was too sick to go…
I started to get the feeling that people were getting annoyed with me and my cancellations. I felt that no one understood what I was going through…or maybe didn’t even believe me anymore.  Weeks turned into months as I searched for an answer.I tried different diets and supplements.  Doctors told me that some people take a year of more to recover from this type of surgery, but that didn’t explain all the other symptoms.
I researched my symptoms. I read medical papers and studies. I read medical books. I visited websites meant for medical professionals and had to look up every other word to understand the medical terminology. It was like working on a huge foreign puzzle. It was a slow, tedious process, but I finally started to find a common thread. Autoimmune disease kept coming up. 
An autoimmune disorder occurs when the body’s immune system attacks and destroys healthy body tissue by mistake. There are more than 80 types of autoimmune disorders. These are diseases that include Diabetes Type 1,  Lupus, Parkinson’s, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Scleroderma, Sjoegren’s and MS, to name a few.
Here’s the scary part- when it comes right down to it, the experts don’t know all that much about autoimmune disease. No cure. The medicines used to treat these diseases cause side effects so horrific it's questionable as to which is worse- the symptoms of the disease or the side effects of the medicine!
Through my extensive research, which included support groups and talk threads, I found there are countless numbers of people suffering in situations similar to mine. That is why I decided to share my experience and hopefully it will help others. I hope you will join me in my quest to take back my health.
See you soon with new updates!

Thanksgiving? No thanks!

Thanksgiving without the drama.
That sounds dramatic.
Almost blasphemous.
In the past month, no matter where you look you have been bombarded with scenes of loving families gathered around a sumptuous feast, proclaiming their love and gratitude…holiday miracles... commercials, movies, television shows, newspapers, magazines, local news channels...The media has flooded the country with recipes, entertaining ideas, decorations, special sales… When you are so inundated with that “warm and fuzzy” feeling, you are probably hoping for that truly meaningful Hallmark Thanksgiving and you want to believe that this year it will happen!
How can that be bad?
The truth is that many of us will not have a great Thanksgiving.  Every family has their share of dysfunction- it just varies in severity. In some families it may be a matter of subtle indifference. There might be relationship issues that cause some to grit their teeth or possibly fly off the handle. Sometimes it’s a matter of family dynamics and patterns. Family members end up in permanent “roles”.  I have seen patterns in families where one or more members seem to find themselves in the “scapegoat” position. Again and again.
Many people feel immense disappointment, never experiencing that feeling of being loved and comforted and reassured.  The sad feeling of deflation that follows can sometimes lead to depression. The chances of this are magnified even further because before anyone can catch their breath after a Thanksgiving debacle, you are being assaulted with all the unrealistic hoopla that surrounds Christmas.
It seems that the universal message to all is this:
No matter how unpleasant or painful it may be…you MUST be part of a family Thanksgiving dinner. You will be thankful and happy and it will be just like a Lifetime movie.
I am going to just say it.
Wrong!
If you find it exceedingly painful to spend holidays with family, if it causes you undue anxiety and leaves you feeling deflated and let down… Don’t do it!
We don’t have to be sheep following the flock, brain washed by the media. In this day and age, the messages we receive from the media are all part of a multi-billion dollar money making machine. Holiday are money makers. We are flooded with messages to lead us in the direction that will be most profitable.  Most people don’t even celebrate holidays for their true meaning. Don’t even get me started on that!
Life is short. Here is a quote that sums it up nicely:
“Life is not a dress rehearsal.
This is your life, not a dress rehearsal.
Life is not a rehearsal.
And life ain’t a rehearsal the camera’s always rollin’.”
You are responsible for you own happiness- no one else. You must make the decisions that bring you happiness. You don’t have to put yourself in positions that make you miserable. You’re an adult and you can choose where you go and what you do.
If spending Thanksgiving with family causes you pain, don’t do it! Do something that makes you happy. Do something enjoyable. Who says you have to have the traditional dinner? If you like it, fine. If not, make your favorite meal or go to a restaurant!
Most people are very caring and nurturing to their loved ones, but when it comes to ourselves, we can be quite harsh…even mean. Let today be a day of change. Be kind to yourself. Be a friend. Be happy.

Why walk when we can fly- excellent suspense thriller- amazing writer @akoribird

I truly enjoyed this book. 

D.A. Kori Prier has a lovely writing style…it feels musical; melodic.
The book takes you on a journey where you will meet well-developed characters in scenes that are so detailed you can see them clearly in your mind. You will also be educated on the various aspects of storms and how they can cause an avalanche.

Ebbie McSwain and her teenage daughter, Shanna begin their fateful day when they set off on a road trip to Breckinridge, Colorado. It should have been a simple two hour drive, but the blizzard changed everything.
An ugly chain of events caused an avalanche leaving the mother and daughter entombed in their car, suspended above a 700 foot drop!
Ebbie had to draw on her science background and knowledge to keep them alive, all the while battling extreme anxiety due to her own personal fears and phobias; especially her serious fear of heights!
When she finally makes some headway and they can actually see light at the end of the tunnel, the unthinkable happens.
I don’t want to ruin it for you, you’ll have to read it yourself to find out what happens : ))
Buy the book here

India Was One- great story with valuable lesson

I liked this book on so many levels…where do I begin?
The book is about a couple who grew up in India, got married and then moved to the US.  Once they have finally settled in, there is a crisis that affects all of India when the country separates in two, but this time it's not the Pakistanis and Indians fighting.
It’s a voyeuristic view into another culture. Through the engaging storyline, you will receive an education on India, the Indian culture and the difficulties that Indian immigrants face when they come to the US. 
But…it’s much more than that. I took a lesson from this book. We are all stronger when unified. Trivial differences should not be allowed to grow into hatred; causing desires for borders and   separation. 
There is also a mystery element here. The author chooses to remain anonymous, signing off as “An Indian”..  
You can buy the book here.

The Alphas- a thriller and so much more!

Diane Rapp has done it again!  Her descriptive style of writing draws you into the story and before you know it, you feel a strong connection to the characters.  I loved the Heirs to the Throne" Trilogy by Diane, and I was delighted when she wrote this prequel. The story reveals the secrets behind the telepathic wolves and their connection to specially bred dogs. In the previous trilogy, the highly intelligent wolves inhabit the planet Drako. The path that led them to Drako was full of heartbreak and happiness. There is a murder, a mystery and romance. The corruption and greed will leave you seething, but the goodness of others will touch you deeply.  You will feel the love. Anyone who ever loved a pet will appreciate the dialogue between the humans and the wolves and dogs.  The story is written from the heart and it will take you for a ride.  Yes, this is a work of fiction….or is it? 

Buy the book here.  Dianes' website is here.

Starting the new year with plans to help people heal...

My new book, co-authored with Kerri Krysko, is now available in print as well as ebook.Find the book here How did this come about, you ask?

A few months ago I heard about a memoir called Kerri On. It was written by Kerri Krysko, the ex-wife of a high ranking Hells Angel. I was curious, so I bought the book. 

Kerri shares her tale of a lonely little girl who was abused by all who should have loved and nurtured her; bullying in its purest form. This commonly sets the stage for a lifetime of abuse.The story resonated with me. I am well aware of the damage; that childhood bullying can inflict. I am left with my own scars.We shared a common bond, but we discovered that we had a deeper connection.  We have both made it our life’s mission to help those who are being tormented, bullied and abused.

We have joined forces and have co-written our first book, Twenty One Days of Healing and Inspiration.   Now we are going to take our mission on the road. We will be starting a speaking tour and hope to touch many lives. 

Maybe we’ll see you in your hometown : )) 

Twenty One Days of Healing and Inspiration

Today is the big day! My new book, co-authored with Kerri Krysko, is being launched! How did this come about, you ask?

A few months ago I heard about a memoir called Kerri On. It was written by Kerri Krysko, the ex-wife of a high ranking Hells Angel. I was curious, so I bought the book. 

Kerri shares her tale of a lonely little girl who was abused by all who should have loved and nurtured her; bullying in its purest form. This commonly sets the
  stage for a lifetime of abuse.The story resonated with me. I am well aware of the damage; that childhood bullying can inflict. I am left with my own scars.We shared a common bond, but we discovered that we had a deeper connection.  We have both made it our life’s mission to help those who are being tormented, bullied and abused.


We have joined forces and have co-written our first book, Twenty One Days of Healing and Inspiration.   Now we are going to take our mission on the road. We will be starting a speaking tour and hope to touch many lives. 

Maybe we’ll see you in your hometown : )) 

We're back--and, oh yeah, we're HOT!

The Books-a-Fire authors are back!  We've got 46 fabulous books and they are all on sale for the unbelievable price of 99 cents!  There are no gimmicks or hoops to jump, just incredible prices on every single book. Just point, click, and buy books in every genre for just 99 cents each.

 YES!  With the holidays around the corner we're feeling warm and fuzzy so we want to make your shopping easy and affordable.  For less than the price of a dinner out, you could buy every single book on the page.

To make it really easy, we've also created categories.  Click your favorite category at the top of the page and see all the books that are on sale in that category.  Load your Kindle with all 46 books and enjoy a quiet read now that the kids are back in school.  You've had a hectic summer so treat yourself to a good book today!  Starting on October 23, 2013, simply go to www.booksafire.com
I am so excited to be part of this group of incredibly talented authors!



Books-a-Fire October Blaze DaysSale runs Oct. 23 through 29, 2013 Most of these authors are best selling authors!sort by categories >>: All Paranormal/Fantasy :: Romance :: YA :: Thrillers/Suspense/Horror :: Mystery :: MG :: Children's
Women's Fiction :: Humor :: Non-fiction :: Self Help
Winter's EndRebekah Lyn
The Phantom of Crybaby BridgeAnn Swann
Tangi's Teardrops Liz Grace Davis
The Beckoning of Beautiful ThingsCalinda B
The HuntCJ Ellisson
Chocolate Aftertaste Liz Grace Davis
The Phantom PilotAnn Swann
Keeper of the Dragon SwordLinzé Brandon
Honeysuckle and Jasmine Liz Grace Davis
Death Makes the Front PageTeresa Watson
A Heart BrokenSara Barnard
Gera's GiftLinzé Brandon
The Phantom StudentAnn Swann
The Avalon TrilogyJulie Elizabeth Powell
Murder for Glacier BlueDiane Rapp
Let Sleeping Dogs LieTami Kidd
Flipping HeckS.D. Hayes
EVERWUDMarilyn Dieckmann
A Very French AffairFaith Mortimer
Consider the ThornsMichelle Lynn Brown
Summer StormsRebekah Lyn
The Bullying EpidemicKathleen Patel
Dungda de Islan'CLR Dougherty
April YuleReb MacRath
The Havenshire ResistanceDiane Rapp
The DollsKathleen Patel
Southern ScotchReb McRath
Twisted LoveCLR Dougherty
Murder on a Ghost ShipDiane Rapp
Hirens Magical AdventureKathleen Patel
A Wicked AwakeningCalinda B
Bluewater KillerCLR Dougherty
Howl of the WolfeDiane Rapp
A Wicked BeginningCalinda B
Murder Caribbean StyleDiane Rapp
Death Goes to the DogsTeresa Watson
TrappedGloria Repp
Deception in SavannahCLR Dougherty
Dragon DefenseDiane Rapp
Wicked WhisperingCalinda B
Catch a RobberGloria Repp
Death Stalks the LawTeresa Watson
Death of a Cantankerous Old CootTeresa Watson
Of Sound MindJulie Elizabeth Powell
Miracles in DisguiseMichelle Lynn Brown
Knowing JackJulie Elizabeth Powell