Sage Nestler's Blog, page 11

This Feminist Science Fiction Treasure Will Change Your Life

Synopsis

She had to travel beyond the planet to discover her true self. Will she find the courage to walk through the doorway to a new future?

Shambhala Space Station, 2097. Solitary physicist Callisto (physics, after all, is a jealous mistress) never accepted conventional wisdom. So when she’s recruited to work on faster-than-light technology by a beautiful and mysterious older woman, she eagerly accepts the career opportunity at the women-only research station orbiting Earth’s moon. But her enthusiasm suffers when her first discovery is unexpected heartbreak.

Throwing herself into work on a problematic warp drive prototype, Calli blossoms in the utopian female community that shows her love and acceptance for the first time in her life. But when a twisted conspiracy, a disingenuous affair, and a disastrous betrayal test her place in this unique environment, the brilliant scientist must dig deep to find her moment of truth.Will Calli embrace her destiny in an unexplored cosmos?

Callisto 2.0 is the transformative first book in the Shambhala Saga feminist science fiction series. If you like compassionate characters, deep-space intrigue, and hopeful visions of the future, then you’ll adore Susan English’s cosmic adventure.

Rating: 5/5Quick Take

                Callisto 2.0 is a groundbreaking science fiction novel that is loaded with the empowering spirit of feminism and a STEM based storyline.  It is the first science fiction novel I have read that has captured my heart in such a way that I may be ruined for other science fiction novels forever.

Tell Me More

Callisto 2.0 by Susan English is a transformative science fiction novel that brings both feminist and STEM elements, while also presenting a beautiful cast of characters that become alive in the reader’s mind.  The story follows Callisto, a solitary physicist who is recruited to work at a women-only research station.  While this becomes an excellent opportunity for Callisto, she finds herself facing heartbreak, which causes her to throw herself into her work.  Callisto finds solace in this unique environment as she experiences love and acceptance she has never felt before, but she is also faced with numerous challenges that force her to evolve not only in her position as a physicist, but as a person as well.

                Susan English’s writing is crystal clear and drags the reader further into the story with each word.  While I find that science fiction can often become difficult to get into because of the complex world building that the reader has to become committed to, this was not the way with Callisto 2.0.  English’s world building is flawless and original, and her protagonist – Callisto – is an excellent guide.  As someone not as familiar with physics, I found the story easy to understand, while also broadening my perspective.  I am huge advocate for feminism and women centered stories, and I found English’s stance to be inspirational rather than politically focused as many women centered stories tend to be.  I found myself empathizing with each character and evolving along with Callisto as she experiences numerous trials and heartbreaks that leaves her reeling. 

                When I read science fiction novels, I find that I often have numerous critiques on how the author’s world and character building can be more effective, but with English, I devoured her story and characters without a single thought of a critique.  Callisto 2.0 is the feminist science fiction novel of my dreams, and it is one that I will be reading again and again.

                If you are a fan of science fiction, you will be delighted with the elegant world building and complex characters that Susan English has created.  Even if you are not a fan of science fiction, I suggest giving this novel a try as it is impeccable and easy to understand, so much so that it feels like being in a dream.  I am afraid of reading any more science fiction novels after reading this one because I fear that no other novel will compare to its beauty.  Give Callisto 2.0 a try, no matter your literary tastes.  You will not be disappointed.    

This Toolkit Revolutionizes Mental Health Care At Home

I recently had the pleasure of sitting down with Linn Martinsen, psychotherapist and creator of the revolutionary Therapy Toolkit: Sixty Cards for Self-Exploration.  We discussed this new toolkit that she created as well as how we should all manage our mental health as the pandemic continues to change.  Read about Martinsen’s Therapy Toolkit below and enjoy the interview!

About the Therapy Toolkit: Sixty Cards for Self-Exploration:

“You may want to throw this box at the wall,” admits author Linn Martinsen.  Therapy Toolkit features sixty cards written by an experienced and qualified therapist that help the user explore their mental health matters in a compassionate and safe space.

Though some are open to the therapeutic process, others are nervous or trepidatious. Without cost barriers or shame and stigma attached, Martinsen’s thoughtful ‘pandora’ box of therapy cards, divided into four categories – experiences, emotions, relationships, and childhood – invites anyone into the intricate process and idea of psychotherapy.

Each beautifully illustrated card in the deck features questions and reflections that emulate the process of therapy. The cards work together in a cohesive way to guide the user through a journey of self-exploration in a place and at a pace that’s right for them to create deep, meaningful change.

As we come out of the challenging months of the pandemic, there’s never been a more important time to offer people what Therapy Toolkit provides. With these cards, users will have the capacity to understand where their reactivity comes from and learn to have compassion for themselves – and others – in meeting the challenges of a rapidly changing world.

As Martinsen’s colleague John Mackessy, psychotherapist, says:

These cards offer a tool that could work exceptionally well either alongside therapy or as an alternative path to self-exploration. With these cards, people can begin to explore and make sense of issues outside of the therapeutic hour and decide for themselves on what they’d like to work.

Though not a replacement to therapy, Therapy Toolkit is a gentle primer for or complement to therapy. A comprehensive booklet that includes an introduction to the therapeutic process, tips on using the deck, and a list of resources for further guidance accompanies the deck.

Tell me a little bit about yourself and your background

From the mountain to the melting pot…. Despite all my years in London, I still feel deeply connected to the girl who collected thousands of hours and scars on gnarly trees and in rocky rivers in rural Norway. The youngest of eight sisters (five of whom I grew up with) I spent much of my time trailing their coolness and soaking up their goodness, all the while carrying around a notebook to make sense of things the best I could (a rather endearing read in retrospect).

Mid-teens to early twenties saw a whirlwind few years of acting, TV production and travel, before putting all my belongings in storage and buying a one-way ticket to London. It may not have been the most well thought out plan, but this sudden decision to up sticks to England all those years ago brought me to this moment right now, with two beautiful sons, a loving co-parent relationship, a wonderful partner and two beautiful stepdaughters (sorry Bumble; and a cute Cocker Spaniel).

What made you want to become a therapist?

In short, I decided to become a therapist because of the riches of compassion and potential for change I experienced with therapy both firsthand and through others. Also, my initial certificate course was such an amazing and eye-opening experience that I decided to immerse myself fully in the continued training.

How did you get inspiration to create the Therapy Toolkit deck of cards?

It occurred to me a few years ago that therapy, and especially the core elements of psychotherapy (which are so fundamental and applies to us all, especially how our formative story shape how we feel about ourselves and how we relate to others) is not accessible to everyone. Either for financial reasons or because the literature connected to it is so complex and intricate. The initial thought was to create an affordable and accessible workshop that anyone could attend, but when a friend wondered if it could also work in a simple, written format to be explored in your own time I started reshaping the idea and came up with the concept of the toolkit.

What do you hope people will get out of using the Therapy Toolkit?

My hope is that the Therapy Toolkit can help demystify and destigmatize the world of therapy a bit and show how universal a lot of the things we struggle with as human beings are, particularly things we tend to carry in the shadows such as shame, anger, and fear. It’s important to note that the Therapy Toolkit is not therapy, which is a beautiful process of creating a trusting relationship in which you are supported to fully emerge with all you carry. The Therapy Toolkit is simply a gentle voice letting you know that we all carry difficult things and that it’s ok to ask questions, it’s OK to grieve, and it’s more than ok to seek support. Compassion for the aching loneliness that can be experienced in our individual human complexity is really at the heart of the toolkit.

Do you have any guidance on how we should manage our mental health as the world begins to open back up?

Two words come to mind immediately: Patience and compassion. Patience with ourselves and with others, and compassion for ourselves and for others. I notice around me that, despite a semblance of normality resuming in many places, tempers can flare more quickly, insecurities are more pronounced and felt more deeply, and a general feeling of exhaustion is permeating many people’s lives.

We are in essence a world full of ‘walking wounds’ right now, in some cases without even realizing it. Wounds suddenly exposed to the elements, where the slightest breeze or accidental brush can set off the impulse to either lash out or to shrink back.

I think the best and most compassionate way to look after ourselves and each other now that the world is opening again is to pay attention to how we feel about and react to the world around us, and to slow down and focus on self-nurture as much as we can. Some may feel desperate to throw themselves back into life again but consider when this may become too overwhelming and allow time to emerge at a pace that feels more comfortable, even if this pace is new compared to before.

Initiating intimate and honest conversations with people you trust – whether that is a friend, a family member or a charity who offers listening support can be a good place to start.

It’s not unusual to think that ‘everyone else is coping/doing so much better,’ but rest assured; you are not alone in feeling vulnerable right now, at different times and in different ways and it’s ok – and normal, if you and your relationships need extra support and extra time to recover.

Get your own Therapy Toolkit here: https://www.laurenceking.com/us/product/therapy-toolkit-self-exploration/

This Scorcher Will Set Your Summer Reading List Ablaze

Book InformationTitle: Good Morning Mr. DeathAuthor: Jerrimiah StonecastleRating: 5/5Format: AudiobookQuick Take

Good Morning Mr. Death is both a puzzle to be solved, and a dreadful tale to be absorbed. This is author Jerrimiah Stonecastle at his best, and the audiobook format sheds a spotlight on Stonecastle’s gift of writing horror fiction.

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    Summer is one of my favorite times to enjoy audiobooks – especially if its horror (perhaps it is the heat) – and I was overjoyed when horror author Jerrimiah Stonecastle approached me to review his audiobook Good Morning Mr. Death.  Stonecastle’s author style is eclectic in that each of his horror novels vary greatly, but each one draws you in with clenched fists and refuses to relent.  I found this to be especially true after listening to the audiobook of Good Morning Mr. Death. 

                Good Morning Mr. Death follows sixteen-year-old Wendell Tate, a young man on the edge of the wrong side of the tracks who meets Mr. Death, a Grim Reaper-esque fellow who collects souls.  Wendell’s story soon becomes a puzzle as Mr. Death presents Wendell with a riddle.  If Wendell is to solve the riddle, then he will be able to keep his soul.  If not, then his soul will be the next on Mr. Death’s list.  

                When it comes to audiobooks, I find that the calculated choice of a narrator is paramount to how the story is enjoyed by the listener.  In the case of Good Morning Mr. Death, I found the selection of narrator Craig Roberts to be an optimal choice.  Roberts’ voice compliments Stonecastle’s writing strategically, while latching onto the listener’s ear with each word.  It didn’t take me long to become absorbed in the audiobook, and I thoroughly enjoyed my listening experience.

                Due to Wendell Tate’s age, Good Morning Mr. Death falls under the young adult genre’s large umbrella, but Stonecastle did not hold back his premium horror writing gift as some authors do when writing from a younger perspective.  The puzzle that Wendell must decipher is the primary focus of the plot, and it affected Wendell, as well as myself, in a complicated way. The story required the listener to solve the riddle right alongside Wendell, and it forced me to become completely immersed.  I felt his desperation and intrigue deeply as I listened to his journey, and it didn’t take long for genuine fear to build up within me.  True to Stonecastle’s previous work, he did not create filler that would lessen the impact of the dread felt by the listener.  Each word was an exceptional link to the story’s riddle, and with each word read by Roberts I became more and more entrenched.

                Jerrimiah Stonecastle is a vital voice in today’s horror market.  I have been impacted by each of his works, but even more so now that I have listened to his audiobook Good Morning Mr. Death.  In his novel, Stonecastle has created a journey that is not only to be enjoyed by young adults, but adults as well.  If you are a fan of horror, then this audiobook is an excellent listening choice for your summertime book list.  What can I say, the process of listening to this audiobook along with the heat of summer only intensifies the impact of its story.  I have been thoroughly scorched by this horror gem, and I couldn’t be happier. 

Author Information Jerrimiah Stonecastle

Born and raised in the slums of New York, he was raised by a single mom who earned her Master’s in Early Childhood Development while working as a teacher’s aid. She sent young Jerrimiah to the prestigious Power Memorial Academy for Boys, the Alma mater of NBA great Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. He worked part-time after school to help his mom pay for his tuition.

He declined a full scholarship from Concordia University and joined the US Army and became a combat medic. He returned to New York upon his discharge where he was hired by the NYC Chief Medical Examiners Office as a medical stenographer.

In 1982 he joined the New York City Police Department. In 1983 he was recruited by the Organized Crime Control Bureau (OCCB) as an undercover officer in their narcotics division. He finished out his career as a detective assigned to the Bronx Homicide Task Force.

When he retired in 2002, he relocated to Florida to pursue his passion for writing. After hundreds of rejection letters and reading Amanda Hocking’s story, he decided to self-publish his own works. In 2016 he formed Stonecastle Publications LLC and has published 21books and publications so far. He has an additional 225 fiction and nonfiction novels in draft form in his company’s literary vault.

On October 31, 2018, He launched his first horror novel “FRANKENSTINA” and released the sequel “FRANKENSTINA REBORN” on Halloween 2019. There are two more books in the horology.

Slip Into the Occult with Author Jerrimiah Stonecastle

              

Book InformationTitle: Invited: InitiumAuthor: Jerrimiah StonecastleRating: 5/5Format: E-bookQuick Take

Invited: Initium by Jerrimiah Stonecastle is as juicy a tale as it is gothic. It has been a long time since I’ve read such a tale reminiscent of old-school horror, and I can honestly say that I have been swept off my feet.

Tell Me More

I’m always a fan of horror novels, especially those about the occult.  Jerrimiah Stonecastle’s newest short story Invited: Initium is all of that, and so much more.  His work reminds me of classic horror and occult writing, and if you are a fan of these like I am, then you are in for a treat.

                Invited: Initium is set in 1631 and follows Bianca Lupei, a woman about to be married to a man named Sebastian Barbaneagra .  However, her life is interrupted when a vampire, Lord Lucian Dascălu, comes into her life and claims that she is his heir.  He proceeds to bite her and afflict her with a curse that will continue his bloodline, but Sebastian knows that he cannot live without Bianca, so he chooses to become damned as well.  The story follows the lovers as they try to find a way to end the curse, all the while being chased by Jesuit Priests who are intent on banishing them. 

                Stonecastle has a unique way of welcoming the reader in before dragging them straight into his world, and even though this was only a short story less than one hundred pages, I found myself completely absorbed.  Bianca and Sebastian were such vibrant and loveable characters, that I couldn’t help but feel connected to them and empathize with their experience.  While this story does interweave the occult into its love story, I felt that it became more of a gothic period piece.  Stonecastle made sure to include just enough descriptors that his characters and world became vibrant, but he did not put the reader through heavy filler.  Each word was an integral part of the story, and I found myself reminiscing over classic horror authors, such as H.P. Lovecraft and Edgar Allan Poe.  Having read some of Stonecastle’s other work, I was impressed to see how diverse his writing has become over the two stories I have read thus far, and I would attribute that to his talent as a horror author.

                If you are a fan of classic horror short stories with a touch of romance, then you can’t go wrong with Invited: Initium.  Jerrimiah Stonecastle is not an author to be missed, and I look forward to his innovative writing as it comes. 

AUTHOR INFORMATION Jerrimiah Stonecastle

Born and raised in the slums of New York, he was raised by a single mom who earned her Master’s in Early Childhood Development while working as a teacher’s aid. She sent young Jerrimiah to the prestigious Power Memorial Academy for Boys, the Alma mater of NBA great Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. He worked part-time after school to help his mom pay for his tuition.

He declined a full scholarship from Concordia University and joined the US Army and became a combat medic. He returned to New York upon his discharge where he was hired by the NYC Chief Medical Examiners Office as a medical stenographer.

In 1982 he joined the New York City Police Department. In 1983 he was recruited by the Organized Crime Control Bureau (OCCB) as an undercover officer in their narcotics division. He finished out his career as a detective assigned to the Bronx Homicide Task Force.

When he retired in 2002, he relocated to Florida to pursue his passion for writing. After hundreds of rejection letters and reading Amanda Hocking’s story, he decided to self-publish his own works. In 2016 he formed Stonecastle Publications LLC and has published 21books and publications so far. He has an additional 225 fiction and nonfiction novels in draft form in his company’s literary vault.

On October 31, 2018, He launched his first horror novel “FRANKENSTINA” and released the sequel “FRANKENSTINA REBORN” on Halloween 2019. There are two more books in the horology.

Book Review: Invited: Initium by Jerrimiah Stonecastle

              

 Book Title: Invited: Initium by Jerrimiah StonecastleRating: 5/5Format: Kindle Book

I’m always a fan of horror novels, especially those about the occult.  Jerrimiah Stonecastle’s newest short story Invited: Initium is all of that, and so much more.  His work reminds me of classic horror and occult writing, and if you are a fan of these like I am, then you are in for a treat.

                Invited: Initium is set in 1631 and follows Bianca Lupei, a woman about to be married to a man named Sebastian Barbaneagra .  However, her life is interrupted when a vampire, Lord Lucian Dascălu, comes into her life and claims that she is his heir.  He proceeds to bite her and afflict her with a curse that will continue his bloodline, but Sebastian knows that he cannot live without Bianca, so he chooses to become damned as well.  The story follows the lovers as they try to find a way to end the curse, all the while being chased by Jesuit Priests who are intent on banishing them. 

                Stonecastle has a unique way of welcoming the reader in before dragging them straight into his world, and even though this was only a short story less than one hundred pages, I found myself completely absorbed.  Bianca and Sebastian were such vibrant and loveable characters, that I couldn’t help but feel connected to them and empathize with their experience.  While this story does interweave the occult into its love story, I felt that it became more of a gothic period piece.  Stonecastle made sure to include just enough descriptors that his characters and world became vibrant, but he did not put the reader through heavy filler.  Each word was an integral part of the story, and I found myself reminiscing over classic horror authors, such as H.P. Lovecraft and Edgar Allan Poe.  Having read some of Stonecastle’s other work, I was impressed to see how diverse his writing has become over the two stories I have read thus far, and I would attribute that to his talent as a horror author.

                If you are a fan of classic horror short stories with a touch of romance, then you can’t go wrong with Invited: Initium.  Jerrimiah Stonecastle is not an author to be missed, and I look forward to his innovative writing as it comes. 

Amazon Series Review: Them by Little Marvin

Synopsis

THEM is a limited anthology series that explores terror in America. The first season, 1950s-set COVENANT centers around a Black family who move from North Carolina to an all-white Los Angeles neighborhood during the period known as The Great Migration.

Rating: 5/5Quick Take

The first season of Them by creator Little Marvin is at once so terrifying and skin crawling that you can’t bear to continue watching, yet so intriguing and well-written that you can’t pull yourself away. As a horror maven I am always in search of horror that fills me with dread and infiltrates my mind, yet I rarely find horror that affects me on such a deep level. Them, on the other hand, took me completely by surprise, filled me with dread, and forced me to stare racism in the face. Horror has never been so good.

Tell Me More

I rarely review television series or movies because I don’t often come across many choices that affect me deeply enough to the point of me wanting to leave a review. When I first came across Them I wasn’t sure what to expect. I at first assumed that it was a television series about racism in the 1950s, but I did not know that it was also a horror series. Maybe going into watching this series without any prior knowledge of it intensified my experience, but I also attribute my awe to the writing and the brutal yet elegant way racism was personified through horror villains.

Them begins with a family on the move from South Carolina to California in search of a new life. We aren’t exposed to the family’s history until later on in the series, but we are shown how the family moves to an all white neighborhood called Compton and their presence as a black family is not received well. The perspective of the series focuses primarily on the perspective of each family member and their experience as supernatural experiences invade their everyday life. Each episode gets more and more intense as we learn more about the family’s history and each of the parent’s deteriorating mental health.

In this anthology, racism is personified as various supernatural villains that target each member of the family, while also influencing each of the white neighbors who target the family from the moment they move in. The language and behaviors used against the family are vile and the epitome of the darkest form of racism. The series jump ropes with the line between eye opening and inappropriate without ever crossing it, but forcing the viewer to stare racism in the face – while also acknowledging racism’s impact on mental health as both of the parents demonstrate symptoms of severe post-traumatic stress disorder.

But it was the way that the story was filmed and presented to the viewer that created such a lasting effect. Each scene was a work of art and infiltrated my mind with dread, horror, and an intense urge to take action. The angles of the camera and the sound effects and music choices intensified each scene in such a delicate and torturous way. The episode that revealed the tragedy that the family suffered in their previous home was by far the most horrifying horror scene I have ever witnessed, but it was done in such a way that you couldn’t look away. The anger and pain I felt during this scene made me want to reach right into the screen and save the mother and her child from the torture they experienced while also feeling helpless and unable to do so.

Little Marvin has created such an astounding work of art with Them that I can’t praise it or recommend it enough. Racism is such a despicable aspect of our society, and there is no better way to present it on television than through the lens of horror. Little Marvin has created such a controversial series with such grace that left me breathless. While Them is extremely difficult to watch it is vital that you take the time to view it. It will change you for the better and inspire you to take action. I am not the same after watching it, and you won’t be either.

Waco Survivors 28 Years Later

From February 28, 1993 – April 19, 1993 the siege of a peaceful religious community called the Branch Davidians at Mount Carmel in Waco, Texas took place.  The siege was broadcasted, and the media demonized this nonviolent community in the viewer’s eyes for 51 days – until the siege ended in a massive fire and an enormous loss of life.  But the trauma of this massacre has not seized.  The media has continued to demonize the Branch Davidian community for the past 28 years, but the survivors of the Waco Massacre – including David Thibodeau, author of “A Place Called Waco: A Survivor’s Story”, the book that inspired the miniseries from Paramount – have worked tirelessly to get the true story of the siege out to the public. 

                As someone who had not been born at the time of the Waco Massacre, I watched the mini-series last year when it was featured on Netflix knowing nothing about the event beforehand.  After watching the series, I felt as though my heart had been completely shredded, and I was compelled to act.  As an empath, the secondhand pain I experienced while watching the mini-series changed me.  Shortly after this transformative experience, I connected with David Thibodeau and had the honor of interviewing him and discussing Waco as well as current racial injustices and mental health.  Now, months after my interview, I was honored to be invited to the 28th memorial of the Waco Massacre.  My wounded heart was reopened after listening to various survivors including David Thibodeau as he honored the 76 Branch Davidians who died in the final fire – including 22 children – as well as the ATF agents whose lives were lost.

                Numerous survivors attended the memorial and spoke about their experiences during the siege, while also remembering those who died.  Despite the time that has elapsed since the Waco Massacre, the trauma that the survivors have endured for not only those 51 days but for the past 28 years was palpable and left me shaking and in tears.  To many of the survivors, the Branch Davidian community was their family and the pain from the needless loss of life at the massacre lives on each day.  However, many of the survivors, including David Thibodeau, are now dedicated to sharing their stories and shedding light on the lies that the media portrayed about the massacre – and the script that has continued on for 28 years.  The trauma that the survivors and those who lost their lives experienced during the 51-day siege is indescribable, and to be silenced for so many years has only emphasized the pain and invalidated the experiences of those affected.

                There is a saying that goes “time heals everything” but for the Waco trauma survivors, this simply is not true.  Listening to David Thibodeau list off and share stories of each person who lost their lives in the massacre with such strength and grace brought tears to my eyes and brought up the same intense anger that I first experienced last year when watching the mini-series on Waco, and continuing my research of the event and those involved.  For a peaceful religious community to be targeted in such a violent manner, the memories of those 51 days are fresh and the memories of that community and those who lost their lives remain on the hearts of the survivors.  Such severe trauma often debilitates and silences individuals, but for many of the Waco survivors, sharing their stories and fighting for the truth of the massacre to come out gives them power and purpose.  I have become so passionate about this horrible tragedy and deeply empathize with the survivors, but I know that I can never fully understand the amount of pain, anger, and invalidation they have experienced and still experience today.  However, I can share their experiences with you and invite you to learn more about the truth of the Waco Massacre.  I sincerely encourage you to listen to their stories to shed light on the trauma that they have endured and continue to live.  Having PTSD myself, I deeply empathize with the lasting traumatic experiences of those who survived Waco, but I am so in awe of their strength, faith, and how dedicated they are to shed light on not only what happened at Waco, but to also highlight the fear and injustices that religious communities experience across the world. 

I have witnessed myself how the survivors of Waco have transformed their trauma into action, and I am in awe of how something so awful can inspire change and empathy in not only America, but across the world.  Enduring PTSD and the aftereffects of trauma is oftentimes brutal, but the survivors of Waco demonstrate how trauma can be used to ignite action and empathy in a world oftentimes controlled by the media.  I am more than honored to know this community of survivors and to be inspired by them and their faith. 

There is a plethora of information on Waco out there, but David Thibodeau is adamant that only information from the survivors and those who have studied the tragedy extensively be shared.  If you would like to learn more about the Waco Massacre, those who lost their lives, the survivors, and the Branch Davidian’s religion, the following website is the go to place for information created and collected specifically by the survivors:

Waco Survivors

https://www.wacosurvivors.com/

The following documentary was also mentioned at the memorial and is a deep analysis of the Waco Massacre, and what we have learned (or not learned) since then:

The Waco Branch Davidian Tragedy: What Have We Learned or Not Learned?

Book Review: Boundless by Christen Stovall

Format: PaperbackRating: 5/5Quick Take

“Boundless is one of those rare finales that is written so beautifully that it stays with you forever. Christen Stovall’s Song of Souls Trilogy is officially one of my favorite fantasy series I have ever read.”

Tell Me More

I have long been following Christen Stovall’s writing, as her stories have really resonated with me. Stovall’s Song of Souls Trilogy is a beautiful ode to the memory of her husband, and it is because of this that I believe her writing is so powerful. Each word she pens is a piece of her soul, and I savored every second of this trilogy.

Nevertheless, I was wary going into reading Boundless because the final book in a series is often hit or miss – and sometimes my emotional heart can’t take the end of a series I’ve loved so much. Well, let me tell you, Boundless is one of the best trilogy endings I have read due to Stovall’s gorgeous writing and how well she wrapped up the characters and the story, all the while oozing suspense that kept me on the edge of my seat. I tend to judge books by how well they help me escape and based on that criterion alone, Boundless deserves much more than five stars on my rating scale.

Boundless follows our protagonist Aislynn as she experiences Venallis and how it is now under siege, while Rosehaven has been taken by Queen Vesspial and the netherworld. Amidst the chaos, Aislynn is more intimately at war with herself due to her devotion to her Soulmate and her conflicting feelings for Ciaran. The novel follows the war between lands as Aislynn is forced to make choices that she never anticipated in order to defeat Elize and protect those around her.

As is true with her other books, Stovall’s finale to her trilogy is long enough to build the plot, evolve its characters, and retreat into an ending that will have readers in tears.

That being said, I can’t recommend the Song of Souls Trilogy enough, especially now that Boundless has been released and the series is complete. Stovall put her heart and soul into this ending, and you will be completely absorbed in her world. Do pick up Boundless, and if you haven’t yet started the trilogy, please add it to your to-be-read list! You will thank me later.

Literary Vacation Club is BACK!

Happy Tuesday, Everyone!
I am super excited to announce that Literary Vacation Club is officially BACK! We are now accepting new subscriptions which will begin with our February Self-Love Box. Our newly revamped subscription is now all about bibliotherapy – the healing power of literature – and self-care.

Each of our subscriptions come with 2 books and 3 – 5 exclusive accessories to help you practice self-care and self-love. I am so grateful to be able to bring back this subscription with my best friend, Rebecca Levine, and we can’t wait to share this new phase of our business with you!

The Unexpected Hobby That Helps Me Manage My OCD

For as long as I can remember, I have suffered from Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder — however, it was not until this past January that I was diagnosed and came to realize that my behaviors were linked to this disorder. OCD is one of the more highly stigmatized disorders in our society, and it is because of the beliefs I had surrounding OCD that I didn’t think that my behaviors qualified for a diagnosis. That was, until my psychiatrist explained me to what OCD really is.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder is not being “excessively clean or neat”. OCD involves unwanted thoughts and or images that the sufferer suffers from, and in turn develops compulsive behaviors to somehow distract from the thoughts or images (otherwise known as obsessive). For example, my compulsive behaviors relate to numbers. For as long as I can remember I have had scary, unwanted thoughts that often occur about the people that are around me, and my mind turned to numbers to try and find relief. I count syllables in words that people are saying so much so that I don’t comprehend what they are trying to say, and I obsessively count notes in music and words that I hear on the radio or the television. I require the television to be on at all times as silence deeply impacts my scary thoughts, and I spend most of every minute or every day counting in some way or another.

I never knew that my behavior was considered “disordered” or out of the ordinary. It wasn’t until I was in treatment for Bulimia Nervosa that I received an OCD subsequent diagnosis and realized that my bulimic behaviors were connected to my intrusive thoughts as well. It took me a long time to grasp my new diagnosis and identify my compulsive behaviors as problematic, but with medication, therapy, and the help of some new crafts I have learned to manage my disorder and manage my intrusive thoughts.

That being said, out of medication, therapy, and crafts, crochet has been the single most helpful hobby that I have picked up on that has helped my OCD. It allows me to count in the form of stitches and manage my intrusive thoughts in a beautiful way. Crochet also helps me to feel productive as I can make things for loved ones and manage my OCD at the same time. Crochet has saved my life, and I am so thankful for how it has helped me to manage my intrusive thoughts, compulsive number counting, and bulimic behaviors as well.

Creating beautiful projects keeps my hands busy and helps to distract me from my thoughts. I love fashion and making crocheted clothing is one of my biggest passions now. I love being able to create something that will make someone else feel beautiful and comfortable, and this helps me to find solace in my disorder because of its role in my crochet. Instead of feeling ashamed or as though I am “not right”, I am thankful for my crafting abilities and how my disorder has played a part in a hobby that I find so beautiful in my life.

If you or a loved one are struggling with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, I highly recommend trying out a craft such as crochet, cross-stitch, coloring, etc.! All of these forms of arts and crafts have helped me tremendously in managing my disorder in a beautiful way, while helping me to live a fuller life. Let me know what helps you manage your OCD!