A bond so strong that the gate to the Rainbow Bridge can't hold it back.
As veterinarian Michelle Catalano helps other people's ailing animals earn their angel wings, she tries not to think about the empty cat perch in her own home. Or the empty side of her bed, grown cold since her boyfriend left town.
Then a pet psychic's uncannily accurate reading leaves Michelle with more questions than the answers she thought were set in stone. And warnings so dark, she wishes she still had her cat at her side to cuddle the fear away.
When a brutal murder devastates Michelle and her family, the detective working the case is her only anchor. And soon, she's turning to Bruce for the comfort that could heal her broken heart.
But there are too many unanswered questions about the killer, causing Michelle to secretly investigate on her own. Will Michelle's search for answers spell her doom, or deliver help from above?
Grab a copy of this women's fiction murder mystery filled with heartbreak and hope. Perfect for fans of A Street Cat Named Bob, The Art of Racing in the Rain, and animal lovers who have experienced the powerful connection between themselves and their furry friends.
I rated this book 5 paw prints
This book is so emotional
I am not a cat person but a dog lover. I love all animals in general. This book is so emotional. I did not cry but I felt their emotions so raw and deep. This is my very first book from the author. I am a new fan.
The main character's job is not easy. I am not sure if I can handle it myself. It will be a hot mess. She did a phenomenal job. Seeing death in my job is too hard for me to take in. I lose our Pitbull female dog a year and 4 months ago. We missed her every day. She is one of the best dogs we will ever have. This book gives me the closure and hopes that Maggie is having fun over the Rainbow Bridge with the rest of her furry friends.
The book is so intense as well. It will put you to the edge of your seat. Losing a dog is hard for me and worst if somebody you loved. Prepare not to lose hope, keep on fighting, and cherish the ones you loved the most.
What people are saying about When the Time Is Right:
"When the Time Is Right is a women's fiction murder mystery filled with heartbreak and hope. Perfect for fans of A Street Cat Named Bob, The Art of Racing in the Rain, and animal lovers who have experienced the powerful connection between themselves and their furry friends." ~ bestselling author Deborah Brown
"A story for people who believe our pets watch over us after they are gone." ~ K.Phelps/Reader
"Our book club loved When the Time Is Right. It was a unique tale of tragedy, healing after loss, with a sprinkle of the supernatural. It totally stole our hearts!" ~ J. Nelson/Reader
More books by the author
About the Author
Kim Cano is the author of four women's fiction novels: A Widow Redefined, On The Inside, Eighty and Out, and His Secret Life. Kim has also written a short story collection called For Animal Lovers. 10% of the sale price of that book is donated to the ASPCA® to help homeless pets.
Kim wrote a contemporary romance called My Dream Man under the pen name Marie Solka.
Kim lives in the Chicago suburbs with her husband and cat.
Visit Kim's website to learn more and get a FREE copy of The Rescue. A novelette about a dog that cheated death and transformed a woman's life: http://kimcano.com
Book Title: The F.I.G. Mysteries by Barbara Casey Category: YA Fiction (Ages 13-17) Genre: Mystery, Fantasy Publisher: Gauthier Publications (Hungry Goat Press) Release dates: The Cadence of Gypsies (2011); The Wish Rider (2016); The Clock Flower (2018); The Nightjar's Promise (2020) Tour dates: May 25 to June 5, 2020 Content Rating: PG. There are some themes that deal with the
Jewish Holocaust and some frightening scenes appropriate for young adult
and adult readers.
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Book Details:
Book Title: The Cadence of Gypsies (The F.I.G. Mysteries) by Barbara Casey Category: YA Fiction (Ages 13-17), 200 pages Genre: Mystery, Fantasy Publisher: Gauthier Publications (Hungry Goat Press) Release date: The Cadence of Gypsies (2011) Tour dates: May 25 to June 5, 2020 Content Rating: PG. There are some themes that deal with the
Jewish Holocaust and some frightening scenes appropriate for young adult
and adult readers.
Book Description: Three high-spirited 17
year olds, with intelligent quotients in the genius range, accompany
their teacher and mentor, Carolina Lovel, to Frascati, Italy, a few
weeks before they are to graduate from Wood Rose Orphanage and Academy
for Young Women. Carolina's purpose in planning the trip is to remove
her gifted, creative students from the Wood Rose campus located in
Raleigh, North Carolina, so they can't cause any more problems
("expressions of creativity") for the headmaster, faculty, and other
students – which they do with regularity. Carolina also wants to visit
the Villa Mondragone where the Voynich Manuscript, the most mysterious
document in the world, was first discovered and search how it is related
to a paper written in the same script she received on her 18th birthday
when she was told that she was adopted – a search that will fill in all
of the missing pieces of her past and help each of her students to
discover something meaningful within themselves.
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Book Details:
Book Title: The Wish Rider (The F.I.G. Mysteries) by Barbara Casey Category: YA Fiction (Ages 13-17), 220 pages Genre: Mystery, Fantasy Publisher: Gauthier Publications (Hungry Goat Press) Release date: The Wish Rider (2016) Tour dates: May 25 to June 5, 2020 Content Rating: PG. There are some themes that deal with the
Jewish Holocaust and some frightening scenes appropriate for young adult
and adult readers.
Book Description:
Seventeen-year-old Dara Roux and her two best friends, Mackenzie
Yarborough and Jennifer Torres, the three collectively referred to as
the FIGs (Females of Intellectual Genius) because each has an
intelligence quotient in the genius range, have just returned from
Frascati, Italy. It was there that their much loved teacher and mentor,
Carolina Lovel, discovered that her birth parents were gypsies, and that
she had a connection to the Voynich Manuscript, the most mysterious
document in the world. Now, with graduation from Wood Rose Orphanage and
Academy for Young Women behind them, Dara asks Mackenzie, Jennifer, and
Carolina to help her locate her birth mother when she learns that she
might be living in New York City. All the young women have to work with
are five addresses, and when Mackenzie prepares a grid showing the
location of all five addresses, four of the locations form a square with
the fifth in the middle—which is also Grand Central Terminal. Relying
on Dara’s gift for speaking and understanding foreign languages, the
black and white images that stir musical cadences in Jennifer’s mind,
and Mackenzie’s mathematical calculations that normally provide
numerical solutions and answers to life’s most difficult questions but
now keep showing the number “61”, the determined young women tirelessly
go from one address to another in search of Dara’s mother. Their
determination turns to desperation, however, and they ignore caution and
the dissonant chords Jennifer frantically scribbles on her eight-stave
musical paper as they pursue one final address—the one located in the
middle of Mackenzie’s grid. Encountering a dark hidden society and sub
culture more dangerous and terrifying than they could have imagined, it
is there that Dara learns why she was abandoned as a seven year old in a
candy store all those years ago.
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Book Details:
Book Title: The Clock Flower (The F.I.G. Mysteries) by Barbara Casey Category: YA Fiction (Ages 13-17), 180 pages Genre: Mystery, Fantasy Publisher: Gauthier Publications (Hungry Goat Press) Release date: The Clock Flower (2018) Tour dates: May 25 to June 5, 2020 Content Rating: PG. There are some themes that deal with the
Jewish Holocaust and some frightening scenes appropriate for young adult
and adult readers.
Book Description:
The three FIGs—Females of Intellectual Genius—as they are called,
have graduated from Wood Rose Orphanage and Academy for Young Women
after returning from New York City where Dara learned why her mother
abandoned her all those years ago, and they are now attending
universities where they can further their special talents. This means
they will be separated from each other and from Carolina, their
much-loved mentor and teacher who is “one of them,” for the first time
in their young lives. They vow to try living apart for one semester, in
the so-called real world that doesn’t include the orphanage; but if
things don’t work out, they will come up with another plan—a plan where
they can be together once again. Dara is invited through Yale University
to take part in an exciting archeological project in China. Jennifer,
once again visualizing black and white images and the unusual sounds of
another cadence that seem to be connected to Mackenzie, is engrossed in
creating her next symphony at Juilliard. Mackenzie, because of her
genius at problem-solving, is personally chosen by a US Senator to get
involved in a mysterious, secret research project involving immortality
that is being conducted in a small village in China—not too far from
where Dara is involved with the archeological site. Once there, however,
she finds herself facing a terrifying death from the blood-dripping
teeth of an ancient evil dragon. Her best friends, the FIGs and
Carolina, rely on their own unique genius and special talents to save
her as she discovers the truth of her birth parents.
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Book Details:
Book Title: The Nightjar's Promise (Book 4 of The F.I.G. Mysteries) by Barbara Casey Category: YA Fiction (Ages 13-17), 130 pages Genre: Mystery, Fantasy Publisher: Gauthier Publications (Hungry Goat Press) Release date: April, 2020 Format available for review: print, gifted Kindle, PDF
Will send Print Books to: USA and Canada Tour dates: May 4 to May 22, 2020 Content Rating: PG. There are some themes that deal with the
Jewish Holocaust and some frightening scenes appropriate for young adult
and adult readers.
Book Description:
Jennifer Torres, one of the three FIGs (Females of Intellectual Genius)
who is a genius in both music and art, is the last to leave the closed
rehearsal for her upcoming performance over Thanksgiving break at
Carnegie Hall when she hears something in the darkened Hall. Recognizing
the tilt of the woman’s head and the slight limp of the man as they
hurry out an exit door, she realizes it is her parents who were
supposedly killed in a terrible car accident when she was 15 years old.
Devastated and feeling betrayed, she sends a text to Carolina and the
other two FIGs—THURGOOD. It is the code word they all agreed to use if
ever one of them got into trouble or something happened that was too
difficult to handle. They would all meet back at Carolina’s bungalow at
Wood Rose Orphanage and Academy for Young Women to figure it out.
As soon as they receive the text, because of their genius, Dara starts
thinking of words in ancient Hebrew, German, and Yiddish, while
Mackenzie’s visions of unique math formulae keep bringing up the date
October 11, 1943. That is the date during World War II when the
Nazis—the Kunstschutz—looted the paintings of targeted wealthy Jewish
families and hid them away under Hitler’s orders. And as Carolina waits
for the FIGs to return to Wood Rose, she hears warnings from Lyuba, her
gypsy mother, to watch for the nightjar, the ancient name for the
whip-poor-will.
As they search for “The Nightjar’s Promise” and the truth surrounding
it, Carolina and the FIGs come face to face with evil that threatens to
destroy not only their genius, but their very lives.
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Add to Goodreads Coming Soon to Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million, and Bookstores Everywhere!
Meet the Author:
Originally from Carrollton, Illinois, author/agent/publisher Barbara
Casey attended the University of North Carolina, N.C. State University,
and N.C. Wesleyan College where she received a BA degree, summa cum
laude, with a double major in English and history. In 1978 she left her
position as Director of Public Relations and Vice President of
Development at North Carolina Wesleyan College to write full time and
develop her own manuscript evaluation and editorial service. In 1995 she
established the Barbara Casey Agency and since that time has
represented authors from the United States, Great Britain, Canada, and
Japan. In 2014, she became a partner with Strategic Media Books, an
independent nonfiction publisher of true crime, where she oversees
acquisitions, day-to-day operations, and book production.
Ms. Casey has written over a dozen award-winning books of fiction and
nonfiction for both young adults and adults. The awards include the
National Association of University Women Literary Award, the Sir Walter
Raleigh Literary Award, the Independent Publisher Book Award, the Dana
Award for Outstanding Novel, the IP Best Book for Regional Fiction,
among others. Two of her nonfiction books have been optioned for major
films, one of which is under contract.
Her award-winning articles, short stories, and poetry for adults have
appeared in both national and international publications including the
North Carolina Christian Advocate Magazine, The New East Magazine, the
Raleigh (N.C.) News and Observer, the Rocky Mount (N.C.) Sunday
Telegram, Dog Fancy, ByLine, The Christian Record, Skirt! Magazine, and
True Story. A thirty-minute television special which Ms. Casey wrote and
coordinated was broadcast on WRAL, Channel 5, in Raleigh, North
Carolina. She also received special recognition for her editorial work
on the English translations of Albanian children’s stories. Her
award-winning science fiction short stories for adults are featured in
The Cosmic Unicorn and CrossTime science fiction anthologies. Ms.
Casey's essays and other works appear in The Chrysalis Reader, the
international literary journal of the Swedenborg Foundation, 221
One-Minute Monologues from Literature (Smith and Kraus Publishers), and A
Cup of Comfort (Adams Media Corporation).
Ms. Casey is a former director of BookFest of the Palm Beaches, Florida,
where she served as guest author and panelist. She has served as judge
for the Pathfinder Literary Awards in Palm Beach and Martin Counties,
Florida, and was the Florida Regional Advisor for the Society of
Children's Book Writers and Illustrators from 1991 through 2003. In 2018
Ms. Casey received the prestigious Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime
Achievement Award and Top Professional Award for her extensive
experience and notable accomplishments in the field of publishing and
other areas. She makes her home on the top of a mountain in northwest
Georgia with her husband and three cats who adopted her, Homer, Reese,
and Earl Gray - Reese’s best friend.
Float: A Guide to Letting Go seeks to encourage children to process their emotions gently and in a way that allows them purposeful ownership of what they think and how they feel. It will aid them in identifying the root of their feelings, help them to examine their reactions to emotions and decide for themselves what they may be ready to release. The thoughtful use of color and symbols, and the guided practice of breathwork, encourages readers to maintain a broad focus as they become more grounded and aware. The playful rhyme dances with readers as they grow on their journey to the present, where they are beautifully set free.
Readers will enjoy:
- Learning how to identify and examine emotions
- Understanding how to release unwanted thoughts and feelings
- Permission to acknowledge, accept, feel and heal in a unique way
"Aimee Ruland's book, Float, is a masterpiece of creativity where the intangible becomes relatable, fun and beautifully depicted. Teaching children mindfulness, kindness and intention regarding their feelings might just be the most important lesson we can teach them. This book belongs on the shelf of every child--or anyone who has ever been a child."
--Stephanie Wharton, M.Ed., INHC
"What a beautiful message for children of all ages! A brilliant example of emotions and feelings that may be difficult for children to define with words. Float is the perfect story to help a child's mind and body unwind at the end of the day. I found myself thinking about the message long after reading the story."
--Tanya Swanson, kindergarten teacher
"Beautiful, soothing words to comfort children and guide them in using imagery to help deal with the weight of daily emotions."--Susan E. Slater, children's librarian
"Float does a great job blending imagery to relate to feelings of young children. The colors of the balloons are neatly tied into each feeling discussed in the book. The strategies are appropriate, simple and thought provoking. A great read!"--Matthew Menard, M.S., M.Ed., LPC
"Aimee Ruland is the Dr. Seuss of children's therapy books. My seven-year-old loves the book, and so do I."
--Jeffrey Barkstrom, LAC
From the Growing with Love Series at Loving Healing Press www.LHPress.com I rated this book 5 *****'s Colorful balloons and what does it mean
This is a very short children's book to read but the lessons that you will learn are bigger. Emotions are hard for kids to let go. The color of balloons have so many impacts to the kids mind and even adult as well. The illustrations are exceptionally brilliant. I loved them all. I highly recommend this book for kids especially dealing with emotions and how to help themselves. This story is one of a kind.
Aimee L. Ruland is a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh, with degree concentrations in Psychology and Philosophy. She is an Applied Metapsychology facilitator, Certified Yoga Instructor, Usui Reiki practitioner, Access Bars practitioner, meditation guide, and mother.
She holds an affinity with birds of prey, studies in quantum mechanics, and sculpting with her daughter.
Book Title: MY BEAUTIFUL DETOUR: An Unthinkable Journey from Gutless to Grateful by Amy Oestreicher Category: Adult Non-Fiction (18+) (529 pages) Genre: Memoir Publisher: Singing Tree Publishing Release date: November 2019 Tour dates: Nov 19 to Dec 17, 2019 Content Rating: PG-13
Book Description:
An
estimated 70 percent of adults in the United States have experienced a
traumatic event at least once in their lives and up to 20 percent of
these people go on to develop posttraumatic stress disorder, or PTSD. An
estimated 5 percent of Americans—more than 13 million people—have PTSD
at any given time.
Amy Oestreicher was one of
them. So, what happens when an ordinary teenager has to turn into a
warrior just to survive? And can the journey through Post Traumatic
Stress Disorder really become an “adventure?”
Amy
had ambitious plans for college and a Broadway career, until her
stomach exploded the week before her senior prom. Months later, she
awoke from a coma to learn that she might never be able to eat or drink
again. After years on IV nutrition, her first bite of food awakened her
senses to life's ordinary miracles but also brought back memories of
being sexually abused by a trusted mentor for months, just before the
unexpected rush to the emergency room that fateful Passover night. With
determination, imagination, relentless resilience, and an inner “hunger”
for life, Amy created a roadmap where none existed. Her journey through
life's unthinkable detours is nothing short of miraculous, but the
creative path to healing she forged is accessible to anyone. As a
survivor—and “thriver”—of abuse and extensive medical trauma, Amy
discovered sources of resilience she didn’t know she had but it turns
out we all possess. In this book, she creates a tapestry made from each
of each thread of her journey, empowering others to find gratitude in
every setback and discover their own infinite inner strength. Amy’s
search for “home” proves to be the greatest test of cultivating
resilience after near-death, and reclaiming identity after both sexual
assault and medical trauma. Amy’s journey is ultimately a celebration of
ordinary and extraordinary challenges and miracles.
In
this coming of age story, Amy shares her struggles and discoveries
living with both visible and invisible illness, the tremendous gifts to
be reaped from trauma, its lessons which have illuminated her path, and
how these gifts can be discovered as a unique, yet universal way to
navigate any kind of uncertainty.
Interwoven through her remarkable story are insights on navigating any kind of uncertainty, including:
What is a “detourist”– and why is it important to take those detours?
The importance of detours for college students
How to transition from being a “survivor” to a “thriver”
Amy’s” Four Hardcore Skills” to resilience
Finding your own uniqueness not through what’s happened to you, but what you choose to do with it
The power of art to heal
Our innate ability to be artists, and why creativity is an essential mindset
How sharing your story becomes imperative to healing
How humor is a way through
Turn messes, mistakes and setbacks into creative detours
My
Beautiful Detour offers practical strategies for individuals and
unexpected tools for the families of trauma survivors, helping
communities build new, limitless futures. The book includes numerous
“trauma insights,” and is enriched with humor, art, poetry, and useful
takeaways for readers. Reading one woman’s heroic adventure through
trauma, recovery, and discovery of new directions in healing the body
and the mind is an empowering tale of not just getting through, but
thriving.
AMY
OESTREICHER is an international keynote speaker, Huffington Post
columnist, actor, artist, songwriter, playwright, Audie Award-nominated
PSTD peer-to-peer specialist, and author. A survivor of extensive
medical trauma, including 27 surgeries, and sexual assault, she shares
her life story and creative strategies with therapists, medical
professionals, patients, sexual abuse victims, and general audiences
nationwide. Creator of the #LoveMyDetour movement to inspire individuals
to thrive because of, rather than in spite of, obstacles, she has been
featured on the Today show, delivered three TEDx talks, and performed
her one-woman musical, Gutless & Grateful, in more than 200 venues
across the country. She is also a passionate voice in the ostomy
community and presents narrative medicine workshops.
Book Title: The Art of Taking It Easy by Dr. Brian King Category: Adult Non-Fiction (18+) Genre: Literary/Self-Help/Humor Publisher: Apollo Publishers Release date: October 2019 Content Rating: PG-13+
Book Description:
Psychologist
and Comedian King explores the science behind stress in this witty,
informed guide. The author uses a bevy of running jokes and punch lines
to enliven technical explanations for how and why people experience
stress. His metaphors of coming across a bear in the wild as well as
being stuck in traffic are also used to great effect to explain a
variety of stress responses, such as perceiving a threat and feelings of
powerlessness. Reframing thoughts plays a large role in King's advice:
Stress is simply a reaction to a perception of threat being able to
consciously redirect choices made by other areas of the brain is the key
to living a less stressful existence. He also provides breathing
exercises, plants for painting physical health and useful advice for
setting attainable goals. King's enjoyable guide to living with less
will be of help to any anxious reader.
DR.
BRIAN KING trained as a neuroscientist and psychologist and for the
past decade has traveled the world as a comedian and public speaker. By
day he conducts seminars, attended by thousands of people each year
around the US and internationally, on positive psychology, the health
benefits of humor, and stress management. By night he practices what he
teaches in comedy clubs, and is the founder and producer of the highly
reviewed Wharf Room comedy show in San Francisco. Dr. Brian holds a
bachelor’s degree from the University of Texas, a master’s degree from
the University of New Orleans, and a PhD in neuroscience from Bowling
Green State University. Hailing from New York and living in dozens of
cities throughout the US as the child of a military family, today spends
his life on the road with his partner, Sarah, and their young daughter.
In this second installment in the series, Chrissy digs up clues to help Autumn solve a historical disappearance and a modern-day murder mystery
Autumn Clarke is getting her life back to normal with the help of her extraordinary shih tzu, Chrissy, when the death of a local philanthropist reveals the man's dark family secrets, as well as unexpected ties to Autumn. When Chrissy discovers a dog-eared diary in the dead man's family home, Autumn discovers that things in the Clarke family are not quite as they seem. Can Autumn interpret the hidden clues in the dog-eared diary to crack the most puzzling disappearance in Knollwood history? Are the recent murders connected to the past? Is Chrissy more insightful than Autumn realized?
I rated this book 5 paw prints
Cute, Cuddly but so smart Chrissy
As much as I loved the first book, the second book is even better. Chrissy is not cute, cuddly but so smart. As a dog owner myself of two rat terriers, I could not even love more about my dogs. This book is not only for dog lovers but best if you are a fan of mystery genre.
This is such a beautiful, heart-warming and full of suspense story. It is hard to put it down. It makes your heart beats so fast. Autumn and Chrissy's ability is beyond me. These two are inseparable. It is also a beautiful love story. The power to forgive is so amazing. Kindness will never out-powered than being greedy and hateful.
“I have fallen in love with Chrissy and Autumn and their
continuing journey to health while finding themselves in the middle of a murder mystery adventure. My pre-teen daughter and I enjoyed reading The Dog-Eared Diary and then discussing the clues, plot twists, and characters.” ~ Antoinette Brickhaus, Maryland
“Through the relationship between Autumn and Chrissy, Wing also shows the importance of therapy animals and how much they can help those who need them. Add a sweet romance to the intrigue of the mystery and you've got a book that you won't want to put down.” ~ Melissa Alvarez, Intuitive, animal communicator and author of Animal Frequency and Llewellyn's Little Book of Spirit Animals
“Diane Wing has created a wonderfully endearing little character in Chrissy the Shih Tzu. It really shines through that the author is a lover of animals and dogs. I can see these books quickly becoming a cherished addition to the cozy mystery genre.” ~ J. New, author of The Yellow Cottage Vintage Mysteries
Also available... Attorney-at-Paw: A Chrissy the Shih Tzu Mystery
Only Chrissy, a cute little Shih Tzu, can unlock this mystery!
Autumn Clarke survived the car crash that killed her parents. To help her cope with PTSD, she adopts Chrissy, a Shih Tzu with a remarkable secret. Chrissy is also the only witness to the mysterious death of her pet parent. Autumn vows to find the truth behind his death with the help of Chrissy, the neighbors and an attractive detective. Can Autumn unravel the clues while trying to heal Chrissy's trauma and overcome her own devastating emotional wounds in the midst of a dangerous murder investigation?
Diane Wing, M.A. grew up in a household where her vivid imagination could thrive. Crafting short stories and poetry from an early age, writing remained part of her life throughout her 25-year corporate career. Her training in clinical psychology shows up in her characters' struggles and in her non-fiction books about energetic consciousness, tarot, and happiness. Diane seeks to help the reader find the flame of their own unique path sparked by her stories and insights for personal growth.
Diane is an avid reader, bibliophile, lover of trees and animals, and a lifelong learner. She and her husband are pet parents to a sweet little Shih Tzu.
- Find out more, listen to Wing Academy Radio, and take the Vibrational Quiz at www.DianeWing.com.
Amanda's Fall, with charming illustrations by Bijan Samaddar, depicts an event common in schools today. Young Amanda gets a concussion after falling and hitting her head during recess. While she can hear people talking, she cannot respond. Amanda is taken to a doctor for evaluation. Wisely, her parents ask for a prognosis, which in Amanda's case, is a good one. Author Kelly Darmofal offers readers her third book on TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury), encouraging parents and caretakers to alert schools and, hopefully, doctors when any child is concussed; side effects can then be ameliorated.
Studies show that Traumatic Brain Injuries represent the leading cause of death and disability in young adults in industrialized countries. According to the CDC, at least 564,000 children are seen each year for brain injury in hospital emergency departments and released.
"Kelly Darmofal worked hard on recovering from severe TBI, and gained the special gift of ability to explain what she went through. This book offers transforming power to children and parents--those afflicted with TBI and those trying to prevent it."
-- Dr. Frank Balch Wood, professor emeritus of neurology-neuropsychology at Wake Forest School of Medicine and ordained Baptist minister
"Amanda's Fall is a delightful, much needed children's book on Traumatic Brain Injury. Through the eyes of a child, it raises awareness, has tips for coping and offers support for those affected."
-- Christina Condon NP, Neurology
"Amanda's Fall is a lovely book that uses rhyme and colorful illustrations to engage young readers. Kelly Bouldin Darmofal's warm writing style makes it easy to understand the issues surrounding this potentially serious medical condition."
Laurie Zelinger, PhD, RPT-S, board certified psychologist and author of Please Explain Time Out to Me
"This is a cute and creative story to help young children understand their world after a traumatic brain injury. It teaches them that they are not alone in their experiences. The tips for parents are a valuable resource as well." -- Mary Jane Morgan, Lower School Principal, Calvary Day School
"Darmofal has an ease in the way she writes about TBI. In this sweet story, she makes a difficult situation approachable and something to discuss. This is a wonderful story to share and educate children about TBI."
-- Susie van der Vorst, co-Founder and Director, Camp Spring Creek
From Loving Healing Press www.LHPress.com I rated this book 5 *****'s A beautiful, short but very informative story
I enjoyed reading this book. The story is beautiful, short but very informative. The illustrations are so clear and done beautifully, not only kids will enjoy looking at the pictures but parents as well. Kids are playful in nature and that sometimes, we do not pay attention as parents. This book will teach us everything about how a simple fall can cause head injury.
There are so many helpful tips and links on what to do when this happened to your child. As a housekeeper working in a nursing home, I have talked to many residents fell and cracked theirs bones and recuperating at work to get their strength back, so they can go home. Fall is so serious and sometimes fatal and this book is a must read.
More books by the author Lost in My Mind: Recovering From Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) (Reflections of America)
Lost in My Mind is a stunning memoir describing Kelly Bouldin Darmofal's journey from adolescent girl to special education teacher, wife and mother -- despite severe Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). Spanning three decades, Kelly's journey is unique in its focus on TBI education in America (or lack thereof). Kelly also abridges her mother's journals to describe forgotten experiences. She continues the narrative in her own humorous, poetic voice, describing a victim's relentless search for success, love, and acceptance -- while combating bureaucratic red tape, aphasia, bilateral hand impairment, and loss of memory. Readers will:
- Learn why TBI is a "silent illness" for students as well as soldiers and athletes.
- Discover coping strategies which enable TBI survivors to hope and achieve.
- Experience what it's like to be a caregiver for someone with TBI.
- Realize that the majority of teachers are sadly unprepared to teach victims of TBI.
- Find out how relearning ordinary tasks, like walking, writing, and driving require intense determination.
101 Tips for Recovering from Traumatic Brain Injury: Practical Advice for TBI Survivors, Caregivers, and Teachers
Kelly Bouldin Darmofal suffered a severe TBI in 1992; currently she holds a Masters in Special Education from Salem College, NC. Her memoir Lost In My Mind: Recovering From Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) tells her story of tragedy and triumph. Kelly will be teaching "TBI: An Overview for Educators" at Salem College. Kelly’s "tips" were learned during two decades of recovery and perseverance; they include:
- Ways to avoid isolation and culture shock post-TBI
- Tips for staying organized in the face of instant chaos
- Strategies for caretakers and teachers of TBI survivors
- Life philosophies that reject despair
- How to relearn that shoes must match
- Why one alarm clock is never enough, and
- A breath of humor for a growing population with a "silent illness"--TBI
Kelly Bouldin Darmofal is currently a freelance writer, wife, educator and stay-at-home mother. Despite her 1992 severe closed head injury, she graduated cum laude in Communication from Salem College (2000), later receiving a Masters in Special Education from Salem (2006). She studied Spanish in Merida, Mexico and took courses at UCLA, UNC-CH, and Wake Forest University. Kelly was employed by the Winston-Salem, NC chapter of the American Red Cross as volunteer coordinator before working in ESL at Reynolds High School, followed by a semester in Special Education at Thomas Jefferson Middle School. Kelly worked personally with Dr. Bethanie Tucker, Averett University, to be trained in Tucker Signing Strategies for Reading (2005). In 2005 Kelly joined the Forsyth Country Day School faculty in the Johnson Academic Center as an LD Specialist. In 2007 Kelly accepted a 2nd grade position at Summit School, and taught there four years until the birth of her son. She currently tutors children as a Wilson Reading Specialist and is a published writer. Her article on traumatic brain injury (TBI) and education was published in English Journal in 2005; "Our Teachers Are Not Prepared" won an Edwin M. Hopkins award in 2006 (NCTE). She is a feature contributor to Lost Treasure magazine, and has been a speaker on the subject of TBI at Wake Forest, Salem College, and the Summit School. With the publication of online articles related to TBI in addition to her memoir, Kelly continues to advocate for the TBI of America - especially students.
"No teacher in high school or college was trained to work with students like me," says Kelly, the first TBI-certified student in her high school. She admits the American military and sports organizations are now attempting to address the TBI issue. However, IDEA, or the Individual with Disabilities Education Act, has made TBI a certifiable disability category (in 1990) without assuring appropriate teacher training. She remarks on this "black hole" in education whenever possible, and relates her early TBI experiences with hopes of affecting change. Kelly has found canine care and rescue to be both a rewarding and healing hobby. Currently she owns two rescue mutts - Mitzy and Buddie.
Kim Cano is the author of four women's fiction novels: A Widow Redefined, On The Inside, Eighty and Out, and His Secret Life. Kim has also written a short story collection called For Animal Lovers. 10% of the sale price of that book is donated to the ASPCA® to help homeless pets.
