“Lost and Broken helps advance a long overdue effort to talk more openly about, and find better solutions for, both chronic pain and mental illness.” — Ben Affleck, director, actor and c-founder Eastern Congo Initiative

As a 26-year member of congress, Representative Adam Smith’s high stress levels eventually crossed over into anxiety and collided with his chronic pain for a one-two punch that left him both mentally and physically hobbled.

It took six long years and a hundred health care professionals before he said he started to turn the corner.

“Millions of people suffer from anxiety, depression, chronic pain or some combination of those things, and I want to be part of raising the profile of that discussion of the problem, how we encourage people to confront it and to find solutions, because solutions exist, and that’s my big message,” Smith said in a recent interview.

Successful by every measure, Smith had a long, distinguished career in Congress, and he and his wife of 20 years were happy together and raising two great kids. Yet seemingly out of nowhere, his body and mind broke down to the point where every day was a relentless struggle to just keep moving.

Would he be able to meet his responsibilities as a husband and father? Could he still maintain his breakneck professional schedule and continue to do his job well? Smith soon realized he couldn’t will himself well — he needed help.

In his new memoir, Lost and Broken, Smith shares with unflinching honesty how he got to this lowest point in life, and how he slowly, painfully and unevenly found his way back to having a calmer mind and being free of chronic pain and medication.

His desperate search for the right diagnoses and treatments for his mental and physical pain lasted over six years and involved more than a hundred different health care providers. He distills the valuable lessons he learned throughout all of his experiences into key takeaways to empower readers to seek the help and treatments they need. But first, he says, the stigma surrounding mental health must be eliminated.

“That stigma makes it far harder for people facing mental illness to take the first step we all need to take,” Smith said. “Get help. Seek treatment. It really does work. There are treatments that work and that can dramatically improve your mental health.”

About the Author
Adam Smith is the member of Congress who represents the 9th District of the State of Washington. He was reelected to his 14th term in 2022 and has been the top Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee since 2011. He served as chair of the committee from 2018–2022 when the Democrats controlled the majority in the U.S. House.

Amazon link: https://www.amazon.com/Lost-Broken-Journey-Chronic-Crippling/dp/0757324622

Lost and Broken: My Journey Back from Chronic Pain and Crippling Anxiety
Publisher: HCI Books
Release Date: May 30, 2023
ISBN-10: 0757324622
ISBN-13: 9780757324628
Trade Paperback, 224 pages
Available from Amazon.com

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Reviews, photos, links to previous interviews and Q&As are available upon request.

“Five Years After is a veritable guidebook for surviving the apocalypse — and better yet, how to avoid it.” — Ward Larsen, bestselling author of Deep Fake

It’s been 14 years since military historian and prolific author William R. Forstchen, Ph.D., introduced readers to the realistic devastation of an electromagnetic pulse (EMP) attack in his New York Times bestseller, One Second After. Public interest in the topic prompted Forstchen to write three sequels, the latest of which is Five Years After, and Forstchen attributes the continuing fascination with his concept to the universal fear of living without electric power.

“When those weapons [EMPs] detonate above the atmosphere, they set off something called the Compton effect … In short, it’s a giant electrostatic discharge that hits the earth’s surface, feeds into our power grid, and literally one second after … we’re in the dark,” Forstchen explained during a recent interview. “Electricity is the fundamental block of our society. Everything is predicated on electrification.”

Widely considered one of the foremost experts on EMP attacks, Forstchen’s fictional explorations in his One Second After series are rooted in the cold, solid facts of how an EMP strike above U.S. soil would impact society. That there are now four books in the series, featuring some of the same characters, should give people hope that survival is possible, with the right measures and mindset in place.

“The component of my [first] book that was so important … is the realization that the only way we’re going to get through this as a community is by working together as a community, helping those who need help … and then planning realistically for how we’re going to get through the next six months, the next year, and still have food on hand, water supply, medication, etc.,” Forstchen added.

Five Years After continues the saga of protagonist John Matherson, as he contends with new threats to the fragile civilization that he helped rebuild. The Republic of New America has all but collapsed into regional powers, and the world at large is struggling to remain stable as regional conflicts ravage the post-EMP landscape. After several years attempting to lead a quiet life, John receives word that the President is terminal with cancer, and John is asked to take over the reins of government.

Pulled back into the fray, John struggles to hold the tottering Republic together. Facing threats on multiple fronts, he races against time to stop another EMP attack on the former United States and China, putting years of progress at risk. With so much of his work under threat, John must find the strength within to start over, so that he can save the country and the people that he holds dear from even greater calamity.

Forstchen’s depiction of a post-EMP society throughout his One Second After series is rooted in years of extensive research, and he has long been advocating for greater awareness and preparation against an EMP strike, which he considers a very real threat. His goal is not to alarm, but to prompt proactive measures to protect the American public.

“We’ve got to live our lives; we’ve got to enjoy ourselves … don’t make this the obsession,” Forstchen said of the topic of EMPs. “But it should be out there. You should be thinking about this and doing some basic planning.”

About the Author
William R. Forstchen is a New York Times bestselling author and a Professor of History at Montreat College, in Montreat, North Carolina. He holds a doctoral degree from Purdue University with a specialization in military history and technology. He is the author of more than 50 books, including the One Second After series that details the realistic effects of an EMP strike.

He is a noted expert historian and public speaker and has been interviewed on FOX News, C-SPAN and many others on topics ranging from history to technology and cultural issues, to space technology development, to security threats.

For more information about the One Second After series, please visit https://www.onesecondafter.com/.

Amazon link: https://www.amazon.com/Five-Years-After-Matherson-Novel/dp/1250854563/

Five Years After
Publisher: Tor/Forge
Release Date: August 22, 2023
ISBN-10: ‎ 1250854563
ISBN-13: ‎ 978-1250854568
Available now from Amazon.com

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TIP SHEET:

Praise for Five Years After

“The future has never seemed more chilling or more believable than in Five Years After, a riveting dystopian page-turner from one of the masters of the genre. As you descend into the world that William Forstchen creates, you absolutely know that this is how it could all turn out. But as you root for the characters who inhabit his world, your faith in the human spirit will be restored.”
―William Martin, award-winning, New York Times bestselling author of The Lost Constitution and December ’41

“Forstchen is a rare storyteller who not only entertains, but also conveys a vital message. He reminds us how much we’ve forgotten ― how to subsist, how to fight, and how to live. Five Years After is a veritable guidebook for surviving the apocalypse ― and better yet, how to avoid it.”
― Ward Larsen, winner of eight major awards and USA Today bestselling author of Deep Fake

“With One Second After, William Forstchen redefined and elevated the genre of apocalyptic fiction. Now, with the release of Five Years After he raises the bar once more. John Matherson faces his most diabolical antagonist yet, when he he’s thrust into a deadly game of wits when a secret cabal of government survivors unleash global holocaust. To save the world, John must embrace the unthinkable, and live with the consequences forever. This is edge-of-the-seat fiction at its finest!”
― Kathleen O’Neal-Gear and W. Michael Gear, award-winning, New York Times bestselling authors of The People of the Earth series and Dissolution

“The intangibles that enabled me to achieve my greatness also contained the seeds to my destruction.” – Joseph Costanzo Jr., founder of The Primadonna

Joseph Costanzo Jr. bought a failing restaurant in a declining neighborhood and turned it into an award-winning, nationally recognized destination for fine Italian dining that attracted the likes of Danny Aiello, Jamie Lee Curtis and Tommy Lasorda. The secret sauce? Most likely his larger-than-life personality posits his oldest daughter, Maria Costanzo Palmer.

“We estimate that over the 18 years that he was in business that a little over a million customers came through our door,” Palmer said in a recent interview. “His character really helped to build the empire that the restaurant became, and I think without that, I don’t think he would have been as successful.”

In their new book, On the Rocks, Palmer and co-author Ruthie Robbins open a door to the past and welcome readers into The Primadonna, an Italian restaurant with a Cheers-like atmosphere where Costanzo greeted neighborhood regulars by name.

Written from Costanzo’s perspective, On the Rocks dishes up heaping helpings of nostalgia, with entertaining stories of quirky characters, delectable dishes, great memories and enduring friendships from a time when dining out was an experience to savor.

Known for its signature Southern Italian dishes that nourished stomachs and souls, The Primadonna’s generous portion sizes were eclipsed only by Costanzo’s larger-than-life personality, explains Palmer.

“The moment that you walked in, regardless of how busy we were, my dad was at the front of the house, and he was greeting you,” Palmer recalled during a recent interview. “My dad was invested in customers. He wanted to be part of people’s lives. I think that’s what makes this experience so memorable. People loved being special.”

On the Rocks traces Costanzo’s unlikely rise from a postal worker with an impossible dream to owner of a nationally acclaimed restaurant, where the often 2-hour wait times only served to brew deeper connections, adding to the familial appeal of a community hotspot united by Costanzo’s drive to turn the blue collar burb of McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania, into a sought-out destination for fine Italian dining.

But Costanzo’s dream comes at a cost, and as the story unfolds, readers follow him from the day-to-day frenzy of a wildly popular restaurant, through a failed attempt to run for public office, to life behind bars.

“The restaurant was like his third child; it was the son he never had,” Palmer reflected. “He was at the top of his game when everything spiraled out of control. That’s what makes this story so rich. He really did the impossible. He took this nothing, failing business and turned it into this diamond in the rough. Then it all got pulled away. Just as fast as it rose, it fell.”

About the Authors
Maria Costanzo Palmer is a writer and Page Turner Award Finalist for her co-authored book, On the Rocks. She is also a regular co-moderator for the Food Is Religion Club on Clubhouse. A former host on L.A. Talk Radio, she was recently featured on Food and Beverage Magazine Live, a nationally syndicated podcast, as well as iHeartRadio. Her writing has been published in OC87 Recovery Diaries, and she has made a number of media appearances.

Growing up as the oldest child of an award-winning restaurateur, Palmer unexpectedly became a daughter of the incarcerated. This experience ignited an interest in working for Get on the Bus, a nonprofit dedicated to uniting children with their incarcerated parents.

Ruthie Robbins is an award-winning educator who worked for the Montour School District in the suburbs of Pittsburgh and for Johns Hopkins Talent Development Secondary. Robbins now teaches English and Language Arts in Buffalo, New York. Well-known as co-creator of a popular amusement park interdisciplinary unit, she is currently working on other books and is preparing to launch The Writing Factory Online, a comprehensive writing program for middle schools.

For more information, please visit www.mariacpalmer.com or www.ruthierobbins.com; or connect with the authors on Facebook: www.facebook.com/joecostanzoprimadonna; Instagram: www.instagram.com/joecostanzoprimadonna; Twitter: www.twitter.com/mariacpalmer; Clubhouse: @maria.palmer; and LinkedIn: Maria Costanzo Palmer and Ruthie Robbins.

Amazon link: https://www.amazon.com/Rocks-Primadonna-Story-Maria-Palmer/dp/B0C67L5P2Y/

On the Rocks
Publisher: Koehler Books
Release Date: August 8, 2023
ISBN-13: ‎979-8-88824-027-4 (soft cover)
ISBN-13: 979-8-88824-029-8 (hard cover)
ISBN-13: 979-8-88824-028-1 (e-book)
Available for pre-order from Amazon.com and at the Senator John Heinz History Center

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A clash of cultures. A domineering mother-in-law. An alcoholic husband. A fatally ill child. And the possibility of economic ruin. Lori’s sheltered, comfortable, liberal upbringing in the North Shore suburbs of Chicago had left her ill-prepared to deal with any of it. Like a lot of girls who had grown up in the late 1950s and early ’60s, Lori had believed she would one day find her prince and live happily ever after. Adulthood brought a vastly different reality.

In Lori, the family saga from award-winning author Charlene Wexler, readers are plunged into a gripping story that deals with relationships between family and friends, divorce, alcoholism, infidelity, homosexuality, the judicial system, the Holocaust, and financial booms and busts. Most importantly, it deals with cancer from the points of view of both the victim and the survivors.

“Besides being a captivating read, the book will give one confidence to deal with similar problems,” Wexler said. “It was written mainly for women who must wear different hats, and rely on friends and hidden strengths to deal in a world full of unknowns.”

In the book, Lori’s best friend, Adele, is there to help until Adele has troubles of her own. Lori, now thousands of miles away from Chicago, finds a new friend who has a surprising connection to Lori’s past.

The story covers the early ’70s to 2003 and takes readers from Chicago to Arizona, Florida, Israel and Germany, covering the societal changes of the last quarter of the 20th century.

But Lori’s story doesn’t end there.

“I’ve written a sequel that finds Lori as a 70-year-old,” Wexler added. “On her way to visit her granddaughter in London, she becomes involved in a murder. It is called, Murder Across The Ocean.”

About the Author
A native Chicagoan, Charlene Wexler has been a teacher, wife, dental office manager, mother and grandmother. In retirement, her lifelong passion for writing has led her to create several essays and novels. Her other books include Murder on Skid Row, Milk and Oranges, Murder Across the Ocean and Elephants In The Room. Her newest books, Farewell To South Shore and We Won’t Go Back, are scheduled for publication in 2024. She lives in Illinois with her dentist husband. Her three adorable grandchildren live out of state but visit often.

For more information, please visit http://www.charlenewexler.com/ or https://speakingvolumes.us/author/charlene-wexler/, or connect with her on Twitter (@toothkey).

Amazon link: https://www.amazon.com/Lori-Laughter-Tears-Charlene-Wexler/dp/1645408973

Lori
Publisher: Speaking Volumes
ISBN-10: 1645408973
ISBN-13: ‎ 978-1645408970
Available from Amazon.com

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Reviews, photos, links to previous interviews and Q&As are available upon request.

Jack Current had a plan. Just not a good one. And ending up in the river with the woman who may or may not be his soulmate certainly wasn’t part of it.

In First Date, the darkly humorous follow-up to Mark E. Scott’s debut novel, Drunk Log, readers witness the immediate aftermath of Jack’s failed attempt at ending his life and follow him as he spends the next 8 hours getting a free ambulance ride to the hospital, being watched by the deputy who tased him, avoiding a psyche exam and maybe falling in love with the bartender responsible for his second chance at life, love and redemption.

It all began on a dark and snowy night, when Jack executed his plan to take his own life without knowing Aria was right behind him. Instead of dying, they find themselves shivering on a riverbank, having survived a fall from a suspension bridge into the currents and debris of the Ohio River. Lucky enough to slam into an anchored barge, they emerge from the water stunned, bruised and still somewhat drunk. Now, they must work their way through the muck of the riverside to solid ground. Fully intent on ending it all just minutes before, Jack finds himself clinging to Aria for dear life — a life he feels just might be worth living after all.

First Date is a story of individuals haunted by suicide, remorse and unanswered questions: questions whose answers are not to be found in the bottom of a bottle. Secrets are revealed and souls are bared, but answers are still elusive. For now, they only have each other, a dollar store notebook and a teddy bear.

First Date is the second installment in Scott’s three-part, Day in the Life series, in which the unexpected, twisted saga of Jack and Aria unfolds over a combined period of 24 hours. Book One, Drunk Log, was released in 2022 and traces the first eight hours of Jack’s unsteady march toward his intended demise.

About the Author
Born in the small manufacturing town of Galion, Ohio, author Mark E. Scott lived in various burgs in Ohio and Michigan before joining the Navy and spending four years traveling the world aboard the USS Mount Whitney. Upon returning home to southwest Ohio, he enrolled at Miami University and completed a degree in Education, only to become a banker soon thereafter. Scott now lives happily in a condo in the Over-the-Rhine neighborhood of Cincinnati. In his free time, he enjoys writing, finding new and creative ways of tricking his children into answering their phones, and anything related to travel and outdoors, of late including tumbling down snow covered mountains while dragging otherwise perfectly good skis behind him.

For more information, please visit www.markescottauthor.com, or connect with him on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/markescottauthor) and Instagram (markescottauthor).

Amazon link: https://www.amazon.com/First-Date-Life-Mark-Scott/dp/164540840X/

First Date
Publisher: Speaking In Volumes, LLC
ISBN: 978-1645408406 (paperback)
ISBN: 978-1645408390 (e-book)
Available from Amazon.com, BN.com and Goodreads

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Kathe Mueller Slonim was just a child when her father was dragged off to Nazi Germany’s first concentration camp, Dachau. Through a series of remarkable events, her family, including her father, escaped and immigrated to America, where the secrets of their survival remained under wraps for decades.

Slonim’s daughter, Susan Servais, witnessed firsthand what it was like to finally hear her mother’s story for the first time during a trip to Germany in 2000, in which Slonim, Servais, and her daughter traveled there as part of a visitor program for former Jewish citizens of Stuttgart.

“My mom got this letter every year and refused,” Servais said in a recent interview, referring to the invitation from the German government. “She said she never wanted to step foot on German soil again.”

Slonim eventually agreed to go, but only if she could bring her daughter and granddaughter with her. She wanted the place where there was so much suffering to bear witness to three generations that the Nazis failed to exterminate.

While on the trip, other survivors began sharing their stories. “All of a sudden, my mom starts opening up for the very first time,” Servais said. “Then when she got back from the trip, she wrote this memoir.”

Escape from Dachau: A True Story of Survival, Courage, and a Daring Escape in the Face of Unthinkable Evil depicts the story of how Slonim’s father was rescued from a concentration camp by a cousin, during a daring clandestine mission. Slonim’s children respected her wishes to have the book published after her death.

The book begins with the rich, rarely told history of the Jewish people living in Germanic lands from the Middle Ages through WWII and how that led to the persecution of Jews.

All of this sets the stage for the harrowing mission undertaken by former First Reich official Max Immanuel, who climbed into his car in Berlin on a rainy night in December 1938 with one profoundly dangerous goal in mind: to rescue his cousin from Dachau.

Max’s mission was particularly risky and unusual because this former German government official was a Jew himself. Born Imanuel Rosenfeld, Max had changed his name and his religion, living in fear that his truth would be discovered.

Torn between his own plans to flee Germany and the chance to save a family member from the clutches of the Nazis, Max makes the excruciating choice to go to Dachau. It is a journey that will require him to risk his life as he passes through one Nazi checkpoint after another, brandishing expired Third Reich papers, claiming that he is a loyal member of the Nazi Party on official business.

Brought to life with 30 archival photos, Escape from Dachau pays tribute to the bravery, sacrifice and resilience of those who sought to flee the horrors of Nazi Germany during one of the darkest periods of human history and serves as a dramatic example of how the human spirit can overcome even the worst atrocities.

About the Author
Escape from Dachau is the true story of the life of Kathe Mueller Slonim. Prior to her passing in 2021, Slonim wrote down the major events of her life. Her own documentation, along with a brief family history written by her uncle, Julius Falk, together form the backbone of this story.

For more information about the book, please visit www.csepublishing.com.

Amazon link: https://www.amazon.com/Escape-Dachau-Survival-Courage-Unthinkable/dp/B0C6VWLLXL

Escape from Dachau: A True Story of Survival, Courage, and a Daring Escape in the Face of Unthinkable Evil
Publisher: CSE Publishing
Release Date: June 2, 2023
ISBN-13: ‎979-8218216344
Available from Amazon.com

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Reviews, photos, links to previous interviews and Q&As are available upon request.

Scott Davis stepped off the corporate treadmill for a radically different life, sailed the Caribbean for six years and assimilated among diverse cultures. In his new book, Surf the Seesaw: Unconventional Essays on Balance, Beauty, and Meaning in Life, Davis presents engaging true stories that he says debunk common misconceptions responsible for many bad decisions and frustrations.

Unlike most self-help books, Surf the Seesaw does not prescribe a one-size-fits-all system of what to think. Rather, Davis explicitly invites readers to contemplate and adapt each essay’s ideas in a way that honors each individual’s unique experiences, values and aspirations.

“It’s a different sort of book, and I have been enjoying it immensely as I make my way through it. It’s very thought provoking and will make you reassess some of your beliefs, which is always a good thing,” said Mandy Connell, 850 KOA Talk Radio host. “Note I said re-assess, not change, because in some of my reflection I have reaffirmed things that I believe in the process. Highly recommend the book.”

Inspired by his life and adventures, Surf the Seesaw is a collection of 30 thoughtful essays highlighting the perpetual balancing act of developing self-reliance versus remaining open to the kindness of strangers, a balancing act requiring the daring leap into authenticity, the willingness to break free from tribal echo chambers, and the curiosity to learn from those different from us.

“Surf the Seesaw shares practical ideas to help you escape the orbit of routine and comfort, walk the emotional plank toward significant change, prioritize feeding your own soul even when it seems ‘selfish,’ and create your own meaning and purpose in life by choosing how you will influence, inspire and encourage others,” Davis added.

About the Author
Scott Davis’ adult life has followed an explorer’s wandering path: corporate leader, tech entrepreneur, adventurer, inventor and essayist.

Profiled by Forbes at 30 as a rising star in corporate leadership, he ignored industry expectations and walked away from the executive suite to pursue a life off the beaten path, ultimately selling everything and heading off to sea in an old sailboat. Returning to the states at 50, Davis patented innovations in boatbuilding and founded a company to help sailors fulfill their dreams of building their own sailboats.

Today, Davis spends much of his time writing and speaking on how to create a meaningful life, guiding friends and family on adventures, teaching boatbuilding, and occasionally making something interesting in his workshop.

For more information, visit www.surf-the-seesaw.com, or follow the author on Twitter (@surf_the_seesaw), Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/SurfTheSeesaw/) or Instagram (@surf_the_seesaw).

Amazon link: https://www.amazon.com/Surf-Seesaw-Unconventional-Balance-Meaning/dp/B0C12D3J76

Surf the Seesaw: Unconventional Essays on Balance, Beauty, and Meaning in Life
Publisher: Azure Innovation Services
ISBN-13: ‎ 979-8987500408 (paperback)
Available from Amazon.com, BN.com and thousands of other retailers

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Renowned real estate and oil and gas entrepreneur Younas Chaudhary has announced the release of his highly anticipated book, Path to Wealth & Wisdom: 100 Commonsense Tips for Self-Growth & Fulfillment. In it, Chaudhary provides practical tips, lessons and reflections drawn from the ups and downs of his own journey on his way to becoming a self-made millionaire.

The book is comprised of 100 brief chapters featuring actionable takeaways about life, business and finance. Dictums such as “Keep meetings short,” “A bottle of Coke can be a luxury” and “7 tips to save money at home” are building blocks that are easy for readers to remember, implement and adapt to their own individual circumstances.

“The format is ideal for readers who are looking for a few quick tips and points of reflection throughout their day,” said Chaudhary, who added that this book will primarily appeal to entrepreneurs, readers interested in motivational business techniques, and those seeking practical business and financial advice. “But this book is not just about money,” he said. “It’s about personal growth and finding your purpose in life.”

Peppered with encouragement, humility and humor, Chaudhary’s insights on how to develop a growth mindset, overcome limiting beliefs, and achieve one’s full potential come from a place of experience and authenticity. From his education in a dilapidated school in Pakistan; to living with 23 others and an array of farm animals in a bustling home (a haveli); to his first sundry work experiences in the West; to the trials and tribulations of the oil and gas industry, Chaudhary has been at the top and at the bottom — with as many struggles as victories.

For those just beginning their journey toward financial freedom or those simply looking to take their lives to the next level, Path to Wealth & Wisdom offers a no-nonsense starting point from a man who took on the world with just a few dollars and a dream.

“This book is for those who have ever doubted themselves or their abilities,” Chaudhary added. “My message is simple: perseverance, consistency and self-belief will make you successful.”

About the Author
Raised in a remote village in Pakistan, Chaudhary built several successful businesses in the U.S. and Canada using a mix of common sense, hard work, consistency and determination. When he first landed in Edmonton, Alberta, in late 1973, Chaudhary had only $30 in his pocket. To change the trajectory of his life, he worked day in and out, rising up from a slaughterhouse worker to a landman, to a successful entrepreneur. Then, just when he thought he had it all, tragedy struck when his wife Bushra was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease and dementia.

This book follows the author’s first autobiographical work, From Dirt Roads to Black Gold, offering his tools and tips for productivity, finance and business — the same ones that allowed Chaudhary to establish himself as a visionary businessman in the volatile oil and gas industry. In it, readers will find practical business and financial advice, as well as wisdom for facing the unexpected twists and turns of life. All proceeds from the sale of Path to Wealth & Wisdom will benefit charitable causes supported by the YBC Foundation (http://ybcfoundation.com).

In addition to his roles as a successful entrepreneur and author, Chaudhary is known for his dedication to philanthropy and community development. His commitment to empowerment and positive change is reflected in both his business endeavors and his writing.

To connect with the author on social media, visit https://linktr.ee/younasc.

Amazon link: https://www.amazon.com/Path-Wealth-Wisdom-Self-Growth-Fulfillment/dp/B0CD8VY2SR/

Path to Wealth & Wisdom: 100 Commonsense Tips for Self-Growth & Fulfillment
Release Date: July 31, 2023
ISBN-13: ‎979-8851762048
Available from Amazon.com and all major retailers

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• Awaken the Observer
• Know Thyself
• Understand Joy’s Obstacles
• Feel to Heal

Urging readers to become part of a “powerful sea of change,” author and ecological activist Arwinder Kaur explores thought-provoking perspectives about humanity’s place in the greater whole of the planet in her award-winning book, Living While Human.

“What is considered ‘suffering’ or being ‘free’ has as much to do with one’s external circumstances as what goes on internally in our hearts and minds,” Kaur said. “What are rights and privileges, and are humans really entitled to everything we want? These questions and the truths I acquired have been critical in providing me with what I refer to as a ‘compass for the soul.’”

In Living While Human, Kaur shares the genesis of her moral compass, tracing her own journey of self-discovery through glimpses into her life-changing experiences, encounters and choices. She finds kernels of simple truths among the clutter, prompting readers to ponder questions such as:

• How do we as humans navigate our lives in the complex world we have created?
• Why are we the only species that seems to be struggling to live healthy lives?
• How do we exist as one of countless other species without destroying the planet and ourselves in the process?
• How do we live better lives with a deeper connection to ourselves, others and the earth?

“The answers are not locked away in a secret vault,” Kaur said. “In fact, they are much closer and simpler than you might realize.”

Kaur also takes a deep dive into systemic issues impacting humanity and the earth itself, and leaves readers with a powerful call to action inviting everyone to join a global response to protect the planet for future generations.

“Humans are not exempt from nature’s powerful balancing force, and when any population is a threat to the balance and sustainability of the environment and species, it will be brought back into balance,” Kaur cautioned. “We can do this through intention and choice … or Nature will and must do it for us.”

About the Author
Award-winning author and ecological activist Arwinder Kaur has dedicated her life to helping others. After attending Simon Fraser University in British Columbia, she was a social worker specializing in the area of child welfare for almost 30 years.

A believer in the power of words, Kaur read Ishmael by Daniel Quinn in 1994 and was propelled into ecological activism and inspired to write Living While Human. Childless by choice, she lives with her genius dog, Monty, near Vancouver, British Columbia. She is also passionate about music, art and tennis.

For more information, please visit https://arwinderkaurauthor.com/, or follow the author on Instagram (Living_while_human) or Facebook (Arwinder Kaur).

Barnes & Noble link: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/living-while-human-arwinder-kaur/1140231168

Living While Human
Publisher: Tellwell Talent
ISBN-13: ‎978-0228851325
Available from BN.com

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