Saturday, January 31, 2015
Wednesday, January 28, 2015
Death of a Diva by Brigitte Goldstein-my review
My review of Death of a Diva, Berlin to Broadway by Brigitte Goldstein. I gave it five stars on Amazon. A copy was provided for me for my honest review. I actually reviewed it at 4.5 stars so I rounded it up to five. It is a good story but has parts where it bogs down a little going through the past meetings and backgrounds of the Characters before the event occurs. If the reader likes the complete background of the main supporting characters, this is a book for them. Well written with no noticeable typos or lack of plot. The story has many twists and turns but winds up telling a good story that will keep you interested and engrossed to the very end. Here is the synopsis of the book.
A veteran actress’s brutal murder at a Broadway theater in 1941 sets off a police investigation that reaches back to pre-WWI Vienna and 1920s Berlin in Brigitte Goldstein’s densely plotted noir mystery novel, Death of a Diva.
In 1941 New York, the murder on Broadway of Stella Berger, famed star of screen and stage of Weimar Germany and outspoken critic of the Nazi regime which had forced her into exile, sends shock waves through the American public.
The police act quickly, and the prime suspect, an emigrant street musician, is tried and put on death row. But Misia Safran, a young Jewish refugee from Germany and part-time employee at the theater who becomes inadvertently involved in the investigation, is haunted by the possibility of his innocence and a suspicion that there’s more to the case than meets the eye.
Determined to uncover the truth, Misia delves into Stella’s background. She patches together the life of the revered actress from testimony by those who had been closest to her throughout her rise to stardom.
From accounts of her humble origins in a Viennese ghetto to her rise to the pinnacle in the acting world of 1920’s Berlin, to her battle with Nazi propagandist Josef Goebbels, emerges the portrait of a woman of great strength of character and resolve, albeit one that conceals a vulnerable side which ultimately may have been the cause of her undoing.
As Misia cuts through a bewildering thicket of lies, hidden agendas, and deceptions, she is met with intimations of a deep secret in Stella’s past, evidence of which may be stored in the vault of a Swiss bank. If made public, this secret could provide the clue to the mystery, but could also destroy the star’s carefully guarded public persona.
Author Bio:
Brigitte Goldstein is a native of Germany and has had a lifelong passion for literature and history. As an undergraduate at Towson University in Maryland, she focused on both areas with particular emphasis on the development of the culture and civilization of Western Europe from the Early Middle Ages to modern times. She went on to graduate studies at New York University in European intellectual and social history as well as the history of modern Germany, for which she earned a Ph.D. degree. Before coming to the United States, she studied at the Sorbonne in Paris, France, and received a certificate in the study of French Civilization in the areas of the literature, history, philosophy, and art of France from the medieval to the modern period. She has taught college-level courses in Western Civilizatio
In the course of her studies, Brigitte developed a particular interest in the mentality and living conditions of ordinary people in the past and the influence of historical forces on their lives that lie beyond their control. Dissatisfied with the trend in historical studies of applying prefabricated paradigms to the past made to serve as procrustean beds into which historical events are made to fit, the idea ripened in her mind to combine her twin interests and put the story back into history through the writing of fiction. A vivid narrative of the trial and tribulations of fictional, yet flesh-and-blood characters within a particular historical setting which faithfully reflects the events, customs, way of life and thinking of the past and peppered with all the dramatic elements of love and friendship, conflict and betrayal, she concluded, was the exciting stuff of historical fiction into which she could pour her creative juices and a wide readership could enjoy.
Talk back, I'm listening!
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Tuesday, January 27, 2015
Death of a Diva by Bridgette Goldstein book tour-guest post
A veteran actress’s brutal murder at a Broadway theater in 1941 sets off a police investigation that reaches back to pre-WWI Vienna and 1920s Berlin in Brigitte Goldstein’s densely plotted noir mystery novel, Death of a Diva.
In 1941 New York, the murder on Broadway of Stella Berger, famed star of screen and stage of Weimar Germany and outspoken critic of the Nazi regime which had forced her into exile, sends shock waves through the American public.
The police act quickly, and the prime suspect, an emigrant street musician, is tried and put on death row. But Misia Safran, a young Jewish refugee from Germany and part-time employee at the theater who becomes inadvertently involved in the investigation, is haunted by the possibility of his innocence and a suspicion that there’s more to the case than meets the eye.
Determined to uncover the truth, Misia delves into Stella’s background. She patches together the life of the revered actress from testimony by those who had been closest to her throughout her rise to stardom.
From accounts of her humble origins in a Viennese ghetto to her rise to the pinnacle in the acting world of 1920’s Berlin, to her battle with Nazi propagandist Josef Goebbels, emerges the portrait of a woman of great strength of character and resolve, albeit one that conceals a vulnerable side which ultimately may have been the cause of her undoing.
As Misia cuts through a bewildering thicket of lies, hidden agendas, and deceptions, she is met with intimations of a deep secret in Stella’s past, evidence of which may be stored in the vault of a Swiss bank. If made public, this secret could provide the clue to the mystery, but could also destroy the star’s carefully guarded public persona.
Author Bio:
Brigitte Goldstein is a native of Germany and has had a lifelong passion for literature and history. As an undergraduate at Towson University in Maryland, she focused on both areas with particular emphasis on the development of the culture and civilization of Western Europe from the Early Middle Ages to modern times. She went on to graduate studies at New York University in European intellectual and social history as well as the history of modern Germany, for which she earned a Ph.D. degree. Before coming to the United States, she studied at the Sorbonne in Paris, France, and received a certificate in the study of French Civilization in the areas of the literature, history, philosophy, and art of France from the medieval to the modern period. She has taught college-level courses in Western Civilizatio
In the course of her studies, Brigitte developed a particular interest in the mentality and living conditions of ordinary people in the past and the influence of historical forces on their lives that lie beyond their control. Dissatisfied with the trend in historical studies of applying prefabricated paradigms to the past made to serve as procrustean beds into which historical events are made to fit, the idea ripened in her mind to combine her twin interests and put the story back into history through the writing of fiction. A vivid narrative of the trial and tribulations of fictional, yet flesh-and-blood characters within a particular historical setting which faithfully reflects the events, customs, way of life and thinking of the past and peppered with all the dramatic elements of love and friendship, conflict and betrayal, she concluded, was the exciting stuff of historical fiction into which she could pour her creative juices and a wide readership could enjoy.
Talk back, I'm listening. My review to of this book will be posted in the morning!
Saturday, January 24, 2015
Hopebreaker by Dean F. Wilson-tour-my review
My review of Hopebreaker, I was given a copy for my honest review. After reading the story, I felt a 4.25 rating was appropriate so I gave it four stars on Amazon. I liked it but didn't quite love it. The story is about a young smuggler that becomes trapped in struggle against a government that uses a drug called "Hope" to control the populace. Demon children are born to mothers without a special amulet that is banned by those in control. Jacob, the main character smuggles these into the controlled areas. The book has enough twists and turns to keep a reader on their toes, double-crosses and hidden agendas.
An excerpt from the book-
Jacob had plenty of time to think as he helped with the evacuation of Dustdelving, but he found that he spent much of that wealth of time focusing on the duties at hand, and ignoring any other potential duties he might have to perform in nine months’ time.
Rommond unveiled the means by which they would make their escape: a monumental submarine, adorned and embellished just like the Hopebreaker, and a vehicle that was as equally untested.
In forcing Rommond’s hand, it seemed he had to play all his cards. T hey boarded the submarine swiftly, carrying on anything they deemed important. Jacob hauled his crate of coils to the loading bay, but he was stopped at the ramp by Rommond.
“What’s that?” the general asked.
“My money.”
“I said bring the essentials.”
“And I complied."
About the Author:
Dean F. Wilson was born in
Dublin, Ireland in 1987. He started writing at age 11, when he began his first
(unpublished) novel, entitled The Power Source. He won a TAP Educational Award
from Trinity College Dublin for an early draft of The Call of Agon (then called
Protos Mythos) in 2001.
He has published a number of
poems and short stories over the years, while working on and reworking some of
his novels. The Call of Agon is his first published novel.
Dean also works as a journalist,
primarily in the field of technology. He has written for TechEye, Thinq, V3,
VR-Zone, ITProPortal, TechRadar Pro and The Inquirer.
Contact the Author:
The Books:
In
the world of Altadas, there are no more human births. The Regime is replacing
the unborn with demons, while the Resistance is trying to destroy a drug called
Hope that the demons need to survive.
Between
these two warring factions lies Jacob, a man who profits from smuggling
contraceptive amulets into the city of Blackout. He cares little about the
Great Iron War, but a chance capture, and an even more accidental rescue, embroils
him in a plot to starve the Regime from power.
When
Hope is an enemy, Jacob finds it harder than he thought to remain indifferent.
When the Resistance opts to field its experimental landship, the Hopebreaker,
the world may find that one victory does not win a war.
Ladesan
the Magus can alter and remove memories, but not all his customers employ him
for benevolent reasons.
Under
the threat of exile, he is forced to help the would-be Lord of Calnibur make
voters forget that they have been coerced into securing him a position of
power.
The
game is politics, and there are unlimited pawns in play. The board is the
streets of Calnibur, and the pieces do not know that they are being moved—only
that they are subjects of the Haze
Tolgrid's
wife lives a secret life that he wants to forget, and so he visits Ladesan the
Magus, who is known for his ability to alter and remove memories.
Magic
is a risky art, even for those adept at it. Love is an even riskier affair, and
some might say it is a magic of its own. To preserve his love, Tolgrid is
willing to alter his recollection, to remove the bad memories like a leech
removes bad blood.
The
question is: can a memory be altered without altering the person, and can a
memory be removed without leaving an emptiness inside?
THE
LAST LINE. THE LAST WORDS. THE LAST CHANCE.
Ifferon
is one of the last in the bloodline of the dead god Telm, who mated with mortal
women, and who imprisoned the Beast Agon in the Underworld. Armed with a
connection to the estranged gods in the Overworld and a scroll bearing Telm's
powerful dying words, he is tasked with ensuring the god's vital legacy: that
Agon remain vanquished.
Fear
forces Ifferon to abandon his duty, but terror restores his quest when the
forces of Agon find his hideaway in an isolated coastal monastery. Weighed down
by the worries of the world, but lifted up by the companions he encounters
along the way, Ifferon embarks on a journey that encompasses the struggles of
many peoples, the siege of many lands, and discoveries that could bring hope to
some—or doom to all.
THE
DYING BREATH. THE DYING WILL. THE DYING HOPE.
After
the catastrophe of the Call of Agon, Ifferon and his companions find themselves
in the unenviable situation of witnessing, and partaking in, the death of
another god—this time Corrias, the ruler of the Overworld.
With
Corrias locked inside the corpse of the boy Theos, he suffers a fate worse than
the bonds of the Beast Agon. Yet hope is kindled when the company find a way to
restore the boy, and possibly the god, back to life.
The
road to rebirth has many pitfalls, and there are some who consider such
meddling with the afterlife a grave risk. The prize might be life anew—but the
price might also be a second death.
THE
FINAL HOUR. THE FINAL FIGHT. THE FINAL WAR.
The
first of Agon’s chains has broken, and the others are straining. It is only a
matter of time before he is free, before the world is engulfed in chaos and
death.
There
are few left to stop him. Most of the gods can only sit and watch in horror
from their prison in the heavens, but the resurrection of the father god
Corrias gives the people of Iraldas a sliver of hope, a fighting chance.
Yet
the memory of Corrias' failure to defeat Agon in ages past plays heavily on all
minds. Many know that it is only the might of the Warrior-god Telm that can
defeat the Beast. That god is dead, but his power lives on in his bloodline, in
Ifferon and others like him, and they are tasked with waging a final war
against the Beast.
Talk back, I listening!
Tuesday, January 20, 2015
Strong Women Characters
I was reading a thread on LinkedIn and they were talking about strong kick-ass women. Most did not like the weak, "Save me" or shopping only female with nothing on their minds except how good they looked with the male cohort doing all the thinking for them. It made me think about my female characters in my Lightning in the Tunnel series. Most are kick-ass and take names characters. They had to be to survive in the post nuclear-war world. Not only were they the deadliest-fighters, they were forward thinkers. When Brad wanted to build a new home, they wanted to build a new nation and eliminate wars on Earth. Through this series, they do just that. Pictured here is the cover of the first book in the series. It is available in both ebook and paperback for you readers to enjoy. I will even provide you with a couple of links so if you want, you can read part of it to see if it is something you would like. http:/www.amazon.com/dp/B009EAWBZM and for those wishing paperbacks, the link is http://www.amazon.com/Lightning-Tunnel-Begins-G-Moye/dp/1481822179/ref=sr_1_1_twi_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1421804425&sr=1-1&keywords=lightning+in+the+tunnel+begins
I know I never push books written by myself on this site but the thread on LinkedIn got me thinking. Most people never heard of the book, after all it is an Apocalyptic/Dystopia type book. Not for the squeamish.
Talk back, I'm listening!
Sunday, January 18, 2015
Bad enough drinking alcohol in excess two days ago but went out last night
Thursday night, one of those rare moods hit me to have more than one cocktail, so it didn't take that much for me to be intoxicated. At least I was at home when the mood hit me. Then last night, I went to a friend's house to celebrate three of my close friend's birthdays, including my wife's birthday. They are all in January. Before I knew it, I was drinking in excess once again. Boy, today, I feel it! Everything is moving in slow motion. I think I will wait another year before I do this again. LOL! I think I will get off the computer and go set in front of the TV watching American football playoffs. My team has been eliminated, Carolina Panthers but my wife's team is still going strong (Patriots). Don't know who I will cheer for today. The way my head is feeling, most likely no one!
Have a great day, stay sober and talk back, I'm Listening!
Thursday, January 15, 2015
Nice thing about being retired, you can get drunk whenever you want to!
My doctor advised me that once a month I should have a cocktail to clear out my kidneys. I think I went a little overboard tonight but my kidneys are clear! I sure am having fun. One thing my friends tell me is that I am one of those drunks that giggle a lot instead of wanting to cause trouble. I wife is going to check this so it makes sense, I hope. LOL! I hope she can understand my gibberish! This is my first post after having a few drinks, normally I don't drink even when going out to the taverns because I don't want to wind up with a DWI or DUI, so I only drink at home when I do decide to drink. Hope you have a fun time, I certainly am. Pour yourself a drink and join me, happy time for all. You need those once in a while to release the pent up stresses that occur in everyday life. Winter is a bad time for me to socialize in public, it is just too cold to go out a lot. But it is a good time for me to get some more writing done. If I can get my editor to move faster, I might get three or four more books published in 2015. I have worked on three and another new book called "Doomsday Rock" another dystopia book, but different. Books keep rolling through my head except when I am drunk like know, I can't recall a single one so Talk Back, I'm listening as well as any drunk can listen! George's wife here, I thought it was too funny edit, so I let it be, Enjoy!
Brothers' Keepers by N, L B. Horton -my review and guest post.
My review of The brother's Keepers. I was given a copy of the book for my honest review. After reading, I gave it five stars for a well written book about Characters first introduced in the author's "When Camels Fly" of the Parched Series. The family is former CIA, M-16 and has connections to the Mossad of Israel. Their cross continent journey is filled with danger and intrigue that will hold your interest from beginning to end.Here is an excerpt from the book.
Matthew didn’t answer immediately, and I assumed he was determining what to share. “He thinks it’s a syndicate. Much larger than what we uncovered last year. Very well funded. Global. With a lot of fingers in the environment.”
We waited for more. “That’s really all I know.”
“And what about Laura McAlex?” Becca asked. “She’s the wild card for me ,” Mark said. “I had the rest of this figured out, but she blew a substantial hole in my theories.” He cringed, and I knew he remembered shooting her. “She was about to hurt Maggie and Becca, so I had no choice but to kill her.”
I squeezed his hand. “You saved our girls.” He nodded at his boots. “ I didn’t do much of the violent stuff for the CIA.”
NLB Horton. The Brothers’ Keepers (Kindle Locations 4374-4382).
Publisher: RidgeRoute Press (November 17, 2014) Category: International Suspense, Mystery/Thriller ISBN: 9780991401734 Tour Date: January/February, 2015 Available in: Print & ebook, 314 Pages A friend's deception. A family's dilemma. While cataloguing looted antiquities in Brussels, archaeologist Grace Madison discovers that her daughter has vanished in France, and her son's bride has been attacked in Switzerland. After the Madisons unearth a relic whose taproot pierces the Ancient Near East, they realize that before they can save themselves, they must rescue an old friend. If he'll let them. They sacrifice hearts and lives in a race against eternity on a four-thousand-year-old trail crossing three continents. Because choosing what's right is all that's left.
Praise for When Camels Fly (Parched Series Book I):
"Page-turning international suspense--this writer is on her way up."-DiAnn Mills, Christie Award winning author "An exciting novel of suspense, intrigue, and mystery. Very nicely done."-Paul Johnson, Readers' Favorites "It's obvious from the writing that the author has spent time here."-Ellis Shuman, Times of Israel "The book was fantastic, and nearly impossible to set down. Highly recommended."-Kathryn Bennett, Readers' Favorites "A unique, totally out in left field, never been told story. I love that."-Every Free Chance BlogAdvance Praise for My Brothers Keepers:
"The Brothers' Keepers, book 2 in the Parched series, delivers masterful international suspense driven by contemporary family dynamics. Light the late-night oil because you won't want to put this book down."-DiAnn Mills, Christy Award Winner "I thought Horton peaked with her first novel, When Camels Fly. I'll admit, I was wrong. The Brothers' Keepers is magnificent! The main characters from her first novel are beautifully developed in this sequel. This is a more accessible novel than When Camels Fly mainly because of the location -- Europe. She incorporates the history of the places her characters visit, and she weaves an incredibly feasible story around these events. The story is as complex as When Camels Fly, a good thing that requires close reading, but it is well worth the effort. I highly recommend reading When Camels Fly before this one and continuing journeying with the Madison family!-Leigh Bennett, Reader "I am once again became enthralled by the exploits of an intelligent, older woman and her family whom I first got to meet in When Camels Fly. It's so rare to find a heroine that the more mature amongst us can relate to on some level. I look forward to learning more about Grace, Mark, Maggie, Jeff and Becca as they become embroiled in yet another adventure after Maggie goes missing and an attempt is apparently made on Becca's life whilst she and Jeff are honeymooning in Switzerland."-Anne Rogers, Reader
About NLB Horton:
Winner of 'A People's Chioce Award' in fiction, NLB Horton returned to writing fiction after an award-winning career in journalism and marketing as well as earning her Masters of Biblical Studies degree from Dallas Theological Seminary. She has surveyed Israeli and Jordanian archaeological digs, tossed a tarantula from her skiff into the Amazon after training with an Incan shaman, driven uneventfully through Rome, and consumed gallons of afternoon tea while traveling across five continents.
Horton is a member of the venerable Explorers Club, based in New York City and founded in 1904 as an international multidisciplinary professional society of explorers and scientists. From her home in the Rocky Mountains, she writes, cross-country skis, gardens and researches ideas for her next novel. Horton’s first novel in the Parched series, When Camels Fly, was released in May 2014. The Brothers’ Keepers is the second, with the third installment available in fall 2015.
Website: http://www.nlbhorton.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/NLB-Horton/289059931145461
Twitter: https://twitter.com/NLBHorton
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/nlbhorton/
Goodreads:https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8121286.N_L_B_Horton
Buy The Brother's Keepers:
Amazon Barnes and Noble The Book Depository Indie BoundFollow the Tour:
Teddy Rose Book Reviews Jan 5 Spotlight & Giveaway Cassandra M's Place Jan 6 Review & Giveaway Victoria Simcox's Blog Jan 6 Excerpt Confessions Of A Reader Jan 7 Guest Post & Giveaway Paranormal Romance Jan 8 Review Pinky's Favorite Reads Jan 9 Interview & Excerpt Rockin' Book Reviews Jan 14 Review, Excerpt, & Giveaway Elizabeth McKenna Romance Author Jan 14 Excerpt Lightning Chronicles Jan 15 Review & Excerpt Butterfly-o-Meter Books Jan 15 Guest Post, Excerpt, and Giveaway Back Porchervations Jan 16 Review Deal Sharing Aunt Jan 19 Review Miki's Hope Jan 20 Review Devoted Mommy of 3 Jan 21 Review Totally Addicted to Reading Jan 30 Review, Excerpt, & Giveaway Reading To Distraction Feb 2 Review & Interview Open Book Society Feb 5 Review Inspire to Read Feb 9 Review & Excerpt Celticlady's Reviews Feb 10 Review & Excerpt Curling Up By the Fire Feb 11 Review Bound 4 Escape Feb 12 Review What U Talking Bout Willis? Feb 13 Review, Excerpt & Giveaway Teddy Rose Book Reviews Feb 18 Review My Tangled Skeins Reviews Feb 20 Review StoreyBook Reviews Feb 23 Review Reeca's Pieces Feb 25 Review Lily's Reviews Feb 26 Review & Guest Post TrulySimplyPink Feb 27 ReviewTalk back, I'm Listening
Tuesday, January 13, 2015
Why do I?
Support for Indie authors is number one in my world. Even though there are a lot of writers getting self published, I feel it is my duty to get the word out about their books from hosting book tours to reviews, I do my best to make these unknowns into known writers. I don't post reviews as often as some that have sent me books would like or as quick as they would like, I still stick to about four a month plus hosting guest posts. Some books I have read, I still have yet to post my review. I don't necessarily stick with one genre, that is what I like being an avid reader the variety gets me into genre's that I normally don't bother reading. Some self published authors need to check their formatting especially on ebooks. It may look good in print but is a pain to read in ebooks some times. But by large, most new books I have read are pretty good, holding my interest to finish them. The only books that I normally have a hard time getting into are vampires, zombies and books of that type. Even though I have reviewed some, I tend to skip over them reviewing something else first. So writers of those kind of books, just bear with me, I will eventually get to them and post my review.
I know some people think that once you publish something, do not go back and redo it but I am of a different thought. As I become a better writer, I go back and re-read my previous work to make it better. Even books that I have had edited, I still find I can make the story flow better and more interesting by re-writing and re-editing with a different editor. What are your thoughts on this?
Talk back, I'm listening!
Thursday, January 8, 2015
JESSICA: THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF AN INFANT" blog tour
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BOOK BLURB:
Jessica had always been haunted by the fear that the unthinkable had happened when she had been “made-up.” For as far back as she could remember, she had no sense of a Self. Her mother thought of her as the “perfect infant” because “she never wanted anything and she never needed anything.” As a child, just thinking of saying “I need” or “I want” left her feeling like an empty shell and that her mind was about to spin out of control. Terrified of who––or what––she was, she lived in constant dread over being found guilty of impersonating a human being.
Jeffrey Von Glahn, Ph.D., an experienced therapist with an unshakable belief in the healing powers of the human spirit, and Jessica, blaze a trail into this unexplored territory. As if she has, in fact, become an infant again, Jessica remembers in extraordinary detail events from the earliest days of her life––events that threatened to twist her embryonic humanness from its natural course of development. Her recollections are like listening to an infant who could talk describe every psychologically dramatic moment of its life as it was happening.
When Dr. Von Glahn met Jessica, she was 23. Everyone regarded her as a responsible, caring person – except that she never drove and she stayed at her mother’s when her husband worked nights.
For many months, Jessica’s therapy was stuck in an impasse. Dr. Von Glahn had absolutely no idea that she was so terrified over simply talking about herself. In hopes of breakthrough, she boldly asked for four hours of therapy a day, for three days a week, for six weeks. The mystery that was Jessica cracked open in dramatic fashion, and in a way that Dr. Von Glahn could never have imagined. Then she asked for four days a week – and for however long it took. In the following months, her electrifying journey into her mystifying past brought her ever closer to a final confrontation with the events that had threatened to forever strip her of her basic humanness.
Jessica had always been haunted by the fear that the unthinkable had happened when she had been “made-up.” For as far back as she could remember, she had no sense of a Self. Her mother thought of her as the “perfect infant” because “she never wanted anything and she never needed anything.” As a child, just thinking of saying “I need” or “I want” left her feeling like an empty shell and that her mind was about to spin out of control. Terrified of who––or what––she was, she lived in constant dread over being found guilty of impersonating a human being.
Jeffrey Von Glahn, Ph.D., an experienced therapist with an unshakable belief in the healing powers of the human spirit, and Jessica, blaze a trail into this unexplored territory. As if she has, in fact, become an infant again, Jessica remembers in extraordinary detail events from the earliest days of her life––events that threatened to twist her embryonic humanness from its natural course of development. Her recollections are like listening to an infant who could talk describe every psychologically dramatic moment of its life as it was happening.
When Dr. Von Glahn met Jessica, she was 23. Everyone regarded her as a responsible, caring person – except that she never drove and she stayed at her mother’s when her husband worked nights.
For many months, Jessica’s therapy was stuck in an impasse. Dr. Von Glahn had absolutely no idea that she was so terrified over simply talking about herself. In hopes of breakthrough, she boldly asked for four hours of therapy a day, for three days a week, for six weeks. The mystery that was Jessica cracked open in dramatic fashion, and in a way that Dr. Von Glahn could never have imagined. Then she asked for four days a week – and for however long it took. In the following months, her electrifying journey into her mystifying past brought her ever closer to a final confrontation with the events that had threatened to forever strip her of her basic humanness.
This excerpt occurred about a month after her recall of her birth.
At the start of this session, Jessica seemed listless and without her usually supply of energy. After about 15 minutes of talking about some recent incidents, she grabbed a cushion off of the couch (we were at her house) and said she just had to lie down. She stretched out on the carpet on her back, rested her head on the cushion, and closed her eyes. For the next several minutes, her breathing gradually deepened and sounded very deliberate, as if something was making her breathe slowly and deeply.
After several minutes, she opened her eyes and looked at me with a puzzled expression. “It feels like I have to lie still, and I don’t want do. Gosh darn it!” For a few moments, she remained perfectly still. Then she continued, “I could feel my face and hands go numb. Then I couldn’t feel my skin any more. Then my whole body felt numb. I kept trying to wake my body up and I couldn’t. I couldn’t figure out why my mind was saying ‘move’ and my body didn’t.”
“You know what?” she said a minute later. “I couldn’t breathe on my own. I could hear this breathing in my ears, and I had to keep listening to it and make sure I could hear breathing. I had to listen very hard because I couldn’t feel my body anymore. As long as I could hear breathing, I knew I was alive.
“I feel like I’m sleeping with my eyes open. It’s like being alive but not being able to feel alive. Tell me! How do you understand that you have no feeling about your physical existence when you look down and see it there? It was like time just suddenly stopped, like I stopped being, but I could see. When you cross into that feeling of just seeing, it’s like you’re not human anymore. I felt that everything I had known as a human being had left me.
“Somewhere, something was in me that shouldn’t have been. Something crazy! It was more powerful and stronger than I was. It just did what it wanted. It felt like something was breaking down in me, that something in my human being was going wrong. I didn’t understand that it was a drug that was doing that to me. I didn’t know that it was happening from the outside, that somebody had done something. I thought I had given up. I thought I had done something wrong.”
While the fright over what was happening to her body had been difficult enough for Jessica to handle, the experience had had an even more profound effect.
“I was afraid I had lost the ability to react, to feel, to think for myself, to understand things. If you can’t feel and think and understand, what good are you? What use do you have? What are we here for? Why do you live?”
When Jessica was three months old, she had one radiation therapy treatment for an unexplained tumor in her throat that was preventing her from swallowing, and for which she was sedated.
Jeffrey Von Glahn - JESSICA: AN AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF AN INFANT - www.amazon.com/dp/B00IUCKOD8/
~Goodreads Event Page - https://www.goodreads.com/
~Rafflecopter Page - http://www.rafflecopter.com/
PURCHASE LINKS:
"JESSICA: THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF AN INFANT" by Jeffrey Von Glahn http://www.amazon.com/Jeffrey-
CONTACT INFO:
Twitter: @JeffreyVonGlahn
Website: http://JeffreyVonGlahn.com***This tour was sponsored by 4WillsPublishing.wordpress.com
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