Archive for January 2014
Debbie Huxton's Little Book of Big Wisdom
Midlands mum shares ‘big wisdom’ to inspire others
A Midlands mum and businesswoman is sharing some hard-earned
words of wisdom in a new book, after her son’s attempted suicide spurred her
into turning her life around.
Former nurse Debbie Huxton saved her son, Matthew now 25,
after finding him semi-conscious from a drugs overdose eight years ago – a
shocking moment that made her re-evaluate her whole life.
In that instant, Debbie, 45, of Walsall Wood, resolved to be
a better mum to Matthew, and her other children Saranne, now 17 and Jemma, 22.
With dad Simon, 52, serving all over the world as a sergeant
in the British Army’s Catering Corps, and Debbie working all hours as a nurse in
Accident and Emergency at Sutton Coldfield’s Good Hope hospital, she realised
her children, and their emotional well-being as a family, had been neglected.
Debbie vowed to start living for what’s important, changing
herself, her career and her family life for the better and just 12 months after
finding Matthew, Debbie had shed six stone and a year later she quit nursing.
She says: “It took Matthew’s attempted suicide to make me
realise how unhappy we all were with life in general.
“It was an enormous shock as Matthew hadn’t shown any signs
of depression, and I hadn’t picked up on any signs that he was even
unhappy. He was a high-achiever at
school, getting good grades, and he seemed to have a good group of friends.
“What I didn’t realise was he was feeling immense pressure
to excel, he had an intense fear of failure and he didn’t know how to talk to
me about it.”
The experience spurred Debbie, Simon and all three children on
to sign up to courses learning about the human mind and emotions.
“The courses did more for us than being counselled, because
learning about different personalities helped us understand each other better –
what made us all tick.
“It also made me realise there were better ways to help
others than nursing, that people often need healing from the inside.”
It took a second big wake-up call from a very unlikely
source, however – in a promise to a dying patient – to give Debbie the final
push to change her career.
Whilst still working in the emergency room, Debbie
befriended an alcoholic. This friendship
led her to make a life-changing pact over his death-bed to leave nursing and do
something that makes her happy.
Her path has still not been easy. Her first attempt at
building her own business as a weight loss coach resulted in her facing
bankruptcy. She lost her investment of
around £30,000 savings when she was sold a business that didn’t exist.
Through the process of trying to start a business, however,
Debbie talked to a lot of established businesspeople who were trying to change
their lives for the better, but had something holding them back.
She changed direction, moving from weight-loss counselling
to forge a career as an established and respected confidante and coach for
business people across the UK. She now works with clients including Brad
Burton, the millionaire founder of 4Networking Group and entrepreneurs
including an award-winning Midlands restauranteur, and is in-demand as an
inspirational and motivational speaker.
Her career, and new book, have been borne from helping
clients and friends deal with ‘their thing’.
The first quote in her book is, “You know that thing . . .
it’s time to deal with it.”
“The thing is different for everyone,” says Debbie. “Matthew
helped me to see that although we may look the picture of health and happiness
on the outside, inside there is something eating away at us.”
Debbie’s quotes, which she dubs ‘Huxisms’ – are all her own
motivational sayings that have seen her through the bad times and have gone
down a storm with her clients.
The resulting ‘Debbie Huxton’s Little Book of BIG
WISDOM’ (RRP £5.99) gives people food for thought in Debbie’s
unique, straight-talking way.
The book will go on general sale after the official launch
event, being held on 27th January at the studio, 7 Cannon Street,
Birmingham.
Debbie is also
planning a series of podcasts throughout the year, to share in her own
words the reasons behind her quotes and how they have helped her. The first of these will be released in
February.
“Above all I hope people take away from my
story and my book that - no matter how low you go, there’s always a way up,”
says Debbie.
Debbie’s book can be
purchased through her website at www.debbie-huxton.com
For more information, please contact Debbie Huxton on
0808 108 0754.
My Review
When I was asked to review this book I was thrilled. This book
is right up my street. Like lots of people I sometimes need a bit of a
positive kick up the backside. This little pocket sized book is great
for giving words of encouragement and dragging you out of the negativity
we all feel at one time or another. I found one or two little mantras in the book that I will be using to help bring some positivity into my life and use the power of positive thought to influence my day. Its a teeny little book that is
easily carried around and read at those times when the power of positive
thought is needed. Smaller than your mobile phone, its easily slipped into your handbag, back pocket of your jeans or just carried around, its a fab gift for someone.
You can learn more about Debbie at her
website at www.debbie-huxton.com.
You can buy the book by clicking
here.
You can follow Debbie on Twitter.
You can like her BIG
Wisdom Facebook page.
Promo Tour - Cyber Stalker by Jens Hildebrand
Published
by Warped Tomato
Publishing
A gripping YA novel for the
Facebook generation.
"I love you."
Lilly's heart misses a beat when these words appear on her screen.
Okay, she'd love to have a boyfriend, and when Ian sends her a friendship
request, she eagerly accepts. He just looks so gorgeous in the pictures. But
when she's about to meet him in person, things take a dramatic turn. Who is Ian
really? And how far will he go to get what he wants?
3 Rules Against Cyberstalking:
1. Don't accept friendship requests from people you've never met.
2. Don't look at their photos.
3. Don't fall in love.
PRAISE for
"Cyberstalker":
"Gripping and insidiously convincing,
CYBERSTALKER will simultaneously thrill and appal readers, who may start to
wonder who might really be on the other end of every Internet
conversation." MG Harris, international best-selling author of "The
Joshua Files"
About the Author
I’ve always read a
lot and started writing when I was ten. Reading and writing have always helped
me in my life, and I need both the same way that I need air to breathe. During
my time at school I wrote a Sherlock Holmes novel, one horror and two adventure
novels, and lots of short stories. My inspirations were Jules Verne, Sir Arthur
Conan Doyle, Stephen King and Ray Bradbury – quite a weird mixture, I know.
My great mentor was
my granddad, who was hilariously funny and inspiring. He read all my stuff and
was happy for me, and he also found out that in the early 19th
century one of our ancestors, Wilhelm Zahn, produced amazing books about the
ancient murals in Pompeii and was friends with Goethe. This provided even more inspiration,
as did all those late-night films I watched when I was home alone: mostly old
B-monster-movies by Jack Arnold (“Tarantula”, “Creature from the Black
Lagoon”), “The Thing from Another World”, and John Carpenter’s “The Fog”.
Our
old house always creaked and cracked, and that didn’t help. Well, it sure got
my imagination going…
Later, while studying
at uni I started producing computer software, for example the first language
learning software on CD, and guidebooks for teachers about the new media, like the
first didactical treatment of teaching film analysis.
On my way to school
one morning I came up with the idea for “Granny Gertrude”, which then led to
the stories about Tom and “TEAM 002″. I’ve always been a great fan of James
Bond, and it’s kind of funny that there even is a Bond story titled “The
Hildebrand-Rarity”, which was used as a source for the Bond film “Licence to
kill” (1989). So it’s only logical for Tom, the hero of my secret agent
thrillers, to admire James Bond. The idea for “Cyberstalker” came about during
my work as leader of our team for crisis intervention. It’s more grounded in
reality than you would like to know.
I love England,
first and foremost our English friends and Dartmoor, where Sherlock Holmes
chased the “Hound of the Baskervilles”. The small village of Postbridge
has become our second home, and we love exploring the area and sitting round
the fireplace, chatting with friends.
At our school, I currently hold the post
of Deputy Headmaster. I also coordinate our crisis & counseling team. We endeavour
to help our pupils, mostly to make them resilient against bullying,
cyberbullying, cyberstalking etc. What’s most important job is creating a good
atmosphere at school. We also work within a great network of partners such as
other schools and counseling centres.
Author Links
The overall tour giveaway will be a movie
script with authenticated autographs.
Rafflecopter code: a Rafflecopter giveaway
Book Blitz - Lynda Renham
Brook Cottage Books is thrilled to be part of the book blitz promo tour for Lynda Renham. Her book, The Valentine Present and other Diabolical Liberties has been renamed THE DOG'S BOLLOCKS and you can win a copy by clicking on the rafflcopter link at the end of this post. You can of course read my review for The Dog's Bollocks (The Valentine Present etc) HERE!
On arriving home after a friend’s posh wedding, launderette worker Harriet finds her life irrevocably changed as she discovers her flat ransacked and her boyfriend missing. In a matter of hours she is harassed by East End gangsters and upper crust aristocrats. Accepting an offer she can’t refuse, Harriet, against her better judgement becomes the fiancée of the wealthy Hamilton Lancaster, with dire consequences. What she had not bargained on was meeting Doctor Brice Edmunds.
The Dog’s Bollocks is Lynda Renham’s funniest novel so far. A cocktail of misunderstandings, three unlikely gangsters, a monkey and a demented cat make this novel a hysterical read. Follow Harriet’s adventure where every attempt to get out of trouble puts her deeper in it.
Alice Lane has everything; a
wonderful fiancé, a responsible job and a lovely flat in Chelsea, but after she
has a bra fitting her life goes tits up. Homeless, and with just a sparkling
engagement ring as a memory of her previous life Alice accepts a live-in farm
manager s job and discovers that things actually can get worse. Come with Alice
as she makes her hilarious career change and struggles to cope with her moody
employer, Edward. But can Alice turn her back on romance and resist the dashing
Dominic or will the past come back to surprise her?
Annabel Lewis (Bels) has two days to get to her wedding in Rome but her
journey is beset with one disaster after another as fate takes its turn. Will
the stranger she meets on the way get her to her wedding on time or will he
change her life forever? Come with Bels on her humorous romantic journey to see
if she marries Mr Right or if destiny takes her in different direction.
Literary agent Libby Holmes is desperate for her boyfriend,
Toby, to propose to her and will do anything for him and if that means dieting
for England then she ll have a go. However, when Libby s boss introduces her to
her new client, Alex Bryant, her life is turned upside down. Alex Bryant,
ex-SAS officer and British hero, insists Libby accompany him to Cambodia for a
book fair. What she hadn't bargained for was a country in revolt. Libby finds
herself in the middle of an uprising with only Alex Bryant to protect her, that
is, until Toby flies out to win back her affections. Come with Libby on her
romantic comedy adventure to see if love blossoms in the warm Cambodian
sunshine or if, in the heat of the day, emotions get just too hot to handle.
A collection of short funny tales and a unique insight into
the world of chicklit royalty, aka Lynda Renham. A right comedy of errors if
ever there was one. If you're looking for her beauty secrets and fashion ideas
you've come to the right place. Read of her intimate sex life, her secrets for
staying young and how she keeps her man - just. A fly-on-the wall true account
of the life of a romantic comedy novelist, written in her own words. It's all
here, the truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth.
Publisher Note: We are not responsible for any of the advice given in this book. If you do not look like Lynda after reading this we cannot be held accountable.
Warning: Tena Pads recommended while reading
Publisher Note: We are not responsible for any of the advice given in this book. If you do not look like Lynda after reading this we cannot be held accountable.
Warning: Tena Pads recommended while reading
About the
Author
Lynda Renham writes romantic comedy novels and has
a growing fan base. She has been likened in style to Sophie Kinsella but writes
with a down-to earth humour. Lynda’s novels are popular, refreshingly witty,
fast paced, and with a strong romantic theme. Lynda lives in Oxford, UK. She
has appeared on BBC radio discussion programs and when not writing Lynda can
usually be found wasting her time on Facebook.
"Lynda Renham is right up there with chick-lit
royalty! I'm not talking princess either, for me, the Queen of Chick-lit".
– Booketta Book Blog’
Author in the Spotlight - Joanna Lambert
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Born and raised in rural
Wiltshire, Jo Lambert has always been a country girl at heart. Currently she lives on the eastern edge of
Bath in a beautiful village set in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Here
she has the best of both worlds – there is Bath with its fabulous history and
architecture, its cafes, restaurants, cinemas and theatre - and of course
wonderful shopping! Then in complete contrast there is the village and open countryside
with amazing views – a great inspiration for writing she says.
Jo is married, owns one small
grey female feline called Mollie and shares her husband with Bridget - a 48
year old white MG Midget. ‘She keeps him occupied while I’m writing’ she tells
us.
Author of four novels, her latest
book, The Other Side of Morning will be available in February 2014
The
Other Side of Morning
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Former
model turned fashion designer Thérèse D’Alesandro has recently moved into
Higher Padbury Manor with daughter Felica and stepson Marco. Joining forces
with Ella Benedict’s exclusive functions venue ‘Lawns at Little Court’ she is
about to open a bridal boutique.
Working
in London where he manages his father’s European restaurant chain, Marco has
both the looks and charm to guarantee him any woman; any woman, that is, except
the one he wants: Ella’s niece Charlotte.
Already involved with rock star Christian Rosetti and the most rude and argumentative
female he has ever encountered he knows he should walk away. But Charlotte has sparked strong feelings within
him; feelings which refuse to go away and which he senses, despite her attitude,
she is also experiencing.
Recently
returned from abroad and now working for her father’s record company Lucy Benedict
has discovered Christian’s guilty secrets; ones he has been keeping safely
hidden from her cousin . Determined to
cause mischief and at the same time settle her own score with the arrogant star
she sets in motion a chain of events which create havoc for Christian and
eventually bring Charlotte and Marco together.
Rossana
Caravello, the D’Alessandro’s newly-arrived house guest, is due to inherit the famous
Alba Dorata vineyards on her eighteenth birthday. As one
of Tuscany’s premier producers of Chianti, Thérèse is aware they
would make an excellent addition to her husband Gianlucca’s international business
portfolio. To bring them into his possession she sets about engineering a match
between Rossana and Marco determined nothing is going to stand in her
way…including Charlotte.
From rural West Somerset to the glorious
rolling landscape of Tuscany and the Italian Lakes THE OTHER SIDE OF MORNING is
a story of love, betrayal, deception and ultimate sacrifice.
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Joanna Lambert,
A Writer Inspired by Music
