CONTENTS
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From the editor
Author Patrice Rivers
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What is Wellbeing - Benji Lightfoot
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Author Audrea V. Heard
Author Calandra Gantt
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17 Author Beverly Jones-Durr
Author J.P. Dallas
25 Author Dr. Fayola Delica
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Author Portia Smith
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Author Angelique Clemens
Five stress relief exercises Cynthia Baker
It is with great joy to say to you that you are a MIRACLE & you have Greatness in and outside of you
Dr. Renee Sunday THE PLATFORM BUILDER
VISIONARY OF GOOD DEEDS MAGAZINE 3
Hey! I enjoy writing books and to tell a story!
E C I R PAT S R E V I R
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Three tips to Fellow and Aspiring Authors: 1) Write, Write, Write! 2) Never allow someone to tell you that you can’t write a story! If it’s your passion to write and publish a book, then DO IT! 3) Stay focused! There are a lot of people who don’t want you to be successful. That’s why you must stay focused at all times! Stay focused on your goals and dreams! You will get there with time.
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PATRICE RIVERS RIVERS
To me, being an author means allowing your creativity to come to life through words. It means being able to tell your story whether its fiction or non-fiction and gracing the opportunities that God has blessed me with to be able to say “Hey! I enjoy writing books and to tell a story!” Being an author has allowed me to be free with my words whether I’m writing a poetry book, children’s book or even a short story. The point is God knew exactly what He was doing when I was in my mother’s womb to give me the gift of writing. Being an author to me means closing my eyes and visualizing the next book idea and smiling as my pen connects with the paper. 6
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WELLBEING
Well is defined as “in a good or satisfactory manner” according to dictoniary.com. In these days and times we have to intentionally put forth effort to actually stay well. What does your does your daily schedule look like? Arise and shine, get ready for work while listening to the news. The news report, poverty racism, homicides, sickness and disease. All the prior projections are then implanted into your mind where you unconsciously dwell on those thoughts that detract from your well-being. We have a duty to keep our mind, body and soul well. Wellness occurs when you implement a well-balanced diet, exercise, meditation and speaking positive confirmations in spite of challenging circumstances. You will always win in Christ Jesus. Be encourages, protect your health and walk in wellness every day on purpose. 3 John 1:2 English Standard Version Beloved, I pray that in every way you may prosper and enjoy good health, as it goes well with your soul. Benjil Lightfoot Family Nurse Practitioner , Motivational Speaker
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Audrea Heard
"Being an author means to leave a legacy"
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3 Tips to fellow and Aspiring Authors Market your book before and after it is released; never stop promoting it no matter how old it is. Develop income streams around your book Aspiring Authors: Make time to complete your book, someone is waiting to hear from you.
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a e r d u A Girl on Fire Being an author means to leave a legacy. My words, experiences and victories will live beyond me in order to help and inspire others. My family and the generations to come can be inspired to live outside of the box, live out loud and not be ashamed of their experiences because they are designed to help someone else. 11
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Calandra Gantt "Write with a Purpose"
Calandra Gantt has been anointed since the age of 3 years old to minister to the nations through music and the arts. Not only is she a singer and songwriter but she is a musical director, teacher, minister, instrumentalist, community servant, actress, arranger, producer, radio/tv host, mentor, businesswoman, international multiple award-winning gospel recording artist and author. Calandra uses her gift by volunteering in community events. She has partnered with Mind Building Academy that offers summer camp programs for kids in the Dekalb Community and scholarships for college. She was blessed to travel to Canada, Bahamas and various states sharing her music ministry on stage with national and independent artists . She is a multiple award recipient and nominee and currently working on her Live project entitled, “The Praise, Worship and Soul Experience Live Vol.1. Her current single, He’s Good (Live) can be heard on radio and available on digital platforms. She is CoCEO of BlueMile Music Consultants, LLC. She just released a new book entitled, “The Inspirational Series Vol.1 – A 30 Day Motivational Series.” Her desire is that when you come into her presence that you leave empowered, inspired, and encouraged.
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3 Tips to fellow and Aspiring Authors Write from the heart. Surround and connect with a publisher that can see your vision. Write with a purpose.
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a r d n a
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BEVERLY JONES-DURR
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Beverly
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Gratitude is in attitude by Trina Barnes We are so busy that we forgot to show appreciation for the thing we have. We don’t have to show gratitude only towards the significant achievements of our life. We should be grateful for everything we have. That is only possible when we realize that nothing is so small that we can’t be thankful for it. We mostly show gratitude towards the blessings of our life on occasion or holiday seasons. On festivals, we have our loved ones nearby, which reminds us of the benefits we have. By showing our gratitude, we feel more thankful, joyful, and proud not only on occasion but regularly. 20
J J..P P.. D Da alllla ass J.P. Dallas is a New Yorker by way of New Jersey living in Maryland. Writing was never a consideration growing up, and she never had aspirations certainly of writing a book. Giving all thanks and honor to God, for unleashing this newfound passion that came later in her life. This is her first book inspired by her love of murder mysteries, criminal investigations, and everything forensic in nature. She wants to shine a light on women working in any capacity of law enforcement. Women who are intelligent, courageous, clever, and disciplined, and yet can be sexy, smart, captivating, and extraordinarily complex, like the main character in Fade to Blacque.
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3 Tips to fellow and Aspiring Authors Just do it. You don’t have to write a book in a day. Try and write Something each day, you will be surprised at how much that adds up to in a week.
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s a l l a D . P . J
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a c i l e D a l o y Dr. Fa
UNLOCKING THE KEY TO THE LIVES OF OTHERS Dr. Fayola Delica is a native of South Florida. She is an Apostle and an Ordained Pastor, Seasoned Registered Nurse, Award-winning Serial Entrepreneur, Award-winning International Speaker, International Best-selling Author (twice), #1 Best-selling Amazon Author (twice), Author of 8 published books, Talk Show Host, Educator, Youth Advocate, Beauty Queen, Poet, Community Leader, Coach/Consultant, and a Political Strategist. Currently, Dr. Delica is a Nursing Supervisor at a long-term care facility as well as an RN Independent Contractor. Also, she holds a number of leadership roles in various nonprofit and for-profit organizations as well as founded a number of her own for-profit and non-profit organizations. Dr. Delica is excited about her new endeavor which is being a TV Host on The Now Network with her new show Kingdom Domination TV Show that will focus on marketplace ministry. This is where ministry and the business world connect. The show will air September 2020 in over 230 million homes in the U. S., Sun-Saharan Africa, and Western Europe. In short, she is your Passion and Purpose Activator. She helps you to live out loud by living out your divine purpose in the areas of business and ministry.
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3 Tips to fellow and Aspiring Authors Never be ashamed of your story. Your pain was never there to break you but to build you. Being an author is not about writing books but about making an impact with your book. Never shortcut the book writing process. Make sure you have at least these four people with you during the book writing process: Author/Book Coach, Editor, Proofreader, and Publisher.
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Being an Author is about unlocking the key to the lives of others by telling your story. Your life, your life experiences, and life lessons are your framework for your capacity to be a change agent. What, we as authors, have faced is not for our enlightenment but to help someone else understand their own story and purpose. Your book is what opens the door for your global influence as your book can be everywhere where you cannot be. 27
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Portia Smith writes inspirational and self-affirming children’s books to help boost self-esteem and confidence. Portia’s new book, “I Know Who I Am”, lays out in alphabetical order positive and fun affirmations that encourage children to develop a growth mindset, self-confidence, and coping skills. Portia realized early on that by saying positive affirmations daily proved to be very beneficial with her own children in that it helped to train their brains to think more positively.
Portia is a licensed counselor and a mental health wellness advocate. She has over 13 years of experience in counseling. She has a passion for crisis counseling and suicide prevention/intervention. Portia is the mother of two and a member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. In her spare time, she enjoys art, reading, writing, and crafting.
"Don’t be afraid to take a risk on yourself" 29
3 Tips to fellow and Aspiring Authors Read everything. Research everything All you need to do is just believe that you can and you will. And last‌don’t be afraid to take a risk on yourself. You can do it.
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Portia I have always had a desire to write children’s books since I first learned to put words together into sentences. When I was a little girl, I wrote everything: poems, songs, raps, movies, stories. However, one day, while I was in middle, I had my notebook of my writings out on my desk. I was looking at the things I wrote and my teacher asked to see my notebook. She took the notebook, looked at it, then threw it in the trash. That hurt my soul to the core. After that I never really wrote again. I’ve always had the desire, but that incident discouraged me. Well, fast forward to my adult years. I lost my husband suddenly a few years ago. It triggered something inside of me, and I begin to write again. I begin to write about my feelings and through that experience it was the utilization of positive selfaffirmations that helped me get through most days. I also begin to encourage my children and friends to say positive affirmations daily because of how beneficial it was for me. So, when you ask what does it mean to be an Author, to me it means love, passion, gratefulness, survival, truth, and courage.
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- Ayn Rand
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"To be able to paint a world to the reader" To me, being an author means being able to open up worlds to people who otherwise would not be able to access them. Authors and storytellers are in a unique position to be able to paint a world to the reader of their own imagination.
Angelique Clemens 33
3 Tips to fellow and Aspiring Authors Enjoy the process of writing. Things can get hectic and even frustrating, but even then look to the good that is going to come from your writings.
Be true to yourself. During the marketing and publishing process, there may come a time that requests are in direct conflict with your definition of yourself. One of the main themes of Can I Borrow Your Skin: Learning to be the Fierce Person You See in the Mirror is defining who one truly is and learning to love that person. It is imperative that through the ups and downs of writing and publishing a book that the author stays true to their self. Prepare for the unexpected. Once you complete your book and you are ready to release, you will feel a combination of relief, joy/excitement, and maybe the pressure of anticipation. When I completed Can I Borrow Your Skin, my launch was the day before the state I live in went into lockdown for the Corona Virus pandemic. I was stopped in my tracks – seemingly stunted before I could start. Granted your book may not be stopped by a pandemic, but you should expect and prepare for a major roadblock in your marketing process, as well.
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Five stress relief exercises by Cynthia Baker Are you dealing with stress most of the day and have pressure at work? Then it is essential to take a break or else you will be exhausted. Our body is neither a machine nor are we robots. As human, our body needs proper attention, and we must care for our physical and mental health. 1.Exercise: How does exercise relief stress: Exercise plays a crucial role in our fitness. By staying fit, you will be able to maintain both physical and mental health. Regular activities play a vital role in dealing with your stress by reducing anxiety and depression. Exercise helps you to relieve stress by increasing the level of your endorphin hormone. These are also known as the feel-good hormone of our body. Exercise is one of the most important things you can do to combat stress. The benefits are strongest when you exercise regularly. People who exercise regularly are less likely to experience anxiety . 37
There are a few reasons behind this: Stress hormones: Exercise lowers your body’s stress hormones — such as cortisol — in the long run. It also helps release endorphins, which are chemicals that improve your mood and act as natural painkillers. Sleep: Exercise can also improve your sleep quality, which can be negatively affected by stress and anxiety. Confidence: When you exercise regularly, you may feel more competent and confident in your body, which in turn promotes mental wellbeing. Walking: Walking is probably the most effective and easiest way to relieve stress. Trust me; if you are walking in your balcony, roof, or even in the house, you are going to have a lot of its benefits. According to studies, people who go for a walk have a lower stress level compared to the ones who doesn’t go for a walk. 38
2. Dancing: If you want to reduce stress in a fun way, then dancing is a good option. The good thing about it is that there are no rules to follow. You will not only feel relaxed and happy but will enjoy many health benefits. 3. Light a candle: Using essential oils or burning a scented candle may help reduce your feelings of stress and anxiety. Some scents are soothing, especially lavender and Frankincense. 4. Reduce your caffeine intake: Caffeine is a stimulant found in coffee, tea, chocolate and energy drinks. High doses can increase anxiety. People have different thresholds for how much caffeine they can tolerate. If you notice that caffeine makes you jittery or anxious, consider cutting back. 5. Write it down: One way to handle stress is to write things down. While recording what you’re stressed about is one approach, another is jotting down what you’re grateful for. Gratitude may help relieve stress and anxiety by focusing your thoughts on what’s positive in your life. 39
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