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Brooks Goldmann
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Earl L. Goldmann
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OUR AUTHORS

Below you will find a list of authors and books published by Brooks Goldmann Publishing.  Additional book and purchase information is available with each.
 
Reflections of our published authors in 2009 (PDF)

Some Things I Learned at the San Diego State University Writers Conference (PDF)
 


The Secrets of the 100 Golden Keys, by Mia Pratt
Unlock the Power of Your Creativity and Set Your Life on Fire

This exciting new book contains the distilled wisdom acquired during Mia's unorthodox life as a professional dancer, artist, writer and adventurer, and reveals the secrets of the powerful relationship between creativity and happiness. The “100 Golden Keys” represent Mia’s answers to the burning questions she pondered throughout her life as she lived in passion and pursued her dreams. Collectively, they also reveal how we may all learn to unlock the power of our creativity and use it to for authentic, happy new lives that are free of the limitations from our past.
 
Until recently, Mia lived in her private studio in Scottsdale, Arizona, where she enjoyed a successful career as an artist, author, columnist and “Creative Change” consultant. Her current adventures now take her to Maruata, a remote village on the coast of Central Mexico where she will spend six months painting, writing and immersing herself in the local culture. She will continue serving as a “Creative Change” consultant via the internet, helping individuals discover and implement creative changes in their lives.
 
Mia believes each of us possesses an unlimited and self-replenishing reserve of creative energy that is available to fuel our dreams, heighten our awareness and transform our lives from ordinary to extraordinary. Once we embrace this knowledge and access our creativity, we may use it to re-create ourselves by shedding the limiting beliefs of our past and re-creating ourselves. By embracing the truth of who we are in the present, our lives are then elevated to dazing heights we may have only dreamed of in the past.
 
Brooks Goldmann, $24.95

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Healing and the Creative Response: Four Key Steps Shared by Healers and Artists, by Cay Randall-May, Ph. D.

This is a readable and useful book on healing and the creative process. I am especially happy with the parallels of healing with various forms of the creative process. Dr. Randall-May discusses a broad and useful definition of healing and contrasts that with ‘cure’. She shares personal experiences and uses her own and other’s art work to illustrate her concepts. The book is built around the 4 keys that enhance the creative and the healing process. These are based on self knowledge and include the following: set the intention, relax and clear, engage and blend, and attune to the highest and love. These may sound simple but can be complex and demanding in application. While she describes these at times as ‘steps’ I like that she calls them ‘keys’ which for me is much more palatable than more concrete linear steps of development.
 
Dr. Cay-Randall described each key clearly and illustrates these with her own and others’ art work and life experiences. She summarizes her keys stating, “no matter what the pain, if we can be mindful enough to use the four keys … we can experience a core-level peace which sustains us. When we reach out to others it becomes a tangible force capable of restoring them, as well as ourselves”.
 
In addition to the four keys she describes specific forms of healing, i.e., using prayers, visualization, dreams, energy work and healing through spirit and through objects. She provides concrete examples and ideas for implementing these approaches and then how these are related to creative processes. She also discusses various forms of artistic expression and relates those to healing. The ideas presented are not limited to professional artists who feel the need to compete on the art market but give the reader ideas for self and for working with others using creative processes. Examples include spontaneous dancing, touch drawing, using sound and silence and using dreams.
 
The CD attached to the book is clear and pleasant to listen to and to watch the ever changing kaleidoscopic pictures if you play the CD on a computer. Dr. Randall-Cay’s voice providing directions and examples is pleasant and clear.
 
The book is less theoretical or research based but is grounded in practical approaches for fostering self and other’s growth. It would be a useful adjunct to healer’s from various backgrounds as well as for someone who wants to enhance their own growth and healing.

 
Brooks Goldmann Publ., 2010
And accompanying CD
Reviewed by Rothlyn Zahourek PhD, PMHCNS-BC
 
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Remnants, Ready for New Life, by Kiki Swanson

This captivating volume will appeal to lovers of warm climates, active retirement communities, volunteerism, paying it forward and living life to the fullest in retirement.
 
In early 2004, Daisy Mac Duff moved into the active and well-appointed retirement community of La Ventura located in Scottsdale, AZ. She left behind many friends over the years when she moved with her husband on many transfers, eventually moving to the desert of AZ.
 
Her children also live in AZ and, on occasion, keep her busy with their lives. But Daisy needs the camaraderie of “soul” mates, friends her age who share happy memories of her past and her current pursuit of happiness.
 
Her grief for her husband had consumed several years of her life and now it is time to share her future with friends, new and old. She seeks the companionship of her women friends from all parts of the country by writing and asking them to join her in Scottsdale.
 
Soon a strong and steady flow of letters begin to appear in her mailbox. Both the flamboyant red-head pianist Clarissa and the demure preacher’s wife Beth write immediately. Others come in as quickly as you can say “out west”, such as Martha, the one seeking a new AA recovery group.
 
Daisy accumulates the letters, which often stretch into reminiscing of old places that bring back memories, such as with Mary Ann, Martha’s sister. While some were meant to just read and smile or listen to what was really being said. Beth is one of those with her quiet tone and gentle way.
 
From the window of Daisy’s retirement life at La Ventura you sense her yearning for the friendships she knew in the past with each of these women responding. You will visualize Daisy with her friends enjoying their later years being productive in community while dealing with what life gives out. Practicing her mother’s philosophy, Daisy learns again how to accept life without losing her own character as some say yes and some say no to her suggestion to community life with her and the others.
 
You imagine the startling effects of a group of women coming together by one woman’s will to make them a family. This joining of creative, active, senior women together in a new life with a fresh start from a divorce or widowhood, retirement alone or loneliness of any kind, gives them “wind at their backs”. They go into the unknown of “later in life” friendships in a commune environment. With Daisy behind them, pushing them with a force in the direction of giving back, serving God and enjoying every moment as if it were their destiny is their new life.
 
This is the story of a community formed and developed by a bunch of well educated, interesting, creative and productive caring women who with no real plans for their later years take a “leap of faith” and let a long time friend bring them together. Because of this, they later will write their recipes for success, their ideas for mentoring, their last wishes, their obituaries and their insights and feelings about things they hold dear in their Tuesdays at Three writing group.
 
Some still have strong feelings and reservations about the success of the idea, such as the couple of men Daisy befriends early in the story. But at the onset, the five of nine women who say yes “let’s just do it” are more than happy to reach out to others and not isolate elsewhere. The men in turn become vital to the women’s friendships.
 
Here you will learn about many things, from loss and grief (incurred by all of them) to alcoholism (the elements of AA) to the medical issues too familiar to all of us. The spring writing group for life’s philosophies gives many insights into all of them, and surely in to you too.
 
It is a satisfying and rewarding read and you get the feeling they are having a really wonderful time living out their lives together in a “village.” Being grateful for everyday, their mantra is to rise above the past, adjust to change and hear the music. If humor and good taste can be a contradiction in terms, Remnants defies the idea and makes you smile as you look for the sunshine in life.
 
Kiki Swanson is fearless as she addresses real issues for all seniors (Baby Boomer types too) such as divorce, widowhood, alcoholism, dating, health restraints and life’s disappointments while believing resiliency is the key. There is a lot of good old fashioned fun here that anyone considering a retirement community or living in one now can relate to on many levels. Maybe the putting of these things in writing, including their last wishes, is more entertainment than any part of sadness and is what endears them to us.
 
One of my favorite parts of the story is the thread that weaves their leader Daisy and her perseverance in making things happen, sharing conversation with her dog Curly and learning late in life of her husband’s “secret life” and her son’s need for “care and understanding.” The mystery and unveiling is part of the intrigue.
 
Remnants-ready for new life acknowledges that it is not above the fray of recognizing the human frailty in all of us. Everyone has moments of despair and sadness, coupled with anger. Realizing in this read that it is in fact the ride of taking us “home” to our friends and faith in our “golden years” that sustains us, Kiki Swanson shows us it is possible to succeed to the end.
 
We have all spiraled out of the darkness of grief and divorce or alcoholism or life’s disappointments and up into something beautiful because someone listened. We have all known love because someone cared, someone was there when we prayed about it and God answered.
 
Surely Remnants-ready for new life will be that kind of eye opening, heartwarming book you want with the memory of your life. This work and these stories will help you put the past right where it belongs and your life ready for the surprises that lay ahead.

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Discover the Secret Energized You, by Kebba Buckley

Are you stressed and exhausted?

Do you dream of being energized?

In this book, Kebba Buckley offers answers for everyone.

Discover The Secret Energized You
is intended to provide practical Life Tools for people who want to discover their secret energized self—to reveal to themselves how much they can make of their energy, their lives, and their relationships.

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What people are saying about this book:

This is one of the most useful books on life and stress management that I have ever read. Filled with practical techniques, that are backed by extensive research, this is a must-have guide for regenerating our energy anytime, anywhere. I have been using techniques, taught to me by Kebba, for over a year and I can tell you they absolutely work. It's a great book!  -- Ramona Sallee, MBA, Professional Treasury, Manager and Co-author of In Our Shoes: Seven Women Reveal Their Soles
 
More energy. More life power. More well being. Fundamental tools that will help you achieve these things are clearly and simply explained in this very readable book. You'll want to keep it as a resource and return to it again and again -- and each time you do, new insights will be revealed. Kebba Buckley has done an excellent job of bringing together and explaining some of the most important life practices every pershon should adopt. -- Patricia Turpin


Gratitude a Verb, by Mike Lyding
A Daily Meditation Book for Recovering Alcoholics

An Acoloholics Meditation GuideGratitude a Verb is a stimulating and new approach to Step 11 daily recovery meditations. Useful for recovering alcoholics, addicts, Al-Anons and any other 12-Step program members.

One day at a time, and everyday, these meditations give the reader the strength to get through the day; sober, serene and empowered with the strength of God. The readings work no matter what your religious affiliation may be, even if the reader has no formal religious affiliation.

The first book, Grateful Not Smug, was written specifically for recovering alcoholics. We found that the readings helped everyone who used them, whether they were alcoholic or not. Gratitude a Verb takes this dynamic one step further. Each book will start and end your day with a solid connection with God.

What people are saying about this book:

I read a long time ago, "the most visible creators are those artists whose medium is life itself." They are the artists of being alive. Mike is this kind of artist and my life is better just for having had the opportunity to read his meditations. May he go forth and share the gifts he's been given so that God's love may be experienced and shared and passed along as ripples on a pond's face. The meditations in this book make a difference...enjoy!
Love in the fellowship, Mary Pearl T.

I conduct retreats for people in 12-step recovery programs. I have watched this movement grow and mature for 30 years. The first meditation book used by member of A.A. was published in 1954. Today there are numerous daily meditation books for people in recovery. One of my favorites is Gratitude a Verb. This book proves that meditation can be easy and exciting. After all there is nothing more practical than spirituality.
Father Gavin Griffith, OFM

A tome of love and spirituality, well penned by a gentle soul filled with both.
Harry D.