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Brooks
Goldmann
Publishing Company, LLC
7970 E Camelback Rd, #710
Scottsdale, AZ 85251
480-250-5556 cell
480-941-0981 home-office
Contact:
Patricia L. Brooks, MAOM
Earl L. Goldmann
Click Here to Email Us
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Patricia L
Brooks
plbrooks.com
Scottsdale
Society
of Women
Writers
Arizona Authors
Association
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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.
Learn More...
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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.
Learn More...
Buy Now...
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
 Gratitude
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.
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