Happy Thanksgiving, Book Lovers and Authors Everywhere!
“A book, too, can be a star, ‘explosive material, capable of stirring up fresh life endlessly,’ a living fire to lighten the darkness, leading out into the expanding universe.” – from A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle (1962)
It’s that time of year again. Darkness descends before you’ve even finished lunch. Okay, maybe I am exaggerating, but it often feels like that in November. We’re still carrying the fondness for October when sunset came after dinner, not before.
It’s time to regroup a bit.
Time to think about 2025. We have only a few weeks of 2024 left, so reflecting on our accomplishments and our stumbling blocks is due.
At Master Book Builders we will be launching some new, exciting programs in 2025. Stay tuned for that.
As we prepare for all of that, here are the things I’m thankful for this year. I’d love for all of you to add yours in the comments.
One: I’m thankful just to be here. Never in my life would I have imagined being a book coach, working with amazingly creative and intelligent authors to build books that are designed to change the world. Maybe not your world, but our authors’ books are life-changing for many.
Two: I’m thankful for the people who help me do what I do. That would be Tom Collins, the ever-present husband who is there to bounce ideas off of, who works with clients on cover design and interior layout, who keeps me focused on what we can do and not on what we might do. And who makes me eggs for breakfast when I’m already too busy at my keyboard to do it myself.
I am also thankful for JaneA Kelley, who has been invaluable this year in assisting both myself and Tom with her talent, creative outlook, and willingness to try anything new.
I’m thankful for the daughter, Chloe DiVita, whose counsel we sought several times this year. Whether it was about speaking on stage or just advice on a business idea, she was there for us.
Three: I’m thankful for my cat. Yes, my cat. You see her here. She keeps me entertained. Her purring relaxes me. It’s her job to walk across my keyboard at various times of the day to remind me to get up and walk around.
Four: I’m thankful for each and every author who has chosen to work with us. Titles of books are links to visit Amazon and buy. Where there is no link, we are still working on the book, and it will be released in 2025.
Thank You To the Writers and Authors of MBB
@LaceyJ and Adrienne – working with you made me laugh, made me think harder about how I treat social media, and convinced me that I need to be more responsible online. Working with the two of you on Down the Rabbit Hole – Slowing the Spread of Misinformation and Propaganda on Social Media convinced me the world is in good hands with professionals like you sharing this kind of educational content.
@Dr. Fredric Schiffer – you taught me about dual-brain psychology. You helped me understand the human brain better than I could ever do on my own. Your humor and insight into the human soul will stay with me forever. I especially enjoyed our talks about how dual-brian psychology explains some good and evil in the world. Thank you for trusting MBB with Good-bye Anxiety, Depression, Addiction & PTSD: The Life-Changing Science of Dual-Brain Psychology.
@David Schneer – you took me on a journey through time and space. I relived some of my youth following your antics across the country and as a journalist in San Diego. I came to realize that understanding body language is as much a science as an art. And you are the master. Your book, BACKBONE: Surviving the Road Less Quantified Toward a Deeper Understanding of Qualitative Research, is an inspirational peek into the resilience of the human spirit.
@Peter Compo – you continue to challenge my thinking in new and interesting ways. I only began to understand strategy after reading your book. Through you, I met Joey Heins, Vova, Dana, and Angela, who made a big impression on my world with their unique creative talents. The Emergent Approach to Strategy – Adaptive Design and Execution should be a must for all business professionals.
@Sam Kain – you taught me to love the dragon inside. Even when it holds me back from completing my work. The dragons in our book (coming soon, folks!) are spectacular. You are the Empress of Journaling. Thank you for being so artistic! And purple! (visit Sam on LinkedIn here, folks)
@Kat Shaw – you continue to grow as a writer and make me look good! Your story is full of the emotions people are looking to connect with these days. People want stories that resonate, and yours does! I love how you’re so open to learning.
@Ken and Alex Kolpan – working with both of you on your father-son bonding book has brought me joy, laughter, and nostalgia. The photography is compelling, intriguing, thought-provoking, and imbued with stories behind stories and stories within stories.
“Stories are the most important thing in the world. Without stories, we wouldn’t be human beings at all.” – from Philip Pullman
@Andrew Segal – your stories are movies. When I read them, I feel as if I am there. I see the movie on one of the streaming services. I relate to Tammy, your strong, smart, and brilliant main character. I’m in awe of your prolificacy – how many books did you say you have waiting in the wings to be published? Well, for now, The Politician’s Wife is front and center, and Tammy does get herself into trouble in it!
@Marilyn Spivak and Lisa Price – your book, the book which started out as a testament to Marilyn’s accomplishments, has turned into a story about both you. About you, Marilyn, and about Lisa, because Lisa’s experiences during the same events that led to the foundation you created for brain injury patients were different. Very different. This book is a life-changing book. It’s already changed mine.
@Rebecca Friedman-Lockhart – you are teaching me about the father-daughter bond in stories that make me laugh and cry. Your work is going to transform many people’s lives and show the world that the bond between a parent and child is not a thing of gender but of love. Walking with Dad is going to fill people with love.
@Michael Coleman – you taught me the power of listening. The power of ‘seeing with your ears.’ Your marketing books are unique – they come with the voice of a master at radio and comedy. And they don’t just ‘offer’ advice; they teach you how to take that advice and make it work for you. Your books, A Better Message in a Mess-Age – Audio Optometry and Vol 2, A Better Message in a Mess-Age – The Future of Messaging, gave new life to the marketing we do here at Master Book Builders.
@Mary T. O’Sullivan – you brought a whole new perspective to leadership to me. Your book(s) showed me how to be the best leader I can be, by accepting that I’m human and those who work for or with me are human. When we lose that human connection, things just fall apart. People should grab the Revised and Expanded Edition of The Leader You Don’t Want To Be right now?
@Tony Pisanelli – you gave me the best comment any book coach could ever receive. You told me about someone in the marketing industry whose book you read, and you looked me in the eye and said, “His book doesn’t pass the Yvonne test.” Thank you for that! Thank you for allowing us to be part of your books on change and reinvention. You are truly a master at that. I encourage people to grab your most recent book, Career by Design: Rock Bottom to Sky High – Planning Your Pathway to Personal Success.
@Michele Molitor – the “mind detective.” You taught me to believe in myself. You taught me about eugenics and how to embrace being Flawsome. Your work with Tom on your co-authored book, I Am Perfectly Flawsome – How Embracing Imperfection Makes Us Better, brought us all closer together and released a fabulous message to the world – the power of flawsomeness!
There are many past authors from our days as WMEBooks who could be cited here, but this year, in 2024, as I look forward to 2025, I wanted to share the folks who graced Master Book Builders with their presence.
Let me reiterate that I am so thankful for my life. For what I do. For the people I work with.
And I am thankful for all of you. I hope your Thanksgiving Day was wonderful. I wish you a marvelous weekend ahead.
“…the brain is like a muscle, and if you don’t exercise it by reading and doing creative stuff, it’ll get weak and mushy.” – from Jeff Kinney
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