Tag: disability

poetry, Poets & Events

Poet Talk featuring Howard Moon

Lisa Tomey-Zonneveld

Writer Talk with Darls Centola as she talks about her debut memoir "Finding Truth with Michael" – Prolific Pulse Press Podcast

Trauma therapist Darls Centola has written a unique, never-before-told story of young Michael Jackson and the relationship that changed both their lives, in FINDING TRUTH WITH MICHAEL: A Memoir of Friendship, Faith, and First Love, coming out on April 7th. Darls recounts her and Michael’s close, tender friendship forged during their time spent in a small, private high school in Los Angeles, where they held private Bible study sessions as teenage Jehovah’s Witnesses. Part memoir chronicling Darls’ and Michael’s secret friendship and spiritual bond as they both struggled under the weight of high-control religion, and part cultural lens, this book traces Centola’s path into—and eventually out of—an environment of high-control faith and spiritual abuse that shaped their lives. The memoir arrives amid a cultural shift toward understanding spiritual abuse, purity culture, and religious deconstruction. As a therapist, Centola has spent decades working with the complex impacts of adverse religious experiences and the restoration of personal sovereignty from authoritarian belief systems. As an author, she offers clarity, compassion, and an insider’s perspective on a rarely explored chapter in pop history. Centola would also love to discuss the intersection of celebrity, religious drama, and the clinical path to reclaiming one’s voice. About the author:Darls Centola is a licensed clinical social worker, educator, and EMDR consultant whose professional path has been shaped by the lived experiences explored in this memoir. She holds a Master of Social Work degree from the University of Hawaii and is based in Los Angeles, where she works as a trauma-informed therapist. Much of her work explores the impact of high-control belief systems and the process of reconnecting with self and self-trust.Learn more at http://www.findingtruthwithmichael.com
  1. Writer Talk with Darls Centola as she talks about her debut memoir "Finding Truth with Michael"
  2. In Conversation with Mimi Nichter | The Memoir Hostage
  3. Chyrel J Jackson Recites "Americana Was My Grandmother's Glory" included in "Unsung Canaan Ballads"
  4. Rebecca Herz Book Launch for Locus of Control
  5. Poet Talk with Michael Poage
blog, Personal Essay

E-Books and Print Books are Both Needed

Lisa Tomey-Zonneveld

black and white bed stripes kindle
Photo by Caio Resende on Pexels.com

Frequently, there are posts about print books being the preferred method of reading and all the wonderful feelings elicited from holding, smelling and reading print books. Frankly, I am right there with these wonderful factors about print books. As I got older and had to wear bifocals. large print books became my go to books whenever I could get them. Then, I discovered from my friend who is visually challenged, that you can have your e-reader read your books to you. What a wonderful resource. I purchased an e-reader and discovered this was not only easy on the eyes, but it leant to relaxed reading.

What is the issue then? Well, because e-books are not universal, being up to the author or publisher, you can’t always get a book in this format. Then there is the library issue, where they may purchase e-books, but print books are still a priority. My friend needs to have books via e-books and I help her out by ordering them from the library. They can take a good while to have these available as there is always a budget to work with. They may not happen at all. My friend orders some e-books online, but that can get costly, if you are an avid reader.

There are other reading apps such as the audio books, but not everyone likes this method, for whatever reason. There are other resources such as phone readers and the National Library Service Talking Book Program. Searching online will bring up several choices. One of the easiest ways to reach folks is via e-books being published when print books are published.

This may open up a discussion of debate and is not meant to do so. It’s more my way of stating that there is a greater need for e-books to be just as available as print books. When I published my book, I first published it as an e-book and then followed right away with the print version. Most of my sales have been e-books, so I think the figures speak for themselves. Just something to think about.

Uncategorized

10 Things of Thankful – Last Week of January

Lisa Tomey-Zonneveld

I have decided to participate in the Ten Things of Thankful (TTOT) challenge. Here are my 10 things I am grateful for in the past week:

1. That I am Loved – Every day I am reminded of this and it makes all the difference in the world. I am so blessed with devotion and respect.
2. My Kid – She’s going to be 43 in February, but she’s still my kid and always will be. She is a blessing. It’s great to see what she’s done with her life. She leads well where she lives and she’s devoted to making a difference in other’s lives.
3. People went back to work for the government. Hallelujah!
4. Sticking to my food plan. Some days are better than others, but I am doing so much better. Lost 11.5 pounds since Jan 2. It helps tp have such wonderful support at home. Yay me!
5. Job opportunities for part time at home workers. They are there and I am grateful.
6. Quiet-I have always been one who needs some white noise or melody in the background while working on stuff, but I am getting more used to working without this sound. It came on me one day that I was writing in absolute silence and it worked. I don’t know if my brain is slowing down or catching up, but it’s nice to not have to think about it.
7. Hot herbal teas. I am trying to wean from coffee after mornings, especially on week days. It helps my sleep hygiene. Where did they come up with the term “sleep hygiene?” It sounds like a bath or shower before bed. That helps, too, but I don’t think that’s what they mean. And melatonin. I found a brand that works…not all are alike.
8. Fitness Center-We have one and use it. It helps to have a close place to get some exercise. And the walk there is a nice warm up.
9. Poetry-I participated in a Poetry Germination Workshop this past Sunday and it was great to get together with others with a common love for poetry.
This didn’t come from the workshop, but here is a poem I wrote yesterday. I try to write a small poem every day and work on others in my between times.

On Friday I am participating in a workshop about Sestina poetry. I set it up for my friend and fellow poet Aruna Gurumurthy, who has written several books, but her book Puppet Dolls is all Sestina poetry. You might want to take a look right here: Puppet Dolls

Soft blue, crocheted
Hand and heart into allure, feelings
like a new heart, new souls
enter her domain, cuddling
in the blanket, soft
protecting the skin, pink
cheeks and 10 toes, counting
turn around 3 times to a haze, blue
light in her eyes, looping
leaving, gone
Lisa Tomey

10. Cooking-I have been trying new things in the kitchen. That’s a given for me, as I have always liked cooking, especially trying new things.

Those are my thankfuls for this past week. What are yours? Would you like to participate? Click on this Link