Non-Fiction – Page 2 – Readers Alley

Category: Non-Fiction

Sports Memoir – Red Card By Tony Kelly

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Red Card: A Bet You Can Win!

Memoir, Sports, Non-Fiction

Published: April 2021

Publisher: Austin Macauley Publishers

Former UK professional soccer star (footballer), Tony Kelly lost it all, but he stands today as someone who is unbreakable!

Having lost most of his wealth, his house and eventually his fiance’, Tony refused to be broken and fought back.

Through years of pain and suffering, somehow, Tony managed to turn his life around in a positive way, and his journey from disaster to redemption and triumph is nothing short of amazing. Tony has literally been to hell and back, but through family and friends’ support, professional help, his renewed faith, and sheer courage, he is now in a position to help others, and that is something he could never have envisioned six years ago.

A tragic, yet uplifting and inspiring tale of one man’s journey through gambling addiction. It’s a must-read for those who feel lost, broken, and without hope, as Tony’s story is testimony that all is not lost. That this is a bet you can win!

About the Author

Best selling Author Tony Kelly is a former professional (footballer) soccer star who played for six teams within his nine-year career. He is also a recovering gambling addict. In his first book, Tony wrote and shared this story, “Red Card: The Soccer Star Who Lost It All To Gambling,” in 2013. He now released his much anticipated second book titled “Red Card: A Bet You Can Win!” in April 2021 and is available on Amazon Kindle, Amazon Books, Barnes & Noble, and other fine online book stores in both the UK and USA.

Tony was crazy about (UK Football) soccer from the age of seven. At sixteen, he was the youngest player ever on the first team at Bristol City, UK. In his twenties, Tony turned professional and went on to play for clubs such as Stoke City, Cardiff City, Leyton Orient, and Bury in the second and third divisions of the Soccer (Football) League. He also enjoyed a spell playing for a team in Sweden. His career was cut short and ruined by a gambling addiction. He continued to gamble addictively and lost jobs, the rest of his soccer career, his partner, and his financial wealth he worked hard to gain.

Today, Tony is the Founder and Managing Director of ‘Red Card Gambling Consultancy and Gambling Support Project’ (Non-Profit) in 2015 and has been sharing prevention of problem gambling and addiction with individual one on one therapy, awareness, prevention, educational workshops, visiting and speaking at schools, and much more in and around London, UK.

Tony has helped and worked with the UK Gambling Commission in an advisory role on regulations. A tireless advocate of recovery, Tony has grown to become well-respected within the gambling harm reduction and prevention sector throughout the United Kingdom. His work has been endorsed both by the UK media and the UK parliament. As a recovering addict, his wish for the book release is to help raise awareness and educate the public about this crippling gambling disorder.

Born Nyrere Anthony Kelly in England, Tony resides in London; his books are his journey of ‘Redemption and Recovery’ as Tony is proof that miracles do happen and recovery is possible.

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TV history – Moonlighting

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TV history

Date Published: 6/1/2021

Publisher: The Fayetteville Mafia Press

Once upon a time ABC-TV’s Moonlighting was among the most buzzed-about shows in the country, thanks largely to the bravado of creator Glenn Gordon Caron, who never met a television convention he didn’t want to break, and the sizzling on-screen chemistry between glamorous erstwhile film star Cybill Shepherd and a New Jersey bartender nobody had ever heard of before named Bruce Willis, who bickered and flirted ceaselessly on screen and engaged in epic off-screen battles that all these years later remain the stuff of Hollywood legend. This combustible blend of creative brilliance produced some of the most acclaimed, audacious, and innovative programming of the eighties, including a black and white tribute to film noir, with an introduction by Orson Welles; a parody of Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew, written in iambic pentameter; an homage to The Honeymooners; and countless metafictive episodes breaking through the fourth wall — almost unheard of at the time for hourlong comedy-dramas. Without a doubt, Moonlighting helped pave the way for the era of prestige television we are now all enjoying.

The real story of this pioneering television series and the extraordinary behind-the-scenes challenges, battles, and rewards has never been told — until now. Author Scott Ryan (The Last Days of Letterman, thirtysomething at thirty: an oral history, The Blue Rose, Scott Luck Stories) interviews over twenty people, including the actors, writers, directors, and producers who made Moonlighting such a dynamic, unforgettable show, delving deep into their thoughts and feelings as they relive this magical moment in pop culture history in this full color oral history.

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Careers, Business – My Job Gen Z Book

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Finding Your Place in a Fast-Changing World

Non-Fiction, Careers, Business

Date Published: March 2021

Publisher: Skees Family Foundation

Nonfiction business/career studies, sociology of work, real-life vignettes of young people at work along with how-tos for job hunting and career building.

MY JOB Gen Z:

–provides hope and help to young adults launching careers during a pandemic and recession,
–defines the unique qualities of Generation Z based on field research and our survey,
–profiles “ordinary” and famous Gen Zers striving toward and succeeding in their dream jobs, and
–offers resources on how to identify your skills, apply for internships and jobs, negotiate terms and salary, work remotely, and forge ahead with your dream job in a fast-changing world.

MY JOB Gen Z, written by and for Generation Z (born in and after 1995), combines research into the unique experiences and qualities of this rising generation with the results of our own global survey.

We compare what the “”data”” say about Gen Z with who YOU say you are, including an array of real-life profiles of ordinary Gen Zers–how they feel about work, what they want most from their careers, and the challenges they encounter along the way.

We spotlight famous Gen Zers who’ve already had impact on society, built companies, and made millions–and reveal what drives them to succeed.

Then we guide you through best practices for creating your own resume and professional profile, applying for internships and jobs, conducting online and in-person interviews, discerning your valuable skillset and pursuing your own dream job.

The real-life examples and pragmatic advice offered in MY JOB Gen Z will convince you that you are not alone, in an often-challenging and isolating world. It will leave you inspired by your peers doing amazing things and motivated to pursue your own dream job.

About the Authors

SUZANNE SKEES works in international development as director of the Skees Family Foundation and as a storyteller who travels from schools to slums, prisons to farms, writing for nonprofits and their courageous clients who toil every day to end poverty and create equality. She holds masters’ degrees in English literature from Boston College and world religions from Harvard Divinity School.

SANAM YUSUF is a student at Occidental College in Los Angeles, focusing on religious studies and diplomacy/world affairs. She was trained in dialogue and conflict resolution at Seeds of Peace International Camp and spent five years as a delegate with Model United Nations (MUN). Through these experiences, she was able to truly see the power of narratives and storytelling–which is why she’s so excited to coauthor this book!

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Religious Memoir – God Works in Unexpected Ways

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Memoir, Religious

Date Published: April 2021

Publisher: Christian Faith Publishing

God Works in Unexpected Ways is a memoir about how the author went through trials and tribulations with mental health issues, tragedy, and reconnecting with Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ saved her life and now she wants the world to know her story.

About the Author

Angie M. Phillips is from Fort Lauderdale, Florida and was born on January 30, 1997. She has a lot of creative talents, like writing poetry about love, life, depression and anxiety. She also enjoys drawing, which if she says so herself – it’s pretty good! She other talents as well, but she wrote this book because it can relate or it can not relate. She wants to share her story of reconnecting with God who who saved her.

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Self-Help – The Things My Mama Never Told Me

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A Funny and Sometimes Serious Guide for Teen Girls and the People Who Love Them

Nonfiction; Self-Help for Teens; Parents of Teens; Tee & YA Social Issues.

Date Published: May 13, 2021

Publisher: Acorn Publishing

An insightful glimpse into what it is to be a teenager today . . . making mistakes, surviving them, and rocking your beautiful, powerful self.

In Things My Mama Never Told Me, Nancy “Pants” Johnson, mentor, leader, educator, and teen advocate shares the stories of brave, resilient, powerful young women who, despite their sometimes overwhelming and scary circumstances, overcome their fears and hold onto their dreams with unwavering strength.

Here are some of the questions she asked herself and her teen authors:

· Do you have questions, concerns, fears about being a teenager?
· Do you sometimes feel like your stress is going to burst out of your eyeballs?
· Do you sometimes get fed up with friends, family, or social media?
· Have you ever ignored your intuition and ended up in an unsafe situation?

Learn how to embrace your beautiful body, your abilities, and your worth; to monitor your own use of social media, cell phones, and computers, becoming aware of how they make you feel; to recognize your power as a woman in all aspects of your life, no matter your sexual orientation; to own your choices about what you want to do with your life and with whom you want to spend it; to deal with your stress in more positive and creative ways; to listen to your intuition and form personal safety boundaries; to love yourself first when making decisions about relationships, intimacy, your body, sex, and birth control; to be alert to red flag warnings and signs of abuse; to recognize the signs of alcoholism and addiction in yourself and others; to bring your secrets into the light; to forgive yourself; to prioritize your own health and well-being.

Being a teenager is hard and sometimes totally frustrating. You will survive. I’ve got you. You are just the person for the job.

About the Author

Nancy Pants Johnson is an author, mentor, educator, and advocate with more than 20 years experience listening, learning, and guiding teens through their life stories. After surviving her own tumultuous high school life and teen marriage, Johnson entered college at age 32 and dedicated the rest of her adult life to being a teen advocate.

Johnson graduated summa cum laude from SDSU with a B.S. in English Literature and an MA in Secondary Education. She taught English within a Visual & Performing Arts Academy until her retirement in 2014. Today, she advocates for teens in her role as Director of Teen Programming for the San Diego Writers Festival. She mentors teens in local high schools as they write their stories for KidsWrite San Diego, and shares weekly with Al-Ateens in recovery.

Pants lives in La Mesa, California, and finds joy in her husband, children, grandchildren, her garden, and her dog, Phoebe. Visit Nancy at nancypantsjohnson.com to read her blog, follow her school visits with teens, and be an advocate yourself by donating one book to one teen in the inner city. You can also find her on Facebook @ nancyjohnson3766 or Instagram @ #nancypantsjohnson.

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Instagram: @nancypantsjohnson

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Spiritual Healing – Shamanism in the 21st Century

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Non-Fiction, Mental & Spiritual Healing

Date Published: June 26th, 2017

Publisher: Jan-Carol Publishing, Inc.

This book grew out of the ¬first seven years of August Lageman’s practice as a shaman. The book shows how the teachings of the Four Winds Society actually work with clients. In addition, August kept an open mind and integrated tools and insights from other forms of healing such as reiki and Holographic Healing. This book demonstrates how a person with a rocky childhood can heal from early wounds with the help of skilled shamans. August writes from his heart. You will learn how a shaman needs to be ready for the unexpected.

“Shamanism in the 21st Century is as useful as it is interesting. If you’ve always been curious about alternative healing modalities or want to deepen your own spiritual connection, this book is a good place to start.” — Willie E. Dalton, Author

About the Author

August Lageman had a career as a pastor, a college teacher, and a psychotherapist. He served in the military for over twenty-nine years and did enlisted service in the US Marine Corps in the early sixties. Then August was commissioned as an officer in the Army Reserves and National Guard, serving both in the reserves and on active duty. He retired with over twenty-nine years of service as a full colonel in 2003. August trained as a shaman in the Four Winds Society, graduating in 2010.

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Memoir – Being a Ballerina

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The Power and Perfection of a Dancing Life

Memoir, Arts, Ballet

Published: April 2021

Publisher: University Press of Florida

A look inside a dancer’s world…

Inspiring, revealing, and deeply relatable, Being a Ballerina is a firsthand look at the realities of life as a professional ballet dancer. Through episodes from her own career, Gavin Larsen describes the forces that drive a person to study dance; the daily balance that dancers navigate between hardship and joy; and the dancer’s continual quest to discover who they are as a person and as an artist.

Starting with her arrival as a young beginner at a class too advanced for her, Larsen tells how the embarrassing mistake ended up helping her learn quickly and advance rapidly. In other stories of her early teachers, training, and auditions, she explains how she gradually came to understand and achieve what she and her body were capable of.

Larsen then re-creates scenes from her experiences in dance companies, from unglamorous roles to exhilarating performances. Working as a ballerina was shocking and scary at first, she says, recalling unexpected injuries, leaps of faith, and her constant struggle to operate at the level she wanted—but full of enormously rewarding moments. Larsen also reflects candidly on her difficult decision to retire at age 35.

An ideal read for aspiring dancers, Larsen’s memoir will also delight experienced dance professionals and fascinate anyone who wonders what it takes to live a life dedicated to the perfection of the art form.

Praise for Being a Ballerina:

“There is power and perfection in this captivating memoir―the power of personal experience and the perfection of writing that carefully captures the life of a dancer. Larsen, now retired, was principal dancer with the Oregon Ballet and guest artist with Ballet Victoria; she also danced with Alberta Ballet and Suzanne Farrell Ballet. Before describing her many positions, however, Larsen starts with an account of her first class at the New York School of Ballet at age eight. She covers the years of study required for every dancer, and along the way introduces readers to memorable teachers and dancers and discusses the roles she inhabited and companies she worked for as a professional dancer. Appended to the memoir are essays on pointe shoes and how to dance with a partner, along with a list of places she has performed. VERDICT: Dancing ‘full out’ means going all out during practice rather than saving energy for the performance. In this memoir Larsen is writing full out, and we are the lucky audience of her performance. Balletomanes, dance students, and aspiring dancers will applaud this absorbing account.” ― Library Journal, Starred Review

“This is the best book I’ve ever read about becoming and being a dancer. Every word rings true.” ― Robert Gottlieb, editor and dance critic

“Larsen relates in great detail and remarkable prose how she became a ballerina. With her we enter a school. With her we enter a theater. With her we listen in the wings and rush out onto the stage, the destination of her desire, the music her guide. We read about the difficult training that must be mastered and the fragility of the body during the process of learning technique. We learn about the joy of performance. I loved reading it.” ― Allegra Kent, former principal dancer, New York City Ballet

“Gentle, genuine, and honest, Larsen shares her experiences generously, offering a compelling glimpse into a ballerina’s world―one that beautifully illustrates not only what it takes to become a professional dancer but what it means to be a ballerina.” ― Jennifer Carlynn Kronenberg, author of So, You Want to Be a Ballet Dancer?

“I laughed out loud, cringed, and teared up relating to the joys and trials that a career in ballet requires and that Larsen so vividly conveys. Her wit and humanity bring behind-the-scenes experiences to life with the candor of a good friend along with the invaluable insights of a real ballerina. If you want to be a ballerina or want to know what it takes to be one, this is a must-read.” ― Elysia Dawn, arts consultant and former dancer

About the Author

Gavin Larsen was a professional ballet dancer for 18 years before retiring in 2010. A principal dancer with the Oregon Ballet Theatre, she also danced with the Suzanne Farrell Ballet and Alberta Ballet and as a guest artist with Ballet Victoria. She has written for Pointe, Dance Teacher, Dance Spirit, Dancing Times, Oregon ArtsWatch, Dance/USA’s From the Green Room, the Maine Review, and The Threepenny Review, among others. She writes and teaches in Asheville, North Carolina.

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