Wednesday, March 30, 2016

Visitation Dreams, My Visit with a Psychic and Magic and Terror of Dreams


Have you ever been visited by the dearly departed while asleep? Are "Visitation Dreams" proof of some kind of life after death or simply creations of your subconscious mind?

When we sleep our rational mind and ego stand down making it easier to receive messages from the great beyond. If we were wake, we would be quick to discredit sightings of a deceased loved one but in our dreams...anything is possible.

According to my research there are guidelines that separate regular dreams from these supernatural occurrences. 

  • Dreams of deceased loved ones are the most common Visitation dreams
  • True visitations feel very real and because of the vividness these dreams are not easily forgotten. They will stay with you for weeks, months and sometimes forever. Some have even reported they were even life-changing. 
  • You wake feeling as though you were truly visited. If you have to question if it was a visitation dream, it probably wasn't.
  • The departed visitor looks healed and healthy
  • They clearly convey a message 
  • Communication focuses on reassurance, forgiveness and letting you know they are ok
 In 'Tis But A Dream I wrote about my dreams of Matt* which inspired my novel in progress Questioning the Universe. These dreams were enjoyable, an escape from the reality I was living in.  His messages were clear, he was my guardian angel (if I believe in that sort of thing...his words not mine). His job was to show me a good time when I needed it the most, so I would never lose hope like he did. I struggled with anxiety & depression and was going through one of the hardest periods of my life. My dreams of him clearly fit the criteria above.

I decided to write this post to clear my mind space and connect with others that have had similar experiences. The dreams I am about to describe sent me into a serious funk and I sought help EVERYWHERE  because they were weighing so heavy on my mind. I am only going to share a few because I had these recurring dreams for over a month. Dreams are gifts, especially these types of dreams but this experience was very overwhelming and almost too much to handle.

 I mentioned him briefly at the bottom of my blog Let's Talk about Mental Health. During Christmas break, I received news that a boy I went to school with was missing then found deceased. Headlines read that Nick* was afraid to get help because of the stigma attached to mental illness in the military. We grew up together but hadn't seen each other since Freshman year of High School because I moved across town and changed schools at the same time his family left town. We were not close by any means but he was admired by my best friend Lexie for years. She even joined Debate Club with me just to be closer to him. It was easy to see why she liked him. Nick had these bright blue eyes, shaggy blonde hair and when he smiled his whole face scrunched up. He has this infectious laugh and was somewhat of the class clown.

Death always profoundly affects me but I was confused why his cut as deeply as it did. I hadn't seen him in 14 years. Was it because I still pictured him as a 14-year-old goofy boy?  Maybe because I saw myself in him because we went down a similar path clouded with anxiety and depression but our destinations were different? Or because his loss reminded me of Matt's? Suicide is preventable...what could have been done or said to save him?

Fast forward to February...I went to bed like I did every other night. Tucked my kids into bed, kissed my husband goodnight and off to dreamland I went. Then there I was, at my old high school. The baseball field to my right and the snack bar windows trailing toward the cafeteria to my left. I walked towards a green utility truck because the campus seemed deserted. Nick appeared and walked furiously towards me, "Where have you been? I need your help." He demanded as he dragged me towards the doors of the lunchroom. We were a 2 man decorating crew for the spring dance but being the goofball he was he decided to draw funny faces on the balloons and defaced our mascot with a mustache. I left him to journey to the bookstore to buy tickets for the dance. The room was crowded with familiar faces and when it was my turn the boy behind the counter was adamant that I was to remember the total cost of the tickets. He stamped both my hands which would act as tickets while I repeated this number over and over aloud. Nick ran toward me and placed the back of my hand on his head to transfer the black ink onto his forehead. 

He turned to me and said that he was giving me a gift, 5 days with him. We relived the following days groundhog's day style, beginning each day with our school counselor (Mr. Saucedo- neither his name or face is familiar to me) opening a screen door and letting us sneak off campus. We went around town doing different things each day and just enjoyed each other's company. As each day ticked by, I became increasingly nervous. When the final day arrived I was hell-bent on telling the counselor that  Nick was dead (or going to die) even though I knew he would be mad. Nick dragged me outside by my arm and threw me against the wall. He yelled over and over "How could you betray me?" His nose started bleeding and his blood dripped from my hands. He threw a piece of paper at my feet and stormed off. I opened the note and it said, "Only you can help me" in red ink.

I woke up feeling every emotion possible and wrote it all down, including the number I was told to never forget. I wracked my brain for days on what those 4 numbers could have meant even though it was clearly right in front of me. It was the date he died but the numbers were flipped. Trying to make sense of something that there is no making sense of I questioned... Did he feel betrayed by someone he loved? Depression is lonely and did he feel abandoned because no one knew how bad off he was? Or was it all about me, was my subconscious taking his form to help me figure out something about my own life? Although at that point everything with me was going pretty well. Regardless of the reason, every night when I went to sleep I saw him, in different places and under different circumstances but the message was always the same, HELP!

A couple weeks later I had another dream that is worthy of noting. I was at my Alma Mater in American History class. The desks were arranged in a circle, I reached down to get my glasses out of my backpack and when I looked up there he was. I yelled, "Why do you keep bothering me? You don't even know me that well." His response, "You are the only one that will listen." He leaned into me and whispered in my ear, "Call my sister, Ariel*. She will know what to do." I remembered her from school, she was a year or two older than us. I agreed and "woke up" or so I thought. I called Ariel on a vintage telephone and all she said was "Louisiana" and I woke up for real this time when my youngest jumped into my bed. Not a whole lot to go on and that inception shit really freaked me out...Was I really awake now?

After days turned into weeks of being haunted by Nick in my dreams it started to take it's toll.
Everyone assured me it was just my own mind taking his form but even if that was so, how would you like it if every time you fell asleep you saw the dearly departed begging for your help? I was exhausted during the day and dreaded going to sleep at night. I felt myself slowly spiraling into a depression. I talked through my dreams with my friends and family, joined dream forums, and listened to podcasts on the subject trying to find answers or information about these types of dreams. I was desperate for some uninterrupted sleep before I lost my mind. Finally a friend mentioned that a friend of hers is clairvoyant. When she gave me her name and number I realized she was a prominent member of our community and was told to exercise discretion. Her name and profession alone made me trust her but I still went into this experience a skeptic. 

Immediately when I sat down she knew my grandpa's name who passed away in '93. I was adopted by my step father so there was absolutely no name association, that information wouldn't be anywhere. Then she mentioned one of my friend's fathers who had recently passed away, explained the circumstances and knew the history between me and this particular friend. My skepticism lessened over the 2 hours and then she mentioned Nick and what she said brought me to tears. I don't feel like I should share intimate details to protect his identity and memory, but what she said made sense of it all. She educated me on how to protect myself from these "visitations" if they were unwanted. Daily meditation and yoga helped calm my nerves and clear my mind.

In my novel, Emmalyn's mother is a psychic and Faye runs to her after tragedy strikes. "Whether or not I was really talking to him or if I was just speaking freely in front of Davina, I had to say what I needed to say." That is exactly what I got from this experience, I had to say what I needed to say and whether or not what she said was true, I needed to hear it. Real or simply a placebo, it worked and who am I to question it?

The Magic (and Terror) of Dreams by Jamie White

Dreams are probably one of the most important things in our lives. And no, I am not talking about the "dreams" we have like I want to be a best-selling author ;) I am talking about those little movies that play in our minds while our bodies rest. They can be both horrific, and amazing. 

For years, I have had prophetic dreams. The only problem with them was that they were usually too abstract for me to get anything useful out of them until they had already come to pass. I've had dreams of horrific things, good things and stories. I both hate them and love them. But there was one time where something else happened. 

My grandmother had recently passed, and I was staying with some family friends for a couple days to recover. I used to get up at a certain time each day to get my grandmother's paper for her and bring her breakfast. About that time, I suddenly heard, "Jamie, wake up!" It startled me, but I started to think I had imagined the whole thing because no one had tried to wake me. Until I got home. 

The first night back I had a dream. It wasn't anything special; I didn't see some amazing other world, or have anything out of the ordinary happen in it. The dream was just me and my grandmother sitting in her room, talking like we had done so many times before. I remember feeling so much comfort in that, and in the things she was telling me. It was one of those dreams where you couldn't help nut smile when you wake up. But there was something else that really cemented this in my mind as a legitimate visit. 

I used to get astral catalepsy (sleep paralysis) bad. It's a terrifying thing where your mind is active, but your body can't move. Usually this was accompanied by a feeling that I was not alone in the room and an overwhelming desire to run. After a few years of that, it stopped all together until the night I had the dream in question. When it ended, a loud crash sounded in the house, and it was followed by the same feelings of someone being there and being unable to move. Checking the house later showed nothing amiss, and there were no cats in the house at the time to knock things down. Accepting what had happened, I lay back down to sleep.

To this day, I am so grateful for that visit, and for the confirmation that followed. It comforted me during one of the worst times of my life and gave credence to all the beliefs I'd been exploring for several years. It taught me how important our dreams really are, and made me more mindful of them.

To me, that is true magic.


Jamie White is an author, blogger and photo geek who loves music and all things paranormal. When she's not busy writing, she spends time with her husband and pets, takes walks, and practices reiki, chanting and meditation. She also moonlights as a pet servant. 




Courtney loves acting more than anything, and dreams of being on stage. Her parents, however,  don't feel the same way, and barely show any interest in her high school productions. Over the years, they've done what they can to discourage her acting dream.

When Courtney is given the chance to audition for an indie filmmaker, she is thrilled, but know her parents won't approve. Still, she asks to take part and is forbidden to do so.

Forced to choose between following her dream and defying her parents. Courtney's decision stirs long-repressed memories that make her question her parents' attitudes even more.

Her search for answers reveal truths she never imagined-revelations that will change the way she sees those she trusts.

Purchase LEARNING ME on Amazon


"Sleeping is the only time to feel real freedom...because there are no rules while dreaming." -Unknown

Good Night Lovelies! I am headed to bed soon after a LONG day. I hope you enjoyed the post, it was an emotional one to write. Drop a comment below if you have any dreams you would like to share. 

Wednesday, March 23, 2016

*Book Review* Introducing Charlotte

"Seduction is just as much about the mind as it is the body. It's the art of getting to know what gives each other pleasure." Introducing Charlotte aims to explore a different side of pleasure. - Charlotte Hains

British novelist Charlotte Hains has released her debut novel Introducing Charlotte: an intimate and seductive novel that will take readers in a roller coaster of emotions. This hotly tipped novel tells the story of Charlotte, who escapes from her abusive and controlling relationship to find herself with a lack of confidence, broken and with no control over her life. Old friend Anthony enlists the help of Nats and Lloyd to help Charlotte regain her confidence.  At first unaware of their darker lifestyle, can a world of dominance and submission help help to overcome her vulnerability? 

Reading became Hain's passion, and she discovered as many books as possible on her IPad, with the theme of her novel taking it's inspiration from her discovery of FIFTY SHADES OF GREY. Realizing that they were both reading the same novel, Hain's sister urged her to embrace her creative side and turn her hand to writing, suggesting that she create a BDSM-themed masterpiece of her own. 

Undertaking a vast amount of research into the world of BDSM via blogs and websites, Hains began to weave together the story of Lloyd and Charlotte on her IPad, sending new developments to her sister in installments. Before she knew it, she had crafted over 150,000 words, soon realizing she had created enough material for a novel. It was in this way that Introducing Charlotte was born. She received many positive early reviews from fellow bloggers who praised her focus on the psychological aspects of the dominate/submissive relationship. 

Can you take a moment and tell us a little bit about yourself, Charlotte?

I am just an average female, with probably too much time on my hands. Ten years ago I decided to change my life, moved to France with my partner and set to work on renovating a four bedroom house. I had never done anything like it before, but my flair for art helped me. After 7 years of hard work and a few pounds lighter, I suddenly found myself with nothing much to do in the long winter evenings except surfing the net and reading. Then I found FIFTY SHADES OF GREY, little did I know, it would change my life. It sent me on the biggest roller coaster ride of my life and not only introduced me to erotic literature, which is something I never would have thought about previously, but it immersed me into the world of writing about something I would have never picked for myself.

What are your perfect writing conditions, and how often do you write?

I really don't have a perfect time or place. When I started Introducing Charlotte, it was on my Ipad and I would just throw it in my bag and whenever I thought of something I would stop and start writing. Sometimes for hours at a time, in the car, in coffee shops, and in the house, I became addicted to it. I try to write most days, but every so often I have to leave the IPad alone and get on with everyday living. 

Can you put your finger on the moment when you decided that you wanted to publish your work?

I had quite a few people read snippets of my work, everyone said I should go ahead and get it published, mainly copy editors, but who do you trust? Do they just want your money? It wasn't until I found Helen Hart, an author and indie publisher with a good reputation. Her positive feedback was a turning point for me as I thought she wouldn't put her reputation on the line if she didn't think it was any good. It took me about a year to research and gain confidence in the publishing world. 

Why do you think it is that you have found yourself writing in the style that you do?

I really don't know, it's just the way it comes out in my head. I see an idea and then have to just write it down. The quicker I do that, the better the ideas seem to develop. I have never thought about which style I was going to use, I suppose I am just lucky that way.

What would you say, if anything, best differentiates you from other authors?

I would like to think I am unique, although FIFTY SHADES gave me the initial thoughts for my book. Introducing Charlotte is very different and explains the less threatening aspects of the BDSM lifestyle, and it is with this I hope will set me apart from other Erotic Romance fiction authors. 


Can you take a moment and tell us about your debut release of Introducing Charlotte? 

Introducing Charlotte is a fun look at the BDSM lifestyle. Charlotte (the main character) is desperate to change her life and to break the chains of an abusive relationship. Her friend, Anthony, finds her battered and bruised with no where to go and is shocked that this once confident individual has been bullied into the ultimate submission and has had all her freedom of choice stripped away from her. He insists that she stays with him for a while to get herself sorted out, a safe haven, but quickly realizes that Charlotte is damaged beyond just a friendly chat. Anthony seeks the help of some friends, Lloyd a doctor specializing in psychiatry and Nats a beautician/hairdresser, to help bring Charlotte back to her former self by following the BDSM path of control. 

Where did your inspiration for the story come from?

As I mentioned before, FIFTY SHADES, got me interested in the BDSM lifestyle and what it was truly about. I suddenly realized that there was something missing from this type of erotica genre. I hope I have not only corrected but shown some misconceptions about the BDSM lifestyle.

What can you tell us about the protagonist Charlotte?

Charlotte is a career minded nurse, is a confident, funny, independent woman. That is she was...until she fell in love with the wrong person, leaving her an empty shell with no job, no confidence and no control over her life, Deep down she holds onto the thought that life shouldn't be like she has been lead to believe, and its this little spark of light that gets her through. As the story line develops we see Charlotte being challenged on every single thought that goes through her head, and most of the challenging thoughts are hers, as she starts to put back the pieces and rebuild her life. 

What is her relationship like with the two people Anthony enlists to help her?

Nats a female and Lloyd a male...

Charlotte had met Lloyd years before, when they were all at university or training, Lloyd had always had a soft spot for Charlotte, although she has never even noticed. Her relationship this time around with Lloyd is a little frosty at first, however Charlotte starts to notice different things in Lloyd as their relationship develops. Nats on the other hand she meets for the first time, and Charlotte seems to look up to Nats who is a very empowering individual with her own businesses, eventually leading Charlotte to a professional, as well as personal friendship. Nats gives Charlotte confidence in herself and in others, which is something Charlotte has lost over the years. 

How did you set about creating the sex scenes in the book, did you find them easy to write?

At first, I didn't know how to write them but then as if by magic it came to me, basing the sex scenes on three words, Provocative, Suggestive, and Seductive. A line from my book, "Seduction is just as much about the mind as it is about the body. It's the art of getting to know what gives each other pleasure." I feel that readers also need to experience the three words just the same as Charlotte. Lloyd is very provocative, suggestive and seductive, Reading fantasy is the same, I think it's seduction of the mind, no matter what genre.

You have had some fantastic reviews on the book. How pleasing is this?

Introducing Charlotte was awarded the
BEST INDIE BOOK of 2015
Very. I am shocked and overwhelmed that so many people love the book. It is so good to have positive feedback and has given me clues on what readers like. I have also had people email me asking me about the book and if I am going to continue writing stories about Charlotte. 

Can we expect more from Charlotte in the future? 

That's a big yes. I can't leave Charlotte in the position she is in, and those people that have read the book will understand why. 

What is next on the self-publishing horizon for yourself? 

Well it's got to be the sequel to Introducing Charlotte, which I've titled Controlling Charlotte. I'm not quite sure if that is Charlotte taking control or if it's someone else controlling Charlotte just yet. But the fun really does begin now for her, that's all I am prepared to say. (Read Teaser for Controlling Charlotte Below) 

Was the Self-Published/Indie-Published route always our preferred route for your work?

Yes, it seemed the most practical way to go really, for me that is.

Has the experience so far been all that you thought it would be?

I knew it would be hard, but it's harder than I ever imagined. The biggest hurdles are finance and publicity, without one you don't have the other. Publicity is vital for you to get known. In the indie world you are self-financing everything, and I mean everything, you spend before you even think about the book being on the bookshelf, and to afford publicity you need to sell your book. I am sure that most authors have the same problem. The vicious circle I have found myself in is: getting known = publicity=funding. I am sure people don't realize just how tough this cycle is. 

If you could give one piece of advice to someone looking to get into the writing world, what would it be?

Do your research and take advice whenever you can. Don't just jump in, there are a lot of companies out there only interested in your money, not your story. Have I done the right things? Not all the time, but I like to think that for the most part I have followed sound advice sourced from the internet and publishers, ect.

Before we bring this interview to a close, it's your chance to name-drop. Anyone who you feel is deserving more recognition presently or someone whose writing you have recently enjoyed? Now is your chance to spread the word.

Helen Hart my publishers at http://www.silverwoodbooks.co.uk/ I have found Helen's team to be very professional and helpful with every stage of the book, and at ties kept me grounded. It's so easy to get carried away with the industry as things can happen so fast. I have a great respect for them all and the work they do.


This is a story of sexual awakening...desire, lust, passion in the pursuit of love.

An insight into an alternative lifestyle of light BDSM.


When Charlotte bumps into her old friend Anthony she is at her lowest point... 

Rescued by an old friend from an abusive relationship, Charlotte is introduced to Anthony's friends one by one but what she doesn't know is they have a secret that will help her, regain control of her life...

Nats and Lloyd to help Charlotte find the confidence she once had. Charlotte unaware, however, of the darker side of her friends' lifestyle. And although Lloyd is deeply attracted to her, Charlotte is broken, hurt and lacks control. Lloyd get s to work coming up with ideas to bring Charlotte back to life, she is introduced to an inatimate world of secret passions and desires. 

Purchase Introducing Charlotte X

Want a FREE Copy of Introducing Charlotte? Miss Hains was generous enough to provide a code to gift my readers for their viewing pleasure. All we ask is that in exchange is that you post an honest review. 
Email me: CherylaMontgomery1@gmail.com



Did a happy dance last week when I got the mail and saw this beauty in my mailbox. 
Thanks so much Charlotte! 


                              
    
          Rating 5/5

This book is eloquently written, the story line is engaging, and is perfectly described above by the author herself- PROVOCATIVE, SUGGESTIVE AND SEDUCTIVE. 

After being stuck in the YA world for some time, Introducing Charlotte X was a breath of fresh air and a perfect transition for someone who has never read erotica. To be quite honest, when I heard EROTICA I thought I would be reading "Word Porn" and I would like to thank Miss Hains for not only educating me about the genre as a whole but also about the BDSM lifestyle.

I loved the camaraderie among friends. They effortless gave of themselves to help Charlotte return to her former glory, even though they knew it would be hard work. Lloyd...Lloyd...Lloyd... he is my new book boyfriend and his part in Charlotte's story was actually a pleasant surprise. My only complaint is the ending... I was a mess last night because of that insane cliffhanger. I was left just like Charlotte-achingly unsatisfied and wanting MORE! This is the perfect foreplay for Controlling Charlotte.

Controlling Charlotte *Sneak Peek*
Continuing on from Introducing Charlotte X, Charlotte has plunged into the lifestyle head first-well, Charlotte doesn't do anything by halves. Still unsure she looks to her friends for guidance, but who can she truly trust? This lifestyle is nothing like anything she has ever known, where control dominates, but who truly has control? 

Her lust for a full-blown sexual relationship is what keeps her going. But this is not control, and her body language and defensive behavior tells a much different story, as she bumbles her way through her new life. But never fear, he is on hand to teach her some new tricks with his games, and using the rules of the BDSM lifestyle he is set to sharpen her mind as well as recondition her thinking. But will Charlotte ever be able to trust? Is she everything he thinks she is, and will she be able to fulfill all his needs? Only time will tell, as she learns to play the games of the mind, so that she can take control of who she really is and what she wants out of life. Will she be able to seduce him into her world of sexual desires, where he loses control? Charlotte has a lot to learn as the lust she holds for Lloyd burns deep within her soul.

Happy Wednesday Friends! Please remember the best way to support an author is to leave a review and tell a friend! XoXo 

Wednesday, March 16, 2016

Morality in Using Hypnosis by Miles A. Maxwell

Most people walk through the world in a trance of disempowerment. Our work is to transform that into a trance of empowerment.
-Milton H. Erikson

A lot of mental healing once took place in a little white house in Paradise Valley, east Phoenix, Arizona. People would come from all over the world to be treated by of one of the greatest and most effective hypnotherapists who ever lived, Dr. Milton H. Erickson. Late in life, Erickson had severe ongoing symptoms from the polio he contracted as a youth of seventeen. Wheelchair-bound, he used his mental techniques on himself to manage the pain, which most mornings took a good hour to overcome. Typically, he spent the rest of his day teaching other hypnotherapists, or seeing his patients.

One of his most interesting cases1 was a woman with a severe dieting and binge problem. Her weight fluctuated regularly as she reduced down to 130 pounds, then binged her way back up to 180 — then reduced again. Over and over the cycle would repeat. Reduce — binge — reduce, 130 to 180, back to 130.

When she first came to see Dr. Erickson, he said he could help her, but she wouldn’t like what he told her to do.She said she didn’t care, she’d do anything to keep her weight down to 130 pounds.Erickson insisted she really wouldn’t like what he had in mind. Again, she was adamant. She wanted to get the weight off and keep it off. Three times she agreed she would do whatever he told her, follow his instructions to the letter. He made her promise — twice while she was conscious — and a third time after taking her into a hypnotic trance.When he had her third promise, while she was still in trance, what he told her was simple: He wanted her to eat. And to keep on eating until she passed her 180 pound limit, and ate herself all the way up to 200 pounds.

She was shocked. She didn’t want to do it. She actually got down on her knees and begged Erickson to let her set aside their agreement, to be released from her promise. But he insisted, and required her to use his scale too.So she ate. And she gained. She passed 180 and 185. She passed 190, 195, 197.

At 199 pounds, she said, “That’s close enough. That’s almost 200!” she begged. “Please!”


But no, Erickson insisted on the full 200 pounds.

Finally, she did it. She’d eaten herself all the way up to 200. Now, he said, she could reduce. So with great relief, she began reducing. 190, 180, 160, 135— until she got down to the 130 pounds she’d always wanted. And there she stayed. From that point on, never to binge again. Erickson called this method Breaking The Prohibition. By reversing her reduce-gain-reduce cycle to it’s opposite — gain more, then reduce, by breaking through her old upper limit, she no longer felt comfortable anywhere near 180 pounds. She couldn’t ever stand gaining weight again.

Erickson’s house is now a tourable museum
1401 E. Hayward Street
Phoenix, Arizona 85020

pg. 123-124 My Voice will Go With You, The Teaching Tales of Milton H. Erickson, www.amazon.com/dp/0393301354

******
Derren Brown, the British stage hypnotist, once did an episode on his television show Fear & Faith where he gave an atheist, a dark-haired, slightly heavy female named Natalie—a scientist in the field of stem-cell research—the experience of an artificial religious conversion.

“Can you ever imagine being a believer?” he asks.


“Never have been,” she says. “Can’t imagine being.”

He performs this miracle in fifteen minutes.

On hidden camera inside a candle-lit church, Brown uses various Empathic and Linguistic Reprogramming techniques to bring forward the young atheist’s past feelings — for her father and other life relationships.

“What’s your relationship been like with your dad?” he asks.

“Brilliant. Put him on a pedestal.” She admits she wished he could have been around home more, but still, “He’s my hero.”

“Is he? That’s such a lovely, lovely thing” Brown agrees with her, establishing rapport.

Brown asks Natalie to imagine what it would have been like when she was little, “If your dad could have been there all the time?” He begins to tap his fingers on the table as he speaks, to anchor her feelings, making them available for instant recall. “How cherished would that ideal father figure make you (tap, tap) feel?”

“Very special. Honored.”

He asks her if she ever had things in her life that didn’t work out. She admits there were. “Relationships . . .” Brown gets her to agree maybe they could have somehow been part of a grand plan just for her. He links this suggestion to her sense of being perfectly cherished by an ideal father figure, again by tapping his fingers on the table.

He asks if she’s ever been to a mountaintop, if she’s ever experienced a sense of awe. “What is awe?” Brown asks.

She answers, “Stars, the night sky . . .” and Brown joins these feelings of awe to her grand plan by tapping his fingers on the table.

“It would be very rare to get all those things, these feelings together,” he says, using his hands to symbolically push her feelings together.

Once he has all the pieces in place and connected — an ideal father figure, awe, a sense of being cherished — Brown asks to be excused, while he “Nips out for a minute.” He suggests, that we can piece “all of these together into new (taps fingers on table) experiences, and “I do think there are so many beliefs and — I said, new experiences (taps forehead) that don’t even quite register that they’re there, that can really hit us in a very real way, really surprise ourselves.”

As he leaves, he holds an open palm, fingers spread, about a foot in front of Natalie’s face and suggests, “This can be right in front of us, until one day we just stand up and feel — that — new — thing . . .” again holding an open hand before her face, “. . . which can be very real and powerful.”

At the cathedral's door he calls out, “You can get up, stretch your legs . . . get up and move around if you like.” Another embedded command. A minute later Natalie does stand up, moving her face through the spot in the air Brown’s hand had been, and experiences a tremendous emotional release,
something she easily confuses — considering the  church surroundings in which it takes place — with a genuine religious conversion.

Though watching Natalie’s emotional outpouring can be beneficial to us all, it’s hard on her. It reminds me of an old Star Trek episode where Spock cries — a forced, cruel emotional crisis, logical Vulcans are unable to endure.

Did Brown respect Natalie’s wishes, her choices? Did Natalie really know what she was getting into before the show? Not really. She makes clear she had no idea what to expect.

When Natalie’s tears have dried, Brown does release her from the effects of her experience by giving her additional contradicting hypnotic suggestions, then explains how he did what he did to her. Finally, he allows her to see the recording the audience watched of her going through it all.

Is this enough compensation for what Natalie endured?

Click here and judge for yourself: Derren Brown- How to Convert an Atheist


******
The tall, dark-haired minister Franklin Reveal in my State Of Reason Mystery is an accomplished practicer of Linguistic Reprogramming. His great empathy allows him the ability to read people, to feel in sync with those he helps — using techniques modeled partly after Milton Erickson. From helping a woman injured in the nuclear attack on New York City  conquer her pain — to drug use and lack of motivation, to overcoming fear and sadness, Franklin’s able to effect deep and rapid change in the members of his church congregation, solving a wide range of their problems.

Franklin’s senior minister Ralph Maples becomes angry when he finds out Franklin has been using hypnosis instead of prayer and the Bible. When Ralph threatens to have him fired, this doesn’t bother Franklin nearly as much as whether he’s using these techniques morally, whether he has his subject’s
permission first.

With one exception.

Desperate to rescue his sister, Franklin uses therapeutic trance to convince Red Cross Blood Coordinator Chuck Farndike to get military authorization to fly a helicopter into the City. He amplifies Chuck’s natural desire deep down to do what Chuck really wanted to do anyway. To step away from blood donations and get right into the thick of things.

Many people wouldn’t worry about coercing Chuck if their sister’s life were on the line. But Franklin feels guilt and regret over his desperate decision — and has doubts his trance induction of Chuck will actually accomplish anything anyway.

He’s shocked and surprised when, not an hour later, Chuck responds so strongly he — well, I won’t ruin it for you.
LOSS OF REASON is FREEwww.amazon.com/dp/B01ABT19YA, so you can enjoy the whole tale for yourself.

Milton Erickson’s morality was based on the idea that everybody ought to be happy. Franklin would agree. But whose job is it to define happiness? The hypnotist? Or the one being hypnotized?

Hypnosis is a tremendously powerful tool. With that power ought to come the moral responsibility to respect an individual’s free will, their conscious choices, to make certain the hypnotist has his subject’s agreement before helping make any changes that person may desire to their subconscious mind. It's the most valuable possession anyone ever has.


About Miles
Long before 9/11, Miles used to lie in bed at night in his apartment on Manhattan's Upper West Side --just across the park from where Cynthia, Steve and Melissa would be living -- and listen to the sirens. Wondering when someone would drop "The Big One" on The City.
. . . Wondering how the millions of survivors -- if there would be any -- could possibly escape . . . the city government itself encouraging twenty-four hour personal survival kits -- food, medicines, other critical essential personal items. 
As time went on, whenever Miles would leave The City for a day or so for one reason or another, he would return with a creeping, growing, building sense of dread. Driving toward that beautiful skyline on I-95 or the 1&9, he would look at the skyscrapers and think, "Is this the day?"
He stuck with The City. It was his home. But to excise the paranoia, he spent his spare time writing the beginnings of this story: Loss Of Reason . . .
Was it truly paranoia? He watched TV that terrible day, like all Americans, with a horror that would have been sheer terror had he stayed, as the Twin Towers rumbled down. Not as a pinnacle of terrorism in The City, but as the beginning of things much worse to come.

Miles A. Maxwell -- out of Cheyenne, Wyoming -- is the author of Loss Of Reason, Search For Reason and the forthcoming Finding Reason of the State Of Reason series.

Connect with Miles 
+Miles A. Maxwell 

We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used to create them. - Albert Einstein

"I wondered what other obstacles would be thrown at us. I was prepared to fight whatever stood in our way so we could live our lives together. What made me different and why did I have to fight at all just to LIVE? I looked around at all of my classmates drinking, laughing and dancing, which I guess was appropriate because after all it was a party. But I envied their simplicity and wanted more than anything to live their unburdened lives. Most of them coasted on through, living in contentment, nothing especially good happened but nothing terribly bad either. While over here I was on a roller coaster, I had giant triumphs where life was spared and nosedives to hell where I faced death."               - Faye, Questioning the Universe ( My Work in Progress)

It has been a month since I sent QtU off to be edited. I was told not to touch or even look at it until I am ready to make revisions. I don't know if all of you writers out there can relate, but I am having MAJOR separation anxiety. I miss my fictional characters, Matt & Faye! 




Do you want a FREE copy of  INTRODUCING CHARLOTTE?

View Introducing Charlotte on Amazon
View Introducing Charlotte on SmashWords
Charlotte Hains is an amazing author and I will be reviewing this book for my blog next week. She was generous enough to offer my readers a FREE ecopy for your reading pleasure. All we ask in return is an honest review. DM me on Twitter @CherylAMnty23 or Email me CherylaMontgomery@gmail.com and I will provide the code. 
It is a must read! #SEXY



Please check out Kelly Moore's Cover Reveal of Pieced Together .
"For both of them, it's like they were never apart. His body craves her's, and she immediately longs to submit to his magnetism. Brogan is terrified of giving into their passion. Can he be the man she needs him to be?"
Kyren and Brogan's Story Continues... HERE




I am working on a blog that I have titled PARDON MY POETRY. I am a writer but definitely not a poet! So don't be shy...Join me and share your shitty poetry with the world. Send me your bad poems and help me make this post a success.  
Contact Me:
Email: CherylaMontgomery@gmail.com
Twitter: @CherylAMnty23

Hope you are having a wonderful week Lovelies! A HUGE thanks to Miles Maxwell for Guest Blogging and to Charlotte Hains & Kelly Moore for sending me copies of their amazing books.
"When Writing the Story of your life, don't let anyone else hold the pen." Go forth and create something beautiful! XoXo- Cheryl

Tuesday, March 15, 2016

COVER REVEAL Pieced Together by Kelly Moore


Their Story Continues...

Kyren couldn't get over killing Brogan's father, even though he did it to save her. The demons of his own past took control , and he left her when she needed him the most. In the aftermath of their agonizing breakup, Kyren and Brogan sought healing on very different paths. She moved to a remote island in Maine and started a new life, while he isolated himself on his yacht, and almost drowned in booze and guilt. After three long years, they're each in a good place. Neither can forget the intense, passionate love they shared, but they're both sure it's over for good. Too much time has passed. There's too much old hurt. 

Fate intervenes, however, and places Kyren on Brogan's doorstep. For both of them, it's like they were never apart. His body craves her's, and she immediately longs to submit to his magnetism. Brogan is terrified of giving into their passion. Can he be the man she needs him to be? Will he break her heart again? She's not the same person she was back then. She's stronger, and she has a big secret. Has he learned from his own demons? And most importantly, when she comes clean, will he be able to handle the truth?  

***To Be Released March 29th*** 

 
Where it all began...

His touch is scorching hot and rough, just how I like it. It's just sex. I don't believe in love, but he makes me feel thing I have never felt. I want to try. I want to trust him with my secrets, but there is a good chance he will leave. He will see how broken I am. He is what I need to fix the broken pieces of my heart.

At a very young age, violence and secrets forced Brogan to escape the only life she knew. Now a young women with a good career, she hopes to finally forget her past. She is tormented by demons in her dreams, and it has threatened every sexual relationship she has ever had. Brogan meets Kyren Nolan, a sexy ex-military man. He knows what he wants the minute he meets Brogan. He wants her, and his first meeting with her lands him on the ground. He doesn't take no for an answer. They start a passionate affair that turns into more. He teachers her that a gentle touch can create as much heat between them. They struggle for control, but Kyren has his own scars a and secrets. When their pasts collide, will they be able to overcome he broken pieces of both their lives together? 


Purchase BROKEN PIECES on Amazon -Kindle Edition only .99-

About the Author
Kelly Moore was raised in MT.Dora, Florida, a true southern girl with a sarcastic wit. Gypsy traveling nurse by day and romantic author by night. Loves all things romantic with a little spice and humor. She loves two characters who overcome their pasts to fall in love and have a happy ending. Wife, mother, grandmother and dog lover. Travels the US in a fifth wheel making memories and friends. 




Enter GIVEAWAY to win a Free Ecopy of Pieced Together 

Check out my interview with Kelly Moore author of BROKEN PIECES and PIECED TOGETHER



Friday, March 11, 2016

*Book Review* In the Eyes of Madness

Introducing Author... Michael Pang


Project manager by profession but modern Renaissance man by nature, Michael Pang has dabbled in many different areas in his career. From working with steam turbines to eventually switching into the world of IT. His plethora of experiences highlight his personality- he's a person always searching for more knowledge. 

Michael was born in Hong Kong in 1983. His family immigrated to San Francisco when he was three and eventually landed in Florida. After graduating from high school, Michael gained his degree in Mechanical Engineering from Georgia Tech. Despite his demanding work schedule, Michael is very involved in activities at his local Project Management Institute Chapter where he fulfills his passion for teaching as the Vice President of Education. But, his desire to serve and help others doesn't end there, he's an avid Christian. He is very active in his local church and even volunteers at children's church in his ministry., along with his 2 daughters and lovely wife. 

He speaks fluent Cantonese and Mandarin and in his free time enjoys reading, writing, eating, cooking, playing music, dancing, singing, and watching musicals. His motto is "Every day you haven't learned something new, is a day wasted."

What is your favorite book?
It is very hard for me to decide on one favorite book because I have so many. Here's a list, Pride and Prejudice, The Dresden Files, Mistborn, Harry Potter Series, and Immortal Instrument Series. 

Who is your favorite fictional character? 
Harry Dresden from The Dresden Files. Harry is a character that holds dear his set of morals, however, he also has the insight to take a step back to see how his set of morals have been changing over time. I like that.

I see you are a Harry Potter fan, what house do you belong to? 
RAVENCLAW, I'm a nerd, what can I say...

What are you currently reading at the moment?
Shadow of Self from the Mistborn Series. Sanderson has an amazing way of making all his characters and the world they live in come to life like no other. 

Hobbies?
Read, Write, Sing, Dance, Cook, Watch Musicals, and Build. I have a variety of hobbies, now if only I could have 36 hour days...

If you could spend a day with anyone, living or dead, who would it be?
I know, I know, most other Christians would most likely say, Jesus. But I know I'm going to get to meet Him anyway one day and will spend the rest of eternity with Him. Besides, I speak to Him daily through prayer. If I could spend one day with anyone, it would be my grandmother who recently passed away in December. She had been battling cancer for 6 months prior to her death. She had finally beaten cancer, but the chemo weakened her body so much she caught pneumonia. She was supposed to come live with me after her cancer treatment and just didn't make it. I'd love to be able to spend one more day with her. 

Do you have any hidden talents? 
Hidden like from other people? or from myself? If it's hidden from me, I guess I wouldn't know anyway. If it's hidden from other people, then I would be hiding it for a reason...probably wouldn't want to reveal it on the internet... :) (Touche Michael! 😊) 

Things you keep at your desk?
Pictures of my wife and kids, my computer, phone, tea (lots and lots of tea)!

How long have you been writing and what initially inspired you to write?
Honestly, I've been interested in writing for as long as I can remember, but haven't really sat down to write a book until 2011. It might sound strange, but...dreams. Everyone has dreams, but most people forget what they dream about when they wake up the next morning. However, sometimes you get dreams that are so intriguing that they get stuck in your mind. I have those and when I wake, I would always try and force myself back to sleep to continue the dream. Sometimes it works and other times it doesn't. When it doesn't, I always say to myself, "I wonder what would happen next." My mind then starts to daydream throughout the day of possible subsequent scenarios and possible endings. That's actually how my first novel, IN THE EYES OF MADNESS, came about.

What's your cure for Writer's Block?
Since dreams are usually my inspiration, I guess, I'd sleep! Although, most of my dreams that ended up as book ideas tend to be nightmares. I guess in addition to sleeping, I's have to see what I'd have to do to induce a nightmare. I know, sounds awfully dark...but I'm a cheerful person...

What motivated you to write IN THE EYES OF MADNESS?
The idea came to me in a dream one night. I was surprised that I was able to get into a deep enough sleep to actually dream. We (my wife and I) were new parents and our newborn was only a couple months old. What meant we barely slept! So, it was kind of a miracle for me to even have such a vivid and amazing dream (or nightmare, I couldn't really decide). When I woke up from it, I tried going back to sleep, but it was of no use. I couldn't get the dream to continue. In the morning, I told my wife all about the dream and we decided it made a good book idea. I was desperate to find out what happened at the end, but since I wouldn't get the dream to continue, I decided that I'd just have to write the rest myself. 

How long did it take you to write IN THE EYES OF MADNESS?
It took me about 4 years to write the book, but 2 of those years were spent editing...lots and lots of editing. 

How did you come up with the title?
It was an image from the nightmare that I had. The teen was looking at his face in the mirror and couldn't recognize who he had become. And there was just fear and madness in his eyes. That's what I wanted to capture. 

Who designed your cover?
My book cover was designed by Dip Lahkar. Who, I thought did a very good job creating what I had in mind. However, after releasing the book and getting a lot of feedback from the readers, the cover misconstrued the book to be too much of a children's book, which was not my intention. I plan on re-releasing an edition two with a different book cover sometime in the Spring.  

Are there underrepresented groups or ideas in your book that you would like to discuss?
Yes, so in the book, there is a group called the "Hunter" that was briefly mentioned. I'm in the process of writing another book series that will share the world, and as a matter of fact, some of the characters will end up crossing over. The new book series will focus mainly on Hunters. And also, the "Demons" are mentioned quite a bit in the book, so I will also have a third book series that will focus on the origin of demons. 

Are there any experiences in your book based on someone you know or events in your own life?
Nope, purely fictional! Thank God! I hope no one has to go through that!

What were the challenges (research, literary, psychological, logistical) you faced while bringing your story to life? 
Actually, my biggest struggle was finding time to write. With working full time and having an infant at home, I was lucky enough to find time to sleep! 

What advice do you have for new writers?
Edit and rewrite. Repeat and rinse. Maybe after the 30th time, it'll sound right to you! ;)

"The scariest monsters are the ones that lurk within our souls."                                                                                                                         - Edgar Allan Poe


A near-tragic incident at the hands of his psychotic mother left Declan Peters alone with so many questions. 

Years later, Declan is determined to find a way to be closer to his mother and takes a job at the institution where she's being held. That fateful decision will be the impetus for a chain of events so terrifying that Declan will question his own grasp on reality. 

What he finds will be more horrifying than anything he has ever experienced and more dangerous than anything he's yet known. In a place rife with demonic possessions and sadistic beings, will Declan finally be able to find the answers he's longed for before it's too late or will he succumb to the evil forces that inhabit the institution and all who live there?

To find out more about the book and about its author Michael Pang visit

Purchase In the Eyes of Madness on AMAZON


"Hell is Empty and all the Devils are Here." - William Shakespeare


            Rating 3/5

Overall my review is mixed. It was hard for me to connect with the characters and felt as though the story was being told to me, instead of being INSIDE the story. I really wanted to like Declan's love interest Keira but she came off as too preachy to be likable. But I LOVED the story behind the Nephilim and P-born children. When the origin of Declan, Tristan, and Zoe's demonic-like powers were revealed, I was completely drawn in. The story ended rather abruptly and left me with a lot of unanswered questions. I look forward to seeing where the story goes, as I feel the end of this novel is really just the beginning. 

HAPPY FRIDAY my Friends! Hope you all have an enjoyable weekend! 
Lots of love! XoXo- Cheryl