What's Happening at Book Readers Heaven - Celebrating Women's Day, March 8th, Spotlighting Women's Issues at Forbes 30/50 Summit! And, The State of the Nation Address!

What a Wonderful Way to Celebrate my Own Birthday! I went to bed excited to have listened to  President Biden's State of the Union Address to America! Are you not as excited as I am? Well, what this President has in store for his vision of his next term will be celebrated by all women! Don't you think?

Obviously Women's Health Issues were spotlighted, as women affected by the chaos that has occurred since the overthrow of Roe under the previous republican president, who actually brags about it... Women, doctors and fathers are angry that once again the government wants to be a third member in every bedroom in America... stopping parents from making their own plans for their families. Biden will ensure that the will of the majority of Americans want to have Choice related to these personal issues is ensured. I've already stated my opinion. The government should NOT be involved in this matter, except as needed for providing access to basic medical support to our women...to our families!

And then, this morning, I listened as discussions occurred on MSNBC, as one of the moderators at the Forbes 30/50 Summit, Mika Brzezinski, discussed what was happening at this year's event! I don't remember any time in my life that I wasn't interested in supporting women in one way or another. One of the issues I thought of--which was spotlighted in Biden's plans--was about our teachers. My second-grade teacher was my neighbor during my early years. Her husband was a dentist. My Mom worked for the family, taking care of an elderly parent... That dentist provided all dental care for Mom's four children!

Later, when I started working, in Personnel of West Virginia University, I was involved in creating the permanent employee records, including for financial benefits. I knew salaries and I knew that the level paid to our teachers in public schools and at the lower level of instructors at the university level were very low--given the fact that these were the people who were teaching us to move upward in life! Now, it is wonderful to know that the president plans to increase the salaries for teachers in public schools!

And so much more! Listen to all that he said last night and provided above. 

My heading for this post, before all of the above, was "Are You As Frustrated As I Am?" Now, I can't even remember what I was going to write about... Our President is working for the best for America! He's now answered all the questions that many have had, clearly providing his position on each issue.

I am being led to books that respond to all the
questions we might have, including about immigration which I'm now reading and will tell you about soon...

And finally, I'm finding more and more Christian leaders who are differentiating between being a Christian, a believer in Jesus, and that of those who speak of christian nationism, which is a group who are definitely not of Our Heavenly Father... Please believe that I had the following two videos on my "Watch Later..." list. These are the two videos that He led me to watch today and share! Note that the man talking says that he is an atheist. I have no problem with that, because I agree with what they are talking about. Something has happened and those of us who see it clearly in America, are concerned! America welcomes all beliefs, even those who doubt...

I have found a group who speaks Jesus as I know him... Below is the beginning of a longer essay. I encourage you to move next if the beginning interests you as it did me... In my opinion, it speaks to the republican party's move for retribution, violence and hate as led by the past president... Please do your research and vote, I believe, for the man who wants to support America's citizens as Jesus would...

God Bless

Gabby 

He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,

And his kingdom will have no end.

There we have it.  Christ is judge.  And with that bit of information, there are countless people both inside and outside of the church who walk away.  Why insist that Christ is judge?  And why – of all things – feature it in a Creed that occupies so few lines?

Doesn’t this just prove that Christianity is for judgmental and cruel prudes?  Doesn’t it prove that God is really out to get us?  Doesn’t it prove that – for all the church has to say about love – that it is all just smokescreen and window dressing for condemning people to hell and sending a handful of people to heaven?

At first blush, it certainly sounds like it, especially if you have never looked evil straight in the eye.  Especially, if you have never seen the unspeakable horrors it inflicts.  Especially, if you have never watched your future be destroyed.  But what if we get in touch with just how far we can sink?

Let me offer you an example.  Recently, I’ve been listening to Ken Burns’s new documentary on the United States and the Holocaust.  Burns, who confesses his own deep love of America, notes that in exploring this subject, he was troubled to learn that our history as a country is anything but straightforward and laudable.

Contrary to the popular storyline that describes the GIs as the first Americans to discover the horrors of Nazi concentration camps, most Americans already knew that Jews were being exterminated in horrific numbers.  They knew it from radio reports, newsreels and newspapers.  Newspapers alone, for example, published over 3000 articles on the persecution of Jews during the first 100 days of Nazi rule in 1939.  And, to be fair, many Americans were alarmed by the news and took to the streets.

Continue Reading...

Celebrating Women Across the World on March 8, 2023--International Women's Day!

 “A girl should not expect special privileges because of her sex but neither should she adjust to prejudice and discrimination.” – Betty Friedan

“I would like to be known as a person who is concerned about freedom and equality and justice and prosperity for all people.” - Rosa Parks

About

International Women's Day is a global holiday celebrated annually on March 8 as a focal point in the women's rights movement, bringing attention to issues such as gender equality, and violence and abuse against women. 
Significance: Civil awareness day; Women and girls day; Anti-sexism day; Anti-Discrimination Day

Imagine a gender equal world. A world free of bias, stereotypes, and discrimination. A world that's diverse, equitable, and inclusive. A world where difference is valued and celebrated. Together we can forge women's equality. Collectively we can all #EmbraceEquity.

“There’s power in allowing yourself to be known and heard, in owning your unique story, in using your authentic voice.” – Michelle Obama

For most of my professional life, I was involved with rights (women and men)...Staff Council, Council for Women's Concerns and through the National Secretaries Association.

During the early years (1960-70s), at a major land-grant university, I saw many improvements. 

• Implementation of a Sexual Harassment policy and appointment of departmental representatives (I was named).
• Attention began on equal pay for equal work. The pay ranking/job classification was updated. Policies were implemented regarding promotion or transfer to other departments.
• Grievance policies and implementation were made to easily allow and review job classification.
• An ADA Director was named and response to the needs of the disabled were implemented. I was greatly involved in upgrades of general-purpose classrooms to meet the needs of all those needing special assistance.
• Affirmative Action was implemented and routinely used as a part of employee selection. As a hiring agent, I routinely worked to ensure that we met policies enacted by Human Resources.
• Through the Council for Women's Concerns, or NSA, we sponsored training seminars on Duel-Career Marriages, Time Management, Inter-personal communication geared toward employment, et.al.

“My mother told me to be a lady. And for her, that meant be your own person, be independent.” – Ruth Bader Ginsberg

During the last decade of my career, I watched as new authoritarian presidents and/or line supervisors began working against Equity!

Now it has been very hard for me to see that there is a major effort for America to go backwards related to everything that had been accomplished... apparently because some do not wish women or minorities to be able to improve their life situation as do those identified as preferred by those who see themselves as white privileged...

I'd like to spotlight top issues that are happening in America and across the world... about which I am deeply concerned...

Education is all they wanted... they are being poisoned

“We are here, not because we are law-breakers; we are here in our efforts to become law-makers.” – Emmeline Pankhurst

In America, books related to history, sexuality, and women's health are being pulled so that they are not available for teens and adults. How are our young going to be able to be free-thinkers...?

“Change happens by listening and then starting a dialogue with the people who are doing something you don’t believe is right.” – Jane Goodall

Women's health is going back to the dark ages as doctor's are afraid--due to political intervention

into what happens between patients and their doctors...

“No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.” 

– Eleanor Roosevelt

Fear and Violence has become the norm

for our children and teens...

This is NOT RIGHT!

“The best protection any woman can have is courage.” 

- Elizabeth Cady Stanton

MUST WE ALWAYS HAVE TO REINVENT THE WHEEL?

“You just gotta keep going and fighting for everything, and one day you’ll get to where you want. In a perfect dream, things would be set exactly the way you would want them. But I think it’s more interesting that in real life, things aren’t exactly the way you planned.” - Naomi Osaka

MAY THIS YEAR'S INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY BE THE BEGINNING OF  YOUR MOVING NOT BACKWARDS BUT FORWARD...

 “I’m basically a feminist. I think that women can do anything they decide to do.” - Grace Kelly

we are one woman

Spotlighting PJ Nunn, Author...and More - On International Women's Day

"I need you to find my ex-husband,” she offered. “He’s there. In Dallas somewhere.”

“All right,” I wrestled a client form out from under one of the piles and cleared a spot to write on. “First, I’ll need your name…” 

“Beverly Gafford,” she cut me off. “… and address.” 

“What do you need that for?” her strident tones were already getting on my nerves. “Standard procedure, Mrs. Gafford. I need it for billing, and I may need it for tracing your ex. That is what you want me to do, right?” 

Two could play the snotty game. She recited her address and phone number faster than I could write. “Thank you,” I said after I made her repeat it a second time. “Now tell me about the man you want me to find.” I slid my pencil behind my ear and rocked back in my chair, ready for her to launch into the everything-the-loser-ever-did-wrong speech. “His name is Lawrence James Gafford,” I waited. “And?”

“And what?” “Do you have an idea where I might look for him?” Usually, these women start with the first date scenario and I have to stop them from a blow by blow that could take hours. This was new and different. “Well if I knew that I wouldn’t need you, would I?” I was beginning to wonder if I really needed this woman’s money. “All I have is the name Lawrence Gafford,” I reasoned. “I promise, when I start searching I’ll come up with several of those. You were married to him; there must be something else you can tell me. What about his social security number?” 

“Let me check,” I heard her put down the phone. When she picked it up again, she read the number back to me. “Okay, that’ll help. Is there anything else you’d like me to know?” “He kidnapped my daughter,” she said simply.

“What?” This was a new twist. “He had weekend visitation last week and never brought her back,” she acted like I should have already known that. Worse, I’ve been more emotional when I lost my keys. 

“Did you call the police?” This was definitely more than I was ready to handle. 

“Uh! Of course I called the police! They can’t do anything if he’s crossed state lines.” 

I knew that seemed wrong, but she sounded like she knew what she was talking about. “Mrs. Gafford, tell me more about your daughter’s disappearance and why you think he brought her to Dallas.” My mind was reeling with the possibilities. Usually, we’re looking for deadbeat dads who didn’t pay child support or missing heirs for some attorney trying to close out an estate. My standard script didn’t fit this one. 

“There isn’t much to tell,” she snapped. So much for the grieving mother scenario. She sounded more like the ex-wife from hell. “He had visitation last weekend and 

was supposed to bring her back here by 6:00 on Sunday. He didn’t bring her back and he’s checked out of the motel. I can only assume he’s taken her to Texas.”

“Why is that?” I began to accept the possibility that I’d stepped into the Twilight Zone, or at least Candid Camera. 

“Why is what?” 

I swallowed a groan. “Why do you assume he brought her here?” I spoke slowly in case she was having a brain cramp. “Because that’s where he lives,” she said. “I told you that.”

“All right,” I conceded. “Do you know what kind of work he does?”

“I don’t know shit about him anymore, and I like it that way!” I could imagine her stomping her foot and getting ready for a tantrum. “Now, are you going to find him or not?” 

“Fine. I’ll see what I can do,” I told her, ready to forget the whole thing but the checkbook balance wouldn’t let me. “Do you have a fax, Mrs. Gafford?”

“Ye-es, why?”

“I need you to fax me a picture of your daughter, along with her date of birth and social, and one of your ex if you still have one,” I explained. 

Loud sigh. “Oh, all right. Is that all?” I bit my tongue, reminding myself that grief does strange things to people, then made arrangements to fax her a contract and told her where to send the retainer. Without another word, Beverly Gafford hung up. Thoroughly disgusted with the whole idea, I decided to head home and get a fresh start in the morning. It was after five and there wasn’t much I could do until I got her fax anyway. Maybe instead, she’d call the FBI or something. Nothing is easy.

~~~

At least it was only five minutes from the office. I traded my semi-professional jeans and sweater for sweats and socks, pointedly ignoring the hinges that needed fixing on the bathroom door. Why is it there’s always something broken? 

“A man, that’s what you need,” I slipped into my Mom’s voice to ease the silence. I’d gotten behind in my nagging exercises. See, I figured out a long time ago, if I keep up the nagging when I’m away from home, it doesn’t seem so overwhelming when I finally visit. That’s what I tell myself anyway. It’s better than thinking I’m turning into her as I get older. 

Padding back into the kitchen in stocking feet, I sidestepped Elvis, my fat, gray cat, and armed myself for hunting. Unfortunately, the cockroach I killed on the counter wasn’t going to feed either of us, so I kept up the search until I located a can of tuna and a lone Hostess cupcake. Elvis chose tuna. 

“I don’t need a man,” I told Elvis, who really didn’t care. “What I need is a wife.” Someone to cook and clean and do the grocery shopping. I despise grocery shopping. Maybe then we’d have something to eat besides tuna and a stale cupcake. Reluctantly, I picked up the phone and called Mr. Jim’s to order a supreme pizza. As an afterthought, I tacked on a salad and diet Pepsi. They’d cancel out the calories in the pizza. “It’s coming,” I told Elvis, who perched on the arm of the sofa and glared at me. “It’s not like you’re starving or anything.” 

Under all the fluff, he was more solidly packed than the can of tuna he’d just finished off. Aside from his attitude, he was good company. Probably the only male I know who was safe enough to sleep with these days. Not that I’m opposed to the idea in theory. It’s just that my luck with men was in a little slump and I was waiting for the upswing.

~~~

When you read the variety of books I have during my reviewer activities, it is a real pleasure to find a novel that is unique, clever, and a wonderful beginning to a series I hope will continue! I couldn't help comparing it to the Janet Evanovich successful series because of the humor, the quirky characters and of the main character who somehow keeps falling into danger!

One major difference with Nunn's book was that Private Spies has one of the best mysteries I've read in a long time. It is complex, yet compelling to readers as they try to work along with Jesse Morgan, the PI main character, in trying to weed through the twists and turns that have been woven into this page-turner that doesn't stop until, at the end, everything is pulled apart to reveal what was happening! No wonder I didn't have a clue! And you know what that means! I loved it!

Mainly because of Jesse Morgan... We briefly meet her family and discover how her father wanted a boy so chose his second daughter as the one to do all the things that he would have done with a son. It is no wonder Jesse turned out to be the woman she was--she had swagger, confidence, fearlessness --all those characteristics routine to a man, including no fear of gaining weight with her hearty appetite! LOL And it winds up that there are quite a number of men who find her quite provocative! Cool, right? 'Cause she was just acting as her life had evolved into the woman she was destined to be!

The novel begins when her boss, friend and partner had just died and left his business to Jesse. She is somewhat hesitant to know how to proceed. Although she has her PI license, most of her work has been in the office on the computer. But as the book went on, I found I was seeing her played by Charlotte Ross, from NYPD... Take a look at the many facets you'll see in the book for Jesse Morgan...

But Jesse had another side--a secret insecurity of her ability to actually take over as a "real" private investigator. Perhaps Joey had known he was close to his end, because we soon find out that he had already hired another man to work in the Office. No matter how surprised Jesse was, you could almost see that she was relieved...even if she didn't give her new employee a break...LOL

And really, it was good that he had just gotten there, because she had just accepted a case involving a missing person...and a missing child... And, right there, immediately, readers are caught in the mystery because she meets people who weren't who they were reported to be, for one thing...Jesse was spending a lot of time on the computer just trying to find out who was really missing...and worse--who had called and hired her?!!!

And then, why a dead body wound up in her home bathtub, to start! And that was just the beginning of the investigation... and Jesse's being stalked... A true "can of worms!"

On the other hand, we get to see the entrance of retired homicide detective, Byron Montgomery, join the office, which also includes Bernice as the dry, witty office manager...

And readers will enjoy Byron's reaction to Jesse as he discovers she doesn't own a gun, is not registered to carry, and has never even been out on an actual investigation...

As well as the fun attraction developing between the two... You know a little romance always improves a book...LOL  This turned out to be a personal favorite addition for 2017... PJ, I think it's time for another in this series...please!

Highly recommended,


GABixlerReviews

So who is PJ Nunn? Well, I met her online working in her role with Breakthrough Promotions... In fact, many of the books I've read have been introduced to me by PJ... But recently, I found, somewhere, a reference to her own book, Private Spies!
I realized that no matter how much you interact with people on the Internet, we see only one side of that individual, don't we. Well, as a book lover, I wasn't going to let it pass that now I knew PJ was an author! I bought her book and decided to give myself a birthday present by reading it right away! It's been a wonderful way to spend my day, even if it was still going on at 2AM and I didn't want to stop!

Today we celebrate International Women's Day. There are many women we could highlight on this day, but I wanted to spotlight a woman, who quietly, efficiently and effectively works to help authors promote their books, most times with people not even knowing that she has coordinated all the publicity efforts in getting the authors' books out to others...

Yet, she is the type of woman who has never said to me, Glenda, you know, I write books, have you ever read my work?  We all know that marketing books is the biggest challenge for authors these days... Her book, written in 2013, I'll wager, has not had the promotion that she routinely gives to others on a daily basis... I thought her writing, her books should be spotlighted this time to celebrate just one humble woman who daily serves the world, allowing her own activities to be secondary, while she speaks to ensure other books are noticed. This, to me, is America's Woman...May she gain, now, just a little of the recognition she deserves for all her hard work...

And may God provide women, everywhere, to have the strength to do all that she must do, each day and every day. God Bless Us All...

As with most things, PJ Nunn's career started out as something else entirely. She started out in retail then moved to property management. That led to teaching high school, then serving as a counselor and liaison to the local police youth services division. She also spent five years as chairperson of the Coryell County Child Welfare Board and spent years counseling abuse victims and serving law enforcement as a trauma counselor and consultant (something she still does today). When she moved to Dallas, a family illness caused her to leave a job teaching psychology at Dallas County Community College District to become a freelance writer, but found that a few favors she was doing for friends—writing press releases and setting up book signings—was better suited to her talents and her drives.

In 1998, she founded BreakThrough Promotions, now a national public relations firm helping authors, mostly of mystery novels, publicize themselves and their work. The business is thriving and PJ is excited about the release of her first novel, Angel Killer. PJ lives with her husband some of their five children near Dallas, TX.

Mental Pause, Novel by Anne O'Connell, Launches on March 8th, International Women's Day! Part of the proceeds on launch day will benefit Room to Read

"Abbie opened the freezer, pulled out a loaf of bread and
held it against her cheek. It was such a relief. She grabbed
the eggs and milk from the fridge and began setting the
table. She hadn't slept well and her head was pounding.
It felt as if she was standing in the middle of a 21-gun
salute. How long were these night sweats going to last?
It seemed to be getting worse rather than better...

"What in God's name are you talking about? And I'd
appreciate it if you wouldn't be so patronizing." She
was deperately holding on to her last threat of patience
and the cannons in her head were getting closer and
going off more often. She rubbed her temples and tried
to focus on what he was saying.
"What she really wanted to say was that he was such an
asshole. And, maybe she was trying to kill him. That
would certainly get a reaction out of him. She wasn't a
child. How dare he scold her like that! A hundred
comebacks rolled around n her head but she just
couldn't form the words. She didn't want to fight. They
never usually did...But lately, it didn't take much to make
her want to jump down his throat..."
~~~

Mental Pause

By Anne O'Connell


Ok readers, there I was floating through the first pages of what I though was a Chick-Lit novel. You're right, I don't normally choose from that genre, but I thought, by the title, that it might be fun... After all, we women do know all about the word-behind-the-title, don't we? Well, if not, then you will have an opportunity to learn about important issues while reading this fun novel!

But just as I was settling in, enjoying how Abbie was dealing--Let's just say that the first thing we learn is that she takes food out of the freezer to hold against her body to try to cool off after her night sweats--The book turned into a murder mystery! How Cool Is That?!!! Way to go O'Connell!

Abbie is a loving wife and mother to two great sons who are soon leaving for college. Conrad was a cop and was looking for a promotion. She knew she was lucky because he seemed to be able to keep work separated from home life and he was always loving at home. But now...he wasn't quite sure what had happened to his wife...

"She heard a rustle in the bush just ahead and
stopped dead in her tracks. A man in a trench
coat and cap pulled down low over his eyes stepped
out. Abbie gripped the pepper stray tighter as he
approached. Oh my God... he's going to flash me!
What an asshole! A wave of anger overtook her as
she lunged towards him and sprayed him full in
the face. Abbie's foot hit a slippery spot and her
slide, continuing her forward momentum. She
unavoidably body-slammed him and tackled him
to the ground. He screamed. His hands flew to his
eyes as she came down on top of him.
"Petrified, Abbie pushed herself away as her
attacker's arms flapped around his face, his
unseeing eyes becoming beat red from the
spray. She scrambled to her feet, her anger
melting into fear that he would retaliate. She
turned and ran as fast as she could to the safety
of her own back yard before he could regain his
sight...
"...she couldn't tell Conrad what had happened.
He would go ape-shit and all protective and
'cop-like' on her and run after the guy. Then
he would lecture her on how she really
shouldn't have gone out on her own..."
~~~

I know it is not funny when a woman is experiencing it, but, you got to admit when you read what it results in...well, it just IS... You know that often we think about saying what we are really thinking about any given situation... Well, Abbie's husband and sons were getting the brunt of a lot of that feedback that they usually didn't hear. Of course, they looked at their mother strangely and then with puzzlement to each other...

Which only made Abbie that much more irritated and angry!

Fortunately, her best friend was somebody that she could talk to about what she was experiencing. But when she found out that she was also going through it, she was shocked, because she always seemed so calm. However, she learned that she was taking medication. Abbie was opposed to taking any medication that she felt she did not need. She'd decided she'd just make it through it all: irritation, anger, pain, night sweats, and lots more that each individual woman could name for herself, because we are all different, right?!

It was the night sweats, which often resulted in her taking a walk in the middle of the night, that helped get her in trouble...

Rachel was her best friend so she started telling her, for instance, about the fry pan and the dead dog... Yes, Abbie did it...

But one day when she went to visit, Joan was there. Joan and Rachel were both members of a support group for recently divorced... Joanie immediately gave Abbie the impression that she was attracted to her. And, indeed, Joanie had divorced her husband once she had finally admitted to herself that she wanted to be with women...and so she had already started...And Abbie realized that she was just one of them...

They enjoyed each other as friends, however, and Joan even called Abbie for lunch one day without Rachel. But one night they all went out to dance to have a girls night out. Drinking was, of course, part of the deal and Abbie soon was not worrying about how she was feeling--in fact, she was feeling fine! So fine, that when Joan pulled her into the restroom and offered her drugs, Abbie took it...

It happened that night! Rachel decided to head home alone...Joan and Abbie wound up at a hotel and Abbie woke the next morning, not knowing where she was or what had happened! She did remember who she had been with and thought that it was Joan who was in the bathroom...

Abbie gathered up her clothes and got out of there!

Only to learn that Joanie had been murdered that very night...

Yep, and she was arrested on three counts of...murder...count them...

O'Connell, in launching her book on Women's International Day, is recognizing women, spotlighting and sharing one of the most important changes in her life, gets into women to women relationships, medication issues, family life, as well as a hell of a great mystery! I personally think she's done a great job in celebrating women! Don't you?

My recommendation: Get it!


GABixlerReviews

About the Author

Author and freelance writer, Anne O'Connell, has been an expat since 1993 when she and her husband escaped the cold of Toronto, Canada and moved to Fort Lauderdale, Florida. They enjoyed the sun and sand for 14 years, while she worked in the PR field, and then decided it was time for a new adventure. Heading for even more sun and sand, they moved to Dubai and then on to Thailand. Anne has been working as a freelance copywriter,
writing coach and consultant since 2007, specializing in social media, marketing, corporate communications and public relations.

Anne grew up in Halifax, Nova Scotia and has a bachelor of public relations from Mount St. Vincent University. Mental Pause is her first novel. Check out her site: www.anne-oconnell.com... Twitter @annethewriter.