Tag Archives: biography

ALL THE COLORS INSIDE ME by Diane M. Walker (Book Review)

Has Diane M. Walker found her true love after two failed abusive marriages? Her personal journey within reflects the humor, illness, substance abuse, jail, depression, death, the demise of her career and her spiritual faith.

Through all of the trials and tribulations, Diane finds an inner strength that not only pulls her through but also finds unconditional love and forgiveness for her life partner and best friend, John.

She shares stories of her strength and how she was able to overcome some of the heart-wrenching and horrific experiences in her life.

 
 
 
(review request submitted by the author for an honest critique) 
 
I can’t even fathom living through everything Diane’s endured. Below is a sneak peek of a few life-altering events in her life. I’m only going to list my top three picks and then discuss them. For more on her life, you’ll have to purchase the book.

Ok, here goes.

1.) Two abusive ex-husbands: No one wants to be the victim of an abusive relationship, yet alone two. One such relationship would break most people’s spirit. Two: It would difficult not to shut down and withdraw within thyself. To find the strength to get up in the morning is no easy feat but she does it. BRAVO!

2.) Death of two parents: I’ve lost two dads so I can relate to the pain and don’t wish that on anyone.

3.) Jail time: Diane and John’s legal trouble took it’s toll on their lives emotionally, physically and financially. Through it all, they stood by each other. They weren’t married, but it was hard to tell because they still honored the vows, “for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and health, until death do us part.”

Besides the doom of gloom, there were happy moments. One example springs to mind: the Christmas tree incident. John had the brilliant and funny idea of placing “tree” air freshener inside the artificial branches to create the illusion of a real tree.

That man really would do anything for his one true love.

To find out what else he’s done for her over the years, you’ll have to read the book.

 

Heart Rating System – 1 (lowest) and 5 (highest) 
Score:

❤❤❤❤

 
PURCHASE LINK: 
PAPERBACK / KINDLE / BLACK ROSE WRITING /
 
 
 

Diane Walker is a Trenton NJ native. Having developed a love for literature at an early age, she began writing poetry and short stories.

After failed marriages and losing the love of her life through death, she chose to write her story at the age of 59.

Diane sincerely hopes her story empowers others to remain steadfast in their strength, belief in their Higher Power and know, no matter what the circumstances, they too can overcome obstacles and challenges in their life.

Her professional background is in Sales, Marketing and Residential Property Management.

Diane is presently single with one adult daughter and two granddaughters.

She now lives a basic and somewhat secluded life in Northeast Pennsylvania.

 

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Nazis and Nudists by David Haldane (Book Review)

 
 



The real baby boomer story laid bare.

Ever wondered what it’s like to get so lost in the nether regions of an era that you can barely find your way home? A ward – winning journalist David Haldane tells you with verve and humor in his new memoir, Nazis & Nudists, set for release on October 1st , by Black Rose Writing. The book is aimed at baby boomers, would – be counter culturists, news reporters, their audiences, history buffs and anyone who’s ever struggled toward the light or appreciates the gripping tale of someone who does.

Haldane eventually achieved salvation the way increasing numbers of American men do these days; by finding love via the Internet on a distant and exotic Philippine island. En route to marital bliss, however, he traversed some rocky terrain from the cluttered newsroom of the Berkeley BARB to the disintegrating halls of the Los Angeles Times in its waning days. He also encountered such iconic purveyors of the time as a grandfatherly Walt Disney, a young bodybuilding Arnold Schwarzenegger, Charles Manson’s lawyer who got murder ed for his troubles, Timothy and Joanna Leary at the gates of hell, a famous beatnik’s ghost on the railroad tracks, American terrorists with stolen identities fixing to take down the country and Bernie Sanders as a young mop – haired politician cursing at t his own image on the screen.

“The story follows the arc of an era,” Haldane says. “ It will interest baby boomers, their younger siblings who wished they were there and their children and grandchildren who are glad that they weren’t.”

 

Purchase this book at Black Rose WritingAmazon or Barnes & Noble.

 

 
(request submitted by author for an honest critique) 
 
David sure has lived an eventful life and it’s not over yet. I wonder what other adventures are in store for him. So far, he has traveled all over the world (ex. Germany, Mexico, Greece and Philippines). He’s met the most interesting people (ex. Walt Disney and Arnold Schwarzenegger). He’s also participated in antiwar demonstrations, worked at The LA Times, and been married more than once. Folks, that’s not everything he’s lived through. 
 
Compared to his life, mine seems rather low key which is mighty fine in my book. 
 
Ladies and gents, if you like biographies/memoirs, then pick up Nazis and Nudists. If nothing else, it’ll be a great conversation starter when your friends ask what you are reading. I mean, who could pass up asking follow-up questions after hearing this title. 🙂
 
Heart Rating System – 1 (lowest) and 5 (highest) 
Score: ❤❤❤
 

Purchase this book at Black Rose WritingAmazon or Barnes & Noble.

 
 

David Haldane’s career in journalism has spanned more than four decades, beginning as an underground reporter for the Berkeley BARB and culminating in twenty – three years as a Los Angeles Times staff writer. Currently he live s in Joshua Tree, California , where he writes magazine articles and books. His work has appeared in many publications worldwide including Los Angeles Times Magazine , Orange Coast , Islands , Penthouse and Salon . It has been anthologized in two previous books.

 

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Author Showcase and Review of “From a Soldier’s Perspective” – Michael Lee Womack

Website: www.womackpoetry.com
Twitter: @WomackPoetry
Facebook: www.facebook.com/AuthorMichaelLeeWomack
 

On the seventeenth day of February 1987, author and poet Michael Lee Womack was born in the small town of Sanford, North Carolina. While coming up through elementary school, middle school, and high school Mr. Womack was extremely shy. Michael Lee Womack was extremely shy, but he had a love for the ladies. His love for the ladies would eventually give birth to his love for poetry. Whenever he was in middle school and high school he was specifically known for writing poems for every beautiful woman that he was too shy to speak to. 

 
In the summer of 2005, North Carolina Author& Poet “Michael Lee Womack” graduated from”Lee Senior High School”. Approximately one month later from reaching this landmark in his life, this young man became a part of something bigger than anything that he had ever been a part of at this time of his life, the “United States Army”. He enlisted into the United States Army on the 30th of June 2005. From there, he would embark on a journey unlike any other. He attended One Station Unit Training at Fort Knox, Kentucky so that he could serve his country as a 19 Delta Cavalry Scout. 
 
Upon the completion of his training at Fort Knox, Kentucky the United States Army assigned him to the 3rd Squadron, 4th U.S. Cavalry Regiment of the 25th Infantry Division. In the years of 2006- 2007 he would deploy as a “Calvary Scout” with 3rd Squadron 4th U.S. Calvary Regiment located out of the Pacific Island of “Hawaii,”. 
 
In the year of 2008 this hard working soldier was ready to move on to another duty station. His next landing spot in the army would once again be Fort Knox, Kentucky. While there he would spend the next year of his life in the 1st Squadron, 16th U.S. Cavalry working as the OPFOR that assisted in the training of freshly new army lieutenants. After spending the first three years of his army career serving honorably as a “Calvary Scout” this trooper sought to learn another skill. 
 
The great southern state of “Georgia” would soon be his next home as he continued his journey onto the home of the “United States Army Signal Corps” , also known as “Fort Gordon”. It would be there in which he would learn the skills required to be a “25 Sierra” “Satellite Communication Systems Operator/Maintainer”. 
 
After obtaining the knowledge required to carry out the duties of his new occupation he would continue to “soldier on” to “Fort Stewart, Georgia” home of the 3rd Infantry Division. As soon as he made way to his new Army family, “Charlie Company 4-3 BSTB” he deployed with them to Ramadi, Iraq in support of “Operation New Dawn” from the summer of 2010 to the summer of 2011. 
 
Three years after that he would see his army career come to a close, and on the 27th of May 2014 he was medically retired from the military. Upon his departure from the military Mr. Womack would have problems adjusting to civilian life, however, his first love, a.k.a. “poetry” saved him. Through your reading of his newest published book, “From A Soldier’s Perspective” he hopes that you gain much insight from it on what life was like for him as a soldier, as well as what life has been like for him as a veteran.
 
 
 
 
 
As soldiers who have just returned from war, we fight a separate war daily in an attempt to leave the war behind. Many soldiers, just like myself, come home from war only to fight a separate internal battle, with debilitating illnesses such as post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression. It was important for me to share my story not only for myself but for those who have fought, for those who have fallen, and for those who continue to wage war in order for the United States of America to continue to remain free. The price of freedom is not free. 

War is chaos, and many soldiers bear the scars from it for the rest of our lives.
 

 
images-17
 (review request submitted by the author for an honest critique) 

 
Unless you walked a mile in a soldier’s shoes, you can’t fully understand what their time deployed has done to their psyche and bodies. Yes, family and friends live with the aftermath right alongside them. However, loved ones can’t fully understand what’s going on in the soldier’s mind. The battles they still face well after their time of war is over. 
 
I have no doubt Michael’s poetry will have you appreciating a soldier’s job a bit more. 
 
I simply couldn’t pick a favorite poem. For me, they all were touching — so many emotions pouring from his heart/mind into ours. 
 
Thank you, Michael. Thank you for opening up to us, letting us in, and sharing your time over there and civilian life will us. 
 
My only negative point to address (which I brought up to him) was the pricing of the paperback/hardcover. He stated he had no control over it. I highly suggest reading this but, for those who are watching their wallets, I would opt for the kindle version. 
 
 
Heart Rating System:
1 (lowest) and 5 (highest) 
Score: ❤❤❤❤
 
 
 
 PURCHASE LINKS:

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