#Reading | Books To Read As We Embrace 2023

 

NYT - Best Books of 2022 

The Universe Has Your Back

Credit: The Universe Has Your Back

Overview

In her book, The Universe Has Your Back,New York Times best-selling author Gabrielle Bernstein teaches readers how to transform their fear into faith in order to live a divinely guided life. Each story and lesson in the book guides readers to release the blocks to what they most long for: happiness, security and clear direction. The lessons help readers relinquish the need to control so they can relax into a sense of certainty and freedom. Readers will learn to stop chasing life and truly live. Making the shift from fear to faith will give readers a sense of power in a world that all too often makes them feel utterly powerless. When the tragedies of the world seem overwhelming, this book will help guide them back to their true power.

Gabrielle says, “My commitment with this book is to wake up as many people as possible to their connection to faith and joy. In that connection, we can be guided to our true purpose: to be love and spread love. These words can no longer be cute buzz phrases that we merely post on social media. Rather, these words must be our mission. The happiness, safety, and security we long for lies in our commitment to love.” When readers follow this path, they’ll begin to feel a swell of energy move through them. They will find strength when they are down, synchronicity and support when they’re lost, safety in the face of uncertainty, and joy when they are otherwise in pain. Follow the secrets revealed in this book to unleash the presence of your power and know always that The Universe Has Your Back. Credit: The Universe Has Your Back

Meet the Author

Gabrielle Bernstein is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Universe Has Your Back, Super Attractor and has written six additional bestsellers including her latest book, Super Attractor. Gabrielle was featured on Oprah’s SuperSoul Sunday as a “next-generation thought leader,” and The Oprah Winfrey Network chose Gabby to be part of the “SuperSoul 100,” a dynamic group of 100 trailblazers whose vision and life’s work are bringing a higher level of consciousness to the world. The New York Times identified her as “a new role model.” Credit: Gabrielle Bernstein.

The People We Keep

 

Credit: The People We Keep

Overview

Little River, New York, 1994: April Sawicki is living in a motorless motorhome that her father won in a poker game. Failing out of school, picking up shifts at a local diner, she’s left fending for herself in a town where she’s never quite felt at home. When she “borrows” her neighbor’s car to perform at an open mic night, she realizes her life could be much bigger than where she came from. After a fight with her dad, April packs her stuff and leaves for good, setting off on a journey to find a life that’s all hers. Driving without a chosen destination, she stops to rest in Ithaca. Her only plan is to survive, but as she looks for work, she finds a kindred sense of belonging at Cafe Decadence, the local coffee shop. Still, somehow, it doesn’t make sense to her that life could be this easy. The more she falls in love with her friends in Ithaca, the more she can’t shake the feeling that she’ll hurt them the way she’s been hurt. As April moves through the world, meeting people who feel like home, she chronicles her life in the songs she writes and discovers that where she came from doesn’t dictate who she has to be. Credit: The People We Keep.

Meet the Author - Allison Larkin

Allison Larkin is the internationally bestselling author of the novels Stay, Why Can’t I Be You, and Swimming for Sunlight. Her short fiction has been published in the Summerset Review and Slice, and nonfiction in the anthologies, I’m Not the Biggest Bitch in This Relationship and Author in Progress. She lives in the San Francisco Bay Area, with her husband, Jeremy, and their fearful, faithful German Shepherd, Stella. Credit: Allison Larkin.

Kiss My Boots by Jennifer Learmont

 

Credit: Jennifer Learmont

Jennifer, Welcome to Authors by Sasha. Kiss My Boots is a memoir described as provocative & steamy reflecting your adventures in the 80's and 90's in Hollywood. What made you decide it was the right time to pen a memoir? 

​I wasn't sure what the right time was to write this memoir, but it started out with my ex-husband writing his own.  I am in a couple of his chapters which didn't shine a great light on me;  it didn't explain where I came from, or where I ended up or why his story unfolded the way it did. He contacted me in 2017 and I worked with him for a couple of years, doing some research.  Then I thought I should write my story from a girl’s point of view.

I was tired of hiding my past;  people would ask me questions and my answers just provoked more questions, so I decided to just put it all out there.  It started out as a journal for my family, but it just took its own journey into a book.  I thought, “take me or leave me but here is the story.”

What was your backstory prior to embarking upon a three month journey to the United States that resulted in a twenty year tenure in the country? 

​My back story was from a very dysfunctional childhood, which I thought was a good segue into why I did what I did, and the choices that I made.  I couldn't wait to go to the USA;  I loved everything about it - the music, the entertainment industry, Tinseltown.  It was very intriguing to me as a young girl;  it was where all my heroes were from.

Adhering to no rules comes with risk. What were you trying to accomplish by abolishing all constraints which could affect your growth and success at a young age?   

Really, I didn't even think of what “no rules” or “no limits” were.  It wasn't a plan;  it was just the way I was, my makeup.  I was a free spirit and I had no plans.  I have to say that time of my life was a time that I lived purely in the moment, not thinking of consequences at all but just living.  It was so exciting;  it was pure freedom.  I’m really glad I got to that; it’s rare. 

What is the greatest risk you’ve taken in life that has paid off?

All the risks that I have taken, whether it be with criminals or being a Domme, paid off because I have an incredible story to tell.  The adventures that I lived in were unique.  I have amazing friends to this day from that life whether it be ex-clients, girls I've worked with or just all the colorful characters I met along the way.  I've always lived life to the fullest and wanted to experience everything, so to me that life paid off in that way. 

Jennifer, what was the younger version of yourself seeking from life and how have your life experiences evolved for what you’re seeking today?

I had a childhood of neglect, no security, going to so many schools, never staying in one place for very long, always being a new kid at school.  I think I was seeking to belong and maybe that's why I experienced everything that was thrown at me, to fit in. Don’t get me wrong;  I was wild and had so much fun seeking all this.

​I have learnt a lot.  Today I'm seeking the opposite: pure health and peace of mind.  I'm also very careful of who I choose to spend time with, but I think I'm still seeking security in some sort of way. 

Having lived the sex, drugs and rock n’ roll lifestyle, what surprised you the most about the celebrity lifestyle?   

Well, as the old cliché goes, celebrities are no different than everybody else;  they still have the same insecurities.  Still, it did surprise me, the sheer decadence and wealth of some of these people, especially with me coming from a poor background. 

What is the greatest misconception about Hollywood?

Well, everybody goes to Hollywood thinking it's this amazing place where your dreams may come true, but in reality it's very dangerous.  It's very dark and it's very sad.  Everybody has stars in their eyes but it's also very hard to avoid substance abuse, especially if it's not going so well.  It's a bad place to just go to without knowing anyone because you’re basically a sitting duck. Having said that, I had some of the best times of my life, saw and heard some of the best music and met some of the best people.  Hollywood's a funny place; it's bright and dark, comic and tragic.  Everywhere has that but in Hollywood it's magnified millions of times.

Credit: Kiss My Boots

Among your adventures referenced in your memoir Kiss My Boots, you’ve also worked as a dominatrix for fourteen years. How were you introduced to the exciting and exotic world of dominatrix prior to becoming a professional in the field?

How I became a Domme was simply that I had met a girl at the gym that thought I was perfect for a Domme:  I was beautiful with a strong personality.  I also needed a job.  I built up the courage to go in and have an interview, and the rest is history. 

Dominatrix represents a woman who physically and / or psychologically dominates her partner in sadomasochistic encounters. It's considered a healthy channel of sexual exploration.   What appealed to you about this lifestyle?  

So to be clear, being a professional Domme does not involve physical sex;  it’s all mind play.  To be a good Domme you have to have tons of empathy and compassion, even be a therapist to these men.  A lot of professional Dommes don’t live the lifestyle out of work.

I feel the job as a Domme filled a very important need for these people.  Where would they go and what would they do without it??  It’s a serious need for many.

What appealed to me with this job was that I met some of the most amazing people, and I was attracted to how bizarre it all was.  I liked seeing the grey side of life and the parts of people that nobody sees;  to me that's very interesting, and that's exactly what you see in this job.  These clients confided in us so deeply, I'm sure they told us things that nobody else on the planet knew about them. Believe me, there was a lot of humor in this job, too;  it could be incredibly funny.

I have definitely learned that you can't judge a book by its cover, some of the most powerful men have some of the darkest fetishes. I did learn that most of these fetishes and needs came from early childhood. I learned to practice the art of non-judgement;  everyone is just trying to get along in this world and some needs of this kind help them.  I've always had a big heart and a lot of compassion, and I became stronger with this job;  I really appreciate it. 

There are many channels present for one to connect with their higher source. How were you introduced to the Interdenominational Church and its activities which also included a gospel choir? 

I was doing a lot of cocaine and one of my clients who was a reformed drunk suggested I come with him to this church called The Sanctuary.  It was right up my alley; there were celebrities, there were rock stars, and there was amazing music.  Everyone was really healthy, and when I heard the gospel choir that was it for me!  Of course, I didn't get involved in the choir right away because I had to pay my dues and attend for a while. Music was in my blood;  all my family were musicians, so I really felt that I  belonged there.​

All the people that went there were musicians, artists or actors;  so many celebrities there.

I couldn't believe how healthy everyone was and when I found out they were into power yoga, they showed me a new way of living which was life-changing.

Labeled as a self-proclaimed fearless child, did you ever encounter fear while living the highs and lows of the American lifestyle? 

Yes, I did encounter fear, but I think I processed it differently than most people.  I was resilient and strong, so I just brushed myself off and kept going.  I never ever felt like I was a victim.  I still have the fearless child in me but I'm a lot more responsible now.  It's different when you're living a healthy clean life;  you make good choices and choose your friends very carefully.

Everyone perceives fear to be different. In your opinion, what is the opposite of fear?

The opposite of fear is living a life without crazy experiences, as the old saying goes;  your life begins at the end of your comfort zone, and that includes fear. 

The memoir Kiss My Boots also presents a survival story. Keeping secrets can be considered a survival skill. Secrets can also be dangerous. What impact did living a secretive life have on your health, heart and sanity? 

Keeping my life secret, I thought, was for survival but it was very damaging.  I felt no one ever really knew me, and how could they?  They definitely didn't understand me because my whole life was a façade.  It was not real and it was a lie, what I told my family and friends was a made-up story.  I wasn't sure what they would think of me.

Every person responds differently when existing outside of their comfort zone. Did you ever encounter homesickness when away from Australia?

I didn't get homesick for Australia so much, but I missed my family a lot.  Once in a while I'd wake up in a panic, wondering “what am I still doing in the US,” but it just kept me hooked and I couldn't seem to leave. 

The book Kiss My Boots has been nominated for Indie Book Awards (Non-Fiction), NSW Premier's Literary Awards (Non-Fiction & New Writing) and Queensland Literary Awards (Non-Fiction).  How would you describe your writing experience from the point of conceptualizing the book to launching it in the market?

My writing experience so far has been mainly cathartic, purging deep things inside me that I have kept bottled up for so long.  Offloading those experiences and putting them on paper make me feel light and free. I had never written anything before or even trained in the art of writing, but I just knew I had to get this down on paper.  I think I did a good job.

What part of the writing process did you enjoy the most when penning Kiss My Boots?

It isn't easy launching your book onto the market.  The whole process takes years with a lot of rejection.  In the end I put it down on paper and no more have to lie.

Were there any parts of the book that were challenging to write?  

I enjoyed the way the words just flowed out of me.  I don't even know where it came from;  it just came out. The pure freedom of it all! I laughed and I cried writing this book;  it was fun and it was a great experience. 

Can you kindly share two writing tips that can benefit new and seasoned writers? 

I think the best tip is to really put out the nitty gritty and don’t hold back.  I think people like the messy side of life.  Be humble and honest, no matter how hard it is to expose yourself, especially if it's a memoir. 

While growing up, what type of literature did you enjoy reading?  

I have to say I didn't get a chance to read a lot because of my unstable upbringing and going to so many different schools.  I did enjoy English and I was into reading a lot of the old classics, which I loved. 

Is there a book that you enjoy reading which you wished you had written?

Catcher in the Rye. 

Jennifer, as a proud Australian, how is the American social culture different from the Australian lifestyle?  

I never thought that Australia and the USA were that much different.  I don't think I ever had a huge culture shock except for the fact that everything's tenfold in America;  it's like Australia in the future.  It's a lot easier in Australia;  the quality of life is a lot better.  

Are there any new hobbies, or endeavors you’ve embarked upon since your return to Australia?

My hobbies now are still yoga.  I'm a marriage celebrant.  I love reading, being really healthy, friends, food, gym, writing and music. 

What exciting new projects are you working on that audiences should keep an eye on?

I'm just about to start a second edition which will start in Hollywood and do a deep dive into all these characters, and especially the Domme world.  

Please share with readers how they can support your work. 

Please follow me on Instagram at jennifer_learmont and also at Shawline Publishing, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Goodreads.

Holy Parrot by Angel A

Angel A Joins Sasha in Conversation to Discuss His Latest Book 'HOLY PARROT'. 

Credit: Holy Parrot by Angel A

Overview

Award-winning Australian author and filmmaker, Angel A, releases his second novel 'Holy Parrot'. HOLY PARROT is an innovative novel catering to the emerging millennium that offers new mythology and pioneering solutions to combat suffering. It is a tale that presents an emerging mythology for the emerging Age of Aquarius. The story seeks to bridge the gap between scientific method and spirituality. It also seeks to create religious syncretism - a coming together of religions under a common faith. The book welcomes scientific and curious minds wanting to explore matters and behavior of faith, including people of faith who are curious to learn about potential means to level up in their spiritual journey. After winning a writing competition at age 17, Angel A said, "to awaken the collective conscience, we must awaken each and every soul to their unique path. Each individual is required to transcend their own inhibitions, dramas and self-limiting narratives." These stories represent different examples of such awakenings. Angel A has eight more stories to write which are at various stages of development. Pertaining HOLY PARROT, Angel A continues to share, "mental health is a primary health concern in the modern era. Reflective review of our self-limiting beliefs may be an aspect of the resolution of this problem. The novel offers specific strategies related to this topic.To reveal them here would be a spoiler." Credit: Angel A; AngelsLeap. 

His literary awards for his prior works include the following: 

2017 Foreword Reviews Indies Book of the Year Award Finalist 

2018 American Fiction Awards Winner

2018 Best Book Awards Winner

2018 NYC Big Book Award Winner

2018 International Book of the Year Finalist

2018 Paris Book Festival Runner-Up

2018 Readers' Favorite Finalist

2018 Independent Author Network Book of the Year Finalist

2018 London Book Festival Honorable Mention

2018 Book Viral Millennium Book Awards Long List

2018 New Apple Book Awards Official Selection

2018 Body, Mind, Spirit Book awards Winner

2019 Independent Press Award Winner

2019 New York Book Festival Winner

Meet the Author - Adam Mackey

Credit: Adam Mackey (Angel A)

The Fog Always Lifts

Credit: Sasha Laghonh

Excerpt from "Fog" penned by Sasha Laghonh

Life can be challenging as we drive through the fog in the rain, we struggle for visibility when mother nature clouds our view. Similarly, the everyday emotions and biases we breathe in and out thrive as fog which hinder our ability to truly see life for what it is ... at face value. We can't control mother nature although we can control how we approach life matters.

It may take a chance encounter, or a monumental event for our heart's compass to start pointing North. When we resist the flow of life, it will reflect circumstances that become more challenging to resolve because our human egos (or perhaps naivety) lead us to believe the divine compass is absent, or even broken in our lives. The divine compass is not engineered to malfunction.

It's 'divine' after all, right?

The truth is we humans fail to make an effort to learn how the compass works. Perhaps some people know how to work a compass but they choose to side with impatience by taking matters into their own hands without consulting with their higher power. 

Life works in mysterious ways. 

A stranger can come into your path to deliver a message but you discount their presence because your divine compass is absent. You fail to read the situation well because you have lost sight of who you are and therefore everything in your reality becomes a blur. What you thought was real was only a mirage. What you thought was a hoax turns out to be real. It comes down to your beliefs. When you're ready to believe in something greater than yourself, the answers will appear clear before you.

Buckle up. Now turn on your windshield wipers and drive to your destination. 

The Myth of Normal by Dr. Gabor Maté

 

Credit: the Myth of Normal

Overview

In the Myth of Normal, renowned physician Gabor Maté eloquently dissects how Western countries that pride themselves on their healthcare systems are actually seeing an upsurge in chronic illness and general ill health. Prescription drug usage, high blood pressure, mental illness, and so many other troubling issues are on the rise. Dr. Gabor Maté is A renowned speaker, and bestselling author highly sought after for his expertise on a range of topics including addiction, stress and childhood development.Credit: Dr. Gabor Maté

Faith Still Moves Mountains

 

Credit: Faith Still Moves Mountains

Overview

We need reminders of God’s power now more than ever. We often think about prayer as a wish list, with God as Santa Claus. The reality is that the power of prayer reminds us not only how small we are, but also how big God is. Prayer is hope put into action. And prayer works. From the aftermath of the devastating earthquake in Haiti to the theater shooting in Aurora, Colorado, believers testify to how God inspired hope even when all seemed lost. Two teenagers who were saved from treacherous seas by a vessel named Amen now give thanks for the rescue that changed their lives. A woman’s near-death experience with COVID-19 turned out to be the crisis freeing her from despair. Others speak to how prayer helped them navigate family trauma, overcome abuse, and cope with mental illness and depression. Historical accounts of miracles testify to God’s power throughout time, and Faulkner recounts the role of faith and prayer in her own life and the life of her father. Credit: Premier Collectibles; read more here.

Credit: Harris Faulkner

Meet the Author

Harris Faulkner is a Six-time Emmy award-winning anchor and nationally bestselling author of 9 Rules of Engagement: A Military Brats Guide to Life and Success. Faulkner joined FOX News Channel in 2005 and currently anchors two daily daytime programs The Faulkner Focus and serves as the co-anchor of Outnumbered. Outside of her work as a journalist, Faulkner is a motivational speaker, writer, and philanthropist. 

Cindy Di Xin Discusses Filmmaking & Emotions

 

Credit: Cindy Di Xin, Filmmaker

Cindy, can you share with us how you were introduced to the art of filmmaking?

Mine was really simple. Things that inspired me were my own experience and loneliness. I am the only one who has experienced all of the dramatic moments, then I started to feel lonely in my life. I tried to share with my friends by telling them, but I couldn’t bring them into my scenario and feelings. After I studied communication in my undergrad, I got to know about visual arts. I started to shape my and other people’s story with motion pictures and sounds, then I met the charm of filmmaking.

There are many modes of storytelling which include writing, photography, still art, etc. What makes filmmaking to be a powerful tool for communicating stories about life?

​In my opinion, filmmaking is a combo within writing, photography, music, and other platforms of arts. It combines all the beauties from each of the modes to one thing that can stimulate the audience all at once, which makes the audience explore and get into the motion arts journey as how they experience their own life. This kind of experience is powerful.

As an Alum from the School of Visual Arts in New York, can you please share your academic experience when working on your first degree in directing? From all the specialties to explore in film production, what made you gravitate towards directing?

It was my first time having a chance to get to know filmmaking and what a director is. It was an intense and concentrated program that let you get to know about the filmmaking industry in a professional way. Our professors were super supportive and tried to make you successful in your own artistic way.

I always think directing is the most difficult job in film production, but also it is the most exciting job. I enjoy collecting and supporting each department’s artist to create new things based on their understanding of the story. The director also has a role to make sure everything is on the same page and have good communication. I love to be a listener to my crew and help them solve all of the problems. The director is the person who gives the direction, and also is the person who tries to collect all of the outcomes from each department towards the final destination. For instance, I love working with actors and their performances always give me so many inspirations to leverage in my work and life.

What is your directorial style? How does it differ from other directors in how they approach their craft of storytelling?

I don’t know if that is my unique way or not. Hahahah! Instead of just giving my actors instructions, I always want to hear more from them. I enjoy making a connection between the actors’ real-life experiences and the characters in the movies, then letting them use that relationship to improvise or come up with something new. Together with the performers, I like constructing the character.

What is one non-negotiable element (or rule) of film making that all directors must adhere to?

Safety is first. Nothing deserves anyone’s life.

Cindy, as a transplant from China, what were your initial impressions of the United States and its people?

Nothing has a right or wrong answer. I remember when I just transferred to an American high school. I was really impressed that everyone was eager to express and share their feelings and opinions. When I was in Chinese school, it was rare to see many students raise their hands up; because we always have a mindset that there is a right answer to each question.

You’ve had the privilege of living in a few states within the United States, how have these experiences shaped your senses in how you narrate your stories before global audiences?

​I’ve lived in lower and upper states on the east and west coasts, and these experiences have made me aware of how backgrounds influence people. Background factors include family, personal experience, weather, and locale. These encounters gave me incredibly beneficial chances to get to know all types of individuals, and they also helped me develop a character for a tale. Furthermore, I discovered that nothing in the world is liked by everyone. However, if you create a story that is authentic to you and plausible, some others will identify with it.

Presently short films are trending in the markets. Why is this trend gaining momentum on different online and offline platforms?

In my opinion, the main cause of this is that people’s lives and jobs are moving much more quickly and intensely than they did in the past, and technology makes it possible for individuals to obtain information more quickly and easily. Because of this, people would rather use or spend less time enjoying or taking a break from their life or between their jobs. The condensed substance of short films is similar to that of other resources that people are using in the present. Because of this, short films are popular in today’s markets.

Cindy, you’ve mentioned “let the story determine how long it lasts”. Is there a rule of thumb you’ve established under which a story can be told in an undefined time frame? If a story runs long in film, do you believe it should be delivered to audiences in one delivery, or should the story be presented in a few movie sequels, i.e. trilogies?

​Based on my experiences, I think character driven stories should be told in an undefined time frame because a character driven film is just like a journey you want to bring your audience on and feel. I do believe some of the stories can be presented in a different chapter or a few sequels. Everything has its own stages. If putting the story into several movie sequels can make the audience have a better understanding or tighter connection, I think we should break the story into pieces. In a movie, telling a story is not only about starting a plot; it’s about using a story’s elements to engage the audience’s hearts and minds.

What type of stories are best told in a short film? Which stories are better aligned to be presented in a long filmmaking format?

A short film should, in my opinion, have a straightforward, simple plot or setup with dramatic twists so that the audience may be hooked quickly.

It would be more of a character-driven or character’s journey film for a long film format. Additionally, a story that is based on the creation of a new universe or a new society should be presented in the form of a lengthy film.

As the recipient of the International Independent Film Awards and Tokyo Film Awards, what was your reaction when learning that your work is raising awareness on the global stage?

​First, I am so grateful and happy that my work has been seen and connected with other people. Second, these awards encourage me to believe in my own works and give me more confidence in my creations. Additionally, they demonstrate to me that a well-developed story may be tied to and connected to a larger world than just the close surroundings.

The movie VOICELESS is a true story which explores complicated emotions involving a student who is sexually assaulted by her mentor. The film sheds light on voiceless victims that are granted an opportunity to be seen and heard through this powerful presentation. What was the process like from articulating this true story to recreating the story for an on-screen presentation?

I have talked to people who may or may not have the similar experiences and tried to understand their feelings and their actions. Most of the answers I got are isolation and silence with different kinds of trauma nightmares. In order to make my audience feel all of those feelings in a dramatic way, I created this intense and dramatic action for the character at the end of the film.

When casting characters for your film, how involved are you in the process? Is there a team of professionals conducting auditions for these roles? What type of attributes do you seek when casting actors and actresses in your films?

As all of my films are independent and low-budget filmmaking set up. I am in charge of most of the casting and audition process. I usually look for actors who have a related feeling or story to the story first, then I will try to see what the chemistry between me and the actors is. Lastly, I would love to see how they take my directions to their performances.

As a filmmaker, do you have any auditioning tips for any prospective actors and actresses reading this interview?

Try to dig into your own experiences first before acting, then try to have your own understanding of the story before hearing from the director.

Credit: A day, at the Beach

The movie The day, at the Beach paints a story highlighting the main character’s experience with family separations and reunions. If family is a root for everyone’s life, how has your family influenced your relationship with the world today?

​Based on my own family story and background, I have seen different layers or stages in me and my family relationships. I am always wanting to set myself as an observer of the world. I don’t think everything should have a conclusion, but everything should have attitudes and causes. I try to be open minded to the world and be a listener to the world.

What type of hobbies do you enjoy practicing in your leisure?

I love watching movies for sure, to see how other filmmakers’ job and how they use their ways to shape stories. Other than film, I enjoy both traveling and taking still pictures. I am able to get close to real life, real people, and real stories through travel. Being a still photographer allows me to establish truly undercover intimacy with strangers.

Do you have a favorite filmmaker whose work you admire? How has their personality and portfolio of work influenced your outlook on work?

​Chloe Zhao. She is a delicate and talented filmmaker. I really like how she shapes the story. Her films not only provide us with entertainment, but also take us on a journey with her character.

Cindy, what are the top two qualities that make a good filmmaker?

​Being open minded, and to be a good listener.

Emotions serve as a potent theme in your films. What emotion do you identify the most with and why?

Loneliness. I think it is the most common and the first emotion that people would feel in their life. People also have different reactions and actions to this emotion. Moreover, loneliness is the emotion that is easiest and the most difficult to connect. That is why I am obsessed with loneliness.

Can you share a favorite quote on filmmaking?

“No matter how many WEAPONS you have, no matter how great your TECHNOLOGY might be, the world cannot live without LOVE.” — ‘Castle in the Sky’ 1986 by Miyazaki

I always wanted to talk with other people and get advice when I was first deciding what I wanted to be. I realize that what other people always tell me is that you need this and that kind of skill and equipment to be successful. At first, I tried to implement all of the suggestions made by others, and I realized that I was losing myself and becoming confused about my life and goals. My life revolves around passion and love. I always give my best effort and a kind heart to work and work with people because I enjoy what I do and am grateful to those who are willing to work with me. I believe that love gives meaning to everything.

Please share with audiences how they can support your work.

​People can follow my personal IG account: Cindyxxindi

My film accounts: TDATB_shorfilm, and Voiceless_shortfilm. Thanks!

The Algebra of Happiness

 

Credit: The Algebra of Happiness

Scott Galloway teaches brand strategy at NYU's Stern School of Business, but his most popular lectures deal with life strategy, not business. In the classroom, on his blog, and in YouTube videos garnering millions of views, he regularly offers hard-hitting answers to the big questions: What's the formula for a life well lived? How can you have a meaningful career, not just a lucrative one? Is work/life balance possible? What are the elements of a successful relationship? The Algebra of Happiness: Notes on the Pursuit of Success, Love, and Meaning draws on Professor Galloway's mix of anecdotes and no-BS insight to share hard-won wisdom about life's challenges, along with poignant personal stories. Credit: Excerpt, The Algebra of Happiness.

Advice by Entrepreneur & Author Simon Sinek

 

Celebrating Creators: Filmmaker Cindy Di Xin

 

Credit: Cindy Di Xin

Meet Cindy Di Xin

Cindy Di Xin was born and raised in Nanning Guangxi, China.  At 16 years of age,  she started to study abroad in the United States. During her school years, she lived in Florida, California , Michigan and New York.  She  attended the University of Florida for her bachelor’s degree, School of Visual Arts in New York for her first master’s degree in Directing, and then Chapman University in California for her MFA in Film Production. Currently,  she makes her home in Pasadena, CA, next door to Hollywood.  She plans to submit her films to such film fests as the Berlin International Film Festival, British Independent Film Festival and the Palms Spring International Short Fest.  She is currently working on her first feature film, a family drama, that is based upon her short film The day, at the Beach. Stay tuned for her upcoming interview with Authors by Sasha where she discusses how she approaches her craft of film making to create powerful performances. Learn more by visiting here.

Credit: The day, at the Beach

Zero to One by Peter Thiel

 

Credit: Zero to One

Overview

The great secret of our time is that there are still uncharted frontiers to explore and new inventions to create. In Zero to One, legendary entrepreneur and investor Peter Thiel shows how we can find singular ways to create those new things.  Thiel begins with the contrarian premise that we live in an age of technological stagnation, even if we’re too distracted by shiny mobile devices to notice. Information technology has improved rapidly, but there is no reason why progress should be limited to computers or Silicon Valley. Progress can be achieved in any industry or area of business. It comes from the most important skill that every leader must master: learning to think for yourself.  Doing what someone else already knows how to do takes the world from 1 to n, adding more of something familiar. But when you do something new, you go from 0 to 1. The next Bill Gates will not build an operating system. The next Larry Page or Sergey Brin won’t make a search engine. Tomorrow’s champions will not win by competing ruthlessly in today’s marketplace. They will escape competition altogether, because their businesses will be unique. Credit: Zero to One; Good Reads.

Credit: Peter Thiel, Founders Fund

Meet the Author - Peter Thiel

Peter Thiel is an entrepreneur and investor. He started PayPal in 1998, led it as CEO, and took it public in 2002, defining a new era of fast and secure online commerce. In 2004 he made the first outside investment in Facebook, where he serves as a director. The same year he launched Palantir Technologies, a software company that harnesses computers to empower human analysts in fields like national security and global finance. He has provided early funding for LinkedIn, Yelp, and dozens of successful technology startups, many run by former colleagues who have been dubbed the “PayPal Mafia.” He is a partner at Founders Fund, a Silicon Valley venture capital firm that has funded companies like SpaceX and Airbnb. He started the Thiel Fellowship, which ignited a national debate by encouraging young people to put learning before schooling, and he leads the Thiel Foundation, which works to advance technological progress and long-term thinking about the future. Credit: Amazon

Author Neil Gaiman Shares Writing Insights

 

The Second Mrs. Astor

 

Credit: The Second Mrs. Astor

Overview

Madeleine Talmage Force is just seventeen when she attracts the attention of John Jacob “Jack” Astor. Madeleine is beautiful, intelligent, and solidly upper-class, but the Astors are in a league apart. Jack’s mother was the Mrs. Astor, American royalty and New York’s most formidable socialite. Jack is dashing and industrious—a hero of the Spanish-American war, an inventor, and a canny businessman. Despite their twenty-nine-year age difference, and the scandal of Jack’s recent divorce, Madeleine falls headlong into love—and becomes the press’s favorite target.

On their extended honeymoon in Egypt, the newlyweds finally find a measure of peace from photographers and journalists. Madeleine feels truly alive for the first time—and is happily pregnant. The couple plans to return home in the spring of 1912, aboard an opulent new ocean liner. When the ship hits an iceberg close to midnight on April 14th, there is no immediate panic. The swift, state-of-the-art RMS Titanic seems unsinkable. As Jack helps Madeleine into a lifeboat, he assures her that he’ll see her soon in New York. Learn what happens next here. Credit: The Second Mrs. Astor: A Heartbreaking Historical Novel of the Titanic.

Meet the Author Shana Abe.

Credit: Shana Abe, BiblioLifestyle

#Foodforthought The Unplugged Alpha

Credit: The Unplugged Alpha

Meet the Author

Richard Cooper is an entrepreneur, private equity investor, YouTube content creator, high performance coach & author. Known for cutting through the BS and delivering the cold hard truth on many topics, including financial services, and intersexual dynamics between men and women, to learn more, visit "Entrepreneurs in Cars" on YouTube. Credit: The Unplugged Alpha and Richard Cooper. 

Credit: Richard Cooper

The Miracle Morning by Hal Elrod

 

Credit: The Miracle Morning

Overview

What if you could miraculously wake up tomorrow and any - or every area of your life was transformed? What would be different? Would you be happier? Healthier? More successful? In better shape? Would you have more energy? Less Stress? More Money? Better relationships? Which of your problems would be solved? What if I told you that there is a "not-so-obvious" secret that is guaranteed to transform any - or literally every area of your life, faster than you ever thought possible? What if I told you it would only take 6 minutes a day? Enter The Miracle Morning. What's now being practiced by thousands of people around the world could perhaps be the simplest approach to creating the life you've always wanted. Are you ready? The next chapter of your life - the most extraordinary life you've ever imagined - is about to begin. You deserve an extraordinary life. It's time to wake up to your full potential. Credit: The Miracle Morning

Visit Miracle Morning, the site, to learn more.

Seasteading

Celebrate National Novel Writing Month With Seasteading!

 Learn about the Seasteader Novelists Program.

Audio Book:

Credit: Seasteading

Overview

Two-thirds of our globe is Planet Ocean, not Planet Earth. Imagine a vast new source of sustainable and renewable energy that would also bring more equitable economies. A previously untapped source of farming that could produce significant new sources of nutrition. Future societies where people could choose the communities they want to live in, free from the restrictions of conventional citizenship. This bold vision of our near future as imagined in Seasteading attracted the powerful support of Silicon Valley’s Peter Thiel—and it may be drawing close to reality. Learn more here. 

Credit: Joe Quirk, Author

Meet Joe Quirk

Joe Quirk is President of The Seasteading Institute and co-founder of Blue Frontiers. Joe Quirk is also a science writer, novelist, and memoir ghostwriter, with a national bestseller in each category. He is co-author with Patri Friedman of Seasteading, an Amazon bestseller in the category of marine engineering. Joe leads a team of lawyers, engineers, business leaders, artists, and investors to establish the first floating community with unprecedented political autonomy in the waters of a host nation. Credit: The Seasteading Institute.

Atomic Habits - Start Becoming Better Today

 

Corporate Canaries By Gary Sutton

Credit: Corporate Canaries

Overview

In today's tumultuous business environment, managers want guidance in the form of a timely theme, a unique and memorable metaphor, and outside-the-box thinking. That's precisely what Corporate Canaries delivers. The book features five core chapters revealing five common business hazards, and each lesson is accompanied by a story based on the author's grandfather's work in the coal industry, as well as an applicable "canary warning" for each theme.

Gary Sutton is a retired CEO, inventor and author. His BS is from Iowa State, he's an OPM alumnus of the Harvard Graduate School of Business and took postgrad work at Christ Church, Oxford. Credit: Corporate Canaries.

The Human Sales Factor by Lance Tyson

 

Credit: The Human Sales Factor

Meet The Author

Lance Tyson is a highly successful sales expert and bestselling author with decades of leadership experience as CEO of Tyson Group – an award-winning, top sales training company. Lance has worked with some of the biggest names in sports and entertainment, including the New York Yankees and the Dallas Cowboys. Over the past two decades he has followed his passion for developing strong business leaders and their salespeople by tapping into his natural ability to connect with others and foster an environment for learning and coaching.

Credit: Lance Tyson

His latest bestseller: The Human Sales Factor details how persuasion and influence are no longer soft skills. They are fundamental skills that can help you attract investors, sell products, build brands, inspire teams, and trigger movements. No matter the industry—has never truly been about selling business-to-business (B2B) or business-to-customer (B2C). Selling always has and always will be done human-to-human. The Human Sales Factor outlines the principles, strategies, and tactics needed to succeed. Credit: Tyson - Sales Resources

Meet Gregory Shepard, Serial Entrepreneur & Writer

 

Credit: Gregory Shepard | www.gregoryshepard.com

Gregory Shepard is a 20-year startup veteran, angel investor, author, and serial entrepreneur with 14 liquidity events under his belt in BioTech, TransTech, AdTech, and MarTech industries, two of which were sold as part of a $925M transaction that won 4 private equity awards for transactions between $250M and $1B. Greg has accomplished all of this while existing with 7 neurodivergent conditions including Autism and Dyslexia. As a Forbes Book Author and Contributor, and Forbes Podcast Host, his work has been featured or quoted in publications including Fortune, Entrepreneur, The New York Observer, The DEAL, and Thrive Global. Greg has appeared on TV, Radio, Podcasts, and has been featured as a TEDx and Keynote Speaker at multiple conferences and universities worldwide. Greg is the co-founder of BOSS Capital Partners, the creator of BOSS (Business Operating Support System), an open-source methodology developed to empower entrepreneurs while increasing startup success rate, and the founder of BOSS Startup Science Academy. Using fearless optimism and steadfast determination Greg is using Silicon Valley’s deal-making culture as a vehicle to spread his message of “Altruistic Capitalism” and inject capital into the hands of fearlessly ambitious, creative, and passionate under served entrepreneurs looking to spark positive change in the world. Credit: Gregory Shepard

Credit: Gregory Shepard | gregoryshepard.com

Meet Speaker, Educator & Author Joseph Giampapa

 

Credit: Joseph Giampapa | www.josephgiampapa.com

Meet Joseph Giampapa

A nationally known Speaker and Educator, Joseph Giampapa holds a Masters Degree in communication and affiliations in three countries. He has been named to the Entertainment Industry Council Speakers Bureau's "Roster of Celebrities" with such Board Member notables (past and present) as Frank Sinatra, Tim Conway, Lucille Ball, and Jack Anderson to name a few. He specializes in the areas of "Self-Empowerment", Effective Communication, Self-image and making positive impacts in peoples' lives. 

He was raised in the suburbs of Chicago . By the time he was eighteen, he was working for the Red Cross entertainment service as a "stand-up comedian. Using "family humor" and coming from a family of eleven, he was never at a loss for material. When he was in Europe , he wrote, directed and produced various road shows for our servicemen overseas. Later in the states, as a teacher with a background in Communication and Sociology, he always made sure his students were getting their money's worth. He created high energy projects such as burying a "time capsule" in front of city hall and helped supply a school being built in the Philippines through the Peace Corps. Joe has been labeled a leader in the field of interpersonal communication and maintained a private practice for years, helping individuals "reprogram" their lives for success. He has developed programs for both the corporate and private sectors and has served on and chaired many community boards. He has developed television programs for preschoolers to bolster self-worth and has had White House staff recommend one of his programs with possible implementation in the future.

Joseph holds with the philosophy that everyone was meant to be someone. His own list of titles include: Professor, Playwright, Director, Producer and Lecturer. He is dedicated to helping each of us communicate more effectively. He introduces us to our own personal "tools for life" enabling each of us to empower ourselves to achieve greatness. Credits: Credits: Joseph Giampapa, Joseph Giampapa Books; What I Will I Can