Nick Bunick fought his way up from the poor streets of Boston to living the American Dream. After playing college football and graduating from the University of Florida, Nick became a successful businessman. Then astounding spiritual events occurred in his life that inspired him to write Time for Truth (Hay House September 2010).

Time for Truth reveals how Jesus’ messages of love have been distorted into fear and messages of compassion into messages of guilt. Time for Truth will give you a new and profound understanding of your relationship with God, the spiritual world, the purpose of life, hypnotic regression and how Angels are active in our life.

For example, in our conversation, Nick explains the phenomenon of seeing the numbers 444, what that means and shares a personal anecdote from his life about seeing 444 and its significance. Nick also talked about how he used hypnotic regression to access vivid memories and detailed information from his past.

You can listen to our 25 minute interview by clicking here and then pressing the play button.

For more information on Nick you can visit his Web site at Nickbunick.com. (His Web site has a section specifically devoted for people who have experienced the 444 phenomenon to leave comments).

Time for Truth is available to purchase on Amazon by clicking Here.

Naked in Eden is based on Robin Easton’s life in the ancient Daintree Rainforest of Queensland, Australia. It is the story of a young woman who at the age of twenty-five is dangerously disconnected from life. She walks away from society, leaves the United States, and goes to live with her Aussie husband in the remote Daintree Rainforest of Queensland Australia. Her world was so completely impacted by the ancient rainforest that she was inspired to write Naked in Eden, a true story filled with adventure, animals, and plants.

Living among poisonous snakes, stinging trees, and huge spiders, Easton quickly realized that she had become part of the food chain. If she wanted to stay alive, she had to face her fears and be as acutely aware as the rest of life in the forest. In Naked in Eden, Easton explains that for her, Nature was both teacher and healer.

She says, “In the forest I felt raw and exposed…I couldn’t hide from myself in the same way I’d been able to in the outside world.” She explains that the more we participate with Nature on its own terms, the more we learn and understand its language, the more likely we can move towards the deeper levels of healing, peace, love, balance, and respect.

Naked in Eden raises the following questions.

- Why is the human connection with Nature often so healing?

- Some believe that Nature offers solutions to human problems, and that we just need to learn how to listen and apply. How can people take ownership for improving their health, living conditions and personal fulfillment using materials and lessons found in Nature?

- If we believe that only certain places are sacred — as long as we have a few national parks, wildlife refuges and zoos — will that be enough?

Naked in Eden is available on Amazon if you Click Here

Do you feel stuck in one or more areas of your life? Are you relying on caffeine, antidepressants, anxiety medications or alcohol to manage your stress or well-being? If so, you might be suffering from what author Jonathan Ellerby has identified as “Inspiration Deficit Disorder.” In his new book, “Inspiration Deficit Disorder: The No Pill Prescription to End High Stress, Low Energy and Bad Habits”, he reveals this modern epidemic and offers practical and holistic solutions for regaining your vitality and living your best life.  For example,  Jonathan quotes from his mentor Wanagi Wachi and explains,

“There is something within you that is greater than anything that was ever said or done to you.  As soon as you remember that, then you are not the hurt, stress, chaos or confusion of your life – these are only feelings and passing experiences.  They are not you.  When you know that, there’s hope.  Knowing you are a spirit (energy and essence) is enough to give you the space you need to examine your life and seek a deeper experience.”

“An inspiration deficit occurs whenever we feel unfulfilled or somehow unexpressed in an important area of life – something is missing; a job we don’t like, a struggle with self image, a relationship we aren’t satisfied with, are all examples of where we may feel an inspiration deficit. When we let these deficits persist into addictions, bad habits, poor health, and high stress – sadly most people have it to some degree and it impacts their health and happiness more than they know,” shares Ellerby.

In “Inspiration Deficit Disorder,” Ellerby offers a roadmap back to your “essential” self. He encourages readers to listen to their inner spirit and ask “Is there more to who I am?”…”Is there more I have to share with the world?”

“Inspiration Deficit Disorder” is available on Amazon if you Click Here

In a Heartbeat: Sharing the Power of Cheerful Giving by Leigh Anne and Sean Tuohy with Sally Jenkins (Henry Holt, July 13, 2010) takes readers on an extraordinary journey of faith and love and shares unforgettable lessons about the power of giving. The Tuohys’ deeply inspiring memoir offers readers a detailed picture of a family that makes giving a way of life, the huge blessings that decision has brought to them, and the ways we can all make a difference in our own communities.

Below is Q & A with Sean and Leigh Anne Tuohy Authors of In a Heartbeat: Sharing the Power of Cheerful Giving

Q: Besides dominating the New York Times bestseller list, The Blind Side has also broken Hollywood records. Why do you think your family’s story has captivated so many people?

A: We think people love the story because they recognize some aspect of themselves there. We want to be the kind of people who really make a difference in the world, but so many people are convinced they don’t have the resources to be that kind of giver. We wrote In a Heartbeat to share our story in our own words precisely so that people will begin to realize that they can be the kind of people who help change someone’s life.

Q: Let’s talk about the problem of homeless and needy children in America. How do you believe this problem can be solved?

A: There are a lot of intractable problems in the U.S., from terrorism to health care. But the problem of children in need is curable; we can all do something about it today, individually, through the smallest acts. If every church in the U.S. sponsored one child, we could wipe out the problem of homeless children in this country. There are a million Michaels. Not every kid has the potential to become a star player in the NFL, but he or she may be the person who grows up to cure cancer, or becomes a great husband or wife to someone.

Q: How do you respond when people marvel at the risks you took as you brought Michael Oher into your family?

A: You know, you take a risk every day of your life. When you get in your car and drive across a bridge you take a risk. You don’t know if your tires are good, or if the pilings are going to hold, or if the bridge will fall in. But you don’t really stop and think about it, do you? You don’t get up every morning and kick all four of your tires. You don’t stare at the bridge and say, ‘Yeah, I think it’ll hold me.’ How did you know that bridge wasn’t going to fall? Yet you went right ahead and crossed it. Everybody takes risks, every day. You just don’t realize that’s what you’re doing.

Q: How do you define “cheerful giving”?

A: This is not giving to impress someone who may be watching, and it’s not giving because you feel guilty. The Bible says it best: “Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”– II Corinthians 9:7

Q: In the book, you sum up your philosophy of giving in “The Popcorn Theory.” Tell us more about that.

A: The Popcorn Theory is about noticing others. It’s about seeing, not turning away from the immediacy of someone in need. It starts with recognizing a fellow soul by the roadside-even if he doesn’t seem to belong in your lovely red brick neighborhood and he is the biggest damn piece of popcorn you ever saw and his problems seem too immense to take on. It’s about assigning that person value, and potential. Like popcorn, you don’t know which kernel’s gonna pop. They just show up. It’s not hard to spot ‘em. The Popcorn Theory goes like this: “You can’t help everyone, but you can try to help the hot ones who pop right up in front of your face.”

Q: What if I don’t have many resources? How can I be a cheerful giver without a bunch of extra money?

A: Too often we think we lack the means to improve someone’s lot. We’re wrong. The Popcorn Theory doesn’t require you to write a large-scale check, or to take a hungry boy with eyes like leaping flames into your household. But it does require that you perceive the person standing right in front of you, and extend a hand in kindness. Consider this story we heard from a U.S. Senator during a trip to Washington for an Adoption Coalition convention:

There is a little-known Congressional initiative to give internships to young people who were so unwanted they have aged out of the foster care system. This Senator employs one such young man. One day the Senator passed by the mailroom, and paused and turned around. He noticed that his intern, fresh out of foster care, had reorganized all the old files. “This room has never looked so clean,” the Senator said. “You did a great job.” A few minutes later the Senator decided to get a cup of coffee. He returned to mailroom and found that his intern had tears streaming down his face. “Son, did I offend you?” he asked. “No,” the young man said. “That’s the first time anyone has ever told me that I did something good.” This gift had nothing to do with money. What this kid needed most was encouragement and self-worth, and that’s what he was given.

Q: As you share your story, one of the points you stress is that generosity is not just your personal value. It’s a core value for the entire family. What specific things have you done as parents to help your kids become cheerful givers?

A: One of our practices is something we call “Get one, give one,” which means when you receive something, give part of it away. To impress the lesson on our daughter Collins, we sent her to camp with underprivileged kids and on a searing mission trip to the Guatemala City Dumps, where she saw families living in lean-tos amid the garbage, yet with pictures of Christ hung amid the wreckage. Collins came to
understand how fortunate she was: “He has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons; he provides you with plenty of food and fills your hearts with joy.” (Acts 14:17)

She also learned how important it was to share some of what she’d been given. Long before Michael came into our lives, Collins and Sean Jr. learned to accept the presence of kids sleeping on the sofa or lounging around the house. Friends at the Briarcrest School whose parents worked two jobs. One afternoon 7-year-old Sean Jr. came home to find them playing with his X-box. He sought out Leigh Anne and said, “What gives?” She replied, “We’re just helping them out. Be generous.” Sean Jr. went back downstairs and watched the brothers play a video game. “I’ve got the winner,” he said.

Q: In the book, you point out that the most important gifts your children gave each other had nothing to do with money. Tell us about those gifts.

A: As Michael became a member of the family, he and our other kids gave each other two small but crucial mutual gifts-loyalty and protection. At Ole Miss, Collins and Michael went everywhere together, and they and their friends achieved a new level of racial integration at that old southern school. Even now, when our family attends Michael’s games, he remains extremely protective of his sister, insisting on one
occasion that his teammate walk her to the car to keep her away from unruly male fans. And for Sean Jr. having Michael in his family means they do more as a family-he gets much more of each of them.

This is one of the blessings of cheerful giving. We have always felt that Michael gave us far more than he received. All we did was put a roof over his head. He has given us back a stronger sense of home and family.

In a Heartbeat: Sharing the Power of Cheerful Giving by Leigh Anne and Sean Tuohy with Sally Jenkins is available on Amazon if you Click Here

For centuries, we have turned to stories as sources of wisdom and spiritual inspiration. Some speak to specific sections of the populace, people with certain beliefs or preferences; others are universal enough to cross divides of both faith and geography. The Life Codes by author Patty Harpenau is such tale.

A teaching novel based on Harpenau’s own ground-breaking spiritual journey to Jerusalem, The Life Codes follows Michal, a young Dutch woman, as she searches for answers and fulfillment in the Holy City. Michal befriends a prominent Rabbi and his family, and through that bond, she breaks down as ages-old gender barrier to unlock information (or Codes) that had long been kept in secret texts and whispered in private ritual to men only. These Codes embody the mystical essences of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam and enable Michael — and the reader — to fulfill her purpose and potential.

The Life Codes is also moving tale of love; of relationships that transcend time and death; and of a determined woman finding her way in life.

For more information you can visit http://www.thelifecodes.nl/

Consider for a moment that life is not a random event or an accident of circumstance and that the essence of who we are continues, even beyond death. In Seeking Soul Mates, Spirit Guides, Past Lives, we can discover new meaning to our lives and garner valuable insights into experiences.

My good friend, Cynthia Litman, recommended this book because it demonstrates how we can recognize and embrace the spiritual relationships that determine our life’s path. Taking us on a journey, illustrated by his professional and personal experiences, author Richard Scheinberg offers us a fresh and intimate glimpse of the fascinating world of eternal love and the enduring soul. Reading his heartfelt advice inspires us to embark on a soul searching expedition of our own.

Seeking Soul Mates, Spirit Guides and Past Lives is available on Amazon.com if you Click Here

To whom it may concern:

I have tried to use this space to talk about movies, books, TV programs, music and media that leave people feeling inspired, uplifted and more connected to their most authentic Self — and avoid blatant self-promotion–….

However, I have entered a contest to find ‘The Next Top Spiritual Author’ with a novel I wrote, The Bottom Line; and I am trying to rally as much support as possible. The Bottom Line is about a guy in college trying to overcome his ego’s fears and desires. You can hear me read an excerpt from it that humorously demonstrates how the main character’s ego has a tendency to get him into trouble at my web site for the competition at

http://www.nexttopauthor.com/profile.cfm?aid=652…

If the book resonates with you, please consider voting for me. Your vote would mean the WORLD to me and possibly determine whether or not I make it to the next round of the competition!

You can vote by visiting my site

http://www.nexttopauthor.com/profile.cfm?aid=652, registering to vote and then voting….

Thank you very much for your time and consideration.

PS…I’ve also teamed up with some other authors…So, if you vote for one of us, you will have access to some fantastic free gifts, including an interview I did on how to find and follow your calling…You can get your free gifts at http://www.thankyouforvotingforus.com/

“The most important voice that is speaking to us is usually the one asking us to do something that takes courage, something that takes us out of our comfort zone. That’s why we so often ignore that voice and listen only to the endless chatter of our minds.”

These are the words in the introduction of Beyond Success: Redefining the Meaning of Prosperity written by Jeffrey Gitterman. My good friend Cynthia Litman recommended Beyond Success because the book examines the idea that people do not find happiness in money and material possessions, but through engaging in the journey of goals that challenge us and allow us to make a contribution to the world through our own unique expression.

Gitterman divides his book into four pillars that show us how to find meaning and joy throughout this quest. First, we can connect to a Source of infinite energy within us, rather than something ‘out there.’ Then, Gitterman shows us how we can find our unique expression and offer that to the world. After we learn how to own our unique expression, then Gitterman suggests that we redirect our attention on ‘the road that is your life story’ , not just the destination of our specific goal. The book concludes with a section on expanding our awareness by giving both financially and spiritually to others.

Beyond Success will not only show you how to achieve success, but it will also help you find great joy, inspiration and creativity while you pursue your goals.

Jeffrey Gitterman is a corporate leader who successfully brings a spiritual message to the traditionally materialistic business community. He is one of ING Financial’s top advisors, whose GoBeyond seminars have been the highest-rated training program at the company for years. For more information you can visit www.beyondsuccessconsulting.com.

You can purchase Beyond Success on Amazon if you
Click Here.

In Seeking Peace: Chronicles of the Worst Buddhist in the World, Mary Pipher reveals how she struggled with depression, worked toward a new and stronger identity, and found self-acceptance as well as a renewed capacity for joy. The questions she asks of herself on every page are the eternal, universal ones: Who am I? What made me this way? Am I loved? Am I good? Do I matter?

In her most personal book to date, Pipher explores our shared journey across the life cycle – how we use the personal freedom we are granted; and how our response to failure and despair can make us wiser and kinder human beings. Writing with a special concern for those who feel overwhelmed by the ever-increasing demands of a tumultuous world, are wrestling with depression, or are struggling to rebuild their lives, Pipher tells a hopeful and universal story about resilience, what we do with what we are given, and breaking through despair to discover serenity and joy.

Seeking Peace is available on Amazon if you Click Here.

Upon learning that the previous owner of her home was a victim of suicidal depression, author Barbara Richardson made a silent promise: to turn that farmhouse into a house of joy. In her new book, Guest House, she fulfills that promise.

Guest House is a fictional novel that weaves together the burdens and joys of one outwardly accomplished go-getter, Melba Burns and one shy, imaginative and neglected kid, Matt Garry. After witnessing a terrible accident, Melba has retreated from the world; she’s abandoned her high-achieving life, she’s stopped driving her car, and she avoids human contact. Her sheltered world starts to crumble when Matt, a courageous and ingenious boy with troubled parents finds his way into her heart.

I recently had a chance to interview Barbara about Guest House. She also talked about how it took her 18 years to get her first book published and gave some great advice for aspiring writers.

You can read a few highlights from our interview below and listen to our entire 20 minute conversation by clicking the play button.

Matt: Your characters deal with many challenges ranging from growing up with alcoholic and troubled parents, spousal abuse, being raised in a very strict and religious household, how to comfort those grieving, loneliness, and finding love. Do you have a personal connection to the issues raised in your book?

Barbara: I do. Yes I was raised in a really strict religion and had parents who sort of ignored me…And, I think the beautiful thing about living a spiritual life is that it’s not the circumstances, but what you do with them. To me it was so important to show the humanity of all these people, even the terrible actions of parents and friends. And, in all the confusion truly there is this beautiful thread running through it that you can be free when you learn how to surrender to those who love you and to the moment which provides all the care you could possibly need.

Matt: How do you find beauty in those moments of darkness when you have such terrible circumstances?

Barbara: . . . I saw a documentary on the Holocaust a couple nights ago. And, no there wasn’t joy in the camps there. But, these people managed to locate the joy in their heart in these most difficult circumstances because they were true to themselves. If you’re true to your self, not your outer circumstances…joy is available to you every moment.

For more information on Barbara, you can visit her web site at www.BarbaraKRichardson.com or purchase Guest House on Amazon by Clicking Here.