Diva Love: Falling Through The Ceiling






Audrey Robinson Jones left Kansas to attend Wellesley College, graduating in 1972 with her degree in anthropology/sociology, planning to be a social worker. Instead, she worked in healthcare administration for almost 30 years with her husband, including running his multi-office pediatric practice for 24 years. She also earned master’s degrees in healthcare administration and business.

She became managing partner of an airport concessions company and purchased two business franchises with her sons. At the same time, she and her husband built a loving home with three sons. As life unfolded, her sons and husband were diagnosed with ADHD. Managing businesses and four ADHD males took its toll on her health.

In 2008, Audrey was stricken with an almost fatal autoimmune disease. Recovering and retired, Audrey remains a vital force, including participating with Larry in several international health missions trips. At home, she continues to lead a local food pantry, something she’s done for over fifteen years, in addition to family advocacy activities.

Larry Albert Jones, MD, grew up in the 1950s with an overprotective mother and grandmother in a poor section of Memphis, Tenn. His childhood was greatly impacted by the village of educators and church folks who recognized his intellect. That village launched Larry to Wesleyan University, Johns Hopkins University and The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. Unfortunately, he lost his mother to cancer before his 20th birthday, but his path was set. He began to notice how much time he required to maintain his college GPA as he prepared for medical school. Keeping his eye on the prize, he persevered, never considering that he would later be diagnosed with ADHD.

For at least 20 years of his career as a pediatrician and parent, he did not link his children’s symptoms and signs of ADHD to himself. While being an effective and popular clinician, he lived in denial about his own diagnosis. Larry is currently a departmental medical director for the SSM Healthcare System. With treatment and counseling, Larry is pursuing community projects, including facilitating a STEM program with elementary school students in Ferguson, MO.








The memoir of Audrey and Larry Jones and their three sons demystifies ADHD in childhood and beyond.

A blend of love, humor and real-life irony, Falling Through the Ceiling makes sense of the nonsensical, shedding light on the challenges of living with attention deficit hyperactive disorder (ADHD). These stories offer the real-deal reality of living with a house full of ADHD, including the ups, downs and chaos of what happened and the consequences of such. The authors, a married couple of 45 years, offer experience, practical insight and what they learned from counselors, research and their own mistakes to assist people coping with children and adults who are affected by ADHD.

Sharing their personal life challenges with the effects of ADHD, this is a real, sometimes painful, story written to help families recognize and navigate to controlling chaos and unlocking the gifts of ADHD in their children and themselves.




Thank you, Audrey & Larry, for taking the time to share your book Falling Through the Ceiling: Our ADHD Family Memoir. Please take us on your journey to writing this book.


As doctors and parents, how has that influenced your writing?

AUDREY: We had difficulty understanding my husband, the doctor’s, behaviors and the learning and attention struggles that he had in medical school, residency, and working in his own practice. He was still in denial even after our sons were diagnosed with various types of ADHD. But Larry did not receive a final diagnosis and begin treatment until my psychologist recommended testing.

We started thinking seriously about how our stories would help other parents and affected adults understand what ADHD looked like and the path to unlocking their talents and gifts. I wanted to share this story because both Larry and I thought we could help parents like the ones in his practice who were silently suffering from the effects of ADHD in their families.

LARRY: The clash of parent vs. physician is a major struggle that other professionals will have as parents as well. In work situations you have control, over your life, but as a parent you have much less control and you are faced with situations that are challenging and filled with emotion and doubt about whether you are doing the right thing. My objective was to write as a parent while using my clinical background to provide depth and understanding.

How do you find or make time to write?

AUDREY: We worked with a writing coach and editor because of my impairment from my illness. It has truly taken a village to bring the project together.

LARRY: Working full-time, I could only write evenings and weekends. Many of the stories required lengthy discussions to recall all of the details of the events. Audrey and I had the discussions during walks and driving trips.

What was your favorite chapter (or part) to write?

AUDREY: My favorite chapters to write was “Falling Through the Ceiling” because for the first time our son shared his personal recollection of trials controlling his behavior. I told the story as an example of why parents needed to see God’s grace in parenting. When he literally fell through the ceiling from the attic to our home office, he just called it a painful lesson that changed his perception of the consequences of his behavior.


LARRY: My favorite chapter is the “Samurai Swordsmen”. It was through this trauma that we discovered the strength of the bond between our two youngest sons. The two were always squabbling about something and never seemed to be friends. Rob protected Jay from getting into trouble for cutting him. Then after the surgery Jay made himself available to help Rob in any way that he could to express his love for his brother.

What do you hope readers will learn/discover from reading your book?

As parents who raised ADHD gifted children, we hope parents, children, and adults struggling with ADHD can find resources and strategies from our experiences and suggestions recounted in our book and move towards living lives of fulfillment and resilience.

What’s next for you?

Dr. Jones, after 24 years as a practicing pediatrician, successfully living with ADHD, will be completing his training as an ADHD Life Coach. With this certification, we will package our expertise as: Stop Failing and Falling Coaching. Online, Larry will provide services to connect affected people and their families with medical, educational, and support resources accessible to them locally. He will continue to be available for local, individual coaching.
We are also collaborating with researchers from Howard University on a study about the stress factor of mothers caring for children with ADHD.

Any message to your followers?

We hope that our readers realize how valuable it is to connect and tell personal stories to help others.


  

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Monday, February 11

Guest Post at Lighthouse Academy

Monday, February 11

Book Spotlight at Queenie's BookTalk and Reviews

Wednesday, February 13

Interview at Nothing But Books

Friday, February 15

Book Spotlight Authors & Readers Book Corner

Book Spotlight at Hope. Dreams. Life. Love

Interview at A Diva's Heart












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Diva Love: Women Who Soar


Write Now Literary is pleased to be organizing a virtual book tour for Women Who Soar: Stories of Hope, Anthology. The tour will run Feb 4-15, 2019. 


About The Book

Women Who Soar is a book collaboration project of women who stepped out on faith, launched their own businesses and released their dreams and purposes into the world. 

These powerful women have dispelled lies, overcome difficult challenges, refused to take no for an answer and are now soaring and creating the life they deserve. 

Their stories are moving, revealing, encouraging and empowering. They have resolved to use their testimony to pave the way for other women to soar into their destiny.

Amazon Kindle: https://amzn.to/2ArZqEj
                                                            
Genre: Non-Fiction, Inspiration



CHAPTER TITLE: SOARING THROUGH ADVERSITIES

Paulette Harper is an award-winning best-selling author of both fiction and nonfiction books. She is a sought-after speaker, pastor, coach and marketing specialist. Her mission, as a speaker, is to help women find hope through transformation, restoration and reclaiming their lives through workshops, conferences and seminars. 

As a book coach, she helps authors and aspiring authors grow their book business by providing marketing strategies, tools, resources, and opportunities to help them succeed in the literary world.

Her literary works have been spotlighted in a growing number of publications, including CBN, Real Life Real Faith Magazine, The Sacramento Observer and Black Pearls Magazine. She has also appeared on numerous local and online radio shows. Paulette is also the owner of Write Now Literary Book Tours, an online service to help promote authors. 




CHAPTER TITLE: SOARING INTO PURPOSE

Dr. Elaine Gattis is a native of the San Francisco Bay Area. She is an educator, author, speaker, and ordained minister of the Gospel who holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from California State University, East Bay, a master of divinity degree from the Emory University Candler School of Theology, and a doctor of ministry degree from the Morehouse School of Religion at the Interdenominational Theological Center in Atlanta. 

She is an Associate Professor at Ohio Christian University’s Morrow, Georgia campus, and serves as the Executive Pastor of Mt. Olive Baptist Church in Stockbridge, Georgia, where her husband, the Reverend Dr. Terrance Gattis serves as the Senior Pastor.  Together, they have four adult children, Terrell, Tiana, Armoriana, and Nandi.
  


CHAPTER TITLE: TEARS FOR MY SISTER

Marcy Thomas is an avid reader and book reviewer of Christian fiction. She has worked professionally as a certified medical coder for eighteen years. In 2008, Marcy was certified as a domestic violence advocate through The Domestic Abuse Project in Delaware County, Pennsylvania after the murder of her sister Christine. As an advocate, she’s had opportunities to speak about domestic violence at churches, health fairs, schools, and youth groups. 

In 2011, she was appointed Vice-President of The Project Butterfly in Chester, PA for two years. The Project Butterfly was an organization geared toward teaching teen girls to understand the difference between healthy and unhealthy relationships. Marcy’s passion helping teen girls and women understand they should have self-love first and realize they are fearfully and wonderfully made. Marcy resides in Covington, Ga with her husband, Alvin, of thirty-three years. She has three adult daughters, two nephews she raised and two gifted grandchildren. 


CHAPTER TITLE: FLYING ABOVE THE STORM

Shurvone Wright, an entrepreneur, owns a small business practice specializing in retirement planning. Using insurance as a foundational component, she helps client families prepare for the future by protecting and preserving what is important to them to leave a legacy and not bills. Her efforts and business acumen have earned recognition with several awards all in one year. 

A previous thirty-year healthcare career in nursing provided her an avenue to launch a lifelong commitment of helping others. Shurvone served patients in specialized areas: medical/surgical units, mental health, home health nursing, outpatient clinics. Her last fifteen years were served in managed care as a Pre-Certification Utilization Management Nurse.

Married for twenty-five years to Roger Wright, they have four daughters and three grandchildren. Shurvone Wright and her family reside in Brentwood, California.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thrivechangedme



CHAPTER TITLE: A CROWN OF BEAUTY

Meiah Shaun is an author, playwright and prophetic scribe. She writes faith-based messages linking her personal life experiences with spiritual life lessons.  Her novel, Burnt Orange, is an inspirational coming-of-age novel based on real-life events from her life. Other works include her stage plays, My First Love &A Rich Woman’s Party, published and licensed by HCP Book Publishing. 

Meiah is a graduate of LeTourneau University and Touch of God Healing and Deliverance School of Ministry. She studied playwriting at Dallas Theater Center. She is the visionary of A Crown of Beauty Ministries, a ministry of healing and deliverance. She is a member of Christ Purpose International Church. She resides in the Dallas, Texas area. 

Website https://www.meiahshaun.com


CHAPTER TITLE: MY LIFE REBOOT

Roni Teson is a two-time Readers’ Favorite award-winning novelist and the recipient of the First Place Dante Rosetti Award for YA Suspense Romance. Convinced that her passion for writing played a critical role in saving her life, 

Roni’s entire perspective shifted when she beat stage IV cancer. Her soul-searching quest to understand the meaning of life’s not so random coincidences has led her down a path of self-discovery and into an extraordinary existence. Read about her amazing life reboot in her most recent creation, The Order of Things

Website: https://roniteson.com




CHAPTER TITLE: UNSHAKABLE FAITH

Katrina Shaw was born and raised in Long Island, New York and is a Morgan State University graduate. A radio and media professional of over twenty years, she currently works for Hearst Television, Inc. She is also a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. 

An entrepreneur, Katrina is pursuing her dream and passion to promote health and wellness with a product called “Thrive” by Le-vel and is making an impact to change lives and help others. 

A five-year breast cancer survivor, she created a Facebook blog page, MANE (Mammograms are Not Enough), and supports and enlightens women on the importance of diagnostic mammogram/3D screenings. Katrina resides in Baltimore, Maryland with her husband. She is very involved in her community and church.  A Zumba Fitness Instructor, she enjoys traveling, reading, and serving as a role model to at-risk youths.









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Diva Love: Finding Amor

Today, I am delighted to welcome Allison Garcia. Read all about her novel, Finding Amor, and check out her guest post. Finding Amor is a moving and powerful story reflective of today's immigration issues. Garcia paints a perfect picture of loss, love and hope.  I recommend her writing to anyone who wishes to understand the depth of emotion involved with crossing borders.

About the Book




Title: Finding Amor

Author: Allison K. Garcia

Genre: Latino Christian Fiction

Release date: September 8, 2018

In a world filled with hate, how can you know what love is?
Escaping a violent and abusive environment, eight-year-old Emanuel Martinez attempts to cross through three countries to be with his mother, Ana, whom he hasn’t seen since he was a baby. When la migra catches him at the border and he’s thrown into an immigration center, his dreams for being a real family start to disappear.
Vowing never to be like her own mother who abandoned her and never looked back, Ana has worked for six years to get her son to the United States, Now Ana has to rely on her distant mother and her alcoholic boyfriend, Carlos, to finally get her son to her side so they can build a life together.
When Lauren Barrett agrees to help with the afterschool program, she soon realizes she’s bitten off more than she can chew. Growing up in an unsupportive home has made her insecure and vulnerable, plus suffering through years of infertility hasn’t helped matters. Yet she longs to do something meaningful with her life and wonders when that opportunity will come along. When a special young boy named Emanuel enters her life, he turns her worldview on its head.
As their lives intersect, will they help each other understand what family and love and home really mean?

Click here to purchase your copy.


About the Author




Allison K. Garcia is a Licensed Professional Counselor, but she has wanted to be a writer ever since she could hold a pencil. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers, Shenandoah Valley Writers, Virginia Writers Club, and is Municipal Liaison for Shenandoah Valley NaNoWriMo.

Allison’s short story, “At Heart,” was published in the Winter 2013 edition of From the Depths literary magazine, along with her flash fiction. Her work, “You Shall Receive,” was published in GrayHaven Comics’s 2014 All Women’s anthology. Winning an honorary mention in the ACFW Virginia 2015 short story contest, “Just Another Navidad” was published in A bit of Christmas. Allison’s book, Vivir el Dream, published May 2017, has won several prestigious awards: 2016 ACFW Genesis Contest Finalist, 2018 Eric J. Hoffer Montaigne Medal Finalist, Honorary Mention in the 2018 Eric. J. Hoffer Awards E-book category, and 2018 IAN Book of the Year Awards Finalist in the Christian/Relgious Fiction category. Her highly-anticipated novel, Finding Amor, was released in September 2018.

Latina at heart, Allison has been featured in local newspapers for her connections in the Latino community in Harrisonburg, Virginia. A member of cultural competency committees for work and a participant in several pro-immigrant rallies and other events in her region, she also sings on the worship team and enjoys get-togethers with the hermanos in her church. With the help of her husband, Julio, and their son, Miguel, she has been able to nurture her love for the Latino people.


Guest Post from Allison

It’s All About Love: Loving God and Loving Your Neighbor

Finding Amor is the first part of a larger series, Buscando Home, about a family from El Salvador broken through decades of war, violence, and distance. Finding Amor is the first glimpse into their world – why they are broken, some of what they’ve gone through, and how far they have to go in order to heal and find peace and home together. Finding Amor is about finding the love of family, God, and within ourselves. It also calls people to loving both God and their neighbors, the two main tenants of Christianity.

Since 2012, God has been calling me to write Latino Christian fiction. He led me to write my multi-awarding winning debut novel, Vivir el Dream, in 2012 and then in 2014, He led me to write Finding Amor.

Finding Amor was by a couple things in 2014. I was watching the news and saw a video of little kids on a bus near an immigration detention center. Outside the bus angry Americans were protesting, yelling at them and carrying signs. It broke my heart. I thought about how scary it must be for those small children to be surrounded by an angry mob after what was surely a traumatic border crossing. And I began to think how most likely some of those people yelling angrily at the children were also proclaiming to be Christians (as I had heard echoed sentiments in our community). I wanted to change the narrative. This is the first scene of my book. I wanted to give an insider perspective on how scary this is to experience as a child. The other thing that inspired my book was a true story from my church about how a little boy in the after-school program came to Christ and subsequently brought many of the other little kids to salvation as well. That touched my heart, and from there my main character, Emanuel, was born.

My main goals for writing Latino Christian fiction are to have Latinos represented in Christian fiction, share God’s word, and show authentic stories of undocumented immigrants so that people can open their hearts and minds and grow in compassion and love and understanding. In showing real stories and explaining the whys and showing the human side to immigration, my hope is that people who have negative views towards immigrants will understand more and realize that we are called to love our neighbors, no matter what their documentation status or skin color or language, etc. I purposefully put a very diverse group of people in the book, because it represents America and also in Revelations is shows Heaven as a place where “from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages” people are praising God. Also there are important verses that remind us that we cannot love God if we do not love our neighbor. We cannot love God without loving our neighbor anymore than we can love our neighbor without loving God. This is another theme that is represented in Lauren’s story. Seeing her neighbors in a new light and seeing the love they show her, helps her grow to love others and herself more. So, for me, the trauma and drama and debates in the U.S. boil down to a lack of love.

My hope as a writer is that Finding Amor reminds them that everyone has a story. We often judge a book by its cover and as Christians, that’s not okay. We are called to love everyone, unconditionally. I hope that sticks with them.


Blog Stops

Mary Hake, February 3
100 Pages per Hour, February 4
Carla Loves To Read, February 5
A Diva’s Heart, February 6
Bigreadersite, February 7
Multifarious, February 8
Bibliophile Reviews, February 10
Carpe Diem, February 11
Creating Romance, February 12
Texas Book-aholic, February 14
Janices book reviews, February 15

Giveaway


To celebrate her tour, Allison is giving away a grand prize of gift basket that inlcudes a copy of The Ultimate Authorship Planner, 4 Christian novels, chocolate, and other surprise items!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter. https://promosimple.com/ps/db10/finding-amor-celebration-tour-giveaway