Heart Book Series

Enjoy an amazing and talented line-up of best-selling authors and thought-provoking speakers!

AND feel great about supporting Family Literacy in Orange County!

The Read to Succeed conference raises funds to support Family Reading Inc., a nonprofit organization whose mission is to help families develop a positive home learning environment by developing habits such as a full family reading time for 20 to 30 minutes daily. The program consists of interactive educational and entertaining presentations – “edu-tainment.” Family Reading Inc. enjoys partnerships with schools, libraries and community organizations inspiring children and parents and supports the "Drop Everything And Read" (DEAR) and Silent Sustained Reading (SSR) programs.

Marci Shimoff
TOPIC: How to overcome stress and toxins in today’s fast paced world.
Marci Shimoff is the author of the new instant runaway bestseller, Happy for No Reason: 7 Steps to Being Happy from the Inside Out, which offers a revolutionary approach to experiencing deep and lasting happiness. She is a featured teacher in the international film and book sensation, The Secret.Chicken Soup for the Soul, including Chicken Soup for the Woman’s Soul and Chicken Soup for the Mother’s Soul, have met with stunning success, selling more than 13 million copies worldwide in 33 languages. President and co-founder of the Esteem Group, she delivers keynote addresses and seminars on self-esteem, self-empowerment, and peak performance. Her writing has appeared in national women’s magazines, including Ladies Home Journal and Woman’s World.
Marci is also the woman’s face of the biggest self-help book phenomenon in history, <http://www.happyfornoreason.com>

Dr. Ann Corwin, PhD, M.Ed aka The Parenting Doctor
LUNCHEON KEYNOTE
Creator of “The Child Connection Parenting Program”
Dr. Corwin has made it her life’s work to develop practical parenting programs for parents and children. With a Ph.D. in Marriage, Family and Child Therapy and Masters Degree in Education and over twenty five years of experience in parenting consulting and child development education, she has helped thousands of parents – with children ages birth to five years and beyond. Dr. Ann focuses on prevention and helping families learning to help themselves! Her parenting skills development workshops and parent coaching programs have immediate solutions to child discipline behavior issues such as hitting and biting, respect and discipline, poor sleeping habits, relationships and school, toilet learning, new siblings and sibling rivalry, separation anxiety and much more.
<http://theparentingdoctor.com>

Garett Guenot, aka The "Purpose Guy”
Garett Guenot is a purpose coach, author, and speaker who has dedicated his life to helping others discover what they were born to do. Garett is President and CEO of PurposeGuy LLC, a company designed to teach individuals to discover their purpose in life and inspire them to pursue their dreams with excellence. For over 10 years Garett has been studying the art and science of personal development , in a quest to determine the common skills and traits of fulfilled and successful people. In the process, he discovered that true success is a combination of 3 things. Successful people pursue their passion, expand their purpose to benefit others, while progressively realizing their vision and dreams. Garett holds a degree in psychology, a certification in Organizational Leadership, and has received training in counseling and marriage and family therapy from California State University Fullerton.

Rekindle your spirit, tickle your funny bone and rejuvenate your energy!

Sheryl Roush, noted internationally top-rated speaker is presenting “Bringing Out Your Brilliance” on Tuesday, March 3rd, at Soul Shine bookstore, from 6:30-8:30pm in Del Mar, California.

Attendees will be able to walk away with simple tips to stay centered, authentic and magnificent, even in these most challenging economic times.

Soul Shine
1217 Camino del Mar
Del Mar, CA 92014
San Diego County
www.soulshine.com/news

RSVP to Soul Shine™ to Melanie Bivens at (858) 793-1907 or email  rsvp@soulshine.com

ABOUT SHERYL ROUSH:
An authentic speaker, Sheryl Roush is President of Sparkle Presentations, Inc., and is the author of 12 books including Heart of a Woman, Heart of a Mother, and Heart of a Woman in Business. Sheryl speaks around the globe and has presented nearly 3,000 programs in nine countries, and addressed seven nations in the Arabian Gulf, and was the only woman on the three-day program. In the US, she presents on  womens’ conference programs alongside Olivia Newton-John, Jane Seymour, Geena Davis, Carol LeBeau, Joan Lunden, and Suze Orman.

For more information on Sheryl Roush visit
www.SparklePresentations.com
www.HeartBookSeries.com

Cost:
Complimentary for the Soul Shine™ Community
$10 for Guests.  Open to the Public.

ABOUT SOUL SHINE™
They say wellness is a journey.
Anyone have a map?

We and many of our friends have often wished for a road map on the journey to wellness. There isn’t one of course because like a snow flake or fingerprint, each of us is unique. We can’t promise that acupuncture is what you need or that you’ll feel better on a gluten-free diet. But we can let you know what paths exist to your destination, suggest routes that have worked for travelers before you, and connect you with the best practitioners in your area so that together you can decide what’s right for you.

We know what it’s like to spend hours at your computer researching therapies you know nothing about. We know how it feels to be desperate for answers but not know who—or what—to trust. We know from personal experience. At Soul Shine, we’ve done the research for you. We’ve personally screened all the practitioners in our network to bring you the best of the best in both traditional and non-traditional approaches to wellness. These practitioners all share the Soul Shine philosophy of a mind-body-spirit approach to wellness.

If not a map, Soul Shine is the guiding light that connects you with the knowledge, the people and the resources to achieve true physical, emotional, and spiritual transformation. We help you look at the big picture to achieve lasting and meaningful results. Most importantly, the Soul Shine staff, practitioners, and community of other like-minded individuals are here to support you on your journey every step of the way. We hope you’ll join us to discover what it is that makes your soul shine.

Sheryl Roush was interviewed on "Mornings with Lorri and Larry," live on FamilyNet.com Sirius Radio Channel 161 February 17, during the 6-9am/Eastern prime drive-time. A guest favorite for her energy and inspiration, this was Sheryl’s fourth appearance on the show.

Lorri Allen invited the 12-time author for a 12-minute guest spot interview regarding her recent publication release of Heart of a Woman in Business, and to solicit submissions for the forthcoming Heart of a Military Woman book, being co-authored with retired Master Sgt. USAF Eldonna Lewis-Fernandez.

Heart of a Woman celebrates the strength, humor, love and intuition–of women of all ages. She will delight in cherished classics, personal favorites and recent writings from Oprah Winfrey, Dr. Phil, Maya Angelou, Bill Cosby, Louise Hay, Marianne Williamson and more. Chapters include: Ageless Living, Art, A Woman’s Intuition, Challenges, Chocolate, Daughters, Faith, Falling in Love, Family, Fathers, Friendship, Gratitude, Health, Learning to Love Yourself, Love, Marriage, Men!, Military Relationships, Mothers, Music, Nature, Parenting, Passion, Patriotism, Pets, Prayer, Prosperity, Sisters, Teenagers, Women in History, Worthiness…

Heart of a Woman is now eloquently available in Spanish: Corazon de Mujer.

For your Mother, Wife, Grandmother, Mother-in-Law:
Heart of a Mother... a gift book filled with touching tributes to Mothers and Grandmothers, inspirational short stories, poems, proverbs and quotations.

Sparkle Press, a division of Sparkle Presentations, Inc., announced today the forthcoming title in the popular and quickly growing Heart Book Series, created only three years ago.

Heart of a Military Woman will be released before Veteran’s Day, November 11, 2009 and join the series of inspirational gift books by Sheryl Roush: Heart of a Woman,  Heart of a Mother,  Heart of the Holidays,  Heart of a Woman in Business, and  Corazon de Mujer (Heart of a Woman in Spanish).

Eldonna Lewis-Fernandez is co-author of Heart of a Military Woman. Passionate about touching the lives of female veterans and being a retired veteran with 23 years of honorable service in the United States Air Force, Eldonna is teaching women how to take more RISK in their lives for maximum results. When she enlisted in October 1980, women made up only 8% of the military and today although more than doubled still only 20%. Professionally, Eldonna is a contract specialist in purchasing, negotiation and administration of government contracts. She is the President of Dynamic Vision International, based in Redondo Beach, California.

Personally, she’s a single mother of two, an award-winning speaker, on the board of the Women’s Peace Campaign and a certified master results coach. Even more personally, Eldonna shares her story in Heart of a Woman in Business, "I was a high school dropout who was told by my teachers and parents that I would never amount to anything. Born to two alcoholic parents, I grew up neglected and abused. The military was my saving grace and I fought hard again that ‘loser’ expectation, excelling in my military career. I became a leader, manager, and networking expert. I earned two associates and a bachelor’s degree while on active duty (and raising two children on her own) as well as the highest level of professional certification in my field."

Eldonna co-authors with Sheryl Roush, the author of the book series, a noted professional speaker, and is herself an ex-Navy wife, compassionate to those choosing a military lifestyle and grateful to their incredible dedication.

Submissions are welcome to this inspirational collection of original short stories, poems and quotations…. regarding ANY active or retired military.
Due August 15, submissions may be up to 1,200 words long, and are to emailed to: Eldonna@HeartBookSeries.com  
Indicate "Book Submission" in the subject line.
Email in text, or attach a Word.doc.

Mail submissions to:
Sparkle Press
Attn: Heart of a Military Woman Book
P.O. Box 2373
La Mesa, CA 91943-2373 USA

This is the opening poem to the new book,
Heart of a Woman in Business:
Stories, Strategies and Skills for
Business Success,
by Sheryl L. Roush

Debra has two grown children with her husband of 31 years and is a relatively recent transplant from Chicago to Henderson, Nevada. In addition to being a swimmer and a blackjack player, Debra is on the Executive Council of Reading In Motion, an innovative arts-based literacy program dedicated to improving literacy in Chicago’s most disadvantaged kids. She is also a member of The Chicago Network, Chicago’s premier group of businesswomen, and on the Advisory Board of The Corporate Legal Standard, Inc.

Pictured here is Lidia S. Martinez, Manager of Corporate Community Affairs for Southwest Airlines.

Her lighthearted clip appears in the  "Committing to Excellence" chapter of the book:

For your copy of the book order from Amazon.com, or for an autographed copy from author Sheryl Roush, through secure PayPal.

While I stood there in disbelief, thinking of my options, the sound floated into the hallway—the primal scream of a mortally wounded dinosaur. Should I meet him on his terms? Should I retaliate? I turned without a word, went into my office, and closed the door. It is better to act than to react.

Major Miller did not agree with a course of action I had laid out for him. We discussed it, but I did not adopt his way of thinking.  He could not contain his anger. In my nine years on the Army Staff in the Pentagon, this was the only incident when someone so strongly and openly disagreed with me.

Coming to work in the Pentagon was distasteful for many officers. There is a popular cliché portrayed on postcards and other memorabilia, “Happiness is the Pentagon in the rear view mirror.” Officers coming into our division usually had been in command of troops. They were accustomed to being the leader in their units. In the Pentagon, they had a desk job in a cubicle, without a secretary or staff of any kind. Yet, a tour of duty in the Pentagon was necessary for moving up in the ranks. There, officers learned things they would never be exposed to in the units, like the culmination of the budget process, force planning data and assumptions, and preparing general officers for their Congressional testimony, among many things. They also had an opportunity to work closely with civilians in the Department of Defense.

Major Miller is a good man, a dedicated soldier with sound values. He had simply encountered a different kind of tension in this job, a civilian woman in authority, and he didn’t know how to handle it. The sound of his pounding floated into the office of the Director, a Major General (two stars insignia). After a short while the general’s executive officer (XO), crossed the hall. He knew that my boss was on Temporary Duty, out of town. The XO opened my office door, stuck his head in and asked “Is everything okay?” I nodded, “Yes.” He closed the door and went back to his office. That sign of affirmation and trust, and others like it, kept me going when otherwise my knees may have buckled.

After some time, Major Miller regained his composure and came in to see me, apologetic and ready to get to work. I was neither vindictive nor angry. His outburst had not diminished my standing or my self-esteem. He soon transferred out of the office.

During times of emergency regular duty hours in our area went out the window. Often it was 7:00 PM or later before we left the building. On one occasion, it was 10:00 PM before I got home. There were no taxis in sight.

Walking from the Metro rail station to my condo took me down a dirt road traveled only by our shuttle bus which had stopped running by the time I arrived. Two parallel ruts, a small clearing, then underbrush and trees—we had been warned of robberies that occurred along this road. This was in the days before cell phones and I was afraid.

My heart pounded—would the gate to the condo complex be chained? How could I get around the enclosure if it were? I nervously fingered my pass card as I neared the gate. The night was dark. God is good, the pass card slipped into the groove on the second try and the gate release clicked. I pushed and the bars began to move. Within seconds I was in the lighted parking lot. My steps quickened and soon I was inside Building 4 where I lived. The upholstered furniture in the foyer was very inviting, but I resisted. Upstairs I had a drink and fell into bed. Knowing that morning was not far away. When we realize the value of what we do, we are inclined to do whatever it takes to get the job done.

It was another exciting day. A unit commander who had served in our office when he was a young major, needed help quickly—desperately. He had orders to move his troops as quickly as possible from the tree-studded hillsides in Germany to the hot desert sands of Saudi Arabia. Saddam Hussein had already invaded Kuwait—no one knew where he would strike next. The adrenaline was pumping! This commander had a serious computer problem. If it didn’t get fixed, troops in the Middle East would not get the supplies they needed. In the fog of war, his regular chain of command was not responsive. He called me.

“I need some help here,” he said and then explained his situation. I called the experts at the Logistics Center in Petersburg, VA. They gave the computer problem the necessary priority and the mission was accomplished. Sounds easy, doesn‘t it? Creative thinking, professionalism and dedication to duty saved the day.

A few years later, as I stood in the line of well wishers at a Change of Command ceremony in Pennsylvania, I spotted that officer in line ahead of me. He was then Chief of Staff of an Army Depot, a colonel with eagle insignia on his uniform. I stepped out of line and tapped him on the shoulder. He turned and in what seemed like slow motion, a huge smile spread across his face as he recognized me. He abruptly stepped out of line, grabbed me around the waist, lifted me off my feet, and began whirling me around! It was surreal! “Here’s a colonel in full uniform with his boss standing nearby,” I thought, “whirling me around and around!” It was like a warrior’s homecoming, our own Times Square celebration. He was very happy! I was embarrassed but very happy, too.

Celebration is good for the soul. Too often we demure, “It was nothing,” and short circuit someone else’s thanksgiving.
Whether on the battlefields of war or the battlefields of business, personal power is important. Be real. Know who you are. Value loyalty to your country and your God. Speak your truths and respect others. You have the power.
The Army is a family. It’s their culture. As a civilian employee, I was family, too.

In our organization departing personnel received a large picture of the Pentagon surrounded by a wide white mat. The print and mat were circulated among the staff for comments, kudos, and farewells, then framed and presented to the departing person.

My father was especially pleased that one of his children was working in the Pentagon. When he was hospitalized in Corpus Christi, Texas, with congestive heart failure, I asked one of the officers if I could get the print matted for my father. He wanted to know more. I explained about my father’s condition and suggested that our Director, Major General Akin, might sign it. The officer said he’d see what he could do.

After a few days he presented me with a framed, matted print for my father.
Our Director was away, so took the picture to the next level. Lieutenant General Ross, the Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics, a three-star general. General Ross personalized it.

MR FREDDIE FOUNTENO
Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics
Headquarters Department of the Army, Pentagon, April 1991.
“Mr. Founteno, We share your pride in Jo and the super job she has done for the Army. She is clearly one of our best. Please accept with our compliments this symbol of our nation’s defense.”

One might suggest that the comments about me were exaggerated and I would not argue. My father was so pleased, he had a nurse post the framed print in the hallway outside his room so everyone going by could see it. He died May 9, 1991.

Great people are never too important or too busy to take time for others.

-Jo Condrill, CEO of GoalMinds, Inc., www.GoalMinds.com

What does it take for a woman to successfully lead a diverse group of seasoned personnel? The Secretary of the Army awarded Jo Condrill The Decoration for Exceptional Civilian Service. It is the highest award possible for a civilian employee.