Protest as a Catalyst for Change
July 5, 2022
I co-authored the bestselling book The Happiness Code with Ray Brehm and additional authors.
All the authors share their happiness hacks you can use too. Here’s an excerpt from my chapter:
Happiness can be a struggle, a challenge, and a lot of work. But happiness doesn’t have to be elusive, out of reach, or something you never experience. Being happy means something different to each of us, and everyone’s pursuit of happiness is unique. Happiness is something you can experience alone or share with others.
For some, happiness can be effortless, their go-to way of being.
Are you one of those people? Is happiness simple for you to define, have and hold? Is happiness something singular, something specific, a state of mind, a way to be? Is happiness a physical location, a particular person, a fancy food, an amazing adventure, a journey, reaching a goal?
Perhaps happiness is some of these things, all of them, or none of the above. It doesn’t matter. What does matter is having ways to discover your own happiness.
I use something I call Happiness Hacks, simple tricks that help create happiness in my life. Before I share these hacks, thought, I would like to share a bit about myself. I came into this world with a set of challenges. I was born with flat feet, ADHD, athlete’s asthma, a heart murmur, Spina Bifida, and an abusive alcoholic father. By eight, I was almost legally blind.
None of these challenges stopped me from doing gymnastics in high school, racing in downhill ski competitions, running in a marathon, serving in the U.S. navy, FBI, DHS, and other agencies. Or from climbing to the top of Mount Fuji and getting kicked off of Mount Rainier.
I owe part of my success to these Happiness Hacks.
“Happiness is a choice, not a result. Nothing will make you happy until you choose to be happy unless you decide to be happy. Your happiness will not come to you. It can only come from you.”
—Buddha
Like Buddha says, it starts with a choice. You can choose to be happy, even if you don’t know how to start.
And you did choose.
You made the choice to read this newsletter. That was a solid choice. You’re on your way.
In The Happiness Code I share additional happiness hacks I use, and the choice I made as a disabled veteran to run in a marathon, I had no business running in, that led to an increase in my own happiness.
This month’s meme I love because I have a goal to write one hundred books, and I’ve already written three books.
So close, only ninety-seven more to go.
Here’s how you can help.
Did you grow up on bedtime stories and myths you liked and loved? And were you curious about story particulars, historical references, and obscure facts you read or heard.
These stories and myths inspired me and were the driving force behind all the details, facts, history and famous personalities incorporated into The Devil Pulls the Strings.
Before writing the first draft. I spent two and a half years researching Slavic mythology, music, time travel, and other obscure facts. I found and read every article, book and online reference I could on Baba Yaga, Paganini, and all the other content appearing in The Devil Pulls the Strings. I interviewed musicians, other writers, researchers, and professionals to answer my questions and get correct details and facts. I also traveled to every location in New York City the protagonist visits, to see, feel and experience everything I imaged they saw.
Excessive perhaps but readers who like and love when time travel, twisted history and secret societies collide will enjoy The Devil Pulls the Strings.
Did you sign up for this newsletter? If you did – good, because it’s the only way to access a copy of the entire prologue before anyone else, and this version contains pages from the graphic novel.
What are some of your favorite bedtime stories or myths you grew up with, discovered, or read to someone else?
I received a huge compliment from an editor and literary agent who both told me they loved my because it reminds them of the humor and tone found in The Dresden Files Series by Jim Butcher.
I appreciate folks who make time to read my stories and share one or two things they think will benefit other readers, like the two reviews shown below:
“The story was very entertaining to read, which probably helped me finish it sooner than I expected. I had a lot of fun with this one! I found the plot and the writing style pretty captivating. Boone’s character is funny, lighthearted, and easy to like. I think the book will especially appeal to a young audience. Its tone reminds me of the adventure fantasy books I enjoyed as a kid.”
—Francis K., Arizona
“This is great writing and over-the-top imagination. I literally clasped my Bible and my partner held my hand because this was so scary to read, and scared the bejesus out of me. There is so much in this book, I could visualize everything and loved every minute of it. This will have a huge audience.”
—Betty K., California
How many printed books were sold in 2020?
According to Statista.com, printed book sales amounted to 750.89 million units in 2020, marking growth of 8.2 percent, the highest year-on-year increase since 2010.
How many books were published in 2018 and 2019?
ProQuest Bowker Report (October 15, 2019) reports almost 1.7 million books were self-published in the U.S. in 2018, and in 2019, books published in the U.S. exceeded 4 million. This includes both self-published and commercially published books.
Drop me a line, I would love to hear from you!
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Author of Non-fiction, Fantasy
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