Teach Me Something Tuesdays: Tips on how to write an about author/biography

Every Tuesday, I will be bringing you marketing, promotions, and marketing tips. Today, examples of how to write an about the author/biography page.

Tips on How To Write a Great Author Biography
-Write in the third person
-Tell the reader your purpose
-Tell the reader how you'll help them
-Explain what you do
-Focus on value
-Go ahead and boast
-Customize to different outlets/niche markets
-Add your website

Examples of Biographies

Born in San Francisco, California, (Name)  is a graduate of California State University, Fresno. Early in her career, working with renowned actress Kasey Rogers, she produced and directed a series of animated films on the television show Bewitched.

Josephine McDonald has a rare ability to evoke the power of myth through simple language and brilliant art which has earned her many honors. Her fascination with the trickster motif in folklore led her to the wondrous Native American tales about Raven.

Ms. McDonald is a consultant on education. She was born in San Jose, California, and presently lives in California.

(Name)  is the author of numerous books of folktales, and stories about Jewish holidays. He learned about this story while working with Native American children in the Pacific Northwest. Alan lives with his cat, Wakalope in Pleasanton, California.

(Insert name here) has illustrated a number of books for young people, including, The Delightful Old Apple Tree (Serendipity Press, 2017). He researched this book extensively and found a lot of information about the people who told the Sioux tales. (Name) lives with his wife (name)  and son and daughter in Tuscany, Italy.

Gina Meyers loves cooking, popular culture and traveling. As the featured television Bewitched fan on the popular Canadian television show Fanatical, and the host of various book signings, summer fun trivia contests, and as the hostess for, The Twitch Is Right (Bewitched Fan Fare 2008, Burbank, California, Victory Theatre), Gina’s dreams magically come true on a daily basis. Her passion for traveling has also taken her on a around the world search for the best places to live (she is still looking). She is married with three children.

Gina Meyers is the author of Take A Bite, Vampires, Forks, and Knives, is a novelist, marketer, and founder of Serendipity Press Inc.

The themes of respect for and protection of our world are an essential part of all her works.

(Name) received a master of arts in painting from American University and a bachelor of arts in art history from the University of Chicago. His paintings have been exhibited in London, LA, and New York.

Make a Difference Mondays: Words From Richard Parenti

In honor of remembering Author Richard Parenti, I will be providing his words of wisdom and tips on living joyfully every Monday at part of the make a difference Mondays Series.

"Live with Joy.. a Joyful heart blossoms year round."















 I met Richard in October of 2014. He was seated next to me at The Great Valley Bookfest in Manteca, California. I was there to promote my book(s), do a cooking demonstration, and pass out samples of my homemade banana bread, biscottis, and "popcorn hands". He was there to promote and to sell his book, Emotional Sobriety: feel Good Secrets for Everyone, Balboa Press, 2013. Richard's Book He kindly gave me a copy and I read his life story as well as his great "feel good secrets". His charismatic personality led him to invite me to Modesto for his small but mighty, "Master Mind Group". And my brave personality allowed me to accept the invitation.   The Master Mind Group was comprised of a  small group of individuals dedicated to learning. Richard compiled a workbook called, My New Story: Tune in, Tap in, Turn on. Let the good times roll, Get in the vortex. Based upon the teachings of Abraham-Hicks Videos and on the higher teachings of Yoga.  I only made the trip a handful of times, but each time I benefited from the information presented and purchased a workbook to glimpse through when interested. To be honest, side note, words like "the vortex" scared me and so it took some time and understand that "the vortex" is just another word for "joy".

Remembering Richard Parenti

Remembering Richard Parenti. Life is an amazing roller coaster ride, or at least Richard Parenti helped me to remember to have fun. I very recently learned off his passing. The way I found out was a bit disheartening, this week in fact. I googled his name and saw that he had passed away in May of 2017. Richard's Obituary I knew that it was coming, his imminent passing,  I found out about a year ago when he came to Fresno to visit another friend and we had lunch . That's when I learned that his cancer had come back and the doctors had given him a few months to live.

 I met Richard in October of 2014. He was seated next to me at The Great Valley Bookfest in Manteca, California. I was there to promote my book(s), do a cooking demonstration, and pass out samples of my homemade banana bread, biscottis, and "popcorn hands". He was there to promote and to sell his book, Emotional Sobriety: feel Good Secrets for Everyone, Balboa Press, 2013. Richard's Book He kindly gave me a copy and I read his life story as well as his great "feel good secrets". His charismatic personality led him to invite me to Modesto for his small but mighty, "Master Mind Group". And my brave personality allowed me to accept the invitation.   The Master Mind Group was comprised of a  small group of individuals dedicated to learning. Richard compiled a workbook called, My New Story: Tune in, Tap in, Turn on. Let the good times roll, Get in the vortex. Based upon the teachings of Abraham-Hicks Videos and on the higher teachings of Yoga.  I only made the trip a handful of times, but each time I benefited from the information presented and purchased a workbook to glimpse through when interested. To be honest, side note, words like "the vortex" scared me and so it took some time and understand that "the vortex" is just another word for "joy".

In honor of remembering Richard Parenti, I will be providing his words of wisdom and tips on living joyfully every Monday at part of the make a difference Mondays Series.

To recap, here is an interview that I conducted with Richard about a year ago.

What made you decide that your life needed to change?

In 1974 my life was abruptly interrupted by my wife asking for a divorce, my car being repossessed, getting fired, being locked out of my home and all my credit cards canceled all in one big swoop. On top of that I realized I had enough of drinking and drugs and that my life was going downhill in a hurry, so I quit.

Describe for us, how was the process of writing for you.

I had a habit of writing down on napkins my thoughts. My best friend one day said as we were having dinner, “Why don’t you take all those napkins you have saved up and show them to a published writer.”

I did just that. I found an eighty-year old author who charged $5.00 an hour for his time. He had authored 13 books, had owned his own ad agency and was still writing, but now for the fun of it he loved helping new writers, and why he charged so little he said, “I’ve made all the money I need. The five dollars is to buy myself some wine that my wife keeps hiding from me.”

He reviewed my napkins and told me to write a two to three page story of my experiences in Europe when I was involved in the espionage business.

I told him I had no idea of how to use grammar. He retorted, “That’s unimportant. That’s what editors get paid for. I just want to feel your style.

After I completed my first assignment, he said, “You got passion. You can write, but you’re right you know nothing about grammar” We both got a good laugh. That was 1982. Since then I have written many articles that were published, initially in all the major restaurant magazines nationally when I was in the restaurant business and then several articles in a prestigious international Yoga magazine over the last 10 years.

 When did you know what your true calling would be?

In 1974 when I got divorced and fired I had an internal experience that revolutionized my life. I went from being an international spy, jet setting around the world to looking inward as to what I had experienced and within a very short time I began looking for answers to what had happened to me. This led me to the science of yoga. Not postures, but the inner science that would lead me to an authentic path to God Realization within and being mentored by Swami’s from India.

Then it was in 2004 when I was in India on a 40-day silent retreat in the Himalaya’s that I got my first inkling what my calling might be. Initially I thought it was only for me to learn how to master my emotions, but after my return the United States it was revealed to me that this inner work of yoga, mastering emotions would be my life’s work, not only for me but for other people as well. Up to this time I had fun teaching the yoga postures, mediation and in talking about many of the other aspects of yoga that I knew about.

It wasn’t until later that I began teaching “Emotional Mastery,” in a workshop after I had tested it on myself for over 9 years. First, I offered it to the public, who had little interest. Then, I was invited by a yoga center to teach it to people who were training to become yoga teachers. That was when this work found a home, as the interest was genuine and they were hungry. I realized they had never heard of this in their yoga training before and were eager to learn more about the inner science of yoga.

Eating Your Way Through History, what Preacher and Revivalist, Jonathan Edwards might have eaten in the 1700's, Lamb Stew

American Preacher and Revivalist, Jonathan Edwards lived from October 5, 1703 to March 22, 1758. Dr. Allan G. Hedberg examines Edwards life from a mental health perspective in his book, Jonathan Edwards: A Life Well Lived West Bow Press. Perhaps one of the most fundamental lessons we can learn about an ordinary man with extraordinary gifts for the work of the Holy Spirit of God, is that his principles and message for things such as healthy living play a major role in mind, body, and spirit enhancement and development.

From reading excerpts from Dr. Hedberg's book, I saw time after time lessons that can be utilized for daily living. One important topic is healthy eating and healthy living.

Jonathan Edwards had a healthy lifestyle. He worked hard to make sure he and his family were healthy. One of his life choices was to examine what he ate and drank, he used medicinal foods and substances to promote good health. He used food and substances to heal the body when poor health took over.

Let's go back in time and imagine what Preacher Jonathan Edwards might have eaten. Some of the herbs that they used for flavoring food in the 1700's included basil, mint, parsley, sage, and dill.


Lamb Stew
2 1/2 pounds of lamb, cut into bite-size pieces
1/3 cup of flour
salt and pepper to taste
1/4 cup of butter
1 medium onion, quartered
1 clove of garlic, minced
8 whole mushrooms
12 medium yellow onion
1 teaspoon of sugar
1-2 teaspoons of thyme leaves
2 sprigs of parsley
1 large bay leaf
1 1/2 cups of red wine
6-8 carrots, peeled
8 small potatoes
Chopped parsley

Directions: Trim fat from lamb and cut meat into bite-size pieces. Combine flour, salt, pepper, coat the lamb evenly with the flour mixture. Melt butter in a Dutch oven on medium heat, add floured lamb pieces, quartered onion, and garlic. Cook until lamb is browned o all sides, stirring frequently. Add remaining ingredients and bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover and simmer for about 1 hour or until lamb is tender.

Make A Difference Mondays, Meet Claude Ball

Claude Ball, began his story in Detroit, Michigan, off the famous street called The 8 Mile Road,  a desolate existence. Suffering many years from childhood traumas and adversities, he lived a “darkness” throughout his teenage life.

Poor, sexually molested by a trusted relative, removed from his mother and grandmother's’ care, placed into the foster care system, life for young Claude seemed bleak. Continuing down a path of poor choices, his teenage years consisted of  experimenting with drugs and alcohol  and becoming sexually active at a young age. Darkness enveloped his life.

Somehow, by the sheer grace of God, a spark was ignited in Claude. After hitting rock bottom, he became determined to turn his life around. He enkindled a relationship with The King of the Universe- Christ Jesus! That same flame is still on fire today. With a correlation of prayers, tears, and action, wonderful things began to happen: Claude joined the United States Navy, Got married and started a family and turned the rough road into a happy life.

SOUL Full of Heart is a heartfelt book full of hope, peace, love, and joy. It is an autobiographical inspirational book. Claude Ball takes you on a dynamic and suspenseful journey through his horrendous life and shares the powerful message of mercy and forgiveness. Claude's Website

Hear in his own words, how he turned his life around, and is making a difference in others lives.

What do you do in your free time?
I spend it with my wife and three daughters. We like to go out and eat at restaurants, play charades and funny walking game, go to the theater and watch a movie.

Tell our readers how you have made a difference in other people's lives?

Almost three years now, I have been speaking to (mostly) youth groups/Christian groups about my crazy life experiences. And just about every speaking engagement, I’ll have a few come up to me afterwards. Most people like how blunt I am about how to deal with adversities. This is what happened to me, but I refuse to let it get the best of me. Move forward and do your best.

What is the hardest thing you have dealt with?

The answer to this question, without a doubt, being taken away from my mom and grandma. I was eight-years old in my third-grade classroom, and was called down to the office prepared to leave. Had no idea that earlier that morning was going to be the last time I was going to see my mom and grandma, for what seemed like to me a lifetime. Directly, I was placed into the Shelter Care, a foster care system, in and out of three foster homes and never really knowing when my siblings and I were going to officially go home.

What brings you the greatest joy?
All my children: Angelica, Julia, and Claudia. I love them so much.

 Tell our readers about your book.

It’s an autobiography. An autobiographical inspiration, is what I like to call it. I was born in Detroit, Michigan, and grew up off a street named 8 Mile Road. Eminem, the famous rapper, made his number one box office hit movie 8 Mile right down the street from me. Raised in poverty, sexually molested by an uncle at the age of six, placed in a foster care system, got into drugs and alcohol by the age of thirteen, and was in “darkness” as I like to label it, throughout my teenage life. Thankfully, I woke up one day and took control of my life with the help of Jesus Christ—The King of the Universe! My book is packed with well descriptive details of everything I mentioned and lots more. There are over seventy compelling stories that are juicier than you can imagine.

What is your favorite part of your book?
Besides Chapter 7: Bonus Tales Teddy Ruxpin, which cracks me up every time I read it, my favorite part of my book is the very last chapter: The End… Well, Almost Last Words. This was the hardest part of the book to write. It’s easier to write about my experiences, but to write a conclusion, capping off everything I wrote and its purpose and anything else was in some ways daunting, but very difficult. Creating a call to action was important to me. Finally, it broke through and it is powerful! I hope the readers agree.

How did you come up with the title?

After writing down about fifty or so title possibilities, I was quickly narrowing it down. I knew I had to stay away from having 8 Mile in it, in any way. With the combination of being told a lot in my life how big of a heart I have, and how spiritual I think I am, Soul Hearted was jotted down—Soul meaning two things in one word, “So” and “Soul”. Thinking for sure this was going to be it, months later, I was listening to one of my favorite oldies song by the Yard Birds Heart Full of Soul and decided this would be perfect! After researching titles already existed on Amazon, it was already taken or sounds exactly like it. Soon, A Soul full of Heart came to mind. I thought for sure this was the one. Then one day sitting in my “Lab” I was thinking, “Can my title be any better?” Then boom! Soul Full of Heart came out of my mouth and sounded much smoother without saying A.

Do you have any traditions?

Nothing unique really. As a family, we make sure go to Church every Sunday, celebrate our birthdays, Christmas, Easter, etc.

What do you like to do to relax?

Sitting on my chair in the living room and read an interesting book, sip on a glass of cabernet or amber ale or dark lager and watch a movie or a tv show with my wife.


How are you involved in the community?

My speeches have been an essential way for me to be involved in the community. Helping to spread a great message, especially to the youth. Hoping to get them to think twice about doing drugs and alcohol and to overall make good judgement.

12 Things I Learned From Louise L. Hay

“In the infinity of life where I am, all is perfect, whole, and complete.”
LOUISE HAY

Last night my mom read  words about Louise’s thoughts on death from one of her passages in You Can Heal Your Life. It says, “I joyfully move on to new levels of experience, all is well.”

It provided comfort those words.

Perhaps one of the greatest teachers, mentors, and promoters of self-love  passed away yesterday at the age of 90.  Louise L. Hay was a pioneer, she  started the self-help movement with her extraordinary blockbuster book, You Can Heal Your Body, 1976.  Ironically, her passing coincided to the exact day (August 30th), two years earlier of  her dear friend Dr. Wayne Dyer.

What does it take to Heal Your Body? Louise believe wholeheartedly in  positive affirmations, mental health, healing from childhood traumas, eating right, journaling, seeking the sound advice of a therapist, thinking positive thoughts, and so much more. In the 1980’s, she wrote a second best selling book, You Can Heal Your Life. This time around, the world took notice, You Can Heal Your Life has sold over 3 million copies, is a New York Times Bestseller, and has been sold in over 30 countries and been translated into multiple languages.

Through Louise’s healing techniques and positive philosophy, millions have learned to create a life of their dreams full of wellness in their bodies, minds, and spirits. In 1988, Louise was invited to be on The Oprah Show. She was invited to talk about the law of attraction and her philosophy of positive thinking and affirmations.

This is what Louise says about affirmations:

“I look at affirmations as like planting seeds. You put the seeds in the ground you don’t have the flower in one day. You make sure you give it water, it has good soil, you take out the weeds, you give it time.”

Here are 12 Things I’ve Learned From Louise L. Hay

1. Affirmations
2. Any disease is a result of unforgiveness.
3. Create Visualizations
4. Law of Attraction
5. Power of Gratitude
6. Mirror Work
7. Self-Love
8. Higher Consciousness
9. Intuitive voice of a higher power
10. We are all children of God/Higher Power
11. Loving Oneself is the key
12. The power of positive thinking will heal the mind, body, spirit

All is well.

Recommended book(s): You Can Heal Your Life, by, Louise L. Hay Buy on Amazon,
Manifesting Magnificence, A Personal Growth Workbook, by Gina Meyers and Dr. Allan G. Hedberg, Cecelia M. Klinger, Liz Longo, Linda Ferrari, and Alan Hill: Buy on Amazon, Bundles of Binding Time, Eternal Quotations, by, Linda Ferrari, Buy on Amazon

Food For Thought, Keeping It Sexy & Spicy with K.P. Phagnasay, by, Gina Meyers

stock photo of Spring or Summer Rolls

stock photo of Mango and Sticky Rice Dessert

    As a cookbook author and publisher, I am fortunate to make and meet a lot of creative friends. One such friend I didn't have to travel all over the world to meet, I met him at an event in Fresno a couple of years ago. KP Phagnasay is an American. Originally, he was born in Laos, in South East Asia, but his family came to seek a better life in The United States of America. Initially, K.P.'s family  settled in Hawaii, then they moved to a small town in Illinois and finally settled in Fresno, California. We had an interesting conversation about the history of food, traditions, and he shared some fun and yummy Laotian Inspired dishes. K.P. is an actor, photographer, web designer, stuntman, coach, video producer,  set designer, I could go on.

He also is a home cook and a gardener. He grows a lot of his own food. Here's what I learned in a nutshell, pun intended.

K.P. believes that food brings friends and strangers together. He believes that presentation is important, it must be edible, healthy, presentable. He enjoys looking in his fridge and creating something from whatever is in the refrigerator or garden. His personal motto is, "keeping it sexy and spicy." What that means  is he has a philosophy, an attitude, lifestyle approach. "Stop, and take a deep breath." He enjoys cooking Asian food, there are elements of his family tradition and influence in his cooking style. K.P. can spend hours in the kitchen, he finds it relaxing, a sort of therapy. He has memories of watching his aunts and mother cooking. He believes everyone needs encouragement, a dream to achieve.

Cooking to K.P. can give you ownership over what you put into your body. Keeping it, "sexy and spicy." To learn more about K.P. KP 1 Studios.

Mango and Sticky Rice  Dessert

Recipe by, K.P. Phagnasay

1 cup of Coconut Milk

1 cup of Sticky Rice or Jasmine Rice

2 Tablespoons of Sugar
2 pinches of salt

1 Mango

Pandan (flavor option)

Directions: Soak rice in coconut milk add a bit of water to it (make sure you soak the rice) about an hour or overnight.

Cook rice in the rice maker(cooker..make sure there's enough liquid-I measured by using the  tip of my index finger to the middle line on the rice cooker, the traditional way of cooking the rice is by steaming. 

(option: I like using a PANDAN flavoring essence--you can get it an Asian local store. It comes in a bottle or you can get the actual plant, you will add that in  while you are cooking the rice, if using the Pandan plan, make sure to take the plant out and discard after the rice has been cooked. It adds a nice flavor and aroma to the rice.

Let the rice cook. Once the rice is cooked, add the sugar and salt. Depending upon your taste preferences, you may add additional sugar if you prefer it to taste sweeter, though the coconut milk gives it a sweetness.  My preference is brown sugar instead of white sugar. Mix well and let it sit for 5 to 10 minutes.

Once rice is cooked, use an ice cream scope (If you don't have an ice cream scope, use a spoon or rice paddle) to place on plate. Thinly slice the ripe mango and put it to the side of the rice or flair it out on the dish to give it a "Tropical" presentation. Add coconut flakes, coconut or vanilla ice cream to the side.

ENJOY!

Spring or Summer Rolls
(Spring or Summer, anytime Rolls)

Rice Wrappers
Vermicelli rice noodles
Shrimp (already cooked and cleaned)
Mint sprigs
Shredded carrots
Chopped cucumber
Romaine Lettuce

Directions: Follow the package directions for how to expand the rice wrappers, usually with water and a paper towel. Once your rice wrapper is malleable, first add washed and dried lettuce leaf. Continue to add ingredients, your mint springs, shredded carrots, chopped cucumber, cooked shrimp, rice noodles. Follow directions to roll your Spring or Summer Roll.
Spicy Sauce

K.P.'s Spicy Asian Sauce
In a small bowl, add a diced Asian chili, garlic, fish sauce, a little sugar, hot water, add peanuts (check for allergies) (crush them in the coffee grinder). Mix and squeeze a whole lime to top off the mixture.