I Have Something To Say

Fighting Aids in Paradise

Susan Violante — Fri, 18 May 2012 04:42:06 GMT

A while back I attended the “Rewriting Life Scripts Workshop” in Austin and met Dr. Stewart. Conversation flowed quickly as we learned our common love for the Caribbean. Then he mentioned to me all the work he has been doing as a healthcare provider as well as information facilitator. Since then I had wanted to interview him for I Have Something To Say Live. I was a long wait, but it finally happened this month.

I loved talking to him because being from the NW coast of Venezuela it feels like talking to an old friend, even though we met once, but make no mistake, I dedicated almost an hour to this interview because of the information value he delivered.

Did you know that if you are an AIDS infected mother-to-be, by getting treatment you would be giving your baby the chance to be born without HIV? Yup, I did not know that….

The interview is focused on Dr. Stewart’s Caribbean Wellness Advancement Project as the Caribbean ranks on second place for new cases in the world. But every piece of information he offered is applicable everywhere. Everyone should listen to what Dr. Stewart has to say!

Listen to the Live interview here: www.ihavesomethingtosaylive.com

Are You Fighting Stereotypes?

Susan Violante — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 17:16:41 GMT

All of my life I have been fighting labels and stereotypes. The ones set from within my own family core, the ones within my Italian background, and all the other ones found within the culture of each country I have lived in. Add to all that the fact that I am an Immigrant woman and you can double the struggle. Yet, I chose to fight. I still don’t know why exactly, all I know is that labels infuriate me so much I make it a point to prove them not applicable to me. It is in my nature to fight them and so I do automatically, but I never gave a lot of thought to how those labels and stereotypes could hurt me by limiting my success and income until I was introduced to Fighting the Stereotype by Alexander R. Gibson.

I invited him to I Have Something to Say Live and our conversation inspired me so as well as the poem he shared. I realized that my fight against the labels and stereotypes that were being imposed to me was not just for my well being. My fight was opening the road for those who would come after me. But it doesn’t stop there. The more I thought about it, the more I realized that where I stand today and the person I became was a direct result of my battles against my own battle against the stereotypes applied to my persona. Yet, I am guilty of stereotyping. I can’t come up with an exact number of times I stereotyped others. I can’t remember who or why. But I am not able to avoid the shadow of guilt that over comes my soul.

I am grateful I had the opportunity to meet Alexander, an inspiring young man who knows firsthand few things about fighting stereotypes. He shared his experiences through his poetry on his book Fighting The Stereotype. He didn’t stop there. Alexander set himself to change the stereotypes as Founder/CEO of Help For the Helped.

I encourage everyone to listen to what Alexander has to say on I Have Something To Say Live!

For more information about Help For the Help visit www.my.fundraising.com/HelpfortheHelped

Do we trust or blame God?

Susan Violante — Sat, 24 Mar 2012 13:48:38 GMT

I have always loved to listen to people stories; this is why I truly love interviewing my guests at I Have Something To Say Live. There is something about interviewing that allows me to make the guest open up and reveal themselves and their messages to my audience. From each interview I learn something new about different lives, different experiences, but once in a while a phrase out of hundred phrases jumps at me only to nag me every day until I re-visit it deeply within my heart. This was the case with my guest author Jackie Carpenter during our interview.

Answering to my question on how people’s faith gets affected by sudden tragedy differently she said:

“It’s very simple. At that moment you have to make a decision. Do you trust in God or do you blame Him for what it is happening to you?”

The interview kept going but her phrase was stuck in my brain. I’ve seen my parents’ struggle with their faith as survivors of WWII recovering from Post-traumatic stress, like all children who grew up in a war zone. But, I’ve seen my grandmothers who have seen as adults firsthand the horrors of war get closer to God through the years.

I couldn’t let it go; you see my own faith journey has known both choices. I had blamed God when my oldest child as a 7 weeks baby stopped breathing 4 times in my arms, and then trusted Him when I was able to revive her. I had trusted God to show me the way through a difficult decision, and then blamed Him when the results of my decision were catastrophic. But at no time I had seen that whether I trusted or blamed Him was my own decision to make.

Do I trust or blame God? What a powerful concept…what will I do on my next crisis? As I keep thinking about it, I realize that this question is within all of us. No matter of credo, language, age, culture. Even for atheists the question to trust or blame is also a choice for them to make when deciding to trust or blame themselves and others.

On all cases trusting when life flows freely harmoniously is so easy; we don’t even realize we make the decision to trust, or to blame our family, our peers, God every day. But when things go wrong and tragedy falls upon us, how we decide can haunt us filling our heart with regret, or it can hold us through…

Will we trust or blame God? We won’t know for sure until we face tragedy.

It was the worst kind of tragedy that answered that question for Jackie. I encourage you to listen to what she had to say on I Have Something to Say Live!

For more information about Jackie Carpenter, her books and the upcoming movie visit her at www.georgiajusticemovie.com

How Far Will You Go for Your Writing?

Susan Violante — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 04:05:00 GMT

I have been writing since I was 12 years old, but it wasn’t until I discovered the rich story of my parents that I thought about sharing my writings with anyone other than myself. It wasn’t until I decided to publish that I truly realized how passionate I was about what I had to say.

To get my message out became an urge, a necessity, and a priority. This necessity became stronger than my personality, than my lifestyle. I went from shy to outspoken, from homebound to out and about, from anti-social to social monster! My passion took control of me and hasn’t let go since. Since then I have not just gotten out of my comfort zone by speaking on the radio airwaves, hosting my own online radio, and on appearing on Book signings and speaking events, I was also reaching out to others for opportunities to spread my message and sell my books. Everything that I thought I would never be able to do, seemed not just possible but natural.

Still, I came across and author who did the one thing I have not done, but after hearing his story wished I had! Christopher Herz author of Pharmacology, his second and most recent book, started as a New York self-published author. He went from selling his books on the streets of New York by approaching strangers to offer his book, to have his first novel The Last Block in Harlem published and read worldwide! How? He it to the right person as he sold his book one person at a time out on the streets.

I recently had the opportunity to speak with him in I Have Something To Say Live. I encourage all of you writers out there to listen to what he has to say.

To Listen to his Live interview visit I Have Something To Say Live!

To learn more about Christopher Herz visit www.herzwords.com

What Ever Happened To Professional Courtesy ABC?

Susan Violante — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 03:21:43 GMT

As a favor to an Italian TV network and a journalist friend of mine, I called the ABC network to a phone number that was given to me by my Italian journalist friend, and ex-co host of one of my online radio shows.

My mission was to help with the language barrier and get some information for them.

So this week I dialed the phone number and got ABC’s News assignment desk. I began explaining who I was, why I was calling, and who referred me to that number but the person who answered the phone went crazy!

“This is the news; we don’t care about documentaries, why are you calling this number? We are the news, THE NEWS!!”

“I was given this numb…” I tried to word out,

“I don’t know why you got this number. THIS IS THE NEWS!” And he hung up.

Really?

He didn’t even know who I was. I could have been calling for Robert De Niro, about a zillion dollars deal for ABC!

Now, I understand the speed the phone line moves on a newsroom. So why did this ABC representative (because whoever is answering the phone is representing the Company) just say:

“Sorry but you got the wrong number. Please visit our website for the correct information.”

Now, wouldn’t that be faster?

In all honesty, why do we allow others to treat us in such an unprofessional manner? I have been part of ABC’s audience for over 20 years, since I arrived in the US, contributing to their ratings which in turn make them more money. If I call them, no matter what for, the person who answers the phone, regardless of their position should at least have good manners!

Once again I take my blog to vent, and to ask ABC Network and all the other big Companies where their professional courtesy has gone. With all the money they are making off of us, the masses, couldn’t they dedicate some time and dollars to good manner classes for their employees?

As a retired business analyst I am baffled any company owner no matter how small or big will allow people like that answer a phone!

It is a shame that during a time where most times the phone is answered by a recording or an overseas outsourced call center, the one time I got an actual person who speaks my language, that person made me wish I had gotten a recording.

I remember once upon a time when professionalism and customer service was what gave a company the edge over their competitor. So why is it now days that the biggest companies have the worse professional courtesy and customer service?

Maybe it is because we, the masses keep doing business with them anyway. Well, not me. Not this time, not again. ABC will not be one of the channels I click on to listen to the news anymore…

I will not support any company that will not give me the courtesy and respect I deserve as a human being.

I invite you in the masses to take a stand and demand professional courtesy in exchange for your support.

A Long Lost Relative

Susan Violante — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 21:24:22 GMT

This past weekend I spoke at the Italian Center in Sacramento California. I was very excited as I was going to present my story to people that most likely shared a similar story with me. It was a great weekend; I got to see old friends, and make new ones, but also was surprised to find a lost relative. As I promoted through Face-book, I was introduced to another cousin from the Sacramento area. So during the event, she came and we got to meet! She is actually married to my grandfather’s brother’s grandson. It can get confusing but it was so much fun meeting a relative of my fathers as I presented his story!

What humbled me at the event was not just discovering a relative from my father’s bloodline, but discovering many other relatives from the heart. I had never realized how many people around me could relate to my own journey as I tried to learn more about my parents’ stories. How many of them didn’t realize, just as I didn’t before, how important it is to record our family stories and our own…

I was truly inspired more than ever to keep my quest alive as I venture deeper in helping others tell their story through I Have Something To Say Press, and keep sharing my journey with my own family stories by publishing book two: Emerging From Rubble (coming out at the end of the year or beginning of 2013), as well as speaking aloud about my journey.

I am grateful to have met each one of the people that came to the event at the Italian Center in Sacramento, and am honored to have learned a little of their stories as they spoke with me, because as matter of fact we are all long lost relatives.

Susan Violante with her found cousin and her friend. Susan Violante the Italian Center Executive Director.

We all have something to say, so why not say it aloud; say it live, or in written word. It doesn’t matter how, just say it! For more information on how I can help you to write you story visit www.ihavesomethingtosaypress.com

Businesses Gone Rogue!

Susan Violante — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:49:38 GMT

For many years I lived a double life. On one hand I was working fulltime in Accounting and Business Analysis and on the other I was a freelance writer and illustrator. I did this from 1994 to 2009. I did this convinced that I was supposed to earn a living working on a big corporation and then satisfy my cravings and talents by doing what I loved as a hobby.

I am not sure how this conviction came to be, maybe a combination of upbringing and opportunity? Who knows, but the truth of the matter is that I knew I was not happy limiting myself to take the opportunities that came my way instead of creating my own opportunities. So I took a leap right after I was diagnosed with Rheumatic Arthritis, and retired from my profession of 20 years with the publication of Innocent War in 2009.

Now, just because I leaped, doesn’t mean that I was reckless. I did my homework to determine whether or not it was something possible to do. I admit that being diagnosed with a chronic illness gave a sense of urgency to leap, but I have also been analyzing businesses for 20 years so I knew how dangerous it is to put romance on top of reality when making a decision.

In the end, I did have to compromise if I wanted to go rouge. I let go of my beautiful huge dream house (which wasn’t that difficult to do as I knew that the stairs would be a problem eventually), budgeted a little and reduced expenses and found a part-time position within the publishing industry, so that I could learn the business while making some income. I never looked back.

My life has changed in more ways than I expected. But more importantly, I changed. I had to take a hard look within and make some adjustments as my lifestyle was changing. Some changes were difficult and some were easier. In the end I was determined to get my goal to dare to go rouge, and so I pressed on.

A few weeks ago I attended what I thought to be a small business workshop happy to escape from computer, hoping to get some business wisdom out of it, and afraid of finding a bunch of aggressive business people that would not relate with me.

Meeting Bob Olmstead in his Small Business Strategist workshop came at the right time for me as he not only was none of the above on my list of what I did not want but expected, he actually was exactly what I needed to get myself to the next level. I was reassured that I was on the right track, but it also made me see things within myself that needed to be let go in order to move forward.

In the days that followed his workshop, I accomplished more than what I had accomplished in the weeks preceding the workshop. I invited Bob to I Have Something To Say Life to share some of his wisdom. If you are thinking to go rogue or you did but feel stuck I invite you to listen to what he has to say. For live interview visit I Have Something To Say Live.

For more information about what Bob can do for you visit him at: www.rogue-sage.com

Our Legacy, what do our successors really need?

Susan Violante — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 16:09:54 GMT

Most of us don’t start thinking about our legacy we become parents. Yet, we were children first! What is our parent’s legacy to us? Will we pass it down or did we lose it. There are many things we think of when speaking about family legacy. Most of them though are material, tangible things like money, a house, jewelry, an education, a business. As a child, those things never interested me. I always wanted, I needed their stories.

And so, when I became a parent I set out to create the type of legacy I craved and collected my parents’ lives on tape so that I could write their stories for our successors to read. Like everyone else, I was thinking that by doing so I could leave memories for when they are gone. I was wrong.

Harvesting my parents’ stories actually gave me a present and future with them, while creating a present and future with my own kids. It was not just about reading their memoirs and remembering them after they would be gone. It was about understanding who they were by learning what challenges they had to face. This understanding healed any past wounds I had as a child, and made me a better parent that what I thought I could ever be, because it taught me to show who I am to my own kids as they grow up. This is why it has been my goal to help people say what they have to say, to share their stories and life lessons as my legacy. I know that if we do, a new understanding of ourselves will make a difference in this world. However, I thought that I was alone on this quest. Then I met Lindsay Patterson.

Lindsay is the founder of Reflect & Record through which she helps people to record and preserve their stories in an innovative way. I decided to share what she has to say by inviting her to the show. I encourage everyone to listen to her Live interview at I Have Something To Sat Live.

Below is a peak to Lindsay’s world. For more information you can visit her at www.reflectandrecord.com

Life Scripts

Susan Violante — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 00:09:33 GMT

Every January I like to meditate to recap the previous year to identify mistakes and try to figure out what happened, so that I don’t repeat them again. Amazingly, I always conclude that most of the mistakes I made are actually repeats! I decided that this year it would be different, so I started to research to understand why this is happening to me. I realized that it isn’t just me! I discovered we all have Life Scripts that have imprinted within ourselves. These scripts have a lot to do with what decisions we make, how we react to things…etc. Some are positive, and some are not that positive. Is it possible that my own life scripts play a part on my decision making to the point to repeat the same mistakes? If this is the case, can I re-write the scripts to change this?

I believe it is possible so I started this year cleaning house to eliminate the clutter…inside-out. I organized my closet, my home office, and my schedule. I created time for everything, work, family, dogs, knitting or reading, and even meditation. Getting rid of the clutter as helped me to take inventory of myself and my life in general. Meditating has allowed me to take the time to self-exploration to identify areas about myself that I am not happy with, as well as habits that I have that might contribute to it.

It is a long process and I am new to this, but I am already seeing small results. To learn more about Rewriting Life Scripts I invited Psychologist and author Irene Watson to I Have Something to Say Live to explain what Life Scripts are and how can we re-write them.

Check out the book!

To listen to Live interview visit I Have Something To Say Live!

Relatives Who Are Chosen Friends.

Susan Violante — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 23:13:39 GMT

The greatest thing about launching my I Have Something To Say brand has been tapping into an infinite well of inspiring people and their stories. And again life humbles me by showing me not only inspiring and talented people within my immediate circle of friends and family but also young!

It is true that friends are chosen family, but sometimes we find relatives who are chosen friends. This is what the Camillo’s have been to me and my family. Since I grew up in Venezuela while they were in the US the contact between them and us was limited to once every few years, and yet a beautiful friendship developed and not only survived the test of time and distance to this day, but it extended to our spouses and children. This is why I was humbled again by life when I got introduced to Nick Camillo’s music and discovered that I not only connected with it but totally love it.

This week, I decided to interview him at I Have Something To Say Live. Now, I’ve always known Nick as the sweet son of my cousins ‘till now. During the interview I discovered that in spite of remaining sweetness he has become a grounded, smart, inspiring young adult…oh and for you young girls out there, did I mention handsome?

No, really this past couple of years I have been very fortunate to come across insanely inspiring people. Today I am insanely thankful to discover one of the most inspiring young musicians today within my own family. Check out his website at www.nickcamillo.com, and be one of the thousands who have gotten a free CD download!

Listen to Live interview at I Have Something To Say Live!

Goodbye 2011, Hello 2012!

Susan Violante — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 16:08:58 GMT

And so another year ended, and as I try to get used to changing the year each time I write down the date, I look back to re-visit what went on in my life during 2011, and say goodbye. It was a busy year, filled with ups and downs. With many firsts and some lasts, few laughs, and cries but for sure a year of accomplishments and change.

A change of lifestyle, as I was forced to let go of things I once thought important. A change of attitude, as I focused my life on my own happiness. A change of vision as new points of view made their appearance. I say goodbye to 2011 leaving the old me behind, embracing whoever I will discover within. All this change came to be to preparing me for what 2012 has to offer, for anticipating a new era, a new me.

Many new things starting this year for my I Have Something to Say brand. I look forward to uncovering one by one and see them grow. I look back to 2011 with gratitude and thank all of you who visited me throughout. Whose comments and emails motivated me to continue forward, whose willingness and courage to share their lives and lessons humbled me, because thanks to all of them I evolved and stand ready for a new year, a new adventure. Thank You ALL!!!

To listen to I Have Something To Say Live 2011 best moments and 2012 preview click Here

An Austin tragedy...a world's inspiration and loss

Susan Violante — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 00:21:53 GMT

My daughter had come to me in shock telling me how this boy she met at ACL and saw at a party passed away as he enjoyed Christmas with his family. The only thought of it was devastating, but then she came back at me;

"Mom watch this," she said with watery eyes,"This is Ben Breedlove, the boy I told you about."

I watched, and as the first few seconds of footage went by my tears were flowing uncontrollably. I felt shame...here I was 48 years of an amazing life and feeling sorry for myself because my arthritis was acting up. How dare I complain...

Thank you Ben for sharing your life with us through this you tube post...thanks go to your family for having such an Angel, my thoughts and prayers go out to you...thank you God for once again sending us Angels to show our way...

A Home That Builds Lives - Saint Louis House

Susan Violante — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 06:27:19 GMT

Food and shelter are the two basic needs all living things should never be denied from, and yet as we all roam around looking for the Holiday goodies and presents, we drive by numerous homeless around the city. The stereotype in our minds is that they are mostly military vets, passing by nomads or simply people who have given up. On all of this cases we tend to assume that they are all mostly man. We are wrong.

As I found out when I learned about Saint Louis Homes on a Holiday party hosted by PR By The Book, per statistics from ECHO (Austin/Travis County Ending Community Homelessness Coalition), there are 520 homeless families at any given night in Austin alone. What I found alarming is that 90 % of these are headed by single women. I needed to get involved.

The biggest gift I received from learning about my parents' childhood during WWII in Italy is discovering the incredible courage and strength both of my grandmothers had to find within, as they struggle to keep their children safe, and fed. But also the hope they must have had to keep trying to raise their children honest, good hearted, and capable to be resourceful as well as ambitious so that they would be able to rebuild their lives.

As I learned about the work they do at Saint Louis House, I quickly realized that building lives was their true mission. Giving relief helps to support someone during a time of need, but providing a homeless mother and her children with a home, tools, and guidance to build their lives is a solution to homelessness because it breaks a vicious cycle.

Some of these children before SLH have never been able to feel safe. At SLH they can once again be children while their mother gets back on her feet. With guidance on finding a job, managing finance and a safe home to re-group, these once homeless families are becoming success stories.

Saint Louis House is building lives out of rubble just as my parents did on their own...I encourage everyone to visit their website www.saintlouisehouse.org and learn how to help as well as read some of their incredible success stories.

To listen to Live interview visit I Have Something To Say Live!

Adopt a Charity for Holidays

Susan Violante — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 13:55:48 GMT

Throughout the year we are always so busy, that we barely find time for ourselves. Many times I find myself listening to heart wrenching stories about other people struggles, incredible people who dedicate their lives to helping others, and non-profit organizations making a difference on someone's life. And yet the people in need multiply every day, especially with all of the political, and economic tragedies going on currently worldwide. Surviving for the average person takes 24 hours a day, 7 days a week!

But, if you are like me, not doing something for someone is not an option. Well, most of us can't dedicate our lives to service, nor set time for service on our regular schedule. But being busy doesn't mean that we can't make a difference at least once a year! We don't have to save the world, and we don't have to be apathetic to all of the social issues surrounding us. All we have to do is what we can.

So, if you are one of the people dedicating your life to others, take a break during the Holidays! You've earned it. Rest and take care of you for a change. And if you never have time to help anyone else, why not do something for someone during the Holidays, and enjoy the incredible feeling of giving back! Just remember that to make a difference we do not have to commit to stop living to give...we just have to commit to give, no matter how, no matter to who.

So if you did not find time throughout the year to help someone in need, give a break to those who spent the year helping out and adopt a charity for this Holiday Season. Then next year adopt a different one, make it fun, make it a tradition, create memories with your loved ones by giving together time, goods, or both. You can have memorable holidays by making a difference on someone's life even if once a year!

Fighting Government Corruption through Knowledge

Susan Violante — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 04:48:16 GMT

As the daughter of Italian parents from the Mussolini era and WWII survivors, I truly understand what consequences can result from apathy or ignorance of the masses. This is why the first thing that comes to mind when I ask myself how can all of the corruption, and manipulation from our economic and political leaders be happening so openly throughout the globe, is apathy and lack of knowledge from all of us. Yes, I included myself!

I mean other than voting blindly (since we really don’t understand what the candidates are talking about), and happy go lucky protesting (since protests have no direction and never result in change), I could not find anything that we are truly doing, as the people, to safeguard our rights. I am actually ashamed of myself as I did obtain a BA in Political Sciences…

So I decided to pay more attention to the news and to research what I don’t understand. Then I came across to Dave Kluge’ book The People’s Guide to the United States Constitution. Now, during college in Venezuela, I had to study our Constitution (which by the way is a copy of the US constitution, or at least was before Chavez). But, as much as I hate to admit it, I have never read the US Constitution yet have been part of the body of voters! Yes I became citizen years ago, and no, I was not required to read the constitution…

I went to Dave Kluge’s blog and decided to interview him on I Have Something to Say Live! It was a very insightful conversation which has changed my attitude forever. How can we defend our rights, if we don’t even understand what our rights are! Watch out D.C… I am educating myself and will be paying attention!

To listen to Live interview visit I Have Something To Sat Live!

Eliminating Hunger One Can at a Time

Susan Violante — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 19:36:03 GMT

Fighting poverty is one of the social topics that I embrace. Growing up in Venezuela, poverty was very difficult to ignore. I was lucky enough to attend a missionary school for many years and learn the gift of service and helping others. But growing up under my parents war memories of not having anything to eat is what truly left a big imprint in my heart about hunger as one of the most serious social issue in the world.

Every as we serve all the goodies I cooked up, I always pause and think about all the people that are struggling to put anything on the table and as we give thanks we also say a little prayer for them. Well, Tony Marren's Operation Just One Can's could be the answer to so many prayers because its ripple effect could easily turn into a movement to successfully fight Hunger. He somehow came up with the idea to motivate people to help by showing them just how simple and easy it can be. There is no need to try to tackle hunger by ourselves as the humongous problem it is.

What we can do though, is use the social organizations in place, like Churches, Stadiums, Schools, even our own dinner parties, and have everyone bring just one can of food, to be sent to the community’s food bank.

This Thanks Giving lets be grateful for the food we are about to share with friends, but let’s take our gratitude further and help out someone in need. To help is simple and effortless if we all are willing to participate...it is as simple as just one can... www.operationjustonecan.org

To listen to Live interview with Tony Marren visit I Have Something To Say Live!

Giving Thanks Before Thanks Giving

Susan Violante — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 19:18:31 GMT

Throughout the year our busy schedules and everyday problems seldom gives us the serenity to pause and count our blessings. This is why Thanks Giving is my favorite Holiday. This year I started the Thanksgiving season with an unexpected treat last Wednesday.

I was browsing my FB feed before my I Have Something o Say Live broadcast and I came across a post from Cyrus Webb announcing that his next Conversations Live guest later that day was Dionne Warwick.

Well, I grew up listening to Nat King Cole and Dionne Warwick, because they were my Dad's favorites. Every Sunday while my Mom was making homemade pasta, my Dad would play their records. I specifically loved listening to Dionne's music because I loved to sing along pretending I was on the stage. Of course my voice didn't sound anything close to hers, and the lyrics came out with a very noticeable accent as my pronunciation was totally wrong. My Dad would joke around asking me why I was crying while I was singing, I would laugh and keep at it.

Unknowingly, Dionne Warwick turned into not just a childhood Idol, but she also became my own personal English tutor. During those years, I attended an American school. All of the classes were in English, and we actually were expected to speak only English even at the playground. Singing along to Dionne Warwick music improved my English comprehension and pronunciation to the point that my confidence in the language made it possible for me to keep it strong through all of my school years for me to develop a 100% fluency, even though it was my third language as my parents were Italian Immigrants in Venezuela.

Few decades and three countries later what started with Warwick's music, concluded with my first book published in English. Yes my first publication ever, was not on my native language and then translated into English...Innocent War was achieved in English directly, as I was able to write straight from my mind to my third language.

So, it was only natural to share my admiration for Warwick to Cyrus by commenting on his post. Little did I know that I would get to live a childhood dream as I got invited to call in and tell Ms. Warwick my story...yes, sometimes being grateful and thanking someone even if they never knew how they touched your life, can feel just as good as receiving their gift!

I hope you all get to thank personally a special someone in your life this year!

To listen to Dionne Warwick on Conversation Live click here

Today's Financial Corruption...Fact or Fiction?

Susan Violante — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 05:22:08 GMT

Government corruption, Wall Street manipulation, financial chaos…it all sounds like a fiction thriller…but I am actually speaking of current events and historical facts.

Was the Real Estate implosion of 2008 caused by inept leaders generating inefficient policies or by corrupt leaders generating policies to pursue their own interests?

As we see the world crumbling economically like Greece and the US, and Politically like Italy, just to name a couple, people take the streets in movements like “Occupy”.

But how did all this start? Why aren’t the systems working? I have a simple answer:

It is all based on lack of morality…

I truly believe that society is breeding leaders that have no morals and citizens that are apathetic. But to better understand where I am coming from I interviewed author Theodore Jerome Cohen. Ted is a Scientist and Engineer with over 40 years of experience. He also has been an Investor since 1960. His last two fiction novels – out of six – have a lot to do with this topic. In fact they are based on what might have been the origins of what we are seeing today.

I asked Ted to explain what he found through his research when working on Death by Wall Street and House Of Cards. If you want some insight on the Economy Downfall, listen to what Ted has to say!

To listen to Ted’s Live interview visit: www.live.susanviolante.com

Raising Your Kids When Working Outside the Home

Susan Violante — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 15:36:23 GMT

The staying at home or not issue never goes out of fashion for new parents. For some is a choice for others the luxury of choosing doesn’t exist. In an economy where the second scenario is becoming the rule, small children parents’ concerns are not based whether or not to have one stay at home full time but more how to explain their small children that they need to go to work.

I believe that the parents of today have the upper hand in comparison with the times when my children were younger, in the sense that they do not battle with the stigma and the guilt I had to face as both parents working is and kids on daycare are more a necessary situation. However, I find that the pressure of raising a well-adjusted, independent, and successful kid with a moral values core is on.

My experience of juggling work and family taught me that this is possible only by keeping the communication channels with your children wide open. This is why I loved Jennifer Pereyra’s book: Mommy & Daddy Work to Make Some Dough.

This book for Toddlers through Kindergarten will help them understand the family’s need for work, but what I find great about a book like this one is the opening of communication between parents and children on real life subjects at a young age.

We all tend to baby talk our babies, it is only natural. But we also need to prepare our babies for what they will face ahead in life. So the earlier we start opening the communication channels with them the better. Pereyra does an excellent job opening these channels through a picture book that explains real life issues with age appropriate language.

I decided to interview Jennifer about today’s demands on working parents. An insightful conversation all parents should listen. To hear what she had to say visit I Have Something To Say Live!

For more information about Jennifer Pereyra click here.

Facing Demos by Ashley Sanders a book Review

Susan Violante — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 14:23:09 GMT

Blake runs a rehab facility in an undisclosed location on the coast of Australia. Having fought his own Demons, he could not anticipate the horrors his next group had to face. He could not anticipate how their battles would play out, or the consequences. All he knew was that he would be there through out to help them to face their Demons.

Jason, Rebecca, Mathew, and Felicity had only one thing in common, none of them thought they belonged in rehab. They all believed their time at the “resort” would be a waste of time. Blake was just another person on payroll, who didn’t care about them. Their heart-wrenching pasts crushed their lives, their souls. Society had given up on them but not Blake. He would guide them on a one way journey to face their Demons. Will they win or will they lose their lives in the process?

Ashley Sanders takes the reader through these four problem kids’ journey on fighting their inner Demons. The reader will be inside their heads and hearts, and feel their heart-wrenching pain, and fears. Their battle will transcend to the Demons in their lives who they must fight to be free. But the battle will be fierce and there is no predicting if they will succeed or die in the process.

Facing Demons is a heart-wrenching story that will change the reader’s view about judging “problem kids.” I was fascinated by its setting in Australia, heart broken by the reality of all the characters, and drawn to the edge by the dramatic suspense of their battles.