Schools are no longer doing this. When I went to school, there were summer reading lists that you had to complete by the end of summer before school starts. Not anymore. Kids are now left to their own devices to maintain what they have learned to capitalize on next year’s learning. This is a responsibility that ends up falling on the parents. As a parent, I push my children to read. One of my boys hates reading but regardless of his distaste for books, I bring him books from the library that I know he will like based on what he has liked in the past or has watched on television.

Although our books have a morale to the story, the books you pick for your child don’t need to. They just need to lean into your child’s interests. Whether they like humor, mystery fiction, science, or fantasy books, it doesn’t matter. What matters is to get your child reading and engaging their imagination. Kids need to be consuming something other than social media or video games. Electronics offer kids a dopamine hit that provides a short term reward whereas books give long term value. The kind of writer I am is because of the reader I was as a child. I was a voracious reader and the library was my favorite place in the world. Thanks to my mom who encouraged reading, she is the reason I am an author today. To be an author, you must first be a reader.

I am not going to bore you with all the benefits of reading, you can read more about that here. I am telling you from personal experience. Summer reading is the reason I was in High Honors English throughout high school. Reading is why I love to write and write well. Reading as a child helped make it easier for me to transition back to this hobby as an adult. The smartest people I know are readers. So, I went back to reading several years ago as an adult and have not looked back.

If you want your kid to be an avid reader, capitalize on their free time during the summer to do so. You can even start them off easily with an audio book. Audiobooks are a great introduction into reading and still require the steady focus and attention of reading a book in print. So no, it is not cheating to have your kids engage with audiobooks. Listening to audiobooks will still provide them with all the benefits that reading has. We have an audiobook for young readers that is a perfect wind-down book for children who struggle with falling asleep. I started off reading audiobooks as a prelude before jumping into books on print which made this transition easier.

If you need help with creating a summer reading list, start with your local library. A lot of them have incentives built into their summer reading programs that incite young readers to stay disciplined about their reading. Prizes will definitely motivate your little readers to consume more books while building their endurance for reading. Visit your local library and see what they have to offer in terms of a summer reading program so that you don’t have to do the heavy lifting of picking the books and offering the incentives yourself.

Reading comprehension is the foundation of all learning. If your children can’t comprehend what they read, they will struggle in all their subjects. To set them up for success, get them reading during the summer to optimize their academic performance for that upcoming school year. If you don’t know what books to start off with, our children’s books are a safe bet because they have a morale to each story and teach about emotional wellness and entrepreneurship. Visit our online bookstore to learn more!

Book2inspire has a reputation for publishing stories that spark inspiration, build emotional development, and encourage lifelong learning. Their commitment to quality content aligns perfectly with Pufli Agency, whose talented illustrators specialize in captivating visuals that engage young readers and support educational development. Together, they aim to help self-published authors produce books that are not only visually stunning but also meaningful and impactful.

Visit our bookstore to discover our latest titles and learn more about their mission. For a closer look at Pufli Agency’s illustration portfolio and creative process, head over to Pufli. We can’t wait to see how this partnership will shape the future of children’s literature!

But we made a drastic mistake. And cut out those who supported us from the beginning.

Our families.

And for that our business suffered. Online sales stopped. Repeat customers became nonexistent.

It didn’t matter how much social media advertising we did, the people spoke. They did NOT like this new business model.

Because of this, we have brought back the ability for customers to make individual purchases. Wholesale orders are also allowed.

People like options and when you only provide one option, it cuts out the folks that might have purchased if they had another choice.

We are hopeful that you will now shop with us and take advantage of these life-changing children’s books that we have to offer.

You can visit our online store and see what books speak to you and can serve your children in the best way possible.

We hope to see you very soon!

Still hanging in there,

Kira

There is more than one way to skin a cat. Writing can be diversified into multiple streams of income outside of just publishing books. It’s just about choosing the right option (s) for you that you have the time and energy to do. So, let’s talk money and some ways you can make more of it as a writer:

Ghostwriting

Writing books for other people can generate a sizable income because people are willing to pay upwards to take credit for another’s writing skills. The income is guaranteed and you don’t have to market to generate sales like you would if you self-published your book. Ghostwriting is actually something that I have been interested in for awhile but have not pursued just yet because I am more focused on other endeavors. Also, I’m not sure if I can give up a book I wrote and allow another author to ‘adopt’ my book and put their name on it. However, given the inconsistency of sales with self-published books, it is something I am strongly considering in the near future.

Author coaching

Coaching prospective authors is something I have been doing since 2023 and it is rewarding work. It also offers a higher rate of pay than book sales can generate in a shorter period of time. However, getting consistent clients can be challenging. You will have to invest in marketing yourself as much as possible to gain more visibility for your business. This can feel very much like marketing for your books, which can be draining. Most writers don’t get into publishing for the marketing but moreso control over the creative process. Marketing can be a deterrent for some authors who genuinely want to help other authors publish their books but don’t want to market because it is too much of a headache. Most author coaches depend on referrals from the authors they previously assist to generate more business for them as word of mouth can be an effective marketing strategy.

Editing

This is another option for writers looking to supplement their income. Whether it is copy editing or line editing, if you feel like you want to try your hand at editing someone’s book because of your strong writing skills, then go ahead and start your editing business. I have hired editors in the past for my books because editing is a necessary step in getting a book published. While editing for children’s books was affordable, editing my 15-page adult book cost a few hundred dollars. So, I would say, start off with editing adult books if you are looking for a higher price point. If you are looking for flexibility in moving through more projects at a faster rate, then I would recommend sticking with editing children’s books because the volume will make up for the difference in what you can charge.

Blogging

Blogging has become increasingly popular given the creation of Substack and Medium. These are two of the biggest platforms out there so you can gain the most visibility and get paid for your blogging. You get paid when people subscribe to your blog or for each time they view a post that you have marked as private. I have been hearing more about Substack in the recent year and it seems to be where everyone is going to make a name for themselves. Even celebrities are trying their hand at blogging on that platform. So, regardless of which platform you try, you are in good hands.

In addition, your blog can be a way to gain customers for any books you plan to write. It informs users of your writing style and can drum up buzz on works in progress to create a customer base for when you do launch that book project. Think of it as a creative way to market your book doing what you already enjoy doing, which is writing. If you have a website, you can also create a blog there which is a great way to drive traffic to what you are selling on your website.

Grant writing

Writing to obtain money for grants requires a special skill set. Not everyone has the knack for completing winning applications for grants that get money for their businesses. However, there are writers attune to what grantors are looking for and know how to provide the right verbiage for applications. Writers can get hired to help businesses tailor their answers based on the grant they are seeking. Businesses see hiring these skilled writers as an investment since it frees up their time to develop other areas of their business. As the writer, you can set a rate that compensates you for your time and energy on this project. Other things to consider when it comes to setting your rate are how big (or small) is the business you are completing the application for and how much funding is at stake for the application. Being flexible with your rates gives the client options, especially those with less money at their disposable.

Be open to pivoting

Although, there are other ways to make money with writing. I think I have covered what I see trending right now. It is crucial as a self-published author that you are open to pivoting. As I said earlier, I might be looking to pivot into ghostwriting for children’s books. Both the author coaching and book selling businesses have been slow and I need to start making money. This was to be expected in the summer months so I emotionally prepared myself for this. However, things need to pick up in September so I am looking for ways to include additional offerings to my service array.

If you love to write but you are finding the writing business to be taxing, don’t give up. Just take a break from it, regroup, and find a new way to fulfill your passion. You can’t give up on writing; it is part of you. Taking a moment to figure out your lane can sometimes be what you need in order to become profitable.

Take good care,

Kira

Follow Their Lead with Curiosity

Before you build a curriculum or sign up for a program, start by listening. Curiosity isn’t one-size-fits-all. For one child, it’s insects. For another, it’s the patterns in the carpet. Instead of assuming what they should be interested in, pause and simply ask what captures their attention. That question does more than open a conversation. It tells your child that their interests are worthy of notice. This kind of validation isn’t just feel-good. It signals to their brain that learning isn’t a performance — it’s an invitation.

Make Creativity Accessible

Creativity often gets boxed up as a talent when it’s really a muscle. And today, that muscle has new tools. For children who are drawn to color, motion, and ideas — but feel limited by their drawing skills — introducing tools like digital art and AI painting can open up whole new forms of expression. These aren’t shortcuts. They’re springboards. They turn curiosity into confidence by showing that what matters isn’t the technique. It’s the vision, the voice, and the courage to try.

Let Play Do the Heavy Lifting

Too often, play is treated as the appetizer, when it’s really the main course. Kids don’t need lectures. They need environments that let them experiment, break, fix, and question. And they especially need time to do it without being rushed to produce something polished. That’s where guided play can support problem-solving in a way that scripted lessons never will. The best play doesn’t just entertain — it gives them room to discover how the world works, on their terms, in their tempo.

Use Books to Build Empathy

Reading together doesn’t just build literacy. It shapes how your child sees people, differences, and dignity. Stories that explore topics like autism, mental health, or social justice — written with children in mind — offer powerful windows into experiences beyond their own. That’s why resources like Books2Inspire matter. They make it easy to find age-appropriate books that foster compassion, understanding, and a more curious heart.

Let Them Teach You

Nothing strengthens a child’s love of learning more than the feeling of competence. And few things create that feeling faster than flipping the roles. When your child explains a game, a recipe, or a random fact about volcanoes, resist the urge to jump in. Ask them to keep going. Their confidence swells when they’re seen as someone with insight to share. This is how you support their self-driven exploration. It’s also how they learn to trust their own questions, not just the answers fed to them.

Ask Better Questions

Praise is nice. But presence is better. Instead of saying “Good job,” ask what surprised them. Instead of “That’s smart,” ask how they figured it out. These small shifts matter because they change the direction of attention. They say: I’m here for your process, not just your result. When you ask questions that stretch thinking, you show your child that learning is layered. It’s not about being right. It’s about being engaged, reflective, and a little bit bold.

Loving to learn isn’t a given. It’s a practice — layered into the rituals of home, the tone of your questions, and the way you respond when something doesn’t land the first time. But the reward? It lasts. Because the child who grows up knowing they’re allowed to explore, tinker, ask, and revise is the one who never stops becoming.

(This blog entry was contributed by Patrick Young, Founder of AbleUSA. Able USA offers informational resources to individuals with disabilities to improve their quality of life. Their educational blog can be found here.)

The short answer is no.

Let’s be real. Counseling can be out of most people’s price range. Even with insurance. Those co-pays add up and when you compare it to the other expenses that are unavoidable (food, gas, rent/mortgage, bills…), it becomes a lower priority. This is why so many folks quit therapy before they have really even gotten started due to financial constraints.

But where there is a will, there is a way…

There are opportunities out there to get FREE therapy. Most people do not consider the options that I am going to point out to you but because I love you (even though I don’t know you), I’m going to let you in on some dirty little secrets…

Did you know that your employers pre-pay for therapy for you? Yes, it is called an Employee Assistance Program otherwise known as (EAP) and your company pays for a certain amount of sessions for you that are free of cost. None of it goes through your insurance so you have that extra layer of confidentiality. It’s an awesome way to get therapy and save money. And some employers cover counseling for multiple issues that allow for you to request additional sessions. You can receive counseling in person or virtually, so I highly recommend you take advantage of this offer.

Another thing to consider is pastoral counseling. If you are part of a church community, you may be able to get counseling through your pastor regarding whatever personal issues you are having. I recommend this for someone with mild to moderate issues and not someone who has a clinical diagnosis of any kind (i.e. Major Depression, Schizophrenia, etc.). If you have anything that warrants therapeutic treatment, you must see a therapist. If you are dealing with issues such as trouble in your marriage or at work, then seeing a Pastoral counselor may make perfect sense. Pastoral counseling is usually free of cost but always verify this with your church first.

There are also tons of crisis hotlines out there where you can get one-off counseling. You can call the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 988 or text HOME to 741741. There are also tons of other hotlines here based on whatever issues you are having. There is nothing wrong with reaching out for help. I’d rather you do that, than do something you will regret.

Last but not least, consider literature as a means of support. They are great self-help books on a variety of issues that can offer you some temporary relief. If you need recommendations, I am going to be honest with you, I don’t have any. I’m more of a fiction kinda girl but what I would recommend is that you use Amazon as a resource to search for a book on a particular topic or get a recommendation from a family member or friend who is an avid reader. On this website, we have children’s literature geared towards building emotional intelligence and mental wellness, if you have some little ones who need that kind of support as well.

I hope that this was helpful. Sometimes you have to be creative with the resources you have available to you already. Not everyone can afford to seek out therapy through insurance or pay privately. Those are luxuries most of us don’t have. So rather than struggle financially while getting therapy which can add to your stress, try the free resources I’ve given you.

Please also feel free to check out our other blog articles and our online shop for children’s books. We also offer coaching for self-publishing and will suspend all services this August for the remainder of the year so we advise you get started with us soon, especially if you want to pay for one of our more comprehensive packages.

See you soon,

Kira

I also hope you will consider purchasing the other books in the Trey the Chef collection. They are available in our online store here. I believe in entertaining my readers but also in educating them. My books seek to bring awareness about very important topics including autism, that can be challenging to talk about.  

My books also glean on real life. For example, Trey the Chef are books about my son Trey and the future I envision for him. I would love to take him to Paris someday, which is also my birthplace. I want to immerse both my sons in different cultural experiences so they can be their best and most well-rounded selves. My hope is that I can provide this experience for all children.

Once you purchase and receive my books, feel free to share pictures of them on any of my social media platforms. I am on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest. You can also leave book reviews for any one of the books you purchase directly on this website. I appreciate any support you offer and thank you in advance!

Love and light,

Kira

Shamina embodies this principle to the fullest. She went through life-changing experiences that could have broken her but instead she used her testimony to help and uplift other women who have gone through similar experiences. Through meeting her, I truly understand how beautiful of a soul she is. She has a quiet strength. This makes her easily a woman to be reckoned with and probably led her to working with others to help them uncover their own inner strength. It is my pleasure to bring you her story so that you too can learn about all this dynamic woman has to offer!

How did you get your start as a poet? Poetry was a natural talent gifted to me. I began writing poetry in elementary school; poetry became a way to cope with issues that I was facing involving molestation and multiple sexual assaults I survived and domestic violence. Tell us more about your background as a writer. It took me decades to identify as a writer and I still struggle with that title today. Adopting the title poet is simply easier, because writing poetry comes naturally whereas writing in general, not so much. But I will publish my first fictional novel next fall. Also, I’m looking to publish another compilation of poetry next spring.

Your company, Life Lines Professional Services, LLC, provides writing therapy for those looking to heal from trauma. How did you come up with this mission and why do you believe that writing can actually heal? Well, I inadvertently came up with the mission. I knew writing was therapeutic for me and was a way that I could positively cope with the pain and isolation that I often felt. And I thought, this could possibly help others, and you don’t have to be a natural at writing to reap the benefits. I found myself volunteering for a local organization, Interact, where I worked the crisis hotline for years. I later pitched an idea of a writing group to the organization, and it was accepted. I was paired with the sexual assault group. God is amazing and funny in this way. So, when I decided to publish my book, I also wanted to provide a service for survivors of sexual abuse and domestic violence that was outside the realms of traditional therapy and here we are.

You wrote a book in 2020 called In the Midst of Me. Can you tell us more about your book and how it came to be? This is my first book baby. Many of the pieces in this work are over 15 years old. I knew I wanted my work published, so for years I applied to endless poetry competitions, with my work never being selected, but hundreds of dollars invested. A few of my pieces appeared in a Canadian poetry anthology, but then I shifted my focus to self-publishing.

How would you suggest one get their start in writing? Write, every day, even if it’s just 20 minutes a day. Constantly activate your creativity through hobbies and read the books related to the genre you are interested in.  What resources are out there for those looking to self-publish like you? Kindle Direct Publishing, YouTube, Bowker and research a great editor. All writers are not editors. There are also a few women I learned a great deal from that offer great insight and services for inspiring writers, such as Sharai Robbin and Monique D. Mensah.

What is one lesson you hope people get from your journey as a writer? As a writer, your story needs to be told and there is a space for people to hear it. We all have a story to tell.

We would love to hear some of your poetry. Can you provide us with a brief excerpt from your poetry book? ❝…deep inside the wholeness of my incompleteness, there resides an honesty that I’m afraid of
memories that terrify and lose me completely
deep within is a love that springs forth with utterances of peace, serenity, confidence and joy…healing
deep are the bruises, scars, soul ties that still leave scorn…❞

Where can people find you online if they want to reach out about your services?
IG: @lifelinesproservllc

Twitter: @lifelinesforyou

Pinterest: Life Lines Professional Services, LLC

FaceBook: Life Lines Professional Services, LLC 

https://www.lifelinesllc.com/

I know it’s been awhile…

But we have been busy. So busy getting ready and preparing for our premiere Books2sinpire event. We are so excited to bring you all this book goodness with 10 other authors of color who will be showcasing their books. All the authors selected for this vendor event have inspiring books for people of all ages. We hope you will join us for this one-of-a-kind book event. Vegan soul food, desserts and beverages will be available, and you can read and enjoy your yummy book while sitting outdoors.

Today, I was moved to give you a review on the popular Goli ashwagandha gummies. No, this is not a sponsored ad! I am doing this because I wanted to share the noticeable improvement in my autistic son’s hyperactivity since taking this vitamin for 30 days.
 
Now, listen I am that mom who has tried everything on my son since he was 5 to help with his attentiveness and hyperactivity at school. I have tried nonmedication alternatives at first such as probiotics, calming liquids and chewables, hemp oil, salt lamps, lavender pills, and essential oils. EVERYTHING! Nothing worked, nothing! I eventually had to go with my last resort which was prescription medication. I had my bad experiences with prescription medication until we finally found one that didn’t make him aggressive and sorta worked. However, I have noticed since he has gotten bigger and older, it works less and less so I was considering a stronger dosage or a different medication. When I spoke about this with his doctor, she offered things such as Prozac which I am hesitant for when it comes to younger children. So, on a whim, I said let me try these Goli gummies since I see so many pushing this on social media especially Tabitha Brown. If you don’t know her, you are living under a rock. She is a social media influencer who is all about health and wellness and her likability and healthy lifestyle has made her super popular. She makes you feel like you know her, like she is a good girlfriend of yours. She is one of the few social media personalities I trust so when I saw her pushing Goli it made me take a second look.
 
Well, I’m glad I did. Shortly after I began giving Trey the Goli ashwagandha gummies, I noticed that an hour later, he would seem calmer and less jumpy. In fact, he was chill. And not in a heavily medicated way but in a normal way. I had no idea what the ingredient ashwagandha was until I saw a post from a doctor friend of mine talking about the benefits of ashwagandha. It is an herb that has calming properties, lowering blood pressure, reducing swelling, boosting the immune system, among other benefits. It aids the body to resist physical and mental stress. Ashwagandha supplements help improve brain function, memory, reaction time, and the ability to perform tasks. I mean if this isn’t a magic herb or what?! Where has this been all my life. I could have used it for myself when I was younger.