Beyond the Book - See what’s happening with MSL Advocacy

Q:  I understand this book is written in a child’s voice?  How does it capture the adult audience?

A:  The majority of the reading audience is adults.  In the introduction I reference how little ones grow up to become adults.  How will they accept the truth of their being? 

I’ve encountered more adults (who have connected with this book) than I can count (male & female), who live with the pain of not knowing who their mothers or fathers are.  These are professional men and women who have persevered to make their own way in life. Some found out later in life and were deceived by one of their parents in the early years, some never knew. Some may have been adopted, or have experienced other scenarios.   I’ve met these men and women sitting next to me on an airplane, at social events, or MSL discussion debriefs.  One man called me from another country crying on my shoulder with more pain than he could bear, to discover the woman he always knew to be his aunt, was actually his mother.   This encounter was actually the 2^nd catalyst for writing the book.   God was revealing to me there is a hidden audience of people suffering silently.

— Countless stories, letters, emails have been sent in describing connections to their faith walk, pathways to success and liberty, etc.

So, even though the first 2/3 of the book is written from a child’s voice, the last 1/3 is an adult analysis, and adults connect with their own child voice that has been repressed for so many years.

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Q:  You describe segments of trauma on varied continuums.  What if a potential reader has not experienced  trauma, how would they relate?  Why should they read Making Sweet Lemonade?

A:  Awesome question, so glad you asked!   Secondary to a message of healing, the next higher calling is to encourage readers to become advocates.  I’ve had people call me aside after conferences and say, “You know, I read your book, and just had to say, your story made me so grateful for the life I’ve had.  It inspired me to give back, and stop complaining.  I realize my bad day, dealing with traffic, or whatever is really nothing in the big picture.”

This is an example of our higher message:  To encourage people to “get in where they fit in”, and begin to take a part in making the world a better place.  Get out of your box, your apartment, your home and take up a cause.

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Q:  On the sweet side of Lemonade, the main character in the story has quite a personality.  Some readers say she had them laughing, crying, moved them to anger and empathy.  What do you want audiences to know about her?

A:  She is gleaning wisdom and knowledge along the way, and invites the reader to take a window view into her world.  In most cases, the reader is walking the path right beside her.

To learn more about Pat J. Schulz, go to www.enheartpublishing.com

ENHEART Publishing 
P.O. Box 620086, Charlotte, NC 28262
 

Technorati Tags: book, children empowerment, enheart publishing, MSL, Pat J. Schulz, publishing

Q:  What does the title Making Sweet Lemonade represent?

A:  “Making Sweet Lemonade” represents resiliency and an enduring resolve to make the best of whatever life brings your way.

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Q:  What inspired you to write Making Sweet Lemonade?

A:  I’ve had a number of potentially fatal occurrences over the years.  In 2004, I faced another one with diagnosis of a rare health condition, requiring emergency surgery.  As I say in the story, “God spared my life for the nth time.”  Acknowledging without any doubt, that God ‘s  favor was upon me, I praised God for life.   In that moment of rejoice, the spirit of the Lord, came upon me and spoke, “It’s not for you, it’s for others.”   The embodiment of that mandate is Making Sweet Lemonade.

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Q:  Is this a true story, or fiction?

A:  MSL is about accepting truth, living truth, and being authentic.  It is a true story.

Ye shall know the truth and truth shall set you free.  (John 8:32)

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Q:  Many authors of memoirs state the exercise was cathartic.  Did you find liberation in writing this story?

A:  The word I would use is “peace”.  I felt at peace with my history, and the events that make up that history.  However, there is one chapter in particular that was highly emotional and cathartic  for me – this is the chapter that describes my mother’s death in detail.  I’d repressed that day, until I sat down to write the chapter – which actually preceded the book as an entity.

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Q:  What has been the public’s response to Making Sweet Lemonade?   Tell us about audiences who are benefitting from your story.

A:  My youngest reader is a mature 11 year old, and oldest is 90.  Readership spans every economic echelon, culture, race and both sexes.   Because it is a humanistic story, with a humanistic message, I am pleasantly surprised to find there are no limits placed on the reading audience.  Families are sharing the book among members, and even reading it with one another. 

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To learn more about Pat J. Schulz, go to www.enheartpublishing.com

Technorati Tags: empowerment, enheart publishing, MSL, Pat J. Schulz

Steve Butler is an ENHEART Publishing client, and chaplain at Caldwell Hospice and Palliative Care in Lenoir, NC where he has worked since 2003. Steve is a native of Chicago and has been a campus minister in Illinois, Ohio, and Wisconsin. He is also a former college chaplain & soccer coach. Most importantly, Steve is husband to Martha for over 30 years; dad to Catherine, Elizabeth, and Mark; and grandfather to Jamie, Raelin, Meagan, and Logan in addition to Alexandra. Steve loves golf and working on his family tree.
  
Bibliography:
  
“We Are Known as Christ’s Disciples” grade 1-3 curriculum for the Discipleship Alive! series (United Church Press:2001)
  
“A Letter From Heaven” (Authorhouse:2008)
to buy this book go to: http://www.authorhouse.com/Bookstore/ItemDetail.aspx?bookid=48954
  
“We Do Remember You” (ENHEART:2009)
To buy this book go to: www.enheartpublishing.com

Technorati Tags: empowerment, the resiliency theory

“The untimely death of musical genius Michael Jackson has most certainly had us all contemplating the meaning of life, and how will we live our lives going forward with the understanding that tomorrow is not promised. Will we be kinder to and wiser with our bodies?  Will we take time for introspection - as Michael’s song, Man in the Mirror, suggests “if you’re gonna make the world a better place, then look at yourself and make a change.”

These are some of the lessons I learned as a child, and are shared in Making Sweet Lemonade.  Oddly, it seems those lessons were easier to live out as a child.  Life was not as complicated, although when you read the story you may perceive it to be - but it was not.  Living in today’s world is exponentially more complicated. There are more people and personalities to contend with.  Children learn their environments, and they adapt.  The beauty of children is they truly are the resilient ones.”
 
I encourage you to mail order your autographed copy of the socio-inspirational memoir, that is truly transforming lives, and consider this gift for a dear friend.  ENHEART Publishing is committed to partnering with Foundations and individuals to provide personalized copies of Making Sweet Lemonade to youth aging out of orphanages, to domestic violence programs, adult personal development programs, and other agencies advocating for children and families.

Copyright June 30, 2009 - All Rights Reserved.  Pat J. Schulz

Pat J. Schulz will be a guest of Kimyon Zari on her BlogTalkRadio show Diamonaire Lifestyle on June 11, 2009 at 8PM. Schulz will discuss her well received book “Making Sweet Lemonade” and experiences as a book publisher.

Pat J. Schulz will be the guest of Kimyon Zari on her BlogTalkRadio internet show titled Diamonaire Lifestyle on June 11, 2009 at 8pm.  The topic of the show will be Turning Pain into a Passionate Enterprise.

The show can be accessed via the following link:  http://www.blogtalkradio.com/Diamonaire-Lifestyle

The Diamonaire Living Lifestyles’ celebrates women and their incredible lives.  The show discusses issues that embody the depth of a woman’s soul, the roads they travel, and the ways thye want to see their lives evolve. Women from around the globe will connect here, to share their lifestyles, and discuss whatever is hurting them and to heal themselves and live more joyful lives. This is HOME to The Diamonaire Living Lifestyles’, where we tell our stories Live and in many Beautiful Colors.

Technorati Tags: books, enheart publishing, Making Sweet Lemonade, Pat J. Schulz, personal wellness, publishing, resiliency

“We must be careful to protect those fragile places, and fill them with all good things.”  Above all else guard thy heart, for out of it are the issues of life.  Proverbs 4:23  (Excerpt from Making Sweet Lemonade)
 
Making Sweet Lemonade, describes what is seemingly a play itself, but one set in reality.  We journey though a series of voids cast upon a toddler, a little girl, who grew into an adolescent and then an adult.  Separation in various forms create voids, particularly in developing children, and sometimes into adulthood these holes remain open.  My memoir reflects an individual who adjusted and adapted, but how well did she fill the voids? 
 
How well do you fill the voids?  Do you know where the voids are?  Is God your source, or are you seeking completeness in temporary satisfaction???  It’s time to go within, and find your recipe for ”Sweet Lemonade”.

Endorsed by:

The following interview - previously scheduled for June 7, 2009 has be rescheduled for June 13, 2009 at 11pm.  Pat J. Shulz did make a brief appearance on the June 7th show to give a brief introduction into the Saturday show.  You can listen to the June 7 show by accessing the following link)  BKS1-Radio interviewed the Robert Greene - author of “The 48 Laws of Power”. 

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/BKS1-RADIO

“Coming through the Fire yet Not Consumed”. 

“I remember seeing this vase at someone’s house. It was strong and clean.  It held flowers and some branches, and was very beautiful. They told me “it was broken a long time ago, but we glued it back together, and look at it now.” So finally I know that I, too, am strong, clean and very beautiful … that I can hold my life. … that the branches in my water can take root and grow.  The hammer broke me once, but now I am stronger at the broken places.” ———- A Survivor
 
This is one of the most beautiful testimonies, I’ve encountered during my engagements discussing empowerment issues, such as abuse to women and subsequently children.  Let us learn to be gentle with ourselves, understanding more and more where our fragile places are.  They may be cracks today, but tomorrow one more blow, could make that minor fracture a severely broken place.  So, let us investigate, understand, and protect ourselves and one another with respect, love, and space when needed.   We are not the machines we like to portray.  We are made of clay, soft tissue in its natural form. Our spirits are not meant to be hard.  When we become broken, even those broken places can be mended. And for some of us, we ARE stronger in the broken places … and not just strong, but we stand beautiful and cleansed.  I love the testimony!  ——– P. Schulz
 
Copyright 2009 © ENHEART Publishing

In this segment, I would like to introduce a commentary from a reader who happens to be a Hospice Chaplain, Rev. Steve Butler.   In dealing with death, dying and grief on a regular basis, Rev. Butler knows the importance of a human emotion we call hope.  He is an encourager to the discouraged. He is a comforter to those in mourning.  This reader knows the meaning of loss, in all its many forms.  He connects to Making Sweet Lemonade, because those who experience loss must also learn the art of adaptation.  The stories in Making Sweet Lemonade are a medley of adaptations, from touching death, to the author’s (my) own near death experiences.  I invite you read Rev. Butler’s commentary:

Review: “When life brings you lemons, make lemonade” is a saying that has been around for a few generations now. And the question of “How to do that?” is often the topic of books and lectures. Usually the answers take the form of either a pre-packaged mix in which the reader takes their experiences and adds in the author’s package – and ‘presto’ – lemonade. The alternative is to provide a recipe gleaned from the experience of the author, but inviting the reader to adapt, modify to taste, and make personal the recipe to fit the unique lemons, that is the experiences of the reader into their very own lemonade. Happily, “Making Sweet Lemonade” falls into the latter category. Ms. Schulz bravely shares the “lemons” of her life with us, as well as the constant adaptations of her recipe. As a clergy person, I am grateful that she sees the grace of God as one of her fundamental and unchanging ingredients.

“Making Sweet Lemonade” is ultimately a book about life; complex, full of hurt, yet full of hope, God-given life. The book is a treasure which, along with the author, I hold dear.  —– Steve Butler; Chaplain Caldwell Hospice & Palliative Care, Lenoir NC

Making Sweet Lemonade is the inspirational memoir that continues to rise to the occasion, sharing the message of faith, resiliency and perseverance. Making Sweet Lemonade has earned the accolades of renown authors, social advocates, educators, the human services profession, and readers from every echeleon of life.  The impact of Making Sweet Lemonade is likened to the magnitude of the nationally acclaimed book, Purpose Driven Life.

Technorati Tags: abandonment, family empowerment, Making Sweet Lemonade, mental health, social dilemas, spousal abuse