Written from a quiet farmhouse in the South of France, Elicia Woodford’s memoir traces her transformational path through heartbreak, spiritual initiation, and profound self-inquiry. Her story moves from her city loft in Atlanta to a healing island in Thailand, directly to the Occupy Oakland protests, into the jungles and coast of Costa Rica, and ultimately to the calming lavender fields of Provence, each location serving as a portal into deeper layers of wisdom.

Fans of Elizabeth Gilbert’s Eat Pray Love will quickly find themselves captivated by this unflinchingly honest account of the author’s search for love on a global canvas, with perhaps an even deeper level of self-reflection leading to a profound sense of empowerment and the love of a lifetime.

Indeed, at its core, Free To Be Me is not “a romantic travelogue.” It is about coming home to oneself.

Sensory Detail, Symbolism, and Synchronicity

Throughout this remarkable memoir, readers encounter the signs and symbols that accompanied Elicia Woodford’s inner awakening: hummingbirds, doves, roses, eclipses, caves, dreams, visions, and the unshakable whispers of intuition. (Music lovers will also vibe with Elicia’s suggestions for their playlist – songs from artists ranging from Peter Gabriel to Sinead O’Connor.)

These moments are not presented as fantasy. Instead, they are grounded in the emotional reality of a brilliant woman finding the courage to listen deeply to her body, her inner child, and her soul. And, as they read about these signs, symbols, and lessons, readers will find themselves inspired to engage in their own uniquely personal journey of self-discovery and empowerment.

“Healing isn’t about fixing what’s broken; it’s about reclaiming what was always whole,” Elicia Woodford writes, offering both a personal revelation and a guiding principle of her work.

A Love Story Rooted in Destiny, Not Dependence

Amid the author’s journey emerges an unexpected love story, one that unfolds across continents and seems orchestrated by synchronicities too precise to ignore. Yet Elicia Woodford is clear: this love arrived not to rescue her, but to meet her at the level of wholeness she fought so hard to claim.

Following a series of profound insights, often learned through pain and vulnerability, the author ultimately connects finds her Great Love, Olivier, a process mirroring the truth that genuine connection becomes possible only after the inner child is heard, held, and healed.

A Guide for Readers Seeking Emotional Freedom

Offered not as a manual but like a revealing letter written by a longtime friend, Free To Be Me is deeply personal. The author’s intention is clear. Elicia Woodford wrote this extraordinary book for anyone longing to break free from old patterns of self-abandonment, emotional suppression, and inner conflict.

The memoir complements her larger body of work, which includes:

• The Core Emotional Healingâ Self-Study Course, guiding people to heal childhood wounds and build emotional support
• The True Essence Photography Program, where participants reconnect with and express their authentic selves
• The Resource Vibe Podcast, connecting listeners with master-level healers and spiritual resources across all disciplines

Collectively, these offerings reflect Elicia Woodford’s lifelong mission:
to nurture the wounded inner child and help others support themselves with courage, compassion, and emotional clarity.

For Readers Standing at the Threshold of Change

By the time the reader reaches the epilogue, where Elicia Woodford sits on her porch with her completed manuscript, surrounded by roses, doves, and her beloved dog River, the transformation is complete. The external journey across the globe mirrors the internal journey through grief, revelation, and rebirth.

“We must walk this path ourselves,” Elicia Woodford writes, “yet we are never truly alone.” At each step of of the journey, she honors the friends and spiritual advisors (spanning a wide range of disciplines), animals (especially her beloved dogs), and unseen forces (ever-present symbols like hummingbirds) that accompanied her.

Free To Be Me is a testament to what becomes possible when a woman stops silencing her truth and begins listening to the quiet, unshakeable wisdom within. It is also a reassuring message to her readers, that it is possible for all of us to attain the happiness we’ve always dreamed of.

About the Author

Elicia Woodford is a healer, teacher, and founder of Core Emotional Healingâ, with more than two decades of experience guiding others through emotional transformation. Known for her intuitive depth, compassionate presence, and the luminous clarity of her storytelling, she helps people reconnect with their inner child, express their authentic voice, and reclaim the parts of themselves long buried beneath trauma or self-doubt.

Her work spans memoir writing, emotional healing programs, photography-based personal development, and her Resource Vibe podcast, where she introduces listeners to the master-level spiritual resources that can help them transform their lives.

She lives in the South of France with her Great Love, Olivier, and her beloved dog River, wandering lavender fields, beaches, and vineyards, gathering simple moments like treasures.

For more information, visit:

www.eliciawoodford.com

Elicia Woodford is the author of Free To Be Me: A Memoir of Trauma,
Healing and Rebirth, a courageous and deeply personal memoir that
chronicles her journey through unhealthy relationships, deep inner healing,
and profound self-discovery. Through radical honesty, Elicia shares how
she learned to break destructive patterns, protect her inner child, and
recognize the signs life was offering her along the way.
Free To Be Me is both a powerful personal story and an invitation for
readers to reflect on their own lives, trust their inner guidance, and believe
that healing (and happiness) are possible. Please welcome, Elicia
Woodford.

3 KEY THEMES TO EMPHASIZE:
• Healing is possible for everyone. No one has to stay stuck in unhealthy
relationships, situations, or lifelong patterns.
• The importance of self-awareness and inner-child healing. Understanding
and protecting the inner child is essential to breaking destructive cycles.
• Alignment versus force. There is a meaningful difference between trying
to manifest outcomes and paying attention to the signs life offers.
• Learning to trust intuition and timing. Slowing down and listening often
reveals guidance that pushing forward can obscure.
• Openness with discernment. Exploring spiritual and healing modalities
while remaining honest about missteps and lessons learned.<b

The post A Memoir of Emotional Courage, Global Adventure and Radical Self-Discovery by Elicia Woodford’s Free to Be Me Chronicles the Author’s Soul-Gripping Journey Through Love, Loss, Healing and the Transformational Power of Inner Truth appeared first on Good News!.

A GRIPPING HUMAN DRAMA THAT TURNS A REAL-LIFE TRAGEDY INTO ACTION!

Daniel’s Music – One Family’s Journey from Tragedy to Empowerment through Faith, Medicine, and the Healing Power of Music (Skyhorse Publishing/Norton, September 2013) by Jerome Preisler with the Trush Family

“A riveting chronicle of stunning achievement against the odds.” Kirkus Reviews

Daniel’s Music is so much more than your typical “feel good human interest story”. It is the captivating story of Daniel Trush’s recovery against odds experts said were insurmountable; of medical science, faith, and perseverance all combining for a miracle. And of an average family turning their personal trials into a force that brings joy, inspiration, and a powerful sense of belonging to all those whose lives they touch.

It all begins in 1997, when, at age twelve, Daniel awakes from a thirty-day coma barely able to blink, having suffered a massive cerebral hemorrhage and several strokes. With music playing a crucial role in his recovery, readers will rejoice at each milestone, from the moment when a cold shower helps jolt Daniel’s speech, to his completion of the New York Marathon ten years after being confined to a wheelchair.

But his incredible journey has just begun. Danny and his family launch Daniel’s Music Foundation, a groundbreaking, nonprofit organization that offers free music programs to people with developmental and physical disabilities with the objective to change lives through music. In time, DMF would be honored for doing just that on the Broadway stage by the New York Yankees, gaining notoriety and admiration across America.

Daniel exemplifies the adage of “a life well lived,” and his experiences are made all the more poignant by just how close he came to missing out. But he’s not the only star here; the family’s unwavering dedication, and the exemplary writing by which Preisler communicates their faith and pain, will not be soon forgotten. Daniel’s Music is truly powerful; it is one of those stories that will make you laugh, make you cry and ultimately leaving you wanting more! And the best part? The family gets their well-deserved happy ending; a healthy son; a unique, compelling perspective on life and a thriving nonprofit.

New York Times bestselling author Jerome Preisler chronicles Daniel’s experience with power, eloquence, and the suspense of a medical mystery in Daniel’s Music: One Family’s Journey from Tragedy to Empowerment through Faith, Medicine, and the Healing Power of Music (Skyhorse Publishing, September 2013).

About the Author

Jerome Preisler is the New York Times bestselling author of over thirty novels and nonfiction titles. A regular contributor to the New York Yankees’ YESNetwork.com since 2004, Preisler has spearheaded the website’s acclaimed coverage of the Yankees’ annual HOPE Week community outreach effort. Preisler lives in New York with his wife and cats.

Daniel’s Music- One Family’s Journey from Tragedy to Empowerment through Faith, Medicine, and the Healing Power of Music by Jerome Preisler with the Trush Family

Skyhorse Publishing hardcover, also available as an e-book and audiobook.
On Sale through amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com and your local bookstore: September 2013
ISBN: 978-1-62087-694-7
Price: $24.95

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MAD DOG HOUSE
A Novel

Mark Rubinstein

Thirty years after escaping his hell on earth—a harrowing childhood in Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn—Roddy Dolan is grateful to be living the life of his dreams. He has a successful, fulfilling career as a surgeon and a beautiful home in Westchester. He is passionately in love with his sensitive, smart, and sexy wife, Tracy, and adores their two children, 12-year-old Tommy (even though he’s a handful), and sweet 10-year-old Sandy, his little girl. His past—which included a brutal father who was belly-shanked in the shower at Attica; his drunk of a mother who ignored him; and her violent boyfriend who often pummeled Roddy—is now just a bad dream.

When he was his son’s age, Roddy had an explosive temper and shady friends. He nearly landed in prison at age 17. If it weren’t for a compassionate judge and the Army, Roddy might have ended up like his father. But that’s the past, gone for good. Today, at age 45, Roddy is a different man—worthy of the respect he has earned. He is in control of his destiny and his rage is no longer part of his life. Or, so Roddy thinks…until a character from his past turns up and re-evokes his long-buried “Mad Dog” alter ego.

A gripping, harrowing, and provocative psychological thriller, MAD DOG HOUSE (Thunder Lake Press; October 2012, $12.99 trade paper, ISBN:978-0-9856268-4-6), revolves around three men—Roddy “Mad Dog” Dolan; his best friend, Danny Burns; and Kenny “Snake Eyes” Egan—who grew up in hell together and never thought it would come back to bite them.

A practicing psychiatrist in between writing novels, Mark Rubinstein presents a plot packed with action and intrigue, staggering and brutal twists, and deeply disturbing possibilities.
Driven by the bonds and shackles of friendship among former bad boys, MAD DOG HOUSE raises the questions:
 Will the past always come back to haunt us, no matter how hard we try to escape it?
 Can any person, even the most determined, truly change his or her basic nature?
 Is “like father, like son” a matter of nurture or nature? Is it an inevitable fate?

Here’s how the old nightmare starts becoming a new reality… One afternoon at his office, Roddy gets an unexpected visit from a strange man named Ken Egan. The mysterious Mr. Egan is actually his old friend Kenny McGuirk, transformed by plastic surgery and, apparently, his commitment to becoming a restaurateur. Before long, Kenny reveals himself and persuades his buddies from Sheepshead Bay, Roddy and Danny (now an accountant, with a thriving business in Yonkers), to buy into his vision of owning a celebrated eatery in Manhattan. With the support of their wives, Roddy and Danny sign on as silent partners in McLaughlin’s Steakhouse, for the price of a $100,000 investment each.

For a while, everything seems fine. Business at McLaughlin’s is booming, and it’s fun to own a piece of a hot destination. But, Roddy begins to notice that Kenny is acting paranoid and wired, and the restaurant is attracting an unsavory clientele—specifically, mobsters. Then, Danny begins to notice that the bustling restaurant is losing money, big time. When Roddy and Danny finally confront Kenny, what they learn is unthinkable. Their old friend has gotten them into debt, to the tune of a quarter million plus interest, through his deal with a monster: Grange, a grossly obese, menacing loan shark who brings intimidating protection with him.

In a flash, matters turn from unthinkable to terrifying. When the odious Grange tries to make friends with little Sandy Dolan, sealed with a kiss, Roddy loses his tight grip on his formidable anger. To protect his precious daughter and preserve his family’s life, Roddy knows he needs to do something—fast, bold, and definitive—to stop Grange and the lying, drugged-out Kenny, too. Mad Dog returns—with a vengeance and a chilling capacity for violence.

Filled with shocking turns, MAD DOG HOUSE will grab readers, keep them riveted, and leave them gasping. Throughout the novel, Mark Rubinstein provokes people to think about the haunting power of the past and the demons lurking inside their loved ones…and perhaps themselves.

About the Author
MARK RUBINSTEIN grew up in Brooklyn, New York, near Sheepshead Bay. After earning a degree in Business Administration at NYU, he served in the U.S. Army as a field medic tending to paratroopers of the Eighty-Second Airborne Division. After his discharge, he went to medical school, became a physician, and then a psychiatrist. As a forensic psychiatrist, he was an expert witness in many trials. As an attending psychiatrist at New York Presbyterian Hospital and a Clinical Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at Cornell, he taught psychiatric residents, psychologists, and social workers while practicing psychiatry. Before turning to fiction, he coauthored five books on psychological and medical topics. He lives in Connecticut with as many dogs as his wife will allow in the house. He still practices psychiatry and is busily working on other novels. To learn more, please visit www.markrubinstein-author.com.
http://www.markrubinstein-author.com/

An Interview with Mark Rubinstein, author of MAD DOG HOUSE

1. Does being a psychiatrist affect your writing? Does it give you greater insight and a better ability to understand and write about people?

I can’t conceive living life constantly analyzing situations and people, looking for deeply hidden motives and strivings. So a clinical view of the world would be intolerable and, frankly, would drive me crazy. I take things as they come and react as a human being. Maybe later, upon reflection, I’ll have a better understanding of what went on in a particular situation.

But writing fiction is a process. When working on a manuscript, I don’t take a psychiatric view of what a character might say or do because he or she is a certain “type.” That being said, it’s likely that my training, education, and psychiatric experience exert some influence on my writing—but not in any purposeful or conscious way.

2. Mad Dog House is a thriller filled with violence and its effect on our psyche and our families. Why did you write a novel about our darker impulses?

Violent—even murderous—impulses reside within all of us. You see them whenever you watch news items about riots or wars or street violence. You certainly see bloodlust when people rubberneck while passing an accident or go to some sporting events (for example, mixed martial arts competitions, boxing matches, hockey games, football games, wrestling contests) or when you read some of the world’s greatest literature or view the foul arc of history. So to pretend that violence isn’t part of human nature is disingenuous. Sex and violence sell, and there’s a reason for that. Despite all my years of training in medicine and psychiatry, and no matter what kind of peaceful life I lead, I’m still intrigued by violence. And so are most people, whether they admit it or not.

3. Your novel involves people reverting to their past ways. Can people ever really change?

We’d like to think people can change, and in some superficial ways, we can. But deep, long-lasting personality templates are very difficult to leave behind. Once you’ve become whoever you are, it’s a permanent way of being.

As a psychiatrist working with patients trying desperately to change the way they interact with others, I know it’s a difficult task. There is among virtually all people a need to endlessly repeat the old ways, a perverse tendency to revert to the familiar patterns of childhood, no matter how ungratifying or even hurtful they’ve been. Some people can change to one degree or another, but deeply engrained ways of perceiving and dealing with the world (sometimes called “character armor”) are not easily renounced. As William Faulkner wrote in Requiem for a Nun, “The past is never dead. It’s not even past.”

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