Award-winning travel writer and bestselling author, Margie Goldsmith? At 81 years old, she’s still going strong – traveling the world, boxing for sport and interviewing a long list of celebrities, chefs, athletes, musicians and more.

In her new memoir, Becoming a Badass: From Fearful to Fierce (Booklogix, September 30, 2025), Margie is a testament to the adage “no one is going to make your life for you.” Her story is one of adventure and resilience. It’s about living life on your terms and living it fearlessly. She speaks to anyone looking to overcome a sense of powerlessness in any given situation, whether that’s a dysfunctional family, a marriage/relationship, or a career, and to anyone who has ever felt “less than.” In an interview, Margie Goldsmith can talk about:

• Her move to Paris after college, living a glamorous life and marrying a blacklisted film director
• Her love of travel — becoming a travel writer and visiting 150 countries on seven continents, including Uganda, The Marquesas, South Korea, Laos, Cambodia, Oman, Cuba, Tibet, Nepal, Borneo, Mauritius, Papua New Guinea, Easter Island, Croatia, Namibia, the Arctic and Antarcticat
• How the Outward Bound program changed her life: Physical activity is her passion and she has completed marathons and Olympic distance triathlons, summited Mount Rainier, and climbed to Advanced Base Camp on the north face of Mount Everest
• Learning to play the harmonica and recorded two albums with America’s most award-winning blues band
• Coming from a family of suicide (her father), incest, schizophrenia (her sister Kathy), manic depression and alcoholism (both parents) and how that has shaped her life
• Surviving stage four pancreatic cancer and later, lung cancer

Becoming a Badass Book Jacket.jpg

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Margie Goldsmith is a New York City-based adventure, luxury, lifestyle and profile writer. She is a contributor to Business Jet Traveler, Wine, Dine & Travel and Food & Travel. Her articles appear in Forbes.com, Travel + Leisure, Robb Report, National Geographic Traveler, Coastal Living, Virtuoso, Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Washington Post, The Globe and Mail, Garden and Gun, Organic Spa, Ultimate Experiences and others.

She is the author of four books: Screw-Up; Alice Dalton Browne: Nocturnes and Diurnes; Masters of the Harmonica: 30 Harmonica Masters Share Their Craft (#1 bestseller on Amazon). Her newest book is her memoir, Becoming a Badass: From Fearful to Fierce. Her essays appear in Travelers Tales, The Walker Within, In Search of Adventure, National Geographic’s Spiritual Journeys, GoNomad’s London Reader, and Chance Encounters.

Goldsmith has won 101 writing awards including the coveted Lowell Thomas SATW Gold Award, Lowell Thomas Bronze Journalist of the Year Award, four Eddie and Ozzie Folio Awards, and multiple honors from ASJA, NATJA, the Solas Award, Travel Classics Award, and OWAA. For more information, please visit https://margiegoldsmith.com/.

Social Media: https://www.facebook.com/Mastersoftheharmonica

#MargieGoldsmith

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Here is the last thought from his book.

“And now, at the start of my seventh decade and after more than 13 years of endurance adventures that include successes I never thought possible, I find myself at a crossroads. I have stopped planning, beyond the World Majors. Instead, I will let my body and my desires at the time decide for me. What I know, though, is this: I want to always live a life of challenge and audacity in everything that I do. Eventually, age and presumably illness will take their toll and I will no doubt be forced to cede ground, but I will do so only reluctantly and hopefully with dignity. I will give age its due but not embrace it as an excuse to coast. Anything, or, more realistically, almost anything, is possible. Indeed, even the unlikeliest among us can become an Ironman.”
Jeffrey Weiss

Jeffrey is a successful business executive, an accomplished author of three books, and a two-time Ironman and an ultramarathoner. Jeffrey lives in Tel Aviv, where in 2024 he founded Stickers of Meaning, a project that preserves and educates about the memorial stickers that have appeared throughout Israel since October 7, 2023—honoring the fallen and inspiring the living with messages of love, purpose, daring, and joy.

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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

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Where Do I Sign? From Tragedy to Resilient Triumph is a moving, motivational memoir by David A. Dodd—A global leader in economic resilience, dynamic speaker, and survivor of extraordinary adversity. Through deeply personal storytelling, David reveals how a life shaped by trauma and setbacks became one defined by purpose, innovation, and unshakable resilience.

After a near-fatal auto crash left him with life-threatening injuries and a long road to recovery, he had every reason to give up. Instead, he leaned into five core principles that had guided him from childhood, resulting in personal resilience, faith, and a commitment to service. Along the way, he founded the International Sustainable Resilience Center and helped reshape how communities worldwide recover from disaster and build lasting strength.

This book is a compelling blend of life story and practical principles that will inspire readers from every walk of life. Whether you’re seeking encouragement during hard times or a framework for long-term growth, Where Do I Sign? offers hope, clarity, and an empowering message: you are stronger than you think.

Sign your name to your future. Conquer tragedy with resilience.

Here are the five principles of personal resilience.
1. Learn something, something that interests you
2. In learning about that something, find your passion
3. Pursue that passion, continue to learn about it and experience it
4. Develop a strategy, with specific actions to realize results from that passion
5. Measure your progress and celebrate success, focusing on the future not the past

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The international traveler who once saw the world for 49 days from the vantage point of a cargo freighter, was born and raised in Philadelphia. She relocated to Costa Rica 30 years ago.

A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania and Cornell, Homer has published her poetry and been interviewed on several podcasts, including that of Lisa Davis’s regional NPR program, Talk Healthy Today.

She has lived in Costa Rica for the past three decades, where she has taught languages and worked as a translator. For several years she penned a regularly published column, Local Color, for the English-language weekly, The Tico Times.

Homer is the author of three other books: Letters From The Pacific: 49 Days on a Cargo Ship, Journey to the Joie de Vivre, and The Magnificent Dr. Wao.

For more information, please consult her blog, www.writingfromtheheart.net

#sandra #shaw #homer #memoir #evelio’s #garden #evelio #environmental #activist #author #adventurer #survivor #incest #depression #copd #cornell #costa #rica #philly #letters #pacific #cargo #ship #journey #joie #de #vivre #magnificent #wao #writingfromtheheart

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Directors Guild Movie Premiere Creation on how the “Make A Wish” Foundation was created.

For Immediate Release: Contact Lucia Kaiser, 201 927 3864 or Paul Sladkus 917 687 1790 Milestone Broadcast Corporation

Please join us at the NY Premiere of this heart touching film Written and Directed by Theo Davies. “Wish Man” has received critical acclaim and will be released in September worldwide. The film is the story of how the “Make A Wish” Foundation was created.

Others attending will be some of the team from “ Framed” Actor Armand Assante, Producers Lucia Kaiser & Bonnie Timmermann, David Unger and Harris Tulchin. “Framed” is inspired by Tod Volpe’s compelling memoir.

https://gritdaily.com/wish-man-movie/

or the first time in history, the Make-A-Wish Foundation has been brought to screen in the new film, ‘Wish Man,’ starring Andrew Steel, Kirby Bliss Blanton, Frank Whaley, Danny Trejo, and Bruce Davison. The film tells the story of how the Foundation’s creator, Frank Shankwitz, was able to part from childhood trauma and transform into helping millions of children across the world.

Meet Frank Shankwitz, a motorcycle cop struggling with his past and emotional childhood trauma after being ripped apart from his father by an emotionally abusive mother.

“Ever since I was a kid, I’ve always been on my own. Never had any reason to care for anyone else. Until now[…] I’ve been a fighter all my life, and I’m tired of not knowing what to fight for. Being special is never something I was used to. But Michael thought I was a hero. And if I can do it, anybody can do it.”

–Andrew Steel, “Frank Shankwitz,” ‘Wish Man’

In what seems to be a nasty separation or divorce, Frank’s mother has done everything to keep Frank and his father apart, until he appears on their property wanting to see Frank. Before parting ways, he gives Frank a cowboy hat as a reminder that he will always be with him.

Wanting to spend time with his father, Frank’s mom decides to forcibly take Frank away, throwing him in the car, leaving nothing behind but the cowboy hat on the dusty ground. Unbeknownst to Frank, his father is on a life-long mission to track down his son and bring him back “home.”

Flash forward to Frank grown up as a motorcycle cop, we see him as a closed-off figure. Until Michael. The police department brings young Michael to visit the precinct and meet everyone.

However, he is forced to face his past and change his future when he’s almost killed in a freak car accident on a desolate highway.

This life-altering incident sparks a chain reaction that places Shankwitz on a difficult and painful path towards redemption, leading him to an unexpected relationship Michael, terminally ill with leukemia, with a life expectancy of one week. The result? An unexpected relationship between Shankwitz and the boy, but most importantly, Shankwitz discovering a light that has been buried deep within since he was a child.

“One simple act of kindness can cause a ripple effect” –Andrew Steel, “Frank Shankwitz,” ‘Wish Man’

This ripple effect later comes to be known as the Make-A-Wish foundation.

From writer and director, Theo Davies, the biographical drama, Wish Man, explores the light and dark side of Shankwitz’s life and why each hardship led to the creation of the iconic organization.

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Find My smashwords Books: Body Destiny and From Renata with Love at https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/douglassmyth

Everyone knew Olga was a princess, even if one of her own devising. Princess Olga is her fictional memoir. Olga, beginning at age 97, dreams of her childhood in Port of Spain, untangling a family mystery of political intrigue: why her Venezuelan family, living in luxury, fled Trinidad for Harlem in 1924.

Olga was named, she claimed, in 1913, by and for a real Russian Princess:Princess Olga, sister of the reigning Tsar Nicholas. Olga, a babe in arms, was onboard ship going from Margarita, Venezuela to Port of Spain in the Crown Colony of Trinidad.

Port of Spain was where Olga first learned her power as Princess.

Except when she is ushered out of bed, or to the dining room table, Olga, beginning at age 97, dreams back to her childhood in Port of Spain. Her family was intimately connected to the Venezuelan regime; her uncle was its Consul General in Trinidad; her father worked for the dictatorship in the gold fields of Amazonas and most of his brothers worked for the regime, as well. In her dreams, she untangles a mystery of political intrigue and why her family fled Trinidad. She discovers the important part she played, causing her family, living in luxury, to abandon Port of Spain for Harlem in 1924.

She then dreams of her arrival in New York, and of her eventual triumph in her new country: a scholarship to Mount Holyoke, marriage into an old literary family, (Hawthorne and Smyth) but, until she receives a steamer trunk full of cash, she is still connected to the regime in Venezuela.

Princess Olga: Uncovering My Headstrong Mother’s Venezuelan Connection was published on December 8, 2017.

Hardback and paperback copies are available and may be ordered at all book retail venues, including Amazon and Barnes & Noble. E-books are also available.

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