Teddy Rose Book Reviews Plus More


Crash: Reluctant Caregiver by Rachel MichelbergCrash: How I Became a Reluctant Caregiver by Rachel Michelberg

Publisher:  She Writes Press, (April 27, 2021)
Category: Memoir, Divorce, Parenting, Moral Conflict, Caring for Disabled, Caregiver
Tour dates: April-May, 2021
ISBN: 978-1647420321
Available in Print and ebook, 224 pages
Crash

Description Crash: Reluctant Caregiver by Rachel Michelberg


Rachel likes to think of herself as a nice Jewish girl, dedicated to doing what’s honorable, just as her parents raised her to do. But when her husband, David, survives a plane crash and is left with severe brain damage, she faces a choice: will she dedicate her life to caring for a man she no longer loves, or walk away?

Their marriage had been rocky at the time of the accident, and though she wants to do the right thing, Rachel doesn’t know how she is supposed to care for two kids in addition to a now irrational, incontinent, and seizure-prone grown man. And how will she manage to see her lover? But then again, what kind of selfish monster would refuse to care for her disabled husband, no matter how unhappy her marriage had been? Rachel wants to believe that she can dedicate her life to David’s needs, but knows in her heart it is impossible.

Crash tackles a pervasive dilemma in our culture: the moral conflicts individuals face when caregiving for a disabled or cognitively impaired family member.

Advance Praise Crash: Reluctant Caregiver by Rachel Michelberg

“…an engaging exploration of duty, guilt, and self-preservation. Michelberg is a frank writer…. continually willing to unpack her guilt while also exploring options for her own emotional survival. A cleareyed consideration of difficult ethical and familial choices.”-Kirkus Reviews

“I couldn’t put this book down . . . Rachel Michelberg gives the reader the gift of unfiltered honesty, without excuses or complaints. She shows us how the clarity of a scrupulous heart can guide us through the worst of times. Crash is an important story told by a remarkable story teller.”-Joanne Silver Jones, author of Headstrong: Surviving a Traumatic Brain Injury

“I read this book cover to cover and then finally remembered to breathe. Crash is a profoundly human story told with grace and raw honesty. Michelberg is courageous enough to put all of herself into the pages, and we are all the better for it. Crash will stay with you–in your mind, heart, and gut–for a long time after you finish it.”-Mark Lukach, author of My Lovely Wife in the Psych Ward

Crash is a skillfully written, riveting account of Michelberg’s struggle to sustain herself and her family after a tragic event radically alters their lives. As a mother, she is protective, resourceful and competent as she boldly guides her family forward. Vigilant and vulnerable, she exemplifies a woman who speaks her truth, however hard that is to bear. Crash will challenge your own sense of what is important in fighting for a family’s well-being.”-Anna Penenberg, Amazon best-selling author of Dancing in the Narrows: A Mother-Daughter Odyssey Through Chronic Illness

Interview With Teddy Rose and Rachel Michelberg

Hi Rachel, Welcome to Teddy Rose Book Reviews Plus.  Thanks for agreeing to this interview.

TR: Please tell us something about ‘Crash’ that is not in the summary.  (About the book, character you particularly enjoyed writing etc.)

RM:  In my summary, I refer to the pushback I got from my husband David’s family about his care. Dora, David’s older sister, is a main character in my story. We’d been close (as close as you can be when you live 7,500 miles apart) before his plane crash, but my decisions about David’s caregiving and her responses drove a wedge between us. Our relationship was forever changed. Still, I wanted to portray Dora as someone with great compassion and empathy, someone who meant well, but was so desperate to change the situation she acted in ways that were misguided. The result was extreme stress and conflict. I hope that in the end my readers will think kindly of Dora – in some ways she’s the true hero of my story.

TR: How long did it take you to write this book from concept to fruition? Was there any research involved or just your own experiences?

RM: It took me a long, long time – eleven years. I was a single parent of two kids – each with their own issues – which took most of my attention, plus running my music teaching business. But I think the main reason it took so long was that I was learning the craft of writing – taking classes, attending feedback groups – at the same time as I was actually writing. I had to develop my confidence, my voice. That confidence was shaken after attending a retreat in New York where professionals from the publishing industry spoke; I don’t believe they meant to be discouraging but that was the result. Many of us at that retreat became very disillusioned. I didn’t write a word for two solid years. But the story wouldn’t leave me alone, so I hired a coach and finished the manuscript.

TR: What is your favorite scene in the book? Why?

RM: There is short scene where I’m at the DMV surrendering David’s driver’s license, which was required by law since his brain injury renders him unable to get behind the wheel ever again. Though it was a simple act, it was very symbolic, an official severing of his former life with his present and permanent disabled one – a significant loss of independence. In the scene, I break down in tears while at the DMV counter. My sadness at the totality of his losses overwhelmed me at that moment. It was also like rubbing salt into the wound of my single-parenting reality – I would not just be the only driver in the family, I’d be the only everything.

This scene wasn’t an especially dramatic moment in comparison to some far more intense scenes in the book – but for me quite significant.

TR: People choose to write their memoir for many different reasons.  What would you hope readers will take away after reading ‘Crash?

RM: Two words: resilience and options. I struggled so much during those years with a number of challenges that happened simultaneously: My – and my children’s – grief/trauma around David’s brain injury, the recurrence of an eating disorder, dealing with a stalker, my mother’s passing from pancreatic cancer, my son’s Asperger’s syndrome, my daughter’s anxiety, the pushback from his family. I got through it with sheer will power and the support of my village – friends, family, therapist. My mantra was a cliché – “when you’re walking through hell, keep walking.” There is another side to the minefield if you can put one foot in front of the other. And while you’re walking, or stumbling as I was, grasp those hands that are reaching out to help you through it.

The other message I want to convey is that if you are thrust into a role you didn’t sign up for, it’s ok to choose the less travelled path. Give yourself permission to consider all of your options. If you do make an unpopular choice, it doesn’t mean you are selfish or lazy. Give yourself the love you so generously bestow on others.

TR: Would you sell movie rights for ‘Crash’ and if so, which actor/actress would you like to see playing you?

RM: Oh absolutely! I think Crash would make a wonderful movie or mini-series (doesn’t every author think that about their work?) It is truly a dream to see my story dramatized. The actress would need to be someone who could play mid-40’s, preferably Jewish-looking. Perhaps Julianna Margulies, Winona Ryder, Natalie Portman…what do you think? Ideas welcome!

About Rachel Michelberg

Crash: Reluctant Caregiver by Rachel Michelberg

(c) Alicia Telfer

Rachel Michelberg grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area and still enjoys living there with her husband, Richard, and their two dogs, Nala and Beenie. She earned her Bachelor of Music degree in vocal performance from San Jose State University and has performed leading roles in musicals and opera from Carmen to My Fair Lady as well as the part of the Mother Abbess (three times!) in The Sound of Music.

When Rachel isn’t working with one of her twenty voice and piano students, she loves gardening, hiking, and making her own bone broth. CRASH: How I Became a Reluctant Caregiver is her first book.

Website: https://www.rachelmauthor.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RachelMAuthor/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/RMichelberg
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rachelmichelbergauthor/

Pre-Order Crash: Reluctant Caregiver by Rachel Michelberg


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rash: Reluctant Caregiver by Rachel Michelberg

MeaningFULL by Alli Spotts-De LazzerMeaningFULL: 23 Life-Changing Stories of Conquering Dieting, Weight, & Body Image Issues by Alli Spotts-De Lazzer

Publisher:  Unsolicited Press (January 26, 2021)
Category: Self-help, Non-Fiction, psychology, memoir, health/wellness, inspirational, eating disorder recovery, weight loss, & body positivity
Tour dates: March-April, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-950730-69-8
Available in Print and ebook, 282 pages
 MeaningFULL

Description MeaningFULL by Alli Spotts-De Lazzer


“MeaningFULL: 23 Life-Changing Stories of Conquering Dieting, Weight, & Body Image Issues” is a blend of motivational self-help, memoir, psychology, and health and wellness. Alli Spotts-De Lazzer is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, an expert in eating and body image issues, and a woman on the other side of her own decades-long struggle with food and body.

A $702 billion global diet/nutrition and weight loss industry shows that people worldwide are devoted to achieving maximum health and their desired bodies. Yet mainstream approaches are failing these individuals, and sadly, science proves this. Intent on gaining the “health” and “happiness” that diets promise, consumers keep trying. They become sad and frustrated, believing they’re failing when they’re not. They simply need a legitimate, alternative path, which “MeaningFULL” offers. Through the contributors’ diverse, real-life mini-memoirs followed by Spotts-De Lazzer’s commentaries, readers will learn about themselves and discover their unique, unconventional formulas for conquering their issues. Along the way, “MeaningFULL” will also guide them towards more self-appreciation, wellness, and fulfillment.

Review MeaningFULL by Alli Spotts-De Lazzer


Alli Spotts- De Lazzer is therapist who specializes in family therapy and eating disorders. In this book she has collected 23 stories from people about their struggles with weight and body image issues.

From the day we are born, society inundates us with the message that we must strive for perfection. Supermodels, movie stars, even today’s internet sensations begin programming us from a very young age with the idea that we must fit into a certain mold in order to be acceptable. And that mold is one of a thin, shapely young women. There is a reason Barbie dolls looked the way they did.  Girls grow up striving to have that kind of figure.  Sadly, many with do anything to try to achieve it.

But a supermodel’s body is, obviously difficult to achieve and as such, many of us will spend a lifetime struggling with our weight and body image, desperate to obtain a standard that is almost unobtainable. Some of us may only toy with dieting occasionally, but the people in this book made dieting into an everyday (and sometimes every moment) war on themselves.

Reading these stories, I felt such sympathy for these people who have struggled so much to achieve what they believe to be their own ideal look. For the woman who gained weight during her pregnancy only to fall back on food as a comfort when her baby was diagnosed with cerebral palsy and her husband left her. For the woman who started a business at a young age and became so obsessed with achieving perfection that she began drinking Ipecac to induce vomiting. For every story that represented another life and another hand over hand climb out of the rock bottom pit of misery.

Every story is concluded with a note from Spotts-De Lazzer analyzing the story and providing a therapist’s viewpoint, which was very welcome.

I personally grew up with a family struggling with weight issues.  Most of my family must have tried every diet out there.  I was the only one who had trouble actually gaining weight.  Besides my family, I have known so many people struggling weight and body image issues, especially in my work as a social worker in mental health.

I am giving 5 stars to this moving look at diet culture and body image. This is the kind of self-help book that we need more of in the world! I am mostly retired from social work now however, I will recommend this book to my collogues, for their clients in the struggle.

About Alli Spotts-De LazzerMeaningFULL by Alli Spotts-De Lazzer


Alli Spotts-De Lazzer is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor, and a “CEDS” Certified Eating Disorders Specialist, and a person on the other side of her own decades-long struggle with food battles and body dislike. She has presented educational workshops at international conferences, hospitals, and graduate schools and has published articles in trade magazines, academic journals, and online information hubs.

A believer in service and advocacy, Alli serves on multiple committees and created #ShakeIt for Self-Acceptance!—a movement embodying its message.

Website: https://www.meaningfullread.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MeaningFULLread/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/meaningFULLread
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meaningfullread/

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MeaningFULL by Alli Spotts-De Lazzer

MeaningFULL by Alli Spotts-De LazzerMeaningFULL: 23 Life-Changing Stories of Conquering Dieting, Weight, & Body Image Issues by Alli Spotts-De Lazzer

Publisher:  Unsolicited Press (January 26, 2021)
Category: Self-help, Non-Fiction, psychology, memoir, health/wellness, inspirational, eating disorder recovery, weight loss, & body positivity
Tour dates: March-April, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-950730-69-8
Available in Print and ebook, 282 pages
 MeaningFULL

Description MeaningFULL by Alli Spotts-De Lazzer


“MeaningFULL: 23 Life-Changing Stories of Conquering Dieting, Weight, & Body Image Issues” is a blend of motivational self-help, memoir, psychology, and health and wellness. Alli Spotts-De Lazzer is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, an expert in eating and body image issues, and a woman on the other side of her own decades-long struggle with food and body.

A $702 billion global diet/nutrition and weight loss industry shows that people worldwide are devoted to achieving maximum health and their desired bodies. Yet mainstream approaches are failing these individuals, and sadly, science proves this. Intent on gaining the “health” and “happiness” that diets promise, consumers keep trying. They become sad and frustrated, believing they’re failing when they’re not. They simply need a legitimate, alternative path, which “MeaningFULL” offers. Through the contributors’ diverse, real-life mini-memoirs followed by Spotts-De Lazzer’s commentaries, readers will learn about themselves and discover their unique, unconventional formulas for conquering their issues. Along the way, “MeaningFULL” will also guide them towards more self-appreciation, wellness, and fulfillment.

Praise MeaningFULL by Alli Spotts-De Lazzer


“First, let me tell you….YOU NEED TO READ THIS BOOK! Why? Because it will resonate with you at some level. Whether you’re the person that has had a moment of, “I can’t wear that” or “I don’t like the way my (insert body part here) looks in that shirt” or “That food is bad/good for me”. I promise something in this book will touch you. For me, there were many “A-HA” moments that made me tear up a bit reading them knowing that I was not alone. Alli does a fantastic job of letting these stories unfold, letting the writer tell their truth and where they’re coming from, and where they are going. You will laugh, you might cry, but you will definitely be better for reading this! Highly recommend. 5 SHINING STAR STICKERS!!”-cedarparkmom

“I loved your book so much it was an absolute joy to spend this valuable weekend time reading it. . .I really feel this book should be read by everyone in Western culture. This is so much more than a series of stories from people with eating disorders, it is a reflection on American (and to a large extent the whole of western) society. The pressure we put on ourselves and each other to look a certain way, unattainable aspirations that are robbing us of our health and robbing us of our ability to enjoy life. I am sure everyone can benefit from reading this book, and everyone will either relate to some elements of the stories, or know someone who has suffered from similar issues.”-Caroline Watson, from the U.K.

“I SAW MYSELF IN THIS BOOK. I was fortunate enough to read a copy of this book prior to it’s formal release. I expected to read story after story about other people. But, as I dug deeper, I realized, I was reading about parts of myself and parts of my family and friends within each story. I cannot recommend this book enough. It’s a very easy read. Even if you don’t think you need to read this book for your own personal journey, it’s worth reading to better understand what your family or friends might be going through. It has definitely heightened my sense of awareness.”-jrjanuszewski

“A BREATH OF FRESH AIR. MeaningFULL is just that; meaningful. It is FULL of hope and encouragement. Readers will surely recognize themselves in one of the many, beautifully diverse stories of food and body image struggles and triumphs. As an eating disorder therapist, I feel confident in recommending this book to my clients as the author takes great care to engage readers in a safe way that focuses on healing. Her straightforward commentary at the end of each mini memoir is refreshing and illuminating, helping to eliminate any potential misreading of the information presented. Need a fill-up on hope? Grab this book and settle in.”-Josie Munroe, LMFT

“Reading MeaningFULL was like seeing myself in a mirror – sometimes I liked what I saw, sometimes I cringed a little, and sometimes I got a true glimpse of myself. The 23 stories featured in this book made me laugh, cry, and feel a lot of hope – not just for myself, but for everyone who has a contentious relationship with food and with their own body.
The storytelling in MeaningFULL is excellent and it was easy to connect with and feel empathy toward the storytellers. The notes from Alli at the end of each story, which have incredibly useful commentary and suggestions are what make Meaning Full such a worthwhile read.
I really appreciate how freely resources are shared with the reader. Alli knows that overcoming food, weight, and body issues takes so much more than reading a book. She offers real information and suggestions for how to do the hard work. She also offers hope and glimpses of real lives that are so much better for having done the work.
MeaningFULL was not always easy to read, especially when I related too much to a storyteller. It was so worth it, though! I felt seen and I felt compassion from Alli in every word she wrote.
I think that there is a lot to be gained from reading this book for everyone – if you don’t have a hard time with food, weight, or body issues, you know someone who does. MeaningFULL is chock full of insights for everyone.”-Darcysmom’s, Goodreads

Interview With Alli Spotts-De Lazzer

TR: Please tell us something about ‘MeaningFULL’ that is not in the summary.  (About the book, person you particularly enjoyed writing, etc.)

ASDL: When I started the book, I had little idea of what the heck I was doing. I’d only published academic articles. But this could not be those. Soon after I created a short proof of concept, I discovered I was deeply challenged and felt discouraged as a writer. Throughout the next year and a half/two years, I’d find that I’d feel those feelings often.

Every time I threw MeaningFULL in the trash, I was able to find someone who could teach me what to do to UN-give up. And amazing souls were willing to provide feedback along the way, too. Since I could find no prototype for this kooky fusion of genres, it required a lot of fixing and revising. And, THAT story is nowhere in the book!

TR: Though you are a professional in the field, you most likely still had to do some research for ‘MeaningFull.’ How much time and effort went into your research for the book?

ASDL: Tons! Putting what I think I know in print, to exist permanently, takes a lot of reviewing and double-checking. It was also important to me to offer a variety of accessible resources—meaning, articles that can be Google-searched by readers. Those each needed to be thoughtfully found and chosen.

TR: How long did it take you to write this book from concept to fruition?

ASDL: It took around three years; I began curating it in late 2017.

TR: Tell us about your cover. Did you design it yourself?

ASDL: The JOY in the cover Unsolicited Press created and chose was irresistible to me. I loved that the people seemed to represent who was in the book and who might be reading it.

TR: What are you currently working on?

ASDL: Getting the word out about MeaningFULL! Also, maintaining my private practice.

TR: Besides its fusion of genres, what’s something distinctive about MeaningFULL?

ASDL: The community of it. As it was evolving and being workshopped, many hearts and minds touched the pages. Now that it’s in final form, a reader whose heart or mind it touches will also (hopefully) feel connected. We—you and me—are not alone in our struggles, triumphs, and quests to find our unique formulas to wellness and our contented lives.


About Alli Spotts-De LazzerMeaningFULL by Alli Spotts-De Lazzer


Alli Spotts-De Lazzer is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor, and a “CEDS” Certified Eating Disorders Specialist, and a person on the other side of her own decades-long struggle with food battles and body dislike. She has presented educational workshops at international conferences, hospitals, and graduate schools and has published articles in trade magazines, academic journals, and online information hubs.

A believer in service and advocacy, Alli serves on multiple committees and created #ShakeIt for Self-Acceptance!—a movement embodying its message.

Website: https://www.meaningfullread.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MeaningFULLread/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/meaningFULLread
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meaningfullread/

Buy MeaningFULL by Alli Spotts-De Lazzer


Amazon
Barnes&Noble
IndieBound

Giveaway MeaningFULL by Alli Spotts-De Lazzer


This giveaway is for one print copy with 2 winners. It is open to the U.S. only and ends on March 31, 2021,midnight pacific time. Entries are accepted via Rafflecopter only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Follow MeaningFULL by Alli Spotts-De Lazzer Tour


Teddy Rose Book Reviews Plus Mar 3 Kickoff & Interview

Amber Amazon Mar 4 Review

Dianne Hot Mess Princess Mar 5 Review & Excerpt

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What Emma Did Next Mar 10 Review

Laura Lee Celtic Lady’s Reviews Mar 11 Guest Review & Excerpt

Bookgirl Goodreads Mar 12 Review

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Teddy Rose Book Reviews Plus Mar 17 Review

Crystal Bookish in Midlife Mar 19 Review & Excerpt

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MeaningFULL by Alli Spotts-De Lazzer