🏰 Author Interview Featuring Dr. Helen Ofosu, author of How To Be Resilient In Your Career

In good times and bad, resilience is one of the major keys to success – including career success. Dr. Helen Ofosu believes this applies to employees and entrepreneurs, individual contributors, subject matter experts, leaders, and executives.

That’s why her approach to career and executive coaching is to help people get ahead in a way that insulates them from future setbacks – or recover if things have gone sideways. This is also why, as a consultant, she helps organizations become stronger and more resilient, so they are ready for both the anticipated and the unexpected challenges that all organizations face at some point.

Part of what sets her apart from many career and executive coaches is her experience on the inside, as an HR and professional development professional, within large corporate workplaces and her intimate knowledge of typical HR processes and systems.

Clients come to her when the stakes are high. They can count on her to share insights and customized services that few others can deliver. They love that she has developed countless hiring tools and helped to resolve many HR problems over the years.

Her “insider” experience gives her clients an edge in getting hired and promoted in the public (and private) sector, and in managing their careers as they progress.

And as an Industrial/Organizational Psychologist (her field is more commonly known as Work and Business Psychology), she takes an evidence-based approach by using the latest research and best practices to increase the odds of her clients’ success.

Author Links  

Website | Brainz Magazine | Podcast Interviews | X (Twitter) | Facebook | Goodreads | Instagram

 

🏰As a book bloggin’ and book luvin’ Princess, I’m always curious to find out how authors got the ideas for their books.  How did you come up with the idea for your book, How to Be Resilient in Your Career?

I had often heard that you should write about what you know. As an Organization Psychologist, coach and HR consultant, I know a lot about career coaching, executive coaching, and bouncing back from career-related setbacks. My main challenge was to figure out a compelling and succinct way to tie all of this together. 

I worked with a very skilled and experienced editor to write my manuscript named Todd. Todd helped me create the framework for organizing my ideas. He suggested/agreed it would make sense to organize the book in terms of the top ten career-related challenges I talk to clients about in our private, one-on-one interactions.

🏰Why do you believe resilience is one of the major keys to success?

Adequate resilience is one of the primary keys to success, in good times and bad. Even if we are lucky, at some point, the luck usually runs out. So, when things are good, it’s smart to put certain fundamentals in place so that we can recover from inevitable setbacks.

That’s why my approach to career coaching and executive coaching is to help people get ahead in a way that insulates them from future reversals. As a consultant, I aim to help organizations become stronger and more resilient, so they are ready for the predictable and unforeseen challenges that all organizations face at some point.

🏰What was the hardest part about writing your book?

One chapter, chapter seven, took me an extraordinary amount of time and effort. It’s the chapter called “Identity is Complex.” This chapter was hard because it was meant to help people who have an underrepresented identity (e.g., they are a religious minority, differently abled, racialized, Indigenous, or a member of an LGBTQ2S+ community, etc.) and who experience mistreatment or limited career progression because of their identity. But the chapter was also written so that leaders, HR professionals, and others who are not part of an underrepresented group start to understand challenges they had not noticed before. It’s meant to be affirming for some but informative for others who aspire to be well-intentioned and effective supporters, allies, colleagues, leaders, and good corporate citizens. Finding that balance was challenging. 

🏰Do you hear from your readers?  What do they say?

I am grateful for the questions, comments, and compliments I’ve received from my readers. Here are a few that have stood out to me:

• In this book, Helen Ofosu talks about many points that are not generally discussed in real life. I have felt this way many times at work. I often think that I can’t be the only one feeling like this. It’s been helpful to actually see the issues written out and those words reflect exactly how I feel when those incidents keep happening. I will be taking her advice.
• It's the sort of book that I wish I’d had at the start of my career. Not only does it provide thoughtful career and professional advice from a subject matter expert, but it does so by providing examples that center Black Canadians and our lived experiences as the focus. Many of us are not used to seeing ourselves as the focus of career development, psychology, and self-help books or frameworks.
• This audiobook was a great listen, offering practical advice and real-life examples. It is a book of encouragement for those experiencing challenges in the workplace. It also provides direction on how to avoid and reduce obstacles employees may face.
• An excellent read that brings insight and solutions to many common work experiences. Dr. Helen, your book is affirming and empowering and is a necessary resource for career navigation. This book is also an important reference for leaders who seek to retain staff and foster a positive, inclusive, and thriving work environment.
• I learned so much from the examples which were relatable and relevant to anyone working in a professional environment. The strategies found within will be useful now and going forward in my career.  I intend to purchase copies for those in my life just starting out in their careers, so they can also benefit from the helpful and realistic advice found in this book.

🏰If you could tell your younger self anything, what would that be?

I wish I’d known to work less and network more! There is so much to be gained from making genuine connections. 

🏰What has been the best accomplishment in your writing career?

I'm thrilled to share that I've been nominated by Routledge, the publisher of my 2023 book How to be Resilient in Your Career: Facing Up to Barriers at Work, for the Trillium Book Award!

Since its inception in 1987, the Trillium Book Award has been instrumental in celebrating and elevating the work of Ontario's authors, showcasing the exceptional quality and versatility of our literary landscape. With past winners like Margaret Atwood and Michael Ondaatje, author of "The English Patient," this nomination is a significant honor in my professional journey.

🏰Do you have anything that you would like to say to your readers?

I would counsel anyone who is struggling with a workplace issue to reach out for help in some form before that issue takes its toll on his or her mental health. Whether it’s through a book a blog or a coach, don’t suffer indefinitely and hope the issue will resolve itself. So often clients come to me for help after months or even years of struggle. 

 

About How To Be Resilient In Your Career

How To Be Resilient in Your Career: Facing Up to Barriers at Work shares vital career advice to help professionals navigate common "internally disruptive" career experiences such as harassment and bullying, imposter syndrome, membership in an underrepresented group, toxic workplaces, discrimination, and more.

Dr. Helen Ofosu draws on twenty years of helping employers acquire talent and coaching professionals through difficult career choices to unpack these layered and complicated issues in an easy-to-follow way. Dealing with the dark side of management, the book outlines various issues that can occur in the workplace, or during a person's career journey, and offers practical advice on how to overcome these obstacles and setbacks. Using her considerable HR experience, Dr. Ofosu also offers coveted insights from the employer's point of view. For people who have already tried other options to resolve their complicated career issues, this book offers an essential guide that equips readers with a knowledge base to make informed decisions around building and sustaining a thriving and resilient career.

How to be Resilient in Your Career: Facing Up to Barriers at Work is a reliable resource presented with nuance, depth, and specificity. Psychologists, psychotherapists, social workers, and HR professionals who are looking for effective advice when supporting people struggling with these issues, will greatly benefit from this book, as will early career professionals, and established earners looking to resolve their career issues.

You can purchase your copy at Amazon at https://t.ly/_rspc. 

Other Buy Links:

Audible | Barnes & Noble | Indigo

🏰Read the First Chapter of Urbex Predator by Jens Boele #FirstChapter

 

Title: URBEX PREDATOR
Author: Jens Boele
Publisher: Amazon KDP
Pages: 394
Genre: Horror/Thriller

A relic from the Cold War, the old barracks beckon photographers, influencers, and adventurers, shrouded in secrets and peril. Nela and Tess dare the eerie ruins for their photography thesis, while Zander, Yelka, Vivien, and Damon embark on a simultaneous shoot. Amid the abandoned shadows, Yelka’s group runs into Steven and his ruthless gang, initially outsmarting them. Yet, Nela and Tess fall victim to a nightfall ambush, escaping but torn apart. As adrenaline courses through the gang, they stalk Yelka and her friends, unleashing a relentless manhunt. Vivien becomes their captive, setting off a chain reaction. Tess encounters Damon and Yelka, while Nela, guided by Ben, the barracks’ security manager, races to find Tess. Yelka strives to rescue Vivien, trapped in an abandoned outdoor pool. On his lone pursuit, Zander witnesses the gang’s brutality, delving into a darker realm within himself, spurred by the horrifying thrill of Steven’s actions. The scene propels Yelka, Damon, and Tess into a frenzy, unleashing chaos to liberate Vivien. Nela and Ben, attempting to overpower the gang, witness Yelka and Vivien’s escape as the gang closes in. With the arrival of Steven’s older brother, Henry, the stakes are set; the old military hospital transforms into a battleground. No one is to leave alive, and a matter of life and death ensues. In the ruthless clash, Nela and Yelka emerge as the lone defenders, while Zander pursues a mission for his own catharsis. In Henry’s basement, dubbed his Hades, the teams converge for a pulse-pounding final duel, where survival is the ultimate prize. 

You can pick up your copy at Amazon. 

Silence was all that was left. Neither the shouting of the officers nor the marching thunder of the soldiers had remained from the Cold War. Finally, it was time itself that had defeated all enemies.

Unwavering, indifferent, and relentless, it gnawed at the foundations of what the Allied forces had left behind. Heat had cracked the asphalt, rain washed out the concrete, wind and storm had smashed doors and windows. Tar paper had melted in the sun and frozen in winter. Tiles had cracked in the freezing cold. Weather had crept into the woodwork and driven the paint out of the wood. Moss and ferns clung to exterior walls, clogging gutters, and water pipes. The forces of nature had achieved what those of the enemy had failed to do.

In the cold moonlight, Scott and Billy wandered between the former apartment blocks near the barracks. Six-story residential silos had probably housed the soldiers’ families at that time. Today they were surrounded by trees that had not been planted yet when the houses were abandoned. In the moonlight, the open front doors of the house looked like the entrance to a more sinister and terrifying world than the darkness of the woods. The night wind carried the heavy smell of forest soil and damp cellars to their noses. Now the nocturnal animals came to life and mingled their calls with leaves rustling.

“Wait!” Billy put his hand on Scott’s shoulder. “There’s something up ahead.”

They stopped on a grassy path that once had been a road.

“What’s supposed to be there?” Scott folded his arms in front of his chest.

“Look …” 

A black shadow emerged from the forest. Billy froze, Scott held his breath. It appears the animal was slowly approaching them. Gosh, let it be just a dog that has lost its way.

“It’s a wolf,” Scott whispered.

Billy felt Scott’s arm pushing him back.

“Damn, what do we do now?” Scott breathed frantically.

The animal approached slowly; head bowed.

“That’s a wolf,” Scott kept whispering, “that’s a wolf …” Breathing frantically, his voice grew louder with each word.

“That! Is! A! Wolf!” he shouted energetically, stamping his foot with each word, and waving his arms.

When Billy came out from behind his back, the animal had disappeared. His shoulders slumped. Scott exhaled in relief.

“Was that really a wolf?” asked Billy in a low voice.

“I don’t know,” Scott went on. “Anyway, it’s gone.”

“Can’t you even turn on the flashlight?”

“No, man. Not until we get inside. I don’t feel like getting caught by security anytime soon.”

Taking a deep breath, Billy let go of his tension. “And how is this even going to work? We’ve been walking through the forest for about half an hour now.”

“Yeah, so what?”

“How are we supposed to move those cables back to the car? Do you think I will run the route back and forth umpteen times?”

Scott abruptly stopped and glanced at Billy. “You aren’t even listening to me, are you? We will get all the cables out of the ceilings that night and stash them here. Then we’ll see what we got, and tomorrow night we’ll break down the gate and drive up here with the transporter. All right?”

Billy chewed on his lower lip. “Yes, but why don’t we go with the van already?”

“Because the broken gate would attract the security service in the morning, which would then catch us, stupid.” 

Waiting for an answer, he glanced at Billy, “It’s not that hard to understand, though, is it?” Billy nodded mutely.

“But do you think there’s still a lot to earn here anyway? This place is kind of old, you know. I’m sure others have been here before and pulled the copper outta the walls.”

“Take a good look around. Do you see any graffiti? Do you see any trails? Has anyone been partying here?” Billy let his eyes wander. No, no one has been here for a long time. “Don’t ask me why, but this place is hot.” 

Scott raised his eyebrows. “Now let’s get going.” Forgivingly, he patted Billy on the shoulder. “Otherwise, the Big Bad Wolf will get you right away.”

Sighing, Billy kept walking.

“This is probably just too far away from civilization. We’re just out here in the middle of nowhere. Nobody gets lost here …”

A bloodcurdling scream echoed throughout the night. 

Frozen, Billy stopped, Scott took a step back.

“What was that?” Billy’s voice trembled. 

Scott stared into the night. “I’m sure it was just an animal.”

Billy shivered. “Was no animal, dude.”

Scott turned to him. “What else would that have been? The wolf probably took a deer. You know what kind of noises animals make when they’re scared to die?”

Billy shook his head quietly as he remained in a state of shock.

“See it like this—the wolf will feast now and leave us alone.” Scott smiled. “Is even better for us.”

After a brief silence, he added, “Think of the money!”

The wind had eased, the dark forest path lay in silence. Behind them, the moon illuminated the clearing where the houses stood. In front of them, there was darkness.

Billy whispered, “Wait,” and then walked on hesitantly. His legs were heavy as lead, his breathing shallow. “Wait for me.” 

“Hurry,” Scott whispered softly.

As the path narrowed, the trees came closer, denying them the last light of the moon.

They could barely see anything when they noticed a motion in the shadows.

A large shade moved slowly between the trees.

It walked upright on two legs.

This was not an animal.

Billy felt an icy chill as his arms felt numb. He felt an invisible band tighten around his chest, draining his breath as Scott disappeared into the darkness.

“Scott?” He gasped for air.

“Run! Run Billy!”

Billy’s stomach clenched. He heard Scott try to shout something, but his voice turned into an uncontrolled gurgle. Like he was going to throw up. Then a rattle. 

Billy wanted to run away, but he just stood there, unmoving and trembling, paralyzed with fright. He grabbed his cheek. His eyes stared into the forest, widening.

“Scott?”

A branch cracked.

Darkness surrounded him.

Silence.

About Jens Boele

Jens Boele, a veteran media designer in the entertainment industry, brings over two decades of cinematic expertise to his writing. Born in Germany in 1975, Jens embarked on his writing odyssey in his youth, culminating in the publication of his debut book, “Sunshine,” in 2015. This was followed by “Hurensohn,” and his latest spine-tingling creation, “Urbex Predator.” Jens is a genre-bending author, specializing in horror and crime thrillers. His narratives often blur genre lines, weaving intricate tales that plunge readers into the darkest corners of the human psyche. Jens’s storytelling brilliance lies in his fascination with the criminal mind; his villains are always profoundly human, offering readers a chilling examination of the psychological aspects of the criminally insane. Jens sets himself apart by seamlessly integrating classic horror with the gritty authenticity of the present day. This innovative fusion imbues his narratives with a dynamic quality, seamlessly blending archaic thrills with contemporary intrigue, resulting in an immersive reading experience that resonates with both vintage enthusiasts and present-day readers alike. Jens Boele’s latest endeavor takes his work across borders, as “Urbex Predator” becomes his first book to be translated into English. A globetrotter with deep connections to the United States, Jens’s passion for exploration and his international perspective, nurtured by family and friends in the US, shine through in his writing, offering readers a captivating blend of horror and cultural diversity. Visit Jens’ website at https://jensboele.com/.

🏰 Author Interview Featuring Thomas White, author of The Edison Enigma

Thomas White began his career as an actor. Several years later he found himself as an Artistic Director for a theatre in Los Angeles and the winner of several Drama-Logue and Critics awards for directing. As Tom’s career grew, he directed and co-produced the world tour of “The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Coming Out Of Their Shells”. The show toured for over two years, was translated into seven different languages and seen by close to a million children. Tom served as President and Creative Director for Maiden Lane Entertainment for 24 years and worked on many large-scale corporate event productions that included Harley Davidson, Microsoft, Medtronic Diabetes, and dozens of others. The Edison Enigma is Tom’s third novel following up Justice Rules which was nominated as a finalist in the Pacific Northwest Writers Association 2010 Literary contest, and The Siren’s Scream.

Author Links  

Website | X (Twitter) | Facebook 1 | Facebook 2 | Goodreads

 

🏰Your new book, The Edison Enigma, sounds like an exciting time travel! Plus I love it that it involves someone who could go back in time and change history. Did that idea come to you out of the blue or did something influence you to use this as your theme?

Hi, thanks for having me. The idea for The Edison Enigma came from a corporate event that I produced many years ago. I was working with the Saturn company and they had developed an electric car. They made a wonderful commercial where all of the electric appliances in the houses up and down the street, ran to the curb to see the electric car run by. Everyone was very excited about the reveal. ASNd then, it disappeared. Several years went by and I began to wonder what happened to the electric car? After some light research I uncovered quite a lot of evidence that at some point in time, m this may have been manipulated and attention thrown to the internal combustion engine. From there, the idea blossomed and even though I never found any evidence of congressional involvement at the turn of the 20th century, I ran with it. 

🏰Can you tell us a little about your main characters?

Dr. Tom Edison is a brilliant physicist who discovers the secret to time travel. He’s in his late 30’s, good looking enough, not an action hero by any stretch of the imagination and yet, he finds his inner strength as the story moves forward. He is also a man who gives up everything to do the right thing. There would be nothing braver than stepping into a Time Machine to go back and change history not knowing if you succeed will that machine be there to bring you back.

🏰Why was writing The Edison Enigma so important to you?

In our world of global climate change we look back and see the =many bad decisions that were made over the years involving every sources. If different and smarter choices been made, we would not be facing this crisis. In The Edison Enigma I offer a look at what could have been.

🏰As a published author, what would you say was the most pivotal point of your writing life?

I am hoping that point has not arrived yet. LOL. My writing skills are constantly improving and it is my hope that one day my success will follow. The great sense of accomplishment at completing a novel will only be exceeded by publication success and see my book being read by millions. 

🏰If you had 4 hours of extra time today, what would you do?

I have no idea. Someone once asked me what my greatest motivation to write was, and my reply was boredom. I am someone who always has to be productive. Currently I write, and work here in Las Vegas on a show at Harrah’s as the swing Stage Manager. I have recently taken up a hobby of refurbishing furniture. I have written a musical that I am trying to get produced here in town., With four extra hours a day I would undoubtably start some new endeavor that would fill that time.

🏰Can you give us a sneak peek into Thomas White's next adventure?

I have just started my fourth novel. I recently saw the movie American Fiction, which I highly recommend, and in it a writer produces a novel as a joke to show the absurdity of what the industry wanted form ‘black authors’. My new novel will be a satirical look at the country’s outlook on sex and all that comes with it. It’s called “Kangaroo Is My Safe Word’. We’ll see if it turns out. 

About The Edison Enigma

Edison, a Chicago physicist, manages to successfully transport an object through time. Almost immediately following this success Dr. Edison is shut out of the facility and told by benefactor Raphael Barrington, to take a vacation. He is contacted by Don Rivendell, a grizzled old man with a secret. Rivendell explains to Tom that he is not the first person to discover time travel. Someone else went back and changed history by saving a young girl from dying in an internal combustion engine explosion.

Dr. Edison is tasked with going back and fixing history. He travels back to 1904 to find the younger version of Rivendell and stop him from saving the girl. 

You can purchase your copy of The Edison Enigma at Amazon at https://t.ly/_NOoo.

🏰 Author Interview Featuring Emilio Corsetti III, author of I Will Ruin You: The Twisted Truth Behind the Kit Martin Murder Trial

Emilio Corsetti III is a retired airline pilot and the author of the bestselling nonfiction books 35 Miles From Shore and Scapegoat. Emilio is a graduate of St. Louis University Parks College of Aviation. He and his wife, Lynn, reside in Dallas, Texas.

Author Links  

Website | X (Twitter) | Facebook | Goodreads | Instagram

 

🏰As a book bloggin’ and book luvin’ Princess, I’m always curious to find out how authors got the ideas for their books. I'd like to know more about you as a person first. When did you start writing? What was your first published piece?

The first time I got paid for writing, I was in my early twenties. I wrote an article about how playing video games could translate into making better pilots. Flying magazine bought the article. Soon after I started to panic. When I wrote the article, I borrowed pieces from another story with a similar angle. It was only one paragraph, but I felt conflicted. I contacted Flying magazine and confessed my uncredited use of the other author's work. That article never ran, and I learned a lesson about plagiarism. 

My next stab at writing occurred a few years later when I wrote a piece for Professional Pilot's magazine. They bought the article, and I soon became a regular contributor to the magazine.

🏰As a published author, what has been the most pivotal point of your career?

I would say it was my decision to focus on nonfiction narratives. I tried my hand at writing a novel. It wasn't very good, though I did take the best parts and turned it into a screenplay. I love the screenplay. Apparently, I am alone in that opinion. One reviewer said it was perhaps the worst script she had ever read. That's also when I learned that reviews are objective.

🏰If you could go anywhere to write your next book, where would that be and why?

Unlike a fiction writer, who can rely on their imagination to conjure up stories, I have to rely on a story in the real world that catches my attention. Writing books is a lengthy process. It has to be a story that will maintain my interest for the time it takes me to write it. So, the location of the story is not nearly as important as the story itself.

🏰If you had 4 extra hours of extra time today, what would you do?

Take a nap.

🏰Why was writing I Will Ruin You so important to you?

I believe an innocent man was convicted of a crime he did not commit. My goal is to lay out the facts, hod those responsible accountable, and hopefully bring attention to a case that deserves a second look.

🏰What advice would you give a writer working on their first book?

Try to find early readers who are not afraid to offend you.

 

About I Will Ruin You: The Twisted Truth Behind the Kit Martin Murder Trial

Moments before boarding a passenger flight on 11 May 2019 as the first officer, pilot Christian “Kit” Martin, a former army anger, was arrested by a swarm of heavily armed officers for the murders of three of his neighbors. The arrest captured global attention as Martin’s mugshot, clad in a pilot’s uniform, spread across the internet, sparking a media firestorm with headlines such as “Monster in the Cockpit.”

A combat helicopter pilot, Kit Martin had seen his life unravel after seeking a divorce. His wife’s threatening words, “If you leave me, I will ruin your life …,” overheard by his daughter, seemed to have become a grim reality, escalating to a court-martial and culminating in a high-stakes murder trial at which he was convicted.

I WILL RUIN YOU: The Twisted Truth Behind the Kit Martin Murder Trial delves into the complex circumstances behind Martin’s story. It looks beyond the sensational headlines and legal turmoil into the heart of this controversial case.

You can purchase I Will Ruin You: The Twisted Truth Behind the Kit Martin Murder Trial at Amazon.