Interview with Owners of Brighter Image Carpet Care

We are sharing some of our favorite inspiring interviews from the past. This interview, from 2015, features AJ McKinney and David Gunter who are co-owners of Brighter Image Carpet Care, a company that does carpet cleaning in Fayetteville, NC.
 

Tell us a bit about Brighter Image Carpet Care.
We are a veteran owned and family operated company that has proudly served Fayetteville, NC and surrounding areas since 1987. Our services include carpet cleaning, upholstery cleaning and water damage restoration. Brighter Image Carpet Care was founded under the principle of providing a quality service with exceptional results and the best customer service around.

What should people do to ensure their carpet looks great and lasts a long time?
The #1  thing we tell our customers is to vacuum regularly. If you have a family with small children and pets we highly recommend vacuuming 4 to 5 times per week. Dry soil that accumulates over time will actually damage carpet fibers and give it the dull worn out appearance. We also advise staying away from store bought cleaners as these chemicals can sometimes make a spot on your carpet worse than if you just left it alone. You can easily find homemade recipes online for spot treating that will work much better.

How often should people have their carpet professionally cleaned?
Everyone’s living situation is different. A family with pets and children will need their carpet cleaned more frequent then a single person with no pets or children. We recommend at a minimum, at least once per year. If you have pets that have accidents then you would need to have your carpets professional cleaned and treated for pet urine more frequently. The EPA has put out the following guidelines:

-2 Person Household (Non-smoking): Carpets should be cleaned at least annually.

-2 Person Household (Smoking): Carpets should be cleaned at least three times a year.

-Family w/ Small Children: Carpets should be cleaned twice a year.

-Family w/ Small Children and Pets: Carpets should be cleaned at least three times a year, preferably four.

A common issue a lot of people face is they get a spot on their carpet, for example, from spilled wine. How should people deal with these spot stains? Is there anything they should avoid doing?
The most common mistake most people try and do which only makes the spot worse is scrubbing. Not only are you pushing the spot deeper into the carpet fibers and also the padding, you are also damaging the carpet fibers in the process. Having a shop vac on hand will work wonders when removing something that is spilled on the carpet. Soak up what you can with a plain white towel. Apply a carpet spot treatment and then extract with the shop vac. The problem with this is that sometimes people use the wrong type of cleaning solution for spills. Some household cleaners contain bleach and other harsh chemicals that can actually permanently discolor the carpet. Make sure to always read the label of the product you are using and be sure to test an area first. We recommend testing the product in a closet.

Carpet cleaning by Brighter Image Carpet Care, Fayetteville, NC.

What methods do you use when cleaning carpets?
Our method of cleaning is hot water extraction also known as steam cleaning.

Should people vacuum before getting their carpet professionally cleaned?
Removing dry bonded soil is the most important step of the cleaning process. If you are unable to vacuum the service technician with our company can certainly provide this service for our customers. Be sure to ask the carpet cleaning company you plan on hiring if they offer this service. A lot of companies these days do not carry a vacuum on their truck. Think of it like this…if you go outside and pour water on the dirt, what happens? It turns to mud right? The same thing will happen on your carpet if a thorough vacuuming is not completed.

How should people address pet stains in their carpet?
Stay away from anything that has ammonia in it. The ammonia will actually attract your pet back to the same spot. A shop vac  with vinegar and water would do the trick or you can purchase a product called Natures Miracle from your local pet store. The most important thing to do when dealing with pet stains is act QUICKLY.

What is carpet protection? How effective is it?
Carpet protection when applied properly creates a barrier around your carpet fibers. If something is spilled the carpet protectant will repel it not allowing it to be absorbed into the carpet fibers. It also makes cleaning up spills a breeze.

Brighter Image also cleans upholstery. How should someone test his or her furniture to see if it needs professional cleaning?
The easiest way to do this is to take your vacuum with the hose detached….place a cloth or napkin over the end of the hose where the suction is and slowly vacuum over your cushions and arm rests. After a few passes remove the cloth and see how much dirt you have pulled up. If you have never had your furniture professionally cleaned you will be amazed out how much residue will show up…especially if you do not frequently vacuum your furniture. Depending on your findings after doing this test will determine if you should have your upholstery professionally cleaned. You can perform this same test on your mattresses as well.

What techniques do you use on cleaning furniture?
The process we use for carpet cleaning is the same for upholstery cleaning. It is a hot water extraction process but we use different tools and the pressure during the cleaning process is much lower to prevent over wetting. The steps are exactly the same but the drying time is much quicker.

If someone’s interested in learning more about Brighter Image Carpet Care, how do they get in contact with you?
You can visit us at www.brighterimagecarpet.com or send us an email with any questions or concerns you may have at contact@brighterimagecarpet.com
 

Anything else you’d like to add?
Thank you for having us!

Inspiring Interview with Clemency Crow, Author of Middle Grade Novel Taking Wing

Today we are interviewing Clemency Crow, author of the middle grade adventure novel "Taking Wing."

Tell us a bit about yourself.
I wanted to be a mammoth when I grew up. That was between wanting to be a fox, a cat, a mermaid and (weirdest of all) a dentist! I mean, what child wants to be a dentist?

Then, as things became more serious, I wanted to be an architect. This lasted a good few years until I came to fill in my UCAS application. I’d just moved across the country and I didn’t want to move again to university so I picked the most interest degree that I could study at home.

And it was interesting. It just didn’t lead to a job. Then I decided I wanted to be a Primary Teacher. That did lead to a job, and a rekindled interest in children’s literature.

Now, I want to work part-time as a Primary Teacher, so I have time to do fun things like writing and, erm…editing.

Evidently, I want whatever I do not have.

Describe the plot of your new book, “Taking Wing,” in a few sentences.
Freya is pulled into a society where people live for centuries and wars last for millennia. This society is filled with tribespeople who can turn into birds and fly. When she makes friends with the crows, she tries to stop their war with the owls before her friends are hurt. To do that, she must solve a centuries-old murder and contain a destructive power within her.

Phew!

Who do you think would most appreciate this book?
I read this book to my class of P4s and they enjoyed but there were dark parts to it I was concerned about. I’d recommend this book to children aged 10+ but it’s one of those reads that could be enjoyed by adults also.

"Taking Wing" is filled with danger and adventure so it is best suited to someone who likes to read about characters in a pickle! I also happen to know it makes an awesome class novel, and classroom resources are available on my website!

What attracted you to the middle grade genre?
When choosing books for myself to read, I enjoy middle grade and young adult. I find the adventures more fun and thrilling, and there’s no complicated ‘he loves me/he loves me not’ storylines which get a bit tiring after a while.

I’m also on the lookout for great class novels to introduce to my class. I had ‘staples’ that I would read time and time again but this year, I have the same children as last year, so I have to find something new!

Tell us about the protagonist, Freya.
Freya is a really strong individual. She just doesn’t know it.

When she arrives at the crow castle, she is convinced that they are all much stronger than she is, but throughout the course of the book it becomes clear that this is not the case. She’s really sensible and is the only one in her class who has a part-time job. Her good sense means that it takes some convincing to persuade her that the tribesmen are real.

Inside Freya lies a shadow – an embodiment of her soul. This is inside each of us but what makes Freya so special is that she learns to use her shadow to control the ‘blue light’ (a fire that gives the owner special power). The shadow, however, can get out of control very easily.

The guardians play a major role in your story. What can you share about them?
The guardians’ original purpose was to protect mankind. However, they started arguing amongst themselves and the war that began meant they lost sight of their task. Now, they are just immortal beings that can use the ‘blue light’.

Because they were made to protect people, if they kill a human, they lose their own immortality and die. However, if humans are around them for too long, then the guardians unwillingly drain their energy. Because of this, they live apart from society.

Author Clemency Crow.

Who was your favorite character to write?
Oh my goodness, I love writing about baddies! For "Taking Wing," that would be Raedwald, the owl king. He’s just so…bad! I loved coming up with cheesy one-liners for him to say, but also, I like how he has an understandable side to him. You can almost understand why he is so evil to the crows.

What inspirations contributed to this book?
My childhood reading wasn’t much! I loved Alan Garner, but other than that I just read my sisters’ stories. It was these stories that really shaped my writing and it took me a little while for me to develop my own voice away from what I’d read.

I love animals and birds of all shapes and sizes! I always have. It only makes sense that my first published novel would be about birds. Nature is a huge inspiration for me, as is the countryside. I love being out in the country – it really gets my creative juices flowing! 

How long have you been writing?
Although I have only become a published author this year, I have been planning stories and writing them since I was very wee! I started a novel when I was about 7 years old. It was called The Rule of the Unicorns and it was a high fantasy story with, sadly, no plot! I keep meaning on revisiting the characters to see where they take me now.

The first novel I finished was called The Drandel Valley. I started it when I was 13 and finished it years later. That would does have a plot, but it needs a complete rewrite before I put it out there in the great wide world!

Occasionally, my sisters and I would have ‘Story Days’ where we would all sit down and write our main story. For me, that was usually The Drandel Valley but lately it’s been "Taking Wing." We’d have a great time, each lost in our own world, and we’d listen to our ‘inspiration playlist’ on Spotify. In the evening, we have ‘Story Night’ where we read to each other what we’ve written during the day. Together with homemade cocktails, it is a fantastic time!

How do you think you've evolved as a writer since when you first started?
Oh boy! My first ventures into writing will never see the light of day! That is, unless I can establish myself as a decent author first.

When I started, I was lucky if my story had a plot. It was mostly just about the characters and how they developed – but how can they develop if there’s no plot? Then, as I began to read more and understand what I enjoyed about books (usually a good juicy storyline with lots of danger!) I began to put this into my own writing. That’s how I started to develop. I would imagine I was reading my story for enjoyment and consider what I would find entertaining.

Are there any aspects (e.g. character building, world building) of your writing that you've been practicing?
I found "Taking Wing" tricky to write because of the ending. I knew it was going to be a trilogy so originally, I had a very poor ending indeed. There was no conclusion to the conflict, no satisfaction at all about it. When I read through my first draft, I knew this had to change. Ok, so the main storyline had to be allowed to continue, but there had to be something that was resolved in the book. I scratched my head for hours about what it could be, until I came up with a solution that (if I say so myself) is pretty awesome!

So, in future, I will be developing the planning of the stories, paying particular attention to the endings. I know I love a satisfactory ending so I need to write one for other readers!

What are your goals as a writer for the next ten years?
I have so many ideas for stories – both in my head and written in my funky yellow jotter! I’m also aware that the best marketing I can do is to write another good-quality book so I’m hoping to release one every year.

Yes, I know some authors are releasing one every few months and, believe me, I would love to do that. Quite frankly, I just don’t know how they have the time to edit and redraft and edit and market a book in such a short space of time.

It would be amazing if I could work as a teacher part-time and write part-time, but I’ve a way to go yet to get to that stage. If only…

Is there any aspect of writing you don't like?
Absolutely! I don’t like that my sister, Judith, won’t read my stories until I have finished the first draft! Mean!

Seriously, though, I find the actual sitting down and making yourself write the book harder than it should be. When I’m walking the dog, or when I’m in the bath, I am writing sentences in my head and they actually sound pretty good. When I sit at the computer, looking at the blank screen on Scrivener, all those sentences abandon me! Once I start, however, this feeling disappears, and I can’t be dragged away from my laptop.

Have you ever had writer's block? If yes, how'd you deal with it? If you have not had writer's block, why do you think you haven't?
Yes, I get writer’s block quite frequently! I’d like to think it will get better the more writing I do, but I’m told this isn’t the case!

One thing I try is to make a playlist of songs for whatever story I’m writing. Sometimes songs remind me of certain characters. Sometimes they just fit in really well with the plot. Usually, if I sit and listen to these songs, the writing juices come to me and I am cured of writer’s block.

If this doesn’t work, I sit and plan a story. I might plan out the plot in detail, or I might write an intricate backstory for a character. I love making maps, too, and I find this helps get me into story-mode. After planning for a while, the inspiration returns and I can write.

What do you have in mind for your next project?
I have a few too many stories in the pipeline. The struggle is choosing which one to write.

"Taking Wing" is the first book in a trilogy so I’m currently on Chapter 10 of the 2nd book. However, sometimes when I’m not inspired to write that one, I continue work on one of my standalone middle grade novels. This includes Leo, The Railway Cat – a story that deals with difficult subjects such as mental illness.

Is there anything else you'd like potential readers to know about your book?
Only that the harshest critics in the world have approved it! Who are the harshest critics? Children!

Kids can be downright mean about literature they dislike so I feel like getting the seal of approval from them stand me in good stead.


During my blog tour, the ebook of "Taking Wing" will remain at 99p.

More Information
Find the book on Goodreads.
Check out the author's website.
Visit the author's website.
Buy the book on Amazon UK. 
Buy the book on Amazon US. 

Interview with Edlyne Verna, MPA

We are sharing some of our favorite inspiring interviews from the past. This interview, from 2015, is with Edlyne Verna, MPA Executive Director of CUASVAHH, and Coordinator of the Office of Ethics, Compliance, and Oversight of the City of Jacksonville. CUASVAHH is a non-profit working to end sexual violence and homophobia in Haiti.

Tell us a bit about Christians United Against Sexual Violence And Homophobia in Haiti.
We are a non-profit organization of people from many Christian faith traditions, cultures and racial groups committed to the end of sexual violence and homophobia in Haiti.  We welcome and value the unique contribution that each Christian tradition and our diverse experiences/backgrounds bring to our work. We grow from the ways we learn from each other to serve the people of Haiti and debunk the harmful teachings of hatred brought by certain foreign missionaries in Haiti.

We believe that our religious values of equity and freedom from discrimination and harassment mobilize us to affirm the dignity and worth of every human being and to uphold the right of each person to live without fear and threat of violence.

We believe that the teachings of certain Christian traditions have been a source of pain, confusion, discord and violence for the Haitian people. Thus, we ought to become a source of strength and healing for those facing sexual violence and homophobia.

We believe that the teachings of our Christian traditions obligate us to work towards an end to sexual violence and Homophobia globally but most specifically, in Haiti.

We believe that it is possible to transform individuals, families, communities and institutions through education and the power of our faith traditions.

We believe that the voices of survivors of sexual violence and the LGBT community in Haiti are primary sources of knowledge and direction for our work.

Are you open to any other religion or faith? 

Yes, of course. Haiti consists of 80% Catholics and 16% Protestants  that is why we focus on Christianity but our faith enable us to accept and welcome all other religion or even atheist and agnostic who are like us against sexual violence and homophobia.

Why was CUASVAHH founded? 
CUASVAHH was founded as an answer to the increased rapes and sexual violence towards women; the flagrant and condoned culture of pedophilia; child molestation and incest in Haiti; the normalcy of rape culture and the harmful tendency to blame the victims.

America is a melting pot and one of the countries with the most diverse immigrant population; Haitian represent close to a million people from that population. For example in Florida the last census has shown that cities like Gables is consisting of 33% Haitians, in New York the percentage is also high.

To better understand the culture in Haiti when it come to sexual violence let me share something with you. A common joke in Haiti goes as follow: a older man said to his friends “ man, instead of having one 30, I’d rather have two 15” and the friends would laugh and agree. What this older man is talking about is his preference for 15 years old children instead of a 30 year old woman. This story alone paints the picture perfectly. Haitian men are not punished for dating anyone under 17 and poverty makes the situation worse. Pedophilia is rampant, a 30 year old with a 15 year old is pedophilia! Now ask many Haitians and its a different story.

Haitian culture regards Incest often as a family matter, to be dealt with privately and more often than not, victims do not have a voice. We do not have a 911 or any other number to report these crimes. Nobody comes to the rescue in these situations. There is no official number to call for help during the ordeal or after. The UN has attempted to work locally to establish some sort of support system, unfortunately the number does not work and theses organizations only provide limited services to one sector of the population, the poor. Children and victims of the other sectors of the population are left with no where to turn at all. If the victims remain in the situation, they are often blamed because for the majority of Haitians, the psyche of a victim/survivor remains an enigma. Haitians are not aware that incest can happen anywhere to anyone, by perpetrators who are often pillars of society and members of their own family.

Rape is perceived as a person’s inability to control his/her desire, not as a power issue. 
There is no shame for the rapist in certain situations such as a man forcing his wife, his girlfriend and/or a drunk female into intercourse. The term “flagrant deli” requires that in order for a perpetrator to be prosecuted, the rapist must be caught red handed in the act. Rape is rampant in the tent cities, during home invasions and kidnappings. It is also very present in the homes, in the schools and in the churches.

Unfortunately, there are no rape kits done at the hospitals, and attempt was made to introduce then by many foreign organizations but they horribly failed, and coming forward with incidences of sexual violence, is often detrimental to the victim/survivor due to the views of Haitian society. Often you would hear: “she asked for it”, or “this little girl is promiscuous” , even when grown men are dating a young female child; and little boys are way too afraid to even hint that anyone has violated them.


When it comes to homosexuality: Most uneducated and some mis-educated Haitians gladly equate pedophilia to homosexuality. This idea or belief  seems to be repeatedly accepted throughout Haiti, further putting fear and hatred of homosexuals in the heart of the people.

Pedophilia is a disease, it is a crime and is damaging physically and psychologically to innocent children, boys or girls and sometimes also involves even infants. On the other hand, homosexuality is an “etat d’etre”,  a consensual relationship between two adults  and doesn’t hurt anyone.

This subject of Sexual Violence in Haiti is too broad to cover here for the purpose of establishing CUASVAHH history. We have discussed it in depth in our trainings, webinars and future discussions on our website and Facebook page.

A large part of your work is educating Haitians in Haiti. Why is that important for our diverse community here?
To respond to the need of the 907,790 Haitian immigrants living in the USA which consist of 52.7% of non English speakers, including only 48.7% of the total population who can read and write.  The information provided by American organizations about Sexual Violence, Hate crimes, homophobia and “rape culture” is not within their reach. We are here to fill up this gap by not reinventing the wheel but rather by using all the available information out there and make them relevant to the Haitian population. We have seen an increase of sexual and violent crimes against woman by Haitians here in America. CUASVAHH understood that lack of education on the matter has a lot to do with it. We have decided to work proactively and educate all Haitians in Haiti and here in the states about these important issues.

 73% of Haitians in America lives with extended family which often includes temporary visitors from Haiti.   What happen there do impact us here. 34% of the Haitian population in America is under the age of 14 potentially living with immigrant parents who were raised within the rape culture, homophobic ideals, and acceptance of gender inequality. We believe our work can break the cycle and empower the future American generation to be fierce advocate against sexual violence and homophobia and not becoming victims.

What methods does CUASVAHH use for educating people? 
Only 15.7% of Haitian immigrants hold a higher education degree, and are capable of fully use the information available on the subject in America. You must keep in mind that the Haitian population in the US consist of more 51.3% of people who can’t either read or write, We have resolve this problem by providing them with videos and trainings in creole. The Powerpoint presentations in English and french is a way to reach the rest of the population. Having videos with images in creole breaks all social barriers. The taboo subjects of incest, child molestation and rape, rape of men by men and/or woman, spousal rape etc… are not discussed openly and disseminate properly. Victims in Haiti do not have much help, our school system do not provide counseling or training to their staff to respond to allegations of incest, rape or molestations nor Haitian churches. 
 

In addition to the tragic loss of life, what impact did the Haitian earthquake and subsequent involvement from outsiders have on Haiti?
After the earthquake rape was rampant in the tenet cities women and children were not safe anywhere. The United Nations as many reports on this and the subject is week documented. But the LGBT population also suffered greatly and little was done to protect them. During the days following the earthquake the blame game started and you have the 700 Club who claim on TV that the earthquake was caused by the presence of voodoo practitioners in Haiti, and others started talking about homosexuals in Haiti bringing the destruction there. These missionaries, as they serve the poor/needy Haitians with white rice on one hand,  are with the other hand, serving an interpretation of the Bible and God that is full of hatred, calling for homosexuals to be put to death. This is not the Bible or the God I know, this is not the Bible and the God you know. God is love and in the Ten Commandments,  “Thou shall not kill” or “love your brother as you love yourself” is  too often forgotten.

The organization, CUASVAHH was also founded as an answer to the increased violence and murder of  homosexuals in Haiti. Being a homosexual in Haiti is not illegal and all people are protected by the Haitian Constitution against such violence. But certain police officers found a Caveat in the law concerning “Moral” and discriminate against them anyway.

Many people like to claim that homosexuality is not part of their culture; many Haitians perpetuate this idea and believe that homosexuality is borrowed from the United States of America or from other developed countries. This is, of course false, because in the first place, homosexuality is not a cultural phenomenon but a biological occurrence.

The Haiti of  yesteryear had always embraced its homosexuals even if they were to live on the down low. The level to which society would embrace the individual would of course, be intertwined with the social class to which he/she belongs. This is Haiti for you.  The wealthier you are, the more accepted you are.

On the other hand, homosexuality was always a taboo subject in Haiti; it was never openly dealt with or discussed. Yet, everyone knew of the homosexual man around the corner making the best food, the musician who played his instrument so beautifully, the singer with the sultry voice, the makeup artist so handsome that you ought to look at him twice, the two single old ladies around the way raising their nieces/nephews, the fabulous hairstylist whose hands are magical, or hot spots where the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transexual (LGBT) community would meet. Haiti was never unaware of its homosexuals.

Haitian LGBTs, when too apparent or flagrant, were often ridiculed and harassed if they were from the wrong social class. Now they are stoned to death, burnt, killed, persecuted and vilified as pedophiles and criminals. Their situation has gone from bad to worse. With the aftermath of the devastating earthquake of 2010 and the new developments regarding LGBT rights, certain international missionaries have found the perfect targaet to spread fear and hatred in Haiti. Homosexuals are blamed for the earthquake, and they are blamed for everything that is wrong with Haiti as they are perceived as an abomination to humanity.

Does CUASVAHH do any work with recent Haitian immigrants in the US? Or is the work focused on Haitians in Haiti?
Yes, we do work with recent Haitian immigrants but as a new organization we are still building our relationships with other established businesses, churches and community leaders to inform them and educate them on what we do. Through our facebook page we target Haitians here in the USA and provide them with presentations on subject such as how to protect your children from predators, where to find help if you are a victim etc.. As I said earlier we did not invent the wheel we are a member of Florida Council Against Sexual Violence, and we are also a supporter of RAINN ( Rape, Abuse, Incest, National Network) where we find a lot of our information. We also have in-house Medical Doctors, Therapists, researchers and psychiatrists among other professionals who provide us with research, presentations and best practices for our trainings.

Nevertheless we mostly focus on Haitians in Haiti, because like Nelson Mandela said: “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” Education on sexual violence is not being done adequately and efficiently in Haiti. WE distinguish our self by providing free DVD, videos and even in person trainings to any grassroots organization in need of them.

We have established a Pastoral care department with the sole purpose to empower, educate and support congregations in the formation, training and integration in their teachings against sexual violence,and homophobia.  We do not discuss dogmas yet we focus on the Bible teaching of love, acceptance and tolerance.
 

CUASVAHH also does a lot of work on educating about sexual assault. How do you educate people on this topic?
We have a team of researchers/ writers who prepares powerpoint presentations on different issues. We also, with their permission, make relevant to Haitians information found in established US Organizations dealing with these issues. We ask for experts in their respective field to donate their knowledge by providing CUASVAHH will information that can be translation into Videos, Trainings and powerpoint presentations. Live trainings and articles are also posted on our website. When you are dealing with a population that is comprised of  a large number of non-literate people having  trainings and videos in their own language is the only efficient  way to educate them. Flyers, websites etc… will not work for all.

We travel to Haiti and conduct week long trainings for churches, schools and grass root organizations. We have community volunteer who we train to answer the many questions that arise during our seminars.

Here in America, we relay heavily on social media and people like you to disseminate the information about our trainings. EVERY WE DO IS FREE OF CHARGE. All of our employees are volunteers, survivors of sexual violence and many non-Haitians.

We hope in the future to be able to shoot short movie, PSA, documentaries that depict these situations and help us educate a larger part of the population. There are plenty in English but as of now CUASVAHH do not have the ability or technology for voice-over, subtitling etc…
 

How do interested people get involved with CUASVAHH?
We are made mostly of volunteers, therefore anyone that has something to offer  is welcome it can be from creating a powerpoint,  a PSA, a documentary, whetting a script; or Helping us develop of our website, integrating a chat room, a e-kerning software for our trainings, translating the website in french, helping with trainings, and even donating  their time to edit part of the website, donating money to support our trainings to Haiti. Anything that can help us walk into a class room or community center in Haiti or here in the US and educate our children about safety and letting them know that they are not alone. We also welcome victims that are open to share with us their story, we know how healing it can be for a victim to see herself in a survivor.
Liking us on Facebook, or twitting about us is also great. The economical fiasco that is ongoing in Haiti right now is only the tip of the iceberg in regards to human right violations which are the norm in Haiti. WE ARE OPEN TO ANY HELP. WE LOVE YOUNG ACTIVISTS, INNOVATORS etc..
We are open to suggestion from anyone. you can email us at everna@cuasvahh.orh or info@cuasvahh.org  We also have a toll free number 888-735-3536.

Is there anything else you’d like to add?
Lastly I would like  to quote two of Mandela’s quote, the second is a CUASVAHH adaptation. He says:
“There can be no keener revelation of a society’s soul than the way in which it treats its children.”
Child sexual abuse is a combat that we all must undertake because it destroy lives.

“The power of education extends beyond the development of skills we need for economic success. Even when economic freedom is very important in making victims less vulnerable. The proper education  can contribute to nation-building and gender reconciliation. Haiti is today extremely divided in every sectors, sexual violence is common, rape is rampant and gender gaps prevalent. CUASVAHH is steadily but surely introducing education and training on sexual violence and homophobia that enable our people and most importantly our children, women and men, and LGBT to exploit their similarities and common goals of a non-violent society, while appreciating the strength in their diversity and harboring tolerance.

More Information

facebook.com/CUASVAHH

Cuasvahh.org

Interview with Darlene Cannon, Author

We are sharing some of our favorite inspiring interviews! This interview, from 2016, is with Darlene Cannon about her mystical fiction series, "Dollygal, Peacock and the Serpent."

Tell us about yourself.

I work with senior citizens in the long beach area and surrounding cities. This is my first time writing a book, and I have many more to come. 

Describe your new book series for us.

"Dollygal, Peacock and the serpent" are highly interactive mystical fantasy books. The trilogy series will challenge the reader of all ages, to be the best they can be...by simply being themselves.

Who do you think would most appreciate your books?

Young and mature people will appreciate the series.

Tell us a bit about the main characters in the series.

Dollygal is the main character of the story representing  Love, Hope and charity. Brother Peacock represents nobility and brother serpent represents the opposite of good and Godfrey is a character that is very universal.

What inspired you to incorporate themes of Love, Hope and Charity into your writing? 

It just came to me.

Are there any aspects (e.g. character building, world building) of your writing that you've been working on?

Every book adds new characters, because everyone is the victor in self realization.

How do you feel about the increasing popularity of ebooks?

I like them, but I still like the original feel of a book in hand.

What are your goals as a writer for the next ten years?

To bring forth more Love, Hope and charity.

An excerpt from "Dollygal, Peacock and the Serpent":

Dollygal says, "The rain is singing a song can you hear it?"

"I'm afraid not, honey," Peacock finally says.

"Sure you can, just like at the lake. Let's close our eyes, but no peeking, Brother Serpent,"  Dollygal replies.

"This is ridiculous. Rain does not sing tunes..." grumbled the serpent.

Suddenly, a big smile appears on Peacock's face, and he says, "Wait a minute, I can hear the raindrop song. So can you, serpent, admit it."

(Peacock slaps serpent on the back leaving him quite disturbed by the situation.)

"Ha, ha, ha, ha."   Peacock continues to laugh, as their carriage re-enters the castle gates.

His laughter is taken by the wind and carried out the back window...

down through the Garden, passing by the flowers and the weeds, tickling the water in the lake and finally swirling around the most magnificent tree in the Garden.

More Information
Visit the author's website 
Buy the book 

Interview with Tutor Liesl Johnson

We are sharing our favorite inspiring interviews from the past. This interview is from 2015; it features Liesl Johnson who is a self-employed private tutor as well as the founder of a word-a-day vocabulary email subscription, called Make Your Point.

Tell us a bit about yourself.
As a private tutor, I teach reading and writing to students one-on-one in their homes, and I love it! I’m always hauling in piles of books to recommend to kids and teens and helping them find topics that excite them to write about. Overall, my goal is to help each student I work with become an accurate, fast reader and a fluent, expert writer.  My favorite thing to teach is vocabulary, because you can always play games to review the words, and kids and teens are so proud of themselves when they use their new words.

Describe your vocabulary email subscription, Make Your Point, for readers unfamiliar with it.
Make Your Point is a fairly new project: it launched on January 1st of this year. It’s a free, daily email that goes out to anyone who wants it, and each email teaches you a useful, sophisticated word. The readers so far have told me that it takes about five minutes to work through each issue, and they’re happy with how I make the definitions really easy to understand.

Who is your target audience?
That’s interesting, actually! The target audience is practically everybody in the English-speaking world. My youngest reader is less than five years old. She’s highly precocious and is homeschooled by her mom. There are lots of ambitious, college-bound students who use Make Your Point to study. But I think most of the subscribers are just regular adults who care about being precise and colorful in their word choice, and they like to be reminded of nifty words that they knew before but have forgotten about. The oldest subscriber I know personally is a poet in her sixties who has sworn to never stop learning new things.

What inspired you to start a daily vocabulary email subscription?
Thank you for asking this! Ha ha. This is really important to me. Okay, two reasons: first, there are already several other word-a-day email services available, but I wanted to improve on them.  As a vocabulary teacher, I’m kinda critical of them. They tend to focus on really random words that you won’t be able to use in daily conversation—words like “perfervid” and “livery”—and they all just give some quick information about the word without actually teaching it to you. I felt like I could create a word-a-day email that would offer both practicality and research-based instruction. (My undergraduate degree is in English education, and my master’s is in educational psychology.) So basically, Make Your Point was created to help kids and adults focus on useful words and learn them well. 

And then the other reason I was inspired to create Make Your Point is that I love, love, love teaching vocabulary and I’m nerdy enough to want to gather up all the words worthy of being learned and share them with anybody who’s interested. The format and content of each issue are the result of about ten years of experience in teaching vocabulary.

So, what information do you include in your daily vocabulary emails besides just the word and definition?
So there’s that, of course, and the definition is always phrased in really plain language (as opposed to being reported straight from the dictionary.) Then you have:

•    The part of speech, with an explanation of how that helps us put the word into a phrase

•    Related forms (like “jerry-build,” “jerry-building,” and “jerry-builder”)

•    How to use it: the right phrases and sentence patterns

•    Two real-life, true, contextual examples

•    A prompt for you to explain the meaning in your own words without saying certain key words from the definition. (It forces you to think about the meaning of the word instead of just memorizing the definition!)

•    A template for making your own sentence with the word to describe something from your life, along with another example sentence in that template

•    A quick word game and a quote to ponder. These distract you for a moment so that when you try the upcoming review questions, you’ve temporarily forgotten about the word’s definition, and you have to call it to mind on your own. That strengthens your ability to remember the word.

•    Two review questions that get you thinking about the word

•    Answers to those questions

In addition to reading the daily vocabulary emails, do you have any other suggestions for people looking to expand their vocabulary?
Sure! Read, read, read. Read novels that take place in the 1800s when people did nothing but sit around trying to be witty. Read blogs and magazines about topics you know nothing about. Read the editorials and the reviews in the paper, because when those writers get mad, they spit out incredible words. And turn on the English subtitles every time you watch TV or Netflix and read what you’ve been missing.

Were you always interested in new words or is it something that developed through your education?
Always! One of my sharpest memories from elementary school was when I used the word “tangible” in class and my teacher, Mr. Cleek, let me share with the other kids what it meant. OMG, I was so happy. And to the other girls at my summer camp, I was that weird one who went everywhere with a copy of Kaplan’s Word Power, commented on people’s “exorbitant” canoeing skills.

Is there anything else you’d like to add?
Anyone who wants to get the vocabulary emails can sign up at www.HiloTutor.com/myp.html. And anyone who wants to nerd it up and chat about their favorite words can email me at Liesl@HiloTutor.com. Thanks so much!Relevant Links

www.HiloTutor.com/myp

An Interview with Author A.S. Chung

We are sharing inspiring interviews from the past! This interview, from 2015, features A.S. Chung -- the author of the children's picture book, A Brand New Day – A Banana Split Story.

Tell us a bit about yourself.
I am a mother of a young toddler with a very normal professional career in the service industry. The writing component of my personal career, whilst was always prevalent, didn’t become a reality until later on in life. A recent divorce sparked my need to put pen on paper as both an outlet for getting through difficult times and also borne out of a need that I found was lacking (see below for further details).

Apart from writing, I am a regular suburban mum with a great love for photography, travelling, event management and spending lots of time socially with my close friends. 
 

Describe your new children’s book in a few sentences.
A Brand New Day deals with the topic of divorce, without ever actually mentioning it. It details the life of a little girl who has to split her time between her parents throughout the week and during school holidays. The book highlights all the special things she does with each individual parent and how love can still provide the child with a very loving and engaging life, without the dramas of poor co-parenting. Essentially, the book is designed to highlight the positive, to give the child hope that the future can be bright.
 

Who do you think would most appreciate this book?
A Brand New Day is written for three groups of audiences. Of course, its primary audience is the young reader who is going through divorce. The beautiful illustrations and loving words are meant to sooth the pain and anxieties that come with it.

The book is also for the parent. A way to communicate what life could potentially be like. It doesn’t have to be all doom and gloom. Sometimes it’s hard for the parent to paint a pretty picture at the end of it all whilst going through a divorce. This is just to aid that process.

Lastly, the book is also a resource for families and friends of divorce. I know that my circle of friends at the time, who also have very young children, had great difficulty explaining divorce when their families were perfectly fine! It made for a challenging conversation and I thought perhaps this book could help them understand it a little more.
 

What inspired you to write a children’s book that helps children learn how to cope with life’s challenges?
I was unable to find written resources for my then 4 year old daughter about divorce. In particular, I was looking for positive children’s picture books about the subject matter. In its absence, I was inspired to create Pigeonhole Books, which is a gentle resource to deal with life’s challenges. It was a way for me to communicate with my daughter and show her that life continues despite initial difficulties.

I have a great desire to preach positive messages and the importance of love and family to young children. Therefore, Pigeonhole Books is a project very close to my heart. Apart from the topic of divorce, Pigeonhole Books also deals with same-sex, blended and multiracial families.
 

Did you do the illustrations for the book? What goals did you want to accomplish with the illustrations?
I commissioned illustrator Paula Bossio for A Brand New Day. I was very open to how she would interpret the book and I didn’t want to restrict her style by giving too many boundaries to work with.  Paula has an incredible knack for turning my words into beautiful illustrations. For this book, I hardly even made any changes. It was perfect from the start to the end!

Ultimately, I wanted the illustrations to be lovely and beautiful, understated and not boisterous and most importantly to convey a positive outlook.
 

In addition to being an author, you’re a parent. How has your daughter responded to A Brand New Day?
When I first introduced the book to her, I didn’t tell her I had written it, let alone written it for her. By the time the book had been published, she had already gone through a year of co-parenting.

This is the second book I had done so upon finishing, she had an inkling I had written it and she asked me if it was about her. She laughed at all the right spots, pointed to scenarios which she could relate to and instantly asked me to read it again. A year down the track, she still requests that we read it together, except, now she reads it to me.
 

Are there any children’s book authors who have influenced your writing style?
I read a lot of books when I was a child, mainly all the classics. No one author influenced my style but they all in their own way showed me that I am only limited by my imagination. My style is my own and my writing reflects my message and in the tone I wish to convey it in.
 

Can you tell us a bit about the creative process of creating A Brand New Day, from the initial idea to the finished book?
I wish I had a great story to tell about the process or a sudden epiphany I had which led me to write A Brand New Day. Truth be told, I had a bad day with my daughter’s father. I ended the day completely dejected, tired and just plain miserable. I was ever so worried about my daughter and how we had changed her life forever.

I turned on the computer, opened a blank word document and just started typing. Two things startled me when I finished it in a matter for 30 minutes. There was an actual story, from start to finish, not just random words on a paper and also that I had written it in rhyme! Within the next 2 weeks, I had written another 4 manuscripts. Of course, since the first draft, I have edited the manuscript a million times.
 

What do you have in mind for your next project?
I am in the midst of having my next book illustrated. It is entitled Wishful Wedding and is the first book in the Pocketful of Pride series. This collection features stories about children from families with same-sex parents and marriage equality. 

Is there anything else you'd like potential readers to know about your book?
This book is not simply a children’s picture book to be enjoyed by all. It is a divorce resource. It is designed to help children and families alike. It is also about publishing diverse books. We don’t have enough of those!

Banana rhymes with my daughter’s name and is her adorable little nickname. Divorce is such a grown up, ugly, real word. To be honest, split isn’t much better but coupled with banana, it made for a cute series title! 

Relevant Links

Where To Purchase A Brand New Day
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Book Depository

Social Media
Goodreads
Facebook
Pinterest
Twitter

Book Website
http://pigeonholebooks.com/

An Interview with the Author of DESTINY

We are sharing our favorite past interviews! This interview, from 2015, features Charlene A. Wilson -- the author of the sci-fi/fantasy romance novel Destiny, book 3 in the Cornerstone Deep series.

Describe the plot of Destiny in a few sentences.
Destiny is the third book in the Cornerstone Deep series...

Angels, Gods, High Ones… Could anything else find its way into the prophecy caused by their father, Sylis Shilo, the renowned realm traveler? Vincent understands there were things in his father’s work he wasn’t privy to simply because his soul was too young, but how could this be kept a secret from even his brothers? The more he learns, the more he’s glad he hadn’t known.

The sentinels of Cornerstone Deep are in for their most difficult challenge yet. The portal to the Spectrum of the Realms must be sealed, and punishments must be carried out. Will the Gods take all that is dear to Vincent, James, and Cole Shilo?

In this book, Vincent discovers some of the things his father kept secret. Without giving too much away, how does his discovery impact his view of his father?
The Shilo brothers find that their father, Sylis, the renowned realm traveler, kept many secrets. It absolutely bashes the image of a loving parent seeking to do good in the name of humanity. In fact, Vincent is sickened by his father’s deceit. And now because of what he had done, the brothers must pick up the pieces in a foreign realm.

Vincent, James, and Cole have a very unique relationship with each other. Were you inspired by siblings you’ve met?
These three didn’t come from a pattern of siblings. This series developed around a dream I had long ago. The three “reapers” in the dream turned out to be my heroes in the story. How odd is that?

Who was your favorite character to write in Destiny?
I love all my characters but in Destiny I got to focus more on Vincent’s wife, Elaina, than in any of the other books. She’s sweet as they come, naïve, and discovers while prayers are answered, it might not turn out as we expect it to. Also, we have a new character in Destiny, the boys’ Uncle Rhune. He was a hoot to write. Bigger than life and charismatic, Rhune drags up much of the information the guys wish they didn’t need to know about.

Cornerstone Deep is a series that blends elements from sci-fi, fantasy, and romance. Do you try to keep these elements in balance or do you just let the story flow organically?
In this story, the elements blend naturally. I didn’t need to concentrate on making them level. It’s their world, it’s how things are. Magic, dimensions, rebirth, and soul mates are just part of it all. Oh and we can’t forget those Gods!

A fan said that Echoes, book 2 of the series, leaves the reader “reeling from the mind-blowing revelations and truly surprising twists of fate.”

Can fans expect the same level of twists and turns in Destiny?

Oh, yes! There are many twists that the Shilos face in Destiny and they’ll find this book fast paced… so don’t expect many potty breaks. (wink)

Do you think you’ve evolved as a writer since you started the series?
Yes, I think we all evolve as we learn and apply what it to our writing.

How do you feel about the increasing popularity of ebooks?
I think it’s a wonderful way to share our books. March on progress!

What are your goals as a writer for the next ten years?
I would love to have the rest of my other series, Aumelan, published. Also the next series that takes off from Cornerstone Deep, Midway Summit. Those are my base goals. I have several others waiting on the sidelines to see publication.

Have your family and friends been supportive of your writing?
The have been wonderful! My daughters are proud to have an author mom. And with Aumelan now on the market, they get to have that series in their school library.

Have you ever had writer's block?
Sometimes I just need to take some time off to regroup. So when writer’s block hits, I go to my bookshelf and choose a nice book to get lost in. It helps free my imagination!

What do you have in mind for your next writing project?
Book two of my Aumelan series is written and in terrible need of revision. It’s a monster of a job I’m facing with that one, so it will be the one I spear head next.

Is there anything else you'd like potential readers to know about your book?
Destiny is the third book in the Cornerstone Deep series. This series is best read sequentially. If you enjoy magic, true love, heroes that fight for the one they love at all cost, angels, Gods, rebirth, soul mates and… well… hot guys, there you have it. Enjoy!

Relevant Links

Buy the book on Amazon