LISABETH THOMAS, a media and marketing "whiz kid", as well as the founding president of "Texas Women in Business", will join us to discuss the horrifying activity of child trafficking, and what she and her colleagues are doing to combat this evil practice.

FROM HER WEBSITE:

"We cannot protect against what we are not aware of.

Did you know that between 2018 and 2022 the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) saw a 567% increase in reports relating to sexual enticement of a child?

Not on Our Watch Texas (NOWTX) is rallying all women in business to raise awareness of online abuse, exploitation, and sextortion to help protect children and youth. It will take all of us to educate our families, schools, churches, and other communities on how to defend our children from online predators.

Most parents think they can keep their children safe from predators who are “out there.” But most parents don’t realize these abusers are not “out there,” increasingly, they are inside our children’s bedrooms, via smartphones, computers, & gaming devices. The smartphone is the new white van."

notonourwatchtx.com

lisabeththomas.com

KA HANCOCK, a highly successful author from Utah - and a former psychiatric nurse - will join us to discuss her books, including "Dancing On Broken Glass" and "The Duzy House of Mourning", as well as her upcoming release, "Ivy In Stills".

FROM HER WEBSITE:

"Ka Hancock is the author of the beloved novel DANCING ON BROKEN GLASS and newly released THE DUZY HOUSE OF MOURNING. Always intrigued by the human experience and how people navigate their unique challenges, Hancock began writing stories as a child, and never stopped. She discovered early that humanity is a tangled mystery, and that to understand our fellow travelers, and to thrive in difficult relationships, it helps to acknowledge truth, and then proceed accordingly. To support her writing habit, she became a nurse and settled in the realm of addiction and psychiatric medicine. She finds people-in all their complex and varied lifeforms-completely fascinating.

She lives in Utah with her husband. Her four children, who have multiplied at an impressive rate, keep her happily engaged with a whole new generation.

So, fun fact about me: I'm a messy writer and I like it that way. I'm super tidy everywhere else in my life, but my office is exactly how I like it. I don't like interruptions or noise, but I have a noisy hubs...who interrupts...a lot. Sigh. I love him.

Fun fact number two: I was ten when I wrote my first story. It was about a 4th grade substitute teacher I had while my beloved Mrs. Peeler went off and had a baby. (How could she!) I shocked myself with the degree of bottled up dislike I had for this poor guy, but in all fairness I can still, lo these many moons later, recall his effect on me. I wrote a story about him wherein he ended up dead. Dead! I know! What was wrong with me? And it filled me with such consuming turmoil that my pure little conscience could not take it. I'm not kidding, I could not erase fast enough. When I recovered, I gave the old meany a full-body rash and no fingernails which was infinitely easier to live with (for me, not him). But, oh the power! I was utterly addicted. At ten, I held life (and tormenting skin conditions) on the end of my trusty #2 pencil. I never looked back. I was a writer. A little twisted, obviously, but a writer.

Have you ever gone all in on something? Something that means the world to you, but not all that much to anyone else? It’s a tricky place to be—that jumping off place into whatever-happens-it’s-on-me. I’ve always found it much easier to hand responsibility to someone else, and blame them when it fails. At least where my books are concerned. That’s my comfort zone. My job was writing. It was definitely not the mechanics of publishing, marketing, hustling, and selling myself. I've been quite happy to leave that to agents and editors and publishers and publicists and live my life as the semi-introvert that I imagine myself to be. And that worked out fine until my great agent left for an unturndownable opportunity, and my amazing editor abruptly left Simon & Schuster and Simon & Schuster didn't know what to do with me because I had no editor.

​So...my novel and I became casualties of an industry peopled by people with bigger fish to fry. What was I going to do. Well… Here's the deal: The Duzy House of Mourning is my fish. So, I got myself to that tricky place... And lived to tell about it. If anyone is interested in my self-publishing journey, I am happy to share. Email me.

www.kahancock.com

RYAN PENLEY, a gentleman who is currently living in Florida, will join us to discuss how he got into the world of drugs and alcohol; almost died; and how he found his way out to survive and thrive in life. we will also discuss his new release, "Man Up. Sober Up: Eight Powerful Steps to Reclaim Respect, Conquer Isolation, and Thrive in Recovery".

FROM HIS WEBSITE:

Ryan, now 42 years old, knows the highs and lows of life like few others. Raised in Florida and having lived in both the bustling nightlife of Las Vegas and the serene landscapes of Colorado, he faced trials that led him to the brink, from homelessness to lying in a coma. Along the way, he tasted financial success but also the bitter pill of losing it all.

At the age of 13, he fell into the treacherous world of drugs and alcohol. For years, he prioritized the fleeting pleasures of a party lifestyle over meaningful connections and self-responsibility. After hitting rock bottom, a moment of awakening guided him to a new path—one of sobriety, self-respect, and a dedication to aiding others in their recovery journey.

With more than four years of hard-won sobriety, Ryan has transformed his life's adversities into valuable lessons for those still struggling with addiction. Today, he lives a life that is unimaginably blessed, exceeding even his own expectations. His debut book, "Man Up. Sober Up.," serves as both a testament to his resilience and a practical guide for those seeking to reclaim control over their lives.

More than a survivor, Ryan is a beacon of hope for those still battling their demons. He demonstrates that from the depths of despair, it is indeed possible to forge a life filled with purpose and joy.

https://www.ryanpenley.org