Psychologist Dr. Barbara Becker Holstein Visits The Writer's Life!

Our special guest author today is Dr. Barbara Becker Holstein, author of THE TRUTH: I’M TEN, I’M SMART AND I KNOW EVERYTHING. She is here on a virtual book tour hosted by Pump Up Your Book Promotion and we will be talking about her book, her life as a published author and her take on virtual book tours.

Dr. Barbara Becker Holstein is the originator of The Enchanted Self. She has been a positive psychologist in private practice and licensed in the states of New Jersey since 1981.

Dr. Holstein believes that no one should be denied hope or a joyful life. Yes, happiness takes work, but no more work than living a life without hope, repeating negative thoughts and habits that lead to a life that feels less than inspiring.
Dr. Barbara speaks regularly on radio programs around the country, and appears on television in New York and New Jersey. Her inspiring audio shows and podcasts can be found on the web at http://www.internetvoicesradio.com/ where she has her e-radio show, Happiness, For Women Only.

Also very popular is her e-radio magazine on http://www.ladybuglive.com/, THE ENCHANTED SELF magazine.

Her newest book, The Truth, I'm Ten, I'm Smart and I Know Everything was released in June 2007 .

You can visit her website at http://www.enchantedself.com/.

Welcome to The Writer’s Life, Barbara! Can we begin by having you tell us how and why you got into this crazy business of writing books in the first place?

Thanks so much for having me on your blog. I'm really excited to be here. You ask a wonderful question. Actually, after I was in practice several years I longed to explore adult development, and particularly female development even further--specifically how to overcome obstacles and bring pleasure into one’s life while living a life of meaning and purpose. I did case studies on women not in my practice and began to document certain steps necessary for experiencing one's Enchanted Self. This expression became the trademark of my work, identifying states of happiness and well-being in each woman, unique to her. You see, I had discovered in my case study work that there is a magical capacity within women to reinvent ourselves in positive ways in adulthood even with childhood experiences of internalized negative messages.

How could I not write a book about these findings? The impact of my discovery was so intense that my first book was just waiting to happen. It did, with the help of a wonderful editor and a great academic press. Kathleen O'Malley was my fairy godmother and with her help, THE ENCHANTED SELF, A Positive Therapy was delivered to the world.

Writing my first book in 1996 was hard and arduous but also a great gift to myself. And after that, they just kept coming!

Let me just backtrack a little and say that I knew I had discovered ways to help my clients thrive. These same techniques also worked with the public. Basically I found ways to help people glean what was positive from their pasts, rather than focusing on the negative. I also developed many ways to help people affirm their talents, coping skills, interests, longings, wishes, and even lost potential. That's when it all came together and I realized that I committed to bringing to the world all the techniques and inspiration I had assembed so that others could access their Enchanted Selves. Thus after my first book I wrote RECIPES FOR ENCHANTMENT, The Secret Ingredient is YOU! and then DELIGHT.. These two books have inspirational stories followed by inspirational journal space for the reader. Also I've written a paper, incorporating many of my core principles and techniques, called The Seven Gateways To Happiness. Your readers can download this paper for free by going to http://www.enchantedself.com/. It is available right on the front page of my website.

So, I guess I can't stop! I am a psychologist with a mission and the mission requiring writing. However, I think I am also secretly also a writer-maybe a writer who has been looking for her mission and now found it.

Your book, THE TRUTH: I’M TEN, I’M SMART AND I KNOW EVERYTHING!, is a fictional story but it touches on a theme that is universal. Would you like to explain that theme?

I can best begin to explain the universal theme by asking several questions:
THE TRUTH ... how do we carry the truth from girlhood to adulthood? That priceless ‘truth’ that we all recognize as kids?

THE TRUTH ... how do we carry the truth from girlhood to adulthood? That priceless ‘truth’ th How How do we walk over that bridge into growing up, carrying the Truth? How do we recognize THE TRUTH in our children and help them carry their most precious selves into adulthood?

What if we could pass the gift of our early wisdom and brilliance along to our children, giving them permission to hold on to their most precious jewels?

In my new book, THE TRUTH, I'm Ten, I'm Smart and I Know Everything, the girl who is 10-11 years of age helps us to think about and answer these universal questions. She is wise and yet so innocent. She makes us cry and laugh and remember ourselves. Behind this very easy read is the psychological message to the women reading THE TRUTH that they can and must recapture the fire and passion of their girlhoods not only for themselves to flourish and be happy, but for the next generation to also have the gifts of good emotional and spiritual health.

Women love the book and so do girls, ages 9-12. Women find it a pure delight-a hot fudge sundae with a secret message inside and no weight gain, while girls recognize themselves and finally feel totally understood!

Why did you choose to use a diary-like situation to write your book?

Because I wanted a form that would stimulate the reader to fill in her own identity and memories for herself as she read the book. In other words, as she falls in love with 'the girl' she is also touched once again by herself.

Do you see that little girl in all of us?

Absolutely.

What do you think was the most challenging about writing a book such as this?

Perhaps believing in myself as I started it, since it was my first real fiction and such a change in style for me.

What do you think was the most rewarding?

Reading aloud parts of the book to women and discovering that I was 'right' on. They immediately identified with the girl and came up with so many wonderful episodes in their own lives. I could feel the energy and the synchronicity as women as we talked and it was magical.

I understand that you have a television show called “The Enchanted Self Television Series.” Can you tell us what this show is all about and how you got started with a television series?

I was at a conference and another psychologist, Dr. Jean Cirillo invited me on to her television show that she did with Mae Eisenberg. The show was called, Prime Time Life, Uniquely You Now! It aired in Manhattan and I loved being a guest. I went on many times. Eventually Dr. Cirillo left and Mae stayed as my guide and coach. Long story short, I developed my own show as a part of a series of four shows that would rotate each month. I did it for years and just stopped last year. However, I have several of the shows up on my website, www.enchantedself.com I would love for people to watch them! I plan to put more up shortly. On the show I have many guests and also teach lots of my positive psychology concepts, all within a fun setting of an Enchanted World-somewhat like the old Mr. Roger's shows for kids. Just that mine are for grown-ups!

What interesting guests have appeared?

I've had authors and a gourmet chef and Mary Ellen the Angel Lady. (Her show is up on my website). I've had a rabbi, and Thor the Barbarian many times. (One of his shows is up on my website also) Am I wetting your appetite to go and see some of my old shows?

You also have a radio show called “Happiness for Women Only!” Would you like to tell our readers about your show and how they can listen to it?

This is a great radio show, available at http://www.internetvoicesradio.com/ and on my website, http://www.enchantedself.com/ with my podcasts. It is live on Friday's at 2:30PM EDT and then archived. I've done a whole series on happiness for women and girls, focusing on different ages on different shows. I've also had guests, including Rabbi, Dr. Abraham Twerski, an internationally known psychiatrist and rabbi. I have two experts helping me with this show, Ms. Martha Trowbridge, an expert in inspiration for women, and psychologist Dr. Sandra Prince-Embury, an expert in resiliency.

I understand that you are on a virtual book tour a second month for your book, THE TRUTH: I’M TEN, I’M SMART AND I KNOW EVERYTHING! Can you tell us why you chose a virtual book tour to promote your book?

I want so much to get around and what better way than to access the marvels of the computer age? Of course, I am also doing speaking engagements but this is such fun and so state of the art.
Do you have any helpful hints you would like to tell those authors who are about to embark on their own virtual book tours?

Get in touch with Pump Up Your Book Promotion people. They are they best!

I thank you for coming, Dr. Holstein. Would you like to tell us how we can pick up a copy of your book, THE TRUTH: I’M TEN, I’M SMART AND I KNOW EVERYTHING!?

Thank you, you really made me think and share and that is what I wanted. My book is available at a discount on my site, http://www.enchantedself.com/ and of course all the other web sites such as Amazon. Also, you can go into any book store and if they don't have it, they will order it for you.

(Note to reader: Blogger is, for some ungodly reason, not showing up my comments, so if you would like a chance to win one of Dr. Barbara's books, visit her next stop at http://www.mybestfriendsstory.blogspot.com/ and comment there. I am so sorry for the inconvenience. On September 30, we will announce the winners at http://www.virtualbooktoursforauthors.blogspot.com/.)

Tags: the writer's life, book promotion, book publicity, author interviews, blogging authors, guest blog, guest bloggers, book blog, virtual book tour, online book promotion, Dr. Barbara Becker Holstein, psychologist

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