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Surviving Public Speaking in Class, by Liz Eike

11/19/2020

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9/12/20
Surviving Public Speaking in Class
Liz Eike

You’re standing at the front of the class. Your PowerPoint presentation is up on the projector screen next to you. You’re trying to summarize the last point on the current slide, and it’s becoming harder and harder to speak with every word as your breath runs out much faster than usual. You finish your sentence and gasp for air as quietly as possible. It’s time to move to the next slide; your hand is shaking so badly that it rattles the spacebar when you reach to press it. You still have two slides to go and you somehow have to talk about them long enough to fill the remaining four minutes in your slot. Your classmates stare at you. Your professor makes a note on their rubric. You lose your train of thought. Someone please end your suffering.

If you’ve had this experience, you’re not alone. It’s very difficult to find a person who enjoys public speaking. Even the most seasoned company presidents get stage fright sometimes. It’s pretty much a fact of life.

“Great,” you’re thinking. “There’s no hope. This is just the way it’s going to be.” Or if you’re thinking that this article is going to tell you differently, you’d be wrong. There’s a reason it isn’t titled “How to Make Public Speaking 100% Enjoyable 100% of the Time.” Speaking from experience, there is no way to do that. There is, however, a way to make it suck just a little bit less. This is how I survived every required presentation in college.

Give yourself a pep talk.

I’m not talking about the kind of self-pep-talk that involves splashing water on your face, staring intently into the mirror, and reminding yourself about how great you are. Of course, if that works for you, great. It never worked for me, though, because no matter how much I believed I was great, there was always the underlying worry that no one in my audience would share that opinion. In fact, no one in the audience knew me or anything about me. They had no reason to think I was great in any way.

Here’s my suggestion: Instead of hyping yourself up, bring yourself back down to reality. Give yourself some tough love.

The single most important thing to keep in mind before and during a class presentation is this: Nobody cares.

Every one of your classmates is either going to have to give a presentation of their own or has already presented. If they are normal human beings, this means that they will not be paying attention to your speech, because they are too busy fretting over how their own speech is going to go or how it already went.

As for your professor, always assume that they have seen worse than you are doing. In fact, they have probably done worse themselves. They also will have to grade a lot of mediocre college presentations throughout their career. Your performance has little to no bearing on their opinion of you. They will give you your grade and in a few short years forget you exist entirely.

This all sounds harsh at first, but it can be quite comforting once you come to terms with it. This seven-minute presentation doesn’t matter in the grand scheme of your life. Don’t overthink it. As soon as it’s over with, you can go back to focusing on the things that don’t stress you out.
​
Edited by Emily Chance
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Hobby Suggestions by Elizabeth Dubos

11/18/2020

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​Hobby Suggestions
By Elizabeth Dubos
 
Disclaimer: I am not a healthcare professional.
 
A hobby is an indoor or outdoor activity that is performed regularly to bring joy and happiness. Hobbies are important because they help take your mind off of everyday stressors; they can even improve your physical and mental health. For example, when you’re passionate about a hobby, your dopamine rises. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that acts as a chemical brain messenger – digestion, blow flood, memory, motor control, pain processing, and heart function all improve when there’s an increase in dopamine.
 
Do friends, family, and healthcare professionals tell you that you need to find a hobby to relieve stress? Are you looking for a new hobby to occupy your time during COVID-19? Do you want to bring more pleasure and joy in your leisure time? Here is a list of indoor and outdoor hobbies for you to consider.
 
Indoor hobby options:
 
1. Cooking, baking, or mixing your own cocktails. Create a Pinterest board of all the delicious recipes you want to make and try them out!
 
2. Jewelry. This could be a great option for those who have sensitive skin or can’t find the right jewelry piece to go with their outfit. You can design a custom piece and select your own materials.
 
3. Magic tricks. You can do magic tricks with cards, props, or illusions to entertain yourself and others.
 
4. Learn a new language. Even though you may not be able to currently travel to your dream destination, you can learn the language, so when you’re there, you can communicate with the locals. Plus, it’s a great skill to add to your resume!
 
5. Candle making. You can create your favorite candle aromas, so you never have to go without your favorite scents. Plus, you can select your own materials to avoid nose irritation. 
 
6. Yoga. There are numerous positions and background music for you to try out. You can follow a virtual class or a Pinterest image guide.
 
7. Podcast. You can listen to podcasts or create one. You can discuss whatever you’d like: For example, your life as a pet owner or new recipes you’ve tried.
 
8. Scrapbooking. It’s time to print out those precious pictures in your phone gallery. You can decorate scrapbooks with fabrics, stickers, movie ticket stubs etc. Scrapbooking allows you to express yourself and document your favorite memories.
 
9. Knitting, sewing, or crocheting. This opens up the door for creative opportunities because you can create numerous items, such as blankets, scarves, mittens, hats, or clothes for yourself, friends, family, and pets. During the holiday season you can create warm items and donate them to the local shelter. You can find patterns at local craft stores or on Pinterest.
 
10. Play an instrument. You can teach yourself to read music and then play it on your new instrument. You can play the guitar, violin, piano, or the trumpet!
 
Outdoor hobby options:
 
1. Astronomy. You can learn all about planets, meteors, constellations and try to find them with a telescope.
 
2. Camping. Camping is more than tents, smores, and sleeping bags. It teaches important survival skills. You can even try those survival techniques in your backyard.
 
3. Fishing. This is a great hobby to learn about fishing equipment and the environment.
 
4. Gardening. You can learn about different fruits, vegetables, and flowers. This hobby will help you spend less money on food if you’re growing it in your backyard.
 
5. Hiking. This is a great form of exercise while exploring the outdoors. You can document your hiking trips by taking photographs or collecting plants or rocks to remember your trips.
 
6. Birdwatching. Have you looked outside your window and ever wondered which bird you’re looking at? Grab a pair of binoculars to view different birds. This is a great hobby to educate yourself about birds in the environment. You can go to your local bookstore or library to check out a birdwatching guidebook to identify birds in your area. Amazon sells excellent bird guidebooks as well.
 
7. Herbalism. It’s the study of botany and the use of medicinal plants. You could travel to different locations to learn about various plants. After you learn about these plants and their benefits, you could grow them in a garden.
 
8. Insect collection. This was a popular hobby during the Victorian era. There are numerous collections in natural history museums throughout the world. Collect insects yourself, or educate others.
 
9. Advanced swimming. So, you’ve accomplished the basic float and freestyle as a beginner swimmer. Why not learn about advanced swimming moves such as the butterfly, sidestroke, or breaststroke? This is a great hobby to learn something new and to stay active.
 
10. Photography. You can make a list of outdoor things you’d like to photograph and practice new photography techniques. Experiment with various cameras, lens, or even a smart phone. Afterwards, you can create a physical album of your photos or an Instagram page.  
 
Edited by Jenna Fults
 
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NEW Nonfiction Release ~ Kangaroo Rabbits and Galvanized Fences, by Author Rick Holinger

11/17/2020

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ABOUT THE BOOK:
These mini-essays, originally newspaper columns written for Shaw Media, describe a life of survival: surviving diapers, Pinewood Derby races, and middle school band concerts. Rick Holinger regularly throws his pseudonymous nuclear family under the bus because his children were too young to object, and his wife enjoyed the extra, though paltry, income. No one, however, sacrificed more than the author. Who else would expose his fatherly and husbandly incompetence by revealing in print the time he burned out the front lawn with First Apply Spring Fertilizer? Or wrinkling his wife’s favorite wrinkle-free pants by leaving them untended and cooling in the dryer for five days? Or forgetting to screw in their inboard-outboard’s drain plug before spring launch, thus owning a bathtub rather than boat?It takes a pillage to raze a family. But Holinger survived. Barely. This book tells how.


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Rick Holinger’s poetry, fiction, essays, and reviews have appeared in The Southern Review, The Iowa Review, Boulevard, Witness, and elsewhere; three journals nominated his work for a Pushcart Prize. His short story collection, Not Everybody's Nice, won the 2012 Split Oak Press Flash Prose Chapbook Contest, and Kattywampus Press published his innovative fiction chapbook, Hybrid Seeds: Little Fictions. Degrees include a Ph.D. in Creative Writing from The University of Illinois at Chicago, and an M.A. in English from Washington University in St. Louis. He teaches English at Marmion Academy, facilitates a creative writing workshop at the Geneva Public Library, and lives with his wife, Tia; dog, Summer; and, occasionally, his two twenty-something children in the Fox Valley, an hour west of Chicago. He continues to write columns for Shaw Media in the Kane County Chronicle.


REVIEWERS/BLOGGERS: Email Kristi at dreamingbigpublications@outlook.com to request your free electronic review copy today! An author interview is also available upon request.

Amazon Link:
​https://www.amazon.com/Kangaroo-Rabbits-Galvanized-Fences-Pinewood/dp/B08LNBWG5M/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=kangaroo+rabbits+and+galvanized+fences&qid=1605470370&sr=8-1

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NEW NONFICTION RELEASE ~ The Alchemy of Poetry: A Reader's Guide to Understanding Poetry, from Elizabeth Guy, PhD  and  Dreaming  Big Publications

11/16/2020

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ABOUT THE BOOK:
Poetry makes sense of life; it offers us truths; it brings us unimagined worlds; and it liberates our pain. In moments of great joy or sadness it is poetry which says the impossible, ensuring that the poignancy and loveliness of our humanity never passes into nothingness.
Great Art belongs to everyone; thus, it is crucial that we continue the dialogue between ourselves and the poems. It is in this dialogue that we witness the alchemy of poetry: the way it transmutes from a language form and feature to a universal elixir.
What is the point of living if there is no Art? And poetry is the most concentrated of all Art. It is the oldest of all literary forms. Poetry offers ritual and cadence: sacrifice and secrets. It is audacious and disturbing but always – and this applies to all great poetry – yours. Mine. Ours.
So, we read poetry to face the truth. To stand there and dig in, to stumble over words we don’t get, to find a phrase that flicks a light on in our memory, to cat-paw over and over an image that was laid down long ago. Most of all, we read poetry to remind ourselves of what really matters: to witness the soaring light that tears up our small lives.
Amazon link:
​https://www.amazon.com/Alchemy-Poetry-Readers-Guide-Understanding/dp/1947381415/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=alchemy+of+poetry+elizabeth+guy&qid=1605469375&sr=8-1

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Dr Elizabeth Guy is a full-time writer and a part time tutor. She has been reading, writing and teaching Literature for the past 30 years. She was awarded a PhD from the University of Sydney (The Poetics of the Nation State) in 2001. Elizabeth has worked in Sydney, NSW at tertiary and secondary levels and Kalgoorlie, Western Australia. She has also studied and worked in countries such as Scotland, Fiji and Chile.
Elizabeth believes that Art belongs to all of us and that making it accessible is important. She was influenced by the books by Betty Churcher (the former director of the Australia’s National Gallery) where painting was explained by someone who loved Art and believed it was worthy of sharing with others. Elizabeth is passionate about the Arts. Indeed, she has always been driven to inspire students and to come into the conversation that poetry sets up between the reader and itself.
Elizabeth has written, Take Ink & Weep, a novel that is currently in production and is finalizing her next novel Abandoned by God. Both these historical fictions are set in Russia. The first novel explores the poetic lives of the great Silver Age poets during Russia’s engagement in World War 1; and the second, tells the story of some of the young assassins, active during the early days of the Russian Revolution, and who ultimately shaped the face of history.
Outside of writing, Elizabeth has travelled extensively throughout Russia, Europe and the USA. She has also completed a number of extensive historical walking tracks.


REVIEWERS/BLOGGERS: Email dreamingbigpublications@outlook.com to request your free electronic review copy. There is an author interview available upon request.


From the editor-in-chief:  This would be a great classroom book for college level poetry professors to use in their curriculum!
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NEW Horror Release ~ Bethany Chiller, from author Steven Deighan

11/15/2020

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​“This is not a pleasant story…”

Intelligent, beautiful; 16-yearr-old Bethany Childs is now officially a young woman with her whole life ahead of her. But, that innocence is savagely taken away on the night of her birthday, and a part of her won’t let it go.

Under the wing of an age-old demon – who facilitates Bethany’s revenge by imbuing the girl with supernatural powers – Bethany reveals her story in a ‘no-nonsense’ fashion, apologizing not for her torment nor asking for sympathy, but pleading for an understanding of the demonic forces she employs, and the fatalities that ensue in her wake.

“It is not the future I saw for myself…” If Bethany is to believe in herself once again, and renounce Hell’s brutal, iniquitous ways, she will need to open her eyes and heart to a world that will never be the way she remembers. Only then can there be salvation in her name.


REVIEWERS/BLOGGERS: Email dreamingbigpublications@outlook.com to request your free electronic review copy today! There's also an author interview available upon request. 
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New Children's Book Release ~ Xenia Navarro and the Magic  Ants

11/15/2020

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Xenia and the Magic Ants could have been ripped from this week's headlines. American sixth grader, Xenia Navarro lives with her Mexican mother, an undocumented resident, and her older brother Lucas in Pennsylvania. Her American father was killed while on duty in Iraq before marrying Xenia’s mother. Now their mother has been arrested and is about to be deported. Family drama becomes American politics, mixed with science fiction elements.

Email Kristi at dreamingbigpublications@outlook.com to request your free electronic review copy today!

Amazon Link:
https://www.amazon.com/Xenia-Navarro-Magic-Ants-Wickstrom/dp/B08LNT2GRN/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3T25M5O1O1SF&dchild=1&keywords=xenia+navarro+and+the+magic+ants&qid=1605468348&sprefix=xenia+nav%2Caps%2C202&sr=8-1
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NEW RELEASE ~ The Treasure Seeker, by Suzanne Hope

11/15/2020

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ABOUT THE BOOK:
How well do you know ex-lovers, friends and acquaintances from years gone by?



What would you do if you came face to face with the person you thought had murdered the love of your life?


Melody Meeks is a struggling freelance writer at Zenith magazine when a chance encounter brings her back in touch with her first love from Cambridge University, the love she never got over: Spencer Channing. But little does she know that reconnecting with the past will be the catalyst for a chain of events taking her on an unexpected adventure – The hunt for the long lost treasure of the pirate Sir Henry Morgan, and most importantly of all, on a hunt for the truth.
AMAZON LINK:
https://www.amazon.com/Treasure-Seeker-Melody-Meeks-Mystery/dp/1947381407/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=treasure+seeker+melody+meeks&qid=1605466811&sr=8-1

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Suzanne Hope grew up in Heysham Village, Lancashire, in the UK and studied history before launching a career in fundraising and marketing. Through her work for international organizations she has lived in London, Geneva, Rome, Bangkok and Panama. She loves exploring the history and stories of the places she lives and has a
particular fascination with legends and pirate history. She now lives in Brooklyn, New York with her husband Francesco and two cats Mimi and Bunny. The Treasure Seeker is her second novel and the first in the new Melody Meek Mysteries series.


REVIEWERS/BLOGGERS:  Email Kristi at dreamingbigpublications@outlook.com  to get your free electronic review copy!  We also have an author interview available on request. Consider putting together a blog post to showcase the new release! Thank you for all the help that you do telling people about our new releases!
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NEW FANTASY RELEASE! The Nine Roamers and the Sylvan Sword, Book 1 from author N. Gabanski and Dreaming Big Publications

11/1/2020

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NEW FANTASY RELEASE FROM DREAMING BIG PUBLICATIONS and author N. GABANSKI

AVAILABLE  IN PAPERBACK AND EBOOK


AMAZON LINK: 
https://www.amazon.com/Nine-Roamers-Sylvan-Sword/dp/1947381393/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=the+nine+roamers+and+the+sylvan+sword&qid=1602351039&sr=8-1

ABOUT THE BOOK:
The Roamers were a band of wayward warriors who lived under no king.  Surviving in the harsh Wildlands away from the kingdoms of Humans, they lived by the blade and by their wits.  These ragged peoples of all races sought only one thing: to live free.
They were legendary.
They were peerless in combat.
They were feared.
They were defeated.
Many long years have passed since the Great Kings fought against other.  With the remnants of those troublesome warriors in exile, the two kingdoms have enjoyed uneasy peace.  But peace can be more dangerous than war, for not all evil moves so openly in the light.  While the Humans go about their daily lives, a witch of terrible power seeks an ancient legend, known only to the Elemental Elves.  Ever-craving more power, and always eager to see the suffering of others’, she has found the knowledge she seeks and sets out to cast her plans into motion.

REVIEWERS/BLOGGERS/VLOGGERS: Email Kristi at Dreamingbigpublications@outlook.com to request your free electronic review copy today! Author interview is also available upon request.


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Healthy School Snack Ideas by Elizabeth Dubos

10/31/2020

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​Healthy School Snack Ideas
By Elizabeth Dubos
 
Disclaimer: I am not a healthcare professional.
 
The school season is underway as parents, children, and young adults gather their scholastic materials to succeed throughout the upcoming school year. Whether you’re physically attending school or attending an online school, it’s important to have healthy snacks available. It’s easy to succumb and grab snacks that are highly processed, high in sugar, and ultimately not healthy for you. This includes Pop-Tarts, chips, cookies, ice cream, and boxed granola bars. (If you like granola bars, I provided a healthier option below). Here is a list of healthy snack recommendations to help you succeed in school.
 
1.  Fruit. You can try strawberries, raspberries, watermelon, grapes, pineapple grapefruit, avocado, apple, orange, banana, cantaloupe, pears, or peaches. It is important to eat fruit that is low in sugar because it will satisfy your sweet tooth without raising your insulin (sugar) levels. This can be watermelon, strawberries, or grapefruit. Fruit is an essential part of your diet because it contains the necessary vitamins, minerals, and fiber to boost your brain power. Bananas, oranges, and blueberries are excellent snacks to eat while studying because the antioxidants will enhance your memory.
 
2. Peanut butter. You can eat it off a spoon, crackers, toast, celery or an apple. Peanut butter is a great source of brainpower because it is packed with protein.
 
3. Hardboiled eggs. You can lightly sprinkle salt them or turn them into deviled eggs or egg salad. Hardboiled eggs are filled with protein and are low in calories, fat, and carbs. Here is a recipe to learn how to make hardboiled eggs. https://www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/how_to_make_perfect_hard_boiled_eggs/
 
4. Homemade granola bars. They’re delicious, nutritious, easy to grab, and don’t make a mess when you’re studying for tests. Here is a list of 10 homemade granola bar recipes. There are sugar-free, dairy-free, and vegan recipe options too. https://nutritioninthekitch.com/10-healthy-homemade-granola-bars/
 
5. Dark chocolate. This is to be eaten in moderation! Dark chocolate is excellent because it reduces your stress while improving your memory and immune system. If you’d like to read more about the benefits and its nutrition, please click the following link. https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/7-health-benefits-dark-chocolate
 
6. Yasso frozen treats. They are a frozen Greek yogurt treat that are low in calories, sugars, and carbs. This is a great snack for the all the ice cream lovers out there. Whether you like sweet, salty, or crunchy Yasso has you covered. Yasso features numerous flavors such as mint chocolate crunch, vanilla chocolate crunch, sea salt caramel, triple peanut butter, and black raspberry chip. Yasso frozen treats are available in grocery stores, Costco, Target, and Walmart.
 
Edited by Haley Mendenhall
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What it's Like Graduating Early, by Kristina Drendel

10/30/2020

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What it’s Like Graduating Early
By Kristina Drendel
​
I think that it would be safe to say my college experience has been anything but orthodox. Between taking AP classes in high school, going to community college, and now trying to carry on in a school located within a city ravaged by COVID-19, these past three years have hardly resembled my siblings’ college experience. Even with all the craziness, I still feel sad that my college years are coming to a close. I made the decision to graduate early almost two years ago, but I still feel like I might be missing out. Of course, this feeling has been exacerbated by COVID-19 completely changing how my senior year will look. Nevertheless, I wanted to put my thoughts into writing to help other people decide whether graduating early is the best choice for them.
You will almost always be at max credit hours (or above): This might seem fairly obvious, but oftentimes people forget what this really means in terms of coursework. Taking more credits means more courses, which also usually means that you will have to spend more time doing homework and studying. In my personal experience, I never felt like I was taking too much at a time, but this is also likely due to my major. Taking on more courses as a theatre major is vastly different from taking extra coursework as a biomedical engineering major. If you are considering graduating early, don’t forget to take YOUR major into account.
You won’t always be able to take classes in their “proper order”: What I mean by this is that some classes are meant to be taken in a certain order: i.e. Directing I and Directing II. However, since you have chosen to complete your degree in a shortened period of time, scheduling might not work out this way. I have had to take several classes concurrently that were supposed to be taking throughout consecutive semester. This isn’t the worst thing in the world, but it can be challenging to separate the information at times.How
Fewer student loans: Here we come to the main reason I chose to graduate early: saving money. I have absolutely adored my time at my college but with my major, spending a ton of money just wasn’t feasible. Choosing not to stay for an extra year or semester means you don’t also have to take out loans to pay for that time period. I personally believe this is the biggest perk of graduating early.
You can start on a master’s or professional degree earlier: When I was a freshman, I really thought doing a double major was the best choice for me. However, after my first semester of my sophomore/junior year, I realized completing a double major would have kept me at school for at least another year, if not more. Graduating with only one degree would allow me to complete a master’s degree in the same amount of time it would take to complete a double major.
Choosing to graduate early is a very personal decision, and ultimately the only person who knows what’s best for you, is you!
 
Edited by Jenna Fults
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