Unveiling Truths, Connecting Communities

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Venturing into the Literary Journey of Author Robert DeMayo: A Blend of Real-World Explorations and Intriguing Storytelling

By Michael Beas 

Explore the fascinating world of author Robert DeMayo, whose career spanning eight novels has been driven by his experiences promoting educational travel and leading tours in far-flung locations throughout the world. DeMayo’s experiences have influenced his narrative, ranging from his early days organizing special trips for Eos Study trips—where he saw beluga whales in Hudson Bay and ventured below the surface of the Titanic—to his travels as a tour guide in Alaska, the Yukon, and Arizona. After leaving the exciting field of guiding to pursue a career in full-time writing, DeMayo finds inspiration in his interactions with cowboys, Native Americans, and historical characters such as General Custer and Crazy Horse. His books take readers on a fictional trip filled with the spirit of exploration and adventure, from historical fiction mysteries set in places like Sedona and Kenya’s Maasai Mara to road tales that evoke the spirit of travel. By skillfully fusing reality and fiction, DeMayo takes readers on a literary journey that defies categorization and time, crafting captivating stories that envelop readers and take them to enigmatic locales and historical periods.

Can you tell us about your time marketing for Eos Study Tours and the unique travel opportunities it offered?

Eos Study Tours, an organization specializing in educational travel, curated exclusive tours for non-profit entities, featuring their own members as lecturers. Through Eos, I had the privilege of observing beluga whales in Hudson Bay, attending an elephant festival in Jaipur, India, and visiting a rainforest observation platform in the Panamanian rainforest. While many of these tours were considered high-end and fell outside of my budget, they provided me with the opportunity to be a part of exhilarating experiences such as deep sea dives to the Titanic and Bismark, Antarctic voyages, African safaris, and archaeological tours across the globe. The money generated by the tours went into conservation efforts. My job allowed me to engage with genuine explorers and esteemed institutions like The Explorers Club, The American Geographical Society, and The Archaeological Institute of America. Working with these organizations not only enriched my understanding of the world but also fostered a profound appreciation for modern exploration, particularly its emphasis on conservation—a cause I am proud to support.

What inspired you to work as a tour guide in Alaska, the Yukon, and Arizona, and how did that experience influence your writing? 

Following the 9/11 tragedy, my wife and I, both working in high-end tourism, faced the swift collapse of the industry, leading to our unemployment. Having relocated to a remote corner of New Hampshire for these jobs, we found ourselves with limited employment prospects. Faced with this challenge, we made the bold decision to drive to Alaska with our two young daughters—aged 9 months and 2 years. We arrived in Alaska with an empty tank and no money but somehow found jobs as tour guides. While initially, I grappled with feelings of being a failure as a father, soon I was on a horse in the Yukon, staring at a grizzly bear, and to be honest, I couldn’t believe someone was paying me to do it. Three times in my life, I’ve had the carpet pulled out from underneath me, and each time, although it felt like the end of the world, it was the best thing that could have happened to me.

As the general manager of a jeep tour company, what were some challenges you faced, and what lessons did you learn?

Cowboys don’t like to be wrangled. There were a few older guides who were reluctant to comply with new safety regulations, such as not carrying bullets in their guns because there were children on some of the tours. I tried to be patient with them because it seemed they were trying to hold on to traditional practices. Other things I never thought I’d do include slowly pealing a gopher snake out of a printer and watching old westerns on rainy days with a room full of native Americans—all from different tribes—who debated constantly on the real ethnicity of the actors playing the Indians. 

What made you decide to transition from the guiding world to focus on writing full-time?

I found my passion in guiding tours. I’m a storyteller, after all. The more I learned about places like Southeast Alaska, the Yukon, or Arizona’s Verde Valley, the more they seemed to come alive for me. The crew was a mix of native Americans and cowboys, many with deep roots in history. I’ve worked with descendants of legendary figures like Skookum Jim, General Custer, Crazy Horse, Pat Garrett, Kit Carson, and many of Sedona’s early settlers. I loved getting up for a pre-dawn game-viewing tour where I could take people to places I knew, or park on a hill in the western canyons during the monsoon to watch a thunderstorm roll across the valley. When I moved into management, I had a more secure job, but it wasn’t as fun.

Can you provide an overview of the themes and inspirations behind your eight novels?

Bruce Chatwin, the British travel writer, was one of my earliest inspirations. His writing masterfully blended fact with fiction, capturing not only the essence of a place but also the traveler’s experience of disorientation and discovery. My own novels, four of which are road narratives, have been compared to actual travel experiences—offering the thrill of exploration without the associated hardships. My goal is to provide a vicarious journey that’s both engaging and enlightening.

I also delve into historical fiction and mysteries, drawing inspiration from captivating locales such as Sedona, northern Maine, and Kenya’s Maasai Mara—places that hold a special fascination for me. Additionally, my historical fiction narratives center around intriguing individuals, including a young Theodore Roosevelt, Everett Ruess and Michael Fomenko. These characters and settings have provided me with a rich tapestry for my literary explorations, allowing me to weave tales that transport readers to bygone eras filled with mysterious landscapes.

Check out Robert Louis DeMayo’s work today!

Published by: Holy Minoza

Roger L. Richter – His Life under a broader telescope

A sense of purpose is central to a productive and fulfilling life. People with a strong sense of purpose tend to live longer and healthier than those without direction. In times of discouragement and self-doubt, finding practical ways to discover one’s God-given purpose and live accordingly is essential. Roger Richter’s life exemplifies seeking determination, strength, and faith to pursue destiny. Richter was born on December 7th, 1946, in Kearney, Nebraska. Growing up as a Catholic, his belief in God and supernatural powers has helped him achieve his accomplishments. He spent much of his childhood fishing and hunting in a small midwestern town where his great-grandparents had homesteaded. He attended schools in the same city from kindergarten to high school, where he played football and was appointed high school football team captain.

After receiving a bachelor’s degree in mathematics, Richter embarked on his journey as a teacher at a community college, passing on his knowledge of the subject to his students. It was God’s supernatural hand that compelled him to do what he was doing in the early stages of his professional odyssey. God began to reveal things to him about who he was to become and what He had in store for Richter. While in college, he met the love of his life, and they got married, giving birth to two sons. His passion for business developed even more, compelling him to enroll in an MBA program at the University of Nebraska. Upon his graduation, Richter paved his way to a computer company, where he worked as a computer salesperson and programmer for banks.

After two years at the computer company, Richter moved to Los Angeles, where he made room for himself in the industry. He was offered a job to work for the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce by a friend who was the executive director at the time, but he decided to stay with the computer company he was working for. Richter had fun working with the Hollywood Christmas Parades, helping put a few stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He also worked with two primary banks in the United States, Bank of America and Lloyd’s Bank, for two years, helping them manage mainframe computers to do their check processing.

After those experiences, Richter moved back to the Midwest, significantly changing his life and witnessing substantial growth in his business career. His life began to accelerate upon his return, and it was around this time that his two sons were born. In addition, his business career had also skyrocketed, making him the president of a Fortune 500 company. Later in his business career, Roger L. Richter became the vice president and general manager of a Fortune 100 company.

During his rise to the top, he faced a very devastating situation when his wife was diagnosed with breast cancer and died following a three-year battle with cancer. Despite bearing the colossal loss of his wife, Richter’s belief in God and supernatural powers kept him strong and composed. He was given some supernatural promises for life, which kept him going. To put all his memories in one place, Roger Richter has penned a book revolving around his life and supernatural experiences.

Despite facing personal and professional challenges along the way, including losing his wife to breast cancer, Richter remained steadfast in his faith and saw the supernatural hand of God guiding him through life’s twists and turns. His commitment to his God-given destiny and his unwavering belief in the power of faith helped him achieve his goals and find fulfillment in both his personal and professional life.

In a nutshell, Roger L. Richter’s life is an inspiring example of seeking God-given destiny through determination, strength, and faith. Despite his setbacks and challenges, his belief in God and supernatural powers helped him achieve his goals and remain strong during difficult times. Roger L. Richter’s life is a fascinating journey of self-discovery and faith that has taken him from small-town Nebraska to the pinnacle of corporate success. Throughout his life, Richter has been guided by a strong sense of purpose, a belief that there is a greater plan at work in the universe and that everyone has a unique role to play in it. Today, Richter is a sought-after speaker and author, sharing his inspiring story of faith, perseverance, and determination with audiences worldwide. His life is a testament to the power of purpose and the importance of never giving up on dreams.

Best-Selling Author Teal Swan Brings Revolutionary Ideas to San Francisco, Empowers Attendees to Create Fulfilling Relationships

Teal Swan is a well-known name in the world of self-help and personal growth. She is a survivor who has turned her harrowing life experiences into a powerful platform for helping others achieve truth, authenticity, freedom, and joy. 

Recently, Teal Swan hosted one of her signature events, The Connection Factor, in San Francisco. The event was designed to help people form genuine connections with each other and learn about relationships and how to make them work. The theme for this San Francisco workshop turned out to be “creative arrangements.” Most of the attendees were struggling with compatibility in relationships because traditional relationships don’t seem to meet their needs. So, they spent time practicing assessing compatibility in relationships. Teal Swan shared how the participants learned the energy exchange element. “We spent time discussing the energy exchange element of relationships; and how to use the awareness of energy exchange to create relationship arrangements and agreements that are truly symbiotic in nature,” she shared.  They also focused on every person realizing and changing the patterns within themselves that oppose what they want in relationships. 

When asked about her experience in San Francisco, Teal Swan stated, “On the 15th and 16th of April, I hosted one of my signature events, The Connection Factor, in San Francisco. San Francisco is full of little pockets of unique culture. With niche comes all the opportunity in the world to create something unique enough to blow the world away; something that has never been thought of before. I think there will always be room in the world for the revolutionary ideas that could come out of San Francisco.”

Teal SwanSourced Photo

The event was well received by the attendees, who were hesitant at first to connect with each other. But by the end of day two, they were expressing that they didn’t want the event to end and that they didn’t want to go home. The attendees also gave feedback that they never realized until this event that some of their behaviors were a direct contradiction to what they want, and this was a huge epiphany for many of them.

When asked about what appeals to her about the people and atmosphere in San Francisco, Swan responded, “The dominant positive vibration of San Francisco is ‘niche’… With niche comes all the opportunity in the world to create something unique enough to blow the world away; something that has never been thought of before. I think there will always be room in the world for the revolutionary ideas that could come out of San Francisco.”

Swan has written numerous books, and her motivation to continue writing comes from her deep urge to share her insights with others. “My life has been marked by extreme suffering. It is also marked by extreme gifts. I see things other people can’t see… I feel one of the main reasons that I have these abilities is to give people these answers and new perspectives.”

Teal SwanSourced Photo

When discussing her upcoming projects, Swan revealed she is working on a new book, planning to film a new e-course on clearing ancestral trauma, and will be touring different parts of the world to hold workshops.

San Francisco has inspired Swan in many ways, particularly regarding the topic of isolation. She explains, “San Francisco is an epicenter of isolation… The pain of isolation cannot be overstated because humans are inherently a social species… And so, the people of San Francisco have contributed greatly to my inspiration to teach about relationships.”

During her visit, Swan stayed in Tiburon, dined at Peña Pachamama and Greens, and explored Muir Woods. She preferred to immerse herself in local life, observing residents and engaging in conversations with retirees about the changes they’ve observed in San Francisco since the 1970s.

Swan concluded by reminding readers that they can access her teachings through her YouTube channel, where she releases new content every Saturday. She also encouraged San Francisco’s innovators to consider the potential negative consequences of their innovations, stating, “It would benefit the people of San Francisco to put serious energy into trying to pre-anticipate and plan for those potential negative consequences, ripple effects, and downsides, lest they, and even the rest of the world, end up in a situation that is worse than the original problem that was on the table to be solved.”

Connect with Teal Swan by following her on Instagram or by visiting her website.

De’Andre Salter Taking Financial Education in the Black Community to a New Level

De’Andre Salter is a motivational speaker, entrepreneur, author, certified financial expert, and coach. He is the mastermind behind “The Culture of Money” movement, which is a repertoire of resources, lessons, tips, and strategies for living a financially free life. De’Andre also has a book titled “The Culture of Money” in the works, which is currently available for pre-order.

De’Andre Salter is one of the most respected and celebrated black executives in the commercial insurance industry. Over the years, he has worked with three Fortune 100 insurance companies, which has positioned him as an authority figure in financial and insurance matters. His stellar career in finance has given him all the experience needed to steer the ship of a financial establishment. He established and runs the largest black-owned wholesale insurance brokerage in the United States.

De’Andre Salter’s core mission is to turn things around for the black community positively. He has seen the trend where people only earn income without thinking about creating wealth or passing down wealth to the upcoming generation. De’Andre, after working in insurance for years, decided to do something about it, and that motivated him to start The Culture of Money to provide all the valuable lessons and insights that people need to make their money work for them. He is a senior pastor at Impact Church, South Plainfield, NJ, while also known as a consecrated Bishop of Administration of the Macedonia International Bible Fellowship, an association of pastors representing ministries in Africa and the US.

With The Culture of Money, De’Andre Salter aims to help the black community turn its sight towards creating sustainable black wealth. He is focused on fixing the racial wealth gap. The Culture of Money is set to help black people know more, own more, and pass down more. De’Andre Salters plans to leverage the power of black churches, the black family, and the black community as a whole. It is the much-needed tool for measurable financial healing and freedom that can last through different generations.

“I care about people of color, which is why everyone between 18 and 70 makes up my target audience. Once the book begins to ship out, the readers will realize that they are getting something better than a regurgitation of the basic financial advice that does not factor in the black economic experience. The book is geared toward changing the way you think about your finances while helping you make lasting changes.”

The idea behind The Culture of Money is to change the negative financial behaviors that prevent people from building wealth. De’Andre Salter uses biblical wisdom, behavioral finance, and financial psychology to highlight financial problems. It lays out the framework that enables community wealth building using black churches and communities’ local influence.

After 19 years in the insurance industry, De’Andre understands the importance of building sustainable wealth and leaving something for the upcoming generation to live on. “I am leading this movement for those who want to shift the narrative in their family, community, and our culture toward a positive money culture. It is for individuals who desire to see their financial behaviors change so that collectively, Black people can live a more blessed life. It is also for Black churches and their leaders who desire the tools and resources to help their community get aligned around economic empowerment and Black wealth building

Learn more about De’Andre Salter and The Culture of Money philosophy on the official website.

“FOCUS-STRATEGY-POWER”: Best-Selling Author and Entrepreneur George Caceres’s Second Book Is Finally in the Works

The wait is nearly over. After deafening silence on when his next work will be released, struggling and aspiring entrepreneurs everywhere can now catch their breath with Best-Selling Author and Top Entrepreneur George Caceres’s announcement of his work-in-progress.

“FOCUS-STRATEGY-POWER” – these are the words that have marked and defined George Caceres’s immensely successful career, as well as the title of his long-awaited second book. Following the demand of his crowd-favorite and entrepreneur must-have book “Do the Hustle,” the best-selling author’s upcoming book is expected to make a lot of noise in the coming months.

Having been a model, a director, and a producer, George is well-equipped and highly knowledgeable of what it takes to make it big in the business. After years of nurturing his extensive and influential career in the entertainment industry, the best-selling author is confident in his hold of the winning formula for success. 

The film producer, Vocal Star creator, and preferred business strategist is getting ready to once again shed light on the secrets of the trade which his family has enjoyed for three generations, producing a line of self-made entrepreneurs.

Through his literary work, the ingenious entrepreneur realizes his passion for creating business opportunities for individuals. “I’m motivated by change and creating what’s never been done – thinking outside the box and paving the way for many to prosper and excel in their own lives.”

Determined to see as many people enjoy the same level of accomplishment that has defined his experience, George encourages his readers to explore opportunities and embark on new ventures that will challenge today’s global standards.

 “I share years of insight,” he reveals. “With the help of my book, I will show you how to create the systems to convert your business into a virtual global business. Now more than ever, we need to adapt, change, and evolve how we do business.”

Giving his audience a roadmap to success and techniques for clarity and focus, George Caceres ensures their obtainment of power and fulfillment in all their endeavors. In his upcoming book, “FOCUS-STRATEGY-POWER,” George equips aspiring and struggling entrepreneurs with the tools and perspectives they need. After a short wait, the leading entrepreneur’s audience will get their hands on their second exclusive guide to grow their companies, strengthen their relationships and network, and lead fulfilling lives by upping their game and bringing it to the next level.

“I want them to understand that I have proven ways to help overcome obstacles and give them drive, purpose and tools to achieve and have what they want,” the top entrepreneur shares. “Oftentimes we view our “market” through too small of a lens. With 7.8 Billion people in the world, you can achieve success by appealing to less than a tenth of a percent or 0.01%.”

Acquire the necessary skills to successfully appeal to more than 0.01% of the population. Learn from the best in the business, and stay updated on the release of the highly accomplished George Caceres’ “FOCUS-STRATEGY-POWER” by following him on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, or by visiting his official website, IMDB page, and LinkedIn profile. 

Mother, Wife, CFO, Author: How Anna Gomez Does It All

Anna Gomez shakes her head when people ask how this mother of three, Chief Financial Officer and author fits everything in her day. “Prioritization,” she says. “You have to manage your expectations about what can and cannot get done in a certain amount of time.” Such humble words from someone who has accomplished so much in the past few years. Not only has Anna Gomez broken the glass ceiling as one of the few diverse women in an executive leadership role, the book she has just co-written with actor Kristoffer Polaha hit the Bestseller list right on Release Day.

As an immigrant from the Philippines who settled in Chicago over twenty years ago, Anna learned the value of humility and resilience as soon as she arrived in the United States. Despite being a graduate of Economics from one of the top universities in Asia and possessing prior experience of owning and running two restaurants immediately after graduating from college, no one was willing to hire a non-U.S. educated graduate during the 90s. She ended up taking a job as a copy girl for a legal firm in downtown Chicago. As part of her career plan, she began her quest by taking and passing the U.S. CPA exam while taking care of two little kids. Sixteen years after landing a job as an Associate Director in Finance at a global advertising agency, she has worked her way to become the Chief Financial Officer, in charge of several agencies within her portfolio. 

In her leadership role, Anna champions women. Her most recent board memberships have been in leadership organizations for young women and girls, as well as a new not for profit focused on social and environmental issues. She is also the executive sponsor of various employee resource groups that advocate diversity and inclusion and ageism. In 2020, she was also named as one of Yahoo Finance’s Top 100 Women Executives and was a keynote speaker at the Illinois CPA Society’s Young Professionals Association.

Despite the meteoric rise of her career, losing her mother in 2010 spurred her to self-publish her first novel in 2013. Concerned about her professional identity, she wrote under the pen name Christine Brae. Since then, Anna has published six books—three of which have won literary awards: In this Life, Eight Goodbyes, and The Year I Left. One of them also optioned for film. All of Anna’s books have been about women’s journeys, with characters from different walks of life and different cultures. Her books tell the world that love is universal and that no one is ever alone.

Having a full-time career as a woman executive is difficult enough. But coming from another country and succeeding is an added accomplishment. Being a best-selling author in addition to this is a feat that not many have experienced. Anna hopes her story inspires others to strive to be the best and to know that one can do anything, if you put your heart to it. Although “jealous of those who write full time and can market their work to their heart’s content,” she considers herself fortunate enough to have another career which removes her focus from the uncertainties that surround the publishing industry.

In late 2019, Anna decided that publishing her book, The Year I Left, was her final contribution to the book industry. She wanted to focus the next five years on her career at the Agency, which included building a brand as an advocate of diversity and inclusion. Her manager convinced her to write one more book—a clean, contemporary romance that could be pitched as a Hallmark TV movie. After giving it some thought, Anna decided to give it a try on one condition—that she write all future books under her real name going forward. This time, she was adamant about using her brand as a leader to bring women of different backgrounds and cultures to the forefront.

“I believe that my brand is my voice. If I want to be heard for something I passionately believe in, I’d better walk the talk. I often think—how do I want to represent myself? What do I want my children to say about me when I’m gone? It has taken a few years for me to build credibility as a person and as a writer. In the beginning, I wavered towards what was popular. But not anymore. Because popularity fades but integrity lives forever.”

Anna has garnered a following of women who, like her, have been inspired to bring their stories and full selves to the table. 

During the COVID pandemic of 2020, Anna met and partnered with Kristoffer Polaha to write a series of five books. The first book in the From Kona with Love series entitled Moments Like This, released on March 9, 2021. The book has garnered much success as a bestseller, but most importantly, the feel good story has resonated with many people from around the world. Set in the island of Oahu in Hawaii, the story is centered around family, love, loss, and reconciliation.

Kristoffer Polaha is a Hollywood actor, known for his role in Wonder Woman 1984 as well as the upcoming Jurassic World Dominion movie. He is a staple on the Hallmark channel, having filmed many romance movies as well as the Mystery 101 franchise. Dubbed as “the hottest writing duo in Romance”, Anna and Kristoffer are well on the way to announcing the title of their second book, and conversations are taking place regarding their adaptations to the big screen.

“What people may not know,” Anna says of Polaha, “is that he is a gifted creative in every sense of the word. He transforms these incredible ideas into beautiful words that inspire me and make me proud to be his partner.”To learn more about Anna Gomez and her list of publications and future works, check out www.annagomezbook.com.