A Method for Evolutionary Change thru Conscious Awareness
AMECCA
Mary E. Sims (The Book Lady) can help you write your first book through Kindle Direct Publishing, KDP which is a part of Amazon.com. Come with your written words, and we can magically turn it into a book!
going home another way: the journey begins within
Going Home Another Way is the 1st book Mary wrote. She was suffering from an addiction to Crack Cocaine, depression, physical pain and undiagnosed Multiple Sclerosis. It began when a Voice from within placed a pen in her heart and she began to write in a diary.
One morning, her son read her diary after Mary forgot to log off on the computer the night before. She never intended for anyone to ever read the words she wrote. With the encouragement from her sons, her diary became a book. Thus, it is written, Going Home Another Way.
Amazon reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars Simply Captivating! Such remarkable resilience of such a young ...
Reviewed in the United States on August 13, 2014
Simply Captivating!
Such remarkable resilience of such a young girl with such limited resources to have overcome so many detrimental obstacles from which would have exhausted the average child of their will to carry on when suicide might have been view as the ...humane option.
From the alienation of affection, The wavering of faith, the misguided direction of a familiar, the impact from the demand's of care-taker of both parents till their death, to a marriage that put her on a path to extreme drug abuse that is still a day-to-day battle.
I was totally convinced that the only thing that any one can attribute to the inner strength and wisdom that helped that little girl survive all the scars from the chronic physical and emotional abuse's attained from these experiences was a consciousness to adhere to, "the voice of an angel without a name." Such a therapeutic inspiration and definitely a must read!
2 people found this helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars She’s a wonderful writer and I recommend this book
Reviewed in the United States on December 17, 2014
A triumphant victory over addiction! Sim’s chronicle of her life before, during and after addiction, shows that you can have victory over demons that seem impossible to overcome. Although she was reared in the church, she lost her way but eventually found her way home again. She’s a wonderful writer and I recommend this book.
One person found this helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars A worthy read of a first-time author
Reviewed in the United States on August 11, 2014
As short and simple and straight forward as this book presented itself, it was truly a challenge to read for a number of reasons. This was clearly Ms Sim's initial venture into the creative literary field. I say "creative" even though this is apparently an autobiography of the earlier portion of the author's life. The chronology of the story was at times inconsistent - not that it needed to be written exactly as the events depicted happened - but it did render a bit of unnecessary confusion in the following of the tale as her journey unfolded. There were a number of typos and the e-book format left a lot to be corrected in the way the paragraphs were laid out disjointedly; but one could follow the events and perspectives of the writer easily enough due to the captivating descriptions used and the luridness of the author's experiences. Her story seduced me deeper and deeper into wonderment and questions of how I would have handled the many temptations and side-tracks away from healthy living through intelligent choices she encountered on a daily basis.
At times I felt slightly guilty and uncomfortable reading such candid accounts of her addiction adventures with crack cocaine. It was awkward to be able to peer so closely inside what she was going through, as she battled herself and her conflicting values and beliefs about religion and God. Her family and friendship interpersonal relationships provided an enormous amount of fuel for the various crises she challenged herself to deal with throughout much of her journey into self-understanding. As a reader with little experience in the realms of conflict she faced throughout most of her earlier life, it was tremendously insightful for me to have exposure through her poignant and powerful words, as candid and blatantly honest as they were, to the pains of her developing awareness.
A book worthy of reading will take one on an adventure of absorption into the writer's world, whether real or imagined. In chapter after engrossing chapter of this book, I was totally there with the author through her struggles, her confusions, her eventual growth into empowerment. I definitely intend to follow this writer's journey into subsequent publication(s) as her story continues.
2 people found this helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars The Prodigal Daughter
Reviewed in the United States on September 26, 2003
Mary E. Sims gives the reader an in-depth view of her trials and tribulations in her autobiography, GOING HOME ANOTHER WAY. Sims takes the reader on a journey through her life beginning with her early upbringing in the church, to her bouts with a bad marriage and crack addiction, and ends with her realization that the very thing she spent her life searching for was right there all along.
Spiritual, but not preachy, GOING ON ANOTHER WAY, shows that at one time or another we all make mistakes, but it is up to each individual to learn from their mistakes or be doomed to recreate them. Sims' story often reads more like a diary or a vent than a novel, but it only makes the novel more gripping, inspirational, and real.
Reviewed by Latoya Carter-Qawiyy
Of The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers
3 people
AN ANGLE WITHOUT A NAME
Mary thought she was lost. After writing the book, Going Home Another Way, she realized she was never . Now the question was "Who is the Voice"? The words in the book left a tiny trail to the hidden treasure that she searched for most of her life. She had the treasure when she was born, but fear of being different from others made her hide it. As she grew older she forgot where she hid it.
The Pen was needed more than the paper. Write it on the walls or on the back of your hand, just write it and never loose the Pen. The Pen indeed is Mightier than the Sword!
Listen to this Indi Book interview!
Amazon reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars A journey inward.
Reviewed in the United States on April 7, 2014
This is the second book by a very good new author. I enjoy reading her books and they are written very well. She has an interesting technique of writing in the third person and quickly reverting to the first person. She invites you to live her life through her written word and you immediately understand and embrace her loving heart. She has a wonderful imagination and I hope she will continue writing. An Angel Without a Name is book well worth reading.
One person found this helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars I like her writing style
Reviewed in the United States on July 19, 2014
I have read both books that Sims has written. I like her writing style. Now, I find myself hearing my own Voice even with the noise or chatter in my mind. This is a good mind opening read!
4.0 out of 5 stars Additional meaningful insight to this author's remarkable personal story
Reviewed in the United States on August 13, 2014
Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase
I actually read this book first, out of the two that Ms Sims has written. It was shorter and I obtained it first on my beloved Kindle. My first read was interesting and certainly worthwhile, especially near the end of the book when she described her ten day experience at a meditation center, where the participants were not allowed to talk. I had the impression that people there were supposed to go through the process as if they were the only one there, even though there were others around doing the program. A really unique way of coming in touch with one self, it seemed. My understanding of her experience there is that because - by her own admission - she had two chips on her shoulders (she was the only African American in attendance), her arrogance had her fight the program and its rigid rules so much that it was only at the end that she recognized the value of the entire process.
While she didn't state it in her introspective tale of personal growth, described graphically throughout her evidently honest narrative, I suspect that her writing about the adventure at the center demonstrated to her how she was actually moving through her life in general: rebellious, angry, and battling herself more than she was in combat with the challenges of life and living she dealt with on a daily basis. Maybe I am reading too much into this. I cannot say what her emotions were, of course; but these are the thoughts that I had as I read the entire book.
I wanted more from this book than it seemed to be offering. I had the definite impression that much detail was missing. Although incidents were recounted that reflected different stages of growth she went through, I felt I wasn't getting specifics that would provide clues to some of the incidents that had significant impact on her. Again, this was from my first time reading of "Angel."
When I downloaded and read what was actually her first book, "Going Home Another Way," it all made much more meaningful sense to me. There was the additional insight to what she had mentioned in her second book. Her first book held the detail that had me understand so much more of her spiritual journey into taking control of her life by trusting in her inner Voice and its guidance.
When I returned to "An Angel Without a Name" for the second time, the connections and references, as well as the incidents that were described in detail, brought it all together for me. I was able to connect the dots and follow her chronicle with significantly more comprehension. I had simply read the books out of order. The second book, "Angel," shed additional light on much of what was covered in her first publication.
In essence, I feel it is important to read both books to understand the author's life more thoroughly, which most readers would probably want to do because of the depth and degree of the unique experiences that the writer faced as she grew through personal and personality devastation to claiming her own personal power. It takes an enormous amount of courage and commitment for someone to disclose one's poor life choices and weaknesses as candidly as Ms Sims has done in both of her books of outstanding merit. Much of what she writes about can take the reader into delicate areas of living where most of us have little experience. It can be a challenge for many readers to journey along with the story because it can make one uncomfortable in its rawness and brutality. But the journey is worth it with "An Angel Without a Name," and definitely with the book that precedes it. You will grow in learning by reading her story as she clearly has in writing it.
Nobody's here but us: Looking for god in all the wrong places
Everybody can't be Right. Therefore, Everybody can't be Wrong.
Imagine what our World would be like if there were no God or Devil, no Wrong or Right. Only Us against Ourselves. What kind of World would this be?
This story takes place in the early 1800's, near New Orleans, Louisiana. The secrets and the Lies hidden from the slaves and the slave owners are unveiled as the Armageddon between the Christian God, Jesus and the Voodoo God, Dhumbala begins. Will anyone win? Or will there be sudden "Death" of their world in overtime?
Amazon reviews
❤ Grady HarpTop Contributor: Children's Books
5.0 out of 5 stars "There is Always Something and Never Nothing."
Reviewed in the United States on January 6, 2015
Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase
Texas author Mary E. Sims has experienced many supernatural events that have changed her life. She was always told and therefore assumed that the Voice she heard since she was nine years old was the Voice of God. On a quest to understand the God of her youth, she discovered that it was her own Voice all the time. She lives in Dallas, Texas. This is the only place she has ever called home. At the age of 45, she became a drug addict, a very hard part of her life. The Voice gave her specific instructions on how to get free of this deadly disease. She has been drug free for nearly 20 years. "Why should I continue to count the days of my sobriety when I'm going to be this way for the rest of my life? But, I do remember the year that God saved my life!" This is her first fiction book. The message is about awakening the God-Self that is within each of us.
Mary opens her book, enhanced with beautiful photographic images, with a Prologue that is in fact a new version of the creation story. `Once upon a Time, long, long ago, there were two entities called Nothing and Something' and closes with `Something and Nothing lived in the hearts of Man forever and ever. The Man called Nothing, the Night and Something was called, the Day. From then on, Man had a saying; "There is Always Something and Never Nothing."
And that is the tender way Mary relates this historical fiction novel so well spun that she captures both the attention and the heart of the reader. And then she addresses us in 2014 `What is the Truth?' in which she challenges us and our belief systems, preparing us for the novel that follows, opening in 1833 in Louisiana.
Mary spins the tale of twins Octavius and Octavia who are intersex children whose lives alter as they mature - falling under the influence of the two primary religions - Catholicism and Voodoo. The children embark upon a journey of a lifetime as they uncover many secrets and lies from the slaves and the masters of the plantation. They have to decide what was really is the truth, but would they find out that the truth and a lie are one and the same? The story proceeds with a large cast of palpably real characters into the era of the Civil War and as the author summarizes, `The thought of freedom comes with a great price. The South lost all to rebuild a new way of life for slaves and freemen. Truth and Freedom walked hand in hand as the characters in the book finally realize their dreams.'
The constant difference between truth and lies set forth so well from page one mixes with the mysteries of Catholicism and the practice of Voodoo and the writing is so secure that we are standing alongside these fascinating characters and events throughout the course of the book. Mary E. Sims has produced a fine debut fiction novel. Lucky for us this is `Book 1' in the I DON'T SEE IT series. Grady Harp, January 15
2 people found this helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Tremendously Insightful and Thought-Provoking
Reviewed in the United States on January 14, 2015
Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase
This book took me by complete surprise. The first few lines of the description drew me in, particularly given my dislike for organized religion being promoted as absolute fact. Once Upon A Time, indeed. However, once I had the actual book and began delving into the story, the themes being discussed were far more complex and intriguing. This book was about clashes of old and new, long-lost ideas and long hoped for ideals, magic and God and freedom. The two focal points, Octavia and Octavius, are perfect embodiments of the confusion and uncertainty of the times, as well as the subject matter. The entire cast, both good and evil, plays their part to perfection, and the entire narrative is tangled with mystery, magic, and things most of us no longer understand. I was fascinated by the ability of Sims to inject so much subtle philosophical discussion into a rather straightforward narrative, and it never seemed forced of heavy-handed. This was thoughtful, not only in a historical context, but also in a present-day one. Given the confusing times we are currently living in, where race equality, religious tolerance, and gender issues are still at the forefront of national and international attention, a book like this, which promotes free thought and philosophical liberation, is more important than ever.
One person found this helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars A Thoroughly Unique and Fascinating Story
Reviewed in the United States on January 20, 2015
Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase
I can confidently say that I've never read a book quite like this before. This was half-historical fiction, half fantasy, with some thriller, action, romance, and philosophy thrown in. To call the book allegorical or overly reflective would cheapen the complex world that Sims was able to create, a stunning replica of world that we only read about in history books. Capturing a time period in the 1800s is challenging, if not impossible, without a massive amount of research and planning to maintain the integrity of the time period, the language, and the belief systems. Not only that, the author injected spectacular fictional elements that made the entire book flow and grow and tangle as it moved forward.
Octavia and Octavius are exceptional characters to watch, and while their dual nature initially struck me as a heavy-handed metaphor for the time period and the conflicting beliefs of the age, I realized that those characters were so much more than symbolic. I thoroughly enjoyed watching the lives of these passionate characters, all of them determined to achieve their own ends, in such a bizarre and terrifying time in our nation's history. It's a stunning achievement from an author who has risen to the top of her game.
confessions: Words from the heart
Confessions, Words from the heart is a dramatic story of two women the author, Mary E. Sims, interviewed. They opened their heart and told of their struggles with alcohol and drug addiction.
Ruby Jewel's Story
She started her life behind the eight ball. The odds were stacked against her at birth. Drugs, prostitution, humor and God are all woven into her story. Her story is not for the faint of heart.
Linda's Story
She was a good girl who fell into hard times. Her story is about the sting of heroin. The well was too deep. Now, in the need of a new liver and kidney, she tells the author the story of her life in the streets. Her pain and suffering will tug at your heart strings.
Amazon reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars I find this a very interesting page turner. One ...
Reviewed in the United States on June 19, 2016
I find this a very interesting page turner. One of the women in the story reminds me of a girl I knew a long time ago. A book worth the time invested.
powerful quotes
I began my spiritual journey in 1985 after reading the biblical book of Proverbs over and over. I was inspired by these words of wisdom and started reading more and more. With a red pen in my hand, my soul searched thru many other books and I began to write down quotes from every inspiring book that I read. After writing in a total of six notebooks, I decided to convert the words written on paper into this book.
As you read these wonderful and inspiring quotes, they will enhance your own wisdom, and they are beneficial toward your comprehension of life. This collection of quotes is arranged to form different chapters in this book. This book is to help guide us back to our God-State, Divine Mind of God, and it teaches all those who yearn to better themselves mentally and spiritually by distributing wisdom and knowledge in bite size pieces which will give you life.
My search for knowledge will never end. I know no FEAR.
Please take your time and enjoy reading this book of ENLIGHTENMENT!
It takes a village
It Takes A Village is a book about the various way people choose to rear their children. With there being so much child abuse reported in today's society, what is a determined parent to do in the act of disciplinary problems with their child? This book gives examples of the way some children were disciplined and in some cases 'mistreated' by their parents. It is left up to the reader to decide which method they would use in each example. A questionnaire worksheet and notes pages are provided in this powerful little book.
Amazon reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars Everyone that walks into a child’s life should polish and buff them carefully and often
Reviewed in the United States on June 14, 2015
It Takes a Village: We Were Once Children by Claude A Chiles and Mary E. Sims is an eighty-three page book. It has an introduction, eight chapters and a conclusion. The introduction describes this interesting book as a way to illustrate different stories of problem children and some well-behaved children, and how they were handled. At the end of each chapter is an assessment from Mr. Wilson and a Teacher’s perspective. Also included is a questionnaire at the end of each chapter and a blank page for notes.
It is a very insightful and useful book for any struggling parent. There is not a one size fits all answer for child abuse or any disciplinary concerns and this gem offers many different tactics, and shows the resulting outcome, at least in that particular era, culture and situation. A very unique take on so many different problems in child-rearing. Very thought provoking.
4.0 out of 5 stars Some Gritty Vignettes That Make One Yearn for a Utopian Brady Bunch Existence
Reviewed in the United States on June 2, 2015
There are several important messages that shine like beacons in It Takes a Village. One of them is that raising children is a collaborative effort between parents, the children themselves, friends, neighbors, relatives, teachers and anyone else who is a constant presence in a child’s life. The other message to be gleaned from the book is that (i) children grow up to be products of their respective environments or (ii) they rebel against the circumstances in which they were raised and rise above them. The book comprises various anecdotal vignettes involving families that are, shall we say, less than perfect. Each vignette sets the stage for trials and tribulations that the children endure at the hands of their parents and the parents endure at the hands of their children. In some cases (okay, in most of them), the vignettes are gritty and downright depressing and they certainly make one yearn for the Utopian Brady Bunch existence – if such a perfect world even exists. The authors, Chiles and Sims, bring home the point that parenting is a privilege and becoming a good parent is an acquired skill that becomes easier over time – as long as you, the parent, are willing to invest your heart, soul and energies into building a solid foundation that will support your child long after they’ve grown.
2 people found this helpful
rumor: don't believe the lie
"Rumors: Don't Believe the Lie" is the third book in the "I don't See It " trilogy series. All three books have emphasis on the Bible and stories told from it. "Rumors: Don't Believe the Lie" tells about the second coming of Christ. The believers of the second coming use hell-fire and brimstone as a persuasive tactic to convert non-believers to the faith. They are also witch hunters and chase demons.
The main character is Lisa. She inherits a church ministry from her father, Jack, who has recently died. She becomes a faith healer like him. She wants to be able to cast out demons. A homeless man gets in her prayer line and attacks her. The security guards take him out of the church. During another healing service, she is unable to pray for the sick because she starts to hear voices. The voices get worse and she finally sees a doctor who diagnoses her with schizophrenia and bi-polar disorder.
Lisa has a friend named Sylvia who she meets at work. They both suffer from schizophrenia and bi-polar disorder.
A mother in the church, named Mother Bynum, tells Lisa that someone in the church is performing witchcraft on her. The woman who is working the spell is named Ava. Lisa is unaware that Ava is having an affair with her husband, Nathan. Lisa and Sylvia look on the internet and find a source to break the spell that Ava has placed on her. The spell is very powerful and they need to go to a witchcraft supply source to get the ingredients for the spell. They end up joining a coven and become witches. The high priestess of the coven is named Hazel. She tells them they can still be Christians and witches at the same time. The women are confused. They try to be witches and cast out demons, but it doesn't work. Lisa divorces Nathan and moves on.
Sylvia and Lisa join the group SAG (Souls Against Government) which is a Pentecostal Fundamentalist movement that is against the Gay rights movement and the marriage rights the Government gave to the LGBT Community.
Sylvia and Lisa travel to Nigeria with SAG to save souls and cast out demons with a missionary group. Voodoo worship had grown rapidly in the village in Nigeria. They were surrounded by witches and warlocks.
The Voodoo high priest wanted to point out to the leader of SAG, Brother Ronnie, who the witches and warlocks were in the missionary group. He privately pointed at Lisa as a witch. Brother Ronnie didn't want to believe this. She was a member of his praise team and she played the piano, too.
Lisa and Sylvia came back from Africa and decided they were in over their heads and doing too much and getting nothing done. They decided to let everything go, except the witchcraft. They started working on love spells and money spells. Sylvia and her boyfriend had broken up. She did a love spell and they got back together again. Six months later, they were married. Lisa created a money spell. Two months later she got a promotion on her job, making twice the amount she was making. They still did the magic and took their medicines to quiet the voices in their heads.
Lisa was lonely, so she conjured up a love spell for herself. One day, when she was at the bookstore, she met a man who was a warlock. It was love at first sight. They fell in love and married a year later. Sylvia and Lisa still hear the voices, but they know how to quiet them by continuing their medications. They are witches and nothing more. But most of all, they are happy.