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Tales2Inspire ~ The Ruby Collection: Gifts of Compassion Kindle Edition
Although Amazon only allows a maximum of ten names to br listed as authors any collection, I wanted to recognize the following addiiional names whose outstanding story contributions enhanced this collection beyond measure.
Stephen Hernadez
James Osborne
Cami Ann Hofstader-Green, Ph.D.
Kathy Andrews
Jack Adler
Ray Tapia
- LanguageEnglish
- Publication dateNovember 25, 2014
- File size46413 KB
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Editorial Reviews
Review
Reviewed By Monique Franklin
Official Apex Reviews Rating: *****
One need only observe the tenor of the current presidential election cycle, and it'sobvious such qualities as sympathy, compassion, and understanding have quickly beenreplaced with intolerance, exclusion, and bigotry for many in our nation. Rather than besympathetic with our fellow man or seek to find common ground with those from differentbackgrounds, the tendency now is to reach snap judgments and cast xenophobic aspersionson anyone who doesn't subscribe to our particular belief system. What is there to lookforward to in a world growing so increasingly hostile and emotionally detached?
Enter Tales2Inspire ~ The Ruby Collection, a moving collection of stories compiled by editorLois W. Stern. Each of the stories featured in the collection is centered on the concept ofcompassion, which seems only fitting, considering the ruby is known to open the heart andpromote loving relationships. The more salient stories of The Ruby Collection highlight thetransformative power of self-sacrifice for the benefit of others, a trait we tend to see less andless in the modern reality TV era. Not just a human quality, The Ruby Collection also displaysthe ability of our furry and feathered friends to show compassion when needed, which leadsone to question just how difficult it is for their human counterparts to do the same.
Powerful and enthralling, the stories of The Ruby Collection do an inspiring job ofconveying the best of what mankind has to offer. An uplifting addition to any reader'spersonal library.
From the Author
From the Inside Flap
Mark H. Newhouse
Award winning author of The Case of the Disastrous Dragon, The Rockhound Mystery Series (Teachers Choice Award - Learning Magazine), The Midnight Diet Club, (1st prize YA, Florida Writers Association) and other award-winning books.
From the Back Cover
About the Author
Product details
- ASIN : B00Q7H4ZTM
- Publisher : Tales2Inspire®; 2nd edition (November 25, 2014)
- Publication date : November 25, 2014
- Language : English
- File size : 46413 KB
- Text-to-Speech : Enabled
- Screen Reader : Supported
- Enhanced typesetting : Enabled
- X-Ray : Not Enabled
- Word Wise : Enabled
- Print length : 119 pages
- Best Sellers Rank: #4,276,069 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #5,046 in Mate Seeking (Kindle Store)
- #6,542 in Interpersonal Relations (Kindle Store)
- #9,432 in Essays (Kindle Store)
- Customer Reviews:
About the authors
When I was 4 1/2 years old, I remember being sent to my room for a nap, but instead of resting, I practiced printing alphabet letters - all over my newly papered bedroom wall. What I most recall about that day was having to stand behind the dinette door, perched right next to my mother's old Singer Sewing Machine, until I apologized for my misbehavior. I couldn't understand why I was being punished for all my hard work, so I stood there for what seemed like hours, rather than offer up an apology. Fortunately this inauspicious beginning didn't dampen my enthusiasm for writing!
And I received a lot of encouragement along the way:
I was the first prizewinner of the senior essay contest at my high school. But it wasn't so much the award that thrilled me as my English teacher's inscription written inside the front cover of the leather bound edition of Kahlil Gibran’s The Prophet presented to me that day:
"You are a talented and perceptive writer. You should consider pursuing a career that utilizes your special skills."
Fast forward to college. I didn't much love Economics, a required course with assigned readings that I frequently put aside in preference to my favorites: English, French and Sociology. I would cram furiously the night before each Economic test - memorizing just enough to squeak by. I think my professor thought me somewhat of a dimwit, expecting little from me and getting little in return.
Mid way though the course, this same Economics professor assigned a term paper that intrigued me - the first time I was motivated to do any real work for this class. I dug in and did my thing. Several weeks later, before returning our papers, he announced that he had several surprises while grading these papers.
“Some students whom I expected to do well, disappointed me, while others, for whom I held low expectations, did extraordinarily well,” he explained. I received an A along with an invitation to meet him in his office after class. His words are still indelibly imprinted in my memory.
"This is your special talent. I hope you will pursue a career in writing. It would be a shame for you to waste your abilities.”
I graduated from Barnard College of Columbia University, with a major in Sociological Research and married Ken, a Columbia student, about eight days later. We set off for New Haven, where Ken began his studies as a law student. I needed to put aside my author's dreams and find a way to support my student husband and myself. The state college nearest our apartment was offering an Intensive Teacher Training (ITT) program so I enrolled, and six weeks later - Bingo -I was a teacher, with provisional certification. I signed a contract, began teaching in Cheshire Conn., and continued to take evening and summer courses throughout the next three years until I earned a Master's Degree - just in the knick of time. I went into labor while typing the bibliography for my Master's thesis, and begged Ken to let me finish before setting off for the hospital!
After raising our family, I enrolled at Hofstra University on Long Island to work on a second Master's degree - this time with a specialization in Reading and Special Education. I taught for 21 more years and loved every moment of it. (Well, almost every moment - nothing is perfect!)
Before I retired, I told Ken, "I know what I want to do with the rest of my life. I want to write." He more or less humored me, taking the attitude, "If you're happy, I'm happy." I worked as co-editor of a Long Island web-zine for the next three years, where I initiated a column I named, "Ordinary People - Extraordinary Lives." While interviewing such a fascinating array of people in order to write their special stories, I discovered my passion for investigative journalism. And then I got to work on my first full length book, Sex, Lies and Cosmetic Surgery, a work combining memoir and research, where my experiences while interviewing subjects for my Web-zine column further encouraged me to add aspects of journalism to my manuscript. Before I had completed this ambitious undertaking, I had conducted over 100 very candid interviews with men, women and professionals in the field , to deliver a work that has been described as “filled with humor and keen insight.”
It took me five years to complete Sex, Lies and Cosmetic Surgery, which landed in the number one spot on the ASPS online bookstore, receiving rave reviews from plastic surgeons and lay people alike, across the USA and beyond. Then it jumped to the top of the charts when an article appeared on the front page of the Style Section of the Sunday edition of the NY Times, which devoted several paragraphs to this book. I was on a roll, signed with a NYC agent who was sure this book would be grabbed up by one of the major publishers. But it didn't. The rejections began to come in. "The author doesn't have a strong enough author platform," they said. To be honest, at the time, I didn’t even know the meaning of those words.
I took time to dust myself off and regroup, but as the old saying, "When one door shuts, another flies open." I began to think that there must be many talented writers out there, writers who aren’t being given a chance because they haven’t yet established name recognition. This little nugget of thought urged me to give birth to Tales2Inspire®, an “Authors Helping Authors” project/contest. My goals were (and still are) to continue to help each talented, yet perhaps unknown, writer strengthen their writing skills while building their author platforms. Forever a fan of inspiring true stories, I built Tales2Inspire® around this passion. The rest, as they say, is history, with twelve Tales2Inspire® published books and counting, and have now added ghostwriting to my list of passions.
Visit https://www.tales2inspire.com to learn about current contest themes and entry procedures. Know that there are no entry fees, and winning authors receive an incredible number of platform building opportunities.
I have two beautiful daughters, who inspire me to write every day. They are always asking for the next book and we love writing together. I look forward to publishing our stories together. We have two beautiful Labradors - Stitch, who even has his own blog (Stitch Says for author interviews and reviews) and Chewie, who will appear through Chewie's News. In 2013 we unfortunately goodbye to Obi, but he and Stitch have provided me with a lifetime of material to write about. Chewie is already bringing his own stories to our lives. In my work I also get random extra Labradors coming to visit. When you combine well trained dogs and creative kids you get chaos. Still it's an adventure and I am so grateful that my girls will grow up with these dogs in their lives. There is nothing better than playing with them all.
I am also inspired by the places we go as a family. We love visiting zoos and going on holidays. As a family we are also very active. The beach, playing sports, going to the park and chasing each other around are all part of our normal week. It's all lots of fun.
Writing is my hobby. I love doing it and am so happy to be able to share my books with other children. It was my dream to have a book published. It was also my mother's dream. Unfortunately she never managed to complete this. She passed away from Breast Cancer without getting her work published. I wanted to dedicate my writing to her, so I used my maiden name - Howland. It's just my way of saying that dreams can come true.
Maria Jordan was raised near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where she has worked in the nursing field for over 30 years. "Kylie's Blossoms" is her first publication, dedicated to her great niece, Kylie, with 12 timeless lessons for all little girls. Michael Friedman's rich illustrations bring this tender hearted story about a seven year old girl and her teddy bear to life. The Kylie series has grown to include a Spanish edition; a South African edition; & a Coloring and Journal Book for kids of all ages. "The Rain and Everything" is a compilation of affirmations, poetry, essays and short fictional works dedicated to her inspirational and loving mother.
Stephen Hernandez was born in Bromley, England, (the only characteristics he shares with H.G. Wells and David Bowie but always finds it worth mentioning anyway as a point of interest), but spent a lot of his childhood in Venezuela. He has lived and worked in South America for a large part of his life. At one time he ran a nightclub in one of the most dangerous cities in Venezuela; after surviving cancer, he concluded that surviving a terminal illness was far less dangerous than running a nightclub in Venezuela.
He holds an Honours Degree in International Communication and works as a translator and interpreter of Spanish with a specialization in medicine. He now divides his time between England, Italy, Greece, the Philippines and South America. When he is not working he likes to write.
James Osborne is the author of the Amazon #1 bestseller, THE ULTIMATE THREAT. His latest novel, PRESCRIPTION FOR DECEPTION, an international crime thriller, was released in September 2024. His previous novel, THE PLOT TO ASSASSINATE SECRET SHEPHERD, has enjoyed high praise from reviewers, including: "It's a magnificent story of faith and hope prevailing in a world under siege." -- New York editor and publisher Lois W. Stern.
Osborne's varied career includes investigative journalist, college teacher, army officer, vice-president of a Fortune 500 company, and business owner. He has also helped found two university programs in journalism and communications, and has served on corporate boards, a university senate and on college curriculum advisory councils.
Osborne's work can also be found in dozens of anthologies, magazines, journals and blogs. A collection of short stories, ENCOUNTERS - Tales of Living, Loving & Laughter was chosen Best Short Story Collection by an international readers' poll. His books are available online in paperback and ebook formats from Amazon and select bookstores and online retailers.
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Instant Inspiration for Change
Top reviews from the United States
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- Reviewed in the United States on June 8, 2020I was prepared to read this book and think it was just OK. I began reading and couldn't help but find the stories to be wonderful and heartfelt. They are all memorable. One young girl decides to run a marathon on seven continents, and does, but not for herself. She runs to honor a father who died of cancer. An injured eagle will never fly again, but bonds so completely with his trainer for years of companionship and presentations about wildlife. A Holocaust survivor survives a small town with a strong hate group. How does he do that? The story explains. Cancer stories with hope. Dog stories with love. Neighbors helping neighbors. But these are not just any stories. These stories will remain in your heart.
- Reviewed in the United States on August 4, 2017This is wondertful reissue of TALES TO INSPIRE - THE RUBY COLLECTION adds more delightful stories to entertain you. Lois Stern has a brilliant eye for great short stories that will warm your heart and make your day one to remember. This fabulous compact book is easily packed for a day at the beach or to keep you enthralled while travelling.
- Reviewed in the United States on January 3, 2015This is a feel good book documenting a collection of true stories that involve genuine empathy and kindness to other living beings including oneself. It arose out of a writing contest by an organization called "Authors Helping Author" and includes the best contributions that were submitted. The result is a very readable and well written book enshrined in the symbol of the ruby which stands for kindness and compassion.
That which is most appealing about this collection of stories is that the kindness shown at one instance of time is nearly always repaid in some way or other, forging deep and lasting bonds as the protagonists walk their life paths in tandem with one another. In some cases, they may experience a total reversal of a bodily malfunction as in the case of the first story, in which a man took care of a wounded eagle, unable to fly and nursed it to wellness. Later on, he was afflicted with cancer and he is convinced that dream conversations with his pet eagle, supplemented with chemo was the cause of his total recovery.
A second story documents the success of a program called "Labs`n Life" in which dysfunctional children with learning and other problems are made to train Labradors. The interaction with these intelligent and loving animals, miraculously opens up these children and helps them integrate into the mainstream.
The theme of working with animals continues with the rehabilitation stories of Dusty the horse and Rae the dog who are restored to their playful selves and fulfil memorable relationships with their caregivers.
Other "Chicken Soup" stories in this collection, include the one by the mother whose life was perfect until she discovered a bald spot on the top of her four year old son's head. It turned out to be Alopecia, an incurable illness that causes the hair to fall off. After a period of anger and denial, she used her frustration as a spur to learn how good a life can be, without chemicals and additives and with real organic food. This change improved the overall health of her family. To improve things further, her son's cheerful mien was not affected by his condition.
A few of the stories will touch you deep down inside. There is the erstwhile convict, Ray, who after years of confrontation with the bullying and sadistic warden of the penitentiary that he had occupied since his late teens, helped set fire to it. The warden was changed to one who had a record of successfully rehabilitating dreaded inmates and the whole atmosphere of the place changed as the convicts applied their energies to study and vocational training. There were no more incidents of arson or otherwise and our friend, Ray, after he was released was able to successfully land a job, get married and raise a family.
There is the holocaust survivor, who neutralized the actions of local politicians by going out with his own message of peaceful coexistence, ultimately reaching out to millions.
Another story that I will find difficult to forget is the story of a young African American black belt karate champion on the karate circuit, who it seems always acted rough if he or his team lost. It turned out that he had dedicated his life to saving children in the roughest quarters of Miami from a life of crime, by loading as many as possible into a van that was to take them to the tournament. If he did not win, he would have to borrow the money for the gas home.
There is the story of a former citizen of Rwanda, who returned to his homeland after the genocide and helped many people work their way out of poverty using his engineering skills and thus finding the way to his true calling.
One encounters a kind nurse reaching out to a psychotic patient in novel ways, ultimately gaining her trust. One also encounters two women from very different backgrounds, who connected with each other and how their meeting affected their lives.
One of the other stories is about a man diagnosed with cancer after his wife died, and how the love of his new fiancee helped him re-emerge into health. Two other stories also have to do with that dreaded disease cancer and how the afflicted found help to deal with their maladies.
Other inspiring stories include that of a young woman who appeared in the Guinness Book of Records after running seven marathons in seven continents. There is also the unusual story of window cleaners outside a hospital dressing up as children's heroes, e.g. Batman to cheer up children suffering from debilitating diseases.
As always, in the other books in this series, there is a presentation of the author at the end of each story, and a photograph. Other relevant photographs are also included. The length of the manuscript is also optimal, not too long, not too short.
This book, in my opinion, the best so far, in the Tales 2 Inspire series, created by Editor, Lois W. Stern. The storytelling is chiselled and evocative. As mentioned earlier, some of the stories are difficult to forget. One can never read too many of such stories, of seeing the way love and spirit redefine priorities and guide the human race out of black holes of its own making.
Warmly recommended.
- Reviewed in the United States on June 29, 2019Lois Stern’s book Tales2Inspire ~ The Ruby Collection: Gifts of Compassion was an inspiring and easy read, which contains a delightfully diverse collection of heartfelt stories written by real people who rose above adversity in their lives to find comfort, connection and gratitude in their hearts. The reader gains insights and new perspectives as the book encompasses an interesting assortment of situations that are easily relatable to the human condition.
I was especially moved by the story Leap of Words that showed how the human spirit can find comfort and conquer diversity even in the last moments of life. Another favorite was A Circle of Healing, which demonstrated how a man’s deep emotional connection with a bird created a form of communication that went not only beyond words, but beyond time and space as well.
The author’s choice of the ruby is perfect for this book, symbolizing the heart’s emotional energy of love, gratitude, compassion, warmth and tenderness. These qualities are considered by some to be the highest of all virtues and will lead us back to balance and well-being in body, mind, emotions and Spirit.
I recommend this book to people of all ages, as it can expand your thinking and open your heart in ways that can heal, free and lift you to higher dimensions of consciousness.
Dr. Michael Posner
Author of Well Adjusted ~ A Journey of Transformation for Body, Mind and Spirit
5.0 out of 5 stars Instant Inspiration for ChangeLois Stern’s book Tales2Inspire ~ The Ruby Collection: Gifts of Compassion was an inspiring and easy read, which contains a delightfully diverse collection of heartfelt stories written by real people who rose above adversity in their lives to find comfort, connection and gratitude in their hearts. The reader gains insights and new perspectives as the book encompasses an interesting assortment of situations that are easily relatable to the human condition.
Reviewed in the United States on June 29, 2019
I was especially moved by the story Leap of Words that showed how the human spirit can find comfort and conquer diversity even in the last moments of life. Another favorite was A Circle of Healing, which demonstrated how a man’s deep emotional connection with a bird created a form of communication that went not only beyond words, but beyond time and space as well.
The author’s choice of the ruby is perfect for this book, symbolizing the heart’s emotional energy of love, gratitude, compassion, warmth and tenderness. These qualities are considered by some to be the highest of all virtues and will lead us back to balance and well-being in body, mind, emotions and Spirit.
I recommend this book to people of all ages, as it can expand your thinking and open your heart in ways that can heal, free and lift you to higher dimensions of consciousness.
Dr. Michael Posner
Author of Well Adjusted ~ A Journey of Transformation for Body, Mind and Spirit
Images in this review - Reviewed in the United States on June 27, 2020Tales2Inspire ~ The Ruby Collection: Gifts of Compassion
The Ruby is the birthstone gem that symbolizes love, kindness, and compassion.
I was moved to tears in reading "The Flowers" by Cheryl Stewart - a story of the blossoming friendship of two women, Loreane Rose and Violet - vastly different by life circumstances yet connected by camaraderie, empathy, and decency.
Each story in this collection offers an injection of hope - a timeless book for all ages. Consider purchasing for yourself and a reader in your life who needs an immersion of positivity, kindness, and comfort.
Maria Couchara- Jordan, MSN, RN
Author and Nurse Instructor
- Reviewed in the United States on August 20, 2020I've read the Tales2Inspire series of books from the very beginning and just went back to revisit one that I particularly enjoyed (The Ruby Collection). Among the "compassionate" stories in this edition, it's impossible to choose the one speaking most directly to me although I do have a soft spot in my heart for horses so the story by Melanie Sue Bowles about one of her equine rescues may be in the top. A perfect uplift in these times of Corona lockdowns!