Life is What You Make It Blog Tour Featuring Carl Mathis
By APOOO • May 20th, 2011 • Category: Virtual Book Tours •
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Life is What You Make It Blog Tour
Welcome to APOOO, Carl!
In 140 words or less, tell us a little about yourself.
Hi, my name is Carl Mathis and I am an Author/Speaker and a Minster. I’ve dedicated my life to helping people achieve their dreams through the word of GOD. When I lost my wife through death in December 2005, I was faced with the challenges of raising three boys as a single parent, and at the same time coping with the loss of my mate.
I spent many nights crying out to GOD for a strategy to overcome my situation. The strategy I got was, while I am going through such difficulties, share it with others, help them to overcome, and I would overcome at the same time.
I pursue diligently because I see how many people continue to struggle. Their quality of life has diminished which forces them to give up and throw in the towel. Someone needs to reach out to these people and let them know that they should hold on to their dreams. It is important to let them know you can accomplish anything you put your mind to.
In 140 words or less, tell us why Life Is What You Make It would make a great addition to our personal library?
Life is What You Make It offers biblically-grounded tips for quality living. Many have come to the conclusion that if for some reason an unfortunate situation occurs in their lives, their chances to move on and have a fulfilling life are impossible.
In this book it shows you that it’s all about changing what’s within you which then grants you the ability to change everything else around you. The result is a life well-lived filled with happiness.
I think that this day and age calls for lifestyles that are busy, fast-paced and absolutely hectic. We tend to get lost in the flurry of things, and sometimes the most important things are neglected. When we miss out on what really matters, this creates a vacuum in our lives that cannot be filled. We end up searching for the missing piece in all the wrong places, and this can cause all this unexplained frustration in living an unfulfilled life.
In my book, I have outlined several steps to living a full life—acceptance of the situation, conditioning the mind, making the right decisions, and finally, believing!
How did you come up with the premise for Life Is What You Make It?
I wasn’t prepared for the devastation that the loss of my wife would bring to my life. I soon found myself grieving, struggling to make ends meet, and trying to raise his sons, who were also dealing with personal turmoil from the loss of their mother. After months of waiting for someone to rescue me, I had to face the inevitable truth–no one was coming. I realized that if I wanted out of the mess his life was becoming, I was going to have to do it myself. That’s when I realized life is what you make it.
Tell us about the main character(s) in Life Is What You Make It.
I am a living testimony that what the enemy initially planned for evil, God would turn around for good. After the death of my wife in December of 2005 it was a heavy burden to raise three boys on my own, trying to fill both motherly and fatherly roles. Depression set in, and I wanted to quit. But in the midst of me crying out to God for a way to overcome the pain, it was revealed to me that in the process of helping others overcome, I too would triumph and overcome any life obstacle.
If I would have thrown in the towel in 2005,I would have never published my debut novel Life is What You Make It: Build a Better Life for You and Your Family, or one of my recent books Life is What You Make It: Seven Steps to Moving Forward. In addition to his most recently published works, I also write feature stories for The Royal Chronicle, my church’s monthly newsletter. Currently serving as a minister and elder at Holy Ghost Tabernacle Ministries in Goulds, FL, I am is no stranger to work in the ministry.
Besides teaching bible classes, I spend a significant amount of time volunteering with Shepherds Care, an outreach program designed to help those in need and the homeless. I am also furthering my theological studies through the National Alliances of Progressive Churches. Together with my enthusiasm and determination to see people prosper worldwide, I am certainly one of the chosen vessels for a time such as this—a time where people see no hope and choose to give up on their dreams. I seek to not only to give people hope and encouragement for a season, but for a lifetime.
What are some of the main themes you portray in Life Is What You Make It?
Life is what you make it poses a question to the reader, that when it comes to life, he/she has the ability and authority to direct it in any direction they choose. The cover gives a visualization of three glasses, to represent the idea of choice. One glass is empty, one is half and one is full, so the question is “how would you prefer your life?”
What makes Life Is What You Make It different from other books in the marketplace?
The title of the book gives the reader the authority and control to make a choice, that life is whatever they make it to be.
What genre is Life Is What You Make It and who is the target audience?
My target audience is those who need motivation/inspiration to overcome any obstacle in their life.
What lessons have you learned about the publishing industry?
I have learned that the publishing industry will take you to a point, but the rest is up to you to get your project out there.
What can readers expect from you in the future?
I have a writing ministry that I love, so I expect to put out many more titles. I recently published a title “What’s on the Menu: Steps to healing and breakthrough. The project I am working on now which I will publish soon is a challenging one titled “Intercourse.” This title is about a relationship with God that will birth your purpose.
Is there anything else you would like to share with APOOO readers?
Read the book with an open mind. Be ready for changes! Great things are in store for every life that yearns for the truth, and when you embrace this, the way you see life will completely change for the better. Remember: it’s all up to you!
Purchase the Book Online at:
Amazon.com BarnesandNoble.com BooksaMillion.com
Visit the author at CarlMathis.com
Visit the blog tour schedule at http://bit.ly/LifeisWhatYouMakeIt
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APOOO is a book club and an online author and reader community dedicated to advancing African American literature. Our mission is to expose readers of all ages to a good book in any genre; to support African American authors, books, literary events and bookclubs; to provide marketing resources, tools and tips to authors; and, to promote literacy within the African American community.
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