Finding Emmaus on Facebook

Finding Emmaus now has a Facebook page, and I invite all my fans to come visit and post something about the story itself, its characters, the collusion between the pharmaceutical industry and the US FDA, what it's like to be an Empath, what life was like in 1600's America, what it's like to be a woman coming into her own --- essentially any of the many varied topics broached in the book.

The link is: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Finding-Emmaus/238292639525022

I look foward to hearing from you!!

There is a new drug on the market just for women. It's called “DAMNITOL”

Take 2 and the rest of the world can go to hell for up to 8 full hours.

Midwest Book Review Endorses and Praises Finding Emmaus

Each year, the Midwest Book Review receives approximately 18,000 submissions.

I am thrilled to be able to tell you that on September 8th I received notification from James A. Cox, its editor-in-chief, that my debut novel, “Finding Emmaus” was just chosen to be reviewed and enthusiastically endorsed by this prestigious organization.

This is what they had to say:

Empathy is within us all, but some feel it stronger than others. “Finding Emmaus” is the first book for the Lodestarre series, a historical fantasy telling a story of two Empaths who live three hundred years apart whose talents are written off as mental illness. Through this gap, the two Empaths seek to understand their talents and what they mean, even when society snubs them.

“Finding Emmaus” is a thoughtful and fascinating read and take on society through fantasy. Highly recommended.

Their publication, known as Book Watch will feature “Finding Emmaus” in their 2010 issue. Additionally, “Finding Emmaus” will also appear in the Cengage Learning, Gale interactive CD-ROM series "Book Review Index" (published four times yearly for academic, corporate and public library systems), as well as the book review databases LexisNexis and Goliath.

They will also be posting their review on Amazon.com.

This is just such an honor — I’m over the moon about it!!

Film Industry Mixer ........ and OMG!!!

(The following was written Saturday night, 28 August, after I got home, just before midnight)

I just got home from the Film Industry Mixer at Young Studio in Hartford and OMG, I had the best time!!

The evening began with a walk down the red carpet as I entered, with photos being snapped and flashbulbs going off — it was fun and I loved it. Then I got to spend the rest of the night surrounded by (and speaking with) producers, directors, assistant directors, journalists, radio and TV hosts, news anchors, cinematographers, photographers, actors, writers … I ran into old friends (lots of them!) and made several new ones. I was in HEAVEN!

I also got to spend time chatting (and laughing!) with some of my favorite radio and TV personalities: Ann Nyberg, Mary Jones and Colin McEnroe.

There were 600 people at this event but it didn’t seem like a zoo, at least not to me. Oh, it was crowded, but it was warm and friendly and there was electricity in the air, no matter which room I was in. I kept running into people I knew and people who knew me and who knew my book. In fact, I am to call a TV host who has a local show in the New Haven area and wants to interview me about my book and my upcoming national tour.

One of the interviews I especially enjoyed was Melissa Mackenzie’s. She is the Senior VP of Maverick Entertainment Group and they specialize in marketing and distribution, two things I know absolutely nothing about. She was fascinating to listen to — a vital segment of the industry but one I’d never even thought of. What a treat!

My car was parked about 2 blocks away and on my way to it, I saw a man getting on a HUGE motorcycle, so of course I just HAD to say something to him: “Wow — your ride is a lot nicer than mine!” and we wound up speaking for about 20 minutes. It turned to be Assistant Director Stephen "Lucky" Luckingham. Wonderful man, and so knowledgeable. It was a warm night and the street was quiet and it was just such a pleasure to speak with a professional about something he was so obviously passionate about.

I’m SO glad I volunteered to work at this event, because not only did it make it POSSIBLE for me to meet all those amazing people, it made it EASY!

It was a beautiful, magical night and I am so delighted to have been a part of it.

Copyright © 2010, All Rights Reserved

"Finding Emmaus" new book trailer

This video is a gift from a good friend of mine, Natalie Walker, from Lincolnshire, UK. Hope you enjoy it.

Moravian Book Shop in Historic Bethlehem, Pennsylvania Presents "Finding Emmaus"

Author PAMELA GLASNER invites you to join her at Moravian Book Shop, the oldest bookstore in America, as she discusses how she created the story and its characters, her unlikely sources of inspiration, and how she intertwined Puritanism, the birth and growth of new nation, the myths and misconceptions of mental illness, true historical figures and aspects of the daily lives from the early 1600’s so that the lives and loves and experiences of her characters actually come to life.

“Finding Emmaus by Pamela S. K. Glasner is one of the most fascinating novels I have read this year. Honestly, this book had me from the opening paragraph and didn’t let go even after the book ended.”
~~Five-Star Review by April M. Hanson, San Jose, CA; ReviewTheBook.com~~

Books will be available for purchase, and Ms. Glasner will be available for signing them after the presentation.

Location: Moravian Book Shop — Historic Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
428 Main Street, Bethlehem, PA, 18018

Date: Saturday, August 21st, 2010
Time: Beginning @ 1:00PM, New York City time

You aren't required to make reservations, but if you'd like to let them know you're coming or if you have any questions, call Christine Hower at 610-866-5481

Review of 'FINDING EMMAUS' by filmmaker and author Peter Thomas Senese

A Timeless Masterpiece of Writing

Pamela Glasner’s ‘Finding Emmaus’ is an extraordinarily thoughtful, provocative, and brilliantly written futuristic novel built on deep historical information and insight that readers will unquestionably delight in both the story’s depths and spires. As an author and avid reader, I have become particularly discriminating when reviewing other writer’s written works and have purposefully not publicly written a review in two years. However, I thought that Pamela Glasner’s masterfully written story was worth breaking my current trend since I was so enraptured with the subject matter and Ms. Glasner’s writing style, and I think many will benefit from reading this story the way I have.

‘Finding Emmaus’ is in fact one of the most enjoyable and fascinating novels I have EVER read, and I simply cannot recommend or endorse enough Pamela Glasner’s delightfully marvelously written story of the human spirit, the pharmaceutical industry, and what appears to be dead-on accuracy about how we, as a society, have chosen not to celebrate our differences, but have tried to classify individualism as peculiar traits that must be brought into line.

In ‘Finding Emmaus’, which I want to point out is a clever title because biblically, ‘Emmaus’ is an alleged ‘home’ town of a biblical figure during the time of Christ, yet there is no historical data that demonstrates the town ‘Emmaus’ ever existed. However, Pamela Glasner’s metaphor of ‘Finding Emmaus’ or “Finding Home” is one I think mankind continues to search for. Regardless of one’s religious or philosophical beliefs, attaining an enlightened state is what we all seek, isn’t it? But what is ‘home’? Could it possibly be a peaceful celebration of our unique honesties and perspectives? Brilliant!

The story’s two main characters are Empaths possessing what society considers to be abnormal personality traits. Francis Nettleton and Katherine Spencer live three hundred years apart, yet their stories intertwine in this groundbreaking novel as they uncover a multibillion dollar conspiracy in which millions of Americans are being misdiagnosed and drugged so that the capitalistic engines greased by greed and narcissism that is the pharmaceutical industry will continue to earn fortunes.

Finding Emmaus, book one of The Lodestarre series, is writing at its best, and I believe we have amongst us in Pamela Glasner a rare author possessing dynamic insight into society’s complex social complacency matched by this literary maestro’s ability to weave a complex and complicated story built on brilliant character development and impeccable research. ‘Finding Emmaus’ is a story that needs to be heard as it is a call-to-arms against mankind’s tendency for complacency and desire for uniformity as much as it is a soaring endorsement of the celebrations found in the individualism of the human spirit.

After reading ‘Finding Emmaus’, for several days I sat and thought about the messages and storyline in Pamela Glasner’s sharply written story. At times I found myself thinking about ‘The Jungle’, about ‘The Brave New World’, and even some films that address the issue of conformity. In Pamela Glasner’s ‘Finding Emmaus’, readers everywhere have been given a rarity: a wonderful, can’t-put-down story so light and so heavy, so joyful yet so sad, so celebratory yet so frustrating, so current yet a call of what may be. Pamela Glasner’s ‘Finding Emmaus’ is a very special book that readers everywhere will delight in. I cannot endorse ‘Finding Emmaus’ enough, and I look forward to reading the next book in The Lodestarre series. This is writing at its best!

And, of course, please don’t forget to visit my website to read the previews of ‘Finding Emmaus’, book one of The Lodestarre Series.

Copyright © 2010, All Rights Reserved

Pamela's words are what Computer Graphic Imaging is to the movies!

What an amazing book. Pamela explains in ‘Author’s Notes’ on how the story is a figment of her imagination, but she utilizes historical characters from America’s past, making her story more intriguing and even more fascinating.

This is a book that you just can’t put down. You will be right on the edge of your seat as she mentions various towns that are descriptive of real American towns on the East Coast. Pamela knows how to pull on America’s heart strings via her readers.

The heroes of this book are Francis Nettleton and Katherine Spencer, both empaths. Here is the doozy that will have you hooked: both empaths live three hundred years apart, but yet their lives are interconnected. Right in the beginning of this book, you can feel your adrenalin rush as Katherine is terrified after hearing the front door opening and slamming repeatedly, the motor for the lift starts and the lift keeps ascending, loud footsteps are heard, sounds of breaking glass and Katherine mustering up all of her strength as she yells out … “there’s no such thing as ghosts!”

As the story proceeds along at an exhilarating pace, you will learn about a character named Gilbert Bond that is Empathic, but the doctors misdiagnosed poor Gilbert. Gilbert is finally forcibly escorted to the Bethlem Royal Hospital. Gilbert starts a diary and when you read the diary, you will learn about the atrocities that were placed upon him. How he faced torture and humiliation. How pitch is thrown upon his body, how he screams in excruciating pain. How three brutish men shave his hair off and cut into his scalp repeatedly. The tortures continue and the reader is left with vivid images in their mind.

Pamela definitely knows how to play this story out as if it were a blockbuster motion picture! Pamela’s words are what CGI (Computer Graphic Imaging) is to the movies! This story is filled with references to not only historical characters, but even to sayings from movies like The Confession.

There is a mystery around every corner and it will even have you front and center with a government agency like the Center for Disease Control.

Yep! When I say this book is intriguing …I am dead serious! Finding Emmaus is not only a good read, but it also leaves strong images in my mind that will linger with me for a long time afterwards!
~~By Paul Dale Roberts, December 2nd, 2009~~
Reviewer and President of Jazma Online

Another 5-Star Review: "A Book You Can't Put Down"

A book you can't put down..., November 8, 2009
By Debra A. Killian "The Mortgage Lady" (Connecticut)

Finding Emmaus is an exceptional read. I want to know everything about how this story came about. How did Ms. Glasner decide on these incredible characters? Has she met any Empaths? How could she so brilliantly write about their world?

While a work of fiction, I couldn't help but think about the reality of prescription drugs and the effect on our society. Her message is consistently articulated throughout the events she creates. I wanted to read ahead, instead I savored every word. How did she know these people from so long ago? Who were the inspirations for her characters?

This book kept me on a good edge, made me question my own emotions and believe that woven into this fiction, are traits, thoughts and experiences every reader can identify with. I loved her descriptiveness and choice of words; her creative concept that life altering events can happen "in between heartbeats."

Pamela Glasner's first book is without a doubt a must read and I look forward to the next in the series.

Of course, please don’t forget to visit my website to read the previews of Finding Emmaus, book one of The Lodestarre Series.

Copyright © 2009, All Rights Reserved

Unique Subject, Uniquely Written - A Five-Star Review by Karen Pio

Unique Subject!! Uniquely Written!!, October 8, 2009
A Five-Star Review By Karen Pio "Distinguishing Reader" (Southington, CT USA)

Spectacular beginning! Whoa!! I had to quiet myself down, cut off all noise and take everything else out of my head and put it on a shelf when I first read the first line of "Finding Emmaus." Thus I was able to finally concentrate on my third reading of the beginning paragraph. "Did I read that right?" I pondered... What?? WOW!! Who would have thought of such a GREAT "pull-in" to a book? Glasner. Who else? With that, Once I got my head around it, I couldn't put the book down for some time.

Unfortunately, real life stepped in (a big move) and I had to leave the world that Francis and Katherine were living ... and into the one before us. It was bad... concentrating on my work when this magnetic book pulled on my heart strings to return.

Glasner didn't just get my immediate attention. She has kept that attention and sense of renewal learning more and more about Empaths and the psychiatric community. It has shaken me into being more aware of my surroundings, doctors, medicines for myself and family.

When is the next Lodestarre?

As a new author, one might wonder how Glasner came upon this subject and how she sought out information, history. Her research is impeccable and her bibliography exemplary. Hmmm, maybe it begins as a novel but it isn't long before you can reach out and touch these people - people who actually lived and died and were misunderstood in the worst way simply because others chose not to pay attention to something, someone other than themselves and their own pocketbooks. Pharmaceutical companies, Be Damned!

Open-mindedness and new worlds explored - THIS is what I'm talking about.

Don't miss your opportunity to read an amazing offering from Glasner - and an opportunity to widen your horizons!

Finding Emmaus is available in the US and the UK through many fine outlets including:
Amazon.com http://shrvl.com/m351C
Amazon.co.UK http://bit.ly/Iaz4a
Powell’s http://shrvl.com/PHI3V
Borders.com http://shrvl.com/kC6Na
Barnes & Noble http://shrvl.com/hp5y1
Burgundy Books, East Haddam, CT http://www.burgundybooks.net/
The Book Depository, UK: http://shrvl.com/cFQ0W
Booklover’s Gourmet http://www.er3.com/book/


Copyright © 2009, All Rights Reserved

Healing Our World

I am so deeply touched I hardly know what to say - and that’s probably the wrong thing for a writer to say, isn’t it? After all, am I not supposed to be The Woman With The Words? But this one actually - and quite literally - rendered me speechless. Fortunately, not for very long.

On Monday, Sept 7th, my fellow tweeter - yes, ladies and gentlemen, a friendship born of the virtual world of Twitter! - took it upon herself to honor me with a post on her wonderful blog, Healing Our World.

But this is not just any blog post - this one has heart. And soul. And it moved me deeply. Because she believed that the message of Finding Emmaus was worthy of inclusion in a website dedicated solely to healing humanity. Beautifully formatted in her exceptionally professional-looking blog and with lovely words of her own, Dee Braun, humanitarian, visionary, healer, tweeter, mom, and writer in her own right, told the world about Finding Emmaus.

I've said it before: I'd never really seen myself as an agent for social change, but through Finding Emmaus, wonder of wonders, ready or not, I have become one. And what’s even more stunning to me is that, since the April 3rd, when I posted my very first tweet, I have been graced with introductions to a plethora of amazing women who, like Dee (and, I suppose, like me), passionately want to make this world a better place.

So, while this post of mine is partially meant as a heartfelt thank-you to this remarkable woman, it is also meant as a means to get you to check out her site, her mission, and maybe even spur you to action.


Copyright © 2009, All Rights Reserved

My Deepest Gratitude to The British Library

To the incomparable staff at the British Library:

I am an American author who wrote an unsettling, meticulously-researched story exposing the conspiracy between the pharmaceutical industry and the US Food and Drug Administration … the latter’s abysmal failure to protect the public at large from the former’s greed and callous disregard for the sanctity of human life.

This blasé attitude is nothing new. The omnipotent have a long, inglorious history of blithely victimizing and marginalizing the one segment of society which most desperately needs help and is the least able to fight for it.

Finding Emmaus travels 350 years back in time to illustrate how we as a society historically and routinely trample the rights of the mentally ill. I never expected to uncover a conspiracy. Rather, I fully intended to illustrate how the mentally ill are disregarded and mistreated, but out of fear and ignorance, not out of malice. Imagine my surprise!

My greatest challenge was locating historic records dating back to the early 1600’s. In the grand scheme of things, US history is relatively young. Early settlers lived day-to-day knowing their survival tomorrow quite literally depended upon every minute they spent today. If they couldn’t make it or grow it or trade with the local tribes for it, they did without it.

That meant they had little time for such discretionary pastimes as writing their memoirs - and of course there no newspapers. So written accounts of the settlers’ lives, their beliefs and values and pre-conceived notions are rare … HERE. But in London, within the extraordinary archives of the British Library, I was able to find scores of books, letters, essays and diaries without which, though my book could certainly have been written, would not be nearly as rich.

Finding Emmaus is a deeply disturbing story about human frailties, the abuse of power and the indisputable human right of free will. The British Library played a significant part in the development of this book and for that I am deeply grateful.


Copyright © 2009 by Pamela S. K. Glasner, All Rights Reserved

A Study in Contradictions and Normal as Apple Pie

At 55 years of age, I’m still searching around, trying to figure out just who and what I am and what I’m doing here. All this stuff’s been bouncing around in my head and I’m trying to sort it out, so I thought, “Maybe if you get it down on paper, Pamela, you can make some sense of it.” Maybe …

First and foremost, I love writing. It fills my heart. I’d rather write than do anything else. It’s the greatest gift God has ever given me, only I had no clue ‘til I was 54.

I go to church every week. Makes perfect sense to me: After all the incredible gifts I’ve been given, wouldn’t it just be the height of arrogance and ingratitude to not be willing to give up even one hour out of my life each week to say thanks?

"Finding Emmaus" is a fantasy, but it addresses some very real social issues, nationally and globally. Of course, like any author, I have fantasies of my book flying off the shelves and then having red carpets and rose petals beneath my feet. But what I REALLY want is to be able to look back on my life and know that the fact that I've lived and breathed amounted to something more than simply being here, taking up space and natural resources. If my writing opens the eyes of even a few people long enough to start some serious debate about these critical social issues, then I've succeeded.

Can just one person make a difference? That’s what I’m banking on …

Beyond that, I have the patience of a saint with a canvass and a paintbrush, or paper and pen, but do not suffer fools, gladly or otherwise. I am a deadly negotiator, a no-bullshit business woman who just happens to cry at Harry Potter movies and even G.E. commercials. Anyone who rapes a woman or molests a child should be shot on sight … after being gelded. And yet I believe that people CAN change, that as long as there is breath in someone’s lungs, salvation IS possible. Still haven’t figured out how to reconcile those two…

I love Frank Sinatra and ZZ Top, Vivaldi and Patsy Cline, wintry afternoons in my ‘jammies’ and evenings at the theater, Harry Potter and Humphrey Bogart. Blue flowers make me stop in my tracks and oil paintings of seascapes mesmerize me. “How The Grinch Stole Christmas” is an annual must-see and I never, ever pass up an opportunity to watch “Goodfellas”. I adore cooking for a crowd and serving my guests fine red wine … and when I’m alone in the house, watching an old movie with my cat Maxi curled up around my toes, I just love eating macaroni and cheese.

What I think I've concluded is that, though I know I am a unique being unto myself, the very fact at I am a study in contradictions makes me as normal as apple pie! Whew - thank goodness!


Copyright © 2009 by Pamela S. K. Glasner, All Rights Reserved

Conspiracies and Social Networking

On Friday, August 21st, I had the privilege of being interviewed by Shennandoah Diaz, newly-appointed editor of Reflection’s Edge, an online magazine “for thoughtful readers and writers”, which houses fiction and posts articles to “help writers improve their writing.”

Here is that interview: http://shrvl.com/99414

CONNECTICUT AUTHOR’S DARK HISTORIC FANTASY EXPOSES CONTEMPORARY PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRY CONSPIRACY

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For immediate release...

August 27, 2009, Hartford, CT – Connecticut author, Pamela Glasner, is proud to announce today that the release of her first novel Finding Emmaus, book one of The Lodestarre Series, is confirmed for October 1, 2009. The novel has been a heart wrenching journey of love for Ms. Glasner, culminating in this triumphant release.

“The only thing worse than having an incomprehensible, incurable illness is having an incomprehensible, incurable illness in isolation”
~ Francis Nettleton, 1739 ~

The psychiatric community has confused Empathic personality traits with mental illness with tragic results, leading two Empaths – Francis Nettleton and Katherine Spencer – who live three hundred years apart, on personal journeys to learn the true nature of Empathy. Transcending time and death to right a centuries-old wrong, they inadvertently uncover a multi-billion dollar conspiracy in which millions of Americans are being misdiagnosed and drugged for no other reason than the enormous income they generate.

Finding Emmaus, book one of the Lodestarre series, is a complex, dark, historic fantasy about human frailties and courage. It is an intricate, meticulously researched, deeply disturbing, suspenseful tale of love and sacrifice, obsession and the abuse of power and the indisputable right of free will. It is a story with an intriguing cast of characters who will keep you guessing as to what they will do and what choices they will make as they weave in and out of the story and each other’s lives.

Ms. Glasner is managed by Publicist, Deborah Riley-Magnus. Finding Emmaus is published by Emerald Book Company, an imprint of Greenleaf Book Group. It is scheduled for release on October 1, 2009, and can be preordered now through Amazon, http://shrvl.com/I35n1.

For more information, or to schedule an interview or speaking engagement with the author, please contact, Ms. Magnus at (310) 637-1424. Attachment: Finding Emmaus cover pdf.

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For more information and updates on the status of Finding Emmaus, which is due out October 1st, please visit http://www.lodestarre.com/FindingEmmaus.html

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Copyright © 2009 by Pamela S. K. Glasner, All Rights Reserved

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Trying To Turn On The Lights - with Tony Serve and Kevin P Miller

On August 19, 2009, it was my honor and privilege to be interviewed once again by Tony Serve of Perth, Australia, but this time with renowned film producer/director Kevin P. Miller. The audio is entitled: “Big Pharma’s huge profits from human suffering featured in brilliant documentary and awesome new novel, listen to Producer Kevin Miller and author Pamela Glasner”.

I had a wonderful time speaking with these two dedicated and gifted men; they were both brilliant!

I hope you enjoy listening to it.

http://shrvl.com/0UV8I


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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

DARK HISTORIC FANTASY EXPOSES
CONTEMPORARY PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRY CONSPIRACY

August 3, 2009, Hartford, CT – Connecticut author, Pamela Glasner, who originally hails from New York City, announced today that the release of her first novel Finding Emmaus, book one of The Lodestarre Series, is scheduled for October 1, 2009.

“The only thing worse than having an incomprehensible, incurable illness is having an incomprehensible, incurable illness in isolation”
~ Francis Nettleton, 1739 ~

The psychiatric community has confused Empathic personality traits with mental illness with tragic results, leading two Empaths – Francis Nettleton and Katherine Spencer – who live three hundred years apart, on personal journeys to learn the true nature of Empathy. Transcending time and death to right a centuries-old wrong, they inadvertently uncover a multi-billion dollar conspiracy in which millions of Americans are being misdiagnosed and drugged for no other reason than the enormous income they generate.

Finding Emmaus, book one of The Lodestarre Series, is a complex, dark, historic fantasy about human frailties and courage. It is an intricate, meticulously researched, deeply disturbing, suspenseful tale of love and sacrifice, obsession and the abuse of power and the indisputable right of free will. It is a story with a cast of characters who will keep you guessing as to what they will do and what choices they will make as they weave in and out of the story and each other’s lives.

Ms. Glasner is managed by Publicist, Deborah Riley-Magnus, (310) 637-1424. Finding Emmaus is published by Emerald Book Company, an imprint of Greenleaf Book Group. It is scheduled for release on October 1, 2009, and can be preordered now through Ms. Glasner’s blog at http://lodestarre.blogspot.com/.

Finding Emmaus will also be available for preorder in mid-September through Amazon.

For more information, or to schedule an interview or speaking engagement, please contact the author, Ms. Glasner at 860-533-9665.

Copyright © 2009, All Rights Reserved

Finding Emmaus - The Video

Twice in this month, I had the pleasure of speaking with Tony Serve of Perth, Australia, a presenter at Radio 6pr (6pr.com). I am awed by Tony’s commitment to the rights and dignity of all those who have been (and are still being) victimized by drug companies - a multinational industry which callously pumps tons of toxic waste into millions of unsuspecting citizens.

Unfortunately, the inappropriately drugged “mentally ill” are not the only victims in this ongoing conflict. For every person who is being misdiagnosed and over-medicated, there are parents and husbands and wives who love them and children who desperately need them, there are sisters and brothers who miss them, there are bosses and co-workers who must deal with lost productivity, there are mounting debts that ordinary citizens wind up paying through increased insurance rates or increased taxes or increased medical charges. One way or another, everybody loses - except the pharmaceutical industry.

In an economic environment where layoffs and firings and downsizings and closings have become the norm, this one industry - with its billion-dollar budget to spread around Washington DC - has increased its bottom line from $12 billion $69 billion in four short years!

The following video is the result of those two conversations I had with Tony:

http://tinyurl.com/mhuyfw


Copyright © 2009 by Pamela S. K. Glasner, All Rights Reserved

The Inalienable Human Right: The Right to BE

Katherine Spencer, Empath, on Patients’ Rights
(an excerpt from Finding Emmaus)

“Maybe, just maybe, it’s time to err in favor of patients’ rights a bit. I don’t know how much you know about the history of mental patient care, but most of what I’ve learned and all of what I’ve experienced would be enough to keep Hollywood up to their ears in horror films for a decade.

“Second only to the very young and the very old, there’s no easier target for abuse than the mentally ill. They have very few defenses and fewer advocates. Many times, particularly when they’re medicated, they have no way to express what’s happening to them, so they can’t even say something as simple as ‘Doctor, I’m having terrible side effects’ or ‘this isn’t working for me’.

Are you aware that as recently as twenty-eight ago, twenty-seven states in this country - our country! - were actively forcing surgical sterilization on Americans who were diagnosed as mentally ill?

And keep in mind: there’s no definitive test for mental illnesses like bipolar disorder. It’s all your doctor’s best guess based on the information available and accepted medical norms at the time. So, what if they were wrong? How many people were sterilized ‘accidentally’?

“Worse than that, a few of the governors of those states, though they have apologized, claim there’s no need to even consider compensation because the victims are mostly dead and, of course, there wouldn’t be any offspring to compensate! They actually said that - using the tragic results of their abuse as a means to evade responsibility. It’s despicable.

“The pendulum will probably swing way too far to this side for a while, but maybe that’s what’s needed - not to endanger anyone - even one more lost life would be a tragedy - but it’s got to stop.”

Copyright © 2009 by Pamela S. K. Glasner, All Rights Reserved

Helping Others to Find Human Dignity ... and Shelter From The Storm

I had the pleasure of speaking with Tony Serve a second time regarding "Finding Emmaus', Empathy, Big Pharma and human dignity.

It's all here: http://ow.ly/i0Yw

I can't begin to say how grateful I am that Tony and I have become friends. I just love how passionate he is about my book and the message it's meant to convey.

We spoke of many things: what it's like to be an Empath, what it's like to be erroneously labeled mentally ill, what it's like to be the victim of a political and industrial machine so large and so well-funded that fighting it seems like a lost cause even before you get started.

"Finding Emmaus" is a multi-faceted story with twists and turns and many circuitous paths, but in the end it’s about one thing and one thing only: seeking - and helping others to find - shelter from the storm.

To learn more about Tony and his personal commitment, visit his blog at http://tonyserve.wordpress.com/ or follow him on Twitter @perthtones.

"Finding Emmaus" will be in the bookstores on October 1st and on Amazon.com in mid-September. You can reserve a signed first edition by clicking on the red link to the right.

Copyright © 2009, All Rights Reserved