Celebrating National Book Month: Authors, Healing, and the Power of Story

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Ever wonder how one book can meet you right where it hurts and still move you forward? We’re celebrating National Book Month by highlighting four powerful authors whose work bridges real-life challenges with practical tools for growth—so you can find the right words at the right time and put them to work in your life.

We begin with Sherrica Davis-Hunt’s “Networking and Lattes,” a refreshingly human approach to building relationships without the noise. If networking has ever felt performative or draining, Sherika’s steps—rooted in gratitude, purpose, and authenticity—show how to create honest connections in coffee shops, conference halls, and Zoom rooms. Then we turn to Brandi Jackson’s “Healing Through Grief,” a compassionate companion for readers navigating loss. With affirmations, reflections, and tools to sit with sadness, anger, guilt, and acceptance, Brandy offers validation that’s steady and actionable.

Jeanette Foster Williams brings raw honesty and grace in “Overcoming Abuse: Standing Strong Through It All,” a testament to courage, clarity, and community from a survivor. Her story opens a safe path for readers to name harm, rebuild trust, and reclaim their narrative. 

Rounding out the lineup, Dr. Brooks Demmings' “Six Pillars of Resilience” translates a career setback into a practical framework for mid-career professionals—combining self-reflection, open-mindedness, and strategic recovery plans that shorten the bounce-back curve and restore momentum.

Along the way, we share simple, high-impact ways to support authors year-round: buy direct from their sites, gift copies to schools and community groups, host author visits, and share recommendations widely. Whether you love the crisp feel of a fresh hardcover or the convenience of an e-book, the point is to keep reading—and to keep lifting the voices that help us heal and grow.

If this conversation sparked your next read, subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with a friend who needs a good book recommendation. Your support helps more readers find the stories that change lives.

Author Links:
sherricadhunt.com
@brandijackson
divineguidedlegacy.com
https://brooksdemming.com/

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Episode Transcript

Wondra Spencer (00:01):
Welcome to the Motivational Fuel Podcast.
I'm your host, Wondra, and thisweek's episode is a heartfelt
celebration of the National BookMonth.
It is a time to honor thepowerful words, the beauty of
storytelling, and the incredibleauthors who pour their souls
into the pages that we read.

(00:22):
Let me ask you something.
How many authors do you knowpersonally?
Maybe it's a coworker, aneighbor, a cousin, a family
friend, or just someone you knewfor a long time.
Maybe it's someone you followon social media who finally
published their first book.
Whether you're just startingout, or it's someone who's been

(00:46):
writing books for a long time.
So these writers are all aroundus and they do deserve our
support.
So books are more thanentertainment.
They can be tools for healing,educational resources, and
vessels of transformation.
In the month of October, I'vebeen gathering some book

(01:09):
recommendations from listeners,friends, and fellow creatives.
And I am eager to dive intothese powerful reads.
So this week, author and theshout outs.
So I want to shine some lighton some phenomenal authors whose
work is changing lives.

(01:31):
The first one is Sherrica Davis-Hunt, Networking and Lattes 10
Steps to Networking.
It is a guide that is rootedfrom Sherrica's personal journey
and navigating uncomfortablespaces to achieve success.
It is not being about beingloud or popular.

(01:51):
It is about building that generelationship from gratitude and
purpose.
She writes, "Allow networkingto be your superpower in
addition to intelligence andhard work." Whether you're
networking in coffee shops,conferences, Zoom rooms, her
book provides the tools that youneed to be fiercely, authentic,

(02:16):
and aligned with your higherpurpose.
So you can grab a copy ofSherrica's book at
sherricadhunt.com.
And I will post these links atthe end of the podcast.
The next one is Miss BrandiJackson Healing Through Grief,
finding strength after loss.

(02:38):
Are you struggling to makesense of your pain after a loss?
Brandi's book is compassionate.
It's an uplifting guide foranyone navigating the
overwhelming journey of grief.
Whether you're just mourning, aloved one, you're facing an
emotional pain, her book offerscomfort, validation, and a

(03:01):
source of hope.
Inside of it, you have youraffirmations, reflections,
emotional healing, tools forsadness, anger, guilt, and
acceptance, and encouragementfor anyone who's experiencing
loss and reclaiming their life.

(03:21):
Brandi's voice feels like afriend walking beside you.
And her book is just isn't justa book, it's a healing space.
And you can find Brandi Jacksonon Facebook and you can connect
with her throughout herplatform.
The next one is Miss JeanetteFoster Williams at Divine Guided

(03:44):
Legacy.
Jeanette's story is one of thesoundness and courage.
As a child, she endured abusefrom someone who's supposed to
protect her.
But through all of it, shestays strong and now she shares
her experience with others sothey might heal.
Her book is a testament tosurvival, the strength, and the

(04:09):
power of vulnerability.
She writes with raw honesty andgrace, inviting readers into
her space so they can share herinfluences throughout her book.
And you can purchase her bookwithin her store, and it offers

(04:32):
some items that you can purchasewithin the Divine Guided
Legacy.
So definitely check out MissJeanette Williams' book on her
Design Guided Legacy website.
You have so many things.
You can buy things for yourfamily member.

(04:55):
You can buy things for yourspouse, your mate.
With her book, you can purchaseit directly with her.
And the name of her book isOvercoming Abuse, Standing
Strong Through It All.
So you can purchase the bookfrom Miss Jeanette Foster

(05:18):
Williams.
The next author is Dr.
Brooks Demming.
The Six Pillars of Resilience.
What does it take to bounceback after adversity?
Dr.
Brooks shows firsthand after aprofessional setback that nearly

(05:39):
derailed her career.
She developed six coreaccomplices that help her rise
again.
And now she shares them withthe world.
Her book is a masterclass ofresilience filled with
self-reflection,open-mindedness, inner growth,
practical strategies, and formid-career professionals.

(06:03):
Now, Dr.
Brooks is a resilience coachwho helps others overcome
setbacks and leadspurpose-driven lives.
Dr.
Brooks has a website offeringclothing purchases, her books,
her journals, her coachingsections, and videos.

(06:23):
And you can find her book andmany other books at
BrooksDemming.com.
Please support these authors bypurchasing like a case of books
for your church or your schoolevents.
You can contact them on theirwebsites for an on-site visit or
virtual session to discusstheir books, their store items

(06:48):
that they have, their coaching,and offer in-store appearances.
So National Book Month, itreally matters, is celebrated in
October since 2003.
So this is 2025, so a littlebit over 22 years.
Now National Book Month wasestablished by the National Book

(07:09):
Foundation to promote reading,writing, and literature among
people of all ages andbackgrounds.
So the purpose promote literacyand lifelong learning,
highlight the works of fiction,nonfiction, poetry, translated
literature, encourage everyoneto support the authors, the

(07:33):
publishers, independentbookstores.
So some ways you can get in ona celebration.
You can read a book, revisit anold one, you can visit your
local library, a bookstore,visit the websites that I will
have and that I mentioned in thepodcast.

(07:54):
You can share somerecommendations with friends,
support your local and emergingauthors, not just in October,
but this can be all year long.
So books are bridges, theyconnect us to ourselves and to
the world.
And every time you buy a bookfrom a local author, you invest

(08:18):
in someone's dreams, and you'regoing to grow yourself and your
book collection and things likethat.
So visit their websites,purchase the books as they can
offer you an autograph copy orpaperback or hard copy book and
electronic book.

(08:38):
So for me, I have a deepaffection of electronic books.
Yeah, there's something that'sthere, but I do love a freshly
printed book in my hand, likethe texture, the aroma of it,
and I just curl myself up on thecouch or in a cozy chair with a

(09:03):
blanket.
Because the blanket, you know,it can be so soft, and I can
just be ready to let myselfloose and really read those
pages within the book.
So I hope you really enjoyedthe podcast today regarding the
author's and this national bookmonth.

(09:26):
So the upcoming episode forthis month is World Savings Day.
It is October 31st, which isthe same day as Halloween, but
it's a perfect time to discussfinancial empowerment, some
smart money habits, and someways to build wealth with

(09:48):
purpose.
Until then, stay informed, stayempowered, take care of
yourself, and remember everypage you turn is a step forward
in transformation.
Thank you and have a great day.