TOO AUTHENTIC: 25 Years of Not Fitting In

 

TOO AUTHENTIC: 25 Years of Not Fitting In

This memoir follows 25 years of dancing in spaces that wanted me smaller—and my refusal to shrink.

What's inside:

Chapter 1: Go-Go Dancing - Stories from village discos and city clubs where creativity was treated like rebellion. From the DJ who couldn't handle a woman who initiated, to the boss who wanted decoration instead of artistry, to discovering that "too sexual" really meant "too free."

Chapter 2: Belly Dance - Stories from the world of traditional belly dance, where innovation was viewed as vandalism. Teachers who needed obedience, schools that rejected fusion, and the realization that authentic expression threatens those who police tradition.

Chapter 3: Walked Away - Five turning points, including Slovenia's Got Talent (where the national TV audience humiliated me for having body hair), confronting a teacher who wanted devotion over sovereignty, and the moment I stopped trying to fit into spaces not designed for authentic people.

Plus: An epilogue about what I was doing till now, and the declaration I wrote in 2011 that predicted everything: "I Don't Wanna Fit In."

Each story is told with honesty, just what actually happened when I kept choosing authenticity over acceptance.

This book is for anyone who's been repeatedly rejected and has started to doubt themselves. Because after the third rejection, that voice in your head starts to whisper: "Maybe they're right. Maybe you are too much, not good enough. Maybe you should tone it down. Why can’t you just be normal? Your body should be hidden. Your sexuality is inappropriate." But you know what? Fuck that! Move on with me!

This is what sovereignty looks like in practice: seeing clearly, choosing yourself, and leaving spaces that demand you shrink.

Not perfect. Not healed. Just unapologetically authentic.

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TOO AUTHENTIC: 25 Years of Not Fitting In

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ELEVEN ELEMENTS BOOK ONE HEALING WATERS:

     

ELEVEN ELEMENTS BOOK ONE HEALING WATERS:

Science Fiction Thriller Suspense Novel:

What If Humanity’s Peaceful Future Already Exists—But Is About to Be Erased?
At a time when war, division, and environmental crises dominate headlines, Eleven Elements: Book One – Healing Waters imagines a radically different future—one where humanity has overcome conflict and built a peaceful global society.

Set in the 26th century, the novel follows Commander Maxilon Renner and a team of time travelers sent back 500 years to protect a manuscript believed to have shaped humanity’s future. But when the mission fails, operatives are lost, Renner suffers partial amnesia, the author disappears and the manuscript vanishes—threatening to erase their utopian world from existence.

The lost document, The Manifesto of Eleven Elements, contains ideas that ultimately guide humanity toward environmental stewardship, global cooperation, and lasting peace.
Early reviews have praised the novel’s ambitious vision and philosophical depth.

⭐Readers’ Favorite calls it “a brilliant start to an epic sci-fi saga.” (Five - 5-star Reviews)
📚 BlueInk Review describes it as “both exciting and intellectually stimulating.”
📰 Kirkus Reviews calls it “plans for a better Earth packaged as a time-travel SF thriller.”

Beyond its time-travel premise, Eleven Elements explores broader questions about humanity’s trajectory. Can civilization consciously choose cooperation over conflict? Are lasting peace and environmental balance truly impossible—or have people simply stopped imagining them?

The book is the first installment in Joshi’s planned seven-volume Eleven Elements saga, a speculative series examining how human decisions shape the long-term destiny of civilization.
For readers drawn to science fiction that combines philosophical inquiry with high-concept storytelling, Eleven Elements: Book One – Healing Waters is a thrilling sci-fi adventure that dares to imagine lasting peace.

📖 Now available on Amazon: https://a.co/d/5L66BFx

EBOOK NOW ON SALE $1 for a limited time.

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ELEVEN ELEMENTS BOOK ONE HEALING WATERS:

on Amazon / Kindle / Kindle Unlimited / Audiobook

Also Visit the Website Below

http://www.elevenelementsbooks.com

/

  

The Algorithm of Us

Maya Lin believes in data—not destiny. As the lead algorithm engineer behind HeartSpark, the world’s most successful dating app, her entire job revolves around proving that love can be measured, calculated, and optimized. But after a humiliating breakup goes viral, her company’s reputation—and her confidence—take a devastating hit, leaving Maya convinced that love, at least for her, is something better solved with science than trust. Enter Eli Torres, charismatic host of the internet’s favorite podcast, The Anti-Love Experiment. His mission? Prove dating apps manipulate emotions and ruin authentic relationships. And HeartSpark is his No. 1 target. When Eli launches a public challenge encouraging listeners to date without algorithms, HeartSpark panics. To repair the company’s reputation, Maya is forced to work closely with Eli—publicly and professionally—putting the face behind the algorithm directly in the path of its loudest critic. What begins as damage control quickly becomes something more personal, especially as Maya starts to realize she may have miscalculated him—and love itself. Only one problem: Maya didn’t expect Eli to be funny. Or thoughtful. Or devastatingly sincere. Or someone she could fall for—fast, when falling is the one variable she’s sworn never to risk again. As they navigate bookstore meet-cutes, awkward “old-fashioned” dates, and viral challenge videos, the chemistry between them becomes impossible to ignore. But the closer they get, the heavier Maya’s secret becomes… and the more terrifying the idea of losing Eli feels, because when he fully understands who she is and what she represents, the fallout threatens everything—her career, his platform, and the fragile belief that love might be more than data after all. In a world where love is automated, what happens when two people choose to follow their hearts instead? Perfect for fans of The Love Hypothesis, The Soulmate Equation, and The Unhoneymooners, The Algorithm of Us is a hilarious, heart-squeezing, slow-burn romance about modern dating, second chances, and the magic that can’t be calculated.

Click here to get The Algorithm of Us

on Amazon Paperback

Click here to get The Algorithm of Us

on Amazon Kindle

Best of Friends Trilogy

  

Best of Friends Trilogy

Book 1: Best of Friends: What happens when a family death wreaks havoc among siblings? What would you do if the ‘peace-maker’ of the family suddenly loses control? If the opportunity arose, would you agree to simply ‘burn the will,’ sell the estate and split the proceeds? What would be your response when calling the cops and being told: “We’re not coming out, unless there are bullets flying and bodies to count?” Elizabeth Caliente is faced with such propositions in Sherry Brantley’s award-winning ‘Best of Friends’ trilogy. Best of Friends has won two national awards for ‘Best Fiction of the Year!’

Book 2: Before Best of Friends: In this much-anticipated prequel to the ‘Best of Friends,’ trilogy, readers discover how the Fabulous Five group were formed in their youth, and are introduced to the unfolding of the powerful secrets binding the group together. Secrets only this private group were privileged to know. Join this tight-knit group as you uncover the mystery of the ‘Secret of the Blanket.’ Included is an excerpt from the books’ final work of the trilogy, ‘Still Best of Friends.’

Book 3: Still Best of Friends: The explosive conclusion of the ‘Best of Friends’ trilogy! The Fabulous Five were bound together by secrets they’d all swore to carry to their graves. But with the ‘Dastardly Duke Discovery’ exposing the ‘Secret of the Blanket,’ will the Fabulous Five find themselves desperately being consumed in a modern-day media frenzy that is threatening to consume them? Will this group of friends be able to survive the onslaught of the public revelation of their past deeds? Or will they crumble under the weight of their unexpected circumstances? Travel with the Fabulous Five: Elizabeth Caliente’, Kim Worthy, Kiona Stone, Angela Jackson-(A.J.) and Quineeta Davis as once again, they attempt to weather the storms of adversity that threaten to decimate their bond, their friendship, their past! Will the ‘Dastardly Duke Discovery’ prove to be the final nail in the coffin? Or will vow to continue to ‘deny ‘til they die,’ their involvement in the mystery they’re shrouded in?

Meet the dynamic members of the Fabulous Five as this explosive trilogy takes readers on a whirlwind excursion among five friends. Though often humorous, the ride is filled with lessons on friendship, family dynamics and strong relationships. You’ll love connecting and bonding with the members of the Fabulous Five, as they deal individually and collectively with the drama that surrounds them!

Click here to get Best of Friends on Amazon / Kindle

Use the Link Below to learn More About the Trilogy

and the Author

www.sherrybrantley.com

 

From Brilliant Bitch To Dynamic Diva!: Don't Think Like A Man--Think Like A Diva!

 

From Brilliant Bitch To Dynamic Diva!:

Don't Think Like A Man--Think Like A Diva!

Tired of male authors advising that we women should 'Think Like A Man But Act Like A Lady? Frustrated with male authors that claim they will spill the 'secrets' on how to get and keep a man? Fed-up with books that continue with the double standard that 'women should hold out & put themselves on lock-down' while men get to spread themselves all over town? Want to learn how to become a Brilliant Bitch in control? Want to finally learn the 'secrets' to not only getting the man you want--but one that also wants YOU? Then this volume of the Dynamic Diva series, 'Don't Think Like A Man--Think Like A Diva is for you! Learn to not just 'name' your power, but to claim it! Want to be a Real Woman with a REAL Man? Want to experience what you desire AND what you Deserve? Want to show partners that are not respecting you how to begin to do so, or 'Get 'Ta Stepping?" Then begin by honoring YOU in all your glory. When you honor you, others are compelled to do the same!

Click here to get

From Brilliant Bitch To Dynamic Diva!:

Don't Think Like A Man--Think Like A Diva!

on Amazon / Kindle

Also find the book Under Recommended Reading at

sherrybrantley.com

Always, Never Almost:

Second Chance Romance, Single Dad, Family Drama,

Ex-drama, Slow Burn, Emotional

Andi Doyle built her life on her own terms. She owns a coffee shop in South Boston that she’s poured everything into, shows up fiercely for the people she loves, and learned one thing the hard way: she won’t be an afterthought. Not for anyone.

So when Gavin Byrne walks into her life with quiet intensity and a smile that makes her forget herself, she lets herself believe this one might be different. He’s steady. Present. Real.

Until she realizes she’s been waiting for a place in his life he never fully made room for.

Gavin doesn’t understand what he’s done until the distance between them is undeniable. He thought he had left his past where it belonged. He didn’t see how easily he defaulted to keeping parts of his life separate — smoothing things over, choosing the safer explanation, minimizing what mattered most when it felt complicated.

By the time he recognizes the cost of that mistake, Andi is already walking away.

Fighting his way back to her is one thing. But reconciliation doesn’t bring peace. The past he thought was settled resurfaces with its own agenda, threatening the life he’s fought to protect and forcing Andi straight into the center of it.

Now loving each other isn’t the only risk.

They’ll have to decide whether what they’re building is strong enough to withstand someone determined to tear it apart — or if some mistakes really do turn almost into never… or into always.

Click here to get 

Always, Never Almost

on Amazon / Kindle / Kindle Unlimited 

  

The Amazing Benefits of Wearing a Make Peace With Life Shirt

Can a shirt change your life?

Well... maybe not in the same way that winning the lottery, discovering buried treasure, or finding out Bigfoot has been secretly following your podcast would change your life.

But you'd be surprised at what can happen when you put on a shirt that carries a positive message.

At Make Peace With Life, we've always believed that energy matters. The thoughts we think, the words we speak, and even the messages we choose to wear all contribute to the energy we bring into the world. When you put on a Make Peace With Life shirt, you're doing more than getting dressed. You're making a statement. You're telling yourself—and everyone around you—that life doesn't have to be perfect to be beautiful. You're choosing positivity, growth, humor, and a little bit of metaphysical perspective before you've even had your morning coffee.

One of the first things many people notice is how often the shirts start conversations. A simple message can spark a smile, a compliment, or a meaningful discussion. Complete strangers may ask about the shirt. Friends may ask what Make Peace With Life means to you. Some people will simply smile when they read it. In a world where many people are rushing through their day, it's amazing how a positive message can create a connection. We've already experienced it ourselves. From compliments in grocery stores to conversations with cashiers and fellow travelers, these shirts have a way of bringing positive interactions into everyday life.

Of course, there may be a few other benefits that science hasn't fully confirmed yet. Some wearers report increased confidence. Others report higher energy levels. A few have claimed improved moods, stronger motivation, and a mysterious desire to spend more time outdoors enjoying life. While we can't officially guarantee any of those results, we can say that it's hard to feel completely negative while wearing a shirt that reminds you to make peace with life. Sometimes all we need is a simple reminder that life is happening for us, not against us.

The truth is that the real transformation doesn't come from the shirt itself. The transformation comes from the person wearing it. The shirt is simply a symbol of a decision. A decision to focus on possibilities instead of limitations. A decision to grow instead of staying stuck. A decision to choose happiness more often than frustration. A decision to see life as an adventure rather than a problem to solve.

And perhaps the best part of all? Every Make Peace With Life shirt helps support something bigger than fashion. A portion of our profits helps support charitable causes, allowing the positive energy created by the movement to extend even further into the world. So when you wear a Make Peace With Life shirt, you're not just investing in yourself—you're helping others too.

The before-and-after images featured here aren't really about clothing.

They're about possibility.

They're about growth.

They're about becoming the best version of yourself.

And while we can't promise that putting on a Make Peace With Life shirt will instantly transform your life, we can promise this:

You'll look pretty awesome while working on it.

And that, my friends, is one more way to Make Peace With Life.

Click here to get your Make Peace With Life Shirt