I was fortunate to be able to talk with Martha and ask her a few questions about her book, what she does in her free time, and what she used to do for the newspapers.

Where did the idea ... Read More »]]> Martha Nelson started her writing career as a journalist for two different New York newspapers. She did everything from obituaries to investigative reporting. She does more than just write, she is also a former chef and consultant. When she retired in 2010, she settled in to write Black Chokeberry. After over a year of writing and editing, the book is now available everywhere.

I was fortunate to be able to talk with Martha and ask her a few questions about her book, what she does in her free time, and what she used to do for the newspapers.

Where did the idea for your book, Black Chokeberry, come from? Any inspirations?

The Black Chokeberry is a metaphor for the three characters. I didn’t name the book. The name came after the book was written. It was a survivor story and I had no plot outline. All I had was just one main character and supporting characters. If you look up Black Chokeberry you will see the definition which is a plant from the rose family. I thought it would be a great metaphor for the characters.

Did it take you very long to write or did it just come naturally?

I never really wrote a book until now. When I was 5 years old, my teacher said, “I was the best storyteller” and she couldn’t wait to read what I wrote. One of themes of the book is the critical nature of growing up. When it came time to write it I wasn’t ready. I had career, husband, and kids. My husband asked me two years ago if I was going to ever write the book as he hears about it from me all the time. I soon finally sat down and, when I began writing, the first chapter just came out. The characters all just came into place and off we went.

What was your favorite thing about writing the book?

I love the solitude nature of it. It took a year to write, but I love getting up every day and getting to do what I love and write this book. I couldn’t wait to do it when I woke up every morning and then, before I knew it, 6 or 7 hours went by. I can’t wait to write the sequel but I got to finish everything with this one first. Publishing takes up to a year with editing.

What do you like to do in your spare time?

I have dogs and I love to walk with my dogs and play the piano as well as the harp. I also like to do embroidery stitching. I love to listen to music and cook as I am also a former chef.

Can you talk a little bit about your time working for a couple New York newspapers? What, exactly, did you do?

I was working with newspapers doing obituaries mostly at first. It was during the women’s movement where we kept getting jobs on doing weddings and things like that. But my editors said I can really do stories so I did investigative reporting. I moved up in the editing world after that.

Do you like Journalistic writing or Creative writing more?

They are both great. Journalistic writing gave me a reporter background. So that gave me training and it was valuable. But I also love creating my stories and having different writing backgrounds can give you an edge when writing a story.

Purchase: Black Chokeberry

Black Chokeberry is now available everywhere. For more information about the book click here.

Nicolas Mirabelli is a college graduate from the University of Washington with a degree in English. His passions are creative writing, movies, music, comedy, and adventures. He connects his passion for movies and writing and writes screenplays in his spare time and hopes to become a successful screenwriter. You can follow him on Twitter here, or Facebook here.

Backed by cutting edge research, Dr. Brill explains:

* Why the Mediterranean diet is the gold standard of heart-healthy eating * How “good carbs” such as oatmeal and popcorn lower bad cholesterol, prevent high blood pressure, and control ... Read More »]]> If you’re one of the 13 million Americans who have survived a heart attack or been diagnosed with heart disease, Dr. Janet Bond Brill offers a delicious and foolproof plan that can lower your risk of a second heart attack by up to 70 percent. Inspired by the heart-healthy Mediterranean diet, the Prevent a Second Heart Attack Plan is based on satisfaction, rather than deprivation.

Backed by cutting edge research, Dr. Brill explains:

* Why the Mediterranean diet is the gold standard of heart-healthy eating
* How “good carbs” such as oatmeal and popcorn lower bad cholesterol, prevent high blood pressure, and control your weight
* The science behind eating fish for heart health
* Why having a glass of red wine with dinner is great for your heart- – and which wines are the best choices
* The easiest, most delicious daily habit that will cut your heart attack risk

Packed with every tool you need to eat your way to better heart health–including daily checklists, a complete two-week eating plan, and dozens of mouthwatering recipes to suit every meal, taste, and budget–Prevent a Second Heart Attack provides you with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to live long and enjoy the good life, the heart healthy way.

Chic Galleria is giving away a copy of Prevent a Second Heart Attack: 8 Foods, 8 Weeks to Reverse Heart Disease (ARV $15.00) to one (1) lucky person. To enter, just leave a comment on this article letting us know if you or someone you know would love to receive this book. A winner will be chosen at random from the comments and announced here on March 31, 2011.

For extra chances to win:

1. Follow @DrJanetBrill on Twitter.

2. Like Dr. Janet Brill  on Facebook.

3. Post the giveaway on your Facebook profile page tagging @Chic Galleria and @Dr. Janet Brill.

4. Send out a tweet: I entered to win Prevent a 2nd Heart Attack from @DrJanetBrill on @ChicGalleria http://bit.ly/cYr8Gq

5. Follow @ChicGalleria on Twitter.

6. Like Chic Galleria on Facebook.

Please leave a comment of each additional entry.

Congratulations to our winner Tracy Schultz!

“Girlfriends 2.0 sold more copies in the first month alone than the vast majority of first time authors ... Read More »]]> Chic Galleria contributor and my very dear friend, Cindy W. Morrison is hitting New York City next week for the national launch of her book, “Girlfriends 2.0.” Morrison will be making the rounds of talk shows and doing interviews in addition to a launch party sponsored by TheImproper.com, New York City’s cutting edge arts, entertainment and lifestyle Web magazine, and Yorkshire Publishing. Yorkshire picked up Morrison’s book after sales of the initially self-published title took off.

“Girlfriends 2.0 sold more copies in the first month alone than the vast majority of first time authors ever sell,” said Morrison, who has researched author and book sales to keep track of her progress. The book’s message of reinvention and rebooting struck a chord during the past year of recession and cutbacks, and it continues to draw praise and interest as the economy begins to rebound and people explore new possibilities.

“It’s about learning how to surround yourself with the people who will be there to support, encourage, caution or protect you when you need them, and how to recognize those who won’t and what to do about them so you can not just survive, but thrive,” Morrison said.

Morrison is in the midst of the national tour for Spark & Hustle business conferences for women as one of the featured speakers, but will work the national launch of her book in the Big Apple into the tour and won’t miss any scheduled speaking dates. “When I began my journalism career 20 years ago, I wanted what every young TV reporter wants… to be an anchor in New York City. I’m not arriving as an anchor, but as an entrepreneur and author, and that’s definitely more satisfying,” Morrison said.  Socialvention, Morrison’s program for using social media to brand, market and connect, is receiving national exposure through the Spark and Hustle series of business conferences.  Morrison is a member of the National Speakers Bureau and speaks nationally on social media, reinvention, business collaboration and other topics.

“Whether you’re trying to save money, start a career or build a business, “Girlfriends 2.0″ is savvy –sassy– and an inspiration.”–Elisabeth Leamy, Consumer Correspondent ABC News

Read more about Cindy at http://sparkandhustle.com, http://cindywmorrison.com and http://theimproper.com.

You can find articles written by Cindy on Chic Galleria here:

How I Survived a Very Public Layoff

The Best Makeup Tips EVER

How to Catch the Attention of TV Stations With Social Media

Do You Really Ask For What You Want?

Haters = Control Alt Delete

Why You Need Girlfriends With a Capital ‘G’

Hunting the Elusive Snipe Called The Confident Woman

Dump the Wanna-Bes

You can follow Cindy on Twitter at @CindyWMorrison and find her on Facebook.

Beth B. Anderson is the creator and CEO of Chic Galleria Publications, LLC and Editor-in-Chief of Chic Galleria magazine.

Each year, roughly 1.5 million Americans have a heart attack — and most of them survive. But research shows that just one year after their diagnosis, the vast majority fail to adhere to the dietary changes that could prevent a second heart attack. After losing her father to his second heart attack and fearing that her husband would suffer the same fate after his first, Dr. Janet Bond Brill was inspired to write Prevent a Second Heart Attack: 8 Foods, 8 Weeks to Reverse Heart Disease (Three Rivers Press, $15.00, February 1, 2011). Packed with every tool someone needs — ... Read More »]]>

Each year, roughly 1.5 million Americans have a heart attack — and most of them survive. But research shows that just one year after their diagnosis, the vast majority fail to adhere to the dietary changes that could prevent a second heart attack. After losing her father to his second heart attack and fearing that her husband would suffer the same fate after his first, Dr. Janet Bond Brill was inspired to write Prevent a Second Heart Attack: 8 Foods, 8 Weeks to Reverse Heart Disease (Three Rivers Press, $15.00, February 1, 2011). Packed with every tool someone needs — including daily checklists, nutrition information, a complete two-week eating plan, and dozens of mouth-watering recipes to suit every meal, taste, and budget — the delicious and foolproof program ensures that heart attack survivors and their loved ones will be satisfied, rather than deprived, as they eat their way to better heart health.

Q: Why did you write the book Prevent a Second Heart Attack?

A: I saw a need among heart attack survivors that was not being filled. Currently, more than 13 million Americans have either survived a heart attack or been diagnosed with heart disease. As a registered dietitian specializing in cardiovascular disease prevention, I have found that heart attack survivors simply are not following a lifestyle plan that would help them to prevent a second attack. What many of these “survivors” need to know is that a healthy lifestyle and carefully following doctor’s orders can prevent another heart attack. The problem is that many of these individuals find the “cardiac diet” too restrictive or complicated, and some receive no lifestyle counseling. What’s more, if the heart attack survivor decides to go it alone and purchase a self-help book, he or she may reach for one of the best-selling heart disease reversal books that promote a punishing, “extreme” fringe diet. Most of these books feature Spartan, vegan-style eating plans that are simply too difficult to follow and frankly are just not livable. Why should heart attack survivors be punished further with the burden of tasteless, low-fat plans when there is a better way? My book gives these people good news – - that they can prevent new plaque buildup and even reverse or stabilize dangerous, vulnerable plaque in their coronary arteries with a delightfully palatable lifestyle strategy where they can still enjoy the good things in life.

Q: But what exactly are the best lifestyle changes – - alongside drugs – - for preventing a second heart attack and even reversing heart disease?

A: That is the very question this book answers. A tremendous amount of scientific research has investigated the application of various diet and exercise plans in preventing further coronary events. I have found that the bulk of the scientific evidence overwhelmingly supports the notion that post–heart attack patients should be advised to eat a Mediterranean-style diet, be physically active at least thirty minutes a day, and not smoke. In fact, the famed Lyon Heart Study that tested a Cretan Mediterranean diet in cardiac patients reported a phenomenal reduction of recurrence rate of 70 percent compared to the control diet (a typical low-fat Western-style diet). Thus, the bulk of the scientific research is crystal clear: a Mediterranean style of eating combined with physical activity is the optimal lifestyle plan for preventing a second heart attack and is far superior to the low-fat vegetarian diet regimens typically prescribed to heart patients in the fat-phobic ’90s (and that continue to line bookstore shelves today). I propose that a Mediterranean-style diet, as outlined in Prevent a Second Heart Attack and backed by powerful evidence, can be even more effective than the eating plans currently recommended by many cardiologists – - simply because it tastes good and makes life more enjoyable. Following vegan-style plans can also reverse heart disease but only if adhered to – - an extremely difficult chore for most Americans.

Q: Did you have a personal reason for writing this book?

A: All the men I love have either died of heart disease or are currently living with the disease. My father had his first heart attack at age forty-five and died from his second attack several years later. He was never given any lifestyle advice that could have helped him prevent or reverse his disease. My father-in-law, Harry, had his first heart attack at forty-eight years old and had his second bypass operation two years ago at age seventy-eight. He has tried many of the low-fat vegetarian diets over the years but has found them too difficult to adhere to on a consistent basis. My husband, Sam, had his first heart attack two years ago at age fifty-one. So I wrote this book with the hope that Sam, Harry, and the 13 million other American heart attack survivors will follow the advice set forth in these pages: a livable lifestyle that will show them the way to a long, happy, and healthy life by teaching them how to prevent that second lethal attack and even reverse the actual disease process.

Q: Hindsight is 20/20, but is there anything you would have suggested your husband, Sam, do to prevent his first heart attack?

A: Looking back, I would say I underestimated the power of three risk factors to promote a heart attack: severe emotional duress, family history, and a low HDL (“good”) cholesterol. Fearful that he would follow in his father’s and grandfather’s footsteps (his grandfather died of a heart attack at age thirty-five), Sam underwent an invasive medical test (an angiogram) at age forty-five to reassure him that he was free of his family scourge. The results came back negative for any trace of cardiovascular disease. His blood values were excellent except for a low HDL value of 32 (under 40 mg/dL is considered a risk factor). He didn’t smoke, had normal blood pressure, and was not overweight. He continued under the care of his cardiologist – - and had passed his exercise stress tests with flying colors. Then came the economic tsunami that hit the Florida real estate market (my husband is a general contractor) . . . combined with the stress of his father’s second bypass operation . . . and he had a heart attack on July 31, 2009 – - and thankfully survived with minor heart muscle damage. So obviously, looking back, he should have been taking much more aggressive preventive measures given his family history – - such as medications, HDL-boosting lifestyle measures, and practicing more stress management techniques.

Q: Is heart disease really reversible?

A: Yes. Studies published in leading medical journals have shown that following a lifestyle similar to the one outlined in my book – - and combined with physician-prescribed medications – - can stabilize and even reverse vulnerable plaque.

Q: Can I eat red meat?

A: The Prevent a Second Heart Attack plan consists of removing the plaque- building foods (red meat, cream, butter, eggs, and cheese) that cause blood vessel damage and replacing them with delicious anti-inflammatory foods that facilitate the body’s natural healing processes to reverse existing heart disease and restore quality of life. To combat the confusion issue, the Prevent a Second Heart Attack Plan offers powerful lifesaving advice, translating the complex clinical findings into a simple, easy-to-follow set of guidelines, “The Eight Dietary Commandments”: (1) no more butter and cream, to be replaced by extra virgin olive oil; (2) no day without greens and other vegetables; (3) no day without figs or other fruit; (4 & 5) no meat (beef, lamb, pork), and replaced by fish and legumes; (6) no day without walnuts and flaxseeds; (7) no day without whole grains and cereals; (8) and moderate alcohol consumption, mainly in the form of red wine, recommended at dinner. (Plus a bonus food – - deep, dark, sinfully rich chocolate!)

Q: What is the best exercise for my heart?

A: The scientific consensus is that walking is the best exercise prescription for fighting off heart disease. How much, how often, and how fast (plus a discussion of the latest scientific research on exercise for heart disease) is detailed in the chapter on exercise. The best medicine for healing the arteries and reversing heart disease is moderate exercise, and the best exercise for you is the one you will do on a daily basis!

Q: What makes your plan so different and easier to follow than some of the other heart disease reversal plans on the market?

A: Many of the best-selling plans advise avoiding fish; any and all kinds of oil; avocado; nuts; seeds, and chocolate–delightfully tasty foods–all advocated in my plan.

Q: Can I really begin to heal my arteries in just 8 weeks?

A: Clinical research has shown a significant reduction in the rate of secondary events in post-heart attack subjects switching to a Mediterranean-style diet–in as little as 6 weeks.

Q: What about protein–where do I get my protein from?

A: The Prevent a Second heart Attack plan urges you to become a “vegaquarium.” By getting your protein from the earth and the sea, you will also be fueling your body with numerous additional nutrients that fortify your daily heart disease defense system–artery healing components not found in a Western-style diet high in animal protein.

Q: Can I drink coffee and tea?

A: The Prevent a Second heart Attack plan is a plant-based diet. Both coffee and tea are made from plants–and plants contain plaque-fighting phytonutrients. So yes, you can have coffee and tea.

Q: What about supplements?

A: Not all supplements are created equally when it comes to treating and reversing plaque buildup. Three stand out among the crowd and should be in every heart attack survivor’s medicine chest: Niacin; Vitamin D3; Fish oil.

Janet Bond Brill, Ph.D., R.D., LDN, author of Prevent a Second Heart Attack: 8 Foods, 8 Weeks to Reverse Heart Disease, is a diet, nutrition, and fitness expert who has appeared on national television. She is the author of Cholesterol Down: 10 Simple Steps to Lower Your Cholesterol In 4 Weeks Without Prescription Drugs, and specializes in cardiovascular disease prevention. Dr. Brill lives in Pennsylvania with her husband and three children.

For more information please visit http://preventasecondheartattack.com/ and follow the author on Facebook and Twitter