Turn the Page's Holiday Book-Buying Guide - check out some of our fabulous authors!

It’s my favorite time of year again, and guess what I’m asking for? Yes, books.

And guess what is my favorite gift to give? Books!

Recently, I received my copy of A Trek Within: Following Your Inner Compass , which is written by Rob Sullivan, one of Turn the Page’s most favorite clients. I’m so excited for Rob’s book to be out there, in the hands of readers, and it inspired me to put together a gift buying/giving guide to books written by other talented Turn the Page clients. You may not find Britney Spears’ memoir on this list, but you will find a selection of books by talented authors whom I’ve had the great privilege to work with.

So, without further ado, here are a selection of seven books to add to your loved ones’ libraries (or your own!):

A Trek Within: Following Your Inner Compass by Rob Ryan Sullivan

This book started as a collection of experiences that changed the way Rob Sullivan viewed spirituality, the world, and his place in it. It has evolved into a book about the important signs and mile-markers we all encounter, many of which only make sense in hindsight. It serves as both a reminder and a guidebook to open our eyes and minds to the experiences our intuition flags as important — even when we can’t make sense of them in the moment. As the son of a specialist in Internal Medicine at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago, Rob isn’t exactly the poster child for alternative medicine. However, after some of the best neurologists in the world diagnosed him with narcolepsy but were powerless to treat it effectively, Rob set out on an almost two-year mission to find a cure for the sleep disorder. But it would be a mistake to view this book as a story of healing, or a testimony to the power of alternative medicine, because that is only a small part of the book. The rest is a journey that explores intuition and intuitives, signs and synchronicities, the wisdom in dreams, the soul-nurturing power of prayer, messages from mediums — even past lives and numerology. As Rob puts it, “These are concepts and ideas I wasn’t raised to believe; they are something I have come to accept.”

Flora 5 by Ben Larracey

An idealistic intergalactic diplomat on her first assignment; an old, forgotten soldier seeking redemption; a naive young singer searching for fame; and a distant war-ravaged planet on the edge. As the galaxy superpower, Central, returns after years of neglect, the defeated Resistance army regroups, the corrupt planetary government digs in, and three stories intertwine as the horrors of what happened in the past bubble to the surface. Flora 5 is on the brink of chaos – will it survive?

Drawing from the author’s own experiences living in war-torn Cambodia, this dystopian sci-fi tale takes its influences from Blade Runner, Apocalypse Now, Unforgiven, and The Hunger Games. History is brutal, and the future is uncertain – welcome to Flora 5.

This book brings order to the chaotic and rapidly evolving world of influencer marketing by providing readers with much needed context, frameworks, and best practices. Written for busy marketing professionals working in both domestic and international markets, it addresses these topics in a highly actionable and engaging manner.

Digital Influence covers everything from how to identify the right influencers and determine “level of influence” to collaborating with influencers and measuring ROI. Backaler also provides much-needed context for why influencer marketing is flourishing today, and perspective into what a more technologically-enabled, globally-connected future will look like.

Ultimately, people want to learn from trusted peers, not faceless companies. Better than any corporate marketing function, influencers understand how to make best use of social media platforms and tailor content for their respective cultures to engage consumers in their home markets. Business leaders should arm themselves with Backaler's book to ensure they're not left behind.

Wild Woman: A Novel by Rachel Margaret Drews

Set in a small town in the Appalachian Mountains, Wild Woman tells the story of Charlie, a Guns ‘N’ Roses-loving mountain girl who comes from generations of women to whom spousal abuse is just another part of life, “like fixin’ supper.” After twenty-two years of living a life according to what “don’t work,” her moment of grace comes, empowering her to let go of the need to acquire her violent husband’s attention and to transform her purpose for living.

After landing in the hospital for the fifth time in six years, Charlie has a mystical experience with a wild wolf-like woman creature, who empowers her with the ability to choose a different path. In the despair of the damned of those addicted, she returns home to live with her Jesus-loving mama, but it is not through her mama's faith that she finds comfort and the courage to change. For Charlie, her transformation comes from discovering the Divine in simple circles of recovering women, where she surrenders to the process of letting go and living the life of which she could never have dreamed.

The Actual Normal: Turn The Page On Loss, Suffering And Grief: A Guide To Reclaiming Yourself And Rescuing Your Life In Challenging, Changing Times by Petra Paige

Loss and struggle (and the resulting disempowerment and grief) have become an absolute phenomenon across the world. People are anxious, stressed, miserable and afraid, and many of us are feeling hopeless. We don't know what we can meaningfully do to actively turn things around — not just now and for ourselves — but in the bigger picture too.

When her life was turned upside down by terrifyingly changing circumstances, author Petra Paige lost her “self” in a trap of anxiety, stress, and despair. She eventually discovered that there is a way to purposefully direct our lives and selves back to something that both works and holds joy and possibilities itself!

Afterwards, she wrote The Actual Normal, the book she needed to read at her lowest, most desperate point. It is a book for these unprecedentedly volatile, changing times we’re living through. An antidote to feelings of powerlessness and despair, Petra offers readers a practical toolkit for making a transformation out of dead-end predicaments and pain, and returning to a quality-of-life experience.

Stop/Back Up/Grow: A Personal Growth Formula That is as Easy as Falling Down by Paul J. Angelle

STOP/BACK UP/GROW is based on the idea that personal growth is easy and doable, provided the reader is willing to make changes and "back up" to do the "pre-work" that is required. The book describes invisible barricades to growth, strategies to discover personal belief systems and practical techniques to help readers make changes required for growth. Readers gain more awareness of their current situations, learn to take ownership of their lives - and create a motivational roadmap for growth, empowering them to take whatever action is necessary to succeed and move forward.

STOP/BACK UP/GROW really is as easy as falling down, and this book is a great fit on the bookshelves of businesspeople and entrepreneurs, but it also belongs in the hands of anyone ready to move forward in a purposeful and meaningful way.

Everyone knows what a traditional wedding looks like—the bride is radiant in white, the vows are solemnly pronounced, and everyone dances at the wedding reception. But that’s not how it’s always been.

Something Old Something New: Surprising Wedding Traditions & Superstitions Every Bride Should Know by Chérie Sion

Brides of the ancient world preferred to dress in blue, and until the Victorian age, it was considered unlucky to wed in May. The Romans believed that if you neglected to carry your bride over the threshold, she would be besieged by evil spirits. And groomsmen were originally appointed to fight anyone trying to stop the wedding!

In this whimsical guide to ancient and modern wedding customs, researcher-turned-author Chérie Sion selects some of the most interesting, informative, and downright bizarre nuptial rituals to share with you. You will learn why grooms propose on bended knee, rings are placed on the third finger, brides wear “something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue,” brides throw their bouquet to guests, nuptials include a flower girl, and more!

Whether you are planning your wedding, looking for a gift, or want to know the true stories behind the traditions, Something Old Something New will prove to be a delight!

I will say this is just a sampling of the books I’ve worked on over the six years that Turn the Page has officially been in business, and perhaps some of the other books will get profiled in a future guide.

Happy holidays, and happy writing!

To you and your book,

Megan