US Author Launches 2nd Positive Book in a Week

It’s hard to believe, but Athlone's US based author, metaphysical healer and chiropractor, Dr. Mary Helen Hensley is launching her second book is as many weeks.  ‘The Pocket Coach’ – a book of motivational quotations will be launched on Friday night, February 21^st, and follows her first children’s book, ‘The Chakra Fairies – A Magical Mantra for Children’ which was launched last week.
When US born, Mary Helen was a child, her father, who was a football coach, and Baptist minister, gave her a prayer book written by John Bailey, a Scottish Presbyterian minister.
“There was a prayer on each right hand page, and on the opposite page there were my Dad’s motivational quotes, and he was a great motivational speaker,” said Mary Helen.
Mary Helen’s father, Dick Hensley died in August 2012, and a few months later, Mary Helen started sharing some of his quotes on Facebook, and got a phenomenal response, of 100 plus likes per quote.
Mary Helen decided after they had proven so popular on Facebook that she would write a book based on her Dad’s motivational quotes.
“I knew people had liked them a lot, so I extracted all Dad’s quotes, and left a blank page for the reader to write their own thoughts and called this new book, ‘The Pocket Coach’, so people could easily carry it with them,” she said.  “My Dad was known as ‘Coach’, so hence the name of the book, and I checked all the quotes as far as possible, to make sure they were totally authentic, and my Dad’s original quotes.”
The opening quote in the book is: “There are some people who seem to live above or beyond the frustration which is so common a feature of our contemporary society.  More often than not, these frustrated souls are people who live with conspicuous and unhesitating BOLDNESS.  There is no magic recipe for the good life, but we can learn much from those who have lived well.  The great majority of such persons have been men and women of outstanding BOLDNESS.”
The book is illustrated with many sports activities, such as rugby, Tao Kwando, triathlon, swimming, kayaking, cycling, golf, horse-riding, yoga, etc.,
‘The Pocket Coach’ will be launched by Aron O’Dowd, who is one of Ireland’s top rowers, and an energy speaker who also happens to be blind.
“Aron embodies the idea that we won’t let a physical disability stop us from becoming what we can be,” said Mary Helen.
The book launch will be in The Bounty, Athlone, at 7pm on February 21^st. Following the launch there will be some live music from some local traditional musicians, and dancing and DJ, and all are welcome.

 

Athlone Launch for US Author's Children's Book

The gatering around Mary O'Rourke and Mary Helen Hensley at the launch of the new children's book.

Mary O'Rourke and Mary Helen Hensley

Despite Mary O’Rourke indentifying with a “Boss Fairy” in the new book, ‘The Chakra Fairies – A Magical Mantra for Children’, it appears that all the eight fairies in the book, which represents the chakras, seem to have equal status.
The former Minister was lunching the new children’s book last weekend at the Dancing Soul Studio in Monksland, Athlone.  The book was written by prolific author, Dr. Mary Helen Hensley, and it is her first children’s book.  ‘Chakra Fairies’ was illustrated by Mary Helen’s daughters, Jemma and Jada.
“It doesn’t matter what you believe, the book teaches children that when they go to bed, to not carry baggage from yesterday into tomorrow,” said Mary Helen.
Mary O’Rourke, former Athlone Minister told the audience of mainly mothers and children, that she indentified with the ‘boss fairy’, and wanted to be her.
“In this country, we have the prayer, ‘O’Angel of God My Guardian Dear’ which is told to children going to bed and this book is a version of that in a fun way,” said Mary.  “The fairies tell about how the child must let go of all the bad things, and think of only the good in life, and it empowers the child.”
Mary said that Mary Helen and Jemma and Jada will be busy working on follow-up books to the Chakra Fairies, because there is more of the tale to be told.
The book, is a chakra ‘fairytale, which Mary-Helen has told to her daughters since they were babies. 
Mary-Helen, who has run the Athlone Chiropractic Centre since 1999, has previously written three books of autobiography based on her life and experiences as a metaphysical healer.  The books, ‘Promised’, ‘Circles of Light’ and ‘The Land Beyond the River’ sold well in Ireland and America.
It is believed in some traditions that chakras are energy points or knots in the human body, and this new children’s book tells the story of chakras in a simple way, and is aimed at ages 3 to 6 years.
“This was our first family effort, and the greatest gift I could give to my girls was the ability to care for their own well-being, by teaching them how to recognise the energy systems that directly affect their experiences of life,” said American born, Mary- Helen.
Jemma Wedding is eleven years old, and Jada Wedding is nine years old.
The book, ‘The Chakra Fairies’, which is the first of a series, describes each chakra in easy to read detail.
“My sister and I illustrated the book and my favourite of the illustrations is the yellow fairy, which is all about self-confidence,” said Jemma.
“I like indigo in the book, which is the sixth chakra fairy,” said Jada.
Mary-Helen first launched ‘The Chakra Fairies’ in her native Martinsville, Virginia, USA.  
“Many adults who bought the book have emailed me, and said that it makes the story of the Chakras so simple to understand,” said Mary-Helen. 
Mary Helen is also launching another book, ‘The Pocket Coach’ in the Bounty, Athlone on Friday night, February 21^st.  The launch night will be held alongside an open birthday party for Mary Helen.