Nikki Hanna

In 1964, ten women, five white and five black, dared to violate segregation laws in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and cross the cultural divide by openly forming a mixed-race social group. Labeled as a social experiment, the success of this bold action is reflected in the long longevity of this group, which is still active today, almost sixty years later. The bravery of those women is a reflection of the profound influence women throughout the world have demonstrated to assure the safety and future of their families as well as to acknowledge the sameness of all people and their common membership in the human race. This is their inspirational story, one laced with hope, purpose, and faith in the good of mankind. We are women, and we can do hard things - Dawn Fox

Nikki Hanna's book, Listen Up, Writer-How Not Write Like an Amateur, thrusts a writer quickly and efficiently from novice to professional status. Seasoned writers will also benefit from the fresh perspectives and novel processes that demonstrate authorship. In the intensely competitive publishing environment, a writer cannot afford to appear inexperienced, and experts will spot a rookie in short order. Hanna reveals "what shouts amateur" and shows how a writer can stand out as proficient and become more competitive.Listen Up, Writer is unique in the field of how-to books on writing because of the practical examples of key writing practices and processes. Hanna shows how a writer can discover their unique literary fingerprint. Many books talk about voice and style. This one shows how to find and nurture these qualities.Hanna's unique perspective on writing craft encourages writers to tap into innate talents and to develop a personal definition of success. She demonstrates how a writer can find their own sweet spot in the world of writing-one that promotes joy and purpose through writing. As a bonus, this book is an easy read. Hanna'a comedic style complements the serious topic of writing craft and ensures that readers are never bored. Take your writing to a higher level. Listen up.

For the author, growing up in rural Iowa and transitioning into Oklahoma and corporate America introduced unexpected cultural shifts. Spanning a time period from the 1940s to 2010, she portrays colorful idiosyncrasies of these cultures. Zany tales of a life fully lived reveal serious challenges and tender moments while producing robust chuckles.

WHY YOU WRITEFew writers are successful at achieving the industry measure of success--selling lots of books. Most are frustrated and feeling a sense of failure. Hanna encourages writers to: -explore why they write-redefine success so it is achievable-discover alternate paths to achievement and fulfillment-master the craft of writingLoaded with information on memoir writing, contest strategy, and craft, this book guides both seasoned and novice writers to a level of authorship that opens doors. Hanna does not suggest writers give up their dream of selling books, but that they expand their approach to include paths that guarantee success. With the emotional resilience this fresh perspective promotes, readers will find their own crazy-wonderful joy and purpose through writing.

This book takes an insightful and comedic approach to the conversation about aging. Why do some people do growing old poorly? Why are precious years wasted when they hold so much potential? Do older people realize how much they influence the futures of others by how they age? The goal of the "beyond aging well concept" is to contemplate these questions and to expose flawed stereotypes, introduce fresh perspectives, reveal possibilities, and inspire a robust third trimester of life. Transitioning into retirement and dealing with the complications of aging generate a plethora of issues, including a sense of being disenfranchised. You wonder how to matter going forward. The truth is, you can remain relevant, perhaps more so than ever before. It is possible your best days have not even happened yet. Because so much is written about how to age well, this book might be anticipated as being rich with old ideas dressed up in new clothes. However, the perspectives introduced bridge the gap between acceptance of life unfolding and aging in a way that promotes bliss. Strategies are introduced that take aging to a level that enhances the lives of others. When it comes to aging, everyone is afraid on the inside, but growing old is the universe showing off. You can orchestrate your aging experience-not as a burden to those you love-but as a gift. Although anxiety lurks, the body aches, and losses are unrelenting, personal triumph is possible. By aging well, you hum. By going beyond aging well, you sing. Construct your experience so you sing like an opera star. Go ahead. Do it. Sing.

RED HEELS AND SMOKIN'How I Got My Moxie Backby Nikki HannaIf you think being sixty-something is a bummer, humorist Nikki Hanna will convince you otherwise. A playful and inspiring tale of the adventures of a woman who re-defined aging, Red Heels and Smokin' portrays the transitional years of the author after retirement. A gutsy, zany, and sometimes outrageous woman, Hanna is boldly candid as she dishes out amusing interpretations of her passage into what she calls the third trimester of life-her best time.She turns a tsunami of crises that threatened to overwhelm her into an amusing story of hope and passion. She does so by resurrecting the moxie that served her well in younger years. The rally will have readers rooting for her recovery and perhaps strategizing to initiate one of their own.With its wicked humor, Red Heels and Smokin' is an amusing and buoyant read. People under fifty will see their future in a fresh light, and those over fifty will find encouragement and inspiration in Hanna's astute interpretation of her aging experience and the story about how she got her moxie back.