Fearless Friday! with Alberta Sequeira

 

About Alberta:

I am a four-time award winning author of three memoirs; a co-founder of a group of authors called Authors Without Borders, a producer, director and co-host to the NBTV-95 Cable TV Show out of New Bedford, Massachusetts. I teach a three hour workshop for writers called "Bring Your Manuscript to Publication." I am an Awareness Coach and Motivational Speaker. 

 

Connect on her blog

 

Connect on the web

 

 A Spiritual Renewal: A Journey to Medjugorje

ISBN-13: 978-1937588120

Available in paperback or Kindle

This book is a heart-felt, moving memoir of the author's father and her journey to find inner peace and renewal of life. She shares her life story from a child to the present with beautiful photos included throughout the book. She shares her struggles and pain when her father gets diagnosed with cancer and has to say goodbye. Her hunger for God leads her to a journey to Medjugorje that brings the inner healing and peace that she was looking for.

 

 

Someone Stop This Merry-Go-Round: An Alcoholic Family in Crisis 

ISBN-13: 978-0741454157

Available in paperback or Kindle 

This is a wonderful book about the disease of addiction and how it can truly affect a family. This true story is very sad but is a must read for anyone going through the same thing.

 

The Sequel: Please, God, Not Two: This Killer Called Alcoholism

ISBN-13: 978-0741460295

Available in paperback or Kindle

An AMAZING book on the subject of addiction and how it affects the families. This is a true story and as I was reading it, I shed some tears. Addiction can destroy families and the pain and suffering it leaves behind can be devastating. A must read for anyone who has addiction in their family.

Alberta, share your unique talent:

My talent is trying to figure out how to get everything I need to get done in one day. With having to answer three emails, a website, a blog, writing a blog for two newspapers, scheduling speaking engagements, and working with commitments with my author group Authors Without Borders (www.awb6.com), I struggle to get time in with writing a new book. I'm working on my first fictional book The Rusty Years, after just completing a Narrative Non-Fiction What is and isn't Working for the Alcoholic and Addict: In Their Own Words. It's written by 34 addicts who wrote their hearts out telling the world what did or didn't work in their recovery programs. My other talent is speaking privately to substance abusers behind closed doors at halfway homes, court-ordered programs and rehabs, along with their family members and the public on the effect of alcoholism on the whole family.  I do talks on My Spiritual Change to Women's Organizations, church events and ministries with A Spiritual Renewal. 

Share something not many people know about you: I am a twin to my brother, Albert. Of course, being a boy, we don't look alike, but we are close. I lost my daughter, Lori, in 2006 at thirty-nine years of age from her alcohol addiction. My first husband, Richard, died in 1985 from the same disease. I have another daughter, Debbie, who just turned The Big 50. Oops! I am, of course, still young at heart. I speak to the public and my knees still shake, but I put my fears in God's hands to relax me. 

Answers to the survey (Which best describes my personality): I hope my smile lets people know that I am low-keyed, enjoy them, family, and I'm a warm-caring person to others. My faith in God shines through and all my friends know this about me.  

Are you a “pet person” or prefer no pets? I love pets, but I am now retired and want my time to myself to come and go as I please. I never went without an animal when I was first married. Pets give a great stress-free atmosphere, not only in the house, but to each individual in the family. I think children should have pets growing up. Each time we lost one, it was as if we lost a family member.  

Would you rather travel or stay at home? I like both. Two years ago, we filled our dream going to Italy for a week and then right over to Portugal for two weeks. We meet my husband, Al's, family who some he never saw before out trip. The countries were beautiful. We travel now and then to see Al's sister, Evelyn, in Santa Rosa, California. We own a Timeshare in Orlando, Florida, where my twin brother and close friend lives near by in other towns. I also enjoy a slow pace with staying home bound for awhile.  

 Do you read more or write more? I write more. Believe it or not, it was rare that I ever read when I was younger. I am just starting to read, but not often, because I am so busy writing. I never dreamed or had the desire to write. Sadly, the heartbreak of the lose of my father, husband, and daughter drove me to tell my stories. Now that the Narrative Non-Fiction is done, I plan on enjoying making up characters in my stories. My memoirs are completed. My life is out in the world for everyone to see my mistakes. I am actually loving The Rusty Years, if I can ever get time to complete it. 

 Prefer cake or pie?  I prefer cake but ice cream is my favorite!

Would, or do, ride a motorcycle or prefer to ride/drive a car? I am too scared at my age now to ride in a motorcycle. Never did. I guess the older we get we look at "what" can happen to us. When we are young, we don't think of the "what ifs." No, give me a car where I feel more in control. My father always told me to drive ahead of the traffic or stay behind to give you time to stop if there is an accident saving me from being in it. 

Bus or taxi or walk?  Boy, you're really getting me to talk about "age!" My first choice is to walk. If it's a long way, I would grab a taxi or bus. 

 

Are you part of a big church congregation or a small church? I belong to the St. John Neumann Church in E. Freetown, Massachusetts. Al and I also belong to the St. John Neumann's Couples Club. 

 

Do you like to telephone people or prefer to use e-mail?  I will email because that is the world today. Otherwise, I love to hear someone's voice. It makes you feel like you are next to them and the love can be felt through the talk.

 

Are you happy or joyful?  I am both. I am joyful that God is slowly giving me peace with Lori's death. The pain will never go away, but I go on for others in my life through my talks. 

I am happy with having four step-children (although, I hate to use that word "step" because I feel they are my daughters and sons). They love me for who I am. Their mother died in her middle thirties in a tracker trailer accident. I never tried to be a mother, only someone with open arms so they could come with their problems. My daughter, Debbie, is very close to me and I'm thankful. Debbie and her husband, Brian, took Lori's two children, Meagan and Joey, into their home when she died. They also have a son, Michael and a daughter, Kerri. There are ten grandchildren with Al and I. That makes me happy. 

 

Do you eat at home or eat out?  We enjoy eating out now and then but mostly eat at home. Al loves to go for breakfast. I enjoy the lunch. 

 

Listen to music or prefer quiet?  Music perks me up. If it's catchy, I enjoy still kicking my feet, not high of course! I love drums in music. Then I bounce to the opposite wanting romantic music. 

I like quiet when I'm writing. 

 

Prefer sunrises or sunsets?  Again, I have to say both. Sunrises make me realize God has given me another day to share with my family. Sunsets, which can be beautiful, make me realize what God has given me at the end of the day, and if I did something wrong, He is giving me another day to get it right.