Gentry's Journey
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Gentry's Journey
Books Build Bridges Between Generations a Conversation with Dr AudreyAnn and Gentry
Reading isn't just a pastime—it's a lifeline that connects us to knowledge, history, and each other. Dr. Audrey Ann Moses welcomes two accomplished authors who demonstrate this powerful truth through their diverse experiences and writings.
Nurse Carolyn Coleman brings 35 years of healthcare expertise alongside her creative writing pursuits. As both a medical professional and author of fiction and non-fiction works, she illuminates how reading empowers patients to take control of their health journeys. Her practical advice resonates deeply: "Write down the name of your medication, write down how many milligrams, write down how many times a day you're to take it." This simple practice not only ensures better health outcomes but encourages literacy and self-advocacy.
Pastor Anthony Saunders, a retired Navy veteran with 32 years of service, shares how reading creates bonds that transcend physical distance. His devotional books—"Start Your Day with God," its companion journal, and "Let's Do It Again, God"—offer readers daily spiritual nourishment through accessible scripture readings and reflective writing opportunities. His touching story about reading bedtime stories to his now-adult children reveals how these moments create cherished memories that last generations.
Both guests emphasize that cultivating a love for reading must begin early. From making weekly library visits part of family routines to allowing children to choose their own books, these simple practices lay foundations for lifelong learning. The conversation weaves between practical parenting advice, personal stories of overcoming obstacles, and creative solutions for staying connected through reading—even during military deployments or other separations.
Whether you're seeking to strengthen family bonds, advance your career, manage health challenges, or deepen your faith journey, this episode reminds us that reading opens doors to unlimited possibilities. Take a moment today to pick up that book you've been meaning to read—your future self will thank you.
Hello, hello everybody. How are you doing? This is Dr Audrey Ann Moses and this is a moment with Dr Audrey Ann. I am so happy to have with us today two of my favorite of a whole bunch of friends that are authors. So we're going to be talking about reading and writing today, and this is Dr Adrienne's moments. And I want to introduce to you Mrs Carolyn Coleman.
Speaker 2:Now Mrs Carolyn Coleman is I call her Nurse Extraordinaire because she is a nurse and she does everything. She tells those doctors what to do. I know she do so, but she has a lot more going on than nursing and I know she's. I'm hoping that she's going to tell you a lot about what she's done. I'm going to let her introduce herself and I'm going to let Pastor Anthony Saunders, retired United States Navy, and my cousin you know, in the South we do that, my cousin and so we're going to be talking about his books and he has phenomenal books and I mean I just found out I missed one somewhere along the way so I got to go and get that one that I missed. But he'll be talking about his ministry and the things that he's doing, um, in Virginia, because he lives in Virginia and Carolyn lives in Alabama. I was going to say Birmingham, but I knew that wasn't right.
Speaker 2:It's not too far from Birmingham, so anyway. So, miss Carolyn, could you go ahead and introduce?
Speaker 1:yourself I'd be happy to. I'm Carolyn Coleman and I am a registered nurse. I have been for over 35 years. I really enjoy what I've done. I've done a good little bit in my field. It's not just always at the bedside, but that's where you have to start out. But that's where you have to start out.
Speaker 1:I am a mother, a wife, a sister, a good friend, a cousin, but I advocate for underserved or people who just stop me and ask me questions, or people who call me and ask me questions. I give them the best that I know. You know people will ask you, but then they don't want to take your advice. But that's all right, I didn't call you, you called me. So that is what it is. But I say that to say I share my information. What I have, if I feel like it can benefit you, then hey, we're going forward. What I have, if I feel like it can benefit you, then hey, we're going forward. And then sometimes you just have to encourage people to ask questions of their health care providers. It's not being argumentative, you're not, you know, doubting what they say, but it is OK for you to ask questions.
Speaker 1:I am an author. I am an author, I am a presidential lifetime achievement award when it comes to volunteerism and things of that nature and didn't realize volunteering would give me, would lead to such a prestigious honor. I didn't get in it for that. I got in it truly to help people, being with the health fairs at the hospitals, or a part of being a part of a couple of organizations where volunteerism was the biggest thing that they did, especially in the underserved community, the underserved, the marginalized community, and I still do that.
Speaker 1:Now. I'm a part of the Birmingham Black Nurses Association, I am a lifetime member of the National Black Nurses Association, I'm a member of Charms, middy Health, and with those organizations we do a lot of health fairs, we do a lot of education. So they've been around several, several years, but I haven't been a part of them. I don't think five years yet, but still it's a great organization Plus a great ministry as well, because when you are going in and out of churches, in and out of parks, you are ministering to God's people just to educate them on questions that they may have or problems that are more prone to minority communities. Right, and like I said, I am an author. I'm a number one bestseller on about five, no, so the anthology.
Speaker 2:We're going to get into those in a second. I want you to tell it all at one time.
Speaker 1:Okay, okay, okay. So it's the anthologies, and I do fiction as well, but I've had to put a lot of things on hold. I like fiction because you make it your own, or you make your character into what you want your character to be. So that's basically, I think it at this point in time.
Speaker 2:Thank you. Thank you, mr Anthony.
Speaker 3:Yes, ma'am. Thank you so much for this opportunity, dr Audrey. Thank you for this opportunity, dr Audrey, and I appreciate you very much. And nice to meet you, ms Carolyn. My name is Anthony Sanders. I live here in Virginia Beach. My wife and I we've been together 31 years. Come March I married a husband and wife, but we've been dating 35 years, so we still keep our dating routine going. We have three adult children. They're very successful in their own right. To date, I have published three devotionals Start your Day with God, 90 Day Journal, clean your God and let's Do it Again, god. I've been featured in four gospel stage plays over the last few years I got one coming up later on this year as well. Traveled a lot, retired military, served 32 years in the Navy and I've been to over 33 different countries. I do enjoy meeting people. I enjoy cooking, enjoy writing, of course, and the gospel of Jesus Christ and showing his love and compassion toward all of humanity. That's me in a nutshell, and I'm very grateful for this opportunity.
Speaker 2:So, as I said earlier when we all were chatting, march is National Reading Month. So, in looking at National Reading Month, what are some of the things that you think Now? I mean, we know reading is fundamental because you can't do anything, you know, if you can't read. I remember stories like even my grandmother, you know. She had a third grade education. She could barely read, but she could do pretty much anything, you know. But she did those things because she learned how to do them, watching others and people telling her how to do it, and then that's how she learned, not because she could read.
Speaker 2:Nowadays, that should not be, uh, something that people would have to go through. So what is it do you think is the main um thing that parents need to look at? And, um, when it comes to reading, carolyn, you, as in the medical field, you know Pastor Anthony, in the ministry what do you all think is the most important thing that parents need to look at and how do you think would be the easiest way for parents to help their children to start getting into reading and learning how to read?
Speaker 1:But me personally, they need to read every day. I don't care if it's not for five or 10 minutes, I don't care. You know when they're young, if they see you reading, then they're wanting. You know, kids mimic what they see their parents do. So if they see that you're reading and you can buy them the picture books, that starts them off. Because you have to start young. You can't wait till they get to be fifth and sixth grade and encourage reading. Ok, I'm not saying it's too late, I'm just saying start them as early as possible. I'm just saying start them as early as possible and I'm not saying that my advice is the best advice. But this is what I did A lot of times when my daughter and I were out shopping.
Speaker 1:She wanted to go into one of the local bookstores in the mall. You know, I just felt sometimes I'd be tired and I didn't want to go, but I was like, let her go, let her find something. But it had to be read. She loved hardback books. You know those hardcovers they're more expensive and I'm like, no, I'm going to get those. But she enjoyed reading and I did not want to dampen that and that's what.
Speaker 1:I did with my son and my grandson as well. You have to meet them where they are and encourage that, and so that has to be a daily journey. You can't just do it, you know, every once in a while.
Speaker 2:Right yeah, pastor.
Speaker 3:I totally agree with what Ms Carolyn said, but also will add that make going to the library part of the routine. Make it a weekly thing. Just go to the library, spend some time in the library, because they always have activities going on in the library. But also, in this day and age, make sure that people stand up on history, understanding our history, understanding where we come from, where we are and where we're heading, that type of thing. And then, for me, I enjoy reading bedtime stories to my children. That was something that they still they in the early 30s and early 20s and they still remember that time, make great memories. Reading with our children. That's something that they'll keep with them and they pass it on to their children.
Speaker 2:Now, Anthony, one of the things that I did. You know, both of us are retired Navy and so, more so than any of the other services, we spent a lot of time away from our children, and so were you ever able to come up with and I'm saying this for any occupation where you are away from your children. You know some, but was there anything that you did while you were away that helped to encourage your kids to read?
Speaker 3:Voice recording storage. That's something that we did, and the Navy helped set that up. And then, too, being able to call and encourage them. And while they were growing up and they saw my wife and I both in school, furthering our education, and they'll be asking questions what are we studying? And we had an opportunity to explain to them and even post our grades on a refrigerator so they can see that. Oh, if mom and dad can do it, I can do it as well, setting them up for success by being at the back.
Speaker 2:One of the things I did when my son was six years old, when my ship went on cruise, you know, we were on the West Coast, so we were gone for eight months one of the things I did was Hallmark, I think, had this little kit and it was like a sharing kit. So I left with him half of the kit and it had the envelope. It had the of the kit and it had the envelope, it had the letterhead and it had like little um prompts to write about. And I had the other half, so so I would write him a letter and mail him his letter and then he would write me a letter. Well, my mother would help him write me a letter and he would send it back and so, so, and in that I would ask him to let me know what he was reading. And my youngest son he was only four or five at the time, and so my husband would send his work, like things that he was writing. So, even though I couldn't hear him read, I knew he was reading because he was writing, you know. So they were writing and sending, you know, sending letters back and forth, and that was how I helped them, even though I wasn't there, and so we have to, like, make sure that we regard regard.
Speaker 2:Even if you're not home every day with your children, you can come up with different ways to help your children to to gain a love for reading. You know, and and again, like, like you were saying, get into your history, especially now. You were saying, get into your history especially now. It's so important that the parents gather as much as they can. You know, spend a few extra dollars, buy some history books, buy some, you know, go to the library. Our library has sales once or twice a year. Buy whatever you can, because we don't know, one day the library might be closed and we can't get in it, you know so. You know, so use that time. We have the Internet now. Use that time and those resources to help your children to start learning their history and learning their, you know, just learning, getting enjoyment for reading.
Speaker 2:Miss Carolyn, when I know, because I've been, I've been a patient, so I know that you have had probably some time struggling with parents or or with people in general not just parents, but with patients in general because they don't want to read the instructions. They want you to tell them everything. Tell, okay, just tell me because I do that. Okay, look, just tell me what to do. You know, and.
Speaker 2:But you know something as simple as even if you don't want to ever pick up a book you may not ever want to pick up a book to read, but you got to read those prescriptions on the back of that medicine bottle, you know. You got to read that paper to know that if you're taking three different kinds of medications, you got to know if those three medications work together. You know, and so your doctor is going to tell you that maybe, but you want to be able to read so that you know those things yourself. So there are so many things that reading is important for. So you know. Ms Carolyn, how do you encourage your patients to take the time to read what they need to know in order to keep themselves healthy?
Speaker 1:Well, you really kind of have to meet them where they are there are. Well, my doctor said this and my doctor said that and that's wonderful. But now most hospitals they have teaching sheets and the teaching sheets are written, I think, like on a sixth grade level. So it's not these huge medical terms. They break it down and they make it easily, more easier to read. But still a lot of people won't do that. So you kind of have to show them the teaching sheet and point out a few things. And it's not long and drawn out, but it is simple and to the point.
Speaker 1:And I have encouraged my patients. They say I take the blue pill, you ought to know what it is. And then I take the pink pill and it got a plus sign on it. I know you're a nurse, you know. Well, no, I don't, I'm not going to try again, you know.
Speaker 1:And so I have encouraged, especially before the age of computers and even with the age of computers, write down the name of your medication, write down how many milligrams, write down how many times a day you're to take it. Well, y'all have it on record here. What if you have to go to a different facility? What if you have to go to a different doctor. That's not affiliated with this.
Speaker 1:It takes time to pull your medical record. If you have that list with you, I tell them write it on a piece of paper, write it in a journal, write it in a tablet, but have that with you and when there's a change, scratch through it. Put your dates on. What Did you have this exam, you know? And that's another way to keep people reading and engaged and it helps them to be more engaged to their health or to their loved one's health, because sometimes you need a partner to go with you to help you interpret what the physician has told you yeah, because I know, um, like I take care of my brother's medication and I knew what he's supposed to take, the names of them and how much and everything.
Speaker 2:But I tell you, I ordered his medication one time and the bottle came and I opened up the bottle and it was yellow pills instead of blue pills, yes, yes, and I was like wait a minute, this is wrong. And I'm calling the pharmacy. I'm like these y'all gave me the wrong medicine. You know, they said, oh no, we just changed the color. I said don't ever do that again.
Speaker 2:But, uh, but I agree how important it is to know. You know, I try to um, keep my brother um knowing what he takes. But his doctors also know because of his condition. His doctor knows. But, like you said, what if he had to go to the emergency room? You know, I agree. So, yeah, but, um, but yeah, it's, it's so important to have a list of what you take and keep it updated. You know, and I'm really glad now that the doctors, every time you go, they give you a new medicine list. I like that because it's always up to date is best. They know it's up to date and so you can always have something to pass. If you have to go to the emergency room, you know in another state or in another country.
Speaker 2:Yeah, so at least they know what, what you know. You have something to show them, absolutely, so tell me about your books. So, um, uh, pastor Anthony, tell us about your books. If you have them, show them.
Speaker 3:I'll show the last one. The first one is Start your Day with God. It's a journal between you and God. It's the second one as well. And Start your Day it's a daily devotional to get people reading and working and developing on their walk of faith daily. And then the second one is a spinoff of that that we'll have a daily devotional but will also require some writing out your notes and daily prayers, some writing out your notes and daily prayers, and in the back of that book is a study on faith, favor and healing, because we all have some things that are going on in those actual scriptures that will easily to read and understand, as well as the study to help us walk in the favor of God and to walk by faith and to walk in his field.
Speaker 3:And the final book, as of today, is let's Do it Again, god. It's a daily devotional. It's six months, a daily devotional for six months. And the premise is if God did it before, he can do it again. You just have to have faith that he will lead you through the trials and tribulations, through the storms of life, one moment at a time, one step at a time. You just got to have faith. If he didn't, I promise you.
Speaker 2:And these books devotionals are an awesome way for people to read because they're short stories that tell you a lot. You know, and yours, I know the ones one of them that I have. You can fill in the blanks. I mean, you feel like it has a place for you.
Speaker 3:Like to write your notes and things, which is all the days uh with journal, yeah, so, um.
Speaker 2:So devotionals are an awesome way and and those study journals where you can, you're reading the bible, so you're getting used to reading the bible. You know you have a question and you're reading the Bible and then you're writing your thoughts. You know the devotional gives you like an explanation and then you can write your own thoughts and see what more can you ask for your reading and you're using your critical thinking to think about questions and things. So that that is great. And, miss Carolyn, you have like a thousand books.
Speaker 1:Yeah, my Gentry series is about. It's fictional and it's about friends and how they navigate life, grow up together. They basically met in college and the different decisions they have to make throughout life, but they support one another. It's not like we're always kumbaya. We're people and we're friends and we're going to tell it like it is. And so it turned out to be one, then it ended up being two, then three, so I ended up with five, but pay-per-view publishing is repurposing those because I self-published those. I still really enjoy the Gentry series and I think other people will as well. It wasn't perfect, but it was Matt, okay, awesome. Yes, I love it. That's why they're being repurposed.
Speaker 1:And the anthologies? You know they are Christian nonfiction, so they are telling the story. Our chapters tell a story that's passionate for us. That meets the core title of the book, and my very first one that I was a part of is the Breaking Point, and so many people called me and was so pleased with my chapter telling me. You know, I always knew or I always felt that you had a story to tell or that you were for lack of a term a phenomenal person. But to read your chapter really encouraged me to think more to do more. We all go through something, but we don't have to stay in that something that we're in the breaking point was breaking through whatever barrier could potentially keep you from basically living your life. Or that was the time for you to say I got to get out of this situation. The stories in the Breaking Point, just like any other anthology. They're unique because they're unique to that individual and that individual circumstance, but it gives other people hope. Yeah.
Speaker 2:I am speaking of pay per view. Carolyn and I both published through them. And, anthony, I remember a while back I had sent you something. I think you were trying to retire and so it wasn't a good time. But I will be letting you know when she because she does anthologies for military and veterans. Because she does anthologies for military and veterans and she does anthologies for boys to men and they are phenomenal, and I do want to get your name in those anthologies so I'll make sure that she knows to reach out to you.
Speaker 2:You know when she does the next ones, that's true, but the one thing about anthologies is it gives you an opportunity to write a short story and to get to meet other authors. Your name gets out there with all these other authors. It's just good. I like participating. I need a break now because I did three anthologies, one right behind the other, and so I'm taking a break from anthologies right now, but I really do enjoy them. So we are, we have literally ran out of time, but what I want to do is for both of you to kind of tell people how they can find you and also make sure you all send me your information for where to get your books from and everything so that I can post it with the video. But Anthony, and then Ms Carolyn.
Speaker 3:Thank you so much for this opportunity, Dr Arden. You can find me on Facebook at Anthony R Sanders. You can look for my picture or a Bible scripture there and you can also find me on Instagram at Anthony Sanders 2043.
Speaker 2:And they can get your books from either one of those places.
Speaker 3:They can get my books from Amazoncom. All three books are from Amazon, from.
Speaker 2:Amazon. Okay, and what I'll do is, like I said, I'm going to post it so everybody can find your books, because, like I said, I've read two and I guess I have to get the third one, because that one I missed it somehow, so I'm going to get that one, miss Carolyn.
Speaker 1:Thank you, audrey, for inviting me and having me on your platform. I am honored and I enjoy speaking with you anyway. So hey, that's a win, win, win. You can find me on Facebook as Carolyn Coleman. You can find me on Instagram as Carolyn underscore author, but you can get my books from cpwbookshelfcom. That's my website, cpwbookshelfcom.
Speaker 2:And so I just want to thank both of you. It's been a pleasure. I just want to thank both of you. It's been a pleasure.
Speaker 1:And what is it? The Queda says a plump, pleasing, pleasing, triple, triple, triple, triple, triple, triple sandwich, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 2:Yeah, so. So I really appreciate you all coming on, and there will be other opportunities, so just listen for me to call on you, but I really appreciate you coming on so that we can help people to understand how important reading is and how relaxing it is. And you know to just, you have a long day and you come home and you sit in your favorite chair, you know, get some tea or water or whatever it is, you sip on and read a book, you know so. And it doesn't have to be. I mean, I have, I have books. I have real thick books and I have real teeny books.
Speaker 2:You know, it just depends on whichever one you want to read at the time. It depends on whichever one you want to read at the time. And so just enjoy yourselves, enjoy your lives and remember reading is fundamental and it is necessary. So thank you all very much and, again, you'll be seeing more programs about reading for the rest of this month. This month of March is reading national reading month and so enjoy yourselves and have a blessed day and be a blessing to others. All right, then, thank you Bye, bye.
Speaker 2:Bye, bye.