Buy How to Be

Queen of the Universe

$14.00

Buy How to Be Queen of the Universe with God Laughs, Too: Incidents in the Life of a Black Chick and save 25%!!

Q & A with Tahira Chloe Mahdi

Celebrating the success of How to Be Queen of the Universe, the author lets loose on the FAQ's!

Q: You're telling women to “Make them bow down”?  WOW!  That’s tough language.  Are you turning young women into power-hungry dictators?

A: No, not this time!  Remember who is supposed to be bowing down.  It’s the annoying coworkers, the unruly boyfriends, the jealous girlfriends, and the health problems.  These things sure aren’t making a young woman’s life easy!  How to Be Queen of the Universe shows a young woman how to use her own God-given powers to rid herself of these things.  Through fun strategies, unconventional introspection, and the basic desire to be happy, women can gain control of their lives and their issues - instead of allowing themselves to be bogged down by things that can be very easily eliminated.  How to Be Queen of the Universe is practical, informative, and wildly entertaining for young women who are ready to step up and take the throne!

Q: What types of young women do you find are the most “ready to step up and take the throne”?

A: Women are in search of support at different times in their lives and How to Be Queen of the Universe is the perfect way to get that support without feeling judged or somehow not strong enough to handle what life throws at you.  There are so many instances in a woman’s life where she finds herself at the proverbial “crossroads” and she may seek advice or a clearer understanding on such circumstances as:

•  dating and considering the possibility of a relationship

• in a relationship and considering the possibility of marriage

•  dissatisfied with her employment and seeking a new career path

•  wondering if it is safe to pursue a long held dream

• feelings of inadequacy because things are happening more quickly for her peers (childbirth, career success, marriage, material wealth)

•  fighting loneliness because of a breakup

• not knowing if she should end a relationship

• wanting to explore her spirituality

There are many more but in speaking with women in order to get the information for this book, I found that these were the most talked about issues.  Women in general are at a crossroads, I think.  We look to magazines and certain television shows for insight to these issues, but wind up feeling as if we’re not good enough just the way we are.  The images in advertising alone are enough to drive any normal woman nuts!

Q: What makes this book entertaining?

A: The setup of the book is designed for fun - period!  It’s broken down into sections based on broad issues: self-esteem, social life, career, men and health - though I gave each section a much cooler, appropriate name based on the magic of royalty.  Each topic is explored using various strategies of advice, sharing and support.  There are many segments of each strategy that correspond with issues.  For example, “The Queen Takes On…” is an advice strategy consisting of a list of do’s and don’ts.  “Try This!” is an advice strategy based on particular things a woman can do to improve her life at any given time.  I don’t want to give too much away, but I must mention the “Kings Speak” strategy.  These segments include actual quotes from a male focus group that I put together.  The men--from a variety of backgrounds, professions and geographical locations--offer candid, shocking, hilarious insight into the male mind and answer questions about women’s relationship and self-esteem issues.  There is no doubt that readers will be calling their friends in riotous disbelief over what they read from these men!

Q: So, we can be sure that this isn’t a male-bashing book?

A: Definitely not!  As a matter of fact, I wondered several times while writing if I took up for men too much!  I’ve been accused of and praised for thinking like a man but in defense of myself, I feel it’s necessary for women to take a step back from that hopeless-romantic-sensitive-damsel-in-love role and confront issues with realism when it’s necessary.  Men may be a little peeved that I’m giving some of their secrets and game tactics away, but I’m sure they’d want their mothers, sisters and daughters to take this advice and use it to their advantages.

Q: You’ve been in the “expert” seat before on radio shows, as a talk show host, in media interviews, and as an author and speaker.  Did you learn anything from this book or were you simply trying to teach?

A: This book was ALL LEARNING for me.  If I’m the Queen of anything, I’m the Queen of Crash Test Dummies because you better believe that I went through each and every issue discussed and investigated in How to Be Queen of the Universe.  I wrote about some of the issues based on focus group discussions, extensive book and media research, and even meditation.  However, I found that if I hadn’t personally experienced a situation by the time I included it in the book, I found myself smack dab in the middle of that situation shortly thereafter.  It was like the Universe was telling me, “Let’s make sure you know what you’re talking about.” And every time I edited the book, I found myself really needing the book and the strategies presented.  This advice is not coming from a woman on a "high horse" telling others what to do; these words are tried, tested and found to be true by many women, most especially me.  A young woman who is ready to be Queen of the Universe will not leave this book on a shelf.  She will keep it on her nightstand, in her briefcase, at her desk, or in her purse.  It’s that much of a survival guide.

Q: With which health issues can this book assist a woman?

A: This book can assist with ANY health issue!  I was specific with a select few issues such as skin problems, vaginal infections and weight loss, but in being the “crash test dummy,” I discovered the domino effect.  Taking care of an issue in your life that seems totally unrelated to health can have a positive effect on your ability to overcome an illness.  The fact that all disease has a mental correspondence is not a new concept, but in this age of over-medication and prescription drug abuse, people have totally forgotten about it.  While a woman is using this book to straighten out a self-esteem issue, for example, she will find herself inadvertently - but gratefully - overcoming a problem with her skin (dry skin, acne, rashes).  That domino effect is amazing!  The subject of eliminating a source of stress in order to eliminate an illness was also discussed by my female focus group in the strategy I call “Share the Wealth” where women of all ages tell their own stories of triumph.

Q: You’ve included quotes, as well.  That seems to be the “in thing” with nonfiction these days.  What separates this book from any other book of quotes?

A: Most importantly, it’s not a book of quotes!  The quotes were chosen based on their practical nature.  They’re sassy, enlightening and familiar.  I used a few quotes from way back in history, but the majority came from well-recognized names, pop culture icons, hit songs and movies that mostly everyone can identify with.  Quotes will take you from Einstein to Macy Gray to Shania Twain to Dave Chappelle (whom I had to quote twice because the information was so on-point).  Another goal of the book is to allow women to see the similarities in people, regardless of ethnicity, profession and other factors we use to judge others.  These quotes will allow women to see that people who seem so different are often thinking the same thoughts and harboring the same fears and concerns.

Q: What else should we know about this book?

A: I included several illustrations to add a bit of humor and warmth.  I’m a big believer in loving the inner-child in everyone and felt that my readers could take a second to let the little girl inside have a giggle.  We wear so many hats on a daily basis in terms of family, work and social time that we forget that little princess inside who had all the big dreams and just knew that she would one day conquer the world.  It’s important to let her get some sunshine every now and then because we need her kind of faith!  Children have that kind of faith that stands up - no matter what grownups say can’t be done.  As a matter of fact, there’s enough empty space in the book for a reader to give her inner little princess some recreation time.  If a woman takes the time to draw her own pictures and write her own dreams in, I bet she’d see even greater results from experiencing How to Be Queen of the Universe.