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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Sunday, January 7, 2007

What I'm reading

By Christine Thomas

Amy Hanaiali'i Gilliom — Vocalist

ADVERTISER LIBRARY PHOTO | 2006

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What are you reading?

Iyanla Vanzant. She's one of my favorite authors. The book I'm reading now is "Faith In the Valley: Lessons for Women on the Journey to Peace."

How did you discover her?

I found out about her watching Oprah one day. I read a lot of Hawaiian spiritual books, and am very in tune with that, but this one is more tuned to women. She offers lessons about life. You know, when the baby's screaming and the football's on ... it just calms you down. I've been reading her books for about 12 years. She's just a woman who makes everything make sense.

Make sense in what way?

You know how women balance a million things at one time? We're multitaskers. Her books put things into perspective a bit better. I'm a new mother, and when my baby was born, my life came to a screeching halt. I was used to being the bachelorette. Her books curb my thinking into how to be more patient and observe things.

Do Vanzant's lessons help you balance touring, motherhood and business?

Yes. I'm a Gemini, and I'm the baby in my family, so I'm a gap-bridger. She has lessons like, you can't fix all the problems, you just have to let it happen and hope for the best. And I feel, being an entertainer who's on the road a lot, it's my quiet time, my quiet book.