Book Title: Wonder and Joy for the Wired and Tired: A Guide to Finding Inspiration and Well-Being in a Wonder-Filled World by Dr. Pam Stephens Lehenbauer
Category: Adult Non-Fiction (18 +), 218 pages
Genre: self-help
Publisher: Bear Paw Press
Release date: August 2025
Content Rating: G: This book has no cursing, kissing, etc.
Feeling wired, tired, and stretched too thin? You’re not alone—and you’re not broken.
In Wonder and Joy for the Wired and Tired, Dr. Pam Stephens Lehenbauer, a respected researcher, epidemiologist, clinician, and thought leader on joy, wonder, and well-being, offers a compassionate and eye-opening look at why so many people feel chronically stressed, fatigued, and disconnected. She also reveals why the traditional wellness model, first conceived decades ago, is no longer serving us.
Part science-backed reflection, part celebration of the world’s awe-inspiring details, this book blends thought-provoking commentary with bite-sized facts and trivia designed to reignite our sense of childlike wonder. From the mysteries of the cosmos to the miracles of the human body and so much in between, each chapter encourages readers to pause, reflect, and reconnect—with nature, with curiosity, and with what truly matters.
This isn’t a how-to guide or conventional self-help manual. Instead, it’s a gentle, joyful invitation to look up, look around, and rediscover the extraordinary in the ordinary. Through powerful insights and warm encouragement, Wonder and Joy for the Wired and Tired helps readers step off the “happiness = wellness” hamster wheel, take a big step back, and breathe deeply. It creates space to experience the tears, the chills, and the thrills of a world filled with wonder.
Perfect for anyone seeking a mental reset or a moment of inspiration, Wonder and Joy for the Wired and Tired is both a balm for the soul and a spark for the spirit.
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Dr. Pam Stephens Lehenbauer, Ph.D., MBA, MSN, PMHNP-BC is an epidemiologist, nurse practitioner, researcher, educator, and an adjunct professor at Northern Kentucky University where she teaches in the faculty of graduate studies and investigates well-being. Pam is a popular international speaker and thought leader on wellness and well-being, how wonder, joy, and interacting with nature impact health and wholehearted living, and why we need to shift the paradigm from wellness to well-being. She is also the creator and author of the popular blog, Mother Nature’s Apprentice, and her first book, Wonder and Joy for the Wired and Tired: A Guide to Finding Inspiration and Well-Being in a Wonder-Filled World will be published by Bear Paw Press in September 2025.
Pam has over forty years of combined experience in clinical practice, health administration, and teaching. She has served on the editorial and administrative boards for several provincial, state, and national nursing organizations and is a member of the American Nurses Association, the Kentucky Coalition of Nurse Practitioners and Nurse Midwives, Sigma Theta Tau International, and is a clinician member of the Planetary Health Alliance.
In addition to her extensive professional and academic work, Pam is also an avid gardener, a Certified Home Horticulturalist, and a conservationist who has created award winning gardens and sustainable wildlife habitats.
Pam lives on a small acreage in beautiful Northern Kentucky with her husband, Marty. They are the parents of several adult humans and countless non-humans who walk, fly, flutter, swim, crawl, and burrow. She loves to read, write, play piano, and explore the world’s beauty and wonders with her husband, family, and friends.
Interview:
What literary pilgrimages have you gone on?
I’ve taken a few literary pilgrimages and enjoyed all of them immensely. Two years ago, my husband and I spent a few days in Key West, Florida and soaked up the atmosphere of Ernest Hemmingway’s estate. Despite the heat and humidity, the feel of the entire property was electric and very inspirational. Plus, it was fun playing with the 60 or so six-toed cats that roam the grounds, many of which are direct descendants of Hemmingway’s original pet.
In September, we will be in Alaska and plan to follow some of the safer parts of the Stampede Trail. This is the infamous wilderness trek where lone outdoorsman, Christopher McCandless, unfortunately lost his life. Author Jon Krakauer chronicled McCandless’ journey in his non-fiction book, Into to Wild, that was also made into a movie by Sean Penn.
What is the first book that made you cry?
Charlotte’s Web. I still tear up thinking about Charlottes’ selflessness, sacrifice, and death.
Does writing energize or exhaust you?
It does both,depending on the quality and levels of my creative juices at the time.
What is your writing
Kryptonite?
Feeling detached from nature.
Did you ever consider writing under a pseudonym?
No.
What other authors are you
friends with, and how do they help you become a better
writer?
I met Warren Adler, author of the novel – and movie, The War of the Roses at a writer’s conference a few years ago and we became friends. He was funny, incredibly talented, and offered some priceless practical pearls about writing and the writing process. Sadly, he passed away in 2019. Other than that, I have a number of other author friends and bloggers who keep me laughing, inspired, and on my toes.
Do you want each book to stand
on its own, or are you trying to build a body of
work with connections between
each book?
I am considering writing another book or two as follow-ups to Wonder and Joy for the Wired and Tired because I am quite passionate about wonder, joy, and well-being, and the importance of having positive relationships with each other and with nature. However, I’m also exploring the possibility of writing some fiction novels, and if I did, I probably would have an eye on trying to build a body of work around them.
What authors did you dislike at
first but grew into?
John Steinbeck. When I was younger, I found his writing too harsh and too dark for my taste. But reading his work now (I recently re-read The Old Man and the Sea), I appreciate his brilliance – the tightness of his prose, the realism of his stories, the richness and depth of his characters, etc. He’s just a great author.
What’s your favorite
under-appreciated novel?
Better Living Though Plastic Explosives by Zsuzsi Gartner. Her writing is unapologetic, funny, and crystal clear.
As a writer, what would you
choose as your mascot/avatar/spirit animal?
Mother Nature. That’s why I named my blog Mother Nature’s Apprentice.
How many unpublished and
half-finished books do you have?
None. But I have a lot of developing novels and characters floating around in my brain - lol. I do keep file(s) for each new idea so I can refer to them when moments of creative inspiration arise.
What did you
edit out of this book?
Some of my discussion on wellness and the wellness industry. It was hard not to editorialize. I wanted to make sure what I wrote was objective and factual.
If you didn’t write, what would
you do for work?
Well, I still teach, give talks, and do research, so there’s that. However, I think if I had more time and didn’t write, I would do something that involved gardening and/or spreading the word on conserving nature, planetary health, etc.
Do you hide any secrets in your
books that only a few people will find?
My current book is non-fiction, so hiding secrets in it would have been tricky. However, if I did write a work of fiction, I think hiding a few secrets here and there would be fun. Thanks for that great idea!
What is your favorite childhood
book?
Charlote’s Web.
connect with the author: website ~ facebook ~ instagram ~ goodreads
This looks really good. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a good book.
ReplyDelete