My name is Dr. Stephen Mateka and I am the author of Stop Screaming at the Sky: Own Your Power in a World Designed to Take It.

I was inspired to write this book based on my work as a child and adolescent psychiatrist, helping youth who are in crisis. So frequently they are up against circumstances out of their control that leave them feeling helpless. My job is to highlight the power they still have, and guide them to use it to reclaim their agency and live more of a life they want.

I see people on a regular basis who tend to focus on what they wish to control, but can’t. As a result, they minimize, ignore, and invalidate the power they still have. Doing this work made it glaringly obvious that a framework to reclaim your power does not only resonate with kids and teens, but with parents, teachers, young adults, millennials, and leaders.

My hope is that, in reading this book, you will discover your ability to own the power to impact what is in your control, thereby getting the results you want. Obstacles will become a footnote on the journey to accomplishing your goals. In this book, I hope to instill in you the same sort of passion and excitement that I have for actively reclaiming your agency and making doubt work in your favor. 

Ultimately, this book is to help you be the person who stands strong against the forces of a world designed to take your power away. You will become a confident and effective problem-solver. Someone who remains true to their values. Someone who creates results by taking ownership of their time and energy. 

Take back control of your life. In this book, I show you how.

Discover a roadmap to reclaim the power of your choices and how you can sustain yourself on this journey by giving and receiving support. Become attuned to the external and internal forces in your life that leave you feeling helpless. Become immune to failure and doubt. In this book I’ll teach you about:

• The Myth of the Sky: Why We Look Up—Through marketing and advertisement, Coca-Cola single handedly branded Christmas as we know it today.
• Your Non-Negotiable Climate: Drawing Your Line in The Sand—My 2 year old son does not know I’m a doctor, but knows I’m home for bath time.
• The Power of Your Wardrobe: Owning your Time, Choices, and Self—When we were growing up, my mother taught my brother and I to own the power of our choices (and we didn’t even realize it was happening).
• 50% Chance of Snow: Why Doubt is Your Secret Weapon—Losing your Imposter Syndrome is one of the worst things you can do.

If it feels like you’re losing control of your life so that it has left you mentally and emotionally exhausted, this book that will help you become resilient again. It will drive home the realization that you truly are capable of accomplishing your goals.

Stop Screaming at the Sky is a nonfiction book that speaks to parents, teachers, young adults, millennials, and leaders who are looking to stop giving their power away and start living life on their terms for the first time.

The Book in 3 Parts

• Part 1 explores the external forces we face as a society where we give our power away in our daily lives. I highlight the internal thinking traps that can leave you feeling helpless. I share my deeply personal moment of realization on the precipice of my daughter being born, that I was giving my power away.  Growth happens when you decide that the one who has the final say in your choices is you, not fear.
• Part 2 investigates the elements required for a strategic approach to reclaim the power you have had all along. You will ensure to anchor your decision making to what truly matters to you, and not be deterred when adversity strikes. Failure is not an endpoint, but a mile marker. It shows you how far you have come, and how far you still need to go. You cannot control your emotions, circumstances, other people, intrusive thoughts, or your past—but you always get to choose how to respond to them.
• Part 3 describes the outward impact and lasting legacy of a commitment to owning your power: to build a ripple effect of agency in your own life and those you encounter. This part features a phone call with my childhood best friend where I learned the impact of one of my social media posts that reinforced the vital truth: when the pressure hits, you do not magically become someone new—you become who you have practiced being.

My Publishing Journey: Where Your Support Goes

I’m publishing Stop Screaming at the Sky with the support of Manuscripts Press, an innovative publisher that provides me with a full publishing team to bring this book to life. Over the coming months I will work closely with:

• A revisions editor, copy editor, and proofreader to refine and elevate every story in the book
• A marketing strategist to help me connect with new audiences and make the book’s message reach those who need it most.
• A cover artist and layout editor who will ensure the final product is visually stunning and professionally produced (these covers are just mockups).

Other Ways to Support Me

Some people just can’t contribute, but that doesn’t mean they can’t help:

• Please share my presale campaign on Facebook, X, and LinkedIn with your friends, family and network. Please use #StopScreamingAtTheSkyBook and tag me so we can help amplify your efforts.
• Please recommend my book to five (5) friends, family members, or co-workers who you think would enjoy it via text or direct message on social media.

Thank you so much for all of your love and support!

Thanks again,
Stephen

About the Author 

Dr. Stephen Mateka is a double-board certified General and Child & Adolescent Psychiatrist, who serves as medical director and co-chair of Psychiatry at a hospital system in southern New Jersey. His clinical work involves helping kids and teens who are in crisis. He works closely with New Jersey’s Children’s System of Care to help ensure the most at-risk youth get the treatment they need.

Dr. Mateka is also heavily involved in local, statewide, and national Psychiatry organizations to help advocate, promote, establish, and disseminate mental health information that will best serve our communities. This work has inspired him to become a first time author, though he has gained experience as Psychiatric Times section editor for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.

Stephen resides in southern New Jersey with his wife Torrey, and their two children, Luke and Emma. He also is a diehard Philadelphia sports fan, despite its questionable impact on his wellness.