Tag: Guest author

Like many authors, I began writing at an early age. My sister and I composed little ditties that we sang to our parents. They loved this. Their laughter and applause encouraged me to continue writing and singing. I received my first guitar at age 14, which launched my passion for music and songwriting. I’ve performed in many local venues over the years.

I was born with deep compassion for the suffering. This led me to choose nursing as a career, which brought me face-to-face with my own mortality. Writing carried me through the dark days when I would arrive at work and learn that another patient I’d grown close to had died. Writing was also my savior when my little feline companions moved on. Grief has to be the most ravaging and desolate emotion. I couldn’t eat, sleep, or work. My babies were gone. The only thing that saved me was writing. I made a memory book into which I pasted all their photos, wrote down every memory I could extract from my muddled brain, and then began writing to them. Years have passed, but I still write to them on their birthdays and deathdays. It’s a catharsis that serves me well in all areas of my life.

As my heart opened, my eyes did as well. My spirit longed for meaning and purpose. It was no accident when I encountered a medicine woman who became my teacher. A new plane of existence opened to me. I’d never had any trouble finding my voice or acknowledging my feelings, but now my spirit was finding expression. It was standing on the precipice of freedom. It had found its wings. Many thoughts and emotions began to clarify. And it was during this time when I realized that death is to life what waking is to sleep.

After watching one too many “doomsday” documentaries regarding the supposed end of the Mayan calendar on 21 December 2012, I wrote my début novel ~ Plateau: Beyond the Trees, Beyond 2012. I was determined to put forth a message of hope into the world.

While honoring the wisdom of her elders, a 15-year-old tribal female learns to face her fear, trust blindly, and overcome adversity. Her will is relentlessly tested as she discovers her strengths and destiny. She ultimately comes face-to-face with herself in a battle that would shrink the will of the most intrepid warrior, unaware that realizing her destiny will irrevocably impact all beings on earth and beyond. Her people inject humor and wisdom throughout this tale of mystery and adventure. The underlying message is that we must keep our hearts open and act from love instead of reacting from fear; we must practice gratitude and compassion within every moment and with every breath. And in so doing, we’ll help elevate the human species to a higher consciousness, facilitating both personal and global peace.

My first children’s book, Gabby and the Quads, was just published. I was inspired to write it after my niece had quadruplets. A child’s moral compass develops early in life, and I wanted to write a book that was ethically as well as traditionally educational.

Gabby is an only child who is about to become big sister to quadruplets! How will she handle this? Her parents decide on a unique approach to introduce her to and help her accept this awesome experience.