7 Reflections from an Accidental Author-Mom

Rewind: Have you ever felt creatively full of ideas while gorging on everything chocolate? Heck, if you're like me you didn't give a care about the calories.

In January after not feeling well for years of creative gorging, I sought the perspective of a literary healer. After the check-up, I was told, "Miss Raymond, you're not sick with writer's block or overweight. You're pregnant with quadruplets...four books. Congratulations." I had no idea! An accident? Really?!

Flash forward: Three of the accidental babies have happily arrived through very successful anthology book launches. Each triplet was different and unique. Each arrival was celebrated in a different, blessed way. Each one was cherished.

Now: As I sit tenderly holding my three Paper Babies, here are seven reflections from our time together from gestation to delivery:
1) Accept that you're already pregnant with many ideas and books that the world needs
2) Privately celebrate the creativity that's now forming
3) Publicly celebrate a pregnancy when your self-esteem is grounded
4) Allow for the book writing process to be natural with an ancient rhythm and flow
5) Seek the expert, midwife support of an editor and publisher for an easy delivery
6) Adopt a Teflon attitude that not everyone will gush over your new paper babies
7) Believe that there are never any accidents--the Universe is always conspiring to birth your best and highest good!

As a professional speaker I often quoted writer Nancy Thayer who said, "It's never too late in life or fiction to revise."

At the young age of 62, I still agree.
I would now edit and expand Nancy's quote to say:
It's never too late to revise, dream, visit Bali, or be pregnant with your book!
I am grateful to be an Accidental Author-Mom.

P.S. Baby Book #4 is due on August 16. Her name? Well, it's perfect: Inspiration for a Woman's Soul: Opening to Gratitude & Grace. I think I'll call her GiGi.

P.P.S. I am grateful to literary midwives, Linda Joy and Bryna Rene Haynes, for their expert support.

P.P.P.S Thank you in advance for visiting my new Amazon Author's page.

Copyright Lore Raymond, 2016. No portion of the blog post or information on this site may be reprinted, re-used or copied to another site without prior written permission from the author.

What Do Poetry, the Full Moon and Summer Solstice Share?

...the answer is Poetry as a Spiritual Practice…

and today's New Book Release!

From Guest Blogger, Ginny Branan:

On this 2016 Summer Solstice Full Moon, comes a collection of personal essays, poems and meditations as we undertake to illuminate the powerful role poetry plays in unleashing our spirits ...

Using the waxing and waning of the moon's phases to illustrate the ebb and flow of our own voices, we share the depth of our calling and explore the mystical experience of birthing a poem and the spiritual bonding of our sisterhood ~

Available here at Amazon

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All proceeds from the sale of these books will go to "Write Girl," a mentoring program that encourages girls to explore and develop their creative talents, both written and oral.

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I'm honored and excited to share my writing in this beautiful book.

P.S. Lore: I'm also delighted to be a part of this exquisite book with my essay, Moon Poetry Ceremonies.

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Published by Golden Dragonfly Press

Available through Amazon beginning Monday, June 20th!

About Ginny Branan: The inner poet and writer in me has finally emerged...the dreamer was always here! I come to this dance a bit later than some, the most important thing is ...I've come!! Comments, critiques an suggestions are welcome. Thank you for checking out my poetry blog. Please become a "Follower."

http://insideoutpoetry.blogspot.jp/

3 Sweet Summer Reads

While the official start of summer is Monday, June 20, there are many ways to now start celebrating!

This Full Rose Moon of the Summer Solstice conjures up plans for the beach, picnics, barbeques, vakays, friends, family, backyards...and ice cream!

What's you favorite ice cream flavor? Mine is peppermint which is only available at the holidays and the reason my freezer is full of several gallons to last until now.

So after you've finished your ice cream, here are three sweet summer reads sure to delight your reading taste buds-- each one with its own special flavor. 

They're all available next week. In the meantime, you're invited to the Facebook book launch parties! Just RSVP and click on the links below:

June 20, Summer Solstice Book Launch:
Poetry as a Spiritual Practice: Illuminating the Awakened Woman edited by Catherine Ghosh, and published by Alice Maldonando of  Dragonfly Press.

My essay explains how I came to love poetry and use prayer poems in the moon rituals I write and facilitate.
I am grateful to celebrate being a coauthor in my second of four books to be published this year!

Shout out to sister writers and poets Maureen Kwiat Meshenberg, Tracie Nichols, and Carolyn Avalani. All proceeds will be donated to the nonprofit, WriteGirls. Available June 20 at Amazon.

June 21 Book Launch:
365 Moments of Grace, with editors Jody Chapman and Dan Teck plus 200+ authors.
My three stories share moments of grace experienced when I became a first-time mother in Roatan, Honduras; connecting with Sasha Kitty after she died and; love surprisingly expressed my last day of teaching.
I'm grateful to celebrate being a coauthor in my third of four books to be published this year!

Shout out to sister writers with inspiring stories in this book including: Jen Flick, Shelley Lundquist, Sheila Callaham, Lori Santo, Judy McNutt, Laurie Cagno Witter, Judy Clements, Tae Lynne, Karen Wythe, Robin Chellis, Lisa Hutchinson, Natasha Botkin  Janet Nestor, Pooja Shende, Sue Kearney, and Colleen Georges.
Available June 21 at Amazon

June 20: Book Launch:
The Art of Inspiration: An Editor's Guide to Writing POWERFUL, EFFECTIVE Inspirational & Personal Development Books by Bryna Rene Haynes, published by Linda Joy and Inspired Living Publishing.

This is no ordinary writing how-to book or reference book, but rather an energetic companion guide for writers of all experience levels!

Available June 20 at Amazon.

Poetry, Grace, and Inspiration--now these are three yummilicious flavors to enjoy reading this summer!

Would you like another scoop?

Why Celebrate World Oceans Day?

Never doubt that a thoughtful group of citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.  -Margaret Mead

This June 8 please stop. Please take time to focus on the horrific state of our world's oceans and what you might do to make a difference. You might be thinking how or why can I do this?

Yes, there are many recent soul-tugging events calling out for your attention and inspired action: the sentencing of a rapist at Stanford University; the unexpected death of Hirambe, a silverback gorilla and; the burning of 19 girls by Isis for refusing to be sex slaves. Just knowing about these horrific events makes me soul-sick. But I have to get over feeling lousy or depressed and DO SOMETHING about them...and our world's oceans.

Perhaps more frightenly, you and I --or our grandchildren--might not be able to live here with Mother Earth if we continue trashing our world's oceans!

There are many ways to take inspired action. Just be one drop in the ocean of change. I don't claim to be an expert on the world's oceans. Instead, a Peruvian shaman friend told me that I was a chacaruna--a bridge person--to share important information like this with you and my tribe. By wearing this mantle, I am a passionate activist bringing important and sacred information to light. I love and live near the Gulf of Mexico; I want my grandson Blake, now a year old, to enjoy it.

Won't you please take 17 minutes to check out this link? It offers Resources and Promotional Materials to share today or this week to celebrate World Oceans Day.
http://www.worldoceansday.org/resources

Thank you in advance for being a very special and important drop in the ocean of change.

P.S. Would you share what ocean/seas you live by or have visited in your travels?

7 Ways to Bloom in June

"I wonder what it would be like to live in a world where it was always June," muses L.M. Montgomery.

June is National Rose Month, the flower that symbolizes love with the highest vibration of any flower on the planet.
So it's no wonder that you might feel the loving generosity that June shares in a bouquet of kindness, compassion, and beauty. Yes, days are hot; I say that the "Florida Oven" is now officially on until October. With spring flowers like roses now blooming, it's time to also savor the yummilicious bounty of Mother Nature in recipes filled with strawberries, mangos, and peaches.

With an open heart, you're sure to be smiling, skipping, and laughing more. You're happily thinking about vacations, outdoor adventures and, perhaps memories of summer camp.

This June why not create more loving memories and add them like roses to your bouquet of gratitude?

Here are seven ways to bloom in June:
1) Plant a rose bush at home or perhaps at your church; my siblings and I did the later to celebrate my parent's 50th wedding anniversary with a Silver Lilac rose bush. Be sure to name your plant!

2) Buy yourself roses for no reason except to say: "I love you, _____. You are worthy.You are ahh-some. You are enough!"

3) Write your AAA List--Always Advance Appreciation--with fearless intentions on the New Moon of June 5. Visualize the month ahead of what you seek to do and to be and capture these thoughts on the page to reread every day.

4) Celebrate the Full Rose Moon--the Summer Solstice on June 21 by camping out --literally in a tent or perhaps in a new place like a B & B in the countryside. Consider making s'mores, storytelling, and singing with family and friends regardless of where you lay your head down.

5) Learn more about aromatherapy and the uses of rose oil, rosemary and lavender scents.

6) Cook with new and different herbs; start by taking a field trip to a farmer's market or spice shop and be adventuresome with your purchases!

7) Share your gift of love with family, friends, and a stranger. Be open to how these acts of kindness, compassion, and beauty might appear. Just be sure to set the intention that you'll do this in June.

Thank you sharing--always good karma--and for adding your ideas of how you might bloom in June.

Then you won't have to "wonder what it would be live to in a world where it is always June."