To come "out of one’s shell” is an interesting idiom. I imagine the little turtle poking her head from her glossy green shell, wishing she could just stay home. It always seemed that the turtle was expected to chuck that embarrassing shell and get on with her life. But a turtle can’t actually leave its shell. I can’t actually shirk my need for quiet time. It’s…
It’s been a rougher week for me, but I've been surrounded by good friends. I’m feeling the urgency to slow down, and autumn's arrival has helped me with that. I’m also feeling the push to dig into artistic expression to get my sanity back. Hugs and kisses to all of you feeling the same way right now! Here’s what’s knocking around in my head this week:…
The Phoenix is the stuff of dreams. Crimson and gold feathers that glint in the night, a five hundred year life span that ends with fiery immolation, a death that ushers forth new life… This is how I’d track down a Phoenix of my own. First, an airplane ticket to Egypt! Phoenix tales proliferate here and historic (See Ovid and Herodotus) accounts claim this country receives…
Sometimes my times in darkness shape me just as much as my times in the light. Depression is like a deep sleepwalk, a fog cutting me off from seeing the world like I once used to. I can’t touch or sense things the same way. I’m trapped in a sleep/death. Sleeping Beauty lay in a dreamless prison for a hundred years. Snow White ate a poisoned…
I am very excited to introduce you today to Steven Luna. Steven and I met through our publisher and the amazing world of Twitter. I was immediately struck by his kindness in helping spread good news for others across the web, as well as a fun-loving attitude that was readily apparent in all his communications. His photo says it in a nutshell...(scroll down to see what…
I'm pleased to introduce you today to Jesse James. Jesse and I met on Twitter through our mutual publisher, Booktrope, and I believe the first conversation we launched into was about the TV show LOST (you can imagine how crazy conversations like that quickly become), and then later I recall him admitting, also over Twitter he needed Karo syrup to make more fake blood. Needless to…
I sat in a room with 200 amazing, powerful, beautiful women this weekend at the 2012 Women's Leadership Summit and was blown away by the mass of ladies ready to change how women interact with culture, business, and society. Through an act of amazing perfection, I attended this event via a work-trade arrangement (read my ecstatic post about all this coming together). I came away with…
I'm honored to introduce you today to Karen. Karen and I met through a writers' group where, once a week, we write for half an hour, then swallow our pride and read out loud whatever we've just scratched out onto the paper to the three people sitting nearest us. It takes courage, and Karen has been very encouraging to me in my work. She also introduced…
The following is a real-life account of a girl who almost got in major trouble with SeaTac airport security. I'm what most people would call a "good girl." I like pleasing people and maintaining order. But, below the surface of me, lies my fear of doing something wrong. I wasn't afraid when I sent my carry-on backpack through the airport X-ray. That's because I didn't know the…
Every time I stay in my house for a long time in isolation and start gobbling huge quantities of chocolate to deal with my stir-craziness, I'm reminded that the hermit lifestyle was not designed to be a life-long gig. The human condition comes with a hardwired need of others. I need companionship, affection, feedback, encouragement, teamwork, as well as.... I discovered, based on an assessment, that I…