Metaphysical Author
Reclaiming My Life

Reclaiming My Life

by | Jul 28, 2026 | Books, Cancer Diagnosis, Self-Empowerment, Spirituality

So many of you have reached out that I thought it was time for an update.

I love to write, but life has presented a few unexpected detours.

For years, I was a full-time caregiver for my lovely mother. As her needs increased, my writing time steadily decreased. Then came Covid. For two years, we barely left home.

Eventually, Mom passed away peacefully. Afterwards, I needed time alone to regroup. Unplugging my phone became my favorite pastime.

Before long, I began to work on my first three books. As a self-taught graphic designer, I do everything myself, and every step takes time.

I decided to increase the page count of each book by decreasing the trim size. That meant every interior page had to be reformatted. Changing the page count also changed the spine width, so each cover had to be resized as well. Rather than simply resize them, I took the opportunity to give them a fresh look. Thanks to the golden talent of artist Terrence Kennedy—whom many of you know—the covers look so much more refined.

My creativity flourished—until I was diagnosed with breast cancer. As I’ve shared before, that diagnosis and everything that followed was like having a stop sign thrust in front of me. Healing took precedence. Once again my writing projects were on hold.

Fast forward a year and a half. Thankfully, my mammograms have shown no signs of cancer. (Heartfelt thanks to everyone who contributed to my GoFundMe page. Your kindness and generosity made a significant difference.) I still have ongoing health concerns and frequent appointments with both holistic and traditional physicians. But in between those visits I am reclaiming my life and back to working on my writing projects full time.

Soon, I will print all three manuscripts for a final read-through. (Yes, I have an amazing editor but still like to give each book one last careful review myself.)

Next, I am considering shifting my book distribution from Lightning Source to Ingram Spark. Once that is set and the updated documents are uploaded, I will take the necessary steps to convert my print books to eBooks, which I will then upload to Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP). Then (drum roll please) I’ll be ready to begin marketing.

Sidenote: KDP offers a promotional feature I like. If you are exclusive with your eBook distribution for at least 90 days, you can give your eBook away for free for 5 days of your choice.

Then comes the part I am eagerly anticipating: my next three books. One is my very first work of fiction, inspired by a dream. Such a fun project. 

Thank you for your patience, your encouragement, and for staying with me through this journey. More updates soon!

A Writer is Born

A Writer is Born

by | Sep 4, 2025 | Books, Self-Empowerment, Self-Publishing

In my first Jyotish reading in LA, maybe 40 years ago, the astrologer talked about how far reaching my writing would become. I had no point of reference for what he was saying and no impulse to write. Having spent most of college days at the potter’s wheel, I couldn’t recall writing a single paper.

Years passed. The recording of that reading was long forgotten in a drawer. I was living in a meditating community surrounded by good friends. I had a great job, wonderful employer, apartment with floor to ceiling windows and handmade lace curtains, and I just bought my first new car. Life was good.

Until it wasn’t. Until it felt like my seams were unraveling. Day after day I had this feeling, this inner prompting, that I had to do more with my life. But more what?

Without knowing what the future held, I left that life behind to find an answer. I quit the job, gave up the apartment, sold the car, but kept the friends. And went to India, where I began to write and write and write. I haven’t stopped since.

When the thought to write a book was enlivened, I had no idea how to begin. Fortunately, nature intervened. The words just poured out.

But how does one go from writing to publishing? Today, with information at our fingertips, I imagine it is easier for new writers to get their footing. It was not easy for me to get mine. It was a long learning curve.

Finding a gifted editor who force-fed me grammar helped. (Thank you, Jim F.)

Finding a talented and kind graphic artist also helped. These days most graphic artists work on their own, but this generous artist let me watch her work. Aside from having an adorable bird sitting on my knee each session, I began to see how books are constructed, details about layout, etc. In short, I was educated. I’m forever grateful. (Thank you, Liz H.)

I found a publisher interested in my first book right away. When they suggested there were changes they wanted me to make, I declined their offer. In retrospect, it’s likely their ideas would have enhanced the book. I’ll never know because I never took the time to listen.

Why? Because I felt guided to put those words on paper, and there wasn’t anything I wanted to change. I began to explore self-publishing where I could make all my own decisions. The rest is history.

In short, it took two months to write my first book and two years until I held a copy in my hand.

Since then, I’ve written two more books but I’ve never taken a writing class. The closest I came was when I was living in Venice, California. A friend invited me to sit in on a few of her writing classes in Marina Del Ray taught by an exceptional teacher named Bernard Selling.

I was invested in writing lyrics at the time and never signed up for Bernard’s class. Decades later, that experience became a milestone in my life. You can read more about it in my blog Psychic Whispers.