This morning I sat at the window seat at KJ’s cafe, which opened up limited seating just yesterday. It’s my favorite spot to work uninterrupted, and still hear and feel activity going on around me.

I saw some familiar faces, chatted with friends and family, (while wearing masks), and then went back to work, sipping my large iced coffee. Ah! Heaven in a cup.

Although I’m still in edit mode for the book just finished, I’ve set out on a marketing spree, checking out websites that will “shout out” my newest book, enrolling in promotions, one specifically that’s highlighting sports romances, creating new posts using Canva, and making a list of  “tweets” so I’m ready to put something new out there every day. This is the most difficult part of the writing process for me. I become so engrossed in the story I forget about the other pieces I should be attending to in order to make sales. I’ve often said I’d do this for nothing, and have some months, but it’s always gratifying to see that someone purchased one of my books. (I actually do a happy dance)

Today I’m strategizing on how to get my new series out in the world. It’s close to my heart and I believe it contains an important message.

Everyday Goddesses, is more contemporary women’s lit than romance. Drawing on the sacred images of the ancient world, each story is designed to capture the essence of the most prominent goddesses. My intent is to show that every woman, living thousands of years ago or today, embodies the same qualities that were once honored and respected. According to history, and the discovery of artifacts that date back to the Paleolithic period, humanity’s first image of life was the mother. It was a time when children considered themselves part of the natural world, in kinship with all of life, a part of the whole.

It’s one of the reasons I chose Rhea to go first. She was daughter of Gaia and considered “mother of the gods”, Zeus her most famous son. She was the creative source of Life, not of the world, but the world herself.

In Magic Bean Cafe, Rhea is mother to Willow, keeper of the hearth, owner of the best coffee shop in town, where all are welcome. She’s a natural caretaker, representing maternal instincts, and is nurturing, responsible and compassionate. Women like Rhea  always run the risk of neglecting their own needs in service to others.

How many of us have neglected out our needs, at one time or another, to take care of others? How many of us have birthed a child or a career, and nurtured it, sustained it, and protected it?

In the second book, Once There Was a Tree,  I’ve chosen to illuminate Gwenhywfar, a Celtic goddess, ferocious warrior and co-ruler of Britain. She had a fierce spirit, a dragon’s fire, and with spear in hand, a face painted for war, she went into battle armed and ready.

Gwen, the character in this story, is disciplined, and competitive, an ex-army vet whose  fighting spirit was on full display when stationed in the Middle East. When she is air-lifted out with an injury, she totters into “maiden” territory, where she becomes more passive, reluctant to accept she is more than what she thinks. By enduring emotional and physical loss, she’s propelled forward and is able to reclaim her warrior identity, that of a creative and passionate woman, who displays profound inner strength.

How many of us have gone through hardships that seemed unsurmountable and had to work our way back? How many of us have defeated the foe or demon, usually through resilience and persistence? How many have found that once they had, they were stronger for it?

As women, we shape shift through all the archetypes at one time or another, encompassing them all over the course of our lives, be it Lover, Mother, Maiden, Queen, Huntress, Sage, or Mystic.

We are all everyday goddesses, goddesses in some form every day.

 

[DISPLAY_ULTIMATE_SOCIAL_ICONS]

Let's Stay in Touch!

Call Now Button