author – Page 5 – Karen Creamer Author, Coach, Speaker

SPOTLIGHT ON: Zen and Company

September 3, 2016September 3, 2016 by Karen, posted in Animals and pets, author, books, Crystals, friends, local fun, Meditation, Metaphysical healing

If you have never been to Zen and Company in Kennebunk, you are really missing out.

Beautiful clothing and (Dansko!) shoes? They have them. A wide variety of oracle cards? They have them. Excellent books*? Yes! The most amazing crystals? OMG, yes! Yes! They have those, too!

Even more important is this: once you pass through the door of Zen and Company, you will not ever want to leave. The atmosphere is so warm and inviting, it just wraps around you like a big warm hug.

All of the staff will welcome you and help you figure out what you want, even when you aren’t sure exactly what that is. Have questions? They can help you. Curious about what the cards in that oracle deck you have your eye on look like, and there isn’t a demo deck open? Just ask them and they will open the deck up for you. You know you need a crystal, but aren’t sure which one? Sue is not only knowledgable, but is also has a knack for helping you define what your own intuition is trying to tell you that you can’t quite grasp on your own.

Maybe you are shopping for a nice dress (eg: a dress you look hot in) to wear to dinner on your twenty-fifth wedding anniversary but you have zero fashion sense (hello? me!). They will help you find the perfect dress! I looked amazing on my 25th anniversary in the dress that Sue helped me pick out at Zen! Just sayin’!

Zen and Company. Go! Tell them Karen sent you!

*So maybe you noticed that I mentioned they have books? One of the (fabulous) books they have is MY book, One Brave Thing. So go, already!

Finding new treasures

September 2, 2016November 30, 2016 by Karen, posted in author, books, local fun, writing

11/30/16: I decided to update this post. I made several trips to this shop after I gave them a free copy of One Brave Thing as well as newspaper articles about me publishing my book. On the third trip, I discovered that they didn’t know what they did with it!

I decided to trust the Universe and let this one go.

🙂

Recently, I wrote about attending an author talk given by Anita Shreve. I mentioned that I found out about it at the last-minute from my husband (an avid reader of newspapers). As happens so often in life, this even led me to another happy accident: I discovered a local bookstore that I had somehow missed.

I know, right? Unbelievable!

After Kennebooks (seriously, play the violins-I loved that store) closed, I thought that Kennebunk was now bereft of book stores.

Not true.

The Book Burrow sponsored Anita’s talk. That’s how I found out about it! It was like getting a free gift with purchase! I got to see Anita and I found a new local bookstore to love!

When I visited the The Book Burrow’s website, I was welcomed by a wonderful poem by Adelaide Love. Go to their website and check it out!

One note: I mentioned that I saw Anita Shreve speak years ago. I still have my book that she signed, my favorite book of hers: Fortune’s Rocks. What’s wonderful about this is that she put the date when she signed it! Yay! So I’ve decided to do this when I sign my book as well.

See? This author talk is the gift that keeps on giving. 🙂

Anita Shreve in Kennebunk

August 19, 2016August 19, 2016 by Karen, posted in author, books, Brave books, local fun, writing

I had the great good luck to find out about Anita Shreve‘s talk at RiverTree Center for the Arts last evening in time to actually go. What a good thing that my husband, unlike me, actually reads the newspaper we buy every Thursday.

I have had the opportunity to hear her talk once before, years ago, but this is the first time since I published my own book, so I was especially interested in hearing about her process.
I wasn’t disappointed. She talked about how inspiration for her novels comes together from different areas of her life and then explodes into an idea in her mind. It was fascinating to hear exactly how she turned this into The Weight of Water, perhaps her favorite of her own books. Many of you may know that this book also became a movie, and she told us about how exciting that was for her (even if they did change the ending!).

The experience of The Pilot’s Wife being an Oprah pick (and which also was made into a movie) was also discussed. Anita is very honest in giving her thoughts and feelings about her books and her writing and I’m certain this is just one thing that makes her such a wonderful writer.

But my favorite thing she talked about was how, at various times throughout her writing career, she has worried, “What would my kids think if they read this?” How validating for me to hear that I am in such good writer-ly company! My own book would have been published years ago if I hadn’t had that self-sabotaging thought.

No more worrying about what other people, family included, might think about my writing. I am taking Anita’s advice. I am writing for myself.
Thanks, Anita.

NOTE: Anita Shreve has written (I believe) at least 18 books. Her new book, The Stars are Fire, will be available in April, 2017. I can’t wait!

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

BOOK REVIEW: Capturing the Last Welsh Witch by J.M. Davies

August 16, 2016August 16, 2016 by Karen, posted in author, book reviews, books

Capturing the Last Welsh Witch is the story of Ella and Marcus, a story that spans time and space. Ella is not who she seems to be. Ella is from the clan of Ariana, and is a being that has lived before. She has always had flashbacks from her prior lives. She is well aware of her incarnations prior to this one.

The book opens with Ella in the thick of it with a very bad man. She comes to battered and bruised, aware of having had an altercation, much of which she can’t recall right away. Vampires and Soul-Shifters and Witches, oh my!

Her memory comes back to her in bits and frightening pieces, as she tries to figure out how she got to where she was and hey, what the hell happened, anyway?

She is soon joined by Marcus, the FBI agent assigned to bring her in. There are multiple layers to his being as well, of which, unlike Ella, he is only just becoming aware.

Their lives intertwine and are underwritten by a tumultuous love story, as they both try to figure out who they are to each other, and what to do with that knowledge once they have it. At the same time that Ella is running from The Elusti, Marcus in running toward them, adding to the tension in the story.

Ella’s sad story is that all of the men in her prior lives have betrayed her, leading to disastrous outcomes. Now she has to decide if past history will predict the present situation, or if she can risk trusting a man.

Marcus is faced with a moral dilemma that many of us have also faced on the job. Should he follow the orders from his supervisor that make no sense, or follow his gut? And just like in real life, when he follows his gut, his true path emerges.

Full disclosure: there is a little more violence in this book than I usually let into my comfort zone, but the nice love story made it worthwhile.

The best quote in the book is this one, said to Marcus by his mother Josephine (p. 84):

“Listen with your heart, not your mind.”

Side note: The references to Wells (my town!), Maine definitely made me happy. YAY! WELLS! The friendliest town in Maine!

You can buy Capturing the Last Welsh Witch by J.M. Davies on Amazon.com. Check out her Facebook page!

Public speaking

August 12, 2016August 12, 2016 by Karen, posted in author, friends, no fear

Public speaking has never (ever, ever) been my forte. I remember the first time I had to speak in front of a group of people, in a debate class. I almost fainted from hyperventilation and sheer terror.

Neville author talk, photo by Joanne Nolan

As an adult, I don’t fare much better (on the inside, at least). I think I’m okay, or okay-ish, but when the time comes, it turns out, I am not, or not-ish.

Have you ever seen the movie, Broadcast News? The scene where Aaron (played by actor Albert Brooks) experiences flop sweats when he does his first live newscast? Well, that was me. Did I mention it was 99 degrees that day? The air conditioner was no match for the room full of people, the heat of the day, and my angst.

Turns out, it didn’t matter. I felt the fear (oh, man, did I!) but I did it anyway.

Everyone who came to listen was very kind and gracious. They all made me feel welcome. They didn’t mind that I had stop to blot my face a couple of times during my talk. Some even gave me some (valuable) feedback about what they thought I did especially well.

For which I am forever grateful.

BOOK REVIEW: Come Running When I Call by Kimberly Sue McGlaughlin

August 5, 2016August 5, 2016 by Karen, posted in author, book reviews, books, writing

I met the author, Kim, when I first started going to the Community Market of the Kennebunks on Saturdays.

I just finished reading her book, Come Running When I Call, a memoir about a girl and her horse.

You know, the horse.

But don’t think you have to be a girl who loves horses to enjoy this book–although if you are, you certainly will!

Anyone who loves reading memoir will enjoy this story of how Kim learns about herself and her own strength and limits as she learns to love and care for her horse, Trixie.

One fascinating part for me was when Kim describes her tenth birthday, from what she wore to what she ate to what was said that day. So impressive! I have a photo of myself on my tenth birthday, but only because I had a party with friends invited, a very unusual occurrence in my family. Even though I have the photo somewhere, I still can’t remember what the heck I was wearing that day…

The author also describes the difficult years growing up with a father who possessed a big, unpredictable temper. Many of us can relate to living in a home where you feel like you are walking on eggshells much of the time.

What is great about this story is that it shows how even a little girl with no money can set an intention for what she wants, and then the universe starts conspiring to deliver it to her. Like the little boy who wants a bike in the movie, The Secret, what she needs starts showing up. She finds people to teach her how to take care of her horse. She finds ways to earn the money that she needs to buy her horse.

Amazing.

Enjoy the story!

If you are local, you can come to The Community Market of the Kennebunks most Saturdays to buy your copy and get it signed by the author! Or click on the name of the book (above) to find it on Amazon.com.

If you come to the market and want another great book to read, stop by my table to take a look at One Brave Thing!

As an aside, if you are not familiar with the movie, The Secret, here’s a link to watch it for free:

BOOK REVIEW: The Rare Pearl by Jennifer W. Smith

August 3, 2016August 3, 2016 by Karen, posted in author, books, writing

Get ready for a wild ride through the ocean to another realm. In this exciting book, The Rare Pearl, by Jennifer W. Smith, Harmony Parker gets pulled out of her everyday life and plunked down in the middle of another world. The opening scene sparks a dozen questions right away , as well as a little fear. A little, but not too much, which is important to me as a reader. I like a little tension and mystery, but I don’t want to be terrorized. Harmony hits the ground running, experiencing a birth and a death almost as soon as she arrives. She also has a recurring dream that expands a bit more every time she has it, giving her (and us) some clues to a tragic event in her past.

Random (fun!) notes from the book:

The “Wicked cool!” (p20) resonated with the New Englander in me.
When the author talks about the meaning of Harmony’s name (p34), it made me want to look up the meaning of my own name. So I did: it means ‘pure’.
There is a character named Lynn (p34). I had to stop to take a picture of that passage and email it to my friend Lynn. 🙂
This quote about the ocean air (p56): “One deep breath was all she needed before a sense of calm washed over her.” Me. That sums up the essence of me, right there in that quote. Isn’t it amazing when someone else writes a sentence that is all about you?

Here is a preview of The Rare Pearl on YouTube:

You know that feeling you get when a great book ends and you feel a little lost? A pang of regret? Well, relax! This book is Book 1 of a series! Book 2 is The Forsaken Pearl , which will be out in September 2016. I can’t wait!

Check out my friend Jennifer’s website here: http://www.jenniferwsmith.com/

Also, if you want to read another good book, consider checking out my book, One Brave Thing!

Top 10 reasons to attend The New England Authors Expo

July 29, 2016July 29, 2016 by Karen, posted in author, books, Brave books, friends, Life's too short to read bad books

I went to The New England Authors Expo this week at The Danversport Yacht Club in (you guessed it) Danvers, MA. It was a hot summer day, and I was hopeful that the masses would like to get out of the hot sun and into the cool a/c, but not a whole lot did. The good news is that the readers who did make the effort to attend were amazing! We all appreciate it so much (thank you Robin, Sheila, Chrissy and Scott!) when our friends come out to support our writing!

I also am so blessed to have the support of my family. My husband, Bill, and my daughter, Izzy, spent the entire day with me, helping me get set up, keeping me fed and watered, and helping me connect with readers (yep; still shy). My son, Anthony, encourage me from afar via technology. Thank you so much!

Plus I made several new friends and met many terrific writers. I love how my book, One Brave Thing, has connected me to so many other people (and books!) that I might never have known otherwise.

I am loving every minute of this!

Maybe you should come to the next Expo.

Top 10 Reasons to Attend the Next New England Authors Expo:

You will learn a lot.
Your isolated writer-ly life will be broken open.
Colleagues! You have them! They are at The Expo! (Jennifer Davies, Jennifer W. Smith)
Attend panel discussions! You will always learn at least new thing. I took pages of notes that I am looking forward to reviewing (Hello, free time? It’s Karen. I miss you…).
See what your fellow authors are doing to market their writing.
Show other authors what YOU are doing to market YOUR writing.
Get cool author swag (Check out the photo above)!
Learn some new social media strategies–and what to avoid doing.
You can offer to trade books (and reviews!) with other authors and then you have some excellent reads for the near future!

And the top 10 reason is:

10. You will have so much fun!!! 🙂

I came away from this event so inspired with ideas on how to market my book and to help my readers. I received an invitation to a free online webinar (note to self: register for free online webinar!), so the learning continues even once you get home. I met Gayle C. Heney, who talked to me about her program Write Now. I received an invitation to be on Be My Guest!, a program for writers hosted by Jan Lewis (stay tuned for details as the become available).

Inspiration? It’s a wonderful thing!

Here is a video from an Authors Expo from years past, to give you a flavor of what it’s like:

BOOK REVIEW: A Couple by Peter Raymond UPDATED

July 21, 2016August 4, 2016 by Karen, posted in author, books, Brave books, family, Grace, local fun, my one word

There are so many wonderful books that have come into my life as a result of my book, One Brave Thing.

This book, a couple by Peter Raymond, I discovered at the Kennebunk Community Market. I brought it home and stood it up on my kitchen table. I then began emptying my car of all the flotsam and jetsam from my author table at the market (note to self: streamline this author table deconstruction process already).

My daughter came in and right away she made a bee-line for the book. “What’s this?” she said, and then plopped herself down in a chair and began reading it. “It’s a picture book,” I said.

“It’s a nice book,” she said.

I stopped what I was doing and sat down to read it with her.
There is a picture that includes the word “GRACE“, which is ‘my one word’ this year. That got my attention right away. It felt like a sign that I was supposed to be reading this book, at this time, with my daughter. Next, I saw a picture of a heron. Hello? I have been seeing the heron everywhere lately. When you see a symbol of any kind repeatedly, that means there is a message there for you.

I’ll stop there, because I don’t want to tell you the entire book before you get to read it yourself! Come to the Kennebunk Community Market and get your own copy!

UPDATE: Peter’s work is also available at his online shop here: https://www.etsy.com/shop/peterraymondimages

SPOTLIGHT ON: Nonesuch Books, Biddeford ME

July 15, 2016July 15, 2016 by Karen, posted in author, books, Crystals, local fun, shopping

There is a great book store in Biddeford: Nonesuch Books. They have books for sale, of course, both new and used. They also have a lot of interesting magazines along the left side wall of the store, complete with strategically placed chairs, to aid and abet your magazine perusal.

🙂

What you might not know is how many other cool things they sell.