I was given a DVD with my first TV interview with Jan Lewis on Be My 
Guest! a couple of weeks ago. I couldn’t figure out how to get it from the DVD to my YouTube Channel or my blog, but I am blessed to have had a child who figured out how to do it for me.
Thank you, Anthony.
So here it is! I hope you enjoy watching it! Please feel free to share this and to comment with any thoughts below!
When I participated in the New England Authors Expo, I met Jan Lewis. She subsequently invited me to be a guest on her show, Be My Guest.
This was my first TV interview since I became a published author.
Okay, my first one ever.
Anyway, My husband came with me for the two hour road trip to Upton, Massachusetts. The episodes are taped at the Upton Town Library. We toured downtown Upton (note: it was quick) and ate lunch at The Upton House of Pizza (bacon pizza and a chicken parm sub).
Jan Lewis, the host of Be My Guest was wonderful!
I had a blast! Being interviewed was so much fun!
That is, until I started Monday morning quarterbacking the shit out of it.
Talk about stealing my joy.
So enough, already. It WAS fun. That’s my story and I’m sticking to it.
P.S. As soon as I know when it will air, I will post the information on my FB page: https://www.facebook.com/k.m.creamer.author/
Okay, fine; so I caved.
When I first published my book, I was cocky. I did it! I wrote it! I put it out there and let other people read it!
Guess what? Other people have opinions. Some of which I don’t like.
Especially about the F word. Does an F word by any other name smell as sweet? Apparently not. Some people didn’t like it that I used poetic license and my self-proclaimed abilities as a wordsmith to come up with a spelling that I liked best for one particular F word. One person, of note because (s)he was the only negative review I received for my book on Amazon, decided to review it without actually reading it because of this.
That was back in March.
Fast forward to now, September. Another person declined to read my book because I used another F word. After consulting with the great literary minds in my household, I made the executive decision to change the spelling of one of the F words under dispute to the one in the Merriam-Webster Dictionary (full disclosure: the online one) instead of the one in the Urban Dictionary.
So, now if someone doesn’t like it, they can bitch to them.
The other F word though, that’s trickier. I don’t think there is more than one way to spell f*&k.
So f*&k it.
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!
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!
Hello and welcome to my new series: The BRAVE Interviews! It’s the Who, What, When, Where, How, (and sometimes Why) of YOUR ‘one brave thing’!
Welcome to Interview #2! Here we go!
**UPDATE: Jody’s new business website is right here: http://www.essenceofspiritceremonies.com/
Who: My name is Jody O’Farrell Breton. I am a (newly) retired (by choice) Respiratory Therapist. I am also an Ordained Interfaith Minister, Ceremonialist and Energy Healing Practitioner. And a tree hugger and a lover of all things earthy 🙂
What: I retired! After participating in a spiritual event in May I made my decision to resign from my career of 35 years and forge ahead on my own as a professional chaplain.
When: August 5, 2016
Where: My last full-time employer in South Portland, Maine
How: I contemplated, dreamed, obsessed, cried, prayed and journeyed on the decision. Oh and discussed it ad nauseam with my husband. Then one day when my stress level reached critical mass at work I came to the decision not impulsively but calmly and with great conviction!
Why: I realized that I am more than a Respiratory Therapist; I have skills and a calling that will not quiet itself. I know that the Universe continually presented me with obstacles to remaining in the status quo and opportunities to spread my wings and fly! Re-invent myself….yes!
Jody’s business is Essence of Spirit Ceremonies. You can reach Jody by email: essenceofspiritweddings@gmail.com
NOTE: Missed Interview #1 with Kathy Eliscu? Just click on her name to read it now!
Hello and welcome to my new series: The BRAVE Interviews! It’s the Who, What, When, Where, How, (and sometimes Why) of YOUR ‘one brave thing’!
We are kicking off the series with Kathy Eliscu, author of the wonderful book, Not Even Dark Chocolate Can Fix This Mess.
So, let’s get started-
Thank you so much, Kathy!
Kathy’s wonderful book (which I read and loved!) is available on her website: kathyeliscu.com and at Amazon.com.
*P.S. Sorry! I am not sure who took the above picture!
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:
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:
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/
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:
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:
Karen Creamer Author, Coach, Speaker 
You must be logged in to post a comment.