Wednesday, January 29, 2025

Character Birthdays & Akashic Records

 


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My childhood hero, Alexander Hamilton, was born on January 11th on the little volcanic island of Nevis. Carrying the Edwardian novel I'd discovered in a used book store, I traveled with my mother to the place of his birth. Mother had her drawbacks, but she certainly took me to some interesting and (by Americans) rarely visited places back in the 1950's, for which I remain grateful. January cannot pass without a retelling. 

I hope you will forgive me for this often told tale, but I am getting older and there is a certain compulsion to leave something behind which someone might remember. That Edwardian novel, short on facts though it proved to be, gained us entry to a little "hotel" on the island, because the owner regularly refused would-be guests if they had children. Being a quiet, polite child with a passion for this illustrious native son got us in the door, even though the lady of the house was quite ready, upon seeing me, to cast us out, literally, into the night. 




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January 27th is Mozart's birthday, so his natal day has just passed. Here's a character who took over my life for years--and years. Recently, I had an Akashic reading from a clairvoyant, who uncovered some material relating to this long obsession. I have never ventured into this territory before and had absolutely zero expectations. 

First, however, I need to talk a little about what I understand concerning the Akashic records.  I will quote Wikipedia: "In the religion of Theosophy and the spiritual movement called Anthroposophy, the Akashic Records are believed to be a compendium of all universal events, thoughts, words, emotions, and intent ever to have occurred in the past, present or future..." This includes all sentient entities and life forms, not only "humans." Akasha is a Sanskrit term meaning "aether", sky or atmosphere and the foundational notion came West from Buddhist philosophy. 

Akasha became Akashic via Helena Blavatsky, founder of Theosophy, who spoke of "indestructible tablets of astral light." Later esoteric philosophers, C.W. Leadbeater, Rudolf Steiner, Alice Bailey and Edgar Cayce, enlarged the concept. Akashic Records were likened to the entire experience, past, present, and future, of every life form in the universe--a kind of vibrational, spiritual "cloud" storage for infinity. These "files" could be retrieved by skilled practitioners and revealed to individuals.

You can go further down that particular rabbit hole and never escape. For instance, Ervin Laszlo's 2004 book "Science & the Akashic Field": An integral Theory of Everything, which attempts to explain mysteries of quantum physics via this philosophical structure. Therefore, I'll return to the original subject, my unexpected experience with an Akashic reading. 

Many people seek Akashic readings hoping to find connections with famous historical heroes/heroines, but I wasn't one of them. The whole idea seemed absurd to me. If we are reborn, why shouldn't most of us have been some kind of working stiff, just one of the "cast of thousands" "another brick in the wall" character? 

Here's what happened to me. I was told I had spent many years reliving and remembering a past life, evading the tasks of my present soul/life on this planet. Long story short, my informant said it would be best to stop. I could honestly reply I'd left that "addiction" behind, because I knew exactly what the clairvoyant was talking about, the decade spent exclusively on  all those Mozart books/research/music. Apparently, according to the reading,  I was, a few lifetimes ago, a part of his circle. The feeling was not "wow!" but more like the calm which descends when you find a puzzle piece for which you've been searching and snap it into place.

Don't misunderstand, those "Mozart" books are the first born of my novels, and I love them--and their characters--dearly. However, becoming a slave to a compulsion which drove me to total immersion did some real world, actual, harm. Jobs were lost; security endangered, important relationships neglected, while I spent all my time and energy "in" the 18th Century. 

This, of course, sounds more than a little unhinged, but I intend to read more on the subject, especially the recent material linking systems theory to "reverence for natural systems."

"There are more things in heaven and earth than are dreamt of in your philosophy..." 

~Juliet Waldron

Sources: Wikipedia articles on Theosophy, Collective Unconscious, Anthony Peake, Ervin Laszlo, Rudolf Steiner, Madam Blavatsky, Edgar Cayce et al.

New Age, New Answers to Deep Questions by Ruta Sevo, PhD

momox.org/pythia  Akashic Readings

Tuesday, January 28, 2025

Act as if What You Do Makes A Difference By Connie Vines #YA Historical Novels, #First People, #Lakota, #Writing Tips

 

Act as if what you do makes a difference. 





Act as if what you do makes a difference. It does.  -- William James


As a writer, I think of scenes and storylines. Every story promises two things to the reader: an emotional one and an intellectual one since the function of a story is to make you feel and think. However, there is also a beginning to each day, where I, as a human being, must function in daily living.

As part of my daily life, I am aware of how my actions, words, and attitudes affect others positively or negatively.

Act as if what you do makes a difference. It does.

Every culture has a code of honor and an acceptable path through life. Some follow that path, while others push or ignore the boundaries.

In addition, if you are familiar with  Native American Culture, the Lakota People know that what you choose to do at any given time, whether a good deed or an evil one, has consequences that impact seven generations. 

Seven generations equals 100 years. (1920 - 2020); (1820 - 1920).

Imagine if one of your ancestors had chosen a different path; your life could be entirely different. 

This is why I strive to take the high road in my writing and personal life. I don't always succeed, but I at least aim for the target.

 I also strive to keep my characters in check. Even when my villains do terrible things (Sister Enid to Tay in Whisper upon the Water), I show motivation and life events. Hence, the reader understands why this happened, but I never make the behavior acceptable.

The beginning of a story should give the reader a person to focus on, yet you are the main character in your life story.

Q and A

Look back over your your life. What have you learned? What stories do you have to share?


What have I learned? 

On a family vacation to a swamp in South Georgia, I learned that gators can run very fast! While that did not make for a particularly fantastic life event (especially at the beginning of the day), it would make a great scene in a novel or short story.

1. I strove to not panic.

2. I did not scream as I ran. 

3. I prayed that my sons would not witness their mother being chomped on by a bellowing alligator.

4. I could outrun the reptile (because it stopped at the top of the hill.)

5. After the event, I explained that my actions (going down to the water's edge) weren't very wise.

6. We discussed what we might watch for so the event was not repeated.

7. After we left the swamp, we stopped at a local eatery for a fried gator tail. Yes, we are not taking the high road here. We called it 'regional food' and left it at that! (I recommend gator tail. It's rich in protein and is the texture of chicken with a richer flavor.)

Q and A

Do the stories you read or the stories you write reflect your personality? 

Or do you go rogue? Are you an introvert reading about the exciting life of an extrovert? Or are historicals your go-to stories?


And, yes, every one of my heroines has a bit of my personality. 😉

Happy Reading,

Connie


Where's Connie?

My BWL Page:  https://bookswelove.net/vines-connie/

My website with more buy links: https://connievines-author.com/

and book blurbs !!























Monday, January 27, 2025

Are we real? What do we know about reality? Are we creating it as we go? - by Vijaya Schartz


Find these and many other novels of mine on my BWL page HERE

As a science fiction writer, I am fascinated by the new theories emerging from the scientific community, about the world we live in, about the universe.

What if the world we live in is just a dream? What if our dreams are real in another dimension? What if our minds are creating our reality as we go? What if we are pre-programmed characters in a gigantic videogame? What is Artificial intelligence, and can it evolve to our level, including emotions? These are only a few of the theories serious physicists are discussing in recent papers.

Many physicists today are reconsidering the world we live in, and discovering that what we believed for so long might not be true at all. The physical world is not as concrete as we think, since atoms vibrate, and what we consider solid matter may not be solid at all, but malleable and changing. What if by changing our own vibrations we can shapeshift? Some animals do it. An octopus can change color and shape for camouflage. Chameleons can change color to blend in.

The Octopus can mimic shapes and colors to blend into its environment.

Reality is also different when analyzed from different points of view. Two telescopes will reveal different and sometimes contradicting information about a galaxy, a star, or a planet. Perception is relative. Not everyone sees the colors the same way. Our brain is filling the blanks and might be quite creative about it. The world we see and touch and hear and taste, as well as our feelings, may only exist in our mind.

As we are limited by our perceptions, there may also be an entire world around us that we cannot see, hear, or touch. Life could exist around us in vibrations invisible to us. The eye only sees a very small part of the light spectrum.

This is how little we perceive of the light around us

Our mind is very powerful and can influence and even create our own reality. Negative thoughts create negative outcomes, and vice versa.

Have I scared you, yet?

Don’t worry. Training our brain to think in a positive way is beneficial to our health, our success, our happiness, our wellbeing. So, let’s see the good around us and be happy about it. React positively, be kind, nurture, encourage, ignore toxic people, and create your own bubble of positivity and love. Good luck.

In the meantime, you can read feel-good stories, like my science fiction novels, with plenty of action and adventures, strong heroines, and brave heroes… and always a satisfying ending.

amazon B&N - Smashwords - Kobo


amazon B&N - Smashwords - Kobo 


Happy Reading.

Vijaya Schartz, award-winning author
Strong Heroines, Brave Heroes, cats

Sunday, January 26, 2025

Plan for Success by Darcy D

 


Winston Churchill famously said,
"He who fails to plan, plans to fail."

These are wise words for anyone in any business, including the music industry. Does this mean that having a plan guarantees success? Certainly not. However, there are principles that guide you when it's time to take the next step, and having a plan helps facilitate that moment. You’ll know when the time is right.

One of the first things I convey to new clients, no matter where they are in their journey, is:
"It’s what you don’t know that’s holding you back."
Everyone has gaps in their knowledge. These gaps often manifest in questions like: Do I really need a voice coach? What genre best suits my sound? Who can I write songs with? Where do I record? Who should produce my music? Who should play on my project? Does my sound fit a radio format? What even is a radio format? How do I brand my product? How do I register my songs? When do I need a publisher? When do I need a lawyer? Can’t I manage myself? Can I just make YouTube videos and get discovered? How do I become famous? And the list goes on…

There are countless factors and experiences that contribute to an artist's path and outcome. Every lesson, session, consultation, jam, and performance has the potential to become a pivotal moment in an artist's development. The answers to those questions form the sequence of your plan. Some elements of the plan can be tackled simultaneously, while others may need more focused attention.

This process requires discipline and a thirst for knowledge.
Find out what you don’t know, and you’ll discover what you need.
Keep asking questions.

·                  Intrinsically: Singers sing songs.

·                  They tell stories, again and again.

·                  The journey begins with a voice.

Good singers possess technical skills—they can hit the required notes and maintain consistent breath control with ease and grace. They can create power when needed or ease into subtlety without losing control. These are all essential qualities. But great singers feel. They understand the meaning of the song—they’ve lived the emotions, the pain, or the joy—and they can connect emotionally with the lyrics. They make listeners believe that the song is unfolding in real-time. It becomes their song. With passion, honesty, and vulnerability, great singers transport listeners to a place beyond mere understanding. In that space, listeners might swallow lumps, cry, or raise their fists in agreement. It can be magical.

When a singer performs without connecting emotionally to the lyrics, it’s often because they don’t understand what the song is about. If they can’t relate to the song, they’ll struggle to convey its story. This can happen if they’ve never experienced the emotions the song portrays, or perhaps they’re too young to grasp the theme. To make the song believable, the singer must relate to the content. A performance is much more than just notes and melody; it’s more than words and rhythm.

The Artist Development Process: A Checklist

This list offers a glimpse into the artist development process. Each point will be explored in greater detail throughout this series.

Voice Lessons / Music Lessons

·                  Work with a voice coach and music influencers you can relate to—someone who understands you and helps you achieve results.

Repertoire Development

·                  Learn as many songs as possible.

·                  Work through them with your voice coach.

·                  Perform them in front of anyone who will listen.
This can be any genre, any style, from any influence.

Discovery

·                  Break down your favorite songs and figure out what draws you to them. Is it the melody, the beat, the chord progression, the key, the lyrics, or the genre? What gives you that “this is it” feeling?

Write

·                  Don’t wait. Start writing.

·                  Try writing a short story, then paraphrase it using as few words as possible.

·                  Use a key, chord progression, and style that move you.

·                  Write a verse and chorus, and call it done for now. Move on to the next song. After you’ve written a few, you’ll notice a pattern emerging.

·                  Record these songs on your iPad or phone and listen back. Share them with others in the industry. Get feedback before doing anything further with your ideas.

Perform

·                  Put together a cohesive setlist. Don’t be too scattered in your genre choices.

·                  Play covers that complement your originals, covers that people want to hear, then add your own music.

·                  Engage with your audience. Develop a rapport.

·                  Book house concerts, coffee shops, clubs, bars, private parties, contests, local events and, opening slots if you can get them.

Build a Social Network

·                  Everyone needs a webpage—it doesn’t have to be elaborate. Start with a simple landing page.

·                  Experience a professional photo shoot with a photographer who knows what they’re doing. Choose an image that represents who you are.

·                  Get an opinion from someone in the industry (not family and friends).

·                  Link to only the social networks you’ll actually use. Stay active and share useful information.

Record

·                  This is a big process. Don’t go too cheap, but don’t break the bank either. You need to discover your sound, and everything you’ve done so far will influence the recording process.

·                  Know your intentions before selecting a studio, producer, session players, etc. If you’re just making demos, you can record almost anywhere.

Release

·                  If you’re releasing a product for online or radio distribution, you’re competing with every other artist in your genre. You need a plan that includes market research, strategic partnerships, and often a team to help you reach your goals.

Repeat these steps, over and over again. If it feels like work, that’s because it is!
But if it also feels like you can’t stop creating, and you’re up at night thinking about your next song—that’s passion. Keep going.

As this series continues, I’ll dive deeper into these topics, sharing my personal experiences and knowledge gained from industry professionals around the world.

I’ll leave you with a quote from an article by renowned voice coach, Dave Stroud:
"Create a system, and then go find chaos!"
Brilliant.
Most importantly—don’t fail to plan.

 

 

Darcy D/Virtual Voice Coach
www.virtualvoice.coach


Friday, January 24, 2025

Winning An Award for My Writing by Joan Donaldson-Yarmey


 

https://books2read.com/The-Art-of-Growing-Older


It makes a writer happy to have their novel, short story, non-fiction book, poem, children’s book, or any other form of writing acknowledged by readers and peers either in person or by way of a review. And it is an honour for a writer to win a contest for something they’ve written or to have their writing chosen for an award. In the past, I won a flash fiction contest put on by the now-defunct Ascent Aspirations Magazine and was given a cheque for one hundred dollars. At the time I wasn’t sure enough of myself to say I was an award winning author. But now I can claim that title.

Below is a letter I received by email from the CEO and Founder of the International Impact Book Awards, where I had entered my non-fiction book The Art of Growing Older: It’s Not Age, It’s Attitude and Ability in the Aging Category. I received the email just before Christmas and it was a great present. It will also keep me going for many years knowing that one of my works was considered good enough to win an award.

 

Dear Joan,

I am delighted to extend my heartfelt congratulations to you for being selected as a winner at the International Impact Book Awards! Your exceptional talent, dedication, and creativity have set you apart in a competitive field, and it is an honor to recognize your remarkable achievement.

This award is a testament to the impact your work has made in the literary world. Your story, your voice, and your commitment to excellence have resonated with readers and judges alike, and we are proud to celebrate your success. Winning this award is not just a moment of recognition but a significant milestone in your journey as an author—a reflection of the countless hours, passion, and perseverance you’ve invested in your craft.

To honor your achievement, we are hosting the International Impact Book Awards Gala on February 23, 2025, at the Courtyard Phoenix Downtown. This prestigious event is designed to celebrate you in person as part of a vibrant community of distinguished authors, publishers, media professionals, and industry leaders.

Attending the gala offers you the unique opportunity to step onto the stage and receive your award in person, surrounded by peers who share your passion for storytelling. More than just a celebration, the event is an invaluable chance to connect with media professionals, offering the possibility of gaining additional media coverage and further promoting your book. Networking sessions, keynote speakers, and an elegant dinner will create an atmosphere where meaningful connections and collaborations can flourish.

We would love for you to join us in celebrating your success at the gala. If you are unable to attend the in-person ceremony, we still want you to have a tangible reminder of your achievement. You can order your award trophy and emblem to be shipped directly to your address.

Enclosed, you will find your certificate and digital emblem as a symbol of this significant milestone. We will be promoting your book on our social media and winners page to be featured on our website on December 23rd, so be sure to check back for updates.

Your success is truly remarkable, and we are honored to have your work as part of our award-winning collection. Whether in person or from afar, we look forward to celebrating your achievement and supporting you as you continue to make an impact in the literary world.

Once again, congratulations on this well-deserved recognition. We are excited to celebrate with you and to help you seize the opportunities that come with this prestigious award.

Warm regards,

Nim Stant

CEO and Founder
International Impact Book Awards 
www.internationalimpactbookawards.com

 

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