Second, this was precisely the blog post I needed to read right now. I’m working on re-writing book 2 in my series, and have been totally stuck (possibly because half the story was written 6 years ago, so it’s been in my mind forever…). And although the post doesn’t really change any of the plots, I now feel that magical spark towards book two and the internal shame plot a couple of my characters are working through. BLOCK GONE.

THANK YOU! <3

PS. On the therapy thing, I've been seeing someone who does a form of belief-shifting that actually uses the heart for healing–and NOT the mind–sure the mind is a tool, but when it comes down to it, it's the heart that settles into that peaceful, loving, open state (the mind just gets in the way).

I do. I didn’t when I bought the book initially. But it has become an all-time favorite. I am on my fourth run through. The audio version is SUPERLATIVE!

I was a Georgia, too, and back in the 70s we didn’t even call it bullying when it was only verbal–so my teenage depression and plummeting self-esteem on top of neurological oddities (TLE and Aspy) and the fact that I really WAS ugly, all buck teeth and nose, all that was my own fault, too.

But I loved to read, so I majored in writing and literature. WRONG! Ok, I get it literary critics in academia aren’t meant to talk about what they LOVE about reading; all writing, even modern, must be examined as cultural artifact. I had to slip into the Middle Ages just for grad school to be bearable, where such discourse made more sense.

But I emerged from academia even more jaded as a result.

How refreshing to find that grown-ups can still talk about the very personal power of reading to move us emotionally! I wasted 15 years of my adulthood not realizing how awesome is the community of writers out there.

I feel like a kid again, like I get a college do-over and my professors are writing bloggers like you, Kristen, and others. Healing indeed.

(((HUGS))) Treasure it and all its sharp edges and go make some art 😉 .