Author Profile – Sara Wiseman, author – Writing the Divine

What’s on your nightstand now?

My journal, Divine Matrix by Gregg Braden, Matrix Energetics by Richard Bartlett, Frequency by Penney Peirce, The Vortex by Esther and Jerry Hicks…and the latest edition of Surfer magazine.

What was your favorite book when you were a child?

Harriet the Spy, hands down. I read it in third grade, and bought my first journal shortly after. I’m pretty sure I had a spy belt, too…

Did you learn anything from writing your book?

Basically, my whole life changed! Before this book was even a glimmer in my agent’s eye (or even before I had an agent!) I unexpectedly received The 33 Lessons in channeled writing—amazing spiritual teachings from Divine guides that begin “the purpose of life is soul growth.” It was a scary, exhilarating, transformative spiritual experience. I mean, suddenly I had spirit guides—and I didn’t even believe in spirit guides! During these months of channeled writing, my psychic abilities fully opened. By the time I was finished receiving the Lessons for this book, I was profoundly changed from the inside out.

What do you think makes a good writer?

I was a copywriter and a features journalist for decades. This taught me how to write in a style that’s short, sweet, sassy and makes it easy on the reader… all they need to do is strap their seatbelts on, and enjoy the ride!

When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

From birth. My grandfather was the entertainment columnist with the Chicago Tribune during the Prohibition Era; my father was a professor who wrote ten or more books on business management. I was steeped in it.

Do you see writing as a career?

Writing is one of the three things I do: 1) I write books about soul growth & healing, and how people can connect to the Divine. 2) I teach the same things in workshops and seminars, traveling to whichever places will have me! 3) I offer private psychic counseling and training, to help folks who are ready to move forward in a very clear way.

What does your family think of your writing?

As a child, what did you want to do when you grew up? I wanted to be a rock star, a surfer, a photographer, a mystic on the mountain… and oh yes, a writer!

CHILDREN THE STAR POWERED TWINS DISCOVER THE SECRET OF WORDS

What’s on your nightstand now?

Six Law of Attraction Books

What was your favorite book when you were a child?

Nancy Drew, “The Hidden Staircase”

Who are your top 3 favorite authors?

Michael Losier
Michael Bernard Beckwith
Deepak Chopra

Was there a book that changed your life? If so which one and how did it affect you?

Law of Attraction by Michel Losier changed my life dramatically while I was dealing with the health challenge of breaking both of my hips while I was setting up my first grade classroom. I wanted to use my time wisely while I was confined to my home learning how to walk again. I started taking Michael Losier’s Telephone Courses three times a week. This marvelous opportunity shifted my whole perception of the challenge I was facing to ALL that I had to be GRATEFUL for in my life. The knowledge I mastered by following his 3 step plan was absolutely magical. I knew the WISDOM being given to me had to be shared with all the young children on our planet.

Favorite quote from a book?

“Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.”
— Melody Beattie

What inspired you to write your first book?

The need to EMPOWER children at a very young age with the strategies needed to master the Law of Attraction.

If you had to choose, which writer would you consider a mentor?

Michael Losier

As a child, what did you want to do when you grew up?

I wanted to become a first grade teacher ever since I was in sixth grade.

Lauren Smith: Why did you write this collection of short stories?

Arlene Uslander: I (Arlene) edited a book for a young man who told me about how he would have died if not for the fact that his sister, who had a job that kept her away from home on weekends, had a strong premonition that she should drive home one Saturday night. She found her brother unconscious, rushed him to the hospital, and doctors said that if not for her going home that night, he would have died. I then began thinking about experiences in my own life that would have turned out very differently if not for the intervention of Fate or some Higher Power. And, I realized that there must be thousands of stories out there about the profound effect Fate has on people’s lives. I decided to compile an anthology of Fate stories, including some of my own, and when Brenda Warneka became my co-editor, she wrote about some of her own experiences with Fate. In fact, her story, “Fate on the Fly,” which was about how her husband missed being involved in one of the worst air disasters in history, because of the 50th anniversary party of friends, was the very first submission I received.

Lauren Smith: Why do you think the topic of “fate” is so interesting to so many people?

Arlene Uslander: Because it is something very mysterious, an unknown, causing one to wonder: Was that just a random coincidence or was it meant to be? For example, in another story in the book, “Honor Courage and Commitment”; Saving Jack Roush,” A a small plane is in trouble, just happens to hit near the home of an ex-marine, specifically trained “to save a pilot in an upside-down plane from a watery grave.” The question as to whether this was simply a random coincidence, or whether some kind of pre-determination (Fate, or a Higher Power) was responsible for the amazing rescue of NASCAR’s Jack Roush by the ex-marine is certainly open to debate. Many people, including us, the co-editors, could ponder this question indefinitely. Fate is a fascinating topic.

Lauren Smith: Can you share one story from your book that really exemplifies what your book is about?

Arlene Uslander: Yes. Here is a story that gave us goose bumps, but it is absolutely true.

Mother’s Voice
By Garnet Hunt White

I grew up “on the fence,” as we say in the Missouri Ozarks. Some people believe in extrasensory perception. Others dismiss it with bemused tolerance or persecution.
Many families in my community still believe in haunted houses and “bright, round moving objects high up in the sky.” Most look upon these people as “odd.” I wonder, are they?

My father was a farmer who traveled around investing in livestock and real estate. Many times, I heard him say that his subconscious, or intuition, often warned him not to travel, or told him to buy or sell, or not to buy or sell, something, and the advice turned out to be right.

Are we so set in our ways that we can’t understand or accept anything except what can be seen by the naked eye, or recorded on tape by the human voice?
I had an experience that will always be a wonderment to me.

My mother had a stroke and could not talk. My father kept her at home and had nurses with her round the clock. He also hired a speech teacher to work with her. My husband, Glenn, and I lived 100 miles to the east of my parents’ house. Three times a week, after the school bell rang at 3:00 p.m., I left my classroom and drove to Doniphan, Missouri, to be with Mother, and try to keep up her morale.

Teaching school and traveling 100 miles to my parents’ home, and then driving the 100 miles back to our home in Cape Girardeau, meant that I was always short of sleep.

One evening in May, 1983, I bid Mother goodbye, hugged my father, then headed the car for Cape Girardeau to meet Glenn.

I had been on the road about an hour. Suddenly, Mother yelled, “Garnet!” I awoke. The car was headed straight for a bridge rail and pillar. I slammed on the brakes and swerved the car away from the railing. I stopped. My hands shook on the steering wheel. My feet trembled on the floorboard. Shivering from head to foot, every organ inside me yo yoed up and down. I stayed parked for what seemed like an eternity.
Where did Mother’s voice come from? It had been in the car. How did Mother know I had gone to sleep? I had left my parents’ home an hour before.

Was I hearing Mother’s voice from my subconscious mind? How come Mother yelled at me just as my car was heading for the bridge? I didn’t know! I had fallen asleep; Mother’s voice had awakened me. I was scared; frightened that I had almost hit the bridge, and shocked at hearing Mother’s voice.

When I got home, I telephoned my father. The first thing he said was, “Your mother spoke. She called ‘Garnet’ and sat up in bed.You had been gone about an hour.”
That was right around the time I almost hit the bridge!

Through chattering teeth, I told my father about falling asleep while driving, and how Mother’s crying out had probably saved my life. Father told me he had had many experiences in his life when some unknown power had warned him of danger. He told me about some of the incidents, and that began to calm me, but I still had not regained my composure. I asked my father to tell Mother that I heard her call my name.

When I got home, I told Glenn about hearing Mother’s voice and said, “You probably don’t believe me.”

“Garnet, I believe you,” he said. “I could tell you of many incidents during World War II when the men in my squadron heard unknown voices or felt an unknown power. The reason I’ve never mentioned these things before is because many people aren’t ready to hear about extrasensory powers.”

My talk with Glenn helped relieve some of my tension. I didn’t fully comprehend how I had heard Mother speak. From the time she had her stroke, until she died 15 months later, my name, on that near fatal day, was the only word or time anyone heard her speak.

A Fate beyond my control decided what was to happen to me that day. After that, I was humble when I heard people speak about “strange” happenings in their lives. This occasion made me give credence to guardian angels and heavenly spirits.
I was in danger; Mother’s voice saved me.
********************************************************************

Lauren Smith: How tough was it to gather these stories?

Arlene Uslander: It wasn’t easy! We spent several years soliciting true, inspirational stories about how being at the right place at the right time, or not being at the wrong place at the wrong time, had a profound effect on someone’s life. Some people ignored the guidelines, making up stories, or writing stories that had very little, if anything, to do with Fate.

Lauren Smith: Did you find that many people have different views of what fate is? Why do you think that is?

Arlene Uslander: Yes, people do have different views of what Fate is. Some of our readers tell us that Fate is really a Higher Power that orchestrates our lives. Still others are of the opinion that we make our own Fate or Destiny. How people feel about Fate has a lot to do with their religious (or non-religious) beliefs. But one thing we have found is that there is never a group of people who all feel that same way about what Fate is which makes for lively discussions.

Lauren Smith: What do you hope your book does and what do you hope your reader gets from this book?

Arlene Uslander: One of the things we hope people will take away from this book is reassurance of how often things go right when they could have gone wrong. And, how often there is no explanation for the interplay of events that exist to make whatever happens happen, except Fate or a Higher Power. Of course, the stories often involve matters of life and death, and the good is inextricably interwoven with the bad, but living life successfully requires that we be philosophical and dwell on the positive aspects of things that happen. We hope readers will identify with that. A central theme that comes through to in many of the stories in The Simple Touch of Fate is the survival of the human spirit in the face of adversity. Many of the stories are bitter-sweet. In “The Train Not Taken,” for example, the writer, as a little girl, and her immediate family escape death in wartime Hungary due to a change of plans, but her uncle’s family, including her favorite cousin, did not change plans and died in the bombing of the train on which they were traveling. Another theme that we hope readers will be aware of is the willingness of people to risk their own lives to save others. This comes through clearly in the story, “Honor, Courage, and Commitment: Saving Jack Roush.”

Lauren Smith: Are there any other anthologies planned?

Arlene Uslander: Yes. We are hoping to have a second Fate anthology published in 2008.

Lauren Smith: How can the book be ordered?

Arlene Uslander: It can be purchased through our website: www.thefatesite.com, or on www.Amazon.com and other online bookstores, and through brick and mortar bookstores. It can also be ordered through the publisher: 1-800-288-4677; International phone number: 00-1/402-323-7800.

Arlene Uslander of Glenview, Illinois, is the author of 14 non-fiction books, is an award-winning journalist, an essayist and professional editor.

Brenda Warneka, a lawyer with a private practice in Scottsdale, Arizona, writes on legal topics, as well as travel and human interest articles.

Lauren Smith: Tell us about the experiences that led you to write this book.

Louise Lewis: It all began just minutes after being “set free” (laid off) from my advertising sales job in high tech. I was a victim of the dotcom implosion. While sitting in the San Jose, CA, airport awaiting my flight home, I began to panic over my future — “where will I find a job when everyone is getting laid off?” I toyed with the idea of just allowing myself to fall…into a deep depression. As soon as the thought crossed my mind, I received words from Spirit: “This is just a new chapter,” Spirit said. “You hold the pen, I’ll guide your hand, and together we’ll write one hell of a chapter.” With a promise to follow Spirit’s words every day, I wrote down the events of my Spirit-led journey. The events that happened, the people that Spirit had me meet all contributed to the energy of the book growing and growing. One day, I realized that I just had to share my adventure with the world.

Lauren Smith: What was the biggest lesson you learned from all of this?

Louise Lewis: Of course, to follow the words of Spirit, but that means to get quiet. Turn inward. And listen. Through this practice, I now know that my security in life lies within me, and not with a job or in another person.

Lauren Smith: Why did you decide to write a book about it?

Louise Lewis: I did not have a choice. Sounds strange, I know. But I was given the question “what is the meaning of life?” to ask me, and told to write down what came out of the adventure of asking people the question. You’ve heard it before, but I must say that the book wrote itself.

Lauren Smith: What do you hope this book will do for readers?

Louise Lewis: The moment a person just hears or reads about my book on “the meaning of life,” a wonderful seed is planted in their heart, mind and soul. From there, with a little gardening, the seed will grow and help guide the person to find meaning on their own path. Additionally, with each turn of the page, the reader is given many true-life examples of how amazing things can happen to anyone, every day of their life, if they choose to listen and follow the messages being sent them.

Lauren Smith: How did you come to communicate with “Spirit” was it something you’d
always done?

Louise Lewis: I was raised to follow the Catholic religion. Instilled early on was the belief that Spirit is always with me. Unfortunately, I was a typical kid and not apt to listen to anyone…let alone Spirit. I was about 30 years old when life served up the pressing need to ask (and answer for myself) a lot of tough questions — what is Spirit? What role does Spirit play in my life? Through this continuing process, I got better at hearing Spirit’s words. It’s not easy. It takes a lot of time. But when you’re ready to stop running into brick walls in life, you know it’s time to do the work.

Dr. Ronda Beaman: I wrote this book because I felt, and still feel, we are looking at aging through the wrong lens, instead of being appreciative, we are appalled. Too much emphasis is on what’s happening to our skin, instead of what should be happening to our spirit!

Lauren Smith: Tell us what’s your book about and why do you think it’s important

Dr. Ronda Beaman: “You’re Only Young Twice” is a book about becoming all you were meant to be, about celebrating the original gifts given to you on the day of your birth, including joy, humor, wonder, imagination, curiosity, music, resilience, and optimism and learning, again, how to use them benefit from them and die young…as late as possible!

Lauren Smith: What do you hope your book can do for others?

Dr. Ronda Beaman: I believe “Young Twice” can re-define OLD™ and could begin a movement of appreciation and thankfulness for the gift of a long life.

Lauren Smith: Can you give us some quick tips to reawaken our spirit?

Dr. Ronda Beaman: Right now, whoever you are and wherever you are, hum! That’s right, hum! People who hum live an average of 7 years longer than non-hummers, we are all meant to march to an inner drummer and sing our own song! Also, make yourself laugh, children laugh 300 times a day, adults, maybe 3…and laughter is a good workout, it moves the intestines, makes the heart beat faster, releases endorphins and makes you fun to be around, so you’ll attract some fun friends…all of which lift your spirit and re-engage your soul!

Lauren Smith: Is there such a thing as the fountain of youth?

Dr. Ronda Beaman: I believe there is a Fountain of truth..and this is it…you are lucky to be alive. At whatever age, whatever stage, you must celebrate your turn, make it a memorable day, each day, and grow young in the things that really matter; love, kindness, and worthwhile endeavors.

Lauren Smith: Do you ever get discouraged that we live in such an “age conscious” society?

Dr. Ronda Beaman: I am human, I teach at a university, I see everyday in front of me what my skin used to look like! But I try, everyday, to teach them to see what a young spirit looks like! I think as a society we are too prone to look at the surface level of things. There is a deeper, more meaningful layer, it isn’t as easy to access, but it is more valuable. So, rather than allow myself to be discouraged by how shallow things can be, I am constantly making myself encouraged to look beyond what the media and marketers pander..age, beauty, power, and promise are all unique and self defined…the more I can share that, the more encouraging I can be to others, the more we can begin to change the face of aging in this society.

Lauren Smith: What surprised you the most about the publishing process?

Dr. Ronda Beaman: I was surprised how welcoming, hopeful, and exciting it can be if you are really telling your truth and hoping to help others, there is always a market for that and someone who will believe in you.

Lauren Smith: So where to from here? What’s next for you?

Dr. Ronda Beaman: “You’re Only Young Twice” is now in print in 4 countries, I am traveling and doing interviews and workshops around the world and so many people come up to me and say that many people need my help reminding them how to be young once! So, I am in the process of working on a book about raising children in a society that stills want them to be little adults!