As an author (Tiny Altars: A Midlife Revival, German Awakening: Tales from an American Life) and podcaster (Courageous Wordsmith), I explore the intersections of creative process and healing in real life. As a story coach, book writing mentor, and founder of Courageous Wordsmith community, I guide real-life writers through their narrative journeys—from inklings to beautiful works. Lifelong Minnesotan.
🎧 [NEW EPISODE] Living in Liminal Space
|
Dear Reader, Happy New Year's Eve!This time between two years is always a liminal space. But these years in the twenties have felt extra liminal space-y, individually and for humanity on Planet Earth, never more so than now. I have new adventures on the horizon that I want to embark on; I suspect you do too. Part of me knows from experience: We'll move through this new time, and if we are intentional about it, we'll look back and be amazed at how far we've come, given what we didn't yet know now. That's how it works, in my experience. But right now? We are in between, by the very definition of today's date. If you wanted an image for it, my friend Amy Sundby captured it well in this card. And it's the topic of my final podcast episode for 2024, featuring Bridgette Boudreau. At this moment so much is unknown, including who we are going forward. As in, here we are. Some things about us will remain the same. Also something is fundamentally changed—our understanding of the world and who we are in it. We can't go back to what was. In that spirit, I offer you my conversation with Bridgette Boudreau, a coach who is deeply comforting and deeply insightful. While she may not love BEING in liminal space, navigating liminal space is her expertise. Thank you for being part of my world in 2024. I hope you'll enjoy Bridgette's wisdom. For 2025, I wish you beautiful adventures because of, not despite, this time in the liminal space. Travel safely. So much love to you, Amy |
Courageous Wordsmith
As an author (Tiny Altars: A Midlife Revival, German Awakening: Tales from an American Life) and podcaster (Courageous Wordsmith), I explore the intersections of creative process and healing in real life. As a story coach, book writing mentor, and founder of Courageous Wordsmith community, I guide real-life writers through their narrative journeys—from inklings to beautiful works. Lifelong Minnesotan.
Dear Reader, This year, more than ever, I wanted to honor Black History Month, at a time when attempts have been made to erase it. So I invited my friend Terry Newby to help me do that. As a white woman in America, I loved literature, but I did not grow up reading many marginalized voices. While I knew the name James Baldwin, I couldn't have told you what he stood for. And now? I know him as a Black man and a gay author. And what else? I've admired his interview clips. He feels important. How...
My 100th Episode Boundaries Make Things Possible. Dear Reader, I recently came across my final project from my Master Coach Training in the fall of 2017. It was a PowerPoint-presentation meets-screen-recording in which I told everyone what I had done all summer, which was... branding my business, curating thematic images, and amassing a mess of unfulfilled goals. It was humbling. I had to upload something to our group forum by midnight Eastern Time (I am on Central) and I had run out of time....
Dear Reader, I released a new / old podcast episode this week, and it feels very timely. Let me explain. This episode, in which my dear colleague and peer Orla Collins interviewed me in 2023, introduces my 52-card Tiny Altars oracle deck. I didn't release it back then. My books are available through distributors other than me, and I haven't been interested in opening a storefront to sell these decks. I already tried that with my first book and my first products, and I could do that again, but...