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] Permission to Upspiral
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Dear Reader, Cara Pacific Campbell was the first person who took me up on my offer of a 1:1 Book Writing Mentorship and put her trust in me. I was grateful that someone so vibrant felt drawn to working with me. Looking back, it makes perfect sense. When we let ourselves pay attention, we're drawn to our people. Cara and I are both high-performing women who worked hard and paid a steep price with our health. As in, our bodies made us quit our careers when our minds thought that we could—had to—power through. Instead, we were sidelined. And why did we think we had to power through? Well... how else would we have any meaningful impact in life? How else did we have value? It’s a societal misperception that has long needed addressing. What we've been through, many are going through now. Cara’s book now details how she lived through her battle with chronic Lyme disease and emerged on the other side. Her presale begins today. In today’s episode, we talk about both. There's a huge silver lining from a book journey like this. Cara connected to her dreams of work in Peru, tapping into ancient knowledge that infuses this book. And hey, I taught beginning Spanish for a few years. I've always thought that teaching Spanish was a way station on the journey to something beyond that. Collaborating on Cara’s book was one of those meaningful stops on the journey. Oh, and also... Pretty sure that Cara and I are going to host a Writing Revival in Peru someday. Picture yourself there with us. How awesome would that be? Meanwhile, you can actively witness the culmination of her book journey if that's calling to you, or simply take courage from hearing how it came into being. And me? I feel profoundly grateful that I was there at Cara's beginning as an author, and she was there at my beginning as a book writing mentor. What a beautiful testament to my vision for Courageous Wordsmith. It's a full-circle episode and it feels exactly like that. Enjoy! Love, Amy PS—If you happen to want to write, you might reach out to me. I'm supporting people JUST LIKE YOU (well, you know, nobody is just like you, but...) in shaping the stories that they feel called to bring into the world. You know, healing stories... the kind we all thirst for and need at this moment. Or check out my website for options. |
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, When Keri and I recorded this episode in late 2022, I was still editing my second memoir for publication and she was drafting a book that's also now nearing publication. The podcast never got produced at that time, but I happened onto the recording this past winter and it caught my attention. Keri and I are still writing today. I'm starting new books and she's preparing to deliver a TED-x Talk this summer. And this conversation feels like a divinely timed gift from our former...
Dear Reader, I am so ridiculously proud of my latest podcast episode with Corinne Bauer of Tiny Art Maui. And I really hope you will listen to it. Everything about this conversation and how it came to be is unexpected. I met Corinne at an art show in a Hawaiian hotel lobby. But when I talk about Shiny Objects and allowing myself to play freely in their presence, this is what I’m talking about. On the surface I was drawn to Corinne’s delightful Tiny Art Maui display because, as she herself...
Dear Reader, As long as I've known Sara Taylor, I've thought of her as a gifted writer who—especially once she gained momentum—would write volumes I want to read. Since she was an early participant in what has become my Circle for Real-Life Writers, I've been an up-close witness. Sara's subject matter and how she frames it fascinates me. If I'm interested in the inner working of stories around generational trauma and healing, Sara's a healing practitioner who delves deep into underlying...