Mentor Magic

Just got back from a wonderful trip to NYC! Working on Holy Stable, ™ has been such an incredible experience. After almost two years of effort and focus, it is just beginning to feel real. I am nearly done with the last pieces of Celebrate the Miracle and I just finished taping for a White Plains, New York, TV show. (Thanks, AlivewithClive!)

The feel-best-thing about the TV interview was that it came out honest. I remember commenting in the interview, that as a writer, one of the questions you have to ask yourself is, “How real do I get?”

The closer I have gotten to the completion of “Holy Stable™…Celebrate the Miracle,” the more real I feel I want to get! Sometimes we are not sure how much we should share about our hardships and true sufferings. Without spelling out any certain trial, this project shares the connection of hope found through those trials.

At first this seemed to be just “My Christmas Project.” But as it has all come together, I’ve had the epiphany that Holy Stable™ is the substance of many elements of my life. It represents the culmination of past challenges and subsequent joys; it shares the love and gratitude I undeniably feel for, and from, our Savior. It conveys the appreciation I feel for our tender human relationships, and the principle I highly believe in: that our Savior’s love enhances and blesses those priceless relationships.

That is what has always mattered most to me. (Though, after almost two years of me working on this project night and day, my children are beginning to doubt just a little, that they matter as much as they used to…But, they definitely do!) It has been an exceptionally rewarding, yet extremely demanding process.

It is undeniable, that the project came together mostly through inspiration, but, not without the continuous process, of actively seeking specifically for, that inspiration. Any measure of talent gifted to me that could be considered a factor, was developed through wonderful opportunities I was given to serve my Savior, working with and developing great appreciation and a small level of understanding, of children’s music and of other sacred music, which witnessed of Him.

My journey of becoming a music producer/author, had beginnings decades ago, but I will begin the story, from the time, when it was at pre-launch stage, two summers ago. I was a “preemie-baby-author.” (That line is a perennial favorite of mine. I borrowed it from a good friend and fellow author, Bonnie Best.)

There was the need and the desire, to be an author. Having been a stay-at-home mom for many years, it was now time, to transition into a career. I felt that writing was one of my primary skills. I analyzed all of the things I could do and would feel good about doing, and writing was at the top of my list. There were only a couple of other things on my list. (I had to think of something, because I had a high level of awareness, regarding the principles of diversification in relation to sources of income, aka “Multiple Streams of Income.”)

I am very principled, and must feel inherent value and truth in using my talent, or making my life’s contribution. I am not very happy with any lesser pursuit. If something is in line with my values, then I get fully dedicated and passionate about it.

I had a conviction, about the writing, that it was in harmony with my higher aspirations and even felt it was a fulfillment of my destiny.

I had been listening for promptings of a divine nature and that felt right. So, I pursued checking out opportunities. One day, a brief time after I had looked in the phonebook, for writing agents, (which is a “ha ha,” in my town,) I went to the soccer park. Just as I arrived, I saw an old friend Jill. She was not someone I often saw or spoke with at that time, but I knew she had once owned a copy store and had some business savvy.

A clear impression came, telling me, to ask her what she was doing and to tell her, I wanted to write a book. I asked her what she was doing. She told me, and it had nothing to do with writing a book. The thought again came to me, “Tell her you want to write a book.” As I then said, “Well I was just asking, because I want to write a book, and I know you are smart about careers and stuff.” (Not sure whether or not I said “stuff” or something more professional like “such,” but that’s close enough.)

The light then appeared to come on with her, and she said, “Really!” She then told me she had a guest ticket to a BookWise conference featuring over a dozen bestselling authors, who would be sharing their experiences on getting published. She asked me if I was available for those dates and invited me to come.

This invitation pushed me off the harbor and into open waters. It was the wind for some mentor magic.