Tag Archives: library

Blogger? Let’s Hope

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“So, you’re a blogger?”
“Er … yes …”

Ever experienced that lengthy pause, before launching into a disclaimer about how you haven’t blogged in X months and why? Well lately that’s been me. You see, this year has been a bit on the supercharged side of busy. So I’ve been rather quiet blog wise.

The last few weeks I’ve been trying to wrestle out enough time to change that. Not only because it’s rather awkward when “blogger” is prominently featured on your business card (whose idea was that???), but I’ve had some wonderful experiences I’ve wanted to share with my faithful followers. (Let’s face it, by now you deserve some kind of medal!)

Symposiums seem to be the theme of the season. Recently I found myself in Sydney as an attendee, and last week I had the privilege of being involved in the “Unleash the Beast” event in Toowoomba, as part of International Mental Health Day. Annexed to that symposium, was “Write Around Toowoomba” hosted by the City Library, for which I presented “Finding Hope Through Fiction”.

Now, you never quite know who’ll turn up to your presentations, but I can tell you I had a small but amazing group of attendees. As I shared from some of the themes in the Blaine Colton Trilogy and other YA novels I’ve read lately, I was so appreciative for the insightful and well considered responses of the group. And our focus? Hope.

With Mental Wellness being such a broad and multilayered issue, this was the idea that just kept coming up as I was preparing. I figured I’d best pay attention! Given YA literature has been associated with dark/grim kind of plots, it was great to hear other’s thoughts on this, along with exploring ways to find hope for ourselves, and others in our circle of influence.

Particularly encouraging is that we don’t need to have all the answers to care for and support someone going through a difficult time, and our own perseverance through hardship isn’t wasted—for ourselves and others. That’s how we can learn to be hopeful.

It’s good to be reminded that even in the darker days in life, hope can work its way into our circumstances. And how beautiful to know we can be a part of that journey toward hope for others, too.

Dream On

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DreamCloudsI had the fun of doing an author tour as part of CBCA Book Week (the last week of August). During this tour I facilitated several workshops along with a number of author talks, and a signing. One of those talks was in the library of my home town, with the title ‘Dream to Live’ (playing on the thought ‘Live the Dream’).

When I mentioned how a recurring dream had become the inspiration for my first historical fiction manuscript, an attendee made the observation that Buddhism links repeated dreams to a past life. This was an interesting remark, as the previous day when I had been doing workshops on characterisation in another town, several attending students also mentioned how they obtained their best inspiration through dreams.

In reflection, it occurred to me that many belief systems, including Christianity, place great spiritual significance on dreams and their meaning. Later that week, I participated in an author signing for a customer VIP night at a Brisbane bookstore and overheard a conversation on the same topic – dreams and their meaning.

In today’s modern world, more often than not, we place very little value on dreaming, in particular the meaning of dreams. It just doesn’t sound very ‘scientific’ unless coupled with the social sciences, such as a study in psychology. Yet, I have to admit that dreams have played an important part in my life, particularly my writing journey. Perhaps not in an especially profound sense, but I began to consider the experience of others and how they might perceive dreams. Could I have my time back, I would have liked to have asked the attendee who made this initial remark what their personal perspective was on dreams. I believe it would have been an interesting conversation.

This isn’t a question I’d usually ask, but as I’m one of those annoyingly curious people, I’m going to anyway. 🙂 How about you? How do you see dreams? Do you hold to the ‘too much pizza’ logic? Is it merely an abstract conglomeration of the events of our life? Is drawing meaning from dreams a bit ‘new agey’ for your liking? Or have you experienced uncanny moments of insight, guidance or inspiration through dreams?

I’d love to hear your thoughts.