Interview with Marissa Campbell

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Bookmarketingbuzzblog.blogspot.com Brian Feinblum’s views, opinions, and ideas expressed in this blog are his alone and not that of his employer. You can follow him on Twitter @theprexpert and email him at brianfeinblum@gmail.com. He feels more important when discussed in the third-person.

Interview With Author Marissa Campbell

1.      Your new book is due out in January, called LIFE. What inspired you to write it?  LIFE: Living in Fulfillment Every Day was a joint effort. I wrote it with my beautiful co-author Annemarie Greenwood. We are both registered yoga instructors and LIFE was inspired by our yoga students. When we talked about finding true happiness and lasting fulfillment in our classes many of our students expressed frustration with the self-help books on the market, saying that they didn't really answer their questions, or that the concepts were too esoteric. So we decided to write a book that would answer their questions, but in a really down to earth, accessible manner. And we did that by creating a story, a dialogue between Eve, an unfulfilled woman and Grace, an enlightened teacher. The two women spend a transformative day at the beach exploring the path to fulfillment.

2.      How do you hope people will react to your book and utilize what it offers? LIFE is unique. The book incorporates detailed explanations, visualization exercises and thorough descriptions that you will not find in other self-help books. And since they are all creatively presented as part of a story, they are literally as comfortable and relatable as two women talking. We have powerful concepts like the SOS alert, which helps you become more aware of the words you use every day and their impact on your life; and the Waffle Meter, which helps you determine which choices, thoughts, and actions propel you toward happiness and fulfillment and which ones pull you further away from what really matters most to you. Our hope is that everyone takes something away from the book that will propel them onto the path of living a life of happiness and fulfillment.

3.      What do you love most about being an author? I love that I can help people and that I can reach them with my words. It’s all about sharing an intimate connection with the reader.

4.      What advice do you have for fellow authors? 

1)    Bum glue and perseverance! Keep your bottom glued to your chair; don’t give up! Follow your dream; believe in yourself, and keep writing! Always do what makes you happy; do what you love and you can’t help but succeed!

2)    Make it happen! If you have a great idea, write it down (see bum glue and perseverance), get it professionally edited then if a traditional publisher doesn’t pick it up—look into self-publishing. If you want it badly enough don’t take no for an answer. Make your own solutions! 

5.      Where do you see opportunities in the publishing marketplace? I firmly believe that if we want something badly enough we will put in the time, effort and sheer determination necessary to succeed. In essence we will it into being. And today’s marketplace offers unlimited potential to achieve our humble goals of publication; it is a wonderful time to be a writer! For example, if you decide to self-publish, essentially you have an opportunity to jump the middle man and connect directly to your readers! Whether it’s through eBooks or print books, self-publishing offers tremendous opportunities for writers. Though that being said, it’s not about slapping a bunch of words down and throwing it out into cyber space. If you want to be seen as professional, if you want your book to be taken seriously, you need to seek advice on craft and have it professional edited – and I don’t mean by well intentioned friends. Then you need to hire someone to promote your book. After all, no one is going to read it if they don’t know it exists!

Ever wondered what Karma is? Your new Weekly Wisdom for LIFE

Grace drew a pattern of intersecting lines in the sand. “As we move through life, two elaborate patterns are fundamental to our conscious experience. One is made by karma; the other is made by our soul.

        

“When a weaver sits down to create fabric, the warp, the vertical threads, are held taut by the loom. The weaver, using a shuttle, weaves the horizontal threads, the weft, over and under, in and out, around the stationary warp. The weft must alter its course to manoeuvre around the rigid warp.

"Karma as the rigid warp, presents each of us with obstacles that provide us with unique lessons—the consequences that arise out of each and every thought, action and word spoken through the ego in our lifetime.

“Our soul, on its joyful path as the weft, weaves through and around, learning from each obstacle in its path. Every moment we must learn from the consequences of the past as we pursue a life of happiness and fulfillment. Our success in overcoming those obstacles and learning from the past determines whether or not we find true happiness. This is the primordial dance between karma and our soul, and it has shaped the fabric of life since time immortal.”

Frosting morning reads!

Woke up to a frosty morning today. White rooftops as far as the eye could see. 

As the weather turns colder, there is nothing better than snuggling up near the fire with a good book ... a good book like LIFE perhaps?

LIFE: Living in Fulfillment Every Day

Coming January 2012!

LIFE coming January 2012!!!

Stay tuned everyone ...

LIFE is in production as I type and will be released in January 2012!!

Coming to:

chapters.indigo.ca, amazon.ca, amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com and more!!!!! Check back for updates!

Weekly Wisdom for LIFE: Energy as a commodity

Each week we will post a new insight from our award winning book.

Here's your first ...

Weekly Wisdom for LIFE!

"Energy flows in and out of us, and we need to appreciate where we are spending it. If we think of energy as a limited commodity, depending upon where we decide to spend it, it either translates into a good investment or a bad investment.

 “So if we make a decision and our action or choice inspires, energizes or revitalizes us, we can consider that a good investment of our energy. If, on the other hand, our decision or choice weakens or drains our energy, enthusiasm, inspiration or motivation, then we can consider that a bad investment of our energy."

Read an Excerpt from Chapter One!!!

Eve stood looking out over the lightening water. The sun was just beneath the horizon, and the mist floated serenely above the lake’s surface. She sighed. It was the last day of her vacation, and she wasn’t in any real hurry to get back. After nothing but sun, sand and water, she felt a real reluctance about saying good-bye to the beach and the summer. It had been a wonderful vacation, though, and she didn’t really understand the feeling of melancholy that was settling deep within her bones. It’s not as if she thought the vacation could last forever. No, that wasn’t it. It was a disappointment of sorts, she assumed, but disappointment about what?

She considered the job she was returning to but waved that away with an imaginary hand. She liked her job—well, most of it anyway. Despite some minor tension with a co-worker, she loved what she was doing and really enjoyed interacting with the customers.

She felt anticipatory strain about getting the kids ready and off to school, but she was grateful that they seemed happy, or at least resigned, about their impending fate. She’d had a wonderful time with her husband, holding hands as they walked along the beach, kids splashing through the waves beside them. They even stole furtive kisses now and then as they sat side by side, soaking up the sun’s glorious rays. She even had a tan, which was nothing short of miraculous, given her very pale skin tone. She had light blonde hair and grey-blue eyes and had always been wary of tarrying too long in the sun. But this week she had thrown caution to the wind—well, as much as could be considered daring while armed with SPF 60—and had managed to acquire a respectably healthy glow.

She shook her head in confusion. No, she was happy with everything in her life, yet she could not deny the downward pull stirring from deep within, though she couldn’t tell from where it was coming or where it was leading.

“You seem troubled,” announced a voice from behind her.

Eve turned around to see an attractive, young woman with long, blonde hair that cascaded in soft waves down over her shoulders smiling at her from one of the beach chairs on the deck. She had the most striking blue eyes Eve had ever seen. They were a bright, cerulean blue, like an icy glacial lake reflecting the brilliance of a noon sky.

“Yes, I suppose I am.” Eve smiled shyly back.

“Hard to leave, isn’t it?” She tilted her head slightly, her eyes gazing out over the calm, peaceful water.

Eve walked over, sat down on the only other chair on the deck and stared meditatively out over the lake. The first rays of sunlight were shining up over the horizon, breaking the mist’s caress on the water’s surface as it rose in feathery wisps.

“Yes,” she said resolutely, “it is.”

They were both silent for some time as they watched the morning sun crest the sandy dunes, its golden rays caressing the treetops as the mist and water shimmered with their beautiful dance.

“Do you come up here often?” Eve asked, reluctantly taking her eyes away from the view.

The woman smiled at her. “No, this is my first time here. It’s absolutely beautiful, isn’t it?”

“I’ve been on several vacations, but this is by far the best one I’ve ever had. It was a real joy just to be a part of these lovely surroundings.” She smiled back. Reaching over the arm of the chair, she extended her hand to the young woman. “My name’s Eve, by the way.”

“I’m Grace. Pleased to meet you.” She smiled and reached across the small void between the chairs, cordially shaking Eve’s hand. “You seemed deep in thought. If you don’t mind me asking, is something bothering you?”

Eve leaned back into her chair and sighed. “No, I don’t mind you asking. But, to be honest with you, I’m not exactly sure what’s troubling me.” She looked over at Grace and shrugged her shoulders in defeat. “I had a wonderful week. Perhaps it’s just hard to leave, after all,” she answered.

“Hmm. Could be, I suppose, but you don’t sound terribly convinced,” Grace replied, looking intently at Eve.

Eve laughed. “No, I guess I’m not.” She sat in quiet reflection for a moment. How do I describe a feeling I, myself, don’t even understand? “I’m just down, I guess.” She looked across at Grace. “I can’t really explain it. I just don’t feel … right. I really did have a wonderful vacation. There’s just no rational reason for me to feel the way I do.”

“Being rational, I suspect, has little to do with it,” Grace offered.

Eve smiled politely but quickly dropped back into her silent musing. She felt a deep inner desire to just unload everything, to discharge, to release all her burdens onto this complete stranger. But wouldn’t that be selfish of me? she wondered, to encumber this poor woman with all my issues? Besides, how could this woman possibly relate to all the various intricacies in my life? Does she have kids too? Is she married or working? She doubted it, looking across at Grace. She seemed far too serene to be responsible for children, a husband and a career to boot.

“Are you here by yourself?” Grace interrupted her reverie.

“Oh, no, I’m here with my family. My husband took our two boys out fishing this morning, so I have the day to myself. What about you?”

Grace smiled. “That seems to be a popular hobby around here. My husband got up at a ridiculous hour to take our kids fishing down at the old mill. Perhaps they’ll run into each other in their quests for the prize catch of the day.”

They sat smiling at their shared coincidences for a moment. But when Eve’s eyes travelled back over the water, the veil of melancholy slipped quickly over her features again, and she let the mood pull her back down as she dropped deep into thought. She looked cautiously over at Grace and, deciding to throw caution to the wind, she inquired, “Do you ever feel as though you’re not completely fulfilled? That there is really nothing major to worry about or complain about and yet … and yet you just don’t seem happy?” She struggled to clarify. “I mean, I am happy. I’m happy with my life and my situation but …” She paused. “I just don’t know.” She tucked a wayward lock of hair behind her ear, searching for elucidation and feeling utterly lost.

“I used to,” Grace replied honestly, “but I don’t anymore. I found what I was looking for.”

“Really?” Eve’s interest was piqued. “And what was that?”

Grace smiled. “Why, the same thing that you’re searching for, I suppose. I wanted to feel fulfilled and whole, and,” she replied, her smile growing wider, “now I do.”

“And just how did you manage that?” Eve wondered.

About LIFE Living in Fulfillment Every Day

Are you living your potential in this life? Are you truly fulfilled? Or are you left wanting, wondering what is missing? Many people will search throughout their existence, trying to find lasting happiness and peace, but do they really know what they are looking for? They find moments of peace and joy but then slip effortlessly back under the veil of unhappiness and struggle. Happiness is your birthright, and your sole purpose in this life is to be happy and fulfilled.

By removing the obstacles that have held you back and embracing a philosophy that is rooted in the simple message of following what feels good, you begin to transform your experience. You begin to examine everything you think, say and do, thereby discovering how to manifest a full and meaningful life.

LIFE: Living in Fulfillment Every Day was written as a guide to help you find your own unique path to happiness and fulfillment. Its format is distinctly unconventional compared with other self-help books in that we reveal the knowledge and tools necessary to live in fulfillment and happiness every day through the dynamic expression of a spiritual discourse. Grace, an enlightened teacher, guides Eve, an unfulfilled woman, on a journey of self-discovery and personal growth. The two women meet and spend a transformative day at the beach. Under the brilliant blue sky, amongst the sights and sounds of life at a small lakeside resort, they explore the path to LIFE: Living in Fulfillment Every Day.

Through detailed explanations, visualization exercises and thorough descriptions, Grace gently guides Eve toward self-awareness and empowerment. Through Grace’s completely accessible teachings and powerful message, like Eve, you too may experience an awakened sense of purpose, compelling you to make the powerful decision to live an authentic life, one where you no longer compromise your happiness and you live each moment with passion, joy and absolute delight.

We are both registered yoga teachers and spend our lives helping and teaching others to find peace of mind and well-being. Our combined interest in and experience with yoga’s philosophy and teachings span over six decades, but the knowledge to write this book did not come from reading ancient texts. LIFE: Living in Fulfillment Every Day was created using the yogic concept of Svadyaya, which is Sanskrit for self-study and reflection and the Buddha’s guiding principle to not accept anything at face value—just because someone or something says so—but rather, observe, experience and analyze concepts to determine if they are true. Our everyday circumstances and ruminations provided the catalyst and experiential knowledge for writing this book. It is our sincere hope that the message in these pages resonates deeply within you and that it awakens a new way of seeing your life and the world around you, empowering you to find your truth, embody your fullest potential and live the life you’ve always wanted!

In gratitude,

Annemarie & Marissa