Tuesday, September 3, 2013
Sunday, February 17, 2013
December 21st 2012 Midnight
Oh the Glorious Winter Solstice~ The wind howls out here on the high desert, as the snow falls quietly on the apple orchard, blanketing in one way or another the bare earth. We are so grateful for this amazing year, one of triumphs and struggles, celebration and sadness...growth.understanding and above all love for our fellows.
True, Melinda's beautiful novel has touched so many hearts, and I find myself returning to it often for comfort in a time when life is so damn unpredictable and complicated. There is something magical in the way she takes you on a journey you never want to end. We recently received a review from Indie Reader I just had to re-post it ~
Author Melinda Field’s beautifully written story begins with the plight of Caterina Ramos, a habitually neglected teenager living with her heroine-addicted mother in downtown Phoenix, Arizona.The resilient young woman manages to stay afloat despite living in a rundown, crime-ridden neighborhood, until her mother is jailed for five years for narcotics use.
Caterina is forced to live with her ailing grandmother, Jenny Brown, on an isolated farm in Northern California. Upon arriving, she instantly feels out of place in the small rural town. She is bullied at school by a racist classmate who, with a group of young boys, sexually assaults her. The violent attack results in a pregnancy, which Caterina must decide to terminate or raise alone. When Caterina’s grandmother suddenly dies of a heart attack, Emma, owner of a ranch in Green Valley, takes her in. Emma, whose husband and child were killed in a car accident several years ago, offers the support and encouragement Caterina desperately needs.
In addition to its soul-stirring portrayal of the pain, disappointment and ultimate triumph experienced by Caterina, Ms. Field’s novel also delves into the inner lives of its secondary characters: Lilly, Clare, Midnight and Briar. With the passing of every heart wrenching chapter the story blossoms into a timeless tale about women and their quest to find meaning in a world in which their choices are often difficult.
There are many wonderful things about this book and about the style of writing flawlessly executed by its author. The most striking aspect is the poetry and rich images of the environment in which the story takes place. Field does a magnificent job of capturing natural elements that awaken the reader’s senses, from the sound of wind lingering in between the leaves and branches in the forest around Emma’s ranch, to the fragments of sunlight on the rivers beside the majestic mountains. She does what is truly essential for the reader to stay engaged: she transports whilst, simultaneously, creating a striking world of both tragedy and beauty.
“True”, a seemingly ambiguous title that doesn’t seem fitting for the book, is a must read for women of all ages. It is a profound recording of a journey.
Reviewed by Rebecca Nichloson for IndieReader
This review really made our day~ Melinda is working on the sequel to True, which personally people is going to blow your minds! I am in constant awe how she creates and unfolds such amazing plots and characters!
We are swamped with great projects, just published Poems for Ample Ladies by Sarjana Gaydos and Wesley Cook, FB page and blog to follow. Working on three children's books for Jeffrey Page Redman and working on the reissue of
Oh the Glorious Winter Solstice~ The wind howls out here on the high desert, as the snow falls quietly on the apple orchard, blanketing in one way or another the bare earth. We are so grateful for this amazing year, one of triumphs and struggles, celebration and sadness...growth.understanding and above all love for our fellows.
True, Melinda's beautiful novel has touched so many hearts, and I find myself returning to it often for comfort in a time when life is so damn unpredictable and complicated. There is something magical in the way she takes you on a journey you never want to end. We recently received a review from Indie Reader I just had to re-post it ~
True by Melinda Field
IR Staff •
Dec 10, 2012
Verdict: A phenomenally poetic novel that explores the rich realm of nature, woman hood, family and the everlasting bonds of friendship.
Author Melinda Field’s beautifully written story begins with the plight of Caterina Ramos, a habitually neglected teenager living with her heroine-addicted mother in downtown Phoenix, Arizona.The resilient young woman manages to stay afloat despite living in a rundown, crime-ridden neighborhood, until her mother is jailed for five years for narcotics use.
Caterina is forced to live with her ailing grandmother, Jenny Brown, on an isolated farm in Northern California. Upon arriving, she instantly feels out of place in the small rural town. She is bullied at school by a racist classmate who, with a group of young boys, sexually assaults her. The violent attack results in a pregnancy, which Caterina must decide to terminate or raise alone. When Caterina’s grandmother suddenly dies of a heart attack, Emma, owner of a ranch in Green Valley, takes her in. Emma, whose husband and child were killed in a car accident several years ago, offers the support and encouragement Caterina desperately needs.
In addition to its soul-stirring portrayal of the pain, disappointment and ultimate triumph experienced by Caterina, Ms. Field’s novel also delves into the inner lives of its secondary characters: Lilly, Clare, Midnight and Briar. With the passing of every heart wrenching chapter the story blossoms into a timeless tale about women and their quest to find meaning in a world in which their choices are often difficult.
There are many wonderful things about this book and about the style of writing flawlessly executed by its author. The most striking aspect is the poetry and rich images of the environment in which the story takes place. Field does a magnificent job of capturing natural elements that awaken the reader’s senses, from the sound of wind lingering in between the leaves and branches in the forest around Emma’s ranch, to the fragments of sunlight on the rivers beside the majestic mountains. She does what is truly essential for the reader to stay engaged: she transports whilst, simultaneously, creating a striking world of both tragedy and beauty.
“True”, a seemingly ambiguous title that doesn’t seem fitting for the book, is a must read for women of all ages. It is a profound recording of a journey.
Reviewed by Rebecca Nichloson for IndieReader
We are swamped with great projects, just published Poems for Ample Ladies by Sarjana Gaydos and Wesley Cook, FB page and blog to follow. Working on three children's books for Jeffrey Page Redman and working on the reissue of
Sunday, October 14, 2012
Autumn 2012
And so Summer has vanished! We were so busy movin and shakin, Summer just flew past us as if only a dream...
We continue to promote True, Melinda is headed to the southwest in a few days, speaking to book clubs and signings in bookstores, and I will be back here holding down the fort! We have been busy on so many new projects: Poems for Ample Ladies is going to press as we speak and should be available by October 1st, so happy for Wesley Cook and Carla Gaydos, what a fabulous project! Wesley's illustrations and Carla's words together are just plain yummy!!!
We love all our friends on Facebook, so many fascinating women whose stories must be told! We want to feature a couple of women in this newsletter, the first is a woman we have known for quite awhile. Helene Van Manen a life coach extraordinaire~
We continue to promote True, Melinda is headed to the southwest in a few days, speaking to book clubs and signings in bookstores, and I will be back here holding down the fort! We have been busy on so many new projects: Poems for Ample Ladies is going to press as we speak and should be available by October 1st, so happy for Wesley Cook and Carla Gaydos, what a fabulous project! Wesley's illustrations and Carla's words together are just plain yummy!!! 
If you are a woman seeking to tap into her abundance and prosperity at the soul level. The retreat process is one of the highest forms of self growth and Retreat Coach Diva Helene Van Manen, Founder of the RetreatCoaches.com, has an upcoming Prospering Woman Retreat in the magical mountains of southern Colorado November 7 -11th Details and registration are here
http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs001/1101539435305/archive/1110917707891.html
Between the upcoming elections, babies, kids and all that life has to offer, I've got that big urge to reach over and hit the snooze button, but the reality is that we've all got responsibilities and goals in front of us that have to be tended to! Gutters cleaned out ,check...lawns racked and thatched, well not quite...water pipes drained and ready for winter (which by the way is here at night, our temp has hit 31 degrees) almost, the list is endless and so our the joys. New beginnings, new ideas, working on creating a foundation that benefits the disadvantaged youth of Siskiyou County, creating new workshops for writers, building foundations for the young women coming out of Juvenile Hall, looking for ways to be of service and extending a hand to those in need of transformation.
The writers workshop that we had here on October 7th, The Alchemical Heart: Writing Into The
Sacred - An Afternoon with Dora E. McQuaid, Poet, Activist, Speaker and Teacher, was phenomenal!
Dora McQuaid http://www.doramcquaid.com
We realized just how valuable these workshops are to our community and the need to create an even bigger space to continue with needs to become a priority! Thank you again Dora for bringing so much to the table, an afternoon that will never be forgotten.
Between the upcoming elections, babies, kids and all that life has to offer, I've got that big urge to reach over and hit the snooze button, but the reality is that we've all got responsibilities and goals in front of us that have to be tended to! Gutters cleaned out ,check...lawns racked and thatched, well not quite...water pipes drained and ready for winter (which by the way is here at night, our temp has hit 31 degrees) almost, the list is endless and so our the joys. New beginnings, new ideas, working on creating a foundation that benefits the disadvantaged youth of Siskiyou County, creating new workshops for writers, building foundations for the young women coming out of Juvenile Hall, looking for ways to be of service and extending a hand to those in need of transformation.
The writers workshop that we had here on October 7th, The Alchemical Heart: Writing Into The
Sacred - An Afternoon with Dora E. McQuaid, Poet, Activist, Speaker and Teacher, was phenomenal!
We realized just how valuable these workshops are to our community and the need to create an even bigger space to continue with needs to become a priority! Thank you again Dora for bringing so much to the table, an afternoon that will never be forgotten.
Thursday, August 2, 2012
Summer 2012
Finally our blog is up and running~ so sorry for all the delays, life just keeps throwing us fastballs and well, we are just excited to write to you in our new format. Moving from a seasonal newsletter to a blog allows us to share all of the excitement we are experiencing at Wise Women Ink more often. Summer is here in far northern California
All of our wisdom decks are thriving,Wisdom of the Crone, Wonder of the Mother and The Journey, letting us know that women of all ages are seeking daily inspiration. Our beautiful vivid new Journey deck has arrived to empower young women as they walk the path of self-discovery. Inspirational Wisdom Decks from Wise Women Ink
Wisdom of the Crone is still our most popular set empowering older women and reminding them that they are both wise and beautiful because of their rich life experiences Wonder of the Mother continued to humor and bring heart warming messages to mothers of all ages.
Melinda’s novel True has touched people beyond her expectations and she is traveling to bookstores and libraries sharing and reading from her book that unites the beautiful and terrible that we all experience. The reviews have been fabulous! http://www.amazon.com/True-Melinda-Field/product-reviews/097620083X/ref=dp_top_cm_cr_acr_txt?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=1 This is a link to all the reviews on Amazon. Melinda's True Book Tour back in May was awesome, meeting incredible people along the way, and the warm reception that she received everywhere was amazing!
We want to thank you for all of your support and devotion to WWI and our individual endeavors because it is you, wonderful and extraordinary women living ordinary lives that always inspire us with your passion, self-actualization and bravery. There are women striving and changing the face of this planet who we want everyone to know about, this month we would like to introduce you to Poet/activist, Dora McQuaid~
With the tumultuous and unbelievable turn of events at Penn State, our friend, and wonderful sister Dora McQuaid has been painted into "Michael Pilato's Inspirations Mural at State College, PA, in which her image was painted into the chair once occupied by former Penn State assistant football coach and convicted child sex offender, Jerry Sandusky. Michael began painting her image into the chair that had been empty since November 2011 after the jury convicted Sandusky of 45 of 48 charges. The red hand prints behind her image belong to one of the jurors who convicted Sandusky and a Centre County, PA, resident who is a survivor of childhood sexual assault." Dora was serving as faculty at Penn State while working nationally as a poet/activist, addressing both domestic and sexual violence, as well as healing and empowerment between the years of 1999 and 2006, during the same time that the Penn State administration was apparently harboring Sandusky.
Her unique blend of art, emotion and service has earned her multiple awards, including the Pennsylvania Governor’s Pathfinder Award, recognition by the Pennsylvania Senate and a Vagina Warrior Award from the Penn State cast of Eve Ensler’s play The Vagina Monologues while serving as faculty at Penn State between 1999 and 2006. Dora has been awarded a number of Poet-In-Residence and Fellowship positions with various programs, including The Harwood Museum of Art and The Helene Wurlitzer Foundation in Taos, New Mexico, and the Pagosa Springs, Colorado Artist-In-Residency Program. She was also awarded the 2011 New Mexico Woman Writer’s Fellowship by A Room of Her Own Foundation and is being honored as one of the Remarkable Women of Taos, New Mexico during the 2012 yearlong celebration of women whose lives and creative spirits have influenced the Northern New Mexico community.
Dora’s dedication to addressing through poetry, performance and activism the issues of sexual and domestic violence was honored in 2012 by her image being painted into the place previously occupied by the image of former Penn State football coach and convicted sex offender Jerry Sandusky in the Inspirations Mural by artist Michael Pilato of the Public Art Academy in State College, PA, where Penn State is located.
Dora performs, speaks and teaches internationally, both individually and with the NeoSpinsters, the all female performance group she co-founded, in venues as varied as men’s and women’s prisons, justice and outreach programs, political rallies and community events, universities and high schools, churches and shelters, as well as television and radio programs and professional and academic conferences. She has collaborated nationally with an array of other artists, ranging from writers, poets and performers,to musicians and songwriters and visual artists working in various mediums, including the Ekphrasis poets and artists of Taos, NM. Dora currently serves as a member of the Board of Directors of The Sage Institute for Environment, Creativity and Consciousness, which is affiliated with the University of New Mexico-Taos.
Dora’s work has been published in anthologies, films, plays, musical compositions, literary journals and magazines, required course readings, law enforcement training programs in Pennsylvania, as well as posters, calendars and greeting cards. She is the author of the scorched earth, and its compact disc companion, the scorched earth: spoken, due for combined reissue in 2012 as a 10-Year Anniversary Edition.
Dora was also commissioned to write the poem, Around This Table, for the 25th Anniversary of the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence, now available in poster form. Kate Bogle’s short film,One Woman’s Voice, which documents Dora’s combined roles as poet, teacher and activist and is used internationally as a teaching /training tool, is available through Penn State Media Sales. Dora’s next collection of poems, SEVEN: Poems of The Interim, is forthcoming.
Who better to fill that chair then Dora! Because of her tireless advocacy work in the domestic violence field, her stunning poetry and her amazing voice, so many have received comfort, peace and an understanding of making choices for themselves that will empower and lift from a place of despair and pain. We love and honor you Dora~
All of our wisdom decks are thriving,Wisdom of the Crone, Wonder of the Mother and The Journey, letting us know that women of all ages are seeking daily inspiration. Our beautiful vivid new Journey deck has arrived to empower young women as they walk the path of self-discovery. Inspirational Wisdom Decks from Wise Women Ink
Wisdom of the Crone is still our most popular set empowering older women and reminding them that they are both wise and beautiful because of their rich life experiences Wonder of the Mother continued to humor and bring heart warming messages to mothers of all ages.
Melinda’s novel True has touched people beyond her expectations and she is traveling to bookstores and libraries sharing and reading from her book that unites the beautiful and terrible that we all experience. The reviews have been fabulous! http://www.amazon.com/True-Melinda-Field/product-reviews/097620083X/ref=dp_top_cm_cr_acr_txt?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=1 This is a link to all the reviews on Amazon. Melinda's True Book Tour back in May was awesome, meeting incredible people along the way, and the warm reception that she received everywhere was amazing!
We want to thank you for all of your support and devotion to WWI and our individual endeavors because it is you, wonderful and extraordinary women living ordinary lives that always inspire us with your passion, self-actualization and bravery. There are women striving and changing the face of this planet who we want everyone to know about, this month we would like to introduce you to Poet/activist, Dora McQuaid~
With the tumultuous and unbelievable turn of events at Penn State, our friend, and wonderful sister Dora McQuaid has been painted into "Michael Pilato's Inspirations Mural at State College, PA, in which her image was painted into the chair once occupied by former Penn State assistant football coach and convicted child sex offender, Jerry Sandusky. Michael began painting her image into the chair that had been empty since November 2011 after the jury convicted Sandusky of 45 of 48 charges. The red hand prints behind her image belong to one of the jurors who convicted Sandusky and a Centre County, PA, resident who is a survivor of childhood sexual assault." Dora was serving as faculty at Penn State while working nationally as a poet/activist, addressing both domestic and sexual violence, as well as healing and empowerment between the years of 1999 and 2006, during the same time that the Penn State administration was apparently harboring Sandusky.
Dora is descendant of traveling gypsies, Irish Golden-gloved boxers, and strong women, whose stories and the telling of them prompted her lifelong fascination with the written and spoken word. Dora continues her
family tradition of using the personal story to explore memory and conjecture, culture and community, and the intersections between the private and the political.
family tradition of using the personal story to explore memory and conjecture, culture and community, and the intersections between the private and the political.
Her unique blend of art, emotion and service has earned her multiple awards, including the Pennsylvania Governor’s Pathfinder Award, recognition by the Pennsylvania Senate and a Vagina Warrior Award from the Penn State cast of Eve Ensler’s play The Vagina Monologues while serving as faculty at Penn State between 1999 and 2006. Dora has been awarded a number of Poet-In-Residence and Fellowship positions with various programs, including The Harwood Museum of Art and The Helene Wurlitzer Foundation in Taos, New Mexico, and the Pagosa Springs, Colorado Artist-In-Residency Program. She was also awarded the 2011 New Mexico Woman Writer’s Fellowship by A Room of Her Own Foundation and is being honored as one of the Remarkable Women of Taos, New Mexico during the 2012 yearlong celebration of women whose lives and creative spirits have influenced the Northern New Mexico community.
Dora’s dedication to addressing through poetry, performance and activism the issues of sexual and domestic violence was honored in 2012 by her image being painted into the place previously occupied by the image of former Penn State football coach and convicted sex offender Jerry Sandusky in the Inspirations Mural by artist Michael Pilato of the Public Art Academy in State College, PA, where Penn State is located.
Dora performs, speaks and teaches internationally, both individually and with the NeoSpinsters, the all female performance group she co-founded, in venues as varied as men’s and women’s prisons, justice and outreach programs, political rallies and community events, universities and high schools, churches and shelters, as well as television and radio programs and professional and academic conferences. She has collaborated nationally with an array of other artists, ranging from writers, poets and performers,to musicians and songwriters and visual artists working in various mediums, including the Ekphrasis poets and artists of Taos, NM. Dora currently serves as a member of the Board of Directors of The Sage Institute for Environment, Creativity and Consciousness, which is affiliated with the University of New Mexico-Taos.
Dora’s work has been published in anthologies, films, plays, musical compositions, literary journals and magazines, required course readings, law enforcement training programs in Pennsylvania, as well as posters, calendars and greeting cards. She is the author of the scorched earth, and its compact disc companion, the scorched earth: spoken, due for combined reissue in 2012 as a 10-Year Anniversary Edition.
Dora was also commissioned to write the poem, Around This Table, for the 25th Anniversary of the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence, now available in poster form. Kate Bogle’s short film,One Woman’s Voice, which documents Dora’s combined roles as poet, teacher and activist and is used internationally as a teaching /training tool, is available through Penn State Media Sales. Dora’s next collection of poems, SEVEN: Poems of The Interim, is forthcoming.
Who better to fill that chair then Dora! Because of her tireless advocacy work in the domestic violence field, her stunning poetry and her amazing voice, so many have received comfort, peace and an understanding of making choices for themselves that will empower and lift from a place of despair and pain. We love and honor you Dora~
Here are a few links to some amazing interviews and stories and Dora's website for all to read and ponder~ http://www.doramcquaid.com/ This is a great article from the Daily Beast that should not be missed! http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2012/07/23/ncaa-sanctions-let-s-forget-about-football-now.html
We are about to help Dora launch the 10th anniversary edition of the scorched earth. This is a
collection of poems about Dora's journey from victimization to survivorship, through healing from both sexual and domestic violence into empowerment as an activist, speaker and performer. The CD companion, the scorched earth: spoken has studio and live recordings of Dora performing 16 of the 28 poems from the book, plus a bonus track of Around This Table, the poem Dora was commissioned to write to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the PA Coalition Against Domestic Violence. The 10th Anniversary Edition of the scorched earth is available on Dora's website Buy "the scorched earth" now~
We have been so busy with so many new projects... we didn't want to forget to tell you about some of the past projects that we helped create!
"Journaling by the Moonlight" Working with the phases of the moon as a source of transformation, this special deck of 54 cards helps mothers to balance motherhood while still walking their own path of self-discovery.
Designed to be used along with a personal journal, these inspiring cards, each tied to a moon phase, create insightful prompts allowing you to embark on an intimate adventure filled with reflection,self-exploration and gentle guidance.
Tina M. Games is a freelance writer, creativity and life purpose coach, and a journaling workshop facilitator working with mothers who desire a more authentic life filled with purpose,
passion, and creative expression.
www.MoonlightMomsCircle.com
We currently working on a fabulously fun book of poetry and illustrations by Sarjana Gaydos and
Wesley Anne Cook, titled "Poems for Ample Ladies" which will be available at the end of August!
So there you have it, although there is so much more. We encourage you to interact with us on Facebook Wise Women Ink Facebook Page~
Or email us at info@wisewomenink.com. Email us if you have a project you think we might be interested in assisting you with~ Enjoy every minute! Lani and Melinda Wise Women Ink
We have been so busy with so many new projects... we didn't want to forget to tell you about some of the past projects that we helped create!
"Journaling by the Moonlight" Working with the phases of the moon as a source of transformation, this special deck of 54 cards helps mothers to balance motherhood while still walking their own path of self-discovery.
Designed to be used along with a personal journal, these inspiring cards, each tied to a moon phase, create insightful prompts allowing you to embark on an intimate adventure filled with reflection,self-exploration and gentle guidance.
Tina M. Games is a freelance writer, creativity and life purpose coach, and a journaling workshop facilitator working with mothers who desire a more authentic life filled with purpose,
passion, and creative expression.
www.MoonlightMomsCircle.com
We currently working on a fabulously fun book of poetry and illustrations by Sarjana Gaydos and
Wesley Anne Cook, titled "Poems for Ample Ladies" which will be available at the end of August!
Or email us at info@wisewomenink.com. Email us if you have a project you think we might be interested in assisting you with~ Enjoy every minute! Lani and Melinda Wise Women Ink
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