N. Xavier Arnold is a licensed real estate broker, successful investor and author. His experience has taught him how to effectively train and work with novice and seasoned real estate investors alike. The Best Real Estate Investing Method…Ever! his new bestselling book explains the method he pioneered; it’s practical, effective, and works in today’s market. Visit him at: http//www.rsibestmethodever.com.

How does your writing, fiction or nonfiction, address your reader’s experience of unfolding as:
•    A Being of Nature shaped by the complexity of forces, rhythms and harmonies in our lives mirroring the natural world?
•    A Being of Nativity shaped by a personal sense of divine origin and purpose?
•    A Being of Riches shaped by the blessings and challenges of material needs and expression?
•    A Being of Relationships shaped by or interactions with family, friends, colleagues and strangers?
•    A Being of Childhood shaped by our unique experiences and stories while growing up?
•    A Being of Selfhood seeking the consciousness of and process for evolving our own individuality?

Writers of fiction will naturally address all six areas as they build their characters and stories.

With certain nonfiction genres there may be a focus on one realm, but the others need to be present in the writer’s thoughts or the writing will not connect with the humanity of the reader.

Writers of personal blogs will often move from one realm to another in their posts.

Brilliant writers weave a consciousness of six realities into their writing.

Writers have a need and a gift for description and insight.  We use our writing to grow our own humanity and the humanity of our readers.  Working with the six ways of being human will make a difference in every writer’s work.

Do some self-discovery reflection and work with each of these realms.  Here are some of my own thoughts on each.

Nature:  Nature has such wonderful primal rhythms.  I don’t.  Or I should say I struggle with finding and choosing my conscious rhythms. I can think about rhythms, imagine with a deep calm how nourishing a rhythm would be, but I find inner obstacles to applying rhythms to my activity.   My will has a mind of its own.  Undisciplined as the wind, my will blows in all directions and with varying degrees of force. I so admire those who have a will like a plant – once they are rooted in a particular interest or task they simply sprout, grow leaves of greater and greater complexity, bud, beautifully flower and produce fruit.

Reflecting on what I just wrote I see the linear process of the growing plant.  The wind is not linear. It is chaotic and and can be wild or gentle. But wind clears the air and stills itself every now and then.  In my moments of stillness, my writing falls to the earth like a seed.  Then it roots and begins to grow like a plant!

These are metaphors of nature I must spend more time with.  Wind, seed, rootedness, flowering living in my writing.

Nativity – I move now to the birth of the divine, something pure and powerful, in my being.  After a long and fierce gestation, I am giving birth to my spirit as a deed and a contribution.  We all say “I” for the first time around the age of two and a half.  Now almost sixty years later I say “I” and it has real significance – I have stopped being a noun and become a verb! I look not for adjectives but for adverbs now.  I manifest soundly and fully.

When I was writing about myself as a being of nature I felt uncertain and overwhelmed with creative options.  As I write my experience as a being of nativity I feel focused and contained.  What does this tell me?

Riches: I spent much of my life living for the delights of material riches.  Sensory saturation and satisfaction were my goals.  I wanted to know and experience the best of everything with intensity.  The surface of everything attracted me and I was so seduced by my hunger for it all, that I often overlooked meaning and purpose, proportion and practicality.

Now I pay attention, I discriminate, and I cherish.  I want just what I need, what enriches my life, nothing more.  I have come to be not a seeker of riches, but, a being of riches.  I need to look at my writing this way.  I must attend to, discriminate and cherish the needs of my readers.  I want to enrich my readers with my writing.

Relationship: Relationships, too, now have more consciousness and, consequently, more contentment living in them.  I want relationships of mutual joy and support. I want relationships that offer the paradox of security and surprise.

In my book on the six Christmases, I write about generations.  This Christmas is the third Christmas I have not been a daughter.  This is the last Christmas where I am mother.  Next Christmas will be my first being grandmother. How will this new relationship reality, alter my experience of myself?  Here’s one question that appears in “relationship” to my writing in this moment: how has my writing gesture moved from daughter’s, to mother’s, to grandmother’s?  The grandmother’s gesture will offer more wisdom and compassion.

Childhood: The more I remember that I am a being of childhood, that my deep inner sense of self was shaped by the experiences of nature, nativity, riches and relationships that occurred before I turned 21, and most before I said “I” for the first time, the more sensitive I am to others, the more profound my thoughts and writing become and the better I manage my demons.

Selfhood: If I am not shining my “I,” I become dull and my writing becomes dull.  If I am not bending my “I,” I become rigid and my writing becomes rigid.  Evolving my selfhood is a rigorous adventure.  It demands so much, just like writing and teaching demands more of me with each word.

When I let go of the five other experiences and write from my “I,”my evolving selfhood, I feel my authority, thrilling authority, and the curious thing is my experience on the reread. I wonder who the author was!

Exploring the six experiences of being human offer endless benefits to the soul and craft of the writer and to living our daily lives.  To celebrate the six ways of being yourself at Christmas, visit www.innerchristmas.com.

NATURE
Grampie Wilfred always made sure their EYES and EARS focused on the beauty of nature. He taught them how to DEEP BREATH and just be still with the flowers, trees, sky, and the exquisite lake that surrounded their home. On a sunny day, the little waves of water on the lake looked like dancing stars. They would always silently say THANK YOU when they saw something beautiful or felt joy! The music of Mother Earth was their greatest love of all. Their EARS always heard an abundance of the lovely sounds of birds, wind chimes, splashing water, and twirling leaves. Grampie taught those birds how to sing to us! The unique sound of each bird was pure magic to our ears! We always listened to their vibrant musical messages and tried to put words to each of their delightful songs.

CREATE
Nanny Alice is creating an AROMA THERAPY LESSON for the twins. She knows that the five senses are the incredible doorways to a deeper understanding of oneself. Expansion of the five senses keeps us OPEN and AWARE of finding our inner sense. Nanny Alice loves to get creative with her star-shaped cutter to make heavenly sugar-free treats. The twins smelled and tasted only foods that were tantalizing, blessed, and extremely healthy. She loved to create star burgers, *marshmallows, *fruit, *cakes, *jello, *lollipops,*candy, *cookies, and *cupcakes. Each *treat has a very unique aroma. Nanny Alice used many secret ingredients for her multi-sensory lesson.

ALLOW
Grace and Jace were surrounded with fragrances that would make their cute little noses sniff and twitch with delight. The air in the kitchen was filled with the delicious scents of vanilla, rose petals, chocolate, peppermint, basil, ginger, lavender, and carrot. All the nerves in their noses began to send brilliant food messages to their brain. Grace and Jace loved to try and guess all the star treats by using only their sense of SMELL. ALLOW your imagination to SNIFF all the *treats! The twins could hardly wait for their blindfolded TASTING party!

DESIGN
Grace and Jace’s mom, Dot, was a jewelry designer. She would make starry necklaces, key chains, rings, earrings, bracelets, and belts in gold and silver. Mom made sure each of her designs was filled with crystals and a power word. Each piece of jewelry created rainbows to swirl and dance whenever and wherever the SUN appeared. They loved learning the new power word their mom would choose each day! Her most creative design was a sun catcher necklace, worn in the middle of the chest area. Each twin could hardly wait to have their own necklace. They wanted to experience the magical feeling of the rays of the SUN when it touched the crystal sitting on their HEART energy center. The incredible light would make them feel hugged from the inside out.

ACTION
Welcome to our grandfather’s workshop filled with custom made hand tools, glass, and imagination. Grace and Jace’s grandfather George Francis was a very skilled man who endured tremendous heat to coax beautiful forms of glass to life in a roaring furnace. He used nothing more than his own breath and a few simple tools to produce incredible art forms. He was a glassblower who captured the beauty of a rose by encasing it in exquisite glass. He wanted the world to see the perfect green star on the bottom of this precious flower. The possibilities of shaping glass into desired forms were endless.

ART
Grandfather George taught his children Serry, Mary, George, and Bill how to make their own unique flower and fruit glass designs. Uncle George would slice an apple in half to show the hidden star inside and blow glass all around it so it would last forever. Uncle Serry and Aunt Mary would find all those beautiful star-shaped flowers that were a reminder of their true HOME. Their family always felt honored to have the last name Star! They wanted to create incredible lasting works of art to make the world AWARE of where we all came from before their visit to Earth.
Their father Bill would blow different shapes of glass and put the magic words inside with a star-shaped flower. The words carry a magical vibration through the air. Dad would have them repeat the words over and over again until their bodies felt the power of LOVE inside and out.

FUN
Grace and Jace loved to play with their DAD, the greatest bubble maker! When they were three he bought, Grace and Jace an enormously large star bubble wand that fits in their kiddy pool. On a hot, sunny day, their dad filled our pool with liquid soap and water. He taught them the first of many lessons on the magic of using their BREATH to create BEAUTY. He could create bubbles within bubbles that made us laugh and smile! He was able to make huge bubbles that would cover their whole bodies and tickle them until they POPPED!! Oh, what fun they had!
Pop also used, bubbles to teach them how to see what their FEELING VIBRATION looked like. He blew a big bubble around each twin. He would ask Jace to think only angry thoughts, and the bubble would become very dark. Then, he would ask Grace to think only happy thoughts that made her smile and laugh. Her bubble would look like a magical rainbow. Pop explained that you can only be in a positive or negative FEELING VIBRATION. The UNIVERSE always gives you a perfect match for how you are FEELING. He also taught Jace and Grace the way to change a person’s vibration by just asking, “So, what do you really WANT?”
The secret to creating a beautiful vibration are delicious WORDS that make you FEEL awesome! His bubble lessons were the greatest adventures!

DANGER
Grace and Jace also learned the words they were never allowed to use. Those words are: DON’T, CAN’T, NO, and NOT. They always remembered, the day Grandma Molly dragged out an old scary pirate box from underneath her bed. Pirates liked to use pictures instead of words. They could see a GIGANTIC LOCK on the box with TWO SKULLS with LONG CROSSED BONES, which was the symbol for DANGER and POISON.
We were finally ready to peek inside to see those NEVER ALLOWED words: DON’T, CAN’T, NO, and NOT.

We could hear the most painful sounds as the box began to open. Our ears began to hurt! All we could hear was the message POISONOUS WORDS! The words were sitting as still as death at the bottom of the box. Grandma Molly told them in a very stern voice to ELIMINATE and DELETE these words because they will only create the opposite of what you want to happen. The UNIVERSE wants you to ERASE the words DON’T, CAN’T, NO, and NOT from your vocabulary.
She made them memorize these POISONOUS words until the twins felt that each word was burned into their memory as a painful reminder to NEVER EVER use them.

ELIMINATE
If they made a mistake and used any of those NEVER to USE WORDS, they would get the LOUD WARNING sound from Grandma Molly. She sent them right to the bathroom toilet to FLUSH, FLUSH, FLUSH, and FLUSH away all those words to where they belonged!
Sometimes those words slipped into their sentences, and Grandma Molly would make them give her a dime from their star bank every time. Plus a trip back to the toilet to FLUSH, FLUSH, FLUSH, and FLUSH all those words to where they belonged! Gram Molly gets A++++ for deleting all those never to use words from their vocabulary and thoughts.

READ
The twins had fabulous bedrooms filled with all their favorite things. Jace loved space, so he had a spaceship bed to BLAST OFF in for all his incredible evening explorations. Grace loved the water, so she had a sailboat bed to FLOAT away in each night for all her fabulous water adventures.
Their pop’s mother Molly was a reading teacher and read to the twins twice a day. Jace could magically SLIDE DOWN to join us for story time. They loved their Grandmother Molly tremendously for making words come alive for them. Gram Molly wallpapered, Grace and Jace’s bedroom walls with all the WORD FAMILIES. What a sight! Grace and Jace’s greatest wish was to learn how to read. Grandmother Molly put the love of rhyming words into their hearts. Grace and Jace were ready to become excellent readers because they learned how to rhyme with every word family.
Can you read all the word families on their wallpaper?

Grace and Jace always loved to DISAPPEAR into a GOOD BOOK. They let each book take them on a MAGIC CARPET RIDE. They enjoyed all the unique adventures books inspired. A love for reading opens the doors to far away sites, which keep our minds constantly exploring countless wonders. Grace and Jace were on their way to becoming lifelong readers.
Imagine all the places you can go when you LOVE to READ!

Books are fun!
Books are amazing!

Grace and Jace heard the little voice inside their heart say, “Always remember the magic words.” They wrote I AM “ ……….. sentences” on every mirror in their house. So, they would remember to LOOK INTO their EYES as they created wishes. They always played, the EYE 2 EYE mirror game to create a day that flowed with happiness.
I AM an awesome speller.
I AM a dynamite listener.
I AM a creative writer.
I AM an excellent attractor of amazing thoughts, actions, and feelings.

FANTASY
Grace and Jace started to make a list of all the words that made them feel extra-special inside. They decided to call them their S.T.A.R. POWER WORDS. They could feel the words come ALIVE. They let their S.T.A.R. POWER WORDS take them UP, UP and AWAY to the land of in a magical Hot Air Balloon. The land of allowed them to DREAM their wishes into life!
Grace and Jace loved to say, hear, see, think, type, write, and read words all day! They asked their pop if he would decorate their glass enclosed porch with all their wonderful S.T.A.R. POWER WORDS. What a blast their pop had making Grace and Jace’s sunroom a lovable kingdom of words in every color, size, and shape.

GRATITUDE
Pop taught his twins to always start and end each day by saying all the things they were THANKFUL for. Every day they went on a gratitude hunt. They had to find five treasures that would make their HEARTS sing. They had a great time searching for all the wonderful gifts of beauty MOTHER EARTH and FATHER SKY give each day. Always be GRATEFUL for all that you have NOW and the UNIVERSE will continue to give you more and more!
On this special day pop made us a GRATITUDE TREASURE MAP. We all dressed as pirates to pick a special spot, we wanted to explore. We had so many GRATEFUL places to investigate for gratitude time.

Grace and Jace each had a big GRATITUDE JOURNAL that they drew, pictures in every morning. They wanted to learn the words for each of these terrific pictures. Pop would write the word above each picture. Grace and Jace’s pop knew the secret to happiness. He knows that every moment you FEEL GRATITUDE the UNIVERSE will bring you extra things to be grateful for each day! Each positive word and picture that his cute little twins think about sends out a matching magical vibe that keeps attracting more and more love, beauty, and happiness into their lives.

For the most lasting effects, eliminate these negative words from your child’s vocabulary: no, don’t, and can’t. Restate all thoughts to FOCUS on what you WANT to happen. Help your child to become a DELIBERATE CREATOR.

REFRAME LANGUAGE:
“Don’t Fall” to “Walk carefully and focus on the stairs.”
“Don’t Talk” to “Listen to all the wonderful information being given.”
“No Running” to “Let’s walk as quiet as a mouse.”
“Can’t Do This” to “I’ll figure out how to do this.”
“Don’t Be Messy” to “Having an organized room is so cool.”

It is my intent that all children will attract an extraordinary and glorious reality this was my goal for writing my Law of Attraction Children’s Book, “THE STAR POWERED TWINS.” It is my sincere desire that my book will develop every child’s self-esteem by using mega doses of STAR POWERED WORDS daily. It also allows each child to explore and appreciate their unique talents and abilities. The reader will view themselves as lovable and one of a kind. Ultimately parents will witness a confident, capable, and life long learner. Honor recognizing and celebrating your child’s uniqueness!

Allow your child to FEEL:
Super Terrific And Remarkable

I created two websites http://lawofattraction4children.org/
http://lawofattraction4children.com/ with FREE Games, LOA Links, LOA Activities, Downloads, and Awards for children to enjoy a multi-sensory approach to all strategies being taught in the book. ENJOY!

STAR POWER YOUR NAME GAME
TYPE YOUR NAME.
MAGICALLY watch your NAME become STAR POWERED.
SCROLL over each *WORD with your mouse to HEAR each POSITIVE WORD.
PRINT and DISPLAY with your PHOTO!

STAR WORD of the Day GAME
CLICK on a STAR BUBBLE.
LISTEN to the name of the STAR WORD.
SPELL the STAR WORD.
USE your STAR WORD all day.
Uplift EVERYONE by using only POSITIVE Words.

Rocket Blast Game
CLICK only POSITIVE Words.
WATCH the BLAST METER.
FIVE POSITIVE WORDS needed to LAUNCH the ROCKET.
PICK A PLANET to VISIT!

I have Two Law of Attraction for Children You Tube Videos: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zEN5v4R6ASs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mt9FYgKZvc8

Check out my Squidoo Lenses:

http://www.squidoo.com/Children–Law-Of-Attraction

http://www.squidoo.com/law-of-attraction-for-children

Author: The Law of Attraction is a vital process to master in order to create a positive reality. My intention was to touch each child’s heart so they would always believe in the creative power of their words. Current research has shown that 60% of what we say on a daily basis is in the form of negative criticism. As a result, self-confidence is sabotaged and only 10% of potential is reached.  Positive words hold a very high vibration so I knew I had to find a way to expose my readers to the beauty of words.

FASCINATING AUTHORS: How long did the book take you from start to finish?

Author: 3 Years

FASCINATING AUTHORS: What aspect of writing the book did you find particularly challenging?

Author: To include all Law of Attraction strategies in a narrative storyline that would engage and excite young readers.

FASCINATING AUTHORS: What surprised you the most about the book writing process?

Author: I loved every minute of the writing process and time just disappeared.

FASCINATING AUTHORS: Did you have any favorite experiences when writing your book?

Author: The process of designing illustrations to flow with my words was a thrilling experience. The main characters were my deceased family. My illustrator used old photos of my mom, dad, grandparents, aunts, and uncles to capture their youthful essence. I was in awe that Chrisann Zaubi could bring to life the exact picture my mind imagined for each page.  The setting of the story was I Phone images of my condo. I was involved in every color, outfit, and setting for each page of “THE STAR POWERED TWINS.”

FASCINATING AUTHORS: What do you hope your readers will gain from reading your book?

Author: The Law of Attraction develops the power of positive words, thoughts, and actions to attract expanded goodness into our lives. FOCUSING on being healthy, abundant, happy, and a state of GRATITUDE will create the mindset of living HEAVEN on EARTH. It is my intent that all children will attract an extraordinary and glorious reality.

FASCINATING AUTHORS: What projects are you currently working on?

Author: I am currently working on Book 2 for The STAR POWERED TWINS SERIES.

FASCINATING AUTHORS: Is writing your sole career? If not, what else do you do?

Author: I am FOCUSING by time creating adventures for THE STAR POWERED TWINS to EXPLORE.

FASCINATING AUTHORS: Did you do any research for your books, or did you write from experience?

Author: I researched the Law of Attraction for seven years and compiled all my first grade teaching experiences to create my book.

FASCINATING AUTHORS: How did you come up with your title?

Author: I wanted to reach the audience of both boys and girls so I decided to write about twins. The self-esteem program I designed while I was teaching was titled STAR POWER. The topic of the book is Law of Attraction. The SECRET is the WORDS we choose to use.

FASCINATING AUTHORS: What books have influenced you the most?

Author: Empowering Resource Books and Links to tap into the MAGIC of the UNIVERSE

Beckwith, Michael Bernard: “Spiritual Liberation – Fulfilling Your Soul’s Potential” a dynamic spiritual leader  who starred on the DVD “The Secret”
agapelive.com

Byrnes, Rhonda “The Secret” and DVD “The Secret”
thesecret.tv

Children of the New Earth: childrenofthenewearth.com
Deepak Chopra: “THE SEVEN SPIRITUAL LAWS FOR PARENTS Guiding Your Children to Success and Fulfillment”   chopra.com

Canfield, Jack: “Key to Living the Law of Attraction”
Canfield, Jack: “Dream Big Collection for Kids, Teens, and Adults” and awesome star on the DVD “The Secret” dreambigcollection.com

Hicks, Esther and Jerry: “Law of Attraction: The Basics of the Teachings of Abraham” and many Law of Attraction resources.  Abraham-hicks.com

Lecours, Dorothy Alice: “The Star Powered Twins”
lawofattraction4children.org

Losier, Michael: “Law of Attraction” and “Law of Connection” michael@lawofattractionbook.com

Nichols, Lisa: “No Matter What” and fabulous star on the DVD “The Secret” lisanichols.com

Reading Rockets: Launching Young Readers   readingrockets.org

Ripple: What is Ripple? A web based audio player. Adults use it to make personalized audio recordings of children’s picture books. Children use it to listen to these custom recordings over and over. ripplereader.com

Starfall: Where children learn to love to read.  starfall.com

Tolle, Eckhart: “Power of Now” and “A New Earth Awakening to Your Life’s Purpose” eckharttolle.com

Winfrey, Oprah and author Eckhart Tolle created A New Earth online class. Ten live class/discussions of the book “A New Earth Awakening to Your Life’s Purpose” online. Oprah.com/anewearth

Virtue, Doreen is a spiritual doctor of psychology and a fourth-generation metaphysician: “The Crystal Children.” and many other fabulous resources. doreenvirtue.com

FASCINATING AUTHORS: Who was your publisher and why did you choose them?

Author: I selected DragonPencil because I wanted to self-publish so that I could totally enjoy being part of every process required to create my book. I was able to select the illustrator of my choice. It was very important to me that I could retain control of all visuals and words used in my book.

FASCINATING AUTHORS: Tell us a little bit about your book.

Author: Grace and Jace are two very special children on a very important mission. Follow along with them on their colorful adventures as they discover the secret of using The Law of Attraction to make their dreams come true!

The words you send out are the feelings and dreams that come back to you. Eliminate the words: no, don’t, can’t from your child’s vocabulary. Empower your child to use the words I AM to develop positive feelings, thoughts, and actions of gratitude.

The Law of Attraction develops the power of positive words, thoughts, and actions to attract expanded goodness into our lives. Focusing on being healthy, abundant, happy, and a state of gratitude will create a very positive reality for your child.

FASCINATING AUTHORS: What inspired you to create a work of fiction?

Author: I had dedicated my teaching career to EMPOWERING children. My book enabled me to continue to inspire children globally.

FASCINATING AUTHORS: What did you do to prepare – such as research – to write your book?

Author: I have a Master’s Degree and Sixth Year Degree in READING. My thirty-five years of teaching had been centered in reading and writing for young children. I had been personally researching The Law of Attraction with Michael Losier since 2003. The subject matter ignited my passion to write a keep it simple book for children.

FASCINATING AUTHORS: How did you decide which information to present in your book?

Author: I selected what worked best for me in my teaching career.

FASCINATING AUTHORS: What do you hope people will gain from reading your book?

Author: Each person is the CREATOR of their REALITY.

FASCINATING AUTHORS: How long did it take you to write the book – (was it longer or less time than you expected)?

Author:  It took me a year and a half to write the book. It took another year and a half for the illustrator to create the vision for my words. The process took longer than I expected due to the amount of time put forth to have just the right illustrations for each page of the book.

FASCINATING AUTHORS: Did you seek the support of a writer’s group or class?

Author: No

FASCINATING AUTHORS: What surprised you the most about this process?

Author: The book design had to be changed when I viewed the small font size being used. I had to create a totally different vision for the book midstream. I decided all illustrations would be on the left side of the page and words on the right side. I reinvented a first grade ANTHOLOGY BOOK to meet the eye requirements of for a young reader.

FASCINATING AUTHORS: What tips would you offer to anyone writing fiction for the first time?

Author: Have FUN and follow wherever your HEART takes you!

FASCINATING AUTHORS: What can we look forward to in your next book?

Author: I am writing a children’s concept book on NUMEROLOGY. The STAR POWERED TWINS will be discovering the MAGIC of NUMBERS!

FASCINATING AUTHORS: Is there anything we haven’t covered that you would like to include?

Author: This book was written in all dark blue ink so the consciousness of each reader would be raised to a high level. Many spiritual issues were explored: reincarnation, meditating on Nature, Purpose for being here, going WITHIN to tap into the I AM presence without using the word GOD.

FASCINATING AUTHORS: Thank you for taking the time to be part of this interview!

To learn more about the book and Author, please visit – http://lawofattraction4children.com/

A: Children need to be EMPOWERED. My book is intended for young children and focuses on the educational value of the “Law of Attraction.” The development of this concept requires an overflowing of strategies for each child to master during small reading increments of time daily. It is designed to be used by adults to stimulate a reader’s interest, vocabulary, and reading skills. I felt that it was vital for young children to master the concept of Law of Attraction so that they could become deliberate creators at a very early age.

Q: Do you have any secret writing tips you’d like to share?

A: Meditation is my secret remedy for all areas of my life especially writing. When I AM tuned in and tapped into my inner guidance a flow of words begin to emerge for me to deliver to my readers.

Q: Tell us a quirky or funny story about you!

A: I have many LAUGH OUT LOUD stories from my first grade teaching career. One of my favorite pertains to a BEE DRUG FREE poster in my classroom. I was being evaluated by my principal when a huge Queen Bee dropped in for a visit. You can imagine the mass hysteria that transpired among six year olds. I told them in my teeny tiny voice we had a visitor from the Lovable Animal Kingdom that really wanted to teach her little bees “How to Be Drug Free.” The awe on their little faces was priceless and my principal almost fell out of his chair. My lesson continued for another 30 minutes with our guest from the Other Side sitting on my reading table. Two minutes after my principal left a little girl in my class raised her hand and asked, I really want to know how you hired that Queen Bee to stay us with us all morning  to make us Drug FREE?  Do you have magical powers? I laughed all the way home and thanked GOD for always supplying me with an army of Angels to add such incredible joy to my teaching day.

Q: Have you ever battled writer’s block? How do you deal with it?

A: Every moment is divinely timed and when writer’s block occurs, I switch my FOCUS to MUSIC or the BEAUTY of NATURE to release any ENERGY that is holding me back from achieving what I am trying to create.

Q: What’s your favorite quote?

A: “Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.”
— Melody Beattie

Q: Who inspires you the most?

A: Oprah Winfrey inspires me daily to live my very best life. Deepak Chopra guides my soul to apply the Seven Spiritual Laws of Success to every area of my life. Michael Bernard Beckwith uplifts me to my highest wisest self that knows I CAN ACCOMPLISH my WISH LIST!

To Mothers:  It has never been harder to be a child.

There is much information available today regarding the devastating ramifications of blatant child abuse.  However, much less has been addressed about the power of a more subtle abuse.

Much of the impact we have on a child is obvious.  Maybe even more of it is so subtle we don’t even see the connection between what we do and how a child may perceive our actions.  And this can start long before the baby is due.

An article by Dr. Vijai Sharma titled Stress During Pregnancy Can Affect a Child’s Health reports, “Many mothers during pregnancy face extremely stressful circumstances…” causing “constant stress, shame, loneliness and sometimes clinical depression during pregnancy or after giving birth.  …Some (babies) will later become hyperactive, under active, inattentive or temperamental and exhibit poor self-control,…  Not everyone understands that the problems a child exhibits today may have resulted from events that occurred before birth.  …All of us want happy children.  Happy children grow out of happy babies.  Happy babies are born to happy mothers.”

My mother never recovered from her second pregnancy.  Her first child was a daughter born fifteen years earlier and the apple of her eye.  The change of events involving my birth, turned her world upside down and her attitude and life were never the same.

As a preschooler, I was admonished for incorrectly carrying bread.  Years later, the direction I stirred my cereal became of paramount importance.

I often say I was born depressed.  People used to laugh and say okay Jill stop exaggerating or don’t be so dramatic, but now there is proven research to back me up.

Had I been born to a mother who embraced her pregnancy, my life would have been significantly different and/or easier.

Forty-seven years.

In high school, I took an introduction to psychology class and unlike others in the class who immediately had all the symptoms of each mental health malady, I recognized only the signs of depression were true of me.  I remember one winter night riding home in the car with my mother while she was addressing a number of my shortcomings.  In exasperation, she turned and asked what I thought was the matter with me.  I tentatively offered that I might be depressed.

“What a ridiculous thing for you to say.  First of all, you are too young to be depressed and secondly, you don’t have one thing on earth to be depressed about.  Don’t ever say something like that again.”

My depression didn’t come out of nowhere.  I’m not sure why she was depressed.  It could have stemmed from issues with her own family growing up, “the times” that stifled her ambitions, or simply being saddled with to her what was her “late life baby.”  Certainly there were no cigarette burns, no broken bones.  In some ways it felt that might have been easier.  Something tangible would have made more sense.

Out of the blue my mother took my dog to be put to sleep without telling me.

There is something about the unexpected jolt.  I understand why I am overly sensitive to it.  Today, whenever I see a parent carrying an infant in the popular baby carrier, I can’t help but tune in.  It becomes especially bothersome for me if the adult is carrying other items as in groceries or involved in a phone conversation.  That carrier may be perched in a position of a tilt-a-whirl and/or banging against the adult’s leg or car door.  It is important to think about the impact of those actions on that clean slate they are carrying.  The baby didn’t ask for a carnival ride as he/she begins to expect the unexpected. (or treated with little regard.)

The unexpected jolt, both literally and figuratively, has long lasting implications.

You never know when it is coming.

You can never prepare for it.

You are never the same after it.

Forty-seven years.

What you say can have more impact than you might first believe.  For example I never left my house growing up without hearing my mother’s last word cautioning me to BE CAREFUL.  Now that may sound like a simple, logical thing to say, and surely everybody has said that at sometime, but that constant admonition has cost me a lot psychologically.  First, it rooted my fear based life stance.  I always left the house being careful. Careful of what, I didn’t know so I grew to believe danger was everywhere and it might spring up when I least expected it so I needed to stay on hyper alert. And may I say a constant long-term alertness is exhausting.

Forty-seven years.

One thing I learned early:  there are caring adults out there in life who make a difference whether they know it or not.  I appeal to each of you to examine all the opportunities you have to also show kindness to others; children and adults alike.

In closing, there are four suggestions I would like to share.

1. Stay away from chemical substances, don’t smoke and eat well.

2. Find or make a support group.  No one understands us better than someone going through the same thing.  Such a group can provide a needed reality check.

3. Find a mentor.  Someone you look up to. Ask their advice.

4. Consider it important to nurture yourself.  Set aside time (at least 15 or 20 minutes each day) for you.  Do things that make you relaxed and happy.  Remember happy babies are born to happy mothers.

Forty-seven years

What is behind forty-seven years?  It is the good news that after forty-seven years I recovered well enough from the effects of a “difficult mother.”

Unfortunately, some of us never recover.  It is important that we pledge to impact the young people in our lives with a fresh understanding and gentleness.

January 23, 2010
Kisumu, Kenya

Scorched cement walls, with exfoliated paint peeling in layers, follow two years of rains and the fires of election riots when Kenya’s presidential contest ignited. It’s my backdrop as I drink Masala tea and write this Blog in the Cyber café of Kisumu.

I’m a surgeon, practicing my skills in a small hospital near Lake Victoria. Not so different from Washington D.C. where The End of the Race, a political satire of American health care, takes place. In Africa the tribes compete intensely, both overtly and covertly, and corruption is as rife as the mosquitoes, perhaps even the lobbyers of our own capitol. Like epochs of drought, the decades roll along, punctuated by seasonal rains and a sparse economy of care for the indigent. A generous health coverage for the rich happens regardless of the weather.

Here the similarity ends. While Democrats and Republicans duel amidst market place differences, the Luos and Kikuyus struggle for maintenance of a single x ray machine (who ever heard of a CT?) or the unlikely purchase of antibiotics for festering wounds.

The End of the Race was written in Guatemala, and my own home in Fremont, California. It’s an assiduously researched story of the Watergate period which explores the collapse of Nixon’s political empire and suggests a code of survival for the ongoing divide of our bipolar health system. Now’s the time for all good Americans to discover how to avoid ambulance trips. To do so includes a voyage through the inner workings of the seventies and the Watergate scandal. Why and how did the infamous plumbers penetrate into the Watergate office building, ultimately destroying the architect of Détente and Rapprochement – and this despite Nixon’s landslide election victory? And why did the CIA play a significant role in this break-in, and why it has never been fully investigated? Was it really the exploits of the Democrats and the prostitute ring in the Colombia Plaza that the Plumbers hoped to expose and the CIA hoped to hide? Or was it Howard Hughes’ slush fund that Nixon wanted buried and hidden from the press? And if so, why did the Plumbers bug the wrong phones and have a key that went to Maxie Well’s desk drawer? Why did Castro’s double agents infiltrate our intelligence system so successfully, and what did they learn that Deep Throat never knew? These are questions my research answers in a fictional sketch of the big players of the seventies. There’s much more if you wish to experience space travel, nuclear power, and Pyramids. But I digress.

The streets of Kisumu are hot and traffic is dense, pushing a stream of pedestrians into crumbled sidewalks, as I finish my tea and listen for an ambulance siren. There are none here. That’s how Africa differs from the streets of D.C.. One negotiates the roads carefully, assuming full accountability for each intersection reached, each rushing vehicle. But that’s what The Race to the End is all about.


In the beginning, God created the heaven and the earth. In seven days.

And it is said that the world can be ended in seven days. Imagine traveling the streets of Washington, D.C., in an ambulance, as a patient, and you will come to understand what links us—how a week in this city can shape a century—or bring an end to the race as we know it. See who measures out health care and decides your destiny. Discover the secret the Watergate Plumbers were in search of. Deep Throat never told you. I will. Survival comes with the code contained within these pages—but requires some presidential assistance.

PART 1

Call Me Olson

COLSON Because Hunt and Liddy did the work. The others didn’t know any direct information.

PRESIDENT NIXON: I think I agree.

COLSON: See, I don’t give a damn if they spend five years in jail . . . They can’t hurt us.

Hunt and Liddy: direct meetings and discussions are very incriminating to us.

PRESIDENT NIXON: Liddy is pretty tough.

COLSON: Apparently he’s one of these guys who’s a masochist. He enjoys punishing himself. That’s okay, as long as he remains stable. I mean, he’s tough.

PRESIDENT NIXON: Jesus!

—A conversation between Charles Colson and the President, January 8, 1973

A conspiracy like this . . . a conspiracy investigation . . . the rope has to tighten slowly around everyone’s neck. You build convincingly from the outer edges in, you get ten times the evidence you need against the . . .

—Deep Throat, October 28, 1972

Chapter 1

Cuba

June 13, 1972—12:00 AM

“We will have an opportunity, Fidel, to do to the Americans what they tried to do to you. And this opportunity will come very soon.”

Marques Domingo looks his leader in the eye, simultaneously ascertaining that the room is absent of witnesses.

“Yes. And, again, what is this opportunity?”

“Sir, we have learned from Tango that the code to the American defense system is accessible. Our doubles are working in the capital and they’re close to obtaining it. If we can find a way to block the code, we can make a preemptive strike. They won’t be able to intercept our missile, and when they, retaliate, well . . . you know what happens.”

“What do I know?” Castro asks, fingering his beard and looking out a bulletproof window. “And what do you know?”

“That they have never discovered our secret. And we are very close to discovering theirs. Our agents tell us that the football can be unlocked and deciphered. In fact, there is a retired CIA agent named Hunter, and he is actively searching to find out if the code has already been leaked. He doesn’t know that one of his Cubans is our Cuban.

“What is this code?”

“The code restricted to the president. To release their missiles.”

“You mean the football code Nexus has. Why would he activate it?”

“Fidel, remember, they have tried to assassinate you twice. Nexus is a paranoid man. He is likely to try again, and he may be more successful than the others. We need to be ready before they are. Within the next seven days.”

“Get me this code.”

Author: Beyond Watergate, my book dates back to an interest in Jungian psychology and Alchemy. When the process completed the “ouroboros” , the serpent biting its tail, I felt I had realized my original intent – the individuation process of a national community

FASCINATING AUTHORS: How long did the book take you from start to finish?

Author: In truth- about thirty years

FASCINATING AUTHORS: What aspect of writing the book did you find particularly challenging?

Author: Finding enough time to finish the book.

FASCINATING AUTHORS: What surprised you the most about the book writing process?

Author: Receiving a phone call from a publishing company.

FASCINATING AUTHORS: Did you have any favorite experiences when writing your book?

Author: In writing one must read a large number of books in order to acquire understanding. I love to read.

FASCINATING AUTHORS: What do you hope your readers will gain from reading your book?

Author: Entertainment and a better understanding of the American political process and healthcare. A sense of responsibility for their own well being.

FASCINATING AUTHORS: What projects are you currently working on?

Author: I am an active surgical oncologist, I serve on several boards in the field of ecology, community sponsored agriculture, and medical education. I travel frequently to Africa where I work as a surgeon and am writing a book about Matibabu – a non profit group that is building a hospital in Kenya.

FASCINATING AUTHORS: Is writing your sole career? If not, what else do you do?

Author: Please see question 7.

FASCINATING AUTHORS: Did you do any research for your books, or did you write from experience?

Author: I researched extensively for The End of the Race and also took from my own experience

FASCINATING AUTHORS: How did you come up with your title?

Author: One has to read the book to understand.

FASCINATING AUTHORS: What books have influenced you the most?

Author: Silent Coup – by Colodny and Gettlin, Secret Agenda – by Jim Hougan, All the President’s Men – by Woodward and Bernstein, Empire, The Legend and Madness of Howard Hughes – by Bartlett and Steele, The New Testament – by quite a few authors.

FASCINATING AUTHORS: Who was your publisher and why did you choose them?

Author: Xlibris – a self publishing firm. They called me up. I did not expect to obtain a more recognized publisher in adequate time to put the book into print. All writers know that publishing a first novel is tough.

FASCINATING AUTHORS: Thank you for taking the time to be part of this interview!

To learn more about the book and Author,  please visit – Richard Godfrey