More Reaching Than Rooting

Announcing NWA Book Fest & Lots of Links

First off, a quick update for local folks!

I’ll be attending my very first book festival as a self published author this Saturday! I’ll be doing a reading and signing at NWA Book Fest and would love to see you there! It feels surreal and I’m not sure I quite believe it’s real yet.

Find all the festival information here. (Catch me on the main stage at 2:30pm).


A peek into my creative process and current works in progress.

This week I’ve had more “reaching” energy than “rooting.”

Along with preparing for the festival I’ve also applied to two more art exhibitions at Spilt Milk Gallery and The Anthropology of Motherhood.

I recorded a podcast episode with Kiki from Heiter Magazine. (Coming your way in April.) Podcast interviews take a lot of energy so I am experimenting with quarterly guests this year. In the past I’ve tried weekly or monthly and that has been too much. This is part of my seasonal planning approach and slowing down to find my own pace.

I’m also undertaking a just-for-fun puppet alteration project for a Wheel of Time parody contest. I haven’t done any crafting or fan art in a really long time so this has been fun.

Also Davy is fascinated.

Maybe I’ll share a peek at that next week.


Other bits and bobs I’d like to recommend…

Watch

“I used to think that art had to be great to be worthwhile. Now, I only think it has to be to be worthwhile.” John Green. Maybe Art Only Needs to Be. Feb 21, 2023.

Me too, John, me too.

Listen

The On Being podcast is BACK and I am loving it! These two episodes were amazing.

Janine Benyus Biomimicry, an Operating Manual for Earthlings on natural organisms as mentors and peers… learning from them rather than about them.

And Rick Rubin Magic, Everyday Mystery, and Getting Creative. I have SO MANY quotes from this one because I listened while parked in the car while Davy napped:

  • “The real practice of the artist is a way of being in the world.”

  • “It’s hard for me to finish projects because I always see the possibilities of what else we could try and I want to try everything…”

  • “What I came to realize is that there is a time for this open play. And it’s in those first two parts of the process, the seed phase… and experimenting.”

  • “By working with sensitive artists, we resonate together in that we’re feeling things that not everybody else is feeling.”

  • “There is no connection between the amount of time invested and how good something is.”

  • “The sustainable part of the practice is: start with things that are easy to do.”

Read

talks about the goal of making more money by doing less. This is an an effort to balance her health which is something I am navigating as well.

“Time spent is not the measure of worth or of value.”

Entre Nous
The Future of Me & Orla
Do you hear that? It could be the sound of a countdown somewhere… Oh, yes it is. Like the glittering ball on New Years Eve, there’s a big, sparkling bundle of newness ready to drop here at Me & Orla and I’d love you to be a part of what’s about to unfold…
Read more

reflects on shapeshifting and reframing “scattered.”

Monday Monday
Shape shifting, shame, and transformation
When I was nine years old I started writing a novel called Basketball Dreams on my dad’s small Macintosh computer from the 90’s that I had convinced him to let me keep in my bedroom after he brought home the green iMac for his job as a country music columnist. I’d hear Trisha Yearwood blasting in the living room while my dad reviewed…
Read more

I love supporting Renaissance Souls and neurodivergent folks who are discovering their own unique ways of working.

I have a growing waiting list for 1:1 sessions. If you’d like a chance to work with me as a creative coach hit reply and I’ll add you to that list. Right now I only have capacity for one session a month so spaces are limited. The wait list will be notified if a spot opens up.

Meanwhile you are welcome to jump into the Creative Ecosystem Companionship for group coaching. Join for $35 for support in making your creative process work for you.

That’s all for this week, but I’d love to know what you’re up to.

Feel free to drop a link or comment below.

Cheers,

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