Traveling with Books

One of the things I dislike the most from traveling is the task to choose the books I’m taking with me. I have a huge collection of permanent books in my library and a selection of books I want to read. It’s too hard to part from them.

When I travel I take in consideration the time and place I’m going and how much time I think I’ll have to read. Of course I can’t forget that I have also need to be writing this blog, an e-zine and my next book. Unlike my last trip when I took a bunch of books with me,this time I will choose only 4-5 books. I will try to keep the size compact and the themes varied; non-fiction, fiction and mystery. I’m also bringing the latest magazines I received. I guess you can call me a read-a-holic.

If you travel with books I want to know about it.

What are you taking with you and how do you select your books?

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Clary Lopez, author of Simplicity, Richness of Life

Reading Between the Lines

One of the best things a writer experiences is listening to what their readers have to say about their writing, sometimes it is what’s between the lines what impress them the most. I’m surprised when someone can clearly do so and extract the sentiment in which the words came out to the surface. Words are a true channel for us to connect to another soul, is transcendent and lasting sometimes able to help others make decisions or changes in their life.

When I write it’s not my intention to make anyone do anything. To me is my way to bring from within what yearns to come out to the surface in my own life. It’s a chance to evaluate, to know and to grow as a human being. I try to understand myself, my life, my purpose on this planet and while doing so share the journey with whoever wants to come along. I love to be around family and friends but at the same time I treasure the time I use to read, reflect and then write.

Lately I’ve been reflecting on life and the shortness of it, maybe because I’m watching the two people I love the most deteriorate before my eyes without being able to do a thing about it. So I look at my life and -uncertained of how much longer I may have- sometimes I get anxious. When I’m gone only my words and the impression of those who have known me will be left, good or bad.

So to all my readers, especially those who take the time to let me know what my words mean to them, thank you. It’s the interaction on places like these where ideas continue to grow within and I look forward to share even more as time goes by.

With You in My Mind

To you, who read my words:

Writing is a gift, one I treasure each and every day, without it I would be completely lost. There are many ways to express what lies deep within our heart and soul and words to me are the most powerful of all. Looking deep I see a big castle with many, many rooms, in each one of them there is a little piece of me a facet of some kind. I go in a differernt room each time and in some of them I find you, unable to vocalize what’s in your heart so I go out and write it down for you, it’s my gift to you. Perhaps you are better expressing with actions what lies deep within your heart and that’s okay, but I want to forever leave the words sprinkled on my path so that others know what was in my heart.

I carry you around and look for ways to help you out, there is nothing I can do but to let you know I listen to your heart. If you are in darkness I want to bring you light and if you are sad I want to bring you hope and happiness. When you take the time to share with me your thoughts I pick jewels out of them and place them in my treasure box. I go there from time to time and then create the most beautiful writing pieces because they have a little of you and me. I can’t create a thing without you, because it is with you in my mind that I get inspired to go beyond the physical realm and reach across the cosmos to touch your soul and I hope I do. Thank you for reading my words…

Word’s Power

This morning I received this message from one of my friend readers.

“My dear, this has been a frustrating week for me . But the love and friendship you share and very kind words that you speak me have lifted me out of the doldrums - Thank you for the love of friendship that you have shown me - You have given me a happy heart - Your words carry healing when spoken in love and friendships blossom, and my heart is forever blessed by your kind words! (((BLESSINGS OF LOVE)))”

I display the following, Love the Words next to my name, it wasn’t until I read this message that I remembered how powerful words can be, and why God compares himself with it. The New Testament begins with these words: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God; and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was made nothing that has been made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness; and the darkness grasped it not.” John 1:1-5

There is an awesome power in words and we need to recognize it and use them with care. It can build as easily as it can destroy. When I decided to become a writer I created a motto: “To inspire those who see or read my work and to help others succeed.” So far I think I’m been faithful to it, and as I continue to work with words my desire is to be true to myself and what is in my heart. My heart is the spring from where my words flow out of and with it I want to be a channel for others to be refreshed. I can’t give anything I don’t already have, so I must feed myself with that Word who came and stayed with us. Today I will go and listen to it; may it penetrate me and transform me into what I’m supposed to be in order to do my work. All I want is to continue to grow as a writer, as a human soul and to be able to touch others with my words. It is in this interchange -not out of pride but humble gratitude- where I as a human being can reach out and help someone else. It is a gift of communication that helps me transcend time and space. It is the ability to be with someone even though I may be physically gone from this world. It’s to an extent, the manifestation of who I am. I might not be able to be physically where I want to be but my consolation is that with my words I will be exactly where my heart is and it will be known and hopefully felt transcending time and space.

My Library - My Haven

Weekends are usually days in which I try to recharge my creative spirit. I try to read books I don’t have time for during the weekdays. I lost count of the amount of books I own and when I go to book sales I try to buy books by famous hispanic authors, bestsellers, memoirs, travel, writing and art books.

Have you noticed how some people go into a daze as soon as they get into a store? I do the same thing when I’m around books. It doesn’t matter where it is -a store or my home library- I’m instantly transported into another world. Reading books helps me grow my vocabulary, expression and stir emotions and ideas. Later on I’m able to do something similar with my own books. Each writer develops their own voice, it has take me some time to develop mine and there is still room for improvement. The manner how I choose my writing themes and what books to write comes from my heart, there is no other place to work from.

Haven to me is a place where not only your physical being feels at ease but also your spirit. It’s a balanced realm where your mind and soul is free to wonder and grow in ways you never thought or imagine. It’s a place where you long to be and the time flies by without you even knowing it. It’s where you don’t mind about your day-to-day worries, problems and sorrows. I’m not saying that my library is the only haven I experience, there are other places and people who provide the same or greater satisfaction, but I wanted you to know about this one.

Tell me about your haven or havens.

Feeling Satisfaction

This morning I went about my daily routine of checking e-mails, blogs and websites. There was a book revision I finished late last night and it was time to get it out of the way. I’m pleasantly satisfied with the book and how it turned out. It’s the first one I publish for someone else. Then later on I checked my e-mail again and it was the author sending me some pictures with his book on hand, his radiant smile moved my heart. This is something that he couldn’t imagine in his wildest dreams, but that I had to make it happen because of his talent and most of all for his family.

Opening your mind and letting the words from your soul spill unto the pages of your work has a tremendous value. To me is the ultimate journey in connecting to everyone around us. The writing could be anything you want; non-fiction, fiction, poetry, play, movie script, lyrics, etc. it all has its way to reach those intended to receive it. The main thing is not to take with you that which is longing to emerge. It is in that creative flow that we get to know ourselves as we write, it’s almost a magical experience when the words somehow move someone’s spirit deep within. I can’t explain it but if I don’t see the words appear on my notebook or the blank screen of my computer I feel like a volcano close to erupt.

I think I feel the same -if not more- satisfaction to read other people’s work and not to mention to be able to help someone else birth that long awaited book. A book that was part of someone’s soul for so long and that yearned to be born into this reality realm in order to touch and transform those who read it. To awake thoughts, ideas, emotions in its readers. To leave a legacy behind.

Right now I’m working in the last details of this book launch, so stay tuned for when the big reveal takes place.

What I Want to Do

Get more ambitious about where you want to explore and what you want to do.

This is what my horoscope said today, not that I care or believe in horoscopes but it seemed to relate to what I’ve been thinking lately. Finding my place in the writing world is one of exploration and what lies in my heart to write about. There are three distinctive areas I have passion for: inspiration, travel and marketing. Inspiration and travel is something I can easily blend, marketing is another subject matter all together but closely related to everything to I do as a writer.

Should a writer limit himself to just one genre? It seems to me that every writer I’ve read about took some time to discover what their voice was. Some of them like Nora Roberts had enough passion to develop two different kinds of writing even if she had to use a psedonym to see how it would work.

So here I am revising and editing my first marketing book, BookPromo Guerrilla Style and looking forward to share with writers effective ways to promote their own books. Publishing a book is just one step, what’s crucial is knowing how to get them on the reader’s hands even before you write the book.

My other two loves in writing, travel and inspiration, will merge soon and I will be letting you know when that becomes a reality.

Being Self-Sufficient

Where do writers get ideas to write about? Life, circumstances, people, experiences they all have something to do in shaping the words we put on paper. Ultimately it is our discipline to do what we need to do no matter the circumstances what prevails. It’s not easy sometimes specially when you get used to write driven by emotions.

One thing I noticed this week was that the longer I go by without writing the more depressed I get. There is an internal yearning to express whatever it is I have inside. It might not be for publication but writing is an integral part of who I am and must do in my life.

I can spend hours in front of the laptop coming up with ideas if it’s quite enough outside my office. Many other ideas pop upon my mind while doing mundane things. I wish I could write everything that comes to mind during those moments but I’m guilty of not carrying a notebook with me many times or failing to wake up at night when a few lines come to mind, if I did I would probably had a longer list of articles or book ideas on my files.

From time to time is great to get together with friends and relax for a while. Interaction with other individuals can also spark ideas for even more writing and discussing different points of views helps create a balance view of the topic.

Today I wasn’t feeling too good and I know it was because I haven’t written like I should, but by just writing on blogs is helping me clear my mind and ease my worries. The heaviness in my heart lifts up everytime I realize I don’t depend on anything or anyone to be able to write something worth reading. I must learn that this is my calling and that no matter what is going on in my life there is something worth taking the time to put down on paper, even if it is just for me.

Writing Life

The thunder and lightning outside my windows shake me inside. Even though it’s almost daily occurence during the summer time it scares me every time. I’ve been busy revising my book, preparing a site for launching and an ezine is due tomorrow. I feel like I’m going in circles but I must concentrate in order not to miss any detail. It gets harder and harder every time and just to think that I need to get a whole promotion campaign for the new book in a few months. But I won’t think about that right now, first things first. I’m waiting for the galley of my book, then it’s more revision. After that is done I need to send galleys for book reviews and that usually takes 2 months to come back to me, maybe more. In the meantime I can be working in the bookcover design, I’m not sure how long that one will take. Then it will be to the printers to be fulfilled.

In order not to lose the habit of writing I’ve been blogging, writing a short story, reading some poetry and fiction. Reading and writing goes hand in hand. Writing improves when you read a lot and apply certain techniques learned in whatever it is you are reading, it could be poetry, fiction, writing descriptions, etc. Listening to classical music also helps stimulate my mind.

So if you don’t see me around here too much you know why, I’m trying to get everything rolling in the right direction in order to come back here and relax with you for a while. Get your cup of coffee pull up a chair and tell me what you’ve been up to, I would love to know.

Clary Lopez, author
Simplicity -Richness of Life

What to do when you are feeling blue?

There are moments in life in which we can’t runaway from, if we are alive we’ll have good and bad moments. What we do with them is what matters in the end. It’s during difficults times when we realize how insignificant we really are in the universe’s realm. What happens to us many times is not under our control and been used to care of things right away, we try to fight them or fix them somehow. It’s natural instinct I guess.

When I feel blue is usually the time in which I go in circles in my mind, don’t know what to say or do and end up writing. It’s my way to unload feelings and frustations to regain hope. I’m usually inspired to write poems that nobody lay eyes upon. I also like to listen to music with lyrics that express my sentiments.

I’m puzzled at how human beings relate to one another and how they communicate their feelings. Half the time nobody is sure if they are coming or going. They say one thing but don’t mean it at all, and then at other times they mean it but never speak of it to another soul. I guess we all do the same thing -smoke and mirrors- to protect ourselves.

So what to do when you are feeling blue? Take a good look inside, usually something is trying to work in you. Take time to be by youself and ask the hard questions you’ve never wanted to answer. Be honest. Be hopeful, tomorrow will be another day, maybe a better one than your present. Don’t let your mind run wild imagining things, it only helps you feel worst. Just wait and see and at the end you’ll see it was nothing after all. Let the waves carry you wherever they might, there will come a time when all is calm again. Nothing last forever.