As Guest Speaker at Women Alive

 Tuesday, May 2, 2023 I was guest speaker at "Women Alive" in Elliot Lake.   I share my 'talk' here with you.  It's my pleasure to share a little about my writing journey.  I speak about my latest book, titled "Shh!  We Don't Talk About That" which you will find, along with all my publications, on all Amazon sites.  My author's page is found at https://amazon.com/author/audreyaustin

Good evening, everyone.  My name is Audrey Austin and it’s my pleasure to be here.  Thank you, Pat, for your invitation to come to speak about myself and my adventure with creative writing.

 I’ve brought along a few  books with me that I hope will interest you.

I’m a semi-retired psychospiritual practitioner.  I say semi-retired because each Thursday I offer Table Talk which is Empowerment Counseling for Women. 

My hobby is acrylic painting.  My passion is creative writing. 

I mention my positions as counselor and author because one has a very powerful impact on the other.  I write primarily about social issues.

My writing career began fifteen years ago when I reached retirement age.  My friend, Shirley Green, introduced me to the WynLit writing competitions offered by Wynterblue Publishing Company which was in North Bay.   I was blessed to have some of my short stories take first place in competitions.

This success encouraged me to write my first novel which is titled Sara, a Canadian Saga.   With the help and encouragement of Maggie Kirton, my publisher, within a year my novel was available on all Amazon sites in paperback and kindle formats.  No one in the world was more excited than me when I held my first book in my hands.

Wynterblue continued to be there for me, and they published several more of my books before, sadly, they had to announce that they, like many small presses, needed to fold.

I no longer had a publisher.  What to do?

I was by then well into my seventies. I didn’t like the idea of sending manuscripts to publishers and then having to wait a year or two for their response, if there was to be one.  I was far from rich and didn’t want to spend money I couldn’t afford on vanity publishing.

 It was quite the learning curve, but I decided that my only option was to learn how to do it all by myself.

From that point on, I became author, formatter, editor, and publisher of my own work.  I even learned how to create book covers. Today, I remain a proud independent author. 

I currently have 77 publications available exclusively on Amazon.  25 of these are books available in both Kindle and Paperback formats.  Five of these are also available as audio books.  The remaining publications are short stories that, like Daniel, dare to stand alone in the Kindle Store. 

 I’ve been busy.  To speak to you about all my books I would need at least a month.  So I decided that this evening, I would speak to you about the one book that I most recently completed. It is titled “Shhh!  We don’t talk about that!”

Primarily I write fiction. This book is something a little different.

This book recalls many mystical memories.  I reference many topics including premonitions and dreams. 

Long ago in my studies at the Transformational Arts College in Toronto I was introduced to the work of psychologist, Carl Jung.    He described dreams as “God’s Forgotten Language”.

If it were not for a repetitive dream way back in the early nineties, I would not be living here in Elliot Lake today.   I have loved living here in town for 23 years now and being here is, literally, a dream come true. 

I would like to share the story of the dream that brought me here. 

 I was living in Toronto.  At first, I simply found the dream interesting.  But, by the time the dream had repeated itself multiple times it was beginning to really annoy me. 

The only thing I would remember upon awakening were the words ‘Elliot Lake’.      Repeatedly, I would wake up in the morning with Elliot Lake alive in my thoughts.

In my reality I had never heard of a lake called Elliot.   I had no idea where this lake was located.    And I had no idea why it should be important to me.

I began a little research, and it didn’t take me long to find out that there, indeed, was a lake called Elliot.  I also learned that there was a place called the City of Elliot Lake. 

When I learned that Elliot Lake was located in Ontario, and not in some far-off land like India or Africa, I decided that I needed to visit. I phoned my sister, who, at that time, was living in Newmarket.

I shared with her the persistent Elliot Lake dreams and why I felt the need to visit Elliot Lake. I asked her if she would accompany me. Although she was a driver, she had no desire to drive on such a long trip. 

She was, however, willing to make the bus trip with me and so it was arranged.  I called and reserved a room for us at the Algo Inn in Elliot Lake. 

Our bus trip began.  It was, we discovered, a long trip.

When we arrived in Sprague we had a good laugh when we realized that the bus that would take us into Elliot Lake was a very small school bus.   That was certainly unexpected.   When that little school bus began its trek up Highway 108, everything felt comfortable; and strangely familiar. I turned to my sister and said, “I’m coming home.”  

We arrived in Elliot Lake and had a short walk to the Algo Inn.  It felt strange but I knew where everything was located.  My repetitive dream was coming true.   We walked directly to the Algo Inn and settled in before enjoying a meal at Peachy’s Restaurant downstairs in the Algo Mall.

The following morning, as it happened, there was a Wellness Fair at the Elliot Lake High School.  Surprisingly, we didn’t need directions. We walked there.

Upon leaving the fair, we exited the school and were delighted to see the beautiful, large sheer rockface wall.  We leaned against this wall, soaking up the warmth of the sun. 

While we were there at the rock, a man approached us.  He seemed to ignore my sister who was standing right beside me.  He spoke directly to me and simply said, “You are meant to be here.”

Before I had a chance to say or do anything, he turned his back on us and began to walk away.  That was very strange. Stranger still, believe it or not, that man vanished.  He was a short distance from us and then he was suddenly gone.  Weird!  It was very weird!

I believe this left me in some kind of shock.  I turned to my sister and asked, “Did you hear what he said?”

“I did,” she said, and she repeated the words to me.  Then she asked me, “Where did he go?”

“I had no idea!”

This was an event that she and I talked about many times.  Who was this man?  Surely, we didn’t both imagine the exact same event.  How on earth did he disappear?  Was he an angel? 

“You are meant to be here,” he said to me. 

And I knew he was speaking truth. 

We returned home but I enjoyed three more vacations in Elliot Lake after that.  After my first trip, I had made the decision to make my move to Elliot Lake.   But it wasn’t a move I could make immediately.  There were too many things to be considered, not the least of which was how to earn an income.  I was self-employed, working as a therapist in a private practice,  in Toronto.  I would need to work in Elliot Lake.  How?  Where?  I had no idea.

In Toronto I began telling friends and family that I was planning a move to Elliot Lake.  It took me some time though. 

In January of 2000, I travelled again to Elliot Lake, again with my sister.  Not for the first time we kept an appointment with realtor, Clarence Bardot, who was kind enough to, once again, show us through some homes that were on the market for sale.   Unlike earlier home viewings, on this trip, I purchased a house located on Central Avenue. 

April 1^st, 2000 I moved into my house. My only friend in town was Dudley, my Jack Russell Terrier.  

I was not so unrealistic as to believe I could magically set up a counseling practice overnight.  Thankfully I was able to support myself by working from home at my computer preparing legal transcripts for the Official Examiner’s office in Toronto.  It worked out very well and I continued in this position until retirement.

During these years I also offered many well-attended workshops for women here in town; some at my own home; some through Learning in Retirement, and later, at our public library.  I offered meditation circles at Holy Trinity United Church and, later, at the Ren Centre.

I had been living in Elliot Lake for about two years when I met Brian, the love of my life.   Soon after that my sister and her husband, who was then ready for retirement, moved to Elliot Lake.

Shortly after that, my daughter  made the move to Elliot Lake.  Then my second daughter and her husband moved here and began to build their home on Dunlop Lake.  Not long after they made their home here in Elliot Lake, her sons, my three grandsons all made the move and shared a home in town.  

The years have passed happily.  My lovely great-granddaughter was born, the first family member to be born in Elliot Lake.

I often think of the angel at the rock who said, “You are meant to be here.”   He was so right!   I feel that I was meant to be exactly where I am. 

When I reached retirement age, thanks to Wynterblue Publishing Company, I began to write creatively.  I try to ensure that each of my novels has some mention of the name, Elliot Lake.  Sometimes it is an actual location,  a setting for a story.

I wrote a poem about my repetitive dream of Elliot Lake.  That poem has since been transformed into lyrics.  The title of the song is “I Followed My Heart to the 108 Highway”.  I wrote the lyrics.  My friend, the very talented Johnny Tyger composed the music.  We first presented this song as part of a Creative Connections event at our local Civic Centre where it was performed by another very talented friend who later recorded this song as part of an album in Nashville.

And that is the story of the dream that brought me to Elliot Lake.

It is one of several mystical memories that I share in my book titled “Shhh! We Don’t Talk About That”

Since I’ve reached what I call the bragging age, I find it is good to stay busy.   I continue to write, to paint, and to offer empowerment counseling for women. 

I am thankful when you buy my books.  I am grateful that my hands allow me to paint my pictures.  I am blessed when during a counseling session, a woman feels empowered to be her authentic self.

Thanks for listening to me this evening and I’ll close with the words of Albert Einstein who said,  “Do not grow old no matter how long you live.”

Thank you and God bless. 

https://amazon.com/author/audreyaustin

FREE in the Kindle Store - The Silent Star

 https://www.amazon.ca/SILENT-STAR-Short-Stories-Social-ebook/dp/B00I2VD1HS/ref=sr_1_2?crid=178AXAJHQB772&keywords=Audrey+Austin+The+Silent+Star&qid=1683294337&s=books&sprefix=audrey+austin+the+silent+star%2Cstripbooks%2C112&sr=1-2

The Silent Star - a short story is FREE this weekend in the Kindle Store.  Saturday, May 6th and Sunday, May 7th, enjoy this story at no cost to you.

Young Andrew suffers many losses. An orphan, he feels alone and unwanted. He becomes the silent star. He walks alongside the track in life; often getting stuck on the wrong side. Rose is his redeemer and because of her and their love for one another he overcomes all odds and becomes an inspiration to others.

The Silent Star won first place in a WynLit writing competition hosted by Wynterblue Publishing Canada. In addition to standing alone as a short story it is also a part of my anthology titled The Silent Star Plus a Dozen which is also available on Amazon. If you enjoy this story you will want to check out the anthology. This is a story of abuse, overcoming, redemption and inspiration.

https://www.amazon.com/SILENT-STAR-Short.../dp/B00I2VD1HS...

All reactions:

3Sandra Kelterborn, Cheryl Cannon and 1 other

KEEPING IT SIMPLE - some reviews

 Top reviews from the United States

T. L. Cooper

4.0 out of 5 stars Get in Touch with Your Inner Energy to Find Your Balance

Reviewed in the United States on April 1, 2014

Verified Purchase

As a practitioner of yoga and meditation, Keeping It Simple: Imagine Being Whole by Audrey Austin intrigued me. Austin explores and explains each of the chakras in easy to understand terms complete with exercises to get the reader in touch with the individual chakras. She simplifies the mysticism surrounding the chakras and gives the reader a sense of the power of paying attention to one's chakras as well as the role each chakra plays in balancing one's energy and therefore one's life. Anyone looking for a better understanding of the basic idea of chakras or even those just interested in better understanding why they feels more balanced after yoga and/or meditation will find Austin's Keeping It Simple: Imagine Being Whole interesting.

Mary Belanger

5.0 out of 5 stars It Really is Possible to Heal

Reviewed in the United States on November 14, 2013

This manual is very well written which is to be expected of Audrey Austin who is a wonderful psychotherapy practitioner, author, and teacher. I was introduced to Keeping it Simple in 2011. At that time I was chakra illiterate. I had no idea that seven major chakras existed.

The manuscript is put together in a very sequential manner. The reader is given a methodical overview of meditation, psychospiritual therapy, and the chakra system. The straight forward approach on the practice of opening blocked chakras enables the reader to unite mind, body, and soul.

I have recorded the positive affirmations for each chakra. It is very comforting hearing my own voice as I meditate. I have been transformed into a healthier and happier person and am very grateful for Austin who has created such a wonderful resource on chakra meditation.

It really is possible to heal. Keeping it Simple has my Five Star rating because it has changed my life for the better.

Top reviews from other countries

Melly

5.0 out of 5 stars Keeping it Simple is Simply Splendid

Reviewed in Canada on March 16, 2015

Verified Purchase

I have this book in its original form and downloaded onto my Kindle. Of the two, I prefer the hard copy, as it can be tucked beside a sofa cushion for easy access.

Audrey Austin knows her topic, and presents it in straight-forward, uncomplicated terms. As a person, and as a writer, Austin shines with sensitivity--honestly and without pretense.

This slender book is a gem!

Dinner at Seven

 I currently have 77  publications available exclusively on Amazon sites.  You can check out my author's page at https://amazon.com/author/audreyaustin  

I love writing but, unlike many authors, I am not locked into a particular genre.  I write literary, mystery, science-fiction, poetic, memoir, spiritual, personal growth, historical fiction, tragedy, and more.  

So if you read one book and like it, I hope you will buy another.  If you should read one book and discover it's not for you, then I hope you will buy another because no two books of mine are the same.

I have even written a romance novel.  It is titled Dinner at Seven.

The story begins in 1985 at The Carrington Club in Toronto.  Marsha feels in the doldrums until David arrives on the scene.  Love and romance flourist until deception and betrayal raise their ugly heads.  To escape, Marsha flies to Bermuda where the power of love cannot be under-estimated.

Thanks for visiting my author's page and checking out Dinner at Seven and all my books.

https://www.amazon.ca/Dinner-At-Seven-romance-novel/dp/1508636184/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1H06KIL7CP5X1&keywords=Audrey+Austin+dinner+at+seven&qid=1682953971&s=books&sprefix=audrey+austin+dinner+at+seven%2Cstripbooks%2C132&sr=1-1

Sara, a Canadian Saga

 

Sara, a Canadian Saga was my very first novel published by Wynterblue 15 years ago. It's available in paperback, kindle, and audiobook formats. https://amazon.com/author/audreyaustin Sara, a Canadian Saga - based on the harsh reality of life during the days of the Great Depression we follow one family. The story starts in the Maritime Provinces of Canada. The struggling economy is the deciding factor for Roy who makes the move to Toronto leaving Sara and their then two children behind in Prince Edward Island. Once he secures employment Sara and the children join him. More children follow and the Canadian Dream is more elusive than ever. Sara is available in Paperback, Kindle, and Audio Book format narrated by the talented Falon Echo.

Sara has received several ratings from 1 star to 5 stars. I guess this means it's a story that a reader will either love or hate. But if a book makes a reader feel any emotion, I am a happy author.

It's a story about family patterns repeating throughout very difficult depression years in Canada.

How I Experienced Matthew McConaughey's 'The Art of Living'

 I spent 5 1/2 hours on Monday, April 24th participating in Matthew McConaughey's 'Art of Living' on-line presentation.   They were, I believe, 5 1/2 hours well-spent although, as much as I was enjoying it, and benefiting from it, I felt it was a very long time to be staring at my laptop's screen.

Much knowledge, information, and wisdom was shared in this free programme.  Matthew's guests included Dean Graziosi who said, "If I don't own my life, who will?"  

A good question, I thought.  He talked about embracing change, having courage and confidence.   He reminded all that to offer advice that was not asked for serves to take away the confidence of another.    He said he didn't want to use persuasion or influence; he simply wanted one to experience it.

I agreed with him that offering 'unasked for' advice is a violation of another's emotional boundaries.

Another guest was Marie Forleo who talked about living our best life.  She shared my views of emotional manifestation into the physical.   She advised looking in the mirror, coming clean and being authentic.

Trent Shelton focused on the importance of asking good questions; the wisdom of having more questions than answers.  I was reminded of a dear mentor who years ago taught me that 'the answer is in the question'.  A line I remember that I found very appealing was, "Biography is not destiny".

Tony Robbins arrived and  talked about facing our fears.  I was reminded that my independence could be my achilles heel.  My mother always told me I was too independent for my own good.    There was talk about peeling back the layers and I thought of the onion that my clients and I spend a lot of time peeling.

Considering the points of view of others was an important point in conversation.  I thought of some people I've known who are stuck in one way of thinking.  They will say, I do it this way.  I have always done it this way and I always will.   

As for me, I'm forever a student, open to learning and I learn much more from friends with different points of view than I do from those whose views match my own.  

Matthew McConaughey spoke emotionally about green lights and, of course, that reminded me of the gifts I've received when experiencing synchronicity.  His words also reminded me of the importance of those pieces of the puzzle of life and to always keep in mind 'God's odd look'.   

Gratitude - to feel and express gratitude for successes but also to feel gratitude for the failures because we often learn more from failure than we do from success, if we are open to learning and growing.

In the 5 1/2 hours there was a lot happening.  My memory is far from perfect. I may be mistaken about who said what.   There was much to remember.  But these things I have shared in this post are some of what I received from the experience.

Of all that was shared in this presentation, what has stayed with me more than anything else are a few words I have adopted for my own use.   The reminder was that if I say the words "I can't", my actions are controlled by someone other than me.   If, instead, I say the words "I don't", I am making a choice.   

Here is what I've learned to do if I am feeling anxious or fearful about anything.  For example, I've been feeling nervous about being guest speaker at Women Alive this coming week so I've learned to say aloud the words, "I don't do fear".   

I believe repeating this mantra is helpful.   I will discover Tuesday evening if it truly works.  

Gratitude is key.  I'm grateful that I had the opportunity to experience Matthew McConaughey's, "The Art of Living".   It felt good to  have some of my current thoughts agreed with and confirmed by others.   It felt good to have new doors opened offering me new thoughts from which to learn.  It matters to me that I keep an open heart and an open mind.   

As a psychospiritual practitioner I choose to work with and focus on emotional healing with the understanding and belief that our emotions manifest in the physical.  Emotional and spiritual healing is the goal of empowerment counseling.

These have been some of my thoughts about my experience.  Matthew McConaughey's recent book, GREENLIGHTS is one I plan to read.

Books make great Mother's Day gifts :-)

 

https://amazon.com/author/audreyaustin     

First Reviews for "Shh! We Don't Talk About That!"

 

First Reviews for 'Shh! We Don't Talk About That!'

So far, Shh! We Don't Talk About That has received only two reviews, but they  are very good ones.

Your positive reviews on Amazon or Goodreads mean the world to me.  Thank you.

Top review from Canada

Steve C.

5.0 out of 5 stars Interesting and thought provoking

Reviewed in Canada 🇨🇦 on April 5, 2023

Verified Purchase

I almost passed this by because I thought it was about a different topic from what it is: 

An open and unvarnished account of some personal "paranormal" experiences. 

Thank you for this brave and honest book, Audrey Austin. .. I don't discount these 

things because I've spent more than fifty years understanding a simple but amazing 

experience of my own at age 15. .. I highly recommend this book. It will encourage 

readers to dust off their own clues about the rich breadth of life.

............................

 Mona A. Clark ..



    

Bought it on Kindle last night and binged the entire book. I was MESMERIZED. Highly recommended!

............................

From the author:

Shh! We Don't Talk About That! is a personal account of mystical, emotional, spiritual and, what some may call, paranormal, events that have been my experience during the past many years of my life.

The Biblical quotation, "Do not cast pearls before swine", has contributed to my virtual silence surrounding these experiences. It is with great care and caution that I have shared confidentially with a very few chosen people.

But now that I have reached the bragging age, I believe it is time for me to broaden my boundaries, enlarge my group of interested listeners, and share more freely those things I have primarily kept close to my heart.

“Let he who has ears, listen”.

This publication is not for everyone.
It is for you if you are blessed to be aware of your awareness.
It is for you if you are on an adventure of spiritual growth.
It is for you if you desire to know your authentic self.
It is for you if you have more questions than answers.

A dear friend and mentor once said to me,
“Beware the one who says he knows”.

I do not claim to know. I simply share some personal happenings that may be of interest to you.
Perhaps you have had similar experiences.

I hope the words I share in this publication will be helpful. Perhaps you thought you were alone. If so, I want you to know that I see you. I hear you, kindred spirit.

https://www.amazon.ca/Shh-Dont-Talk-About-That-ebook/dp/B0BZ2CSK9K/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=Audrey+Austin&qid=1682538904&s=books&sr=1-1

Books available at the Community Market April 22, 2023

 These are the books for sale I'll have with me this Saturday, April 22nd at the Community Market, Ren Centre, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Also, for anyone interested, I will be offering chakra readings for $5. Hope to see you there.

Books make wonderful Mother's Day gifts.

All my books are available in Kindle and Paperback formats exclusively on all Amazon sites. Check out my author's page at https://amazon.com/author/audreyaustin

POartRY and PROSE

To create POartRY and PROSE, I began by posting the photos of some of the many paintings I have created. Then, beginning with the first painting, I simply looked at it and allowed words to flow.

With regard to the cover painting these were my feelings. As the river disappears behind the mountain, I feel the urge to follow it. I want to know what lies behind the mountain.

As I filled these pages with words, I had no idea what I would be thinking about, writing about, praying about. I had no agenda. I simply followed the river of photos of my paintings.

When the river flowed behind the mountain of another page, I hung onto the urge, and I followed it.
When I was faced with another painting, I was faced with a decision. What shall I write? Will I write a poem? Will I write prose?

This manuscript has been a writing adventure. I had no idea what I would write until I began writing.
And how does this creation of a manuscript differ from the way I live, and have lived, and will live my life?

I am open to life. I am prepared to meet whatever it may offer. I wish you, my readers, the same.

https://amazon.com/author/audreyaustin 

First Review of "Shh! We Don't Talk About That!"

 Shh! We Don't Talk About That!  has received it's first review.

Thank you, Stephen Calverley, for this review of Shh! We Don't Talk About that.

"An open and unvarnished account of some personal "paranormal" experiences. Thank you for this brave and honest book, Audrey Austin. .. I don't discount these things because I've spent more than fifty years understanding a simple but amazing experience of my own at age 15. .. I highly recommend this book. It will encourage readers to dust off their own clues about the rich breadth of life."

https://www.amazon.ca/Shh.../dp/B0BZ2CSK9K/ref=sr_1_2...

Shh! We Don't Talk About That!

 Look what arrived today! I'm as excited as I was when copy of my first novel, Sara, arrived fifteen years ago! I'll have a couple copies of this, my most recent publication, with me on Saturday, April 8th, at the Community Market, Ren Centre. "Shh! We Don't Talk About That!" is available in both paperback and kindle formats on all Amazon sites. https://www.amazon.ca/Shh.../dp/B0BZ2CSK9K/ref=sr_1_2...

Shh! We Don't Talk About That!

 https://www.amazon.ca/Shh-Dont-Talk-About-That-ebook/dp/B0BZ2CSK9K/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=Audrey+Austin&qid=1679597891&s=books&sr=1-2

Available now in both Kindle and Paperback formats

exclusively on all Amazon sites.

https://amazon.com/author/audreyaustin

Shh! We Don't Talk About That!

https://amazon.com/author/audreyaustin

 Shh! We Don't Talk About That! is a personal account of mystical, emotional, spiritual and, what some may call, paranormal, events that have been my experience during the past many years of my life.

The Biblical quotation, "Do not cast pearls before swine", has contributed to my virtual silence surrounding these experiences. It is with great care and caution that I have shared confidentially with a very few chosen people.

But now that I have reached the bragging age, I believe it is time for me to broaden my boundaries, enlarge my group of interested listeners, and share more freely those things I have primarily kept close to my heart.

“Let he who has ears, listen”.

This publication is not for everyone.
It is for you if you are blessed to be aware of your awareness.
It is for you if you are on an adventure of spiritual growth.
It is for you if you desire to know your authentic self.
It is for you if you have more questions than answers.

A dear friend and mentor once said to me,
“Beware the one who says he knows”.

I do not claim to know. I simply share some personal happenings that may be of interest to you.
Perhaps you have had similar experiences.

Community Market at the Ren Centre, Feb. 11 2023

I look forward to participating in the Community Market Event happening at the Ren Centre in Elliot Lake tomorrow, February 11, 2023.

These are the books I will have with me.  Of course these books, and many more of my publications, are available in Kindle, Paperback, including some in audiobook format on all Amazon sites.

Check out my author's page at https://amazon.com/author/audreyaustin