POartRY and PROSE

 Creative Writing is my passion. Creating paintings with oil or acrylic paints is also my passion. POartRY and PROSE is the marriage of the two.

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 looked at it before simply allowing 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.

And now I continue this writing adventure. I'm just over 10,000 words written in the second book of the POartRY series. Its title is MORE POartRY and PROSE.

I hope to have this book ready to join its sister in time for Christmas shopping on all Amazon sites.

Thanks for checking out my author's page at https://amazon.com/author/audreyaustin

The Man on the Bench

 This short story is free in the Kindle store for your reading enjoyment on Sunday, October 29th, 2023.  

Cover photo:  Kathleen Burke 

https://amazon.com/author/audreyaustin

Confidential Counseling

 

                            “CONFIDENTIAL COUNSELING”

 

    

“Empowering Table Talk for Women”

You may feel alone walking your path toward personal growth and spiritual development.  Talk, Experiential, or Art therapy, to name a few examples, may be just what you are seeking.

You may be on a journey of emotional healing.  You may be grieving losses, dealing with relationship issues, or any one of many personal issues.

You may want and need an opportunity to talk with someone about confidential matters.

Over the years, here in Elliot Lake, in addition to authoring books focused on social issues,  I have offered personal counseling, in addition to meditation circles and healing workshops. 

It has been my pleasure to facilitate classes and Empowerment Workshops for  Women on topics including “Emotional Healing”;  “Grieving our Losses”; “Relationship Issues”; “Is Age Just a Number?”; Meeting Your Inner Child”; “The 7 Major Chakras”;  “Letting Go”; and “Forgiveness” to name a few.

I am a retired psychospiritual practitioner but through Confidential Counseling I am offering  Empowering Table Talk for women one day per week. 

I am offering four individual one-hour sessions Thursdays, at 10 a.m., Noon; 2 p.m., and 4 p.m.

For more information or to book your appointment you can email me: audrey@persona.ca or you can message me on Facebook.

Let’s talk about it.  

THE LINEN CUPBOARD - Free this Sunday, Sept. 10, 2023, in the Kindle Store

 It is moving day; a most difficult time. Not only is she saying good-bye to the house but also to her mother. She feels okay though, keeping herself together, until she reaches the linen cupboard..

This Sunday, September 10, 2023, The Linen Cupboard, a short story, is FREE for your reading pleasure in the kindle store.

Top review from Canada

Amazon Customer

5.0 out of 5 stars Memories

Reviewed in Canada on November 23, 2015

Verified Purchase

This story brought back many loving memories of my Grandmother and her house. I can even remember the linen closet.

https://www.amazon.ca/LINEN.../dp/B0182ON15Q/ref=sr_1_1...

Being Old

 I'm blessed to enjoy the companionship, love, and time shared with friends and family today.  

Although I've grown used to it, I am sometimes left to wonder why no one I know is older than me.  How on earth did this happen?

I have amazing happy memories of dear friends and family members who are no longer sharing the adventure of life on this planet.  I believe they are not far, and I hold them close to me in my memory, in my thoughts, and in my heart.

I also have very happy memories of time spent with other dear friends and family who, of necessity, have left my small town and are now living in other, usually larger, centres to be near to their children or other family members.

I miss these good people.

I miss the wonderful friendships and the gift of their support of my writing adventures.   I miss the laughter, the closeness, the wonderful sharing within these strong friendships.  

There are still a very few of these dear, old friends who remain in touch through the internet.  I'm thinking of the lovely Shirley and the clever Lucy who loved to play with my long hair when she sat behind me in church.   I treasure my time spent with the very spiritual, caring Marleen.  And I'm thinking of the talented Goldie who worked so hard beside me as we prepared what has, so far, been the only Writers'  Festival in Elliot Lake.

But the sad reality is that the majority of my dear old friends are alive only in my fond memories.  

This is something that is not always easy to deal with as I continue to be old.   It is not always the easiest thing in the world to make new close friendships late in life.  It is not always a good feeling to know that no one is older than me.

How blessed I am that the wonderful younger people in my life share their time and include me in their activities.    How blessed I am that I am given the opportunity to enjoy my retirement; to stay busy and useful with my work; to enjoy my passions of painting and writing.  How blessed I am that my closest family members live nearby and are counted as my best friends.

Being old is a gift.   It has its own challenges and its own rewards.  

Since this blog is about my writing adventures, I guess it won't hurt to mention that I have not done a lot of creative writing about age and aging however I have done a little.  

The characters in  When God Gives Us Spring share their later years with a reader.   Sara is left alone after the too early death of her husband.  Ellen shares her memoirs from childhood to old age when she, sadly, endures Alzheimer Disease.  She even shares her personal death, ascension experience.

So the topic of being old has not been totally ignored in my creative writing.  Nor has it been ignored in my painting.  I am not a portrait painter.  I'm a wanna be portrait painter.   But I do attempt to paint people and some of them are far from young.

There is beauty in aging and I make my own attempt to not only paint it, but to live it.

Thanks for listening.  And thanks for buying a book or a painting from this old lady.  xoxox  https://amazon.com/author/audreyaustin

Below are some of my paintings of others who, if not already there, are on their way to 'being old'.  :-)

Moose Road - a Canadian Tragedy

 Excerpt from: 

 Road, a Canadian Tragedy by Audrey Austin

Chapter One: SEVEN DWELL NEAR

 “Tell me a story, tell me a story, tell me a story and remember what you said.” Ever since that terrible day of the tragic accident each of the residents who live by my side has a tale to tell. Yes, everyone has a story and each story teller speaks his own truth. What I do find curious is the fact that no two stories are alike. Each is unique in its own way. I am of the opinion that truth is multi-sided and speaks from many hearts.

 A very long time ago I heard someone repeat the words of Winston Churchill who is purported to have said, “The truth is incontrovertible. Malice may attack it, ignorance may deride it, but in the end, there it is.” Yes, indeed, there it is. Truth is multi-sided and it dares to speak from many hearts. I have been around for a very long time. I existed in this very location even before man decided to give me a name. I guess that makes me old and, that being the case, I confess I am very old. I was here before any person chose this place to build a home. 

 I have always thought I possessed a firm grasp on reality but since the day of the tragedy I am questioning for the first time the meaning and the impact of truth. I have more questions than answers. Is it possible that truth is, indeed, no more than one’s personal perception? Each individual’s truth, until shared, is locked in a sacred space in one’s memory. Memory does have its share of weakness. It can be faulty. As weeks turn into months memory is often tested.

 “Tell me a story and remember what you said. ”I find it very interesting that the residents of the seven farms impacted by the tragedy each retain a different personal memory of the accident and its aftermath. Although I am well aware that it would not occur to any ordinary human that an old long-travelled country road could possibly have the capacity to remember, I can assure you that I do. Yes, indeed, I do have a memory. Even though I am very old it remains a good one. I do remember well. 

Some thoughts give me reason to smile while other memories I would prefer to forget. I have learned that the more painful memories are the most stubborn; the least likely to be forgotten and the most likely to be remembered. Even when a human believes he has managed to bury a painful memory he has not. That remembrance will pop up like a jack-in-the-box. It will present itself at the most odd and unexpected of times and sometimes even in the form of a recurrent dream. 

Of course, I am not a human. I can assure you that I am a no nonsense road; plain, practical and from my very first appearance on earth many generations ago I have made it my focused mission to do my duty and fulfill my purpose as I see fit. I have always taken great pride in my existence and to this very day I do my best to serve those who choose to travel upon my surface. Unlike humans who are, I have learned, sometimes very superficial creatures, I am not shallow. I don’t blame the travelers for being unable to see beneath my surface. But I assure you I am not just the visible thin layer of gravel you might observe at first glance. I do have substance. 

Yes, I am old now. I have been here in this spot in northern Ontario, Canada for many interesting and enduring lifetimes. Although I am a road less travelled I am still in pretty good shape. I expect I’ll be here for a few more generations. I can see no good reason why I should not continue to be here. I have never existed anywhere else on this earth and this is my home.

• Best Sellers Rank: 
  • #51 in Canadian Drama
  • #62 in Canadian Dramas
  • #166 in Canadian Dramas & Plays

Moose Road, a Canadian Tragedy is available in Kindle, Paperback, and Audiobook formats.

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

Who is this author, Audrey Austin?

 

Audrey Austin, Aug. 1, 2023

Audrey Austin’s books demonstrate an eclectic vision.  She has written primarily fiction novels in the historical, sci fi, romance, mystery, and metaphysical genres, as well as novellas, poetry, personal growth manuals, plays, anthologies, and short stories focused on social issues which dare to stand alone. 

A prolific writer, she currently shares 77 publicatiions on all Amazon sites.

A retired psychospiritual practitioner, her hobbies include painting in oils or acrylic media but her true passion is creative writing.

She lives and works in Elliot Lake, Ontario, Canada with her little twelve-year-old cat, Misty.   She and Misty share their comfortable apartment.  During the summer season they also share their ‘tiny house’ in South Bay.

Her many publications are available exclusively on all Amazon sites.  Visit her blog at https://writecreatively.blogspot.com        And check out her Amazon author’s page at https://amazon.com/author/audreyaustin

Austin’s work is also found in Penpourri; an anthology of short stories published by Elliot Lake Writers; in poetry anthologies published by The Ontario Poetry Society; in poetry anthologies published by White Mountain Publications; and in short story anthologies published by Wynterblue Publishing Company.

Austin's current work in progress is titled MORE POartRY and  PROSE  with anticipated release date in the fall of 2023.

The bold print, and the line spacing chosen for Austin's manuscripts are in response to requests from readers who, like the author, are visually challenged.

THE OBSERVER - His Eye is on the Sparrow

 THE OBSERVER – His Eye is on the Sparrow is a story told by three generations of women; Karina, Anna, and Karen. I was privileged to meet these women throughout my NaNoWriMo writing experience in November of 2019. Three women, yet two souls, share their experiences. The story begins with Karina in Bangalore, India. She makes the challenging move to Elliot Lake, Ontario, Canada and is overjoyed when her daughter, Anna is born. Time passes and sadly, Karina dies. Three days after Karina’s death, Anna’s daughter, Karen is born. Anna realizes that Karen is her grandmother all over again. Is this possible? Certainly, Karen believes that it is.These three women bless us with their understanding, knowledge, and experience of the Christian and the Hindu religions. Each woman lives her own separate life; has her own personal struggles; yet family patterns repeat. Karen’s search for authenticity enriches the story and, yes, a beautiful love story is woven throughout the pages.

I currently have 3 copies of The Observer here at home. They are $20 a copy. Please message me if you would like one. Sorry, I can't deliver but, if interested, we can arrange a time for pick up.

Also available on all Amazon sites. https://amazon.com/author/audreyaustin

An Interesting Life

 I have been blessed with an interesting life.   My life choices are evidence of the truth in the old saying, "A rolling stone gathers no moss".

From the earliest hours of my life, material possessions have come and gone; come and gone; and come and gone often enough to teach me that, although some material possessions are necessary, they, alone, do not provide the assurance of happiness.  

I have learned that happiness is elusive.   It is not a permanent fixture in life but one that is appreciated when it visits.

I can't recall when I stopped striving for happiness.  Perhaps this decision was made after I finally realized that it cannot be found in material goods.  After I became aware that happiness cannot be found in anything, or in anyone, outside of myself.   

I am not sure when I realized that another cannot make me happy.   I am not sure when I realized that I was not responsible for another person's happiness.  But this knowledge was gained long ago and I gratefully accepted the learning.

At some point along life's road, I discovered that expectation was often the killer of the happiness I was seeking.    I learned that the less I expected of others, and the more I expected of myself, the more contented I simply felt.  

Reducing, with the goal of eliminating, expectation, I learned that my journey was becoming more peaceful.   I learned that reducing expectation also reduced disappointment.

Once I became aware of this knowledge, I found that the trick, for me, was to accept the truth of this awareness.  It was not easy, for me, to reduce expectation of others.   In fact, this is something I still work on, but the longer I live, the easier this challenge becomes.

With clients, I often share the equation taught to me years ago in college.  "Awareness plus acceptance plus action equals change."    This is an equation I, personally, have taken very seriously.

The awareness of my reliance on expectation of others to validate myself, once accepted, offered me a gift of freedom.   I was free to let expectation leave me.  It was no longer welcome as a need within me.  

Without expectation, I have the opportunity to learn to simply let go.   

This action of letting go allows me to cease expecting the actions of others to have deep impact on my inner peace.    

This, for me, is not a one-time, cut and dried decision which has permanently eliminated expectation from my being.    Instead, it is a process; a process of letting go, of knowing I am okay, of knowing that my authentic self is strong; physically, mentally, and spiritually.

Expectation is a stubborn aspect of human existence.

It can be a challenge to let expectation go, but, with time and with love, it is a challenge that can be met.

Releasing expectation results in the gift of less disappointment along with the gifts of greater gratitude and appreciation.

I continue to live an interesting life of learning.  Life is good and life goes on.  

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Confidential Counseling

 In case the printing on the diploma is not large enough, the modalities I've studied and services I offer through Confidential Counseling can include Focusing; Guided Imagery; Inner Child Work; Voice Dialoguing/Sub Personalities; Experiential Psychotherapy; Family Sculpting; Chakra Psychotherapy; Energetic Work; Group Dynamics; Dream Work; Addictions; Sexual Abuse; Body Psychotherapy; Intuition; along with talk therapy which is what most seem to prefer in 'Table Talk' currently offered weekly through Confidential Counseling. For further info or to book your appointment, please message me.

I have written several short stories and novels based on social issues and emotional/spiritual healing.  Please check out my author's page at https://amazon.com/author/audreyaustin 

For those interested in chakra healing - Keeping it Simple

POartRY and PROSE - working on book 2 in this series

 No power in our building for a while this morning - no TV, no internet. So I got busy with a couple of phone calls, then I painted a picture, and wrote a short story.

I will have no TV (except movies on VCR) and no internet out at my 'tiny house' this summer.

Hmm, I may get a lot of writing and painting done - may even complete writing "MORE POartRY and PROSE" - a project I've been ignoring for too long. It will be the second in a series; the first being POartRY and PROSE which is available in Kindle & Paperback on all Amazon sites. https://amazon.com/author/audreyaustin

Social Studies - Books one, two, and three

 Top review from the United States

Lynette Davis

5.0 out of 5 stars That's what a good book should do

Reviewed in the United States on December 26, 2015

I've been following Audrey on social media for awhile and finally had a chance to check out one of her books. I was very impressed with her writing style, but more importantly I felt the characters in the stories. I cried, I laughed and I was moved to a head space that made me want to do more as an advocate. That's what a good book should do.

https://www.amazon.com/SOCIAL-STUDIES.../dp/B00IZL7G9E...

https://amazon.com/author/audreyaustin

The Man On The Bench - a short story

 The Man On The Bench is a metaphysical delight. She sees the old man on the bench as she walks with her dog through the park just as she does every morning rain or shine. What is it that causes her to change her walking route this morning? What is it that draws her to approach him? What is it that causes her dog to behave the way he does? This fictional short story may leave the reader with a tear in the eye and a smile in the heart.

https://www.amazon.com/Man-Bench-short-story-ebook/dp/B07FC3R59L?ref_=ast_author_dp

Some Reviews of Weaving Alice - a short story

 Some reviews of Weaving Alice. https://amazon.com/author/audreyaustin

5.0 out of 5 stars Short story

Reviewed in Canada on May 10, 2014

Verified Purchase

Excellent short story. The ending is a total surprise. Written very well in a short story plot that actually ends the story.

From other countries

CeeWaves

5.0 out of 5 stars did not see that coming!

Reviewed in the United States on October 10, 2013

Verified Purchase

I had not read the description before ii purchased it...the title and cover just appealed to me. I loved it!!! I did not see the ending coming and was totally blown away! Great job!!

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An Observation

 I've often considered myself an observant individual.  Lately, I've been questioning this notion.

It seems to have happened with the speed of lightning.  I didn't see it coming.  I didn't notice its arrival.  And I don't remember inviting it to stay, but it's here. My awareness has transformed into acceptance which, in turn, has gifted me with multiple changes.

This uninvited visitor introduced herself as 'old age'.

She didn't arrive alone or empty-handed.  She brought gifts of dimming vision, some breathing challenges, and fingers that sometimes, stubbornly, refuse to type or hold a paint brush.

She wasn't totally negative though, I must admit.  She also brought with her quiet, insightful times of rest and relaxation.  She increased the amount of patience, although that's something I'm still working on.  

Even though I wasn't blind to the facts that my children were talking about retirement; my grandchildren were busy with careers, and I was blessed with the gift of a beautiful great-grandchild, old age still didn't resonate with me.   It wasn't something I thought I should be experiencing so soon.

I couldn't overlook the fact that my friends were becoming younger.  Those of my generation were either moving away to be near their families or, sadly, passing away to be with the God of their understanding.

I missed these dear friends but I developed a great appreciation and gratitude for my younger, vibrant friends who, with their enthusiasm and positivity, were open to sharing their time and talents with me.  

Now that this uninvited visitor has permanently moved into my life, I've grown accustomed to her needs, her goals, and her perception of life.   Although I didn't welcome her when she first arrived, I am now very comfortable and at-home with her.  I actually like her.

We spend our time together so much that she has most certainly become a part of who I am.   I smile when I consider that I have reached what I like to call 'the bragging age'.    In some ways, I consider the milestone an achievement.

I have many more years behind me on this beloved planet than I do ahead of me.  But that's okay.  I've accomplished much more than I ever dreamed I could or would achieve when I was a young teenager spending time with my first boyfriend who, later, became my husband and father of my beautiful children.

I am filled with many wonderful memories. Though some memories are sad, painful, joyous, unhappy, exciting, or tiresome, they are all wonderful because they are all the puzzle pieces that came together to make me who I am today.

Material things have come, have gone, have come again, gone again, and still I have all that I need.  I am grateful for all that has happened in my life; the good, the bad, and the ugly.  I am excited about new adventures that await me.  

I have been defined in many ways by others.  I've been called Audrey, Odd, Oddball, Red, (yes, I used to be a red head),  daughter, sister, aunt, mommy, mom, gram, great-gram, employee, boss, counselor, author, painter, and friend.  

If I have been called other things, I simply recall the words of Wayne Dyer who said, "What others think of me is none of my business."

Throughout all the years I have embraced many changes.  There is one very important facet of my being that has not changed.  No, perhaps it has changed because it has, indeed, grown stronger.  This  thing I refer to is my unwavering faith in a forgiving, loving God who has been more than generous with his guidance throughout my entire life.  I am grateful.

I was prompted to write this blog post this morning after reading a Facebook post with the words, "The past is in your head.  The future is in your hands."   I found them to be very inspirational words.

I am truly thankful for the life I have led and I'm excited about continuing my journey.

And since this is my "Writing blog"  let me thank you for buying one of the many books I've written over the years.  My books are, in many ways, a reflection of their author.  They do not fall into one neat genre.  They are all over the map, covering many topics, adventures, thoughts, and dreams.  Maybe, hopefully, you will want to explore them all.

You will find them at https://amazon.com/author/audreyaustin

Thanks for taking the time to visit my blog.  

The Marketing/Promoting Challenge

The most difficult and challenging job of this author is marketing and promotion.   Especially when one has many publications, it's not always easy to know which direction to take.

Do I focus on one book or do I talk about 'books' is one question, but there are many.  Do I talk about the book's content, its cover, its cost, its author?

I'm always tempted to simply share my Amazon author's page and hope readers will check it out.  My author's page is found at https://amazon.com/author/audreyaustin

I like to share photos of my books.  Do the covers capture a reader's interest?  

I currently have 77 publications available exclusively on Amazon sites.  That's a lot of books.  25 of these publications are in paperback & Kindle.  Five are also in audiobook format.  The balance of 52 are short stories that dare, like Daniel, to stand alone.  The short stories are available in Kindle format only and cost only 99 cents.

Amazon offers the promotional avenue of free books.  I've used this path fairly often, advertising a particular publication, letting the world know it is free for a day or for a weekend.

Almost daily I receive messages from others offering to write reviews of my books - for a price, of course.   I don't buy reviews.  I would, of course, love to have more reviews of my work, especially positive reviews, but I will not stoop to buying them.  The few reviews my books have received are the  authentic sharing of readers and I appreciate them very much.

It is definitely a challenge to market books.   There are millions of books available to a reader.  An author could easily become like the second-grader forever calling, "Pick me!  Pick me!"

A book, a story, is an extension of its author.  Reviews are very important.  The reviews my books have received are primarily positive.  The worst review I ever received was from a reader in England whose short-story length review negatively remarked on almost every aspect of the story, its writing, its story line, its cover - everything!  And this reader's response was to a book that she was able to read for free.  

Did she thank me for the gift I gave to her?  No, she crucified me.  Yet, she told me that she did read the entire book.  

To me, this was very strange.  If I am reading a book and am not enjoying the first chapter, I discard the book.  It's not for me.  This doesn't mean the book or its author deserves to be attacked.  It simply means the book is not for me.

Fortunately, reviews of my books have been supportive and encouraging.

To promote and market books is not easy; at least not for me.

I guess I should take some on-line marketing courses.  Until then, I will simply say please check out my author's page at https://amazon.com/author/audreyaustin and special thanks to those of you who buy one or more of my books.

https://amazon.com/author/audreyaustin