I am Jan Krause Greene. I explore the vast capacity of the human heart as a novelist, poet and storyteller. My first novel was released in August of 2013. I currently have three other works in progress.
Thought I would share this. Author and playwright, Alex Clarke interviewed me for her blog. You should check out her other blogs. She is a very fascinating person!
https://alexclarkewriterdotme.wordpress.com/2014/09/15/talking-writing-scheduals-with-jan-krause-greene-author-of-i-call-myself-earth-girl/
Look on the Books page of this website for news about my already published book and my books in progress. Every so often I will be giving free books to people who come to this page, so check in now and then!
I CALL MYSELF EARTH GIRL (released August, 2013)
What if you discovered you were pregnant and you believed you conceived this child in a dream? What if you tried to end the pregnancy and failed? Gloria’s world is turned completely upside down when she discovers she is pregnant and she knows her husband can not be the baby’s father. Her recurring dreams about a young girl who calls herself Earth Girl initiate a quest for understanding that leads her to question the nature of time and the possibility of reincarnation. As she is exposed to mystic wisdom through the voice in her dreams, she learns not only about herself, but also the many facets of family love and acceptance. Her journey of self-discovery ultimately connects her to the future in a way that she could never have imagined.
I am currently working on two more novels and one true story.
Both novels have tentative titles – In Earth Girl’s Time is the sequel to I Call Myself Earth Girl, and The Valley of the Free People, a historical novel about St. Lucia.
The true story is about Michael Bardellini, a young man from Milford, MA who was the victim of a hit and run driver while riding his bike. His incredible determination to overcome his debilitating injuries and to live a life of meaning and purpose inspires me every day. I feel honored that he has chosen me to share his story.
I Call Myself Earth Girl has received some great reviews!
Check them out on my Amazon. com page using the tiny url above.
Here’s an excerpt from one of my recent reviews on Amazon.com:
“From the moment I picked this book up I could hardly put it down (but with three young kids, I had to – quite often). It is rare to find a combination of witty writing and gripping plot in a first novel, and it is not easy to turn spiritual themes into a fun and inspiring read. I call Myself Earth Girl does just that, and takes readers on a journey of discovery that keeps them on their toes until the very end. Highly recommended as a summer read, something to take on your vacation and to savour as you have time to reflect on life and what might be awaiting beyond it. Inspiring, entertaining and thought provoking.” Daniela Norris
Hi Dear Readers, I have not posted a blog in awhile because this month I have been really busy going to book events. It has been a great month of meeting people, reading from my book, participating on panels, and increasing my sales. I have thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it. But now I need to rest a tiny bit and then turn my focus back to writing.. In the meantime, here is a poem I wrote a few years ago. Shortly after writing this, I signed a contract with a publisher.
In My Dreams
In my dreams I fly – in and out of windows, above mountains, between trees.
I don’t need wings to carry me.
I fly because I am light and free.
In my dreams.
In my dreams, I swim in deep, blue waters.
I jump off cliffs into the waiting ocean.
I rise to the surface and keep on going, up, up!
Right up to the sky.
I fly at night, the stars and moon lighting my way.
In my dreams, I am the leader of important causes.
I speak truth to power.
I bring healing to the hurt.
Food to the hungry.
Justice to the oppressed.
In my dreams, I make a difference.
What I do matters.
I am making the world a better place.
I will be remembered for what I have done.
In my dreams.
In my waking life, I do laundry.
I sweep, dust and vacuum.
I shop. I cook. I eat. I sleep.
I drink lots of coffee and not enough wine.
I take care of my mother.
I babysit for my grandchildren.
I go for walks with my husband.
I watch TV. I read.
Sometimes I even write.
In my waking life.
I tend my garden.
I watch the sunset.
I think great thoughts.
And I long to be the person in my dreams.
I long to do the things that matter;
To make a difference -
To know that in some way the world is better because I was here.
In my dreams, there is no question about this.
I am a person who can fly.
That is proof enough.
But in my waking life,
I measure my importance in small things -
A word of gratitude from my mother.
A smile when my grandson sees me at the door.
My husband’s warm embrace.
This is my real life - the life that says
“You are no different from anyone else.
You can not fly. You are earthbound;
tied to the earth by those you love.”
And sometimes, not very often, but oh so gloriously,
I feel myself rising to the sky on wings of joy
and, oh yes, I am awake!
This is my real life too.
JKG
10/12/12
Some of the fun of having a blog is getting a chance to introduce and promote other authors. So without further ado, I'd like to introduce you to Renee Novelle. She is a woman with many talents -author, journalist, screenwriter and blogger. Not only that, she is amazingly prolific.
I asked her how she manages to get so many books out so quickly. Her answer:
I made a deal with the devil... Lol, no just kidding. I'm very focused when I write. And I think all my years in journalism provided a great lesson in writing tight prose on a tight deadline. It also helps that I have a short attention span. After two months or so I get bored and need to move on to the next story. I prefer to have a book completed before that happens or it may sit on my computer unfinished for years!
True to her word, she has a brand new book coming out this week. The Boyfriend List is a light, New Adult romance about friendship, trust, and learning to let go in order to embrace what real love can offer.
Here's a little Q&A with Renee:
Me: Is there a message you’re trying to get across the readers? What’s the one thing you want readers to think when they have finished your book
Renee: Providing entertainment is my primary goal for my readers. But after that, I would love for them to put down the book and look a life a little differently. Be a little happier, think a little deeper, question a little more. That’s the beauty in a book that you can’t necessarily find in all other art forms.
Me: When did you know you wanted to write a book?
Renee: I’ve always loved writing, but it wasn’t until I was about 11 or 12 that I felt the need to write a full-length book. Since then, I’ve been obsessed with the idea.
I can't resist commenting! Obsessed for sure. In 2013, she released 3 books! Calculated, Driven and Reflections. I'm impressed. Very!
Me: Where’s your favorite place to write?
Renee: I write in my office most frequently, or as I’ve termed it, my writing cave. There I’m surrounded by my personal inspiration and things that have meaning to me, and it really gets my creative juices flowing.
Me: What advice would you give to aspiring writers?
Renee: Practice all the time! Write everything, at every opportunity. Jot down your ideas and hone your skill until it shines. I don’t think there’s any such thing as being the “perfect” writer, it’s all kind of a beautiful learning process, but always strive to make each work better than the last. And grow a thick skin because readers have lots of opinions.
Me: What’s one thing about the writing process that you think every writer should know?
Renee: That promotion takes WAY more work than I ever thought. But it’s a very necessary part, and can be really enjoyable once you start making contacts and developing relationships.
Again, I can't resist. Promotion does take tons of work. It was the biggest surprise for me as a new author....and developing relationships with other authors and bloggers is the pleasant reward for all the hard work of promotion.
Me: What’s your favorite part about the writing process?
Renee: I actually really enjoy the editing process. Writing that outline and skeleton draft can be brutal. But then cleaning it up, adding the detail, making the characters really come alive, that’s absolutely heaven.
Here are some ways to buy her brand new, hot-off-the-press book!
You can connect with Renee here. I am sure she would love to hear from you.
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/ReneeNovelle
Twitter - https://twitter.com/RS_Novelle
Goodreads - https://www.goodreads.com/RSNovelle
This week I was a guest blogger on B.C. Brown's Books site. Her home page says "Because weird is good...."
Not sure what that says about me, but I am open to all interpretations!
Here are a few excerpts, but please go to B.C's page and read the whole thing. Even better, please leave a comment there to show your appreciation to B.C. for sharing her blog.
Excerpts (don't look for continuity...these are just sentences picked out of the actual blog.
A funny thing happened to me last night. Funny as in strange or unexpected. Not "funny ha-ha" as my dad used to say.
So, there I was working hard at not thinking. The only problem is that when I work hard at something - no matter what it is, even relaxing - I end up wide awake. Last night was no different, except that I was wide awake and really angry.
I could literally feel the anger in my forehead....
I was filled with anger and I hated myself for it. Not because I am such a good and kind person and I knew the anger was mostly about feeling sorry for myself. Equally, not because some of the anger was justified and righteous and I was mad at myself for not expressing it to those who deserved to hear it.
And then something shifted. I decided to think about love. Not romantic love, but the other, bigger, broader kind of love - love of life, love of nature, love of the universe.
Yes, I do have a sort of love affair with the universe - all that space with stars and planets and energy and possibility that somehow brings people and ideas together and fuses their energy into something new.
Within minutes, I had a feeling that I have not had since my book was picked up by a publisher more than a year ago. I felt peace. Most particularly, I felt peace about the book and its potential readers...the people who would appreciate it would somehow find it. The message that I hope to spread would be heard by those who will respond to it.
It doesn't have to be a bestseller... It can simply exist. I can let it go out into the world without me. I can focus on the next thing I write, instead of trying so hard to promote this one book. I can let it do its own thing.
In a way that I can't really explain, a sleepless, angry night brought me insight and peace of mind. Sure, I hope people want to read my book. But I no longer need them to.
http://www.bcbrownbooks.blogspot.com/2014/01/guest-post-jan-krause-greene-i-call.html
Funny thing is I had no idea what I would write about when B.C. offered me a guest blog spot. I didn't think it would be about not worrying about how well my book does. I thought I would write some lofty words on what it means to be a writer. Yet, I ended up writing about not needing my book to sell.
Ironically, at the very same time that I was writing about not worrying about how the book does, I was also getting a lesson in how to promote it. B.C. provided me with a really simple, obvious, straightforward, no-gimmicks method. I can't believe I had overlooked it. She included a description of the book and she posted the buy links! And, guess what, sales picked up again! Genius.
So from now on, I will post them at the end of my blog too. Only makes sense, right? If someone, clicks on a link and buys the book, fantastic. If no one, does, that is not quite fantastic, but it is no longer something to lose sleep over!
