Handwriting exeprt and author Sheila Lowe is our latest new Blackbird. You can find out more about her here and see her books here.
I made a big decision on Monday. I’m going to self-publish my new book, Dead Letters (#8 in the Claudia Rose psychological suspense series). I’ve been self-pubbing my nonfiction books about handwriting psychology for a couple of years now, but there is something infinitely more daunting about making this choice. It’s something I’ve been waffling over for a few weeks, and I wasn’t entirely sure it was the right thing to do. Then, this happened…
Yesterday, the day after making that decision, I had planned to go grocery shopping in the morning. But, procrastinator that I am, I put it off until well after lunch. Just before I left my keyboard, I emailed my friend and fellow author Peg Brantley to share the news. The subject line I wrote was: I just jumped off a cliff.
As I drove across town to the local Winco, I was listening to NPR’s Fresh Air with Terry Gross. Thanks to my lagging, I caught just the last few minutes of what was clearly a great interview with the venerable actor, Patrick Stewart. And when I heard what he said, I will confess, I promptly burst into tears.
Speaking of his early days in the business, he quoted a teacher who, our ‘Jean Luc Picard,’ said, told him something that he never fully understood until much later: “Patrick, you will never achieve success by insuring against failure.” I thought, huh, that’s so true. His next words made my mouth drop open.
“You have to take risks,” he said as if directly speaking to me. “You have to be brave; you have to step into the unknown.” Then: “You have to step off the edge of a cliff.” OMG, that’s what I had just written Peg. But wait, there’s more…
He said, “I always make sure I’m dead letter perfect.” OMG again!!! Dead Letters is the title of my book!!!
Checking it out
To make sure I wasn’t misremembering or putting words in his mouth, I looked up the interview online and typed out what he had said to ensure I’d got it exactly right.
I don’t know about you, but I believe in spirit guides and angels, and when we ask for help, we get it. And I had been asking. If I had gone to the store in the morning I would have missed the interview. If I had been a half an hour earlier I would have missed the interview.
Look, I know that everything Patrick Stewart said could be applied to any author. But I don’t believe in coincidences. If it had been just the first statement, well, that was encouraging. But the second, and the third—at that moment, those words were just for me.
It’s been a super-rotten year for all of us, some more than others, suffering intolerable losses of many kinds. But all of a sudden, I have a bright ray of hope that is carrying me into 2021. I know I’m not alone in this mess, and I hope that by sharing this story, you will feel encouraged, too. Soon, I’ll be able to tell you more about this whole adventure, but for now, I wish you a very Happy New Year. May 2021 be 1000 times better than this one.
I got goosebumps reading your post!
You can imagine how I felt when I heard “Jean Luc” 🙂
I love this post, Sheila! Thanks so much for sharing this story! I believe those words were meant for you, too! I can’t wait to read DEAD LETTERS!
Thank you, Margaret. It’s an experience I won’t forget.
Sheila, thanks for sharing such a personal experience. It gave me pause and reminded me how important it is to be receptive to the guiding forces around us. I wish you nothing but great success.
Thank you, Joy. I love sharing these kinds of experiences for that very reasonl
Congratulations on this new phase of your career. I have a spot for your next book reserved on my shelf.
Thanks, Brian! I hope to have an in-person launch party in August (fingers crossed). You and Marlene are invited, of course.
You are proof of synchronicity in action. May you continue to succeed in all you attempt to accomplish.
I’m looking forward to Dead Letters. I’ve joined the 52-Book Reading Challenge this year, and I will read this one for the #51 Category: Published in 2021. How exciting, that it will be published by YOURSELF! Congratulations, and the best of luck for Write Choice Ink too!
Thanks so much, Jackie. Join the street team and get an early copy 🙂
Thank you Sheila for sharing your extraordinary experience, it’s a reminder to be open and available to God and his angel’s messages. It’s isn’t that God and our passed loved ones don’t communicate with us, it’s more a case of us not being open and listening when they do. Thank you for the reminder to be available and open. I love your white hair, it’s very becoming, I made the same decision for myself this year too. Congratulations on your new book!
Thanks, Cheryll. I’m glad that story resonated with you. As for my hair, it’s doing what it wants to these days, lol. Be well.
Aside from respecting you as a highly creative and talented writer, I am overwhelmed by your positive attitude that miraculously sustains itself in difficult times. This is encouraging to all creative people to never give up. Your success is our success. Go for it. Many of us will follow!. Shirl (Solomon)
Thanks, Shirl. You’ve been a beacon since the beginning.
Sheila, thanks for sharing your thoughts and feelings. They are greatly appreciated.
Thank you, Alex. I’m glad they resonated with you.
Sheila, this is about a totally different topic. I left a voice message stating if you have members from ISRAEL in your group and since Israel is big on graphology, uses from employment screening, checking out potential terrorists, marriage compatibility selection, and even to see if you are a suitable candidate for a certain housing compound. With that said. Sexual assault in the US Military is EPIDEMIC, with women being most of the victims, but men are as well, I wanted to snail mail you on this…….plus possibly have you do an analysis on my dear deceased mother…..over 20 years going. Also, can I pay you just to speak with you on something should the need arise. Thanks. I no longer have your postal address. Is it ??? 140 something in Ventura, CA