A former television producer and college professor, Dr. Jean Raffa changed directions in midlife to discover and write about her passions. Informed by over 30 years of psychological and spiritual study, her books and teachings guide others to growth and self-empowerment. To be released in October 2020, her newest book, The Soul’s Twins, is about reconciling differences between masculine and feminine, overcoming oppositional conflicts, and finding balance to live a more authentic life. It “offers a self-guided journey to wholeness and enlightenment by transcending masculine-feminine oppositions.” To celebrate the upcoming release, we are delighted to share this Q&A with Jean Raffa. Swenson Book Development: What has the journey of writing The Soul’s Twins taught you personally? Jean Raffa: I started this book in the early 90s. About 540 pages later, I realized I still had much to learn. Intending to return to it one day, I set it aside and started a different book. Then three years ago, a series of synchronistic events came together to rekindle my passion for The Soul’s Twins. But tackling it was still so daunting that when another synchronicity led me to Jill Swenson, I asked for her help. She was the midwife I needed. The Soul’s Twins gestated for 27 years, but the timing for its birth couldn’t be better. Neither I nor the world were ready for them in 1993. We are now. Writing The Soul’s Twins taught me two lessons. First: If I commit myself to a realistic goal I passionately believe…
For authors it can be difficult, even shameful today, to be an introvert in a media culture where being social and outgoing are valued above all else. The reclusive literary artist who disdains self-promotion is silenced, even suppressed, in a system that rewards extraverts. Yet, when it comes to creativity and productivity among authors, we need more introverts. “There’s zero correlation between being the best… [Read More]
Filed Under: Carl Jung, Extroversion, Introversion, Myers-Briggs Personality Test, Quiet, Susan Cain
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Discover your voice. Let loose your inner sleuth. Learn new skills and polish your work-in-progress. This two-day non-fiction writing workshop will help you identify a story, learn new research methods, write fresh history, edit for publication, and prepare your pitch. Five 90-minute sessions will focus on 1) story 2) facts 3) genre 4) style and 5) publishing. WHERE: Retreat in scenic rural Brooktondale at the… [Read More]
There are few feelings that compare to a broken computer – Did you save your tax records anywhere else? Do you know anyone who can fix this? What about your drafts, and photos, and important information? Is it all really gone? We live in a time when it’s fairly easy to forget to backup your information regularly. Features like autosave and document recovery create an illusion… [Read More]
The small farm book business grows organically. Growing the seeds of good ideas into books, is akin to farming in some respects. In publishing, like in farming, there are large multinational multimillion dollar corporations dominant in the industry. Yet, the groundswell of good books about small scale farms, seasonable cuisine, and sustainable living reflects the growing market for good ideas. You may have noticed more… [Read More]
Dream New Dreams: Reimagining My Life After Loss by Jai Pausch (Crown 2012) is one of the first memoirs to address the experiences of those who become full time caregivers to their terminally ill spouse. Imagine dealing with complicated medical care and even more complicated emotions. And then imagine having to tell your young children that their father is dead. You may have heard of… [Read More]
Filed Under: Farrah Fawcett, Grief, Jai Pausch, Lisa Niemi Swayze, memoir, pancreatic cancer, Patrick Swayze, Randy Pausch, Ryan O'Neal, widow