Writer's Voices

Gary Douglas and Dain Heer , partners in Access Energy Transformation work, discuss their book Talk to the Animals .  This book details how to use Access Energy Transformation to work intuitively with animals. It is filled with amazing stories of successful healing (both animal and human) and dramatic improvements in relationships with animals.  This book is a fascinating read, and represents a unique approach in the world of animal communication.

Two engaging guests talk about spiritual freedom from different perspectives.

First, Mary Foster, speaks of her contribution to Thank God I, Book 2 . This book is a compilation of stories about finding gratitude for life experiences which were at first painful or traumatic.  Book 2 has been eagerly anticipated after the bestselling success of Book 1. Thomas Gates who is also a contributing author to books 1 and 2, was interviewed on April 10, 2009, by Writers’ Voices.

Next, we interview Alan Gompers, returning a second time to Writers’ Voices to talk about his book, Maximum Security , and his spiritual awakening while in prison.  Alan also taught a one-day meditation workshop at the Mainstay Resort , during this visit to Fairfield.

Maximum Security – The True Meaning of Freedom , by Alan Gompers , is a profound book about a man whose search for worldly security landed him in prison where he discovered real security and freedom through meditation and the teachings of Swami Muktananda.  Alan Gompers takes us on his journey navigating the dangerous waters of prison and ironically finding unshakable peace.

Linda Egenes is an adjunct faculty member at Maharishi University of Management and author of Visits with the Amish . Linda became acquainted with some Amish neighbors while they were working on a construction project at MUM.  A student writing project turned into thirteen years of visiting with and writing about her Old Order Amish friends and neighbors in Southeast Iowa.  Her work has been featured in Amish and mainstream publications such as Cobblestone, Plain , Iowa Source , and the Plain Reader. Visits With the Amish is a collection of these essays, enhanced with woodcut print illustrations, recipes, lyrics, and many wonderful details of Amish life.

This interview and Linda’s subsequent Library talk on what we can learn about sustainability from the Amish were big hits here in Fairfield.

This interview was hosted by Chamaigne Montana and Caroline Kilbourn.  You can read Chamaigne’s blog about this interview here .

In her national bestseller, The Highly Sensitive Person: How to Thrive When the World Overwhelms You , author Elaine Aron , Ph.D.  defines and describes a distinct personality trait that represents 20% of us.  The Highly Sensitive Person (HSP) has a sensitive nervous system, is aware of subtleties in his/her surroundings, and is more easily overwhelmed when in a highly stimulating environment.

The HSP personality trait has been accepted into mainstream psychology. Dr. Aron’s findings have been published in Counseling and Human Development, Counseling Today,  and the prestigious Journal of Personality and Social Psychology.

Dr. Aron formerly taught at Maharishi University of Management in our own Fairfield, Iowa.

Thomas Dean is a writer and editor with a deep interest in our connections to place, our relationship with the natural world, and the cultural life of the Midwest.  Dean is a well deserved pushcart Prize nominee.  He has recently published a book of personal essays, Under a Midland Sky , which focuses on Midwestern life through the experience of seasons, weather, and other phenomena in the sky. The essays also explore Dean’s personal efforts at finding home, and what it means for all of us to seek a sense of place.

Dean earned a Ph.D. in English from The University of Iowa. He also received an M.S. in English, a B.A. in English, and a B.M. in Music History and Literature from Northern Illinois University where he graduated summa cum laude. He completed doctoral work in English and film studies at The University of Wisconsin-Madison. Dean has received a National Endowment for the Humanities Study Grant and grant awards from Humanities Iowa, the Minnesota Humanities Center, the Michigan Humanities Counsil, and the North Dakota Humanities Counsil.

Writers’ Voices with Monica and Caroline warmly welcomes author Laurie Kienlen. Laurie is primarily a non-fiction writer of magazine and e-zine articles. She specializing in health and wellness. Her articles have been published in Reader’s Digest, MSN Health, Woman’s Day, Glow, Spirituality and Health, Natural Health, Alive, and more. She is the Feature Writer for Psychology Suite101.

Laurie tells us that she “is living proof that dreams do come true, (if you don’t mind bleeding, crying, and sweating a little. Okay….a lot!)” To keep her motivation and to help others who are passionate about their goals, she maintains a blog called Quips and Tips for Freelance Writers. She also has a blog called Quips and Tips for Healthy Women.

Put Your Life on a Diet: Lessons Learned Living in 140 Square Feet is the ultimate resource for living a simpler life. Author Gregory Paul Johnson also intended this book as a resource for learning how to leave behind a smaller environmental footprint and live a healthier life. Gregory Paul Johnson guides us in five significant areas — housing, food, technology, utilities, and transportation.

This interview is guest-hosted by Steve Cooperman . Steve Cooperman is a former kruu show host and journalist.  Steve put his own life on a diet about a year ago when he moved into a 500 sq ft home with a wood stove, close to the center of town, greatly reducing driving miles.

Author Gregory Paul Johnson is the founder and Director of Resources for Life . Based in Iowa City, Resources for Life is an outreach and public interest organization. Johnson studied Urban and Regional Planning with the Higher Education Consortium for Urban Affairs (HECUA), which included travel to South American countries including Columbia, Panama, Ecuador, and Peru. Today, Gregory works for the University of Iowa as a technology consultant. He also works for private clients through his consulting firm, the Technology Services Resource Group.

One cold day to another linked like a freight train. Cannot see the end.

In this interview, Kathy reveals the secrets behind The Train of Thought method . This method will help you turn your thoughts and dreams into a clear, compelling, readable manuscript.