I just finished your book ... what a joy it was to read! Each story was unique and powerful ... a fabulous job of letting the stories and the people that embodied them speak for themselves. There were many phrases and sentences that really struck me to my core ... I hope this book reaches around the world as it is an inspiration and joy to read.

CARRIE JONES - PhD Student, USA.

Bridget's first book,was published in 2004.

Seasons of My Soul - a Woman?s Journey of Healing

Excerpt from Seasons of my Soul:

'I see on the screen of my mind, a fragile spider's web, almost hidden amongst the greenery. A violent storm has almost demolished the web, but after the storm passes, the trusty small spider is diligently going around and around re-weaving the orb of her life. Thread by gossamer thread, she binds and re-collects the pattern, never stopping to look behind her, nor wondering if another storm will come and blow her web away. She spins and keeps on spinning until it is complete again.

Writing memoirs is a vulnerable task but one that I owe to my soul. Sometimes the memories are like the storm battering the spider's web, but always, there is the rebuilding to be done.

READERS COMMENTS:

"This is the story of determination to find wholeness and balance in the midst of the challenges of life = a personal story which may hold a mirror to those who have also struggled to keep their own relationships in order in a disorderly world. Many will identify their own difficult times in relationship and how resolution is in the uncharted waters of trusting the heart and soul."

"An honest and sincere narrative with just the right blend of detail."

"Very cathartic - a few times I just cried tears of the heart as I read."

"Moving and honest - beautifully produced."

"Your work inspires and reminds us of the deeper nature of the human work we do beyond mere job descriptions. What a reminder for all of us as we attend to the outer and often ignore the inner world of the other - that this connection has the most lasting power for healing." Dr Jean Watson - PhD, Emeritus Professor of Nursing, University of Colorado.

When asked the question WHAT DO YOU WANT TO WRITE ABOUT Bridget says:

I want to write about how admitting our own vulnerability opens us to compassionate feelings for ourselves and others. I am inspired by writers like David Malouf (The Great World) and Tim Winton (The Turning) who help us to see the inner workings of characters and the influences that move them through their pain, difficulties, losses and gains.

I am always intrigued by that thing we call spirit, or soul - the spirit that moves us into heroism or despair ... the spirit, like grass which keeps on growing even when it is cut a million times ... the animation of life shown in a million little details in which we live and move and have our being.

How do we renew the flagging spirit? How do we tune in or tune out to that inner voice with which we are all born?

I am fascinated by the causes and effects of life and find myself drawn to write about the spiritual nature of life in its most ordinary and mundane masks ...
stories about people and the way their lives unfold in unexpected ways ... in spite of many difficult circumstances and experiences.

For inquiries into Seasons of my Soul contact the author: bin@mckern.biz

UPDATE ON MARKETING

AND PRESENTATIONS OF

LIVING THE JOURNEY

Bridget spoke at the Healing Arts Symposium in Sydney at the end of October and this was reported in the International Healing Musicians' Newsletter:

Bridget McKern, RN MN and the author of a recently published book, LIVING THE JOURNEY - Everyday Heroes Tell Their Story, gave a presentation: "Living the Journey - Sharing Our Stories as a Healing Art." An inspiring presenter with strong creative energy, Mrs. McKern expressed her greatest passion, the dynamics of healing and change in people's lives. During her presentation she told stories of the extraordinary courage and resilience of human beings. She shared some incredible journeys of living and dying and the power of story to heal. She communicated that ..."as we tell our story, our truth, in a journal or to a therapist or a good friend, it helps our awareness of ourselves and has a healing effect. The profound respect she has for the palliative patients in her care allows them to share their vulnerability with a gentle opening of the heart to each other and a sense of common shared humanity. This is an experience of love and healing. '

The last six months have been a very exciting journey following my book as it leads me to many interesting people and places. Thanks to A&A Publicity and Marketing Team I have had 6 Radio interviews both local and interstate. There has been an interview printed in the local paper (St George & Sutherland Leader) in August, followed by four days doing book signings at the front of Angus & Robertson Bookshops in Westfield Hurstville and Miranda. The Managers at both locations were most hospitable and made the experience a very pleasant one for me. I am going back again before Christmas after another?interview with the local Radio 2NBS on Monday 19th November.

The first weekend in November saw us hitch up our caraven and take a weekend workshop retreat to a group of writers at Warren, Central West NSW in the drought belt. We had a wonderful weekend with spirited people and gifted writers who do it tough out in the bush. Lovely country hopitality. At least we brought them a bit of rain but they need a lot more than we could bring in one weekend.

This six months has been an exciting time learning the art of selling my book and 'getting it out there.' I have had several speaking engagements including being the October Lunch Hour speaker for the Jessie Street National Women's Library at Town Hall in Sydney. All this has given me a lot more confidence in presenting the book in a number of differnt ways.

The Short Poppy Song

Composed by Jules Jones and sung at my Book Launch. 

We all love a Hero; We all know their names

There's Warney, Thorpey, Phar Lap

There's Kylie and Clive James

We see them on the telly

That's how they get their fame

But if these poppies get too tall

We shoot them down in flames.

Now out there on this journey that we all call life

There's love and death and illness

There's challenges and strife

There's many unsung heroes

Their battles being fought

These heroes are all poppies

But they're not tall - they're short.

So Bridget picked her poppies

And if you take a look

You'll find their stories pressed between

The pages of this book

True heroes aren't just sportsmen

Or stars from on TV

They're out there living real lives

They're folks like you and me.