Reflections ~ 2023

Wanted to give you a look at what I've written this year and also give you a glimpse into what I'll be writing and publishing next year. 

This isn't set in stone; I tend to go with the flow and write whatever grabs me, so this is just a blueprint. 

I've got lots of scribbles and works-in-progress, as well as about a bajillion ideas running through my mind, so we'll have to wait and see what comes into fruition. 

A look back at 2023...

I wrote a Mindful Moments trilogy. I only meant to write one book, but somehow it turned into three books. I got into the Zen zone and the words just flowed.

Being a foodie at heart, I also wrote a Chili cookbook, which offers a journey into the heart and soul of chili. In addition to the legends and lore of chili, a history of the Chili Queens of San Antonio, tales from Terlingua, a true or maybe not-true chili cook-off story, there are hundreds of the best-ever chili recipes. 

There's also a talking pepper running through the pages, sharing helpful hints and tips, and offering chili tidbits and trivia, as well as a guide to chili peppers. This was book three in my Southwest Flavors series.

I've begun updating some of my older books and republished two books on reincarnation with new covers, as well as bringing out a new book about looking into your future lives. I also republished the box set (Echoes of Time) which includes an expanded edition of the first two books, and the book on future lives.

 Publishing plans for 2024...

I've been working on a magical book about coffee and writing. It may or may not have something to do with the Wizard of Oz, which is my all-time favorite book in the world. It's about a writer, along with her beloved furbaby, who goes in search of a wizard who she believes can help her find the magic of words.

I've got two more books in the Echoes of Mind series that I hope to finish writing and publish this year. Life is Just a Dream invites you into a nighttime panorama of pictures inside your subconscious mind. Reality is an Illusion offers you a way to play with the magic inside your mind to create the life you want to live.

And I know I've been talking about this next book forever, but it's nearly complete, though very drafty at the moment. Symphony of the Stars is about a near-death experience and afterlife adventures in heaven.

It's based on an actual near-death experience I had way back in 1968 when I crashed my car into a tree and met a shimmering angel who took me to heaven and gave me the grand tour before I came back down to earth.

I'm planning to write more Zen books. Meditating by Coffee: Zen Morning Meditations is about 2/3 complete. Hope to have that published in March or April. 

I'm also planning to update Zen Coffee: A Guide to Mindful Meditation, which is the first book in the series.

So, that's what I've got in motion for 2024, but like I said, I tend to go with the flow and write whatever grabs me and speaks to me at the moment.

We'll see what happens...

Future Lives... Just Released

 Woot! I just released LOOKING INTO YOUR FUTURE LIVES a few days ago as part of me bringing all my pen name books back to me... (Previously published as Past Lives, Future Lives by Renee Amberson.)

And it's a #1 New Release on Amazon... YAY!

About Those Pseudonyms

 I have a confession to make. I'm a genre-jumper. I write in many different genres which prompted me to create pen names for those genres. I was thinking it was a good idea at the time to make it easier for people to find books on certain subjects they were interested in.

But... it all got to be too much, so I've decided to go back to being me, to who I really am—Gloria Chadwick.

I'll be updating my books, both the interiors and most of the covers, to bring it all together. It's gonna be messy for awhile, and you'll probably see my books out in the wild with two names on them during the transition.

I also have several books I'm in the process of writing, and will be sharing them soon.

Meditating by Coffee

The first cup of coffee in the morning is a wonderful, beautiful thing. You're not quite awake and you're receptive to the thoughts and ideas that show up in your mind.

Wouldn't it be great to take five minutes or so with your morning coffee to set the tone for your entire day? 

You're invited to mindfully enjoy your coffee in a peaceful, tranquil frame of mind.

Working on a new book to do just that... coming soon...

Mindful Moments at the Lotus Pond

 Just published a box set for the three books in the Mindful Moments series...

What if you could find a place of perfect serenity, where the cares and worries of the world seemed to fade into the background? 

There is such a place. It’s called the Lotus Pond. It’s a physical place, but more important, it’s a state of mind where you find calm and peacefulness. 

It’s a place of mindfulness, a place to tune into your inner Zen nature, find peace amidst the chaos, and embrace a Zen frame of mind where you can live the essence of Zen every day. Through gentle mindful meditations, you’ll find the peace of mind you’ve been looking for.

Come to the Lotus Pond… The three books in the Mindful Moments series invites you to find clarity and inner peace as you travel your own path toward a more mindful and fulfilling life. Embrace the harmony within your own being as you open the door to a life of inner peace and limitless possibilities.

LOTUS POND ~ ZEN MEDITATIONS FOR FINDING PEACE AMIDST THE CHAOS. A gentle and inspiring guide that invites you to find clarity and inner peace as you travel your own path towards a more mindful and fulfilling life.

LIFE AT THE LOTUS POND ~ BEING IN HARMONY WITH YOUR INNER ZEN NATURE. Embrace the harmony within your own being and discover the peace and serenity that unfold when you live in harmony with your inner Zen nature.

LESSONS FROM THE LOTUS POND ~ LIVING ZEN EVERY DAY. Open the door to a life of profound fulfillment, inner peace, and limitless possibilities as you embark on the journey of living Zen every day.

Available on Amazon... $7.99.

Chili...

 Doing the happy dance... :)

CHILI was just released a few days ago and it's already earned an orange sticker on Amazon for Top New Release. It's also #1 in new releases in American Southwest Cooking.

Out of all the books I've written, this is the first one to really make a mark on launch week.

I know it's probably silly to be so excited, but to get an orange sticker on Amazon is really something special. And I'm very proud of it.

And then, to make things even better it's #1 in new releases. This is my fleeting claim to fame, because it won't stay there forever.

There will be another cookbook that bumps it, but for the moment, I can honestly say that I have a #1 new release.

YAY!!!

Chili... A Bowl of Red

It's almost here!! CHILI drops tonight at midnight... 

Calling all Chiliheads

It's DONE!! 342 pages of the best-ever chili recipes!! And I should know; I've tried them all. I'm doing some final finessing and tweaking, but CHILI should be published in a week or two, ahead of schedule. Here's the blurb: 

Take a journey into the heart and soul of chili.

In addition to hundreds of chili recipes—from mild-mannered chili for timid cooks, to too hot to handle recipes for chiliheads, some with beans, some without, and everything in between—CHILI... A BOWL OF RED offers the legends and lore of chili, a history of the Chili Queens of San Antonio, tales from Terlingua, a true or maybe not-true chili cook-off story, and much more. 

You’ll also find a talking pepper running through the pages, sharing helpful hints and tips, and offering chili tidbits and trivia, as well as a guide to chili peppers. Black and white illustrations are included in the print book.

Available at Amazon for $7.99. Pub Date: November 1, 2023.

Mindful Moments

What if you could find a place of perfect serenity, where the cares and worries of the world seemed to fade into the background? There is such a place. It's called the Lotus Pond. It's a physical place, but more importantly, it's a state of mind where you can find calm and peacefulness.

It's a place of mindfulness, a place to tune into your inner Zen nature, find peace amidst the chaos, and embrace a Zen frame of mind where you can live the essence of Zen every day. Through a series of mindful meditations, you'll find the peace of mind you've been looking for.

Come to the Lotus Pond...

Lessons From the Lotus Pond

 Oops. Did it again. Currently writing the THIRD book in the Mindful Moments series. It began as one book, Lotus Pond: Zen Meditations for Finding Peace Amidst the Chaos, then it grew into a second book, Life at the Lotus Pond: Being in Harmony With Your Inner Zen Nature, and now it's grown into a third book, Lessons From the Lotus Pond: Living Zen Every Day.

Life at the Lotus Pond

A few months ago, I decided to write a book on Zen meditation, offering ways to find peace amidst the chaos of daily life. Just a way to slow down a bit and be more mindful in all your experiences. It was only going to be one book, but it grew into a second book, seemingly all by itself. Here's a sneak peek at the new book. Pub date is August 1st. Available at Amazon... $2.99.

LOTUS POND IS PUBLISHED

 YAY!!! It's launch day for LOTUS POND...

In the midst of the chaos and busyness of everyday life, it can be challenging to find moments of stillness and inner peace. LOTUS POND: ZEN MEDITATIONS FOR FINDING PEACE AMIDST THE CHAOS offers a way to help you find harmony in all your experiences. 

Each meditation offers guidance for cultivating mindfulness, letting go of negative emotions, and finding clarity in your everyday life. This book shows you how to unlock the simple, yet profound wisdom of Zen teachings.

Whether you’re seeking to reduce stress, improve your focus, or simply connect with your inner wisdom, this book provides the tools and inspiration you need to embark on a journey of self-discovery. Each meditation is designed to guide you towards a deeper understanding of yourself and will help you find greater peace and tranquility within yourself and with the world around you.

Drawing on the timeless wisdom of Zen philosophy and the natural beauty of the lotus flower, LOTUS POND is a gentle and inspiring guide to inner peace and transformation. These meditations invite you to cultivate mindfulness, clarity, and inner peace, and find your own path towards a more mindful and fulfilling life.

Available at Amazon, Apple, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, and Smashwords for $2.99.

Sidetracks

 Got a little sidetracked....

I'm trying to write several books simultaneously and it's driving me a little nuts. But then, what else is new?

I decided to go to Camp NaNoWriMo and write a magical book about words and coffee. I'm blogging about it at A Novel Writing Adventure. 

I'm not ready to spill the beans on it yet, but I promise it will be very magical. I'm bringing one of my favorite characters from Novel Quest—Mocha Latte—into the book. Mocha had some sort of dream and ended up in a magical coffee shop that was really a portal to a magical writing world. And that's all I can say about it for the moment.

And Magi, my beloved furbaby, who is also going to be in the book, has a few things to say about it, too. Magi was also in Novel Quest, and is making a return appearance in the new book.

And then, while I was letting my newest book, Lotus Pond, rest between edits, I came across a folder from a while back that had HUNDREDS of delicious chili recipes, so of course, I had to start writing a chili cookbook. 

I'm gonna tell you a little secret. Way back, like ten years ago, I was a foodie blogger. I had a monthly chili cook-off on the blog because chili is my favorite food—ever. That's when I started collecting chili recipes. So my newest cookbook has been ten years in the making...

Take a journey into the heart and soul of chili. 

In addition to hundreds of chili recipes—from mild-mannered chili for timid cooks, to too hot to handle recipes for chiliheads, some with beans, some without, and everything in between—CHILI... A BOWL OF RED offers the legends and lore of chili, a history of the Chili Queens of San Antonio, tales from Terlingua, a true or maybe not-true chili cook-off story, and much more. 

You’ll also find a talking pepper running through the pages, sharing helpful hints and tips, and offering chili tidbits and trivia, as well as a guide to chili peppers.

Available at Amazon for $7.99. Pub Date: Nov. 1, 2023.

New Book is in the Works...

 Here's a sneak peek at what I'm working on. LOTUS POND will be published on June 1st.

SPRING SALE... New Beginnings

 I love Spring. It's my favorite time of the year. Trees are bursting forth with new leaves, flowers are budding and blooming in bright, beautiful colors, and the fresh, clean scent of new beginnings is in the air. Everything is coming to life, rebirthing itself into a joyful expression of happiness and light. To celebrate Spring — and new beginnings — I thought it would be a wonderful thing to have a Spring Sale of some of my books, to offer you new beginnings within yourself. All ebooks are $0.99 and the sale runs from March 11th through the 22nd.

MAGICAL MIND, MAGICAL LIFE is an adventuresome, interactive guide into opening the magical power inside your mind. It offers you a journey of self-discovery and shows you how to create miracles in every moment by using the magical power of your mind to enjoy a happier, more fulfilled life. 

You can make your life everything you want it to be and more. You have this power within you now; it’s not something new or something you have to learn. All you have to do is look within the power of your own mind and put that magic to work for you.  

This life-changing book invites you to open and explore the natural power of your mind. It’s a guide that shows you the way to living a magical life, filled with happiness and light.

Available at Amazon, Apple, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, and Smashwords.

MAGICAL MIND GARDENS... Your mind is a beautiful, fertile garden that will grow whatever thoughts and feelings you plant. What you plant and cultivate in your mind's garden grows into what you experience. 

Filled with 365 magical thoughts, and a healing garden of harmony meditation, Magical Mind Gardens encourages you to look within your mind to see the magical power you have to create everything you experience. 

Plant a beautiful mind garden, filled with magical thoughts and happy feelings. Lavish your thoughts and feelings with an abundance of positive attention and shower them with light. Nurture them with care as you nourish the growing magic inside your mind.

Available at Amazon, Apple, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, and Smashwords.

INNER JOURNEYS... Meditation, in the form of guided visualizations, can take you on many wonderful inner journeys that lead you into the multidimensional worlds of your mind and soul. Inside this book are metaphysical, magical, mystical meditations that will inspire and empower you on your path of self-discovery and spiritual awareness. 

These meditations share with you the harmony of your body, mind, and spirit. They’re offered to illuminate and guide your way as you travel an inner journey to remembering your spiritual knowledge and reawakening your spiritual self. 

By taking a few moments to meditate, you can tune into who you really are; you can touch and fully experience your essence as you reunite with your higher self.

Available at Amazon, Apple, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, and Smashwords.

WHISPERS BEYOND THE RAINBOW... A magical rainbow journey inspires you on a quest to awaken your spiritual self. 

Listen to the whispers from your soul reminding you of the true nature of your spirit—of the love, light, joy, and harmony that is your spiritual birthright.

Whispers is a visionary novella, written as a meditation, that invites you to travel on the wings of your spirit to explore the multidimensional realms within you and the worlds of the universe around you to remember who you truly are... a powerful, spiritual being of light.

Available at Amazon, Apple, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, and Smashwords.

A Little Bit of Heaven

You're invited on an afterlife adventure...
Just wanted to let you know I've been working on Symphony of the Stars. I published this book a way long time ago, like more than twenty years ago, and have decided that now is the time to completely rewrite the book and share some of my afterlife adventures.

I'm thinking it will probably be republished sometime this summer.

Based on a near-death experience, this visionary novel invites you on a spiritual adventure into an ethereal realm of light.

Book One, Echoes of Heaven series.

365 Ways To Grow Your Magical Mind

MAGICAL MIND GARDENS offers 365 ways to grow your magical mind—and your life—into a beautiful garden of harmony and joy, happiness and light.

If you're looking for a daybook for the new year that will remind you of how special and magical you are, and how to create a wonderful reality every day, Magical Mind Gardens is the book for you.

Filled with positive thoughts, and a magical way of looking at things, it encourages you to open the magic inside your mind and put that magic to work for you to create a magical life, filled with happiness and light.

Available on Amazon.