Interview with Joleen Bridges, author of “Finding Home” – and $50 Amazon Giveaway

ABOUT JOLEEN BRIDGES

The Interview

What is your favorite quote, by whom, and why?

“Do or Do not – there is no try” – Yoda
Now don’t laugh….I have so many great quotes I love from some of the greatest sages and teachers of all times, but honestly, this quote is amazing in it simple yet powerful message. This quote exemplifies my life mantra. To me, life is all about choice and accountability. Every moment, every thought, every action – and this quote sums up the passion to never forget it. Plus, it’s easy to remember.

Do you recall how your interest in writing originated?

When I was in the 8th grade I wrote a story that my creative writing teacher sent to the Highlights children magazine to get published, and they published it! I was amazed and it was a pivotal moment for me. From that point on I dreamed of being a writer. Many times over the years I imagined myself as the tortured writer – disheveled, living in a secluded cabin, pounding away at the typewriter with a cup of steamy tea next to me.

When and why did you begin writing?

After that brief period of small notoriety as a young author, I went on to other things in school that had very little to do with a writing career. I ended up in a 25 year career in Information Technology management and I always naturally leaned into assignments that had a lot of writing involved. But always keeping that tiny bug of a dream in the back of my mind, one day I was at the library and came across a book about a historic figure – an explorer that crossed the Northwest Passage prior to Lewis and Clark. His name was Alexander Mackenzie and his life story was ripe for dramatic historical fiction. I planned to make Alexander the next Paul Bunyan with a sweeping saga about his life and journeys. I worked off and on researching and developing this story for about 10 years. Then about 7 years ago, I began facing some very dark times in my life and they continued for several years. I began a strong and highly transforming commitment to personal and spiritual empowerment, and became a voracious reader of all things spiritual, metaphysical, mystical, philosophical and psychological. After having a major awakening, if you will, I felt inspired to write about what I had learned and more importantly about how to apply some of these great insights into our lives in a practical and useful way. I still plan on finishing Alexander’s story someday, but now my writing purpose is to write about spiritual and individual empowerment.

What inspired you to write your first book?

As I mentioned earlier, I felt compelled to write Finding Home – Breaking Free from Limits to share my discoveries and insight into the ego conditioning and suffering to help others. Even if only 1 person is touched by the book, then I will be overjoyed. Since I had read well over 100 books on spirituality, metaphysics, and other related genres, I wanted to offer something to readers that I felt was missing in some of these and that was a really practical and easy “practice” for people to begin to overcome some of these limitations and suffering issues. I never dreamed that I would end up writing a non-fiction book but it was truly something I felt driven to do after my journey.

What do you consider the most challenging about writing a novel, or about writing in general?

For me, the most challenging thing about writing in general is about finding your rhythm and avoiding distractions. Once I sit down to write, I usually am on a roll, but it’s that sitting down to write part that gets me sometimes. I allow other things to distract me so I’m really trying to work on creating a disciple around writing every day.

Did writing this book teach you anything and what was it?

Since my book is ultimately about achieving spiritual and personal empowerment, every day that I wrote and continued my research while writing, I learned and continued to gain inspiration. And more important, I learned to listen. It’s funny, but during the editing process for the book, I read things that I had written and I don’t even remember writing them. I was like – “did I write that?” I promise I don’t mean this to be egotistical at all, but weirdly enough I was inspired and learned from my own writing. I feel this is because during the writing process, I listened and words sometimes just appeared on the page.

Do you intend to make writing a career?

Yes, I do. But writing will be only one way that I would like to reach others and help. I would also like to start speaking and getting involved with others on a personal level. I also write actively on my blogsight at www.breakingfreefromlimits.com. I would someday like to finish that story about Alexander Mackenzie and I know I will. I have several other good stories in me too. I am also considering writing inspirational fiction. I have a couple of ideas I am developing now around that too.

What is your greatest strength as a writer?

I think my greatest strength as a writer of this book and others coming is my sincere desire to make a difference. I don’t have an agenda and I’m not out to convert or convince anybody of anything. I am just offering. I BELIEVE in what I am writing, passionately. This helps to make my writing (when I do sit down to write), effortless. I feel like I am talking to an old friend while I am writing and I hope the readers will feel like they also are talking to an old friend while reading.

ABOUT FINDING HOME-BREAKING FREE FROM LIMITS

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