TellTale Souls Writing the Mother Memoir: How To Tap Memory and Write Your Story Capturing Character & Spirit (Volume 1)
"Rarely does a book carve out a unique place for itself within the hallowedhalls of writerly advice and wisdom, yet Ms. Henriksen has fearlesslystepped into uncharted, original waters with TellTale Souls Writing theMother Memoir. Not only is this a book for me to recommend to the manypeople interested in writing their own story, but one to keep on my desk asa reference tool to inspire my writing moments. TellTale Souls brings tomind both Writing Down the Bones by Natalie Goldberg and Walking on Water byMadeleine L'Engle. It is destined to be one of the classics required tocomplete the journey for writing the truth and writing it well. I'vediscovered a new favorite that incorporates all the aspects of writing Itrust and believe in-spirituality, memory, passion, and the power of story!"-River Jordan, author of Praying for Strangers: An Adventure of the HumanSpirit"TellTale Souls is an inspired guide for those who want to explore theloving but complex emotional terrain that exists with our mothers. Withgentle encouragement, Henriksen invites us to journey into our pasts,skillfully laying bare the nature of memory itself. An eloquent explorationof creativity and memory for writers and non-writers alike."-Zoe FitzGerald Carter, author of Imperfect Endings: A Daughter's Story ofLove, Loss and Letting Go"'Emotional memory' is as universal as mothers. Lynn Henriksen helps writersand would-be writers explore the far reaches of their emotional memoriesalong with the more tangible, sensory memories to create stories, essays orpoetry. In her beautifully designed and organized "how-to write a powerfulmemoir" book, she artfully guides the writer through the dark mazes of theheart, illuminating them with the power of the imagination."-Talia Carner, author of Jerusalem Maiden, China Doll, and Puppet Child"Memoir is tricky business. It requires allegiance to the truth and, at thesame time, the ability to craft a compelling story. Questions arise: How toaccess memory? What is important? What about sequencing? Where it theborderline of fiction? Through TellTale Souls Writing. Lynn Henriksendissects the idea of memoir into its many invisible parts and shows us aframework for making it all come together. She gives activities, prompts,examples and if we worry the process is becoming too mechanical, passesalong advice as to how to go about accessing the deepest spiritual truths.In the end, and with her guidance, we might not only make literature out ofmemory but be blessed with unexpected enrichments of spirit."-H. David Watts, M.D., author of Bedside Manners and The Orange Wire Problemand Other Tales from the Doctor's Office"Every writer should read this book, as its combination of the spiritual andthe practical transcends other memoir writing guides. The gifted Lynn, alyrical, perceptive writer and teacher, brings incisive advice and techniquetogether with true stories for a carefully devised, matchless performance,in which the reader will play a major part. I wish I had read TellTale Soulsyears ago; it would have saved me a lot of trouble. It is a tour de forceand bound to become a classic."-Ann Seymour, author of I've Always Loved You: A True Story of WW2 in thePacific battlefields, in California, and in the Imperial Palace, Tokyo"'To run after a shadow and learn to describe it...' For those of us wholong to capture our mothers' spirits in words (and who among usdoesn't?)-that's exactly how writing a mother memoir feels. Happily, we havea mentor and companion in Lynn Cook Henriksen's TellTale Souls. Part can-do,part how-to, this book leads us along a writer's path rich with prompts andexercises, hints and watchwords. Inspirational sources illuminate every stepof the way with illustrative vignettes written by all kinds of people aboutall kinds of moms. Their stories trigger ours. Through guided exploration,we discover (and chronicle!) the depths and truths of our mothers' lives."-Amanda McTigue, author of Going to Solace"In five tenderhearted acts, Lynn Cook Henriksen creates a stage from reallife, a theater in the round centered around our mothers, and guides us inan open ended approach to write a lasting impression of Mother throughstory. Along the way we are delightfully instructed through a sampling ofauthentic and unforgettable memoirs, vignettes, and poems. Henriksen isencouraging, never dictating, and suggests a variety of techniques andexercises to bring our own memories of Mother into an enduring literaryform."-Kate Farrell, editor of Wisdom Has a Voice: Every Daughter's Memories ofMother"As caring a writer as she is a daughter, author and speaker, Lynn Henriksenhas developed a matchless method to help every daughter and son keep theirrecollections of mother vivid and fresh through Writing the Mother Memoir.Her brilliant technique, explained in clear and compassionate terms andalive with true stories, is simple to follow even if one is not a writer bytrade. I highly recommend this guidebook."-Patricia V. Davis, bestselling author"Tell Tale Souls Writing the Mother Memoir is a gentle guide that invitesyou to explore the terrain of mother-child relationships, a journey ofwisdom, courage, and heart. In every chapter you'll discover tips andtechniques that invite you to breathe life into stories about your motherand times gone by. This book is a true memoir writer's companion."-Linda Joy Myers, Ph.D., author of The Power of Memoir, How to Write YourHealing Story"I could absolutely see this being part of a Reading List in a memoir workshop at a college or university. And the Mother Stories included by other writers serve as excellent examples. The layout was also engaging - prompts blocked off in boxes, etc., are visually engaging for a reader." -- Writer's Digest Review