Look and Listen

Biography

I was born in the 50s. Grew up in the turbulent 60s and 70s all the while building a relationship with Divine Oneness, which is my name for God. As one of my fellow writing group members said, "I'm a closet hippie." Living in several small towns in the Pacific Northwest, I escaped the demonstrations, the drug use and free love orgies. Yet, I understood them and later came to see that our planet is in the process of birthing into something completely new. Humans are on an evolutionary journey. The turbulent events of our times are birthing pains. On the outside my life looks relatively normal. I've been married for 28 years but have no children. While I've worked at various normal types of jobs, I have also worked in Semi-professional theatre and been a Reiki Practitioner for eighteen years. As far as religion is concerned, I started life as the daughter of a lay minister in The Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, which is a sister church of the Mormon religion. My religious upbringing gave me a great head start on listening to Divine guidance. However, my continued relationship with Divine Oneness caused me to leave that church and continue my journey without religious affiliation. This was after attending our church sponsored Graceland College, now a University, and studying Religion and Theatre and Speech. After moving, with my husband to Portland, Oregon, I continued my education by attending Portland State University and adding a Masters degree in Theater Arts. Later, after moving to Arizona, I got a Masters of Education degree so I could teach drama classes at the local high school. That position didn't last long, however, due to budget cuts and politics. As a result I became an English teacher in a new school district and later added some drama classes back into my teaching schedule. I'm an avid reader. Most of the non-fiction books I read are New Thought in nature. The fiction books are books based in fantasy or mythology, though I love books which explore cultures other than my own as well. In truth, I am a grazer when it comes to reading. One book will lead me to another, or someone will mention a book which sounds intriguing and I'll read it. Having said that, I love classic, mostly British literature as well. It was about twelve years ago, I discovered a copy of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice in an airport in Australia, while my husband and I were on a three month trip around the globe. I had seen some of her stories converted to the screen on television and fell in love with her. The book spoke to me and I bought it on the spot. Her writing is simple yet touches the deepest hopes, fears, foibles and nobility of humanity. Mostly they are stories of hope and that is the kind of literature I love. So no matter what the genre of literature, I'm looking for stories that show the strength of goodness and end with hope for the future. As my spiritual journey has evolved, I have at various times felt the pull toward writing. I've been keeping a journal for thirty-one years and have written various works before my wake up call that this is something I can't put off any longer. That wake-up call came shortly after The Secret came out. I had put my spiritual growth on hold for a number of years and was re-awakened to it by that book. Shortly after, I realized that I never really wanted to be a public school teacher and must write. The drive had always been there but my practical mind did not see how I could make a living writing. A shift in perception helped me take the leap of faith. The flood gates opened and now I can't not write. I have so much inside my being and experience that wants to be expressed, I can't hold it in any longer. The project which has consumed me for nearly two years is a memoir of my spiritual life, but I have written other things as I've concentrated on my memoir. Several years ago, I wrote a children's book for our oldest nephew, which now has a sequel. I've written a book for my youngest niece as well as some short stories. Before I started teaching public school, I started a novel, which I hope to finish someday. Writing projects fill my head and await their time to be born. Since I am a relatively new writer, my reason for joining this site is to learn more about the business of writing so that I can publish and promote my work. I also hope to be able to get some feedback to help me improve as a writer. If you wish to find out more about me you can read my blog at www.sagemidgorden.net.

Inspiration

The first book I read that had a great impact was A Tale of Two Cities. I was captivated by the struggle for power, the love story, and the sacrifice of Sydney Carton at the end of the book. To me the book showed humanity at its worst and best, hence the opening line, "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times." That has to be one of the best opening lines in literature. From then on I was hooked on reading. And since I was hooked first by a classic British work, I've continued to be devoted to British literature ever since. One of my all time favorite series of books in the Harry Potter series. Oh, to be such a writer. After A Tale of Two Cities, of course my reading expanded to other genres. I enjoy reading mysteries, fantasy, young adult literature, plays, good romance, historical drama, suspense, and a variety of non-fiction, mostly spirituality related books. I wasn't a good writer when I was younger, though I was good at spontaneous story telling. I learned to write in college. Then years later, when I was forced to teach English, I found that I knew the elements of good writing and could not only teach them but use them in my own writing. Teaching is a very demanding profession. If you're not working at school you're working at home. But I did find time to squeeze writing into my schedule. Even though I was working at various "jobs" throughout my life, writing was always in the background. I wanted to do it full-time but some mental block kept me from pursuing it. We each come to a point, however, when we can't deny our true calling. Two years ago, I heard mine and after one more year of teaching, I retired from that career and am now writing full-time. I will never stop, even if I never publish a single work.