Welcome to my new site! This is an exciting time for me, my husband Ronnie, and our three young children—Brendan, Danny and Maggie. We are experiencing many “new beginnings”—a great place to also begin a brand new blog! I asked for their ideas on what I should call this new venture and they suggested I stick with my favorite expression… ‘onward and upward.’ So, “ONWARD and UPWARD” it is!
I’m launching many things at once. There’s an expression, “All good things come to those who wait.” Well, I’ve been extremely patient as I’ve met many bumps in the road. Each bump a mere obstacle I’ve run around, fallen over, leaped over or flat out kicked to the curb. Now it seems as if the stars have aligned.
As a child, approximately forty years ago, I told my parents, “When I grow up I want to write children’s books.”
I’m forty-five and still unsure if I’ve grown up; however, I have without a doubt grown deeper and found my passion, my life’s purpose. Helping others based on my own life experiences is what I find most rewarding. As you’ll see here in this new site, all that I do has one underlying current. Helping others young and old seems to be my calling.
I find writing character-building children’s books most fascinating. Some writer’s try to find the perfect spin on a word, the rhythm flowing throughout the page or maybe some form of genius in keeping the message hidden within the story for only the reader to interpret.
I, on the other hand, write mainly for the clear message. I write with a purpose. I’m not saying my writing is any better or worse than anyone else, all I’m saying is with my writing [as with me] “what you see is what you get.” Writing didactic character-building books for children is a huge part of what I do because I feel the youth of today may no longer interpret the hidden message. Time in their world has quickened with technology whereby moments to think and decipher a correct message may not be available. The virtue of patience has been tested like never before. Therefore, the message of respect, responsibility, compassion, honesty and accountability, self-discipline, generosity, self-esteem, individuality, courage and confidence are spelled out, obvious for the reader. My intent is not condescending. Quite the contrary, it’s to ascend…lift and inspire to new heights. To be able to help each child recognize his or her unique kindness, beauty and extraordinary character through illustration is something I LOVE to do. With the help of my twelve year old main character, Maggie the Magnificent, I bring children into the year 3510 and set out on many adventures with Maggie and her spaceship. Each adventure within Maggie’s in the Driver’s Seat (consisting of six short stories) and Maggie Unmasks Planet Pumpkin deals with a different dominant character trait.
After having the Maggie the Magnificent children’s series published, the second half of my writing experience came to be…writing for adults. My empowering and inspiring cancer memoir/self-help book for adults titled, The Will To Live: The Perks of Cancer Through the Eyes of a Survivor was released. This book too is in line with my passion, what I believe to be my life’s purpose. I write for the message to be loud and clear. I write about hope, love, light and believing in oneself and others. For the last twenty years I’ve dedicated myself as a cancer coach, advocate, and motivational and inspirational speaker to help others get through their diagnosis without as much suffering as I endured during my two and half year protocol. It’s remarkably gratifying. I’m not a therapist or MD; however, I am someone who has been where that cancer patient is, gets it, and can provide what, more often than not, the doctors cannot.
As I’ve wanted to scream from the rooftops on more than one occasion what it is I’ve felt very deeply and strongly compelled to say, I decided in March 2010 to begin my own international web-based family oriented talk radio show. Onward And Upward, which represents moving forward and growing, is all about raising the proverbial bar in society. We have guests from all walks of life who are experts in their fields. I learn just as much as our listeners what it is we are discussing during any particular episode. I love it!
Please take the time to peruse my new site here at www.ErinLey.com, sign up for our newsletter and take a moment to introduce yourself in the contact area. Thank you for taking the time to stop by; and, thank you for taking the time to read my very first blog.
Live ONWARD with great character and a smile!
Love,
~Erin
~Erin
Live ONWARD with great character and a smile!
http://www.erinley.com
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