Happy Halloween!

The best part about Halloween is that you can be anybody you want to be. Whether you bring out your angels or demons, you get to be someone else and express your personality in an unusual way. And when you put on a costume and makeup, you discover what a fluid personality you have.  It’s great to bring out a part of yourself that has been dormant or to live in the shoes of someone you’ve admired or… possibly even been haunted by.

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Liz as the Wicked Witch

            Makeup to me is the key to bringing out my sub-personalities. As a face painter, I’ve seen how it makes kids light up when they see themselves decked out as princesses and comic book heroes. For me, each character I create for Halloween brings out feelings and leaves an indelible memory in my heart.

Liz as Emmett Kelly

            For Emmett Kelly, the famous circus hobo with the sad face, I

 remember the time all the clowns at Priscilla Mooseberger Camp in Minnesota sat around a campfire dressed as hobos and shared caring clown stories. There were a lot of laughs and a lot of sobs that reflected caring clowns' work with kids and adults who are challenged with disabilities and incurable diseases.

            Makeup can be very exciting especially if you take yourself to the International Face Painting and Body Art Convention in Orlando, Florida (scheduled for May 23 to 27, 2018). The best face painting, airbrush, henna and body art professionals from around the world are brought together to teach you everything you ever wanted to know about creative make-up.  The convention was started by Marcela Murad in 2002. Marcela, also known as Mama Clown, actually gave me my Lizzie Love the Clown face! Her conventions sell out quickly because they are full of brilliant professionals and deliriously amazing face and body art designs. 

          

          Have fun this Halloween and try a little makeup.  You may discover a budding artist inside you. November marks the beginning of the launch of my novel The Purple Bowtie.  Be sure to keep an eye out for promotions for the book on my blog and Facebook coming very soon.

 Buy the book at http://getbook.at/purplebowtie.

Miami's Eight Day Literary Party

Miami’s Eight Day Literary Party

           

            The schedule for Miami Book Fair International 2017 is out and you can find it at https://www.miamibookfair.com. The fair, which runs from November 12 through November 19, offers eight days of author and children’s author presentations, amazing entertainment, cooking demonstrations, parties and an author/publisher street fair.

           Here is just a taste of the amazing talent. The kick-off begins with former CBS anchor and managing editor, Dan Rather, who will speak on Sunday, November 12 at 6 pm.  MSNBC’s host of The Last Word, Lawrence O’Donnell will speak on Monday, November 13 at 7 pm. O’Donnell was also an award-winning producer and writer for The West Wing television series and is the author of the novel Deadly Force.

            Well-known Chilean author Isabel Allende (The House of Spirits, Eva Luna) will give a presentation on her new book In In The Midst of Winter on Wednesday, November 15 at 6pm. Elliot Ackerman, a White House Fellow and Marine who served five tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan and who received The Silver Star, The Bronze Star of Valor and The Purple Heart, will talk about his books Green on Blue and Dark At The Crossing. He is a National Book Award Finalist. (All of the above are ticketed events. Be sure to go online to The Miami Book Fair to reserve seats.)

            Get a sneak peak of Miami Light Project’s “The Bearded Ladies” in collaboration with Miami Theatre Center at The Porch (corner of NW 2^nd Avenue and NW 3^rd Street) on Monday, November 13 at 7:00pm.  The project features cabaret artists who tackle the politics of gender, identity and artistic intention. There will be plenty of other music and poetry events as well.

            And best of all, I will be launching my break-out, adult novel The Purple Bowtie on Saturday, November 18 from 10am to 6pm on Writer’s Row. Buy the book at http://getbook.at/purplebowtie







 You can also pick up a copy of my children’s book Sakiwinki the Monkey Saves the Animals. Learn more about it on Facebook at SakiwinkitheMonkey or on the website http://www.lizzielovetheclown.com. This makes a great gift for the grand kids.  Don’t miss the fun! Come and visit me at my booth.

Miami Book Fair Location:  300 NE 2nd Avenue, Miami, FL  33132. Wolfson Campus of Miami Dade College with entrances on NE 2nd Avenue, NE 4th Street, and NE 3rd Street.

"Walk A Mile In Her Shoes"

            Macho construction workers in stiletto high heels! What’s going on?  It’s the “Walk A Mile In Her Shoes” fundraiser where men are making valuable contributions to stop the epidemic in sexualized violence.

            In the Berkshires, participants raised over $20,000 to help the Elizabeth Freeman Center stop rape, sexual assault and gender violence. Elizabeth Freeman was the first African-American woman to sue and be set free from slavery in Massachusetts. ”Bet” fought to protect her daughter, Betsy, who was abused by the wife of a slave owner in Sheffield, MA.

           

Every two minutes, someone is raped in this country.  One in six women are victims of sexual assault.  The media will continue to work to expose the Harvey Weinstein’s of the world who abuse women on the job. And books like The Purple Bowtie will continue to remind people of the emotional stories of the survivors, their partners, family and friends who are all affected in different ways. Women who have experienced extreme sexual experiences must speak out sooner rather than later. The Elizabeth Freeman Center provides 24/7 hotlines to address domestic, sexual and gender violence; free, confidential counseling services and shelter; court advocates and even pet foster care.

Elizabeth Freeman

There are plenty of organizations, agencies; good men and women who pitch in every year all over the world to raise money to address domestic abuse; sexual and gender assault.  The energy and momentum for this movement is huge and building.  A hearty ‘thank you’ goes out to all the men who hold a higher standard and choose not to abuse or harass women in the workplace or at home; or hide the secret of those who do. Only we can stop this epidemic.

Wherever you are in the world, you can begin a “Walk A Mile In Her Shoes” event in your community. Check out the website: www.WalkAMileInHerShoes.org.  To contribute to the Elizabeth Freeman Center, call 413-499-2425.

 Purchase a copy of The Purple Bowtie at  http://getbook.at/purplebowtie.  Post me on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/ThePurpleBowtieBook/ or send me a tweet @purplebowtie1.

Dolphin Time!

Dolphin Time!

            Dolphins are some of the friendliest, most affectionate and playful beings on Earth. They allow you to follow them when they swim, they will return pieces of seaweed to you if you throw it to them and, even if you don’t see them, they may be swimming underneath you watching your every move. They are open to interacting with humans and appear to be speaking to us from their hearts.         

            Here is a fun, ten-minute dolphin visualization to feel good about yourself and open yourself to connecting more effectively with others, even dolphins:

With your eyes open or closed, begin by imagining that you are seated next to the side of a pool with a dolphin circling, diving and occasionally resting on his back in front of you. 

Take a deep breath and let it out. Repeat. On the third breath, take in as much affection and love as you can from the dolphin and allow it to fill you completely. Feel the texture of the affection inside you. Let it saturate you inside and outside. Then send the dolphin an image of you hugging him with all your love.

Now imagine that the dolphin is approaching you with playful affection. He connects with your image of hugging him and sends out a sonar signal that surrounds you with love. Slowly, all your energies of love become joined with his. Feel the love that both of you emit. Stay there for as long as you like and, when you are ready, thank the dolphin for spending time with you and gently return to the space around you.

Try this in the morning when you wake up, during the day and at night, when you go to sleep. It is relaxing, fun and loving.  You may find yourself opening more to others. It may also help you to remember your dreams. Post me your results or dreams on Facebook or tweet me @purplebowtie1.

Learn more about communicating with dolphins in The Purple Bowtie. Here is an Amazon universal link to The Purple Bowtie: http://getbook.at/purplebowtie. If you would like to swim with a real dolphin, try Dolphins Plus or The Dolphin Research Center in the Florida Keys.

 

Inspiration Mindset

Inspiration Mindset

            “Please allow the divinity to flow through me” is the inspiration mindset that I have been using for many years to restore my energy and reassure me during the day.  It is more than a positive statement or affirmation because it actually shifts my energy from my everyday ‘talking heads’ chatter and tired, ‘do,do,do’ mentality to positive, alert energies that bubble with spontaneity, joy and being alive. 

Jackie LeClaire at the White House(photo from Kennedy Library)

The expression is borrowed from retired Ringling Brothers/Barnum & Bailey children’s circus clown and aerialist, Jackie LeClaire. I met this inspiring teacher and ambassador of mirth at the University of Wisconsin Clown Camp in June 1999. Jackie transformed into a white face clown who carried a tiny umbrella that protected his nose.  When we met, he saw my clown name “Lizzie Love” and told me that he was from Falls Church, home of Lizzie Borden. “She was a real cutup,” he said.  From that moment on, I couldn’t stop laughing whenever I was with him. Humor is always bubbling up from his mind. Jackie is such a brilliant clown that he even delivered a gift of a stuffed toy giraffe to Caroline Kennedy at the White House.  Please Google “Jackie LeClaire, clown” to view his  photos and learn about his fascinating life. There is also a U-Tube link to his life in the circus.

Jackie told us that he always repeated the phrase “Please allow the divinity to flow through me” before he did his circus shows.  The expression stayed with me and I have used it ever since when I do children’s parties and programs with challenged children and adults.  It is like a sacred prayer I make in a church, protecting me from the craziness of the outside world. For me, the words literally unhook me from aches, fatigue and worry while they refocus me on the energy of the children and adults around me.  It helps me keep my inspiration flowing.

Lizzie Love (Photo by Geri Dolan

            Do you have a phrase or inspiration mindset that keeps your inspired energy flowing? Please share yours if you like.  If you don’t, try the one above or something like: “Please allow the higher love to flow through me.”  You may even find your humorous clown bubbling up from inside you. Post me on Facebook or tweet me @purplebowtie1. Please Like and Share.

To learn more about inspiration and how it works, discover The Purple Bowtie book. Here is an Amazon universal link to The Purple Bowtie: 

http://getbook.at/purplebowtie