The Sorcerer's Dream - This autobiographical adventure is about a journalist who meets the enigmatic sorcerer, Running Deer, and her initiation into the sorcerer's world and mastering conscious dreaming. This book, that follows in the traditions of Carlos Castaneda and others, takes the reader through the magic realms of the unknown and gives a new approach to the traditional training of women sorcerers. It takes place not in some fantasy world, but in a contemporary society, and addresses the things we face on a daily basis in our everyday lives.
K.S. Hello and welcome to the blog. I am very excited to have you here. Why don’t we start off with a small introduction? Tell us a little about yourself.
Hi Katie, thanks for having me on you blog.
Dreamshield - A little about myself: I am a mother, writer and publisher and I live in the Netherlands (Europe).
I studied social legal studies and the last ten years I’ve been a (freelance) journalist and publisher. Besides that I have a healing practice and give workshops about the Art of Dreaming.
Never a dull moment!
K.S. Any interesting writing quirks or stories you would like to share with my readers?
Dreamshield - A writing quirk? I am consciously shaking my right leg. Nervous habit I suppose but it drives everyone grazy.
K.S. When did you realize you wanted to be a writer? What sparked the desire to pen your first novel?
Dreamshield - That was about ten years ago. I just started writing as a freelancer for magazines about my own experiences following spiritual new age workshops and courses. And because I felt more and more energetic doing the things I liked (writing and developing my spiritual ‘side’), I continued on this path.
K.S. What genre do you write?
Dreamshield - My book is non-fiction. During the years that Running Deer, my dreaming teacher, taught me the art of mastering conscious dreaming I carefully recorded my personal experiences which has finally led to my first book The Sorcerer’s Dream.
K.S. What would you say has inspired you most in your writing career? Or, who is your favourite author and why?
Dreamshield - Authors who inspired me are Castaneda and apprentices, Olga Kharitidi, Elizabeth Jenkins, Lynn Andrews, Paulo Coelho and many more.
They inspire me because they were so open to sharing. I enjoy reading about their exotic adventures and how their perception on reality changed during the process. I want to know more about what they learned about healing and personal growth.
K.S. What does your family think of your writing?
Dreamshield - Ha, my family likes other genres! But they say they like my writing:)
K.S. What was one of the most surprising things you learned while creating your book?
Dreamshield - That I want to continue writing day and night (impossible of course) and that it gave me so much energy.
K.S. What inspired you to write your book?
Dreamshield - Meeting a shaman “man of Knowledge’ who taught me the art of mastering conscious dreaming and he suggested to share this knowledge. You can read how I met him in chapter one on my website: http://www.dreamshield.nl
K.S. Can you tell us a little about your book?
Dreamshield – I’d love to! The Sorcerer’s Dream is about my initiation into the sorcerer's world and mastering conscious (lucid) dreaming. It follows in the tradition of Carlos Castaneda and gives a new approach to the traditional training of women sorcerers. It takes place not in some fantasy world, but in a contemporary society, and addresses the things we face on a daily basis in our everyday lives.
And one can learn and practice the Art of Dreaming (the skill of conscious dreaming or lucid dreaming) him/herself. Give it a try, it’s fun!
K.S. Where can we find your book?
Dreamshield - You can find my book on-line and it is available from my publisher’s website and you can also order it on Amazon – http://www.amazon.com/Sorcerers-Dream-Dreamshield-Alysa-Braceau/dp/1609101561 and everywhere they sell books.
K.S. Do you have a website, fan site, or Blog that we can visit?
Dreamshield - My website is http://www.dreamshield.nl and I also have a blog: http://dreamshield.wordpress.com you can visit.
I am happy to let you and your readers know that there is a contest going on right now on my site, offering a chance to win a copy of the Sorcerer’s Dream. I invite you to type in 'Book Giveaway' in the question area and you will be entered in the drawing on Oct 30 (2010).
Good luck everyone!
K.S. Do you have any closing advice to aspiring writers?
Dreamshield - I have three:)
Go for it!…Don’t forget to publish your work…and…don’t be shy.