Janet Autherine has a heart for storytelling and youth and women’s empowerment. She uses her extraordinary journey from a struggling Jamaican immigrant to a respected attorney, author and administrative law judge to inspire others to embrace their unique journey.

Janet is the author of Growing into Greatness with God: 7 Paths to Greatness for our Sons & Daughters (youth), and Wild Heart, Peaceful Soul (poetry).

In her latest book, Island Mindfulness: How to Use the Transformational Power of Mindfulness to Live an Abundant Life, Janet invites you to slow your pace, and in the spirit of the islands, mindfully and intentionally embark on a journey to nourish your mind, body and soul.

Her “island mindfulness” journey is filled with heartfelt stories of navigating love, marriage and divorce, adjusting your sail in the face of financial and career challenges, and having an “Irie” time raising children. Her books are available on Amazon.

Also Available in Paperback on Amazon

https://www.amazon.com/Island-Mindfulness-Transformational-Create-Abundant/dp/0991200020

Connect with Janet Autherine Online Today!

Email: JanetAutherine@Gmail.com

Website: https://www.janetautherine.com

Pintrest: https://www.pinterest.com/autherine

Twitter: @Autherine - https://twitter.com/Autherine

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JanetAutherineJ

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/janetautherine

Book Club: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BooksPoetryPositivityPurpose

Make the Connection with Janet Autherine

Invite this author/poet to a Live-stream Chat with you and your friends on Facebook or Instagram! The author is also available for Skype or Zoom meetups, Facebook Live parties, Twitter chats and interviews for blogs or radio shows.

Contact Ella D. Curry of EDC Creations to setup the meet & greet with the authors at: edc_dg@yahoo.com. Subject Line: Seducing the Pen Author Meeting Online.

How to Join the Seducing The Pen Online Book Tour

All you will need to do to support author Janet Autherine is to share her tour banners on your social media walls and pages, listen in on the BAN radio shows and repost the activities surrounding the tour. You do not need a blog or a website to join the fun!

Here is her tour page link to share: https://www.smore.com/xst8j

If you have already read any of her books, share your reviews or recommendations with the EDC Creations team. We would love to add them to this tour page!

There are 3 simple ways to join the Seducing the Pen Book Tours today. Select one or all three ways to participate in the online book tour.

a. Share the author's tour banners from Ella D. Curry's social media pages at least 5 times on YOUR social media pages. Tell your friends on social media about the book by sharing the content listed on this tour page on your social media pages.

The SHARE buttons at the top of this page makes it easy to repost to your pages.

Tag Ella D. Curry and the author in your posts. Use the hashtags: #CrownHoldersLead and #SeducingThePen so that we can follow you.

b. Receive a digital review copy of the book(s) and post a 3 minute video book review on your social media page, Instagram or YouTube within 15 days of receiving the books, if you are a vlogger or BookTuber with a YouTube channel featuring authors.

c. Post a written book review on Amazon AND email Ella D, Curry a copy of the written review to be shared on Black Pearls Magazine's website. Email your written book review to: edc_dg@yahoo.com

FROM THE AUTHOR

I am excited to announce that the Kindle version of my new book, Island Mindfulness: How to Use the Transformational Power of Mindfulness to Create an Abundant Life, is now available on Amazon!

I started writing this book in 2006 but the story wasn’t ready to be birthed; it decided that the perfect time was in the midst of a pandemic and international protests to honor the dignity of black lives.

Normally, this is not the ideal time to release a book; however, we are all overwhelmed and under enormous stress, so it is the perfect time to drown out some of the negative energy in the world and infuse our minds, bodies and souls with positive vibes.

WHY YOU SHOULD SUPPORT JANET

“Janet invites you to slow your pace, and in the spirit of the islands, mindfully and intentionally embark on a journey to nourish your mind, body, and soul. Her “island mindfulness” journey is filled with heartfelt stories of navigating love, marriage, and divorce, adjusting your sail in the face of financial and career challenges, and having an Irie time raising children.

Island Mindfulness is a gift of peace and a treasure box of life lessons. Take a mindful moment to embrace joy — say no to negative news, negative body image and everything that keeps you from living your best life. Island Mindfulness is the peace needed to love and embrace the person that you are today.”

Please purchase, write a review and share. https://bit.ly/islandmindful

Ella D. Curry has great virtual gift bags for supporters, contests and other great rewards for being a part of the tour. Make sure to email Ella and let her know that you want to support this author by sharing their material so that she can include you in the gifts!

Share this free instant preview with: https://a.co/8glJrh7

Brown Girl Joy

Brown girl joy is feeling the spirit of my ancestors rising up in me; it is living in gratitude for the hedge of protection that they have placed around me Jamaica, Ghana, Nigeria, Cameroon,

Congo, Mali, Benin & Togo, Liberia, Sierra Leone…I recognize your footprints and proudly walk in them. Our history will never be erased; your spirit lives on.

The Heart and Soul of Black Women is a celebration of the beauty, vulnerability and humanity of black women. It is the healing, uplifting, heartbreaking stories of all aspects of our human journey, through the art of poetry.

Inside you will find poems addressing powerful issues, such as: Mothers of Black Boys, Black Love, Self-Worth, Strong Sisters Unite, Raising Special Needs Children, Addiction and Abuse, Single Motherhood, Healthy Dating and standing for Justice and Equality in the face of Racism.

“My sisters, we are precious and vulnerable and resilient and powerful. We are the dream of our ancestors. We deserve to hold our heads high, walk in strength, cry openly, and get angry without being labeled an angry black woman. We are human. Our hearts break and mend.

We don’t always bounce back for adversity as fast as we are expected to; we sometimes need therapy and an extra dose of love. As a matter of fact, we need deep and abiding love. I hope that when you read these poems, you see all the beauty and complexity that is inside. I hope that you see your majesty, and the world sees your humanity.” Janet Autherine

Purchase The Heart and Soul of Black Women: Poems of Love, Struggle and Resilience by Janet Autherine at: https://www.amazon.com/Heart-Soul-Black-Women-Resilience-ebook/dp

Island Mindfulness: How to Use the Transformational Power of Mindfulness to Live an Abundant Life by Janet Autherine

Island Mindfulness creates a path for transformation through self-empowerment, meaningful relationships, spiritual fulfillment and the creation of a purposeful life. Who you become and how you experience the world is a result of how you see everything that exists around you. When mindfulness is practiced, the mind has the ability to ride the waves of life and find calm in the midst of all the sun, wind, and rain that we encounter on our unpredictable journey.

Janet invites you to slow your pace, and in the spirit of the islands, mindfully and intentionally embark on a journey to nourish your mind, body and soul. Her “island mindfulness” journey is filled with heartfelt stories of navigating love, marriage and divorce, adjusting your sail in the face of financial and career challenges, and having an Irie time raising children.

Island Mindfulness is a gift of peace and a treasure box of life lessons. Take a mindful moment to embrace joy — say no to negative news, negative body image and everything that keeps you from living your best life. Island Mindfulness is the peace needed to love and embrace the person that you are today.

Purchase Island Mindfulness: How to Use the Transformational Power of Mindfulness to Live an Abundant Life by Janet Autherine, go here: https://www.amazon.com/Janet-Autherine/e/B00KXINZJM

I was raised by strong Jamaican women, strong because of the circumstance of their birth. They carried water on their heads, farmed the land, raised their babies and the children of others in the community; they worked as many jobs as they could get to make ends meet; they kneeled down to dig yam and climbed trees to pick mango and breadfruit. They didn’t have time to be vulnerable. If they cried, the tears were quickly dried because there was work to do.

Children had to be resilient and disciplined because there was no time to coddle anyone, no time to give time-outs or talk through “feelings.” Their men were often undisciplined; they could be relied on to work and fix things but they laid their hats at several homes. Point being, you were raised to be tough, to rely on yourself and to solve problems, instead of crying over them. Reflecting on their journey, I wrote this poem.

Strong. Black. Woman

Hold on to a shred of dignity.

Scream inside.

Let the tears fall behind closed doors.

You are your mama’s child

and she is a proud black woman.

She would be disappointed

if she knew that your heart breaks so easily.

That you blow in the wind

when she raised you to be strong.

Strong. Black. Woman.

Each word is non-negotiable,

so swallow hard,

steady yourself,

and carry on.

I have never enjoyed being referred to as “strong” because it felt like that praise just took away my ability to show any signs of weakness or vulnerability. Many women are strong because they have had to gird their waists and sharpen their edges to survive. Sometimes, the person praising them for being strong was the one causing the challenges. Vulnerability should be a right because it is an intricate part of our humanity, but for many, it was and is a privilege.

ISLAND MINDFULNESS

Many of us have mothers and grandmothers who have had to sacrifice so that we can be vulnerable, so that we can have a voice in this world. These women are our roots. Speak their names often. Learn their stories even though they may appear to be secretive. That generation believed that what happened in the house stays in the house, and that their lives may not be significant enough to write about. Don’t make a fuss but stay close and listen and absorb the bits of wisdom that you will receive. For those that have passed, remember their names and speak their names to children and grandchildren. Mention their names with gratitude in your daily prayer or meditation.

Most importantly, gift yourself with the vulnerability and self-care that many of our ancestors could not. I recognize that my ancestors of Caribbean and African descent have already paved the way for me to live an abundant life. The same holds true for you. Remember their stories as you embark on a mindful journey to an abundant life.

( Continued... )

All rights reserved. Copyright ©2020. Book excerpt reprinted by permission of the author, Janet Autherine. Do not reproduce, copy or use without the author's written permission. This excerpt is used for promotional purposes only.

Purchase Island Mindfulness: How to Use the Transformational Power of Mindfulness to Live an Abundant Life by Janet Autherine, go here: https://www.amazon.com/Janet-Autherine/e/B00KXINZJM

Janet Autherine has a heart for storytelling and youth and women’s empowerment. She uses her extraordinary journey from a struggling Jamaican immigrant to a respected attorney, author and administrative law judge to inspire others to embrace their unique journey.

Janet is the author of Growing into Greatness with God: 7 Paths to Greatness for our Sons & Daughters (youth), and Wild Heart, Peaceful Soul (poetry).

In her latest book, Island Mindfulness: How to Use the Transformational Power of Mindfulness to Live an Abundant Life, Janet invites you to slow your pace, and in the spirit of the islands, mindfully and intentionally embark on a journey to nourish your mind, body and soul.

Her “island mindfulness” journey is filled with heartfelt stories of navigating love, marriage and divorce, adjusting your sail in the face of financial and career challenges, and having an “Irie” time raising children. Her books are available on Amazon.

BPM: Please share something our readers wouldn’t know about you.

It feels like I have shared so much in this book but I will share something that is small but centers me. I enjoy sitting outside a coffee shop with my journal or iPad and people-watch because it helps me to write stories and poetry about the small things that connect us all in the human experience. Love is connection, mindfulness is connection, meditation is connection, and so is our shared love for a good cup of coffee or tea.

BPM: If you had to describe yourself in three words, what would they be?

Introspective. Kind. Driven.

BPM: The majority of your books are written to empower women. What does the word empower mean to you?

It is important to tell the stories of women. We make significant contributions to society but the work that we do is usually taken for granted. We often undervalue our own contributions because we are so used to taking care of everyone.

Women are naturally powered; I try to Empower by providing simple reminders - you are unique; you are worthy; your story is important; your voice matters; care for yourself because we need you to be healthy in mind, body and spirit.

BPM: As a practicing attorney, poet, author and mother, why is it so important for you to speak to women through your body of work?

I am an immigrant from Jamaica, and a woman of color who has been blessed to have a unique journey both as an attorney and a writer. I have a unique perspective and the best way that I know to share it is through writing. We are all leaving unique footprints in the sand and it is important to share those footprints with the younger generation of women so that their path can be easier.

It is important for young women to know that they can own their journey and make strategic decisions based on their end goal. I chose education first, then career, then family, and finally as my children got older, I was able to add my passion for writing. We have to prioritize our goals, change the order when our circumstances change, and leave room for the universe to surprise us. These are some of lessons that I have learned and have shared in Island Mindfulness.

BPM: Tell us about writing your latest non-fiction book. What was the journey like? What inspired this particular book?

I started writing parts of the book around 2006. I would write bits of life lessons but didn’t have a clear vision of how to make it cohesive. It started with stories about the transition from Jamaica to Philadelphia when I was 12. As the years went by and I experienced the joys and challenges of raising children, marriage, divorce, and career changes, it became about sharing everything that I experienced as a woman and mother, in order to make the journey easier for others. I have been able to create a life that is abundant in many ways but I am still a work in progress and writing this book allowed me to become fully clear about my strengths and challenges. I try not to call them weaknesses, just challenges.

BPM: Can you share with us something about the book that isn’t in the blurb?

The book focuses on abundance in family, friendships, health and finances. I discussed my journey growing up in a household with very modest means and how it shaped my vision of wealth. My mother had several jobs, she didn’t overspend and cherished everything that she bought because if it broke, we couldn’t afford to replace it. The book passes on words of wisdom for using the mindful journey to navigate life with a sense of gratitude. You can have an abundant life even if your financial life is a work in progress.

BPM: Did you learn anything personal from writing your book?

I learned that no experience was a waste of time. It was all about growth, self-discovery, and getting in touch with my emotions. Sometimes, painful experiences stretches you the most. There is a poem in the book called Heavenly Father, which discusses my journey as a child of God. Writing my story reminded me that God has been with me during every time of struggle.

BPM: Is writing easy for you with busy work schedule and raising the children?

I am at my best at 5am and that is usually when I write, and thankfully the children are still asleep but there are times when I get a burst of inspiration and a wonderful quote or line for a poem comes to mind but I have too many responsibilities to stop and develop the idea. I try to keep a journal within reach to capture my thoughts. While I don’t want to lose the inspiration, I also don’t want to lose any precious moments with my children because my hope is that through my work, I can create a legacy for them.

BPM: Do you feel lonely being a writer during the creative process?

My writing style is a brain dump, meaning that I write everything that comes to mind and then do a major edit later. That is my solution to writer’s block but it is also how my mind works; it is overwhelmed with random thoughts that come together through writing. The exception is writing poetry; poetry is usually an emotional experience for me and I can struggle with a single line for hours but I feel so much joy when I am able to translate my emotions to words.

BPM: Tell us a little about your creative process. Do you write out the story by hand?

During my teenage years, I had a hand-written diary. I am very visual. My love of writing comes from actually writing, not typing. However, I now use the computer for practical reasons; I can’t publish from my notebook, so I will eventually have to type it and my time is limited. When I have the time to make writing the peaceful experience that it was meant to be, I find a quiet place, grab my favorite pen and gleefully write my thoughts.

BPM: Writing can be an emotionally draining and stressful pursuit. Any tips self-care for creative folks?

Writing shouldn’t be stressful and usually is not when it is a passion. Stress usually comes from the extrinsic things, such as editing, marketing, and writing under pressure because of book deadlines. If you love writing; if it brings you joy, then guard it from the pressures of the world. Carve out time to do it; you may have to give up something but if it is a true passion, that decision isn’t difficult.

I gave up 90% of my television time to write and publish. If you don’t enjoy writing but you want to create a book because you have something wonderful to share with the world, consider a ghostwriter.

If you love to write but you are feeling overwhelmed by life, writer’s block or deadlines, try these island mindfulness tips.

- Step outside and focus on nature, a flower, a bird, a squirrel, an ant bringing food back to its nest. Drown out all thoughts and do this for at least 5 minutes to center yourself and connect to the universe.

- Set expectations that leave room to give yourself kindness and grace.

- Remember that one powerful word on the page is progress.

- Respect your journey because it is unique. Remember that the story that you have to tell is important.

- Create a writing goal: 15 minutes to 1 hour daily. Celebrate 15 minutes of writing with the same fervor that you celebrate 1 hour. If you have children or a spouse, let them buy into your success; ask them for that time daily and let them know what you are trying to accomplish.

- Your time can be spent in some many fantastic ways so know why you are writing because a sense of purpose makes the journey easier and more enjoyable. You want to come through this experience whole.

BPM: What were the key challenges you faced when writing this book?

The biggest challenge was me. I was impatient and had to deal with the truth that this book wasn’t ready to be completed because I had not lived enough and experienced enough to share the guidance in 2006, when I started, that I am now able to share in 2020. I would have waves of inspiration where I would add to the story and then life would intervene or I would get inspired to write other books. I am glad that this book made we wait.

BPM: Do you have any advice or wisdom for our new adults (ages 18-21) to focus on this year?

We are living through a pandemic, and as a result, our old normal is gone and we have to create a new normal. Life is different from what the adults in your life told you to expect. I wrote a vision board in January of 2020 and had to toss a few things. This is an opportunity to get off the path that your family or society chose for you and create your own journey. Sit in mindful reflection.

Do you still want to be a writer? Do you still want to go to law school? Do you still want to marry that high school boyfriend and raise a family or do you want to travel when the world reopens because life has become so unpredictable?

Be still and listen to God, the universe or finally discover your own voice. Live a life that you will be proud to write about, not because it was perfect but because you tried to be your best self every step of the way.

BPM: What other projects are you working on at the present?

I am devoting my time to sharing the Island Mindfulness journey, however, I am also meeting with book clubs and poetry lovers about my last book, Wild Heart, Peaceful Soul. Wild Heart, Peaceful Soul is the love stories of women though poetry and resonates with many women who have had some bumps on the road to love.

One of my most important projects is Footprints in the Sand Series: Journey to Heal and Inspire Women. I created Women Leaving Footprints in the Sand to celebrate the lives of women, globally! How many amazing women do you know whose stories are never told?

Footprints in the Sand features the lives of women doing both ordinary and extra ordinary things. The connecting factors are - dedication to family, service to community and pursuit of passion and purpose both professionally and personally. I strongly believe that the footprints that women leave in the sand should be celebrated now and preserved as a written legacy for future generations.

Women Leaving Footprints in the Sand

There is power in knowing that I have purpose in this life, which is to help and support others along the way. This is where greatness resonates with me. Living a life where I am able to inspire others to achieve growth and success.

Read More: https://www.janetautherine.com/women-leaving-footprints-stories

BPM: How can readers discover more about you and your work?

My website has excepts from my books, as well as shareable quotes and poems. Readers will love my blog, Books, Poetry, Positivity and Purpose. The best way to keep in touch with me on a daily basis in on Instagram. www.instagram.com/janetautherine

BPM: Do you have a Goodreads, BookBub™ or Facebook community?

Yes, I take every opportunity to connect with readers.

Follow me on my website to see my blog and other projects:

www.janetautherine.com/autherinepublishing

My Goodreads link is under Janet Autherine:

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8195798.Janet_Autherine

Also, please consider joining my Facebook book club:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/BooksPoetryPositivityPurpose

Look for all of my books on my Amazon Author's Page:

https://www.amazon.com/Janet-Autherine/e/B00KXINZJM

Purchase Island Mindfulness: How to Use the Transformational Power of Mindfulness to Live an Abundant Life by Janet Autherine

https://www.amazon.com/Janet-Autherine/e/B00KXINZJM

Connect with Janet Autherine Online Today!

Email: JanetAutherine@Gmail.com

Website: https://www.janetautherine.com

Pintrest: https://www.pinterest.com/autherine

Twitter: @Autherine - https://twitter.com/Autherine

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JanetAutherineJ

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/janetautherine

Book Club: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BooksPoetryPositivityPurpose

Read an excerpt from Wild Heart, Peaceful Soul: Poems & Inspiration to Live and Love Harmoniously by J. Autherine: https://conta.cc/2Hzp251

Wild Heart, Peaceful Soul: Poems and Inspiration to Live and Love Harmoniously by Janet Autherine, listen to the Crown Holders Conversation: http://tobtr.com/s/11730132

Wild Heart, Peaceful Soul, is a beautiful collection of poems that provide inspiration to strong, vulnerable, badass women who love deeply, sometimes fall hard but always lead with their hearts. It is a deep and gritty, fresh and robust look at the thrill of loving unconditionally, as well as the mental and physical toll that it takes when peace and harmony are sometimes lost in the process.

Drawing on personal experiences from her own journey of the past 30 years, J Autherine delves into the vulnerable hearts of women from around the world, including from her early years in Jamaica. Poems such as Quiet Storm reveal the pain of sudden loss, while The Rebel Soul carries with it that air of doubt or uncertainty we all feel when in love.

The pain and struggle of women who love deeply and pour into others without first filling their own jars is prevalent throughout, as is the reoccurring theme of reclaiming your heart in order to live and love harmoniously.

Wild Heart, Peaceful Soul has the ability to pick you up in moments when you feel broken or not good enough to be loved and provide the strength in the love you always need as we search for the one who is worthy of our love.

Wild Heart, Peaceful Soul Chapter Excerpt

Wild Heart, Peaceful Soul is dedicated to women everywhere who lead with their hearts. It is risky business for us because we feel deeply and love hard. It also means that we are prone to falling hard. Falling hard is easier when you have a peaceful place to land. Sometimes, we have to create that perfect landing place in our soul. Wild Heart, Peaceful Soul is the yin and yang of love. Let your wild heart run free, enjoying every mile of the journey, but also make sure that it knows how to find its way back home.

Wherever you are in your journey, I hope that you have the freedom to let your heart run as wild as it can without sacrificing the peace that your soul needs. Never forget that self-love is the springboard for all the love that you give. When we love and care for ourselves, our vessel is full enough to pour into others. We have to commit to loving ourselves, fiercely, passionately and unconditionally.

“Your greatest weapon is the pen. Write your own happy ending.”

THE PRINCESS TAKES THE HIGH ROAD

Believing all the fairytales, she waited patiently for her prince to return.

She continued on the low road for as long as she could

before realizing that the high road was the only way to rise;

the only path to the castle.

She sharpened her weapons,

slayed through the self-doubt,

cut the fear from her heart, and

trimmed all the edges that were blocking her vision.

With a clear vision, she wrote her own ending. “The princess bravely scaled the walls of the castle. As she rose to the top, she created a path for the other young ladies who would follow and placed a beacon on the top of the castle to light their path. The End.”

“Sisters, let us embrace our femininity, our vulnerability, our humanity. We are sometimes strong, sometimes fragile, but always perfectly made.”

( Continued... )

All rights reserved. Copyright ©2019. Book excerpt reprinted by permission of the author, Janet Autherine. Do not reproduce, copy or use without the author's written permission. This excerpt is used for promotional purposes only.

Purchase Wild Heart, Peaceful Soul: Poems & Inspiration to Live and Love Harmoniously by Janet Autherine go here today: https://amzn.to/2MxVWU9

Read more about Wild Heart, Peaceful Soul: Poems and Inspiration to Live and Love Harmoniously byJanet Autherine - https://www.janetautherine.com/wild-heart-peaceful-soul