Reader Views would like to welcome published author, Angel Logan, who has just released her new book, Wings of an Angel: Poetry Collection.
Juanita: Thank you for talking with us today Angel. Please give us a little insight into the theme of Wings of an Angel.
Angel: Thanks Juanita, its a pleasure speaking with you. Wings of an Angel means so many things to me. It is my first published book and my introduction into the literary world. It represents hope not only for myself, but also for the reader and for aspiring writers. I want my words to touch my readers on a level that enables them to relate to their own personal experiences. I want them to say to themselves, Wow, I am not alone and I can succeed. I also want to show writers that there are a variety of viable ways to get their work out there and published.
Juanita: You have written other works, yet what was your Inspiration for Wings of an Angel?
Angel: Dreams, hope and awareness show others that its possible to make their dreams become a reality. I feel like I am a good example, because I am living my dream. I wrote at least 50% of my book while at the ocean of Old Orchard Beach, Maine. I felt so much peace and serenity there, enabling the words to come flowing from my fingertips. Most of all, I feel like my purpose in life is to help others by learning as much as I can and then teaching others what I ve learned. Then they can teach others what theyve learned and so on and so on. It is the school of life and I feel like my writing is my tool, to make it happen and to make my own pers onal contribution, in my own Angel way.
Juanita: In these turbulent times, it is so necessary to have people we can look to that are living their dreams. Way-showers that help us stay ignited with possibility. Your book Wings of an Angel Poetry Collection, is just that for your readers. Where does your optimism and faith come from?
Angel: I guess it comes from learning the lesson, along the way that life just feels better when youre positive. My Human Relat ions professor from college, who is an extremely close friend, has been one of my greatest teachers in life. I was experiencing a really tough time many years ago and called her crying, feeling devastated and hopeless. This was during a time when it seemed easier to be pessimistic and cynical, than positive. She suggested trying something different. She asked me to say four words to myself, whenever I felt a moment of fear, doubt or negativity Father, I am trusting. She told me to not think of it as something religious, but to let the word Father represent whatever I wanted it to be, whether it was God or the universe or even myself. I wasnt feeling very open-minded at that point, but thought my friend asked me to try something, so why not. Clearly, my way of thinking wasnt working for me at that time and I figured I had nothing to lose. For the next few days, I began saying these four words to myself. Sometimes, it was when I was feeling fear, doubting m yself or just feeling pessimistic. Every time I said it, it felt weird at first, because it made no sense to me. But, suddenly without realizing it, I was changing my circumstances with those four words. It was like I was replacing the other behavior of feeling fear or doubt or negativity with a different behavior. I dont remember the pivotal moment when I started to feel different. I just eventually noticed that things werent the same and I began seeing hope on the horizon, just by changing the way I looked at things. A philosopher named Dr. Wayne Dyer said, When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change. My friend was trying to teach me the same lesson, with the use of that phrase and she was absolutely right. I realized that life felt better and I accomplished more with a smile and a better outlook. Instead of letting a conflict or obstacle cause me to give up, I chose to find ways to persevere. It might have seemed small by only having to say one phrase to myself, but it was a huge lesson in changing my attitude. Having faith and being optimistic has had an impact on my life and now, I cant see doing it any other way.
Juanita: How did the poems unfold onto paper for this collection?
Angel: When I write, I always begin with pen-in-hand. I know that technology is essential and wonderful. But, I feel like I can bring out the best of my writing through my pen, onto paper. Ive always written in that manner, somewhat like a puzzle. I thought of the titles and themes first before writing each poem. I had messages regarding lessons of life and love that I really wanted to share. I havent experienced everything there is to experience in life. But, I have learned a few things along the way. Ive watched othe rs learn some difficult lessons and I wanted to find a way to combine all of that, to help other people. When writing the body of each poem, I wrote in pieces and when I had it all down I would figuratively glue it together, to make a completed poem. Once Ive created something that gives me a rush, I feel like Im ready to transfer it to the computer.
Juanita: Tell us more about the symbolism of wings, and what wings means to you.
Angel: To me, your wings are the part of your spirit that lifts you in life and allows you to soar. It is the place within your heart where dreams come true, the place where hope and confidence live and the place where growth and awareness begin. My name is Angel and naturally people arent surprised by the title of my book, but it means so much more than just a name. The wings represent our gifts and our ability to flourish through life and hopefully Ive managed to weave that common thread throughout each poem of my book.
Juanita: What are some of the common experiences on the journey through life that your reader will relate to in your poems?
Angel: I think a common experience for most people is fear. It is so easy to allow fear to determine the path of our destiny. Our fears might prevent us from experiencing rejection or failure, but quite often our fear also hinders us from opportunity and success. Sometimes we miss out on the best of what life has to offer, because we fear the worst. In many cases, we end up creating our own worst circumstances, because weve allowed fear to rule us. If we just had a little more faith, perhaps we would have many more blissful moments. I believe fear lives beneath each poems individual theme, with hope being the solution.
Juanita: Do you have any favorites in this collection?
Angel: My favorite poems in my collection would be The Fifth Season and Sands of Time. Those two poems are more about unconditional love. Field of Gold really exemplifies my quest. Welcome To Dreamstreet is probably the most special of the collection. Although its style is a little different from the rest of the poems, it truly speaks about the message I am trying to convey. If you ll notice, bits and pieces of that poem are intertwined throu ghout some of the other poems, either in content or in title. Welcome To Dreamstreet is the beginning of my Poetry many years ago and it represents how I feel and what I believe today.
Juanita: You are getting much praise for the illustrations in Wings of an Angel. The cover, being the first we see, is very beautiful and eye-catching. Please tell us about the cover and what it means to you?
Angel: When choosing an artist to do the illustrations for my entire book, I knew I needed someone that could relate to my work on a personal level. The artist I ultimately chose was able to finish my sentences. She seemed to really get me and my message. Her style wasnt what I initially wanted. But when I saw her work, I knew it was precisely what I wanted. The Angel is me thinking about life and love, and trying to find a way to bring awareness to other people. The artist captured the Angel in me, as Angel perfectly. The Angel o n the cover is not only for Wings of an Angel Poetry Collection, but it is also my logo, representing me as an author.
Juanita: You have had book signings and speaking engagements in regards to Wings of an Angel. How are you finding this part of the process?
Angel: Honestly, I dont enjoy the speaking part of the process at all. I do it because it is necessary to promote my book, but Ive never felt comfortable speaking in public. Book signings arent really t o my advantage, unless a bookstore or establishment is willing to purchase the books in advance. Otherwise, the expense falls upon me and it isnt fiscally beneficial or always feasible for me to have to purchase my books for signings. Not to mention, Im still at the beginning stages of my career. I ve often seen authors have signings that werent successful, because they were just starting out. Book signings, in my opinion, should happen later on, when you know your book is selling many copies. I think an author needs to receive a certain amount of recognition, to ensure that a signing will not only be beneficial to the author, but to the one hosting the signing, as well.
Juanita: What have been the comments so far?
Angel: Fortunately, Ive been blessed with a lot of positive feedback. M any who dont usually read Poetry have told me that once they opened my book, they found something different from what they expected. Ive heard people say that because they were led to my book, they were happy with what they discovered inside. That tells me that my biggest challenge would be to find a way to lead people to my book. If only I could get a copy to Oprah, maybe she would like it and recommend it. Im lucky though, because Ive received extremely complimentary reviews from customers and Ive seen tears come to the eyes of some of my readers. I think that has to be the most incredible feedback knowing that my work actually touched another human being on that level.
Juanita: Angel, what would you say to someone that just cant seem to find hope in their particular situation?
< a href='http://www.amazon.com/rss/tag/Angel/new?tag=day2soft-20'title= 'Angel: Newly tagged products at Amazon.com' target='_blank' style='font-size: large'>Angel: We often look outside of ourselves for answers. Many look externally to create happiness, fill internal voids or define themselves. What I want people to realize is that the answers are within ourselves and own spirits. We have to recognize the unique gifts we are all born with, before we can experience joy outside of ourselves. Hope isnt something we need to create, it is something that is already there that we have to be willing to embrace. The only way we can do that, is to look into the mirror and like who we see. We cant get appreciation from another, unless we appreciate who we are. We cant get happiness from another, unless we can make ourselves happy. We can be negative and expect the worst or we can get out there and make our miracles happen. With unyielding determination, we c an accomplish anything, but we have to be willing to do the work and trust that we will succeed, personally or professionally. Even more we have to set the tone for what we want out of life. We dont trip over ourselves and accidentally become self-destructive or stop believing in ourselves. We have the choice to make life happen or let it happen around us. If we choose to accept no less than what we are willing to give, then we will have a chance. We have to hold onto our own power, quit allowing the dark elements of life to contaminate us and remember we cant control anyone else in our lives. However, we can control ourselves and how we react to our feelings. Every emotion is valid, in my opinion. I dont think we should stifle those emotions. Instead, I think we should find a way to face and channel those emotions, so we can move forward and apply what weve learned to the next experience. It all comes back to learning and teaching ourselves and passing it onto others.
Juanita: This is such profound advice that will undoubtedly serve to spark the realization of the wealth of power we have within ourselves. You have mentioned that you feel it important for you to share and teach others what you have learned. How important do you feel this aspect of giving is to the fulfillment of ones own unique dreams?
Angel: I think we live in a cycle of life and the old saying about getting back what you give really applies. It seems like when you give negative, you receive negative. By the same token, when you give positive, you receive positive. You could be walking down the street and pass a stranger. Your eyes might meet and you could just remain expressionless and keep going. Chances are they will do the same. If you gave them a dirty loo k, I bet they will do it right back. Now, youve created a negative situation where it didnt exist. But, if you choose to look at them and give them a big smile, it might make them feel good and they might smile right back at you. Maybe they were having a bad day and a stranger gave them a smile, just a moment of peace that they hadnt had all day. Then when they smile back at you, you will probably feel better too. I know I do. So, to answer your question, I think that we can achieve so much more, we can be productive and we can overcome any obstacle, if we just believe it. If we give of ourselves in the most positive manner possible, it will come back to us, in the way of personal or professional success. It isnt always on the schedule we want, but we cant be nice only once and expect a shower of positivity to cascade upon us. We have to make it a consistent part of the way we live, in order to see positive results. Then, the sky is the limit as far as what we can reach and achieve.
Juanita: Talk to us about dreams and fear, and the poems in the collection that address these issues.
Angel: I think Welcome To Dreamstreet is the poem that best demonstrates how dreams can come true, by believing in yourself, having faith and liking who you see in the mirror. Meshed Crossroads is a better example of fear and how letting go of fear can enable you to move forward, to clear the way of confusion and find your path. Labyrinth of Illusion is about literal dreams and what we experience though our dreams while sleeping.
Juanita: Angel, youve been a writer for many years but also have two other passions; music and wedding consulting. Tell us about these other interests and how did you come to the decision to focus primarily on your writing career at this point?
Angel: Well wedding consulting was never a passion for me. It was something I was good at and thoroughly enjoyed. For years, my phone has been ringing, because one friend or another will call upon me for advice or to help them in any way I can. I can be resourceful and I like to help others to achieve their goals. I found myself assisting many friends with their wedding plans, just to be helpful. I had just been laid off from a company that was acquired by another and a friend suggested that I turn my free help, into a paid business. Since I was at a transitional time in my professional life, I thought it w asnt a bad idea. So, I went for it. I did the research necessary to prepare and then Angelbells Wedding Consulting was born. I had fun, I met many wonderful people and I have absolutely no regrets. It was a chapter that was only meant for a short time, of my life, but one I really enjoyed. Music, on the other hand, is most definitely a passion and runs neck and neck, with writing. I think both have been part of my life for an equal amount of time and I love both. But, what Ive learned along the way is that there just arent enough hours in the day, for me to do everything I want to do. I had a great ten-and-a-half year career in sound engineering and knew that if I wanted to pursue my writing career, I needed to make some changes. I miss my music and I believe that one day Ill return to it may be not sound engineering, but I would love to own my own black-tie jazz club one day. I believe that when one door closes, another opens. By choosing to walk away from my musical career when I did, I made room for my writing career. It all happens for a reason.
Juanita: What writer/poets do you enjoy?
Angel: I like Walt Whitman because he is well known for writing in a free verse style, without following the traditional rules of Poetry or writing. I write in free verse style and I am a firm believer in being a leader, creating your own style rather than being a follower and doing what everyone else does. I also enjoy some passages and quotes from Kahlil Gibran, Henry David Thoreau, Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.
Juanita: What other projects are you working on at this time?
Angel: I have been working on my first novel for a few years. I started it before the Poetry collection, but when I had enough poems completed I decided to take time out from the novel to publish the Poetry collection. Although, I am knee-deep in marketing my Poetry, I am now putting a little more focus onto completing my novel, so I can get it released. I hope to do that this year.
Juanita: How can your readers find more information about you and your works?
Angel: The best place to visit would be my web site. Youll find all of the pertinent information about me, and all of my works. I maintain the s ite myself and I try to keep it updated regularly. Readers may visit my site at either http://www.wingsofanAngel.us or http://www.Angellogan.com Both web address will lead to the same site. If you stop by, youll have a lot of material to read, but hopefully, youll walk away with a better understanding of who I am and what my work is all about. If you like what you see, visit my guest-book to let me know you were there.
Juanita: Thank you so much for this wonderful interview Angel. You have written a very Inspirational book of Poetry that in a very unique and tangible way breathes life with every word. Your messages of hope touch and move us in such a loving way. We truly wish you all the best in your endeavors, and look forward to hearing more from you in the future. Please share any last thoughts with your readers.
Angel: Thank you, I really appreciate this interview and all of your kind words. I guess my final thoughts would be that life isnt always easy and we will be faced with challenges from time to time. We can play it safe out of fear and miss out on all that is precious about life or we can be hopeful and take a leap of faith, to go after our dreams. It doesnt mean we have to make hasty choices without preparation or thought. It means t hat we can do the homework needed, but believe enough in ourselves that we can overcome any challenge, big or small. If plan A doesnt work, then move onto Plan B, C and so on until you get there. I guess the motto that I try to live by explains it best No Defeat, No Limitations!
Juanita Watson is the Assistant Editor for Reader Views http://www.readerviews.com
Author:: Juanita Watson
Keywords:: Poetry, reader views, Inspiration, Self-help, Angel
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