Audacity Magazine - Issue 2

Issue 2

WELCOME There were unfortunately a few teething problems with the first magazine links.

Mailchimp (which I use for my mail delivery) can be recognized by some servers as spam - so this month, I will also be sending a second email, personally from me.

Plenty of readers did get the emails though and I got so much lovely feedback, thank you! This small bespoke magazine has been opened thousands of times - let's keep it going and sharing.

My purpose with this magazine has always been to bring together people from, not just all over the world, but also from different backgrounds and ideas.

There are rampant attempts at division and it drives me nuts. Up close, we are all the same, just humans doing our best in uncertain times.

CONTACT KATE DUFF AT AUDACITY MAGAZINE

P.O. Box 641 Roma Q 4455

+61 0429 729 824 Kate@audacitymagazine.online

SOCIALS/WEBSITES https://twitter.com/1000bitsofpaper https://www.instagram.com/kate_duff_poetry

https://athousandbitsofpaper.com/ https://www.patreon.com/AudaciousHumans

https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B08GZY7YLJ

I've been out west, visiting home this month. It will always be home, the red soil where I first began putting roots down into this earth. I'm so very grateful that "Pitherty" is still in the family, with my brother and his wife now owners of the property that we all grew up on. My sister in law, Jayne graces the front cover of the new look magazine this month, with a lovely bouquet of paper daisies. It's all about wildflowers and blooming this issue!

Exciting things have been happening! For me personally, I have a new book of poetry out on Amazon due for release 1st October, 2020. If you are interested in buying it, I've included the link below and a sincere thankyou if you do so.

My first novel, book one, in a series for middle schoolers, is with a new firm of publishers here on home soil (it was originally with a UK company) and I'm working through the processes of getting it to market by Christmas, the professionals tell me this is stretching things. Hmmm.

Elsewhere in the family, our eldest son became a home owner and our youngest turned 21!

October is a massive issue full of inspirational and interesting characters from all over the world to read about. I have also added in an Indie Author page where you can check out some great books for sale in all types of genres.

https://www.amazon.com.au/Steps-We-Take-Within-ebook/dp/B08GZZ24LG Also available in paperback from October, 1st

This Month

And more!

Carmel Meurant Carmel Meurant lives with her husband David on "Wandilla", a sheep and cattle property 800km west of Brisbane along the same "Pitherty" road as the property where I grew up. Carmel is a business woman of renown who works tirelessly not only in her own businesses but also to assist others in the area with theirs.

Carmel has become perhaps best known in recent years for her role as facilitator and organiser of Music in the Mulga, a once a year music festival that is held on Wandilla.

This is the introduction bit so stick with me because the interview that follows is great but first I need you to get to know a bit of background about this woman I so admire.

Carmel has sat on boards of OQTA (Outback Qld Tourism Association), SWRED (SW Regional Economic Development), was a councillor on the Paroo Shire Council for 5 years and is a founding member of Outback Beds.

All of this together with the logistics of building, maintaining and marketing a successful music festival every year (from scratch with zero experience, not having even attended one before) and helping to run a viable sheep and cattle property through good times and drought. The latter being more the reality for the last decade.

I was recently listening to an interview on Rural Compass with Carmel where she confided that she is often up at 2am answering and sending emails before going out on the dozer for the day pushing scrub to feed the livestock or doing work around the property.

Listening to the logistics of what is involved in organising all the muscians, the equipment they need and the accommodation was an eye opener. As anyone who has grown up in red dirt mulga counry knows, you can clean a house from one end to the other and by the next day (or even the next hour) a strong wind will blow in, and a dust storm hurtles through the house, negating all that hard work.

There are many aspects of Carmel, any of which would make a fascinating read. I could ask her how she copes when the drought extends beyond the edges of what is known. The long periods of tinder dry and hardship with no momeny coming in and yet still believing in the festival enough so that they sell livestock to pay the bills to fund it.

How you recover when you build an idea into a thriving, well known travel destination only to have Covid 19 shut it down in the blink of an eye, leaving you with $60,000 in expenditure and no way to cover the costs, other than to take a deep breath and absorb it.

There is also her creativity, her silverwork, preserves, sauces, wire sculptures, hand sewn clothes.

At the heart of it all though is Carmel - what I really want to know is how she thinks, because I swear she is a rare breed that there is simply not enough of in the world.

Carmel, where does your resilience, your creativity and your faith stem from? What keeps you going when the drought is protracted, the music festival is cancelled and the costs are astronomical?

"Even though things have been pretty tough and financially tight, with a nine year drought and then the cancellation of what looked like being the best Music in the Mulga yet due to Covid, we can't let this get us down and have to find positives around us.

A huge positive at present is seeing the stock we have left (after feeding through the drought), now healthy and fat and having lots of calves. The amazing country we live in has responded well to the rain even after such a long spell when you would imagine it could never come back.

Things like this make you reassess your direction and make decisions which will work more favourably in the future.

The encouragement and positivity we have around us is amazing. Family, friends, loyal volunteers, return patrons, the musicans and the supportive community we live in all help you to keep moving forward. Through Music in the Mulga we have built some incredible friendships and these people are always supportive.

The old adage that there is always someone worse of than you is always true. We have our family, home and food on the table. I have been told by many that the best thing to make me personally achieve something is to tell me "it can't be done".

What inspires you? What do you love about where you live and what would you say to someone in the city who thinks this place is desolate and harsh?

"I feel I am blessed to be able to live where I do and even when things are at their worst or you are feeling like you are having a day like no other, at the end of the day when you sit and reminisce there is always a positive. The country I live in is my inspiration. There is a beauty even when there is drought and then you are rewarded ten fold when it rains. I love the constant changes, the freedom, the space and what nature has to offer and I think we often don't take enough time to appreciate what is around us.

I thank my parents, as throughout my life they instilled in me a great appreciation of the outback, the land, and the things around us.

Many years ago when I worked in Toowoomba, a friend who came out for a weekend was amazed at this part of the world and described it as a photographers dream. And she was not wrong as there is beauty all around us when we really look.

Being able to spend the time working and living with my husband and knowing that what we achieve is all our doing.

Even when doing the daily chores, I always carry a camera to capture ideas from what is around me, shapes in nature, color etc. Much to my husband's frustration, I even carry pliers in the saddlebag of my motorbike and if I find pieces of old wire when I am sitting behind stock, I will be trying to create something from what I have found.

Years ago, nearly everyone in the city had relations that lived in the country and they would visit during holidays, but this isn't as prevalent now and I feel many people don't have an appreciation of what exists on this side of the Great Divide."

You work as hard as a man and in all the same roles around the property. You drive a dozer, a truck, a tractor, the motorbike when mustering. Anything that has to be done on a property you can do it and often do. You home schooled your children when they were young. You sew and you cook and market your creations under the banner Wandilla Products. You have written a recipe book called "Hey Mum" which stemmed from your now adult children calling you to ask for the recipes of their childhood. You created this amazing music festival that grows bigger and better every year (let's not mention 2020)

All of this and you still don't stop.

You're an incredibly generous spirit who has chosen to involve yourself in your community by sitting on council's and boards when most people would be worn out and feel justified curling up and watching a bit of telly. You are so vitally integral to the area and the tourism that occurs throughout western Queensland.

Does the responsibility of all that you have created here ever weigh you down and you wish you could hand it to someone else and go on holiday?

"That's why you have a lap top LOL. My main problem is I am a perfectionist so I am not very good at delegating. I know how I want things done and when they have to be done but once the festival is getting close my wonderful family and our volunteers step in and help to bring everything together at the end to make a successful event.

I had a health scare early this year and it made me panic a little. I redid all my plans and policies so anyone having to organize the festival now will find most of the information and my timeframes etc all on the computer to make organising easier."

Do you have holidays?

"Not enough LOL! Believe me things can get tough at times (and hot) and there is nothing like a trip to the coast to unwind but it is always good to get home. Our holidays now are visiting grandchildren that are spread around Queensland."

Where does your energy come from?

"I am a very driven person and I am my own worst enemy as I have high expectations of myself so push myself to achieve. I am a person that doesn't like to be idle as I feel we are only here for a short time and need to utilize the time we are given to the best of our ability. I have so much I want to achieve. I remember saying to David years ago, "I wish God had given me an extra six hours in the day". His response was "He didn't because you would use them and ask for another six".

This is probably a question that will make you snort, so put your beverage down. You look incredible. Do you have a diet and exercise philosophy or is it just simple food and hard work?

"Lucky I wasn't having a drink - you are too kind Kate. I would love to say I have a wonderful exercise program (I want to have one but that's as far as it goes) but >>

I think it is healthy eating and hard work that helps.

Eighteen months ago we started on a very strict Keto diet and both David and I are feeling better for it in ourselves and loving what we eat."

What's next? You have grandchildren coming along now. How do you see your life panning out in the next ten years? Will you slow down or will you keep building and creating?

"We now have six beautiful grandchildren and they are our lives. We have a seven year old grand daughter that lives with us so we are still working everything around school times and school holidays and she keeps us young.

I don't want to change much in my life but just want the freedom and financial stability to be able to do what I want, when I want.

There is still so much I want to accomplish so I don't intend slowing down any time soon if I can help it.

There are not a lot of ways to diversify in this part of Australia but I am still looking at different options that will hopefully add strings to our bow."

What is your philosophy, your motto, your touchstone?

"Appreciate time with family, what we have and where we are in life and to achieve to the best of my ability and hopefully leave a legacy to make life easier for the next generation" Do you have a faith or a spiritual tenement that you rely on when things get hard, do you pray or do you find an internal strength and rely on your own intuition or a little of both?

"I believe we all need faith or a spiritual tenement and I have to be honest everyday I ask for help, give thanks and sometimes curse the man above. I believe my faith helps drive me and keep me sane" Who inspires you?

"I am inspired by anybody that is prepared to have a go and tries their hardest in whatever they do. I enjoy the company of people that are passionate in what they believe in and strive for.

I am inspired by creative people that work on their own ideas and don't wait for others to succeed and then follow and try and cash in on the ideas and hard work of others."

Do you follow an example set by another/others or do you simply find your own way?

"At a very young age my father said to me "work hard and work smart and don't let anybody to be able to say you are lazy or idle." He lived his life this way and I feel through his inspiration, I have as well. David said I have inherited a lot of my Dad's traits and they are not always good, especially pigheadedness and the constant determination.

I find my own way and enjoy the challenges. I am lucky enough to be surrounded by a great network of creative and talented people that I can call upon when direction is needed.

I feel we need to work through our ideas and processes ourselves to really appreciate and fully understand what we are trying achieve. We also need to not be too proud to ask for guidance if it is needed."

I loved your answer to Sam on the podcast when she asked what advice you would give to others who want to set up their business. It was such strong, good advice. "Be committed and treat it like a business, don't dabble." Anything you would like to add to that?

"I truly believe if you are going to do anything, you need to commit wholeheartedly to succeed.

Speak with like minded people.

Build a network around yourself that you can call upon.

Listen to criticism and complaints but don't let them weigh you down, instead use them as a positive to move forward and improve in what you are trying to achieve.

Read, listen and learn. We need to never stop learning."

Book your camping spot for Music in the Mulga 2021

https://www.facebook.com/musicinthemulga/

Graeme Townsend Featured Artist

I first stumbled across Graeme's art on Facebook and fell in love with the quirky beauty of his paintings. When I made the decision to create this magazine Graeme was on my wish list of artists to include.

Graeme what is the process that occurs when you are inspired by something? Do you instantly download a concept that you wish to paint or do you begin to paint and the picture emerges?

To give readers some background :

Okay, this is a spectrum answer. At one end of that spectrum is a painting that I see in my minds eye and it is totally complete, with a few little tweaks I literally paint what I have visualized. With a complete vision like that I set about researching all the elements in the work and finding or taking good photographic references for that work. I then make a charcoal drawing and photograph that. I undercoat a canvas transfer the drawing and using my reference material I paint the picture.

Wildlife has been an inspiration of Graemes for over two decades and his paintings and drawings reflect his love of the natural world.

Graeme draws on fantasy and surrealism and takes inspiration from the works of Belgian surrealist, Rene Magritte, and German painter Caspar David Friedrich.

A multitude of animals inhabits his landscapes of possibilities with each work becoming part of a larger story.

Graeme was born in Sydney and studied at both the Julian Ashton School and Alexander Mackie College. Since 1979, Graeme has undertaken painting and photographic expeditions to Borneo, Africa, Asia, America and outback Australia. In 1991, he was lecturer in acrylic painting at the Julian Aston school and has had many solo exhibitions in Sydney, Melbourne and Pert as well as Usa, Japan and Hong Kong. His work has been hung in the Sulman and Wynne prize exhibitions at the Art Gallery of NSW. I didn't know all of this, I just loved his paintings. I'm glad I didn't know he had such a prestigious background because otherwise I may have not have raised the confidence to ask him for an interview and then I would have missed out on an internet chat with a truly lovely human.

"I really love the sky, the sky provides me with some of my best ideas as it sets a mood hourly or even in a split second"

On the other end of that spectrum is a work that just sort of evolves out of nowhere or its just a title I have written on my studio wall, for instance "Traffic in the sky" sat written on a board in my studio for three years.

One day I was painting a sky for another more planned work, Traffic in the Sky started to emerge and I just went with it.

Mostly though my work is a combination of all of the above. " Are you inspired by other arts such as music, sculpture, photography, books etc?

"Yes I am inspired by many things. Too many artists to mention such as Magritte, Fredrick, american photorealism from the late 60's and even movements like the Hudson River School. I am an image bower bird and love flicking through the internet collecting disparate images and imagining how to tell a story with them.

I also love music and many of the titles in my work make oblique references to popular music.

When did you first fall in love with art and want to create something for yourself?

Okay, I grew up in Five Dock in Sydney's inner west but as a small child I was quite ill with a lung infection, the doctor's told my mother to send me somewhere dry as often as possible.

As fate would have it my Nanny who lived in Broken Hill with Aunty Fay and Uncle Murray accepted me in every single school holiday from the age of six.

I would be taken to the airport and placed in the care of a stewardess. We flew aboard a Fokker Friendship to Broken Hill to be met at the airport by Nanny and my Aunty and Uncle. There I would stay until two days before the school holidays were over and then fly back to Sydney.

Now my Aunty Fay and Uncle Murray were best friends with Pro Hart - I did not call him Pro Hart I called him Uncle Kevin and his wife Aunty Raylee.

Our families were close so we saw them on an almost daily basis.

I used to love quietly sitting and watching Kevin paint. I loved his work, still do. He has an amazing collection of Australian art. Nolan, Blackman, Whittley, just everyone and really big paintings by these famous artists to boot.

One day at the age of seven I said to him "I can do that" pointing at his latest painting. The next day he arrived out at our place with brushes, paint board and everything you need to start painting. My aunt cleared a space in a spare room and I set about painting in the style of Pro Hart. My mother thought it was a good thing so she set up a spare room in Sydney and I painted like a madman.

Along the way I found my own voice and vision. I was fortunate enough to have Paul Delprat as my high school art teacher, he of course is the grandson of Julian Ashton and a mover and shaker in the 70's Sydney art scene. I attended Julian Ashtons Art School and The Alexander Macky.

I was also friends with Jame Willibrant a great Australian Pop artist he taught me how to use acrylic paint. Our studios were a short walk from each other in Balmain.

Then in my final year of art school I took my work into the Barry Stern Gallery in Sydney, he loved it and

and was a wonderful support. I am now with Christopher Day Gallery in Sydney and they are highly supportive as is Trudy Ann at BMG Adelaide, Susie and Martin Beaver of Beaver Gallery in Canberra who have supported my work for over thirty years. A new gallery for me is Manyoung in Melbourne" Because Graeme triggered so many memories for me (Broken Hill is a similar landscape to far South West Queensland - picture red dust and Mulga) I wanted to share this particular email:

"Hi Kate, I was so used to camping out in the desert that I freaked out the first time I camped in a coastal forest at age 17.

So there is the connection the long horizon, the pleasure of slightly cooler air at dusk and dawn, the smell of rain on red dust and the sound of rain on a tin roof.

Sweeping out shearers quarters and helping around the shed.

Shooting and eating rabbits, goats and roos. Yabbies. And the birds lots of them from soaring Wedgies to giant flocks of Corellas. "

Finally, I asked Graeme if he was a "graft" or "seed".

I ask weird questions like this all the time, but other creative types get it immediately. I'll explain though, just to be clear.

Some people tend to resemble how they were raised and have family or friend mentors in whose footsteps they follow.

Others tend to be seeds that just grew into their own sort of tree or flower (metaphorically speaking of course).

I wondered which Graham was.

"I am a seed, although I have had much help along the way from many people. Still, I am my own invention of a working class boy from the Sydney inner west who could never work in an office due to my severe dyslexia.

I worked as a builders laborer, house painter, petrol station attendant, delivery driver, cleaner, store-man and packer, on the NSW railways, miner in the NT, taxi driver, and managed to paint nearly every single day.

In my late 20's early 30's my work started to sell through the Barry Stern Gallery Sydney, so much so I could paint full time" I love Graeme's art and I will have a painting of his on my walls one day. It's a goal. You can see more of Graeme's work on the links below

http://www.cdaygallery.com.au/ http://www.beavergalleries.com.au/artist/graeme-townsend/ http://www.bmgart.com.au/ My page for the rest of the interview: https://www.patreon.com/AudaciousHumans?fan_landing=true

"When you do things from your soul, you feel a river moving in you, a joy" RUMI

Introduction: I pulled this from the Crowd Pleaser website in order to save Ollie a little time....

Ollie Murk delivers a fresh new twist to a diverse range of music including blues, roots, reggae, rock, folk and pop. He uses a multitude of instruments including the didgeridoo, harmonica, kick, snare and combines a loop pedal to achieve a full sound that progressively builds throughout the set.

So, a multi talented man. Ollie where do you live?

"Maroochydore, Sunshine Coast Queensland" A beautiful part of the world, what's your musical background?

"My background is self taught. I picked up a guitar as a kid learning basic chords through Dad, got some formal lessons for a year when I was 12, then fiddled with it on and off until I was about 17. I decided to try out for the school rock band but never heard back after my audition ahaha it shattered me.

I attended one or two open mics when I was going to Uni, then moved up to Port Douglas to do my internships as an event manager, stayed and began busking/performing.

This is when I realised my passion was music, performing and learning and this began to refine my skills. Busking is a great way to get feedback - you can tell by the reaction of passerby's whether you are engaging or not - you can also tell by whether you make much money or not ahah.

Singing was never my strong point, but I worked on it. My first gig was at a cafe in Cairns. They sold coffee at a market stall. This was a big step for me, from there, I just grew. I bought better equipment, practiced, learnt to have a stage presence, got more gigs by building my online presence and creating a few videos. It's grown into a legitimate business. Some gigs were bummers, as an artist you don't always get positive experiences and some days you are just off. But I stuck to it.

I moved to Sunshine Coast (because event management and working 60-70 hours a week just didn't give me enough time to do what I love). I walked around all the bars, handing out cards, busking, talking to venue owners/managers and local musos. Scored a few gigs, built from there and I still now have even more to learn as I progress.

You can never know it all or be too comfortable. I still get weekly guitar lessons. I am now a full time muso in the wedding, function, bar and event scene."

I love the way you continue to invest in yourself and your craft. I think there is a level of complacency that some people reach with their passion but you continue to grow and expand. On that point, how did you learn to play this many instruments and are there any others that interest you to learn?

"Self taught. My biggest inspiration is Xavier Rudd. I looked at what he does and thought "f*ck it, I can do that or at least I can try." I love the didge, so I bought one and went to town on Utube, taught myself to circular breathe in a few days then just kept practicing different techniques and incorporated it into covers.

Harmonica came through interest in many of the musicians I look up to, and I learnt the same as I did didge. Guitar, I had the basic chords from Dad. I had some lessons but didn't enjoy them as much because it was heavily "theory" based not focusing on what I wanted to play. It did teach me about music as math (theory again). I forgot most of it quickly then just started playing more songs I listen to, looking up the tabs and watching Utube.

I want to learn sax, bass guitar, slide guitar and drums/percussion.

Drums/percussion really help you with your ability to create music, giving you a better understanding of rhythm and allowing you to play with the beat of a song to make it more interesting. Bass is the "base" of music - without it we don't have a groove and we don't have 90% of music that we appreciate today. Slide guitar has a really beautiful tone and feel to it and sax - sax is just so much fun. no one dislikes sax. Can you imagine creating a groovy loop and just jamming on the sax over it?"

So what are your musical influences apart from the great Xavier Rudd?

"John Mayer, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Jimi Hendrix, Ray Charles, Bob Marley, Jack Johnson, Ben Harper, Ben Howard, Matt McHugh, B.B. Kin, FKJ, Tom Misch, Stevie Wonder, James Brown, Ziggy Alberts, Outkast, John Williamson, Johnny Cash, Coldplay, Alicia Keys, Angus and Julia Stone, Pink Floyd, Xavier Rudd, Kim Churchill, The Cat Empire, Gypsy Kings, Paul Kelly, John Butler....the list goes on and on ahahah Yes I can imagine! Later you will be reading this article and be like oh should have said...

What/Who Inspires you?

"My brother, he doing well with his band. he is a professional drummer in a successful regae/funk/soul band called Sun Salute. He's my half brother, 14 years older so I didn't actually spend much time at all with him growing up but he influenced me a lot once I started to pursue a gig career. He lives inland of Byron Bay. My guitar teacher, Eddie Duarte, is an exceptional musician, amazing in all aspects of the guitar. He has a deep understanding of the feeling of music and has the ability through hard work and determination to express himself through his instrument. He really inspires me.

My best mate Sam Bannink (a fellow full time muso) has an amazing voice and stage presence. He's so engaging and gives everything his all. We always share our latest finds together and he pushes me to do more while appreciating what I do wholeheartedly. He inspires me to be me and be confident but also to try different things.

My partner Renee always encourages me and adores my music. She gives me honest feedback when I need it and constantly shows up to gigs plus buys tickets to my favorite artists and always tells me that I'll be up there one day. She inspires me every day."

This is the most beautiful list Ollie of both why's and who's. Speaking of "you up there one day", what are you goals for this life and what do you wish to achieve?

Honestly, I just want squeeze the most out of every day. I used to dream of fame, but I don't anymore. I really enjoy my relationships with those close to me, my Mum, Dad, Renee and my best mates and family. I want to express myself by at least releasing an album. Other than that, I want to camp, play music, share experiences with those close to me and also learn about myself as much as I can so I tell the young farts when I'm grey (or bald) and old some useful advice" Love it! So success to you is...

"Contentment. Being present and mindful. I see success in those who are able to experience every situation with their undivided attention. It's easy to get caught up chasing some sort of perfect, but I see success in those who can appreciate their day to day life - whatever that may be - without regret or anxiety for what the future holds."

Share a great story with us to do with your music, you attend so many events, there must be some interesting people you come across.

"This one time at Band Camp...nah, LOL I never went to band camp.

Well I've played on Richard Branson's Makepeace Island for a corporate function, sung to old folks on the dementia ward, had some amazing gigs with the right people at the right time that just made me completely mindful and grateful. I watched John Butler play "Ocean" live, sung plenty of brides down the aisle as I watched their families cry with joy. There is some really cool experiences I've had and will have.

They're all equally good."

Sounds it. Very special, so what is just one thing that has touched you and shifted how you think?

When I met my best mate Sam, it changed my life. He is one of those people that sees life differently. There's no malice in his mind, he experiences life as it comes and sees joy in almost everything. Over time, we have shared plenty of great experiences together devising what it really takes to be successful, happy and proud. He changed my mindset greatly, helping me to understand that it's what you think that ultimately reflects on who you are. When you change your mindset, you manifest what you want and eventually it comes.

I one hundred percent agree. This magazine, my poetry, everything I do now is living testament to that exact fact. So back to this magazine, one of the questions I'm asking my contributors this month is are they seed or graft? Do they take inspiration for life from those around them or are they a complete seed, grown where they planted and according to their own internal impulses. It's a bit of a tricky one and a lot of the time it is a bit of a blend of the two but I like the answers so what about you Ollie - graft or seed?

"I'm a bit of a unicorn seed, I have influence from plenty of musical giants that I look up to but I realize that I'm ultimately in control of what to do with my time and who I want to be. I try not to let these influence me too much as we are all different and operate on different wavelengths. What works for me doesn't work for everyone else.

I try to surround myself with people that have a positive impact on my life, offering me encouragement and giving me joy/direction. I also engage in plenty of self growth through reading the tips and tricks of people who have found a routine or formula that works for them. I incorporate that through trial and error to find out what works for me.'

So the other definition of "graft" is hard work. What obstacles have you had to overcome and are still possibly overcoming in your musical career?

"Many times I have encountered self doubt. This has held me back from progressing by causing me to lose focus on improving my skills and creating more content.

This comes in waves and is something I still struggle with sometimes daily. I just have to remind myself of positive feedback and keep on improving my musical skills through getting lessons and self directing my learning.

Financial struggle hits at times, where you need to purchase something you can't afford to achieve the sound you are after or shoot the video you want.

But I always remind myself that it can be done with or without "ideal" equipment."

Thanks Ollie for an amazing interview with plenty of thoughtful bits to take away for any young (or old) reader out there who loves their music and wants to take it further. You can find more of Ollie at the links below: https://www.facebook.com/olliemurk Instagram https://www.instagram.com/olliemurkofficial/?hl=en

Jess Townsend aka Dusty Creek Jess is a larger than average personality and her story is of course the same. I allocated four pages but she came through with such gold that I've had to include as much here as I can.

Take it away Jess "I'm Jess and I'm here to give you some backstory on my journey to starting my business Dusty Creek.

I arrived in Queensland from Darwin in the NT in 2007. I was in search of adventure and new opportunities. I have never been without a job, and have tried my hand at everything including administration, stock routes, contract mustering and sale-yards work. Mainly I worked in finance and administration roles in Councils.

I was always passionate and wanted to help people. I enjoyed innovation, being quick to learn and change things up and make things happen. Which isn't easy as an employee. You have to follow someone else's rules, don't speak up, wear your PPE, follow procedure, bite your tongue. Oh that's hard!

Once I realized that this way of life was not for me, I had to own it. I had to create something amazing and create a life that suited me. I needed to accept I was not employee material. I needed to feel the fear and set out doing things my own way. I needed to make the leap to being a business owner.

Creating a clothing brand was not what I originally set out to do. It wasn't something I had ever seen myself doing. I am a self-taught photographer who loves living on the land and capturing the bush and the people in it. But I do love a good cap, and I know what colors go with what. I have an eye for what works.

"I knew the name Dusty was special."

"It was relateable, it united many disciplines and it had a huge customer base that I could target.

I created Dusty Creek nine years ago, a photographer starting out I was a bit shy and didn't want my own name as the name of my business. I'd had a little girl, Lacey by then, and if she had been a boy, she was going to be Dusty. When that and our second attempt at a boy didn't work out, I embraced the name, it was just meant to be.

I didn't have a perfect plan. I didn't even know what I was doing, even now, I'm just winging it. Even now, I don't wait for perfect, I just begin, I had wasted enough time waiting for perfect.

We get used to seeing these amazing entrepreneurial women. They have it all together, their gorgeous images gracing magazines. Their kids are clean and freshly dressed, their gardens manicured. I loved the magazines but I wasn't perfect. Because of that I stalled and made excuses. I didn't look that way, I couldn't picture myself being that way so I didn't give myself a chance to start.

It wasn't until later in my life that I realized that photographers can pull all kinds of magic tricks to create a perception of perfection.

"I promise you just 2 feet away is a squarking kid or dishes in the sink and a dog peeing on a tree" Once I learned this, it gave me hope."

"I read a couple of awesome books and changed my mindset. I moved to Roma (Queensland) to be closer to my daughter's Dad. I filtered out all the negativity that was leeching my creative vibes and I started journaling ideas. I just decided I wanted an awesome life and I wanted to do whatever it took to create stability for my daughter and I to have a life I could be proud of and leave that legacy to her.

I wanted to create financial security so I could do what my real passion is. Take photos and travel and meet amazing people and tell their stories. I could also help people to get past those stages of self doubt and kick their fears so they could do what they love to do too.

Eighteen months ago I sold my quad bike for $1500. I had no debt and no money to my name but I knew I could buy 100 caps for that. I took the leap. I had a basic, simple self-made logo that I actually hated but I put it on the cap anyway and just began.

All my friends and more bought one of those caps. I made another 100. I was on a roll. So exciting to create something, design it, put the time in and have a result. People liked it.

From there it grew.

But in all things business there are hurdles and I came onto a debt that I had to pay. I had to sell my horse float. This was a pivotal moment because I had to choose our future over pleasure. I had worked so hard for what I had and I owned it. To sell it have have no way to do what I love bought on many "Shit, I hope this is gonna work" tears.

I bought 400 caps with the sale of that float. I have turned that into 4000 caps to date, a clothing line, kids clothing, winter range and a boutique line. I now run a six figure business that still hasn't got any debt. I survived the apocalypse of Covid 19 and have gone from strength to strength."

Dusty Creek is becoming an Australia wide rural lifestyle brand that I have created entirely by myself from the marketing, the photographs, each product which I design and source either here or overseas.

Every minute of every day for 18 months has been pretty much Dusty Creek. I manage my own social media, my content, my website and until recently my own books. I do my own stocktakes, inventory, I sew some of the products, hand make the jewellery and individually tag and label a lot of them.

I have made so many mistakes, I have fallen down but I always get back up and maintain momentum. I have recently signed a lease on a shopfront in Roma as I am too big for my home and am now hiring my first staff members to help me.

What I want to do is help others. I want to assure you that if I can do it, so can you. I want to help encourage you to skip those years of not going for it because you don't believe you can. If you have a fire inside that keeps being extinguished by mundane day to day working for someone else then perhaps you're actually a little entrepreneur inside bursting to break free.

Unleash your ideas, don't conform to the rules, get some good people around you that build you up and encourage you.

Get your tribe of butterfly people that are going places, doing big things and being positive.

Don't stall, don't wait for perfect, just do the best thing you can."

Looking back I had not much special to make me business minded or successful other than good pioneering blood, a station family that did it tough and worked hard. I was just a little bush kid that struggled at school due to shyness. I just wanted to be a ringer and live on the back of my horse I never got a chance at further education even though I had a thirst for knowledge that will never be quenched.

I have spent my entire life moving, jumping from job to job or living for a man and a baby girl.

Being a mother is always top priority, however, I had to make a choice for our future. I chose me. I chose my passions and I stopped thinking "you will never get there" or excuses like "I need to put Lacey first" and started saying "yes, I will, I am, I can" I knew if I didn't choose me first then I could never be the mother and provider my daughter deserved.

I decided I could do whatever I wanted. That I could bring in the coin in my own home, that I didn't need anyone else to create the life that Lacey and I wanted. That's when I began saying yes to opportunities, stopped baulking at fear of failure and just gave it a go anyway.

Even today, after huge hurdles this week and many issues that could put a halt to my business continually since I started, I keep adapting, growing and choosing my business first and everything just keeps trucking on and falling into place."

Figuring out what makes you tick and what your true passions are, is life's greatest discovery. Once you figure that out you can narrow in on your dreams and just send it!

"Now I'm proud to say my daughter is the shining light within my business and has embraced her own little entrepreneurial being. She has taken the lead on what she sees her mum doing each day. She is always playing shops, sorting her products out, taking everyone's cup of tea orders when they come in the house so she can write them down and set about making them. She's the first to sit up behind the counter and help serve my customers. She started making earrings and scrunchies and has her own side business "A little bit Lacey" that we are working on. Kids love activity and she loves business and having her own identity on a card. Kids love seeing their mum's hustle hard and do what they love. If they don't I'm sure they will keep up eventually and learn to get amongst it.

Figuring out what makes you tick and what your true passion are, is life's greatest discovery. Once you figure that out you can narrow in on your dreams and just send it!

"There are two great days in a person's life. The day they are born and the day they discover why." William Barclay.

I am far from close to halfway to fulfilling everything I want to do but I know each day I am kicking goals for us and I love having the reins of our life and I love what I do.

We are on a very exciting path Lacey and I, and I just want to share that with others.

That no matter how many times you fall, to just get up, keep going and that so many other women in business are doing the same and that there is no perfect path to following your business dreams. There is just yours. So, make it happen.

Your journey and your dreams are in your control and it all starts with you and choosing you.

Working out what makes you tick - tips from Jess.

What's that little voice in your head telling you - you know - the one you ignore?

Do you have a passion that feels silly or that you can't make money or support itself, so you just haven't tried it?Is there something you're really good at but you've lost direction and energy on it...but you know you did really love it once and were good at it before you lost momentum?

What excites you more than anything else? Is it decore, having a perfectly clean house?

Is it perfectly brewed coffee and rustic coffee shops? Is it helping others? Is it doing something with your hands? Is it art or creating/ Is it just working really hard to make lots of money to go do whatever you want? The thing that excites you most, that makes you burn from your toes to your heart is your passion. And it is totally what you should do!"

So there - go do that good people. And thanks for sharing your story Jess.

For more of Jess and to take a look at the beautiful bespoke products she sells:

https://dustycreek.com.au/ https://www.facebook.com/dustycreekaustralia https://www.instagram.com/dustycreekaustralia/?hl=en

Be silly. Be fun. Be different. Be crazy. Be you, because life is too short to be anything but happy AUTHOR UNKNOWN

Sharla Brown - One Woman t

Not everyone starts off with an equal chance in life, particularly those born in a different spot on this planet.

I heard Sharla Brown speak at the Fearless Women Summit in Brisbane in February 2020 (before the world went mad). I don't know what made me even go to that event, I just clicked and booked through Facebook. It has had a massive impact on me personally and I could have just as easily not gone. That thought scares me. That I might not have gone.

Just as this little Canadian woman could just as easily not have bothered to come up with a global movement that helps mothers look after their families, and sees young girls educated in parts of the world where this is a miracle not an everyday occurrence.

I'll start at the beginning.

One Woman was created from a vision which emerged in March of 2015 when Sharla Brown went on a life changing trip to the Amazon Rain forest in Ecuador with WE. Their community project was to build a Choza (a Women’s Empowerment Centre), where women could work together and create handmade items like jewelry, pottery and other items that could then be sold to provide a sustainable income and create a better life for themselves, their families and their community.

After days of working with the Quechua women learning their trades and working on the Choza, Sharla discovered that all women in this world have the same goals; to have a better life, to give their children a better future, and to make a difference in their communities. Being an entrepreneur herself, she quickly realized that there was an opportunity to better help not only these women, but women from around the globe who have the same goals and dreams.That November she then traveled to Kenya, once again with WE, to spend time with women in the Masai Mara. One thousand Rafiki Bracelets (Rafiki is the Swahili word for friend) were ordered from these ladies which would become the item included as a gift with each One Woman Membership. These Rafiki Bracelets are the symbol to unite us all as sisters inspiring and empowering one another from every corner of the world.

When I heard Sharla speak at the summit I admired her enormously. Her capacity to see what needed to be done and to just step up and create solutions that not only work but see whole communities in need begin to thrive. Her work is amazing, as is her drive, commitment and enthusiasm. The woman is a powerhouse.

Yet still she put aside the time for this interview. By the way Sharla's office is her mostly her kitchen table so if you think you need to have something fancy to create a massive global movement, turns out you don't.

Sharla where do you live and how often to you travel to the places where the girls live to check on progress?

"I live in Alberta, Canada. I usually get to at least one of the countries to visit with our partner chariries and the women and girls once a year. We offer these as empowerment trips each years, any woman can join me and learn about the women and girls we help to empower."

So it is women connecting with and helping other women around the globe - how powerful!

How has Covid 19 affected these communities?

"We run events in Canada, USA, UK, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand to give women a platform to share their fearless stories, network and connect to live their passion and purpose, to help others and join us if they like as a member to empower women and girls globally. Those events are all on hold right now. We do run a free online event once a month to inspire women globally during these challenging times" How much money is raised, an how is it used?

We had around 100 members earlier this year which gave us around $1500 US dollars a month to support our partner charities, sadly due to Covid 19 many women have had to suspend their giving. We are hopeful for better days ahead.

The women and girls struggle right now just for food, as you can imagine the impact on an already poor economy in a developing country is devastating. One project we are most excited about is an agriculture program with our partner charity Seven Wells in Rwanda and Uganda. In this program they work with women to be able to grow crops to support themselves and their families.

To read more about Sharla or to support the movement and help othe women see the links below https://onewoman.ca/about-us/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NrzNcXrMXOQ&feature=youtu.be&fbclid=IwAR3JPHAHJCJDM0kRGchybbf13WvjBmzRdfFIuEzussnuspQ1tNAe0gKygot

Janice Smithers Janice Smithers is a singer/songwriter from Coolum Beach on the beautiful Sunshine Coast in Queensland (Australia). Janice is a founding member of Home Made Jam. Hi Janice, thanks so much for coming on board this month. Have you always lived at Coolum? (Which is a fantastic part of the world BTW!) "I moved to the region in 1997 from hometown of Kiama on the south coast region of New South Wales" You're a singer and songwriter - when did you first fall for music, begin writing songs and what has been your evolution to where you are today?

I think I was singing before I could talk. It's been the most important and cathartic part of my life (besides my kids of course). After a not so ideal upbringing in an often violent household, my brother and I would spend all our time listening to music, watching Countdown and the like and making sure we had the next big release on order at the record shop.

I started writing songs seriously when I joined my first band in Sydney. It was a hardcore heavy metal band called China White (I was naĂŻve enough not to know what that was code for).

We spent a year and a half writing, recording and performing our original songs only throwing in the odd Skid Row cover.

From there, I returned home to Kiama to settle with my family. There I began singing in clubs/pubs etc around the south coast up until I moved to Queensland in 1997.

I then re-established myself as a solo artist as well as joining many bands and continued to make a living from performing.

I had some fantastic opportunities playing overseas contracts in China for the Hilton Hotels, Hamilton Island residencies, tours down to the snow, countless festival and events like Gympie Muster and Mitchell Creek Rock n Blues and I still enjoy a residency on Heron Island after seventeen years - where I pursue my love of scuba diving.

I've played just about every notable venue from Twin Towns to Brisbane Convention Centre and Gladstone Entertainment Centre just to name a few.

In 2013 I released an album of original songs called "Life's Like That" which did well and was nominated for an award. The album was picked up by AMRAP and distributed around Australia to over 80 community radio stations who gave it great support" So your main income, like many entertainers must have taken a knock due to Covid 19 this year?

"My Main income has always come from live performances, so yes all that ground to a halt on March 13th this year for more than 3 months. It is slowly picking up again now. It was a tough time indeed and still is in fact, with businesses still struggling to pay performers their worth" Is that what led to Home Made Jam? Tell me a bit more about what Home Made Jam is and what it looks like, who it helps and where people can tune in?

"Yes, it was indeed. I was approached by the local radio station to put together an online Sunday session to keep people connected through live music and support artists.

We were supposed to do one or two but we did fourteen weeks of shows, every Sunday and showcased over 65 Sunshine Coast artists as well as one junior jammer every week. Myself and a fellow muso Iain Harris put the show together each week and hosted it online. You can check it out at https://www.facebook.com/homemadejamlive or via the website where all the artists profiles and links are featured www.homemadejamlive.com Where to from here? Is the industry beginning to pick up a little or will it take a long time to recover?

"Who knows? It's the million dollar question. So far here in Queensland, most of us are back to playing a couple of gigs each week around the Sunshine Coast but it is definitely only the soloists getting work. Unfortunately with rules like no dancing, there's no need for bands at this point.

It's been bittersweet in the regard that the humble solo gig has been given a new life, people are truly appreciating live music like I haven't seen in years. But it's a constant case of whack a mole as venues and security remind patrons to remain seated and enforcing the no dancing rule. How long it will take to recover fully, I just don't know - finger's crossed" You mention the solo gig opportunities, what other opportunities have you seen arise out of this?

"The opportunity has been to re-invent the solo gig to be more interactive. To present your music to people in a more intimate way as the party atmosphere is just not possible. Delivering a heartfelt performance seems to be more accepted by a captive audience. We all learnt to, whilst in lockdown, that the online stage is a new frontier with the chance to perform to a global audience you normally wouldn't access. Virtual gigs from home - literally playing for tips. Every situation has a bright side."

Janice, thankyou so much for adding your voice to Audacity this month. Where can people find you and book you for a function? https://facebook.com/JaniceMusician Website: www.janicesmithers.com.au

Jaimie McMillan Jaimie McMillan is the owner of Wild Sage Collective, a bespoke studio in Allora Qld that has grown and evolved over the last few years. Wild Sage Collective now houses a hairdresser, beauty therapist, massage therapists, a sauna, yoga classes and most recently - a cafe.

Allora is 158 km south west of Brisbane in case you're wondering.

I've followed Jaimie on social media for quite a while and there is a certain energy in her posts and personality that had me curious.

Here is Jaimie's story: "I'm a trained massage therapist and studied at the Australian College of Natural Medicine when I left school. I practice a range of alternative and beauty therapies, including dry needling, cupping and hot rock massage. I always knew that I would eventually have my own space but after making the tree change from Brisbane to Allora, I was working in banking and juggling being a mum of two young children. It took me awhile to come back to my first love.

I met my husband in Brisbane, he is from Allora, so when we had our first child, we decided to leave the city to raise our family that was nine years ago.

The seeds for Wild Sage Collective were planted when we moved here. The nature and wide-open spaces made me want to return to practicing holistic health and I was looking for a way to connect with other women. I wanted to create a place where women, or anyone in the community, can try something different without having to leave town.

As these things do, the right opportunity eventually presented itself. I opened Wild Sage Wellness Studio in a charming heritage-listed building in Allora's main street in 2018.

Wild Sage's beginnings hark back even further though, to my childhood spend in the bush. My grandfather was Indigenous and when I was a child, he would tell me about bush medicine and remedies and stories about tea leaf readings. I was always really interested in those things Pop used to do.

Mum was always into health too, so I grew up knowing no difference. I saw a kinesiologist before I ever saw a doctor. I work really closely with suppliers and hand choose products that can't be sourced locally and which align with our philosophy.

Everything I choose compliments the other services we offer, whether it's a beautifully packaged botanical skin product, a jar of organic tea or a bottle of body oil or crystal infused natural perfume.

The Allora community has really embraced the studio, particularly the women in our community.

At the start of 2020 I was in Melbourne to attend a professional development workshop. Being away gave me some much needed time to breathe and reconnect with those passions and ideas that fire me up and get me out of bed in the morning.

As women, we put on so many different hats every day, whether it be wife, mother, daughter, business owner or boss. But even just a few short days away meant I had time to reflect on the two years since I opened the business.

I realised that our studio space was bursting at the seams that Wild Sage needed to be re-imagined to be able to give our community the care and services it deserves. There was an opportunity to expand my business but also to build a place that champions, supports and connects women.

I am really inspired by women who genuinely want to see other women kick goals, women who prefer to raise each other up and support one another's journeys wholeheartedly and them towards their success and achievements.

Women supporting each other was the inspiration behind the next incarnation of Wild Sage and at the forefront of my mind when I called upon this beautiful and talented group of local women - all twelve of them. We formed a collective and now all work within the same space.

We moved out of the former building and opened the doors to Wild Sage Collective in May, amid the world's new "normal" taking root even as Corona Virus spread. In the leadup to relaunching the business, Covid restrictions meant the existing studio was forced to close.

On the verge of expanding into a new space but not being able to operate created some undertainty which had the potential to shake my resolve to grow the business.

In the end, Covid actually allowed us the time and space we needed to expand, which would never have happened without being first forced to close.

To find out more about Wild Sage, order some beautiful products online or take it in on a trip to the area find out more on the links below:

https://www.facebook.com/wildsagecollective1/ https://www.wildsagecollective.com.au/

Poet & Muse I write from my soul to yours I undress my heart to show you my scars.

Crimson-tinged words need no pages Scattering into synapse spaces.

The pain spills as blood blue ink Dipped in the inkwell of syllabic sync.

Hold my words close to your heart They are my soul's oxygen chart.

I am a poet who paints with her pen To frame my page with your name again and again.

For Posterity's sake

I do not think anybody has the right To see anybody as black or white.

To judge a person by his/her race Discrimination is a disgrace To humanity and to humaneness Xenophobia is awefulness Will man ever transcend these barriers Erected through segregation carriers.

Have we been taught to see only in color We have lessons to learn, lessons in valour.

What our heart needs is compassion's fervour For all posterity to preserve, persevere.

Poetry by Yasmin Khan

Yasmin Khan - Poet I've been following Yassy on Wordpress for a long time. Her poetry is of the classic, ageless, timeless quality. I once said to her "I wish I could just set your poetry to scroll behind my eyelids while I fell asleep because the dreams I would have would be so very beautiful". I have been dying to knowing a bit more about her. Here is her story: "My name is Yasmin Khan. I am from the commercial capital of India, Mumbai. It is a city that kindles kinship. There is a beauty amidst the madness of hustle and bustle and an anonymity that lets you be. Not to mention the glamour and mayhem that is Bollywood" What do you do there Yassy?

You have to believe me when I tell you "I survive". I live the unholy charade that is life. I have endeavored remarkably well. Jokes aside, I write content for on-line journals. Just so you know, writers are a berated lot and paid a pittance."

Right so sort of like here then. What's your background and where does your poetry come from?

"I am a science graduate, which is, no, definitely not a background conducive to writing poetry. My passion is for the written word and that coupled with the need to unburden myself, more like disciplining the inner sensibilities; it is therapeutic and much needed for my wellbeing."

Who have been the biggest influences with your poetry?

"I have been drawn to the poetry of Maya Angelou, Sylvia Plath, Tupac Sjakur. Also, I like the tempo of Beat poetry Allen Ginsberg gets in my head. Most time I can't get it out like he does, so in many ways, I can say, I have not got there yet. "There" being where I can say it all, no holds barred. Until Then I will to write and be read thanks to my followers at Wordpress."

Which other poets inspire you?

All the poets I read on Wordpress inspire me. It is a gold mine in there so I can name all the poets I follow because they all do so inspire me most beautifully, including you my dear Kate. You have been a wonderful influence."

Just for the record here, Yassy did say that, I didn't just write it and I'm dead chuffed so I am definitely leaving it in there :) Thanks Yassy, a compliment like that from you is very much appreciated. So, where do you find your muse, your inspiration when writing?

"I am enthralled and intrigued by the workings of nature. Music also brings out sensitive shades of emotions that help me in my metamorphosis. It is a heady combination of nature, life, music and the environment that fascinates and lets me write."

So how long have you been blogging for and how did that come about?

"I think three years, maybe. It happened because I did some stuff for bloggers about fashion, lifestyle etc and then I thought to myself, why not write about what I am passionate about? And I just wrote as I went along.

What are some of the great experiences you have found with your blogging?

"Blogging has been a very enriching experience, in that, I have grown and evolved as a person and also as a poet and writer. It has changed my perspective in a lot of ways. Wordpress is like a new age renaissance where I get to meet poets and writers who have helped me in creative and fruitful growth. It is great to connect with everyone.

What is one thing about the world you would change if you could?

"I doubt I could ever change the world but if I could change something, I would change the whole brain that sits in the mind of man, maybe it sounds bizarre when I say it like that but hey - man has to redo his thinking!"

Absolutely! So, I know I hound you about this but when are you going to compile a book of your poetry so I can buy it?

"Very soon, very soon LOL. It is definitely on my "to do" list. First and only thing on my bucket list. If only I could stop procrastinating."

Find Yassy here: https://yassy66.wordpress.com/

Smelly Socks and Garden Peas Hi Smelly, firstly we better sort what your name is or do we continue with you pseudonym? It's very catchy.

"Yes, stick with Smelly please!"

Where do you live Smelly?

"I live in Cheshire in the north west of England, with my husband and two boys.

I'm originally from Lincolnshire and himself is from outside Aberdeen. We moved around quite a bit before settling here with small boy was 3 weeks old after a scheduled C section so that was fun."

Indeed! I read your blog and socials and that's how I've come to know a little about you but why did you start your blog?, "I started my blog in June 2019 as a sort of therapy. We had been expecting a surprise third baby boy who should have been born mid June that year. Instead he was stillborn at 20 weeks through the pregnancy. ( I still can't quite consider it a miscarriage although that's how a loss before 24 weeks is classified). In the weeks and months that followed losing Boy 3 I fell apart and we stuck ourselves back together.

I'd been offered proper counselling and briefly joined a SANDS group on Facebook, neither quite suited me. I still needed an outlet >>

for my thoughts about, well, pretty much everything; loss, working as a parent, the horrors of playground politics, making gin, our family adventures, learning to run and whatever other crap pops into my head.

That's how use my blog. To say things that I daren't say out loud to real life people, or on my personal social media. No bragging about large boy's prowess there! or moaning about work or the resident work arsehole or feeling grateful for my work wife or musing on the lessons of home learning. All those conversations you have in your head in the shower or out on a run. Those all go into my blog.

I work from home, so even before lockdown I could be quite isolated.

Having an outlet for those ramblings does me enormous good.

My anonymity is important though as I want (need) to express myself freely without fear of people I know getting involved."

"All those conversations you have in your head, in the shower or out on a run those go on my blog"

Have you had any difficulties to overcome whilst blogging?

"Hmmm, that's more tricky. Every now and then I have a block and I don't know what to write about, but that's generally a sign that I'm quite calm and not wound up about anything.

Those times are times when I try to pause and feel grateful.

I've been really lucky never to have been trolled or had anyone say unkind things about my blog, my content or my opinions.

Because my blogging goals aren't really to be the next big thing, I don't consider publicizing my blog to be a difficulty. " I love the community feel to Wordpress.

I'm not adding in my "bloggers" page this month and will leave that up to you, who are some of your favorites?

"I've been lucky enough to receive some award nominations that have made me feel super special so I love having this opportunity to pay forward that appreciation">>

Susan - https://www.susankmann.com

Susan is incredibly kind and supportive. She always reaches out to check on me if she suspects I'm having a hard day. I'd love to meet her in person.

Bill https://billswritingplace.wordpress.com

Bill is so generous with his blog, he engages and shares so many other blogger's posts. I love his podcast too. It's like having a favorite uncle tell you stories every week.

Lindsay https://liveparentteachrepeat.com/

She's funny. I started following her when she was doing corona diaries (though no one actually had it) documenting the ridiculous moments of being isolated in a house with three kids and a husband with a chocolate back.

Tom Https://doubtingthomasblogs.wordpress.com/

Tom's honesty gets me every time.

He's just so clear and open about who he is, what's bothering him."

There is a real list here! And I'm afraid I can't fit them all in the magazine but I will include them all over on the Patreon site. https://www.patreon.com/AudaciousHum ans?fan_landing=true

Tell me Smells, how do you think other social media compares to blogging?

"I think blogging helps you to really get to know the people you're interacting with.

Social media conversations don't really accommodate long descriptions on topics you want to talk about.

In real life we benefit from physical cues when socialising, we can see when someone needs to keep going with what they're saying, free of interruption. Blogging allows you to do that. Of course the responses aren't necessarily immediate but the conversations can roll on over weeks, months, years. Social media is about short term gratification for a snippet of life. Blogs are a slow burn and I think they can be deeper and more insightful. I really enjoy blending Twitter and Instagram with my blog, I think they can compliment each other."

Lastly, any tips or advice for new bloggers?

When you're starting your Wordpress blog, just take the plunge and go paid from the get go. I went for the free option and now I'm slowly building up the courage to switch to paid and hope it works.

Think about what you want to get out of it. For me, I just want to splurge my brain's output into the internet and see if it resonates with anyone. I've met a wonderful community of people who respond to me and who I love to connect with. Sure, views and likes are a nice reward, I'm not pretending I don't value them. But I resist letting statistics become my goal or main benefit. If your goal is income or exposure then you'll want to do things differently, but so long as you know what you want, don't be scared, just jump in!

Be prepared that you're going to make mistakes, you'll go back and read your first posts and cringe. You're going to wish that you did things differently and you might even go back and fix them. That's totally okay, no one's an expert on day one. Be patient with yourself an don't judge yourself harshly if you don't have 10,000 followers and marketing offers in the first month!

Thanks Smell, so much for this interview. Brilliant advice and content. See you on the Net. Smelly blogs about the normal everyday parenting stuff but makes it interesting with her lovely writing style. You can find her here: https://smellysocksandgardenpeas.wordpress.com/

Anonymously Hal Last month I shared some poetry from the blog of Anyonymously Hal. I love Hal's poetry but I also wanted to know a bit more about her, because I'm endlessly curious about people.

Hal was gracious enough to share more of her story with Audacity, in her words: " I am currently sitting on the edge of my bed, staring at a blank grey wall, wondering how I even begin to tell my story. Honestly, I’ve been trying to think of how to start writing this mini-autobiography for days. I’ve now come to the conclusion that the best place to start is after high school, when I think my life really began.

I was always the fat kid. Growing up my parents told me I’d grow out of it, you know because puberty fixes everything. Well, it didn’t. My anxiety and depression slowly got worse throughout the years and so did my weight. By the time I graduated high school, I had become the class fat girl pushing 300lbs. I didn’t fit into desks, I couldn’t wear what I wanted, and I didn’t fit into any groups or cliques. I was bullied like every other fat kid in America and was mildly scarred over the years because of it.

Eventually, the name calling and stares got to be too much for me and shortly after graduation... I snapped. In 2011 I went to college, met my now husband, and was on a mission to lose at least 50lbs. I didn’t want to keep on living as the quiet, suicidal, fat girl with no friends so I began exercising, eating healthy, and holding myself accountable for my actions. Then wham, two years later I was 140lbs lighter (literally half of what I used to be) and feeling really,really good about myself.

After two skin removal surgeries (believe it or not your skin doesn’t just snap back into place like a damn rubberband) and some new clothes, I actually started getting compliments, winks, and flattering stares for the first time in my life. It felt so damn good to finally be seen as the beautiful confident, fun, person I always knew I could be.

I was genuinely happy and loving life as I got used to my new shell. Then it all changed. I think everyone has that moment in their lives when they know their world shifts. Like something happens (good or bad) and life is just never the same. Well… mine was bad. It happened one night in September 2018.

Like any other Friday night, I had been drinking with my husband and his coworker (by that point he was a friend to both of us) and we watched a movie together. At some point I started falling asleep so I told my husband I would be fine there in the basement for the night.

Wrong. That night ended with me being raped in my own home while my husband slept upstairs. That was the night my life changed. I never felt so many emotions all at once. I was disgusted, horrified, shocked, embarrassed, scared.

So I kept it a secret and began tormenting myself with questions. Did I want that?

Why didn’t you yell? Why was he ever trusted? What would my husband do to him?

What if he fights him at work and loses his job? This went on and on for half a year until I broke down and told my husband everything. He handled it better than I had hoped (he didn’t kill him or lose his job) and stood by my side. However, the damage had still been done.

I had felt so dirty and broken after that horrible night that I began to see myself as this disgusting, ugly, contaminated, tormented person that didn’t deserve love or affection. I felt like everything I had worked so hard for was just snatched away in an instant. So I became distant and more depressed than I ever had been before. I began to drink more and do risky things while drinking to cope with the trauma.

Other men’s compliments and actions gave me a sort of high to counteract all the pain and ugliness I was feeling. I won’t go into details, but I basically spiraled and did some regretful things which caused me to lose my best guy friend (we became too close) and almost my husband.

However, even though I was going through some dark shit, something good unexpectedly came out of it. I began to write. I started my blog, ‘Anonymously Hal’, during the peak of this rough period on a random night in August 2019. I was basically out of ideas to cope with my emotions, stumbled across Wordpress.

So I made myself an online anonymous diary with the intention to keep it incognito from everyone in my personal life. I just wanted (and needed) to be able to vent and write without any judgement from those who actually knew me. I never ever imagined my writing would connect me with so many beautiful strangers on the internet and change my life.

Who am I? I am a 27 year old woman from Wisconsin who works as a nurse by day and becomes poetry writing "Hal" at night. https://anonymouslyhal.wordpress.com/author/anonymouslyhal/

Sometimes I wish I could wipe away my memories of you.

Like writings on a chalkboard.

Leaving nothing behind but fine white dust and faded broken outlines.

But I know that even if my mind could somehow be erased...

I'd still remember every part of your face.

I wanted you to uncover those memories,like weeds in a flower bed.

I was hoping you’d find the good ones…

But I’m afraid you found the bad ones instead.

I have used my past to validate my actions.

I have used my faults to excuse my circumstances.

I have used my traumas to justify my mistakes.

But now I must use my time to face my reality…

And no longer dwell on things I cannot change

Beautiful Hal - and a wonderful poet, thanks for sharing your story my friend.

Susan Richardson

Susan Richardson is an award winning, internationally published author who has recently released a poetry book entitled "Things my Mother Left Behind" which I read and loved. I also follow Susan's blog Flowering Ink. Hi Susan, tell me some more about you.

"Hi Kate, thankyou so much for asking me to be part of Audacity Magazine. It is such a gorgeous magazine and an honour for me to be part of it.

Thanks for that Susan. It is a labour of love but it gives me the opportunity to speak to many individuals that I admire, yourself included, tell me, where do you live?

"I currently live in Los Angeles, where I was born and raised, but my husband and I are in the process of getting ready to move to Ireland. Although I have never been to Ireland, my husband is from County Tipperary and it is a life-long dream of mine to live there. We are taking our two pugs and two cats with us.

Sounds amazing! So writing journey, where did it begin and how did you get to where you are today, please give us all the highlights along the way.

I have been writing for as long as I can remember. I always say my future as a writer was set when I was six years old. I was tasked to write a Thanksgiving story for school and while most of my classmates wrote stories about pilgrims and big feasts, I wrote a story called "The Sad Turkey" about a turkey who commits suicide rather than be killed by humans for a thanksgiving dinner. I haven't written a lot of fiction since then, but it is my hope to write more of it when we are settled in Ireland.

I didn't start seriously writing poetry until I was in high school and discovered Sylvia Plath. She will always be my biggest influence as a poet. Once I started writing poetry, I realized that it is what most naturally flows from me as a writer, I love both the freedom and the structure of it. It can be truly magical when you find just the right words to fit into a poem; like a perfect snapshot or moment in time. For me poetry is a love affair with language."

My thoughts exactly! I find poetry so succinct and illuminating. Far more so than other forms of writing where the meaning can get lost in translation or too many words. Your book is lovely, tell me some more of the background of it.

"My work tends towards the darker things in life and a consistent theme in my personal life has been loss; the book came from those experiences. I try to find the beauty in things that are painful and use language as a way to artistically express that. "Thing My Mother Left Behind", published by Potter's Grove Press is a collectn of poems not just about the loss of loved ones, but also the loss of innocence, the loss of control, and of course losing my sight" You are blind. Have you always been blind and what is the cause?

"I have a degenerative retinal disease called Retinitis Pigmentosa, a disease which causes loss of peripheral vision, an in most cases also eventually attacks the central vision. I was actually diagnosed with RP in my 30's, at which time I had about 50% of my peripheral vision; I now have about 15%. I am lucky that it hasn't invaded my central vision, and although I can't drive or see much to the sides, above or below me, I can still read and look into my husband's eyes.

I started my blog, "Stories from the Edge of Blindness", as a way to share the experiences of going blind and to educate people about what blindness truly looks like. Most blind people have some vision, be it a small amount of central or peripheral vision or the ability to see some light or shapes. To look at me, you would never know that I am blind, but anything less than 20 degrees of peripheral vision is considered legally blind."

How does the encroaching blindness effect the way you process the world and your writing?

"I have lost a lot of independence as my vision has deteriorate. I stopped driving less than a year after my diagnosis and it is definitely a challenge living in Los Angeles without a car. It can also be demoralising having to ask people for rides; it makes me feel like a child rather than a capable grown up. I can still read, but can no longer read actual paper books and have to use a kindle where I can adjust the font. I can't go out during the day without sunglasses and a hat as my light sensitivity is severe; I also have cataracts. But, as with all things, you adjust and find ways to navigate the challenges you are given

"As far as my writing, from a practical place, technology makes everything easier. I can increase font and picture sizes and adjust the brightness of screens. From a creative place, RP has given me a plethora of subject matter and I am constantly learning about my disease and blindness in general."

What are some of the difficulties that you have had to overcome on the way to publishing your book?

I think my biggest challenges on the way to publishing my book, and as a writer in general, stem from deep feelings of self-doubt. Writing is such a solitary endeavour and is fraught with so much uncertainty. I really didn't trust myself or know where to begin to get an actual book published. Without my publisher River Dixon, the book never would have happened. He has been such a huge supporter of my writing and was an absolute dream to work with. If I ever try to have another book published, I hope he will be willing to work with me again.

Susan's book "Things My Mother Left Behind" can be found on among the links below and comes with a wholehearted recommendation from me.

https://www.amazon.com.au/Things-My-Mother-Left-Behind/dp/1951840119 https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100047414209651 https://floweringink.wordpress.com/

Christopher "Popeye" McKenzie In Australia, you can tell a man is well travelled if he has gathered a few different nick names. I asked Chris what his were.

"Chris, Knucklehead, Macca, Shaggy, Brutal, NatureBoy, Kekkers, Charisma, Chriso, Leonardo, Puggy and now Popeye" was the reply.

So where are you from Popeye?

"Born in Mitchell Qld (1965) moved to Esk (1970), then Mt Perry (1974) Roma (1976) then to boarding school (1981&82) and College in Brisbane (1983-85) then teaching in Charleville (1986-87). Wool presser in shearing sheds of south west Queensland and Victoria (1988-89).

Then roamed and rambled and wrestled around this great country; working, fighting, womanising, training (boxing), drinking, partying and making art in a shenaniganous cyclone of exuberant youth. Professional sculptor specializing in massive public works (1989-2008).

Teacher Maleny State High (2009-2020) while doing painting and sculpture commissions in my holidays, week-ends and spare time. Professional Sculptor (2021 and into the future) via the Renaissance Patronage model."

Wow! How did you first get into sculpting? Who did you study with and what were your early influences?

"I started when I was 3 years old with a pocket knife from my Poppy. I'd watch ABC docos on indigenous cultures making boomerangs, bows and arrows, spears then zoom outside and make them with my head and my hands and my heart.

As I got older, my skills got better; after many scars and battles and failures, the works became more ambitious, larger and more potently powerful. My biggest influences are (in order of priority) nature, primitive indigenous cultures, classical western and eastern art traditions."

What other types of media do you work in?

"I draw, paint and I sculpt. I use all mediums. With my sculptures, I started with wood, progressed to stone and am now incorporating metal with wood and stone in some works.

Next are some massively scaled environmental works of epic size in the landscape."

Career Highlights?

"I have had many highlights in my long rambling artistic odyssey but all my failures are the protagonist anti-hero's in my story, because they taught me most. Awards, prizes, press, commissions and praise are all fine things, however they are not my fuel. My fuel is the joy of creation and my great losses, failures, criticisms, pain and artistic agony which have brought me to the deep realization of who I am, where I am and what I am here for. I am here, I am now and I am a creator."

Where can people see some of your creations?

"Nudgee College Brisbane, Goondiwindi, Cairns, Roma, Fingal Heads, John Williamson's Willoshed..."

You currently live in Maleny. What drew you here and how are you finding life on the Sunshine Coast?

"I love living in Maleny. I came here for work and a woman. Let go of both, but found myself. It is like a country village, I have good friends here. I have grown into my own maturity here. It is home now. It has a beautiful environment, moderate cooler weather, true and creative people and plenty of basalt stone."

Where do you get your inspiration from and what is your process?

"My inspiration comes from the great energy within the universe that others call various spiritual names - I call it #IZ. I just open up to it and allow it to flow through me. When I create I give myself great joy, so I just do it as much as I possibly can.

This process is a self-perpetuating synergy of cyclic energizing. The more I do, the more I want to do and the more that gets done.

My process is a partaking in daily sensory rituals which bring me into the here and now and this being (Chris McKenzie), by using oils, music, song, incense and symbols. I draw every day, I write in a small notebook several times a day, I play Ukelele 3 times a day (morn, noon and night), I create on social media using digital tech. I write stories about my life by mythologizing myself and flying in my imagination.

I imbibe coffee, cigar and pipe tobacco and alcohol - they slow me down and speed me up at the right times. Illicit drugs steal my creative power and scramble my soul compass, so I do not take them.

When I'm sculpting, I rise at 5am, have a cold shower, have coffee, draw for an hour (what I am sculpting), set my tools up, then hook in, sweat, grind, cut, smash, chisel, whatever needs to be done - all day in an arduous ecstasy of joy. I work from 7am to 5pm on the tools, except if there is a deadline and I'm behind, then I have to work longer and harder. On "True Blue" the last three months, of that nine month project, I worked from 5am till 10m at night for six days a week with coffee breaks every two hours, one lunch break of an hour at noon, dinner after 10pm."

Graft or seed Chris? Do you do draw your inspiration from within feeling completely "other" and autonomous or did you mould yourself on someone that went before you?

"For me, both seed and graft simultaneously...initially...however, eventually, later, upon greater awareness and growth..self inhibition, respiration and germination, then new sprouting (going the whole biological metaphor here).

"When one opens to the enormous power of the universe and allows it to flow through without the limitations one consciously and/or unconsciously accepts and therefore perpetuates and is controlled by, limited by...

Well then one is free to fly and the power is enormous, mighty and unfathomable - eternally flowing. Out there, out here - it is marvelous!"

For more of Chris's work and story follow him https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100019886412400 Photos below by https://www.facebook.com/katherineophoto/

Dreaming new Dreams The Mucka Pub Mark II I am headed west to Eulo when I call in on Christy Coomber on a busy Monday morning.

All around us are the sounds of men at work - building work, which is proceeding at pace. The highway is loud in the background too but the sound is intermittent. Muckadilla is a little country one pub town but it is surprising how many people drift by, along the Warrego highway. Campers, truckies, adventure bike riders. We snort at a couple of Harley riders wearing thongs, leaning way back on their machines. "Wouldn't that be a mess if it came off on the bitumen" I say. Christie nods we both ride motorbikes so the picture of exactly how much damage that could do is uncomfortably easy to imagine.

I can't wait to see all the plans for the new pub. We head to the onsite container both to get a better look, but also to get Christie's dog away from the highway. She is deaf as a post and will wander out there given half a chance.

As Christie shows me the plans and goes through exactly what she and husband Marty have dreamed up, I can see it all clearly. The new pub is going to be beautiful. Big wide verandahs encircle the main bar. They will house comfortable furniture, much of it made by Marty's dad Bob. Christie laughs "we can't stop him making these big picnic tables and they are just gorgeous! He is as excited as us". The whole family is involved in some way or other and that is what makes this such a great project too. The heart that is clear and central to the project from the ground up is already beating and I can see and hear it.

Christie shows me where the coffee shop which will be named after her Mum, Margie will be located. "There will be food and coffee for the nomads as they come past but also for anyone really because sometimes people might be harvesting and skip breakfast and lunch because they have to keep going. By the time we used to come in we would be starving but the kitchen would be closed!

There will always be something available to eat, no matter what the time of day or evening. While we are open, food will be served, even if it's just a ham and cheese toastie" Being rural themselves, Marty and Christie are well aware of how much a pub like this in a small community means to the surrounding land owners. Heart and thought is once again shown as we walk across the site and Christie indicates where the new cabins (onsite accommodation) will be located. "We named each cabin after a different and historical property in the district. They will each be decorated with old black and white photos of the places and have history that people can read up on."

The scale of the project is large and expensive, no wonder it scares them a little sometimes. But like any big dream, it is exciting and inspiring too. "We were getting a bit stale on the farming" Christie admits. "Since we have begun the pub, it is like everything is fresh and new again and the whole family has been amazing. Sherron (Christie's sister in law) was out here scrubbing the old ablution block (which survived the fire that burnt the original pub) and was commenting how lovely it was to be out in the bush. She has been so helpful and positive, Justin and Wendy have been too - everyone has been."

Aside from the pub and cabins there will be plenty of camping area for everyone from campsites to caravans. The pool will be provide welcome relief from the hot summers and with a large open air beer garden nearby, it will be an oasis calling in people off the highway. "We see people go past and I say to Marty - there goes a steak sandwich and a pot of beer surely!" Christie laughs but I think she is spot on, plenty of people will want to pull in here, not just for the food but the ambience, the spirit and the beauty as well.

I will be following the construction (by local building firm Rob and Kerrie-Anne, RA&KA Pollock Building) over the next few months in the magazine. I can't not - it is just such a great story and I've caught a fair dose of Christie's enthusiasm and excitement. This is a project of the true "dream, believe and achieve" variety and I'm sure everyone is of the same opinion. Bring it on!

You can also follow the progress on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/The-Mucka-Pub-371476459578133

Indie Authors So this is an idea that came to me after reading a post on the ALLi (Alliance of Independent Authors) website. For those who don't know about the current situation with publishing in the world of books - things are changing.

There are some great indie (independent) authors out in the world today. As has happened with many industries - paradigms are crumbling. Traditional publishing houses are having to give some ground to the new breed of authorpreneur who can now take control of everything from the writing to gaining access to professional editors, book cover designers and marketing in order to sell great books directly to the public and thereby increase their take home pay. Whether the indie chooses to undertake the entire process or collaborate with a small publishing house - the result is the same - more profits to the author.

There is great creative theft loose in the world at the moment - the indie author story is bucking the trend but it takes a great deal of hard work and creative effort to make a dollar.

I admire these innovative folk and have therefore decided to devote a page or two each month to including their books in the magazine. Check out the books below and see if there is something you would like to read.

Larry Yoke is an award winning author from the USA. His latest book is called Crossing Rivers due out 30th September. I am reading book one of the series "Second Chances" by Larry at the moment and will certainly be buying Crossing Rivers next. These two books can be found here: https://www.amazon.com/Second-Chances-Larry-Yoke-ebook/dp/B082PBDC3W https://www.amazon.com/Crossing-Rivers-Larry-Yoke/dp/1696739519 Martin White is from Edinborough, his latest book "Club Medusa" is out now. For fans of horror it's a great read. I'm actually not a fan of horror but since I chat to Martin off and on (and am doing an interview with him next month) I gave "Club Medusa" a go. It is seat of your pants stuff and I think I finished it in a few hours (and then walked around with it in my head for a few days!). I am a fast reader but the pace is also fast and it isn't a particularly long book, so perfect to download on the Kindle app on your phone. The link is here https://www.amazon.com.au/Club-Medusa-Martin-White-ebook/dp/B088NND2RJ

Maria Pratico is a deeply spiritual poet and shaman, she has three books currently available on Amazon. https://www.amazon.com.au/Emotional-Musings-Maria-Pratico-ebook/dp/B07P5GRNJ9 https://www.amazon.in/My-Souls-Language-Emotional-Musings-ebook/dp/B087JC94SK https://www.amazon.in/My-Hearts-Song-Emotional-Musings-ebook/dp/B08BKBTFXP

Lillian Lopez is a poet and childrens book author. I haven't read her children's books but I do have her latest poetry book on my book shelf and enjoyed it immensely. You can find her poetry book here https://www.amazon.com/Garden-Sea-Journey-Self-Discovery/dp/1733526323 or "Am I Pretty" a popular children's book is here https://www.amazon.com/Liliana-Lopez/e/B082BJCXQT%3Fref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_share

Catherine A. Hamilton is from Oregon her debut novel Victoria's War is a work of historical fiction that is nonetheless inspired by her polish roots. Victoria's war gives voice to the courageous Polish women who were kidnapped and forced into Nazi slave labor operation during WW2. Find it here: https://www.amazon.com/Victorias-War-Novel-CatherineHamilton/dp/1632100681

Suzanne Pederson is a prolific and award winning author. I haven't read Suzanne's books yet but they are certainly on my list when time allows.

More information about Suzanne and her books can be found here: http://www.suzannepederson.com/ Insights into the complicated mystery of love: A book of love poems by Andrada Costoiu was released on Amazon this month and I was delighted to grab a copy as I have long been an admirer of Andrada's work. It didn't dissapoint and you can find it here: https://www.amazon.com/Love-poems-Insights-complicated-mystery-ebook/dp/B08H8JP7HW And finally, I also featured Katherine Turner's book Finding Annie last month but in case you missed that interview and links to her book I've included it again below: https://www.amazon.com.au/Finding-Annie-Life-Imperfect-Book-ebook/dp/B084GCMQXH It's a lovely book that I'm happy to recommend.

If you are an Indie author and want your book featured on this page for free please email me kate@audacitymagazine.online

Last Thoughts Nobody gave me permission to write this magazine. Nobody gave me permission to even call it a magazine or come up with a name that was this audacious and poked me in all the wrong places, so it stuck - like a burr in my sock that pushes me forward.

Nobody gave me permission to write two poetry books and begin publicizing them all over the internet (embarrassingly) and in this magazine (that I don't have permission to write).

I am operating from my own volition and just to be clear - one more time - nobody ever said I could do this - I just am.

There may be a few saying that I'm doing it wrong, but they aren't saying it to me because that's the thing with opinions, they are like bad smells and only affect you if you are standing close to them. I choose my tribe wisely.

After last month, someone who has known me for years looked at me with wide eyes and asked "where the hell did all this come from and why has it taken you so long to do it?"

I shrugged because I was embarrassed to admit it.

I think I was waiting for permission. I think I was waiting for someone to come up to me and say "okay it's your turn now". As women, as wives, mothers, daughters, we sometimes fall into a position of waiting. Waiting to grow up, waiting to get married, waiting to have enough money, waiting to have kids, waiting for the kids to grow up, waiting for it to be the right time, and eventually most of all - we fall into the habit of waiting.

Doing is tiring but so is waiting. Nobody had said I couldn't do it but also, nobody said I could. And I realized that no-one ever was going to tell me anything except me. And there is no assured and certain outcome. I had to take a risk. But risk feels better than waiting.

Eventually you realize that "safe" is just another name for coffin.

So I listened and I began to ask exactly what it was that Kate most wanted to do. Then I just began doing it. I'm still doing it and sometimes it is terrifying because I've found that Kate has some damn big ideas. I am also having the time of my life and I have found that "having the time of my life" is the way I prefer to live and even though it is a bit cringe worthy at times - it beats the hell out of "waiting".

What I am saying is this. If you are waiting? Don't. There is never a perfect time and frankly we are all dying. Every day brings us closer and we are not guaranteed another one - not even another hour. If you are waiting for permission. Don't - you don't need anyone's permission but your own. From my heart to yours - deeply, compassionately, lovingly - GO DO WHATEVER MAKES YOU HAPPY and stop waiting.

See you next month!

ISSUE 3 DUE OUT 1ST NOVEMBER

https://www.amazon.com/Steps-We-Take-Within-ebook/dp/B08GZZ24LG

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