Hibernating with the Muses

Ever noticed how years seem to take on themes? Here’s a quick look at mine (at least in regards to my business):

~ 2008 was a year of expansion for me. After a whirlwind of hard work, DOOMED QUEENS came out, received a lot of attention and even won a rave New Yorker review. I moved my work studio into a commercial storefront that would double as a gallery. As you can imagine, this was a big change after several years working from a windowless 7 x 9 foot hallway in my apartment.

~ 2009 was the year I solidified my business within my community (both local and global), to create a stronger platform for future growth and security. My studio began to offer events, workshops, and art exhibitions for adults and children. To  help me, I hired a part time studio assistant and publicity person. I created and sold four card decks, two which for DOOMED QUEENS. I made the big leap into digital publishing with iPhone apps. I also set up an art licensing site and created promotional videos for my books and much more.

Though I did begin work on the New Book follow up to DOOMED QUEENS, it felt as though business-related projects took precedence. In retrospect, I think much of this work activity was my response to the transformation of publishing as it lurches into the digital age.

Brave new world indeed!

~ * ~ * ~

And now it’s 2010. (How did that happen?) Just over two weeks into this new decade, I sense that 2010 is turning into a year where creativity will take the lead — at least for now.

No doubt this is in reaction to all I did in 2008 and 2009. Much as I love everything I worked on during these years, I’m feeling the need for serious muse time — time when I can just be creative and see where it takes me, rather than worry about deadlines or bottom lines. Time to allow myself to replenish my well, so I can grow as an author and artist.

I experienced some of this creative freedom with my participation in November’s NaNoWriMo, in which I wrote a very rough 50,000 words first draft of a novel. It whetted my appetite for more hibernation with the Muses. Fortunately, I think/hope that I’ve set up enough of a healthy business structure that I can allow myself this necessary luxury — at least for a little while.

So in the coming weeks, I’ll be focusing on writing two new books, including revising my NaNoWriMo novel (which has become a bit of an obsession, in the best sense of the word). I’ll also be researching history and other things to inspire me along my way. I’m even planning travels to places that will feed my creativity — Montreal this month, London in the summer.

To celebrate the start of this new cycle, I’ve even bought a new work table. It’s large enough for me to grow into.

New work table, ready for action!

• Filed under be-mused, creativity, new projects, travels | 4 Responses

Workshops and updates oh my!

I’ve just posted the rescheduled date for the Children’s Picture Book workshop as well as the date for our next reiteration of our popular Publishing 101 class. Also on tap: a Valentine’s themed tarot salon on February 12, featuring readings from myself and renowned urban shaman Mama Donna Henes.

As some of you might recall, the Children’s Picture Book workshop was originally to take place in December. But life, alas, had other plans. Between that and the holidays, I found myself out of my studio for almost a month. Fortunately, over the past week I’ve been able to get back into the creative swim. I suppose it shouldn’t be any surprise, but I’m always amazed by how exhausting and time-consuming grief is.

Currently underway is an iPhone app for the Goddess Inspiration Oracle (the free lite version is currently available on iTunes), a newly-hatched novel, and my long-developing follow up book to DOOMED QUEENS. To further stoke my creative fires, I’m also planning a short trip to Montreal to take in the Waterhouse exhibit before it closes. There’s a painting in it which figures very closely in my new novel. So how can I resist?

The good news is that there are still spaces available for the Children’s Picture Book workshop. So if you couldn’t make the original date, well, what are you waiting for? I’m excited to share all about my experiences as a book illustrator, designer, and all around publishing maven — a subject which is near and dear to my heart.

Learn more about these events and others here.

———————————————–

The above photo is of the full version of the Goddess Inspiration Oracle. Doesn’t it look pretty? It should be available by the end of the month. Can’t wait? You can download the free lite version here now.

• Filed under creativity, events, publishing, studio and gallery, tarot and oracles, the art world | No Comments

Last call: Fairy Tale exhibit

If you live in the NYC area, this is the last week to view our fairy tale exhibit at the gallery. It features the work of Lisa Hunt (The Fairy Tale Tarot), Carisa Swenson, Kristina Carroll, Leela Corman, among others (including myself!). The exhibit has received with a great deal of positive attention.

Gallery hours are Friday, January 15, 5 to 8pm; Saturday, January 16, 1 to 5pm. And, as always, appointments are available at 347-406-5811. We’re located at 1501 Newkirk Avenue, Brooklyn, NY; entrance is on Marlborough Road a half a block from the Newkirk Avenue Q and B subway station. Street parking is available.

Children are decidedly welcome to this exhibit. More here.

On a related note, I’ve yet to post our upcoming events for January and February, including the date for our rescheduled children’s book workshop. They’ll be going up later this week. We’re till getting on schedule after being away for so long in December.

———————

The above photo was taken with the Hipstamatic app on my iPhone, which is meant to produce a rather retro-looking photo. I have a gazillion “official” photos of the exhibit awaiting download — so far, all my attempts to download them have met with a lack of success. Mercury seems to be decidedly retrograde in these parts.

• Filed under events, studio and gallery, the art world | No Comments

Goddess Tarot app review

Thanks to Willa, who blogs at Beautiful iPhone Apps, for her lovely (and timely) review of the updated Goddess Tarot iPhone app:

“I have Kris Waldherr’s “Goddess Tarot” cards, so I was excited when she came out with an iPhone app. The original app was great, but one thing I would have liked to have was a journal to keep track of notes and thoughts on readings. With a recent update, a journal has been added, so the app is, in my opinion, pretty much perfect. And also beautiful!”

“Pretty much perfect” is high praise indeed.

Haven’t downloaded the app yet? You can here.

————————————–

The above illustration is of Isis, who is featured in The Goddess Tarot on the Magic (The Magician) card.

• Filed under goddesses, iPhone apps, reviews + press | 3 Responses

By popular demand…

…The Goddess Tarot and Love Tarot iPhone apps now include an integrated tarot journal!

This major update was just approved by Apple and is now available (or will be available shortly) on the iTunes App store. The journal feature allows users to record their favorite readings and inspirations. It also automatically saves a screenshot of any multi-card reading into an entry. Plus you can have unlimited entries, which can be revisted, edited, and deleted as desired.

If you’ve already purchased these apps, this is a free download. And if you haven’t purchased them, hopefully this will give you a good reason to do so!

Also underway here: the Goddess Inspiration Oracle iPhone app. It should be ready-to-go by the end of the month. I have the beta version here and am having a lot of fun playing with it.

• Filed under goddesses, iPhone apps, lover's path, tarot and oracles | No Comments