Vibrant Imaginative People
November 2023, Issue No.22
Your VIP Newsletter from Soulla's Writing Room
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Hello my VIP and welcome to your last newsletter of 2023!
Almost December and it feels like winter is very much here. Most of the trees have shed their golden leaves, and I’ve indulged in letting the child in me kick around in the laves a few times while walking. The crunchiness is always such a feel-good sound, don’t you think?
But most of nature is bare now, tall skeletal trees silhouetted against a grey sky with little robins offering a flash of colour as they hop from one empty branch to another. Lower down, closer to the ground, the vibrancy of Christmas with shiny green holly bushes, glittering red berries and the silver of long leaves covered in frost, can be seen.
I’m looking forward to letting go too in December, letting go of what’s weighed me down, what doesn’t serve me anymore, what saps my energy and what doesn’t make me smile. For me, it’s a time to curl up in front of the fire and read a book, to clear out my bulging cupboards and overfilled drawers, to spend uninterrupted time with my family and to think about my focus word for 2024.
Do you choose a word to live by and guide you each year or do you set affirmations or other goals. Maybe you like to set intentions or write out your New Year’s resolutions.
I’d love to know what you do and how it works for you.
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Countdown to...
the 30th November 2023 which is the last day you can download A PALETTE OF MAGPIES for 0.99p/0.99c onto your Kindle through Amazon and I’m so grateful to my publishers for including my latest release in their genre-wide book promotion and marketing.
And on the 3rd December 2023 A PALETTE OF MAGPIES will be featured in The Sun on Sunday newspaper’s Fabulous Magazine. I know, right? Totally amazing and such a dream come true… A Palette of Magpies is to be included in the magazine’s Fabulist so look out for it, let your friends and family know and help me spread the word.
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Fabulous Magazine Big Shoutout
I attended a photo shoot a little while ago which revealed my story of the turning point which made me call time on my marriage.
The feature was in the magazine last weekend and was a turning point for me in that my story has been used to offer an insight into what happens after the pain and trauma of finding out your husband has been cheating on you.
It’s my story which focuses on moving on and finding happiness again. A happiness which at the time felt impossible to ever feel yet here I am feeling that joy, that love and that living-life-to-the-full moment over and over again with a new career and a man who loves and adores me more than I anyone ever has before.
If you’re going through a hard time, know this: that even ‘when your world seems like it’s ending, you can, and will, find happiness again’.
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Self-care in Winter
December is a month where everything seems to be happening at once, where I want to be out enjoying the sparkle of parties and the festive lights, but also want to look after myself and take some time out to just be.
I'm so lucky that Alan and I were able to disappear for a wonderfully energising and romantic weekend away to York where we wandered the streets under the brightest blue sky and brilliant sunshine. We wrapped up, cosied up arm in arm and walked over 16,000 steps in one day!
We strolled along The Shambles, mooched around the Christmas market stalls and I did some tea tasting (plum and apple and chocolate and orange) and Alan did some rum tasting (black cherry and spiced). We immersed ourselves in some local history with a visit to Clifford’s Tower, a gorgeous walk along the city wall and took in the beauty of paintings and sculptures in the York Art Gallery.
I'm looking to wind down this December and if you’re looking for some peace and quiet, some inspiration or me time, I’ve put together a little self-care winter advent calendar to help you spoil yourself and feel good in the lead up to Christmas and the holidays. I hope you find time for some self indulgence, go on, you’re worth it.
Let me know what you like to do to feel good during this busy time of year. I know it can be bitter sweet for so many different reasons and on the back of our own self-care, I also wanted to take some time to pray for all those innocent families whose lives have been ravaged by war.
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Prayers for all the families across the world affected by war
I don’t know about you, but my thoughts are crammed daily with images of destruction and cruelty and inhumanity. It’s hard to keep my thoughts clear and I’ve been struggling with blocking out some of the heart-breaking stories and images. I have also felt selfish for carrying on my daily life, talking about books and meals with my family, when thousands of innocent people have died, have been subjected to unspeakable horror and pain.
If you can, please join me in saying a few words.
May Your embrace give warmth and hope to those who need it most
When they give up their trust to You, our highest Host
May they find safety and strength
As they wander the world’s breadth and length
May they be protected from the world’s cruelty
And seek solace in each other despite earth’s gravity.
May they find a way home and somewhere safe to call home again
Where they can be free of fear and pain
May they find a way back to where they belong and want to be
Amongst family and friends and the right to be free
May they again find comfort in the warm embrace of a world which has abandoned them.
Amen
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Member VIP Spotlight
This month’s VIP Spotlight and the last of 2023’s is about a dear friend and wonderful author, Anne John-Ligali who has always supported me in my work and always gone beyond in giving her time and energy to help me.
She is a wonderfully creative book cover designer, fabulous author of chick-lit and children’s novels, and host of her recently launched podcast, Books and Author Chit Chat.
I wanted to thank her for being a special friend and I know that in the six years we have known each other we have both come a long way which is definitely something to celebrate and I hope you will connect with Anne on her Instagram @anne_johnliagli and on TikTok @anne_johnligaliauthor
It was especially magical to be her first author-interview guest with A Palette of Magpies on launch day, 28th October 2023.
If you missed it, you can view it here, so I hope you’ll grab a cuppa and enjoy our chit chat.
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And all that’s left to say is…
thank you for supporting me, for reading my books, for engaging in my social media posts and for showing up. I think you’re an incredibly wonderful community of Vibrant Imaginative People and I’m so glad we have crossed paths.
So from January 2024 I will sending out a newsletter on the last Thursday of every month (and not every six weeks). I hope you’ll still be happy to receive my news but if not, feel free to unsubscribe or let me know with an email.
I wish you and your loved ones a joyous and peaceful Christmas and hope that 2024 brings you everything you wish for.
See you again on January 25th, 2024.
Sending love and angels,
Soulla xxx
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