The Eby Way

So I am sitting outside today on our porch in Grants Pass, Oregon. The sky is partly cloudy with enough holes in the white puffy stuff to allow the sun to warm my face. Yeah, I am getting my so called "vitamin D shot".

I understand vitamin D is supposed to be good for you; it fights cancer and other scary diseases. On the other hand, I shouldn't stay too long in the sun, because we are told to fear the beast of skin melanoma.

The good news is my wife and I will be heading to the Oregon coast soon for hopefully five glorious days in a rented beach home located in the town of Yachats. Also, I am appreciating the slight breeze which touches my face as I look out into the distance, past our huge 100 feet Ponderosa Pines, quaking Aspens, and the purple looming mountains on the horizon.

My eyes drift upward to take a scan of the grand, blue heavens, poking through those partially white and gray clouds. And my breath is almost taken away from the sight of the biggest hawk I have ever seen in my life.

You know what? Maybe it's not a hawk. The wing span is so large, I am reminded of those one-man glider kites. I think that awesome, floating bird could be a turkey vulture or maybe even a golden eagle. Wow. Whatever avian creature circles above me, the message that startles my consciousness today is the importance of rising above all that we fear.

Fear is one of those dark secrets that holds us writers, both young and old, captive from all we deserve to become. As a matter of fact, fear can be a force of self-destruction and negativity no matter what hopes and dreams we want to pursue. Let me present a more personal example of my struggle with this darkness.

Almost a year ago, on July of 2007, I was reading The Secret, by Rhonda Burns. She makes the wonderful point about the "Law of Attraction" that what we project out from our minds into the universe, we will surely receive: send out the positive and receive the positive; embrace negativity and remain imprisoned by the negative.

The thought came to me (as I pondered her formula of asking, believing, and receiving), that I had a manuscript collecting 20 years of dust on our closet shelf. What was holding me back from sending that baby out to the universe?

I experienced an unpleasant twinge in my stomach: I was afraid that what I wrote wasn't good enough; that inexplicably hurt. In a sudden splash of insight, honesty, and openness, I said to myself: "Gary why don't you use the skills and principles that help your clients overcome despair, mental illness, addictions, homelessness, poverty, and incarceration? Just finish what you started so long ago." Yet the inner dark side replied, " Because you are a social worker not a writer."

However, I took a deep breath for three seconds, and I slowly let the air out of my lower lungs for six or more. I went through my yoga, tai-chi, and meditation routine. I used the "ask, believe, and receive" process. And I added my own prayer of going into the Light within: "Thank you God for all that I have and for all that I receive."

I completed my book about hope and healing in August of 2007. In December of 2007, I pursued the self-publishing process on Lulu.com. I sold some copies but knew what I really longed for was a legitimate publisher. Again the hydra-head of fear uttered: "The likelihood of a publisher picking up your book is about as good as winning the jack-pot in one of your Oregon Native American Casinos."

For a while longer, I danced with the fear monger, and I did nothing about it, until three months ago. After completing my same relaxation and meditation routine, this time I visualized sending my book out to a publisher who would appreciate its value and potential.

I also prayed to my sense of Higher Power called the Love-Light. I actually felt warmth, comfort, and the unconditional love of being in the Light. The thought came to me that I needed to send out query letters to established agents and publishers.

I found a service on the internet that would blast out my query letters to 500 agents and publishers. Over the last three months, unfortunately I received 498 rejection notices, but two positive responses. One was from a publisher in New Mexico, and the other was from Sterlinghouse Publishing Inc.

On June 18, 2008, I signed a contract with Sterlinghouse. (Thank you Sterlinghouse!) But, I have no idea where this new journey will take me. I don't even know what the title will be or how many changes the editor will make. I surely don't have a clue how to do book signings or how to begin the enigma of the marketing process.

I do know the sky is azure today; the sun is still warm on my face; the mountains always lift my spirit; and the eagle rises above the forces of fear and all dark secrets. Wherever your are, whatever you do, refuse to dance with the negative side that holds you back. Learn the skills to face your stressful feelings honestly and openly.

Find a way to enter the Light within. Then your writing will no longer require tedious work or even esoteric craftsmanship. You will find your inspirational voice, and you will rise above like eagles.