Archive May 2006
Author Kristin Madden joins us to discuss her latest book, Magickal Crafts which she co-author with Liz Roberts. Kristin discusses her favorite crafts, writing and how she feels being called the "Pagan Martha Stewart." Here is our interview . . .
What inspired you to develop the concept of Magickal Crafts?
Liz and my son really inspired the creation of this book. Liz and I develop a great many art projects for the kids to complement homeschooling and what they learn about our spiritual paths plus we love to craft our own sacred objects. She kept telling me that we needed to put it all into a book. In addition, my son started his own business a few years ago and named it Magical Crafts. He has also been telling me to write a crafts book and he kindly allowed us to use the name from his business.
You worked with a writing partner, Liz Roberts on this book, how did you arrange who would write what? Did you ever have disagreements?
This book was a ton of fun to plan and write. I can't recall ever having a real disagreement with Liz. Sometimes ideas don't quite work for both of us so we brainstorm until we find what does. We took our time deciding what we wanted in the book and how we would be sure that we each did an equal number of crafts. Deciding who would develop what craft was pretty simple since Liz and I tend to have different artistic strengths. The crafts that we both were comfortable with were just split up evenly.
What are some of your favorite craft projects in this book? Why do they resonate with you?
That's a tough one! I have an obsession for drum making so that is probably my favorite. I use drums in my shamanic and healing work and we play them for fun. I don't believe it is possible to have too many drums. But I also love the light-hearted fun of the pointy hats. I have embossed velvet tarot/ogham bags and altar cloths everywhere and I truly appreciate the rich colors and textures they bring to ritual and readings. And I do have to admit that the gift chocolates and hot mulled wine are two of my very favorite recipes.
In a review on Amazon.com someone suggested you were like a Pagan Martha Stewart. How do you feel about that comparison?
Really? That's funny. I hope it was meant as a compliment so I'll take it as one. I never saw myself that way but I can appreciate the comparison though somehow I can't see Martha developing yummy body paints or a tarot deck.
Several projects in Magickal Crafts mention children getting involved too. What are the benefits that kids and parents have when creating crafts together?
Now that could be another book right there! Not only is this a wonderful way to bond with your children and open the doors of communication but it also encourages the expression of everyone's creativity. In many ways, it empowers each family member to have a unique "voice". And from a purely practical perspective, whether you homeschool or not, hands-on activities are
fabulous teaching tools.
What is your writing schedule like? Do you ever have "writer's block?" If so, how do you overcome it?
I'm always writing something and I usually have a couple of projects in the works at any given time. To be honest, finding time to write is more of a problem for me than writer's block. I love to write and my mind is always taking notes and coming up with ideas. But two things do have a way of blocking me: stress and trying too hard. Stress is an obvious one for most people. Sometimes life is such that all you can do is collapse at the end of a day and your brain is too fried to even decide what to have for dinner.
Maintaining a serious spiritual practice is what keeps my creativity flowing and my energies clear. It's so important not to let that slip during difficult times. I also spend as much time as possible outside in the natural world, particularly during stressful periods. Staying connected with Nature feeds my spirit. By trying too hard, I mean forcing my writing and not allowing it to flow as it needs to. When I do that I write garbage. But if that is all I can do on any given day, that is what I do. Writing every day keeps the energy moving and I often find the seeds of something good within those pages of garbage.
I also carry a notebook with me everywhere. I daydream about my books a lot and that will spark new ideas. Also ideas spring up from everyday conversations, songs on the radio, things I see when I am out and about, all sorts of things. Being able to jot those ideas down keeps me from losing them. It also gives me something fresh to play with when I do get time to sit down at the computer.And this may not work for everyone, but I find that keeping two or more projects going at a time also helps prevent writer's block for me. If one thing just isn't working, I play with something else. Switching gears like that can often jump-start that creative flow.
What future books/projects will we be seeing from you next?
"Dancing the Goddess Incarnate", co-authored with Dorothy Morrison, comes out in May 2006. I don't have release dates for others yet but there are projects in the works, including another crafts/decorating one with Liz.
Visit Kristin's Website:www.kristinmadden.com
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