Jeannie Croichy, Author of Four Reasons for Each Season

Today we are interviewing Jeannie Croichy, author of the children's book Four Reasons for Each Season.

Tell us a bit about yourself.
Sure!

I was born and raised in Newark, New Jersey to Caribbean parents. This makes me a first-generation American. I am also a first-generation college graduate. Currently, I am earning a Doctor of Education degree in educational leadership. In addition, I am an adjunct professor. In regards to my interests, I love to write. Writing is my heart’s passion.

Describe your new children’s book in a few sentences.
My new children’s book is my very first published book. It was important for me to develop a book for children, but also for all ages. The book consists of four haiku poems for each of the four seasons. Four Reasons for Each Season is a wonderful glimpse of the beauty of the Earth’s seasons. Each haiku provides a descriptive visual of the exquisiteness provided by winter, spring, summer, and fall. This children’s book will allow children and their parents to admire nature’s gift to the world as a family.

What inspired you to write a children’s book about the beauty of the four seasons?
That’s a beautiful question. Personally, I was inspired by nature. I love walking in the woods with my dogs, Sweetie and Rosco, and just admiring everything – the scent of the air, color of the trees, touch of the green grass, and the taste of the snowflakes. These are enjoyable aspects of the four seasons. I thought it would be great and educational to share my admiration of nature with families – in hopes of children creating their own admiration and love for nature.

Why did you decide to tell this story with haiku poetry?
I believe telling this story of the four seasons with haiku poetry would allow children to make an instant connection with the words. Haiku poetry provides a beautiful description of feelings and images – and this is especially manifested with the theme of nature in my book.

How do you hope your book will impact people?
Personally, it is crucial to create an impact in the world. The future of our world is in the hands of our children. Through my book and other nature-related resources, our children will continue the legacy of appreciating nature and its seasons. However, it is important for parents to introduce this appreciation to their children. This will allow children to create their very own appreciation for the seasons, nature, and our beautiful world.

Growing up, I was taught to appreciate the Earth. In school, there was a magnificent day called “Earth Day” and this celebration of the Earth still continues today. 

My deepest hope is that Four Reasons for Each Season would create a very special place in children. At times, nature is something that is taken for granted and it’s truly important to educate our children in appreciating nature and appreciating our seasons. Whether it’s cold or hot outside, we should all have something to appreciate about each season.

Can you tell us a bit about the creative process for this book, from the initial idea to the finished book?
Sure! The creative process was quite an adventurous journey. Since this is my very first book, I am undeniably so amazed at the extraordinary stages of the creative process.

Writing the haiku poetry was the very first step. Inspiration was definitely in nature. At times, hiking or simply looking out of my beautiful window developed my inspiration. In regards to looking out of my window, I have a spectacular view of the woods on a hill, which is definitely inspirational.

After the development of the poetry, the artwork was crucial. I am blessed to have two wonderful and artistic brothers, Jean Croichy Jr. and Joel Croichy. Both of my brothers worked very hard on creating beautiful artwork for each poem and the book cover. I am truly grateful of their artistic input in the overall process. 

What do you have in mind for your next project?
Wonderful question! I have plenty of exciting projects in mind. I am definitely going to create more nature-themed children’s books. I am in the process of developing an animal and nature children’s book as well.

In the future, I am looking forward to undertaking themes that will teach children about social issues in a creative way.

Overall, I am just super excited to use my writing to inspire children and to possibly use my writing to create cherished memories. 

Is there anything else you'd like potential readers to know about your book?
Most importantly, I would like to thank potential readers in believing in the message of this book. I am delighted to share this message with the world. It is important to educate our children in the value of appreciating nature. Four Reasons for Each Season is a breathtaking book not only for children, but also for all ages. This book will allow individuals to create their own appreciation for each season and nature.

Four Reasons for Each Season is available as a Kindle format on Amazon. I’m looking forward to the printed version in the future.

Short excerpt from Spring:

The budding green leaves
Tulips and daffodils
Refreshing spring breeze

More Information
Visit the author's Amazon page
Buy the book on Amazon
Like the author on Facebook

Carolyn Reinhart MA, Dprof, Author of A Fruit-Bearing Spirituality

Today we are interviewing Carolyn Reinhart MA, Dprof., author of A Fruit-Bearing Spirituality.

Tell us a bit about yourself.
 Carolyn Reinhart MA, DProf, LPRS
Doctor of Professional Studies (developing a spirituality praxis within a multidisciplinary organization.)

I graduated as an RN in 1962 and worked in that field until I moved to the UK in 1974. I completed an MA in Christian Spirituality from Heythrop College, University of London  in 1999 and then a Doctorate in Professional Studies with The National Centre for Work Based Learning, Middlesex University, UK. "Developing a Spirituality Praxis in a Multidisciplinary Organization."
After living in the UK for 33 years, helping to found and develop two Charities, I returned to Canada in 2005 and am enjoying the Arts and Environmental aspects of  Muskoka.
 

Author Carolyn Reinhart MA, Dprof.

Describe your book in a few sentences.
The book was published in Dec 2013 by John Hunt Publishing, Circle Books, UK.
A Fruit-Bearing Spirituality, is the fruit of years of formal study in the field of spirituality and is combined with 70 years of life experience

Are you ready for an adventure? Whether you are a new seeker or well on your spiritual path, pick up my book as a guide for your spiritual development. A Fruit-Bearing Spirituality explores the emerging spirituality of our time. Both the theoretical and the practical are covered, and there are lots of diagrams to help you to understand the content.

I look forward to your feedback on your reading. Join the conversation on my blog and email me if you have any questions. http://www.carolynreinhart.com/#sthash.mDSWRyWS.dpuf

An Authentic Spirituality for today Within the pages of A Fruit-Bearing Spirituality Dr Reinhart shares a Model for Understanding and Developing Spirituality Praxis (theory and practice combined) while enveloping the personal and social aspects. There is also a basic Model of Inclusivity referring to the Dominant paradigm of oppression and the need for a paradigm shift and new world view. It is not about Religion or Theology but about the Spirit, which no faith has ownership of, and includes perspectives on relationships, context for practice, language, religion/theology, transformation and quantum physics.

When did you first become interested in spirituality?
I have been “interested” in it all of my life. But as a separate and new academic subject, not until 1997 when I began my MA at Heythrop College, University of London. It was a new subject and field, although still under the Theology Department. Since that time the field and understanding of spirituality has grown in leaps and bounds, in every way, and almost every field laying claim to its own understanding of what “spirituality” is and means within their field eg psychology and spirituality, environment and spirituality. It is a greatly misunderstood word and like a slippery eel but also very elastic and inclusive of all.

One of the things you write about in your book is that spirituality is both personal and social. Can you elaborate on this a bit?
Some people seek and understand “spirituality” as a very private and personal aspect of their lives and they are trying to find an understanding and practice which enables them to find answers to life, death, suffering and meaning etc which will then bring them the peace which they seek. However, we don’t live in a vacuum, but are social beings, living in an inter-connected way, within our global home and universe. We are connected to all that is and so interface, interact and affect each other. Spirituality is therefore understood also as “social” – in that it is seen through the lens of where and how we live our lives within our contexts. If we “walk the talk”, practice what we preach, with all aspects of our lives integrated since they are part of a whole: body, mind and spirit within our relationships, families, groups, work places, countries, churches and our entire larger global context, then our spirituality is indeed social. We are not isolated from each other, there are no either/or’s, but both/and’s – without dualisms. We are one.

You write about on the link between science and spirituality. When did you first begin to research this link?
During the MA we read books by Danah Zohar on Quantum Physics – “The Quantum Self”. “Anyone not shocked by QuantumTheory has not understood it” (Neils Bohr) “The day will come when after we have mastered the winds, the waves, the tides and gravity, we shall harness for God the energies of love. Then for the second time in the history of the world, man will have discovered fire" - Teilhard de Chardin.

These are the two quotes which I have on the very first page of the book. For me they are essential to embrace as part of our understanding of life.

She asks questions at the outset, such as:

•    Who am I?
•    Why am I here?
•    What is my place in the scheme of things?
•    Why is the world like it is?
•    What does it mean that one day I must die?

These are some of the key questions of urgency that many of us have, often with no real answers. Quantum science shows us that we cannot separate ourselves from our environment, helping us to understand our everyday life and our relationship to ourselves, others and the world at large. In this century we have particularly experienced a particular form of alienation so that we feel like strangers in this universe. Now as we get in touch with our consciousness we are less alienated from Nature and experience being more a meaningful part of the scheme of things.

What do you hope readers get from reading your book?
My intention was to make a book available which presents a well-researched, authentic theory of what “spirituality” means today, which is the fruit of Doctoral studies. By including the visual concepts, way markers and guidelines, as well as website reference pages as well as current news blogs, I intend it to offer a wide range of resources, which readers can use for further study.

What do you have in mind for your next writing project?
I don’t intend to “write” a book as such, but do continue to research on a daily basis, blogging frequently with current relevant global events and oversights.

Anything else you'd like to tell potential readers?
“Spirituality” as a field continues to be somewhat vague, wide ranging, misunderstood and confusing, since it is still linked in many peoples’ minds with church, religion, dogma, theology, rules and regulations with hierarchical oversight and control. There is also an attendant need for an authentic, sound and healthy understanding of the theory of spirituality. The difficulty is that so many people and professions assume an understanding and “market” that as valid and bone fide, like self-styled gurus. However, thankfully, we can often tell by the “fruits” of their lives and their practice if there is the necessary integration. Many people are seeking answers outside the “churches” and don’t find it easy to find appropriate and safe contexts to continue their searching.

More Information
www.carolynreinhart.com
https://www.facebook.com/AFruitBearingSpirituality
https://twitter.com/DrCReinhart
http://ca.linkedin.com/in/carolynreinhart
http://pinterest.com/carolynreinhart/
https://plus.google.com/u/0/114064131094844485321/posts

Where to Buy A Fruit-Bearing Spirituality
Buy the book on Amazon
Buy the Book on Barnes and Noble
Buy the book on Indigo