Interview with children's author Lakshmi Gosyne

Today, I have an interview with the author of Waiting for Dad: A Yoga Story for Kids, Lakshmi Gosyne.

Bio:

Lakshmi Gosyne is an author, illustrator and designer. She worked with John Wiley and Sons, Canada as a graphic designer before working full-time with children and getting her master's degree in Education.

Her 15 years of experience with children and teaching as well as her love for yoga converged into two Yoga for Kids books: A Jungle Walk and Waiting for Dad.

In fact, Jungle Walk was originally a yoga workshop for children in Child Care Centers.

Lakshmi is an avid traveler and has lived in Trinidad and Tobago, Toronto, Canada, New Zealand, and Thailand. She currently lives in Koh Samui, Thailand with her husband Jonathan.

Welcome, Lakshmi. Please tell us about your current release.

Waiting for Dad is about a boy named Rob waiting for his dad, who is really late. He starts using his imagination to think about where his father could be. The ideas become more and more imaginative until finally Rob’s father arrives and we find out that maybe Rob was on to something.

What inspired you to write this book?

As a teacher, it’s always been a bit harder to get boys to read. When I wrote my first book: Jungle Walk, I had a girl as the main character. I wanted a book that boys could relate to, become excited about and look forward to the yoga too. That’s where Waiting for Dad came in. It was a book that boys could relate to and that they would be interested in “acting out” through yoga poses.

Excerpt:

What exciting story are you working on next?

I’m working on a children’s picture book where the theme is moving to a new country. More and more immigrants are arriving in the U.S.A. and Canada as children and I wanted to write a book that looked at moving countries from a child’s perspective. No yoga in this new one though.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?

I first considered myself a writer when I attended my first Writers’ conference in New Zealand. Up until then, although I had been writing, I never thought of myself as a writer. I suddenly had an opportunity to pitch one of my stories, exchange information and ideas with prominent Children’s Writers in New Zealand and become involved in a few writers’ groups.

Do you write full-time? If so, what's your work day like? If not, what do you do other than write and how do you find time to write?

Although I’d love to write full-time, I still need to pay the bills. My graphic design and illustrations is where I get the majority of my income from. I would love to make a living wage through my writing eventually.

I work from home and my days are flexible so I always have a few hours a week of uninterrupted time to write. I don’t have any children or pets yet, but I run my own business so things can get a bit difficult. Also, being in front of the computer all day really puts me off writing on the computer, so I often start with ideas and outlining on pen and paper before doing the “work” of typing out the first draft.

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?

I am very particular about what music I’m listening to when I’m writing. When I’m thinking it’s Mozart. When I’m outlining it’s often in silence. Only when I’m typing up do I let my husband play his favorite Rihanna CD and sometimes even then, when I get stuck, will I go outside or to the beach.

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

This one is quite embarrassing! I wanted to be an astronaut when I grew up. I think my dad took me to too many sci-fi movies when I was young. I love the idea of being a pioneer and learning new technology.

Anything additional you want to share with the readers?

I’m heading to North America (Canada and the US) from Thailand (where I currently live) in October. Lots of happy events: my sister’s having a baby and my cousin is getting married. I’m excited to be coming home!

Ways to connect:

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest 

Thanks, Lakshmi!

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Interview with writer and yoga master Gurutej Khalsa

Today's guest is Gurutej Khalsa. She's touring her book, The Moon She Rocks You, which talks about the moon's cycles and the effects it has on women and men.

Bio:

Gurutej has known since she was six years old that she wanted to lead others to their greatness. She is a born leader, a creational genius, and a visionary thought leader. Her energy brightens your day, and her gift for lightness, comedy, and humor radiates with every breath and every word of her powerful message. A founding practitioner of Kundalini, Gurutej Khalsa is one of a handful of Kundalini Yoga Masters in the world. She has taught people for over 40 years to connect to their higher consciousness through healing, meditation, yoga, and chanting. She lives and breathes the meaning of her Sikh name, “the one who brings you from darkness into light at the speed of light.” Gurutej has created yoga centers throughout the United States and Canada. Her commitment to community outreach, philanthropy, the homeless, children, alternative education, and conscious living is tireless.

For more information about Gurutej, please visit http://bookpromotionservices.com/2012/02/27/meet-gurutej-kaur/

Welcome, Gurutej. Please tell us about The Moon She Rocks You.

What are Moon Center cycles and why should we as women care about them? Because these cycles have a direct and deep effects on us. Have you noticed that some days you feel strong and powerful and can take on the entire universe and other days someone looks at you cross-eyed and you want to find a bathroom to hide in? Why is that? This theory of Moon centers will shed some light on all this. This is not a shield to hide behind but information to make us more aware, informed complete with support tools that will make you more powerful.

Moon Centers Unveiling the hidden secrets to the inner workings of women. This is the next biggest leap after Men are from Mars Women are from Venus. Do you want to understand yourself as a women in your many aspects? Men do you want to be able to see and chart the emotional and devotional landscape of the women in your life? You will know when and how to support yourself and your women and when to move away from the firing line. Priceless information.

Moon Centers is a secret and sacred science:  Do you want Greater harmony in your life? If yes then skip the text and just say yes buy it now. If you need more information carry on. If only all women and men for that matter could learn of these moon centers in their teens what a wonderful world it would be. This is an ancient secret science unveiled, how the moon affects women each day.

This is the secret code to women’s inner states. The positive, challenged and neutral aspects within each center, within each women. The moon moves into a different part of a women’s body every 2.25 days. Learn how to utilize the gifts of each center and recognize the moods that come from the challenged aspects ahead of time. Then turn them into harmony. Utilize the gifts of each center. All this can be yours. 

What inspired you to write this book?

This is a very ancient system that really makes sense in these times. It gives women the power to see a road map of their inner selves, their emotional selves that will allow them to not feel crazy. They can see that every 2.5 days they will feel differently what they do with those feeling, is up to them. The book gives them tools to get the goodies of each center. It gives men tools so they can work with their women and not just want to run away or close off when their women are emotional. They can understand “why” and help their women get into their empower states. This helps with wives, daughters, sister, mother, their staff or team at work. It will give them priceless insights into WOMEN.

What exciting project are you working on next?

I’m making this information a program so people can learn and teach this information to others. I have another book and program coming out in September called The 13th Month How You Can Get an Extra 29 Days Each Year. Stay tuned it has great bonuses.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?

In high school my English teacher told the entire class “Gurutej is an amazing writer but she can’t spell cat the same way twice.” Thank God for spell check. I never saw the need for spelling..... and then there was spell check a true gift for me.

Do you write full-time? 

Oh lordy no. First I am a spiritual teacher I write as a way to teach.

If not, what do you do other than write and how do you find time to write?

We will always find time to do what we love unless we have gone on auto pilot. Love fuels our sharing our gifts. My biggest gift is teaching, sharing what has come through me. What is coming through me. It happens to be a good channel to stay tuned to because lots comes through that can truly uplift people.

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?

That I get up and do handstands to clear my head then go back to work or go out and roller blade hills to clear my head.

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

I wanted to have my own spiritual group. Odd yes. I loved being in church and reading stories of Saints but I didn’t love all the politics. I told this to my mom at about 4-6 yrs old. I was very athletic but my heart and soul came first always. My heart and soul even came first when I was told I should model.

Anything additional you want to share with the readers?

If you are a woman, knowing about The Moon Centers gives you power over your negative emotions. If you are a man, it gives you the key to understand women of all ages. You learn to listen to the voice of their emotions. Women – we can have control over those crazy emotional times in our lives. For more information, visit - http://gurutej.com/store/11-moon-centers/ and http://www.amazon.com/The-Moon-She-Rocks-YOU/dp/0615621678

Please feel free to come visit me. www.gurutej.com or join me on Facebook and stay tuned to all the new and wonderful things I will have for you but don’t miss out on taking advantage of this one The Moon She Rocks YOU will give you delight in who you are and such great ways to reclaim the power centers of YOUR life. Blessings.

Thanks for stopping by, Gurutej!