Author Archives: Mara Purl

Dresses from Mom

For her final birthday, we planned a unique performance. Mom designed a dress for me to wear, and had her wonderful seamstress make it. A dazzling green organza confection, it made me feel as if I was wearing jade sliced as thin as clouds—and then she gave me her jade jewels to go with it. I knew this would be the last dress she’d ever give me.
Posted in Art and Entertainment, authors and entertainment world, Family, family history and genealogy, head and heart connection, Heart and head connection in books, Integrating lifes purpose through art, Intuition, Life in Baby Boomer years for Women, Logical Thinking, Magical moments, Mara Purl, Mother, Nurturing the soul, parenting girls, Power of Universe, Uncategorized, Women authors | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

January Handsel

Handsel: a gift given at the beginning of something, especially a new year. Though it’s hard not to keep thinking to myself “this time last year, Mom was here,” what I try to do when these thoughts recur is shift from grief to celebration, from loss to gratitude, from past to present. This is a new year, a perfect opportunity for new beginnings. Perhaps I can let the universe help me move forward, instead of tackling the forward momentum all on my own. Read more
Posted in about issues of the heart, Connecting through books, Finding treasures of the heart in books, Head & Heart, Heart, Heart and head connection in books, ideas for books, inspiring through fiction novels, involvement in issues near and dear to heart, Love of Books, Mara Purl, Milford-Haven Novels & Stories, mission and core purpose in life, Nurturing the soul, Opening up to New Worlds, parenting girls, self-growth, transformation through AHA moments, Women authors | Leave a comment

Auntie-Mothering Heart to Heart

Mara Purl and LuciusThe first time I saw a picture of my darling nephew, he was making the thumbs-up sign in an ultrasound image. Close to the time of his delivery, my sister asked, “If he comes in the middle of the night, should I call you?” I answered, “Every other woman does!” This was literally true, since my husband’s an obstetrician. We laughed, and then dashed to the hospital at the appointed hour. Read more
Posted in Art and Entertainment, Family, family history and genealogy, Family values, Head & Heart, head and heart connection, Heart, heart of an artist, Live Your Best Life, Mara Purl, Milford-Haven Novels & Stories, Music, self-growth | 1 Comment

Step-Mothering is All Heart

Amelia-Mara-cropOne of my favorite roles in life is that of step-mother. Any more than one can plan or train for motherhood, one can’t schedule the unexpected eventually of becoming a step-parent. The job comes with its own prickly difficulties, but also with a series of gifts that continue to leave me, by turns, breathless and grateful. Read more
Posted in about issues of the heart, Art and Entertainment, Books for Baby Boomers, Domestic Violence, Family values, forgiveness, Head & Heart, head and heart connection, Heart, Heart and head connection in books, involvement in issues near and dear to heart, life's purpose, Live Your Best Life, Mara Purl, Milford-Haven Novels & Stories, Personal Essays, relationships, self-growth, sychronicity of life, transformation through AHA moments | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

God-Mothering from the Heart

Mara-Sami-graduation-crop Nothing could have been a greater honor than my friend's request that I be her baby's God-mother. We didn't know exactly what that might mean, as this special relationship would occur without religious affiliation. But since Erin and I refer to one another as spiritual sisters, it made perfect sense that I'd be involved in the spiritual life of her daughter. Read more
Posted in about issues of the heart, Books, Collaboration with other writers, E-Books, e-books by Mara Purl, Family values, Finding treasures of the heart in books, Head & Heart, life's purpose, Love of Books, Mara Purl, Milford-Haven Novels & Stories, Personal Essays, self-growth, Women authors, Women's Fiction | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

A Year for Mom: January Foreshadows

Purl family Xmas photo 2012 Broadmoor“A Year for Mom” is a collection of posts written during 2013, the year of my mother’s final illness and of her passing. Some of the most heartfelt and extraordinary communications I’ve ever sent or received took place during this challenging year. I feel I learned so much that ultimately it was as much a year of gain as of loss. Many of my friends and readers have expressed a wish that I share my experiences. These personal moments are shared . . . from my heart.

My family all had a fabulous Whirl-Purl of a holiday season. I’m sure you’ve had years like this.… Read more

Posted in AHA Moments, Authenticity, Family, Family values, Gratitude, head and heart connection, Heart, Intuition, Live Your Best Life, Love, Mara Purl, Personal Essays, relationships, self-growth, Transformation, transformation through AHA moments | Tagged | 1 Comment

Indie Book Tour – Linn’s of Cambria, CA

Mara Purl concludes her Indie Book Tour by coming full circle back to Cambria, California, where the whole story began
Posted in about issues of the heart, Art and Entertainment, Authors, Book Clubs, Books, California, Cambria, Community, community and transformation, Connecting through books, Creativity, Finding treasures of the heart in books, Heart, Heart and head connection in books, ideas for books, involvement in issues near and dear to heart, Love of Books, Mara Purl, Marketing, Milford-Haven Novels & Stories, Where the Heart Lives by Mara Purl, Women authors | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Indie Book Tour – Women’s Voices at Kepler’s Bookstore, Menlo Park, CA

Mara Purl, Victoria Zackheim, Pam Houston, Elizabeth Rosner, and Zoe Fitzgerald Carter read from their works at their first Women's Voices event at Kepler's Bookstore in Menlo Park near San Francisco, California.
Posted in about issues of the heart, Art and Entertainment, Authors, Book Clubs, Book Marketing, Books, Books for Baby Boomers, Bookstores - Independent, California, Community, Connecting through books, Creativity, Finding treasures of the heart in books, Head & Heart, Heart, Heart and head connection in books, Integrating lifes purpose through art, involvement in issues near and dear to heart, Love of Books, Mara Purl, Milford-Haven Novels & Stories, mission and core purpose in life, Nurturing the soul, Opening up to New Worlds, synchronicity, When Whales Watch by Mara Purl, Where the Heart Lives by Mara Purl, Women authors | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Indie Book Tour – Chaucer’s Bookstore, Santa Barbara, CA

Thanks for joining me on the 2012 MARA-thon! This includes a physical book tour through Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona and California, and it includes a national blog tour. During the entire MARA-thon, please be sure to download your FREE prequel short story, When Whales Watch at www.MaraPurl.com/downloads. As of January 1, you’ll be able to find purchase-links for all e-readers at https://marapurl.com/books/when-whales-watch.

This is posted from the road during my All-Indie-Bookstore book tour titled MAPPING THE JOURNEY OF YOUR HEART. Revisit the entire tour at any time by visiting www.MaraPurl.com/calendar where you’ll see event details, links to the bookstores, and soon, photo archives.… Read more

Posted in Art and Entertainment, Audio Drama, Authors, Bellekeep Books, Books, Bookstores - Independent, California, community and transformation, Connecting through books, Heart, Mara Purl, Milford-Haven Novels & Stories, Romance Novels by Mara Purl, Romantic fiction, Santa Barbara, Small Town Fiction, Women authors, Women's Fiction, womens literature, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Blog Tour #7 Novice Christian

Novice Christian logoThanks for joining me on the 2012 MARA-thon! This includes a national blog tour, as well as a physical book tour through Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona and California. During the entire MARA-thon, please be sure to download your FREE prequel short story, When Whales Watch at http://www.MaraPurl.com/downloads. As of January 1, you’ll be able to find purchase links for all e-readers here: When Whales Watch.

This is posted from the road during my All-Indie-Bookstore book tour titled MAPPING THE JOURNEY OF YOUR HEART. Revisit the entire tour at any time by visiting http://www.MaraPurl.com/calendar where you’ll see event details, links to the bookstores, and soon, photo archives.… Read more

Posted in about issues of the heart, AHA Moments, Art and Entertainment, Author Mara Purl on Blog Tour, Author Mara Purl on Book Tour, Authors, Blog tour of author Mara Purl, Blog Tours, Blogging, Connecting through blogs, Connecting through books, e-books by Mara Purl, Finding treasures of the heart in books, flow of life, Head & Heart, head and heart connection, head and heart connection, Heart and head connection in books, inspiring through fiction novels, Intuition, life's purpose, Love of Books, Mara Purl, Mara Purl, Mara Purl using new marketing methods for Books, Milford-Haven Novels & Stories, mission and core purpose in life, Nurturing the soul, Power of the universe, Syncronicity between bloggers, Transformation, Virtual Book Tours, Where the Heart Lives by Mara Purl, Women authors, Women's Fiction | Tagged , | Leave a comment