CONNECTIONS
Pip Coleman is an Author, Reiki Master Coach, Meditation teacher and Bowen Therapist. Her business is based on Phillip Island, Victoria.
Her first book isn’t an ordinary working-on-a-cruise-ship story. When she took the job as a Social Host on a cruise ship, she had no idea that it would lead to discovering her authentic self and opening her up to a new life path.
"The first three years of my cruise ship life were intense and full of crazy incidents – including sex, drugs, ships breaking down, Mexican tattoos and lots more. During the second three years of my cruise ship life, I decided to bring the soul back."
She began to teach meditation and self-development classes on board; met some incredible, soulful, spiritual people and learned some wonderful lessons. And she also deepened her own journey of spiritual development, connected with departed loved ones, tapped into the wisdom of Rhonda Byrne’s 'The Secret' and began manifesting a whole new life.
"I was drowning in triviality of my job until I taught my first Wellness class … I gave myself the gift of fulfillment."
In writing this book she discovered the purpose of her life and her business: "I’m here to teach people to accept themselves as equally Divine unique souls."
Website: http://www.pipcoleman.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Consciouscoursesandtherapies/
Instagram: @coleman_pip
Jen was born in Sydney, NSW in 1962. She grew up in Cronulla on Sydney’s southern beaches.
From primary school, Jen attended St. George Girls’ High School at Kogarah. Jen’s first full-time job was as a legal stenographer for a large Sydney law firm.
She then completed a Bachelor of Education (Primary) degree at The University of Sydney.
Jen dreamt of becoming bilingual and felt drawn to the Spanish culture and way of life. In 1991 she flew to the small city of Salamanca in Spain and embarked on a Spanish language course. She met her husband in Salamanca and their two boys were born there.
From 1996 to 2003 Jen worked as a full-time primary school teacher at a private college in Madrid. In 2003 Jen and her family returned to Brisbane and settled in The Gap. Jen became a permanent EAL (English as an Additional Language) teacher with Education Queensland and still teaches in this role today at a Brisbane primary school.
In 2016, Jen contracted post viral fatigue. This left her bedridden. Jen was impacted by the words of Eckhart Tolle on YouTube and began to write down his message in the form of rhyming verse. After writing fifty-four poems, Jen self-published the first edition of Life’s a Mango. The second illustrated edition, due to be released in 2020, contains the original fifty-four poems plus twenty-two more. There are also beautiful mandalas to colour in and blank journal pages for reflection.
Jen loves reciting her poetry off-by-heart to audiences and has appeared on radio and in other live events in Queensland and New South Wales. Jen takes everyday situations and helps us to see them in a different light by adding a perspective with touches of gratitude, kindness, patience and forgiveness. Readers of Life’s a Mango have told Jen that when they read her poems silently or recite them out loud, they feel a sense of joy, acceptance, relaxation and self-compassion.
Jen is a practicing Buddhist and follows the teachings of His Holiness The Dalai Lama. Like HHDL, Jen believes in the importance of warm-heartedness and the explicit teaching of these attributes to children through social, emotional and ethical learning programs. Training the mind in virtue and compassion is paramount in today’s world. It was the Sioux Indians who said that the longest journey we ever take in life is from the head to the heart. The rhyming verses in Life’s a Mango will support your journey there through insightful rhyming verse.
As well as teacher and poet, Jen is also an authorized civil celebrant. She delights in designing and delivering all types of ceremonies such as weddings, commitment ceremonies, naming ceremonies, memorials and funerals for the general public.
Jen and her husband reside in the leafy suburb of The Gap in Brisbane. Jen loves the connection she feels with the surrounding trees, mountains and creeks. Going for long daily walks in nature gets her creative juices flowing. For the moment this is where her heart belongs.
Website: https://www.jencompton.com/
Gavin grew up in Paarl, in South Africa’s Western Cape Province, an area renowned for its scenic beauty and viticulture. Whether it was the scenery, drinking his parents’ wine on the sly, or being surrounded by the smell of fresh ink and the hum of his father’s printing presses—or all of the above—Gavin felt strangely inspired to start writing when he was twelve years old.
“My father gave me this old Underwood Standard. I’ll never forget it. It had a sticky ‘s’ key that would periodically instigate a maul of type hammers and shredded ribbon.”
Gavin went on the study Architecture and ran a practice in South Africa before emigrating along with his family, to Christchurch, New Zealand. It’s there that he started taking up writing seriously and began work on his debut novel, Colour of Greed.
In 2008 he moved to the Gold Coast, Australia where he joined the Gold Coast Writers Association, serving as its president. Colour of Greed went on to receive the Gold award for best fiction in Australia and New Zealand at the Independent Publisher Book Awards 2013.
“Writing can be an arduous and lonely journey. It is important to surround yourself with family and fellow writers who can support you along the way.”
Gavin still lives on the Gold Coast, working on his next thriller. A proud husband, father and grandfather.
Website: https://www.gavinfisher.com/
Kelly Maree settled back in Brisbane, Australia with her husband after 10 years travelling around the world, working as a diving instructor and photographer.
Life was turned upside down when the couple’s twin ‘surprises’ were born prematurely at 24 weeks on Christmas eve of 2015. Unfortunately little Oli passed on New Year’s Day 2016. All the books are dedicated to the loving memory of Oli and all the little angels that didn’t make it, and a percentage of the books sales donated to the RBWH and Precious Wings Foundations to help support bereaved families and premature babies.
The first three books of Oskar’s Adventures are Oskar and the Bear, Oskar and the Moon Rocks and Oskar and the Storm. Kelly Maree is working on the next books in the series, aiming for around 20 books to complete the set.
WEBSITE: www.kellymareeauthor.com
FACEBOOK: kellymaree.author
INSTAGRAM: @kellymareeauthor
Jacqui Preugschat is a Brisbane based happily married mother of 4 beautiful children, who has a passion for encouraging girls to use their talents.
She is also a qualified Special Education Teacher, University Lecturer
and Short Course writer for TAFE and is currently studying a Diploma of Leadership and Management with AIM.
Tessa’s Books Of Elegance is a series of story/activity books within which the reader follows the main character, Tessa, through a series of elegant activities; from cooking, dress and hat designing, sewing, to creating décor and even tutus. In addition, this series encourages society to come together, be kind, thankful, to give, inspire, and support each other in our own unique goals and dreams.
WEBSITE: www.jacquipreugschat.com
