21 Jan

Nan’s Dream Became A Reality…Read and Be Raised Up…

Yes, just as the beautiful banner filled with red hearts boldly declares: Dreams Really Do Come True…it is True that they do. This isn’t just a song that someday over the rainbow they will. You can make your dreams come true now.

Over these past 6 weeks, I went on an “Odyssey of Trust.” I knew change was imminent and that I had to be part of it, or it would happen “to” me and not necessarily “for” me. Perhaps without taking my own stand, the changes would not have been particularly favourable. So when I got the strong inner guidance to move away, I made a conscious choice not to question it.

This did not mean I wasn’t trembling in my boots. This did not mean I had any idea of where I was going. This did not mean I had certainty or guarantees of anything. I just knew that I had to follow this directive. So I did. And do you know what? Only six weeks later, I moved from Victoria, my city of 22 years, and found a new place to call home in Nanaimo, British Columbia. Goodness! And not just “a new place.” I LOVE my new apartment. It is Truly a Dream Come True! I swear, I don’t know how I kept it all together – having so many details to navigate – but you know what, “I” alone, did not keep it all together.

The Universe supported me with heavenly angels and earth angels every step of the way! And THAT is what happens when we listen to the promptings of our soul. When we surrender to a deeper truth that comes from authentic listening and then trust, we will be led to the right people and circumstances and to the path of our dreams – the dreams that really do come true!

I promise you this is possible. Let’s hear from Nan Campbell about how she made her dream to write a book come true for her, even though she had voices of fear in her head – you know – the kind we all have attached to limiting beliefs such as “I’m not a writer, no-one would believe it, what would so and so say,” and more. These voices can be very seductive. I understand. Writing a book is a big deal. But you know what she did instead, she quieted the voices, decided to move out of her comfort zone and go for it!

As apprehensive as she was, she said YES to herSelf to join my Author Mentorship Program. Today, she is the published author of “I Almost Forgot I Was Happy… My Occasionally Raucous Journey from Melancholy to Peace of Mind.”

Since taking those first tentative steps in 2020, she has become a leader in her field – and it just happens that her field is extensive. She is a serial learner and has degrees, certificates, and qualifications in multiple healing modalities. She is a sought-after therapist – a one-stop-shop leader, with a waiting list of steady clients.
Visit her website here: www.thecompassprojecttherapy.com

From Inspiration to Memoir:
Nan’s Author Mentorship Story

“I joined Junie’s Author Mentorship Program (AMP) with a dream—to tell my story. Through weekly AMP meetings with my cohort, ongoing Sunday Sacred Writing Circles and, most importantly, my weekly one-on-one coaching and mentorship sessions with Junie, my confidence grew to where today, I stand proud as a published author! I can’t say enough about how I would anticipate with joy my time spent in those meetings with Junie. They became a mainstay in my life of inspiration.”

~ Nan Campbell

Nan, a Radical Enthusiast, Mindful Therapist, and practitioner with advanced training in Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy, Reiki, and Hakomi, brings her unique perspective to her work with people from all walks of life. Her memoir will soon be available as an audiobook, with a limited edition of print copies also in the works. Stay tuned for its release!

If you’ve ever wondered, “Can I write my story? Will I become a published author one day?” let Nan’s experience inspire you to take the leap and transform your life. Her story is proof that when you say yes to your dreams, the magic begins.

I have enthusiastic testimonials from thousands of writers over the 35 years I have been a writing coach. Their true stories gave me this motto:

“The sweet whisperings of your soul meet you on the page and something shifts.
You strengthen. You begin to stand taller and one day you notice that
your voice on the page has become your voice in the world.”

Whatever your dream is – no matter what, take the steps that will make you soar. Perhaps it’s not a book – it’s another form of creative expression.  Begin this Brand New Year – 2025 – soaring to the very top!  I’ll give you a big hug when you get there! 

“One can never consent to creep when one feels an impulse to soar.”

~ Helen Keller


More Reasons for Listening to the Promptings of Your Soul

In December I had the privilege of speaking at the Make Books Better Summit. My talk, “Your Life Matters: How to Value Yourself as a Writer Standing Tall in Your Power as a Bestselling Author”, explored how to overcome self-doubt, connect with your authentic voice, and uncover the transformative power of storytelling. If you missed it, this is your invitation to be inspired and take the first step.


If you’ve been waiting for the perfect moment to start or complete your book,
this is it.

The Author Mentorship Bootcamp Retreat

January 26–30, 2025

Bethlehem Centre, Nanaimo, BC

🔗 Read all the details here!

Imagine five days immersed in:

  • Dedicated writing time to focus solely on your story.
  • Personalized guidance to overcome blocks and gain clarity.
  • A supportive community of like-minded writers cheering you on.

Whether you’re writing a memoir, sharing expertise on what you love, or crafting a legacy for your loved ones, this retreat will empower you to bring your story to life.

💻 Need a chat first? Let’s connect for a free Clarity Call to explore how this retreat can support your writing goals. Simply click here to book your call.

🔗 Learn more and register here today!


Writing Tip & Prompt

Tip: The most compelling stories are rooted in authenticity. Write as if you’re speaking to a dear friend. Let your words reflect your truth.

Prompt: What is one lesson from your life that others could learn from? Write it as a story you’d share over coffee with a friend.

Your wisdom could be exactly what someone needs to hear. 

This is just a small taste of what you can expect at the retreat. Imagine diving even deeper into your story, surrounded by inspiration and guidance every step of the way.

I would be honored to help you bring your story to life. Whether you’re just beginning or ready to refine your manuscript, this retreat is your time to shine.

🔗 Learn more and register here today!

I can’t wait to see you there!
Junie

📧 Have questions? Email me at jdswadron@gmail.com —I’d love to hear from you!

P.S. Did you know my play, Madness, Masks, and Miracles, is available to view for free until the end of the month? It’s a powerful exploration of mental health, healing, and the masks we wear. Don’t miss this opportunity to watch it for FREE!

Please share my website with your friends!
17 Jan

From Inspiration to Memoir: Nan’s Author Mentorship Story

In this heartfelt testimonial, Nan Campbell shares her inspiring journey through Junie Swadron’s Author Mentorship Program. From Sunday morning writing circles to crafting and completing her transformational memoir, “I Almost Forgot I Was Happy… My occasionally raucous journey from melancholy to peace of mind”, Nan reflects on the magic of writing, the power of sharing stories, and the profound guidance she received.

Nan, a Radical Enthusiast, Mindful Therapist, and practitioner with advanced training in Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy, Reiki, and Hakomi, brings her unique perspective to her work with people from all walks of life. Her memoir will soon be available as an audiobook, with a limited edition of print copies also in the works. Stay tuned for its release!

If you’ve ever wondered, “Can I write my story?”, let Nan’s experience inspire you to take the leap and transform your life through writing.

Author Mentorship Bootcamp Retreat: Are you ready to write your story and make it shine?

Join me at the Author Mentorship Bootcamp Retreat, happening January 26–30, 2025, at the beautiful Bethlehem Centre in Nanaimo, BC. This 5-day retreat is your opportunity to immerse yourself in dedicated writing time, structured guidance, and one-on-one mentorship. Whether you’re starting your book or refining your story, this transformative experience will empower you to bring your book to life and share it with the world. Don’t wait—your story deserves to be told! https://bethlehemcentre.com/program/2906/author-mentorship-bootcamp/

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14 Jan

Watch Junie’s Talk from The Make Books Better Summit on Dec. 10, 2025. “Your Life Matters: How to Value Yourself as a Writer Standing Tall in Your Power as a Bestselling Author”

Our lives are made up of a series of stories and not one is the same as another. Each of us are so incredibly unique and we all know that stories are what connects us to our humanity. We also know that truth is stranger than fiction! Reflecting back on our lives is one of the richest endeavours we can undertake.  Socrates said, “An unexamined life is not worth living” and what I think he meant was that without reflection we are deprived of meaning and the purpose of existence.

As a psychotherapist and writing coach for over 30 years, one of my favourite things in life is to help people know that their life matters. Not everyone wants to write a book about it.  And even those who know in their soul that it is something they truly do want, they often sabotage themselves with unrelenting negative self-talk – things like, “I don’t really have a story worth telling”, or “there’s so many stories like mine out there already”, or my favourite, “I can’t spell”.

If you have a dream to write a book, and people have been telling you for years that you should, and that this dream keeps coming back, consider that it is not a dream, that it is your Destiny. 

Perhaps your book is your personal life story that you wish to leave as a legacy to share the wisdom you have gleaned over your lifetime, or you are an entrepreneur and you want to convey your passion – what you have discovered that will help others to find their way in the world, if so this presentation is for you!

You will learn tools to bust through your blocks to write with confidence and ease, write with your most authentic voice, learn how the pain from your past contributes to your life’s greatest gifts and lessons, and that Your Life Matters!

One of my favourite things to do is offer Author Mentorship Retreats worldwide. This next one is in Nanaimo, BC, Canada from January 26 – 30, 2025. Here is the link for more information:
https://bethlehemcentre.com/program/2906/author-mentorship-bootcamp/

My motto is “The sweet whisperings of your soul meets you on the page, and something shifts. You strengthen, you begin to stand taller. Then one day, you begin to notice that your voice on the page has become your voice in the world.”

Are you ready to write your book? Start your journey with Junie’s #1 bestselling guide, Your Life Matters: 8 Simple Steps to Writing Your Story. Discover how simple and empowering it can be to share your unique voice with the world!”

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13 Jan

Is it a Dream? Or is it your Destiny? Join the Author Mentorship Bootcamp Retreat!

Click the image above to watch Junie’s Invitation to You!

Dearest friends,

Do you dream of writing a book but don’t know where to begin?

Maybe you’ve felt the persistent nudge of a vision calling you to share your story, but self-doubt shouts out questions like:

  • Who am I to write a book, and besides, who would read it?
  • What if I’m not a writer?
  • What could I possibly say that hasn’t been said dozens of times before?
  • What if I can’t spell?
  • What if I am criticized?
  • What if…(fill in your own)
  • And anyway I wouldn’t have a clue where to start!

You’re not alone. So many aspiring authors feel this way at first—but here’s the truth: if the dream keeps coming back, consider that it just might be more than a dream. It might just be your DESTINY CALLING!

This is your chance to turn that dream into reality! 

Join me, Junie Swadron, for a transformative 5-day bootcamp retreat:

✨ The Author Mentorship Bootcamp ✨
📍 Bethlehem Centre, Nanaimo, BC
📅 January 26–30, 2025

Click here to book your seat!

Together, we will shine the light on birthing your book and you will know that your dream is now a reality in the making.

“One can never consent to creep when one feels an impulse to soar.”

~ Helen Keller


Here’s what you can expect from this one of a kind, author mentorship bootcamp*

*A supportive, beautiful environment to ignite your creativity, confidence, and clarity.

  • The gift of time and space, free from daily demands, to focus fully on crafting your story.
  • Heart-to-heart support to build confidence from the inside out.
  • Razor-sharp clarity about what your book is about and who it’s for (vitally important!).
  • Crafting your outline—turning your vision into structured chapters.
  • Dedicated writing time in a beautiful, natural setting to work on your book with clarity and confidence.
  • A supportive circle of aspiring authors to cheer you on.
  • I will be present to answer ALL your questions and concerns
  • As a therapist, I am here to hold sacred space for you to traverse and transcend painful triggers that may arise as you write deep into your stories.
  • I will teach you how to write from your non-negotiable unique authentic voice and stand proud there
  • *Bonus #1: a powerful mock book launch to envision your success.
  • *Bonus #2: An E-copy of my #1 Amazon Best seller “Your Life Matters” 8 Easy Steps to Writing Your Story
  • *Bonus:#3: An exciting opportunity to continue working on your book with your same cohort (whom you’ve come to know and love!)  after our bootcamp, via Zoom. 

Whether you are a novice or a seasoned writer, this retreat is for everyone who knows in their heart that they have a story to tell. 

Many of my students are writing books to help others who are going through similar challenges that they, themselves, have learned to overcome.

Some are entrepreneurs who wish to use their book for even more credibility for their services and to have on hand at their talks and workshop gatherings.

Others are writing their memoirs to have a beautiful legacy to pass down to their families.

Whatever your reasons are, your voice is unique, your story matters, and your life matters. YOU MATTER!

Supplies to Bring:

Just the basics—a journal, pens, and a laptop (optional). My book, Your Life Matters: 8 Simple Steps to Writing Your Story, is also available for purchase on Amazon as supplementary reading.

My motto is:

“Your soul meets you on the page, and something shifts. You strengthen. You begin to stand taller. Then one day, you notice that your voice on the page has become your voice in the world.”

If this resonates with you, I invite you to join me this January. Let’s make 2025 the year you finally write your book that has been your Destiny from the first time it appeared in your awareness.

If what you are reading resonates for you but you have questions, please book a complimentary 30-minute, Clarity Call on Zoom. I will help you get clear on whether what I am offering is for you at this time. There is absolutely no pressure.

Click here to book your complimentary call!

Click here to book your seat at the Author Mentorship Bootcamp Retreat!

To Your Bookwriting Success!,
Junie

#1 Best-Selling Author | Psychotherapist | Writing Coach

📧 Have questions? Email me at jdswadron@gmail.com —I’d love to hear from you!

PS: Want to learn more? Watch these testimonials and see how the Author Mentorship Bootcamp Retreat has changed the lives of the participants!

Watch a Testimonial from my Author’s Retreat on Bowen Island

Watch Corie Ellingson’s Testimonial from my Author’s Retreat

Watch Angelyn Toth’s Testimonial from my Author’s Retreat

Watch Dr. Linda Foster and Kim Locke’s testimonial from my Author Support Retreat

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07 Jan

An Odyssey of Trust

 

Happy New Year, dear friend! 2025 has arrived, and with it comes a blank canvas for us to create something extraordinary. What is calling you this year? What lights you up? What do you want to leave behind from 2024, and what do you want to carry forward into this fresh new chapter?

As I reflect on the past year, I recognize it was a year of transformation—the best of times and the most challenging of times. 2024 asked me to trust in ways I never thought possible. In the middle of this tumultuous journey, something extraordinary happened. I experienced what I call a “miracle meltdown,” a moment of rage and frustration that transformed into profound peace. That peace came when I reached out, in desperation, to a dear friend who has passed on. Her presence enveloped me, and the clarity I had been longing for arrived. I knew it was time to leave Victoria, my beloved home of 22 years, and embark on a pilgrimage of trust.

With each box I packed, I knew that I was being guided on this new path—even if I didn’t know what lay ahead. Trusting that inner guidance, I found myself at a writer’s retreat north of the Malahat, surrounded by the tranquility of nature. Here, I’ve begun revisiting a book I started years ago but had put aside – “If You Only Knew, A Book of Healing Letters”. Now, the words are flowing again, as if the universe has cleared the way for this project to emerge.

And as if to affirm this journey, miracles keep unfolding. Marci Shimoff, author of Chicken Soup for the Woman’s Soul and Your Year of Miracles, has graciously agreed to endorse my upcoming book. Her belief in my work is an incredible gift and a reminder that trust and faith open doors we cannot foresee.

This journey has not been without its challenges. I’ve had to let go of my cherished home and step into the unknown, which, as a Cancerian, has been no small feat. Home has always been my sanctuary, a sacred space where I create, dream, and share love with others. Yet, as I’ve released my attachment to the familiar, I am learning to trust the process and embrace the unfolding mystery of life.

A Call to Reflect and Create

As we step into 2025, I invite you to join me in reflecting on your own odyssey of trust. Take out your journal and write about your 2024. What lessons did the year bring? What moments of growth and grace stand out? And most importantly, what do you want to create in this new year? Write it down. Lock it in. Then, give thanks for the wisdom and opportunities that brought you here.

Remember, the light you seek is already within you. As you write your intentions for the year ahead, let your inner light guide you. Trust that you are exactly where you need to be.

An Invitation

If you’ve ever dreamed of writing a book, I’d love to support you in bringing it to life. My Author Mentorship Bootcamp retreat is happening this January 26-30 at the Bethlehem Centre in Nanaimo, BC.

It’s a transformative experience designed to help you overcome fears, embrace your unique voice, and take steps toward publishing your work. Whether you’re writing a memoir, a legacy piece, or something entirely unique and different, this retreat offers the space, guidance, and inspiration to bring your vision to fruition.

Learn more about the program and register here.

As I sit in this sacred space, preparing for what’s next, I am filled with gratitude for the journey that brought me here and for each of you who continues to walk this path with me. Together, let’s embrace 2025 with open hearts and a willingness to trust the unknown. Who knows what miracles await us?

Please share yours with me – big or small, and I’ll promise to do the same. I am hoping my newsletters will become a reciprocal exchange. It means the world to me when you respond. It’s starting to happen more and more, and I can’t thank you enough.  

With love and blessings,

Junie

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01 Jan

Looking Back with Love. Looking forward with Joyous Expectancy. Happy New Year!

Dearest friends,

Today, on New Year’s Day, I want to wish you the most magnificent brand-new year!  And I want to thank you for continuing to support me on my healing and growing journey – and for all the loving comments you have sent me in response to the newsletters you receive. They give me so much joy! It matters to me what you think, how you feel – and what’s going on for you – so please let’s make this a living, breathing, ALIVE reciprocal practice…as you feel inspired to.

It’s hard to believe that we are turning the page from 2024 onto a blank new slate, ready to co-create with The Universe a year of our deepest wishes, desires, intentions, and prayers fulfilled. And no matter what the year brings, may we find the strength, courage and skill to go with the flow, to accept what is and ride the waves of gratitude, no matter what!

When I think back to only one year ago, January 2024, my body was riddled with cancer, I was in a challenging marriage, and so many of my friends were losing their battle with cancer. In the end, six friends passed away in 2024. The grief I was carrying was unbearable. I was scared, my heart and body were filled with pain and the future looked bleak at best.

Entering January 2025, I am cancer free, my marriage to David has ended, yet we have found a beautiful place of friendship that feels kind, respectful and sustainable. We are both proud of this accomplishment. We worked at it!

On December 21st – only 10 days ago, I entered an Odyssey of TRUST when I I left Victoria, my city of 22 years, put everything in a storage locker up island and set out to begin again. Destination unknown. Full Surrender. (That did not mean fear didn’t pay me lots of visits along the way.) I didn’t try to push it away. I allowed it to come along, faced it, and never let it take the wheel. Nope…Never. God is driving my bus and I get the luxury of looking around at the scenery! Not a bad way to travel really.

Yesterday, I signed an application for what I am hoping to be my new home in Nanaimo – ready to move in on February 1st, the day after my Author Mentorship Bootcamp finishes at the Bethlehem Centre.

It was my wish that before I left Nanaimo on Dec. 28th, I would find my next residence. I think I did! It was the last place I looked at before setting forth on the highway to my newest destination – where I will remain as a writer in residence for the month of January. Here, I will be focusing on completing my next book, “If You Only Knew, a Book of Healing Letters”. I am so inspired now that Marci Shimoff has agreed to endorse it! Wowzers!

So far, so good. So far, so great actually! When I don’t let fear run the show…what if they don’t accept my tenancy application. (You know, the part in the movie where the preacher says, “If anyone wants to come forward and state why John Doe and Mary Smith cannot join hands in holy matrimony, come forward and speak..” and the witch and warlock from two blocks past the corner store where the groom lived when he was three come forth…)

Right, here I am going into a whole made up story…Yup, it doesn’t take much for this writer’s imagination to take off and leave me stranded in an alternate reality with no road map or GPS to find my way again…So, I am pulling back the reel now! I shall enter my inspired vision to take hold while I fill my imagination with all the wonderful ways in which it will feel when I live there. Ahh, that’s better!

And should things work out as imagined, I will move in the day after my Author Mentorship Bootcamp Retreat ends – on the heals of doing what I love more than anything – which is mentoring folks to write the book that their soul is calling them to write.

I am filled with joyous expectancy and more than anything, I am filled with gratitude!

Again, please let me say THANK YOU to everyone who has been following my journey and supporting me throughout with your loving comments and energy. I feel you and appreciate you more than you know!

Please let me know the best ways I can support YOU! And if you have a dream to write a book and that dream keeps coming back – consider that it is not a dream – but your destiny.

WHAT I WANT TO SAY TO YOU NOW IS: No matter where you are as you say goodbye to 2024 and hello to 2025 – emotionally, spiritually, physically, in every way –  know EVERYTHING in our temporal world changes. Nothing stays the same.

Except for one thing! It’s our connection to Source – to Spirit, to Universal Intelligence, to God, to the still small voice inside us which, when we are still, quiet and silent, we can hear its messages to us. And when we listen, we are led, albeit into a Mystery that may not have any visible safety belts attached – still, trust and know you are safe.

Learn to Fall in Love with The Mystery. Don’t try to make logical sense out of anything. Cause nothing is! Everything we thought was safe, may not have been. What we thought were “the rules” have changed a gazillion times since Covid and keep changing. What’s left…be still, listen and Let The Universe Love and Guide You.

Summon up what you can be grateful for right now. The roof over your head. The people who love and support you. The pets who bring you joy.  The water that you get to drink by just turning on a tap, the fresh air outside your door, the tree you can see from your window that shelter the birds, the groceries that you just purchased…Don’t take anything for granted. Take time to count your blessings. There are more than we can count when we take the time. And be sure to include the events in your life that suck! Yup, be grateful for those too because they will teach you things. There are invaluable gifts wrapped up in our challenges. When we get to the other side of them, our learnings become our strengths that we get to pass on to others! Now how cool is that!

Now consider where you want to put your time, energy and attention this coming year. What turns you on? What makes your heart sing? Do it! That’s all! Just do what makes your heart sing.

Don’t spend one more minute on rehashing what didn’t work out. It’s an energy stealer and we don’t get a second chance to re-live any given minute, hour or day. So infuse your days with Love and Beauty! Joy and Curiosity, Projects that inspire you. People who inspire you! Take that little kid in you out to the garden, the seashore, the swings in the park to play. Make sand castles with other friends -and motes that connect you. Put down the drawbridge and acquire new friends. Your tribe of besties. Rest. Restore. Write. Sing. Dance. Take pictures. Be your authentically beautiful self and know you are loved beyond measure.

Know I love you, I’m here. I care. Talk to me. Tell me what your soul intentions are for 2025 and let me supercharge them with you!

God Bless You.

Junie

P.S. And if you feel in your heart that it IS your destiny to write your book, don’t put it off any longer. Let me hold your hand right to the publisher’s door. And get started right here with my Author Mentorship Bootcamp Retreat!

P.P.S There’s been an incredible response to my offer of FREE access to watch my play, Madness, Masks, and Miracles, so I’m extending access to the play for the entire month of January. Don’t miss it! Click here to watch it now!

Please share my website with your friends!