Saturday, November 22, 2014

Writers4Higher features Vickie Spray

Welcome to Writers4Higher


The purpose of the Writers4Higher blog: to feature authors in a new light, a fresh look at the way writers use their talents and life energies to uplift humankind. Writers4Higher doesn’t promote religious or political views. Authors are asked to answer three simple questions: simple, yet complex.


This issue, Writers4Higher features

Vickie Spray






Hi, Vickie. Welcome to the Writers4Higher family!

Tell me about yourself. Your book(s), your life, your inspiration.

As a young girl, reading literally kept me from giving up on life. Nancy Drew inspired me to use my wit, my determination and my sense of adventure to maneuver within my family of origin and then in foster homes. Alice in Wonderland reminded me that the unseen was not always something to fear and countless other books taught me that language can shift a mood and change a mind. Language can create possibilities and possibilities create hope.

I have written and had published short stories, personal essays and recently, I self-published a young adult novel named Rose Painted Waters. It is a story of a young girl who has a dream of becoming a mermaid at Weeki Wachee, a Florida tourist attraction as a way to survive her family’s propensity toward dysfunction.  I have had some amazing feedback from both adults and young girls and it has been an astounding feeling to offer to readers the same hope of overcoming the wounds of living as I have received by being a reader.

 Where do you see your writing taking you in the future?
I hope to write uplifting and spiritually inclined stories for the new media that is becoming available in our culture. Just like independent music and self-publishing, which have created a venue for musicians and writers, the internet has created a platform for all types of content. I think we change our world by offering stories that help people see better ways for conflict resolution, relationship to self and just general alternatives to lower consciousness reactions to a confusing world.   In my generation men had three options when they were upset about a circumstance of life. One was to wash their face in the bathroom. Next time you watch an old movie watch for it! They always lean over the sink put water in their hands and put it on their face. The other two options for men are to get angry and get drunk. That’s it. And women have had fewer choices though that has changed in recent media. Cry and well….cry. My point, and I see I have stepped onto a stump, is that media is a powerful medium and we could evolve into a species that uses media to help us transcend our fearful natures and I hope to be a part of that evolution.

How do you use your talents/time to help others?

I have a spiritual counseling practice in Tallahassee and my main endeavor as I see it, is to assist others to become their own healer. We each have an amazing ability to walk as humans on this earth from a place of love, strength and wisdom. But we have been told too many stories that we have accepted as truth and those stories have had a detrimental effect on how we view ourselves and others. My clients come to me so they can examine these stories and write their own story based on that internal love, strength and wisdom. I have begun a spiritual memoir based on my journey of healing, study and what I have learned about our desire as human to match that glorious inside Self with our daily lives.    

I have also founded a website called evolvetalk.com where local healers, teachers, social entrepreneurs and impassioned way-makers come into my office studio and videotape their ideas and practical applications for creating better lives, community and world. The video is then distributed throughout all social media and on their website. My hope is that Tallahassee can experience their local talent and the ideas expressed, like local farming, progressive education and alternative medicine thereby shifting our community toward a more conscious way of living. When I write for my evolvetalk show, “The Inner Within” I must find language that can convey ideas and concepts in ways that open people’s hearts and minds to the possibility of their life-given greatness.  I figure if I can help people know their beauty they will choose to be more kind, live an awakened life and become who they came here to become.


Would you like to find Vickie?

Check out the links to this talented author:

Contact Info:

Websites and Social Media

Amazon Listing-Both in Print and Kindle










Be sure to visit the Writers4Higher Market! We have gear for the writer in you.

Rhett DeVane
Fiction with a Southern Twist





Saturday, November 8, 2014

Writers4Higher features Roberta Burton

Welcome to Writers4Higher



The purpose of the Writers4Higher blog: to feature authors in a new light, a fresh look at the way writers use their talents and life energies to uplift humankind. Writers4Higher doesn’t promote religious or political views. Authors are asked to answer three simple questions: simple, yet complex.


This issue, Writers4Higher features

Roberta Burton




Hi, Roberta. Welcome to the Writers4Higher family!

Tell me about yourself.  Your book(s), your life, your inspiration.

I have lived in Florida most of my life, and in Tallahassee longer than any other place. I came to Tallahassee to get my doctorate, but the Universe had other lessons for me in this town. One of those lessons was that I was destined to write a novel. However, it was not until I learned of OLLI, the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at FSU, that I began my journey. I started by writing pieces for our small Writers’ Group. Our group began finding teachers to instruct us. I took online Writer’s Digest classes until I began to form my novel. I continue to take classes online and with OLLI. I bought books whenever one was recommended until I now have an entire wall of writing books. I attended writing conferences and took writing workshops, until finally through this wonderful community of writers, I have a published novel. I have also learned from reading novels, sometimes as many as three a week in many genres.

 Where do you see your writing taking you in the future?

I have begun my second novel about Lee Lindsey, another literary fiction tale with a philosophical twist on time. This tale features an antagonist, as well as at least one other character, from The Burgundy Briefcase. A third planned novel features yet another character from the original book.

How do you use your talents/time to help others? 

My blog is set up to answer, free of charge, relationship, addiction, and domestic violence questions from anyone who has a question in these areas. I just ask that the questioner use a pseudonym. I critique work for other writers and write reviews. I am a sometimes coach for writers who ask for accountability. I am always available to listen whether about a life problem or to a piece of writing.



The Burgundy Briefcase is available in print and e-book versions through Amazon.





Would you like to find Roberta?

Check out the links to this talented author:









Be sure to visit the Writers4Higher Market! We have gear for the writer in you.

Rhett DeVane
Fiction with a Southern Twist





Deep Thoughts, Bruises and All. First of all, Happy Holidays . No matter your outlook or what you celebrate, I wish you renewed ...