Things are heating up with Blooming into Mindfulness: How the Universe Used a Garden, Cancer, and Carpools to Teach Me That Calm Is the New Happy. Have you checked it out yet?
I’m having a great time getting ready for my first public book signing tomorrow, Sunday, March 6, 5-7 pm, at the Caboose Brewing Company at 520 Mill Street, NE, Vienna, VA 22180. I’ve got my author bling ready (free bookmarks!) and slide show of photos in the book and garden photography to have running on the big screen in the loft of the Caboose, where the signing will take place. A friend suggested I bring notecards to sell along with the book. Why not?? And remember, the Caboose offers not only incredible craft beer, but a lovely dinner menu as well. Their hashtag is “Good Beer, Thoughtful Food,” and I can confirm from personal experience this is true! Parking is pretty tight on Mill Street, so try to carpool if you’re coming with friends.
A portion of the proceeds from the Caboose book signing will be donated to Vienna’s awesome Women’s Center, which incorporates mindfulness into many of its services for women, men, and children.
Busy on Sunday? Then here’s another opportunity for you to get your book signed (and hopefully tell me that you’ve posted a review on Amazon for me!! Hint hint…):
Tuesday, March 8, 7-8 p.m.: PUBLIC BOOK SIGNING AT ONE MORE PAGE BOOKS, 2200 N. Westmoreland St., Ste. 101, Arlington, VA, 22213
If you can’t make the signing at the Caboose, you have another chance just two days later at our groovy independent book store, One More Page Books, in Arlington, VA. This is also International Women’s Day. Come support a sister to celebrate!!
My Press Release
As a first-time self-publisher, I followed everyone’s advice to hire publicity help. I’m so glad I did! Check out the awesome press release that my new best friends Janet and Elizabeth at Smith Publicity put together for me! I’m on a tiny tiny TINY budget compared to most PR campaigns, but my enthusiastic team at Smith totally gets the message of Blooming into Mindfulness, as you’ll see from the release. What do you think? Pass it along to anybody who you think might be interested!
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Blooming into Mindfulness:
How the Universe Used a Garden, Cancer, and Carpools
to Teach Me That Calm Is the New Happy
by Martha Brettschneider
Begin Your Journey into Mindfulness!
LIVE IN THE MOMENT, NURTURE YOUR BEST SELF AND EMBRACE PURPOSE
“If you’ve ever dreamed of living a calmer, happier and more creative life, but felt clueless about how to make it happen, you’ll be inspired by Martha’s transformational journey.”— Dr. Mia Rose, Psychologist, Award Winning Entrepreneur and Author, Founder of the Soulwoman Sanctuary
In a world that’s constantly pushing us to move on to the next best thing, it’s challenging to fully appreciate the present. Whether we’re mulling over the past or fantasizing about the future, we often miss the beauty of now. Martha Brettschneider, a former international economist and stressed out screaming mama, shares her story of transformation in her debut book, Blooming into Mindfulness: How the Universe Used a Garden, Cancer, and Carpools to Teach Me That Calm Is the New Happy.
Sprinkled with practical tips on mindfulness, comical anecdotes, and an honest approach to work, family, and purpose, Brettschneider allows readers to reflect on their own life’s journey by traveling alongside hers. Blooming into Mindfulness provides motivation for those looking to find and/or renew their sense of mindfulness, presents a source of inspiration for those facing challenging life situations, and serves as a guidebook on resiliency and intentional living.
Through Brettschneider’s own challenges—from converting into a reluctant stay-at-home suburbanite to receiving a breast cancer diagnosis—she learned how to slow down, let go of her ego, and reorient every aspect of her life. Embracing gardening as a mindfulness tool, Brettschneider draws parallels from her flowerbed to her own life—whether it be understanding dormancy, pruning one’s life, or celebrating the power of blossoming.
“Never a deliberate spiritual seeker, I stumbled upon mindfulness teachings after breast cancer forced a complete life reboot in 2009,” says Brettschneider. “Mindfulness paved the way for a radical shift in my identity, which proved to be not only rewarding but truly life changing.”
Reflecting on themes related to Blooming into Mindfulness, Brettschneider is available to discuss:
- Taking control away from the ego – the transformational power of mindfulness and the freedom that comes with it
- Her personal transformation – how she completely shifted her focus from the power economist to master gardener/mindfulness thought leader
- Identifying the nature and source of your inner thoughts and knowing when not to trust them
- The vital importance of meditation as a form of physical fitness for the brain
- The mastectomy experience, and the inferiority complex that can come with breast cancer
- Gardening and the surprising therapeutic benefits of laboring in the soil and engaging all of our senses
- Creative and purposeful outlets that arise from exploring mindfulness, such as her award-winning photography that the 365org challenge sparked
- The efficiency of mindfulness as a way of life – how procrastination and wasted energy can be a thing of the past
- And so much more!
Martha Brettschneider is a writer, blogger, photographer, and master gardener. In 2009, she was diagnosed with breast cancer, which reoriented her perception of body, mind, and spirit. A former international economist at the Treasury Department and International Monetary Fund, Brettschneider transformed from a left-brained business woman to a meditation-touting creative finally at peace with the world. Brettschneider’s love for the garden manifested itself not only through mindfulness practice but also by serving as a muse for her photography. In 2014, she completed a year-long photo-a-day challenge via 365Project.org, which resulted in “award-winning photographer” being added to her bio. She lives in Vienna, Virginia, with her husband, two sons, and her plant-eating golden retriever Apollo (who has taught her the art of letting go).
Connect with Martha Brettschneider at marthabrettschneider.com and on Facebook and Twitter.
Blooming into Mindfulness can be purchased from Amazon and through other major and independent booksellers nationwide.
REVIEW COPIES AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST
Gotta run to the post office now to send off a big pile of review copies! Hope to see you at one of the upcoming book signings!
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