Valerie Harms

Excellent source of talks by experts
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This is a great site for learning about many, many authors. See my page at http://www.filedbyauthor.com/author/account/account.aspx

The Anais Nin Character Dictionary and Index to Diary Excerpts by Benjamin Franklin V is published by Sky Blue Press, 2009. This publishing event deserves 5 stars.

We owe premier Nin scholar Dr. Franklin and publisher Paul Herron a huge debt of gratitude for this book. Benjamin Franklin is Professor Emeritus of English at the University of South Carolina. The author of many books about American authors, plus jazz greats, and several books about Anais Nin, Professor Franklin now gives us an invaluable reference book.

I wish I’d had it when I was reading all of Nin’s diaries and fiction. Even though I tried to sort out characters myself, especially as I read Nin’s early stories and novel in Northwestern University’s Special Collections Department and eventually compiled Waste of Timelessness and Other Stories as a rare edition. But now the book is available for longterm fans of Nin’s work as well as newcomers.

The character dictionary scrupulously tells who is who and where they are written about. I was especially interested in frequent characters—e.g. Djuna, Jay, Lillith, Lillian, and Sabina. Surprising to me were the frequent references to God and on p.36 the reference for “Don Juan” as “man who hates Dona Juana.”

Part Two gives a list of all Nin’s published fiction as well as a list of the characters who appear in each work. Very helpful.

The final part of the book indexes the diary excerpts that were not indexed in the published Diary of Anais Nin. Thus, many of these come from volumes of the Anais: An International Journal. Here one can trace the references to Hugh Guiler, Otto Rank, and many others.

This book belongs in the personal library of all those who love Nin’s work and to university and public libraries around the world. This 162 page paperback costs $19.95. Order from your bookstore or visit www.skybluepress.com.


Additional note: A Café in Space, The Anais Nin Literary Journal, Vol. 6, 2009, edited by Paul Herron, is also available from Sky Blue Press. This issue features excerpts from a newly found trove of letters from Anais’ father, Joaquin Nin y Castellanos, to Anais. It’s fascinating the material available on the Internet now. I recommend viewing the interview with the elderly Bebe Herron at www.youtube.com/user/TheStevenReigns.
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Anais Nin was and is a major influence on my life. Her diaries are all about becoming a writer, a fulfilled woman, and creating. She also wrote novels and had important bonds with Henry Miller, the psychoanalyst Otto Rank, and others in the arts in the United States. For lots and lots of information and inspiring thought visit www.anaisnin.com . Click on link at top of right column.
Nin on Amazon  Read More 

Ordinary diary-keeping differs greatly from the Intensive Journal method. When people keep a diary, they write what they already know mostly. In the Intensive Journal you do exercises that bring up new material from your creative unconscious. You cover:

1. Persons of inner importance – angry, harmonious…
2. Work projects; short term goals; what started, what completed or blocked
3. Physical condition: health, sensual life, outdoor experiences
4. Social attitudes: beliefs, politics, historical roots
5. Striking events: fateful, mysterious, synchronistic
6. Dreams or images: symbols, insights
7. Inspiring persons from history or mythology, authors, political or spiritual leaders
8. Crossroads of decisions: choices & consequences
9. Experiences of connection or meaning; times of alienation or disconnection

Ira Progoff at Amazon books Read More 

As editor of a lifestyle magazine--Distinctly Montana--I get lots of ideas about homes, fashion, dining, and keeping things green. I'm going to put together a conference on making smart chic choices. If you'd like information or to make a suggestion, please comment. I want to make the event as useful as possible. Update: this event will be held March 21st on the vernal equinox. See Events for details.
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Here are some books on writing that have been helpful:
Eric Maisel's books

Francine Prose's Reading Like a Writer

Norman Mailer's The Spooky Art Read More 

5 Tips for Working With Dreams

1. Write down a dream.
2. On separate page, called “enlargements,” note the tone and movement and write a summary of how you see this dream correlating with any aspect of your life: relationship, work, body, politics, nature the divine. Note the story. A person in the past may be relevantfor today. Dreams of people are about you, not the other person.
3. Close your eyes and reimagine yourself in the dream. See if it unfolds in any way. Go with it as you would a meditation. Afterwards write about your experience.
4. Dialogue with any part. On paper ask each part, even a table or lake or animal, to speak to you and tell you what it would like you to do.
5. Take an action directly related to the dream, even if it is just to paint it.
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I have long been involved with Montana Friends of Jung. Recently I gave a program on dreams. Below are some tips and recommended books as well as our Web site, which you can check for programs.

Web site: http://www.montanafriendsofjung.org

Really good books:
Carl Jung, Memories, Dreams, & Reflections
Jeremy Taylor, Dreamwork
Robert Johnson, Inner Work
Marie-Louise Von Franz with Fraser Boa, The Way of the Dream
E. Whitmont & S. Perera, Dreams: Portal to the Source
Robert Bosnak, A Little Course in Dreams Read More 

Jung books at Amazon


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