Lotus Ink Newsletter #5
March 1, 2003

Notes from the Ink of the Lotus Blossom
Trust your perception. Listen to your intuition. Tune into yourself.

What's this newsletter all about?
Readers are those who describe themselves as creative. It's for intellectual risk-takers, self-proclaimed artists, and Skullduggery readers. Its mission is to help increase creativity, productivity, and self-esteem.

It will also let you know about where I'll be giving book readings,lectures, or workshops on Skullduggery or my talks on how to unleash more creativity in your life.

Feel free to pass this newsletter along to a friend.

What's in this issue?
How to be your own advocate in your dream life
Southwest News Herald review of Skullduggery
Murder&Mayhem review of Skullduggery
Upcoming book signings
Creativity workshop

How to be your own advocate in your dream life

As double-life creatives, we have learned how to walk in two worlds, but we may not have learned how to transfer some of the skills from our "real" life into our "dream" life.

We need to give ourselves permission to be our own advocate in our dream life.

*If you want to be a novelist, say so--even if you've never written one page.

*When you're ready to talk about it, just tell someone, "You know, I think I'd like to be a novelist some day."

*Just let that statement float out.

*When you feel ready, tell a few other people about your dream.

*It's important to talk about it.

*Notice who supports you and who doesn't.

Think back to your early days, before you chose your "real" career. Remember when you used to tell people, "I think I'd like to be a nurse"? or "I think I'd like to be a lawyer"? Remember when you were a kid and all the grown-ups asked, "What do you want to be when you grow up?" They actually expected you to say something like, "I want to be a brain surgeon." Even if you were only ten. Remember?

*Think of yourself as a child with your dream life.

*Don't worry about what other peole say about your "crazy" idea.

*Voicing your dreams, putting them into words, are the first steps to making it happen.

Double-life creatives often excel at their "real" job, spending countless hours on their resumes and many dollars on their first-interview suits, yet when it comes to promoting themselves in their dream life, they fumble about in rags and mumble unconfident words.

In my case, it's taken me years to talk easily about myself as a journalist so that I can come across confident and polished to clients to earn some contract jobs. Yet when it came to my creative writing, I thought it was all in such bad taste to promote myself. The sad thing is, however, no one else was promoting me either. It didn't matter that I wrote a good novel that received good reviews. The books still weren't flying off the shelves by themselves.

It's possible to transfer some of those hard-earned skills from your real life into your dream life.

*Try to make some connections on how you could get the "dream" gig, ie networking.

*What do you need to accomplish for your "dream" resume?

*Are you networking? Are you going to writers conferences or other types of conferences that fit your dream life?

*Work on your dream resume, hone it, and build it up over the next few years the way you have built up your real-life resume.

Many of the same principles in shaping your career in your real life apply in your dream life, such as education and experience. It's not that you need a Master's in Acting from DePaul University, but are you taking any acting classes, doing any self-study, participating in any community theater?

Just like your real-life career won't advance overnight, neither will your dream life's. Overnight successes only look that way to outsiders. Insiders know all the steps that were necessary to make that "immediate" success happen. Once in a while serendipity will appear, and you'll be ready for it. Opportunity and experience will intersect for you.

Stay open to those connections in your dream life the way you stay aware of them in your real life.

Unadulteratedly Yours,
Madame Foti


Southwest News Herald
Neighborhood Notebook by Joe Kulys
January 30,2003

While Chicago's Southwest Side isn't exactly a hotbed of art and literature, every generation or so it seems to produce an author of note. A generation ago it was John Powers, a Brother Rice High School graduate who earned fame and fortune with The Last Catholic in America and Do Black Patent Leather Shoes Really Reflect Up?

A generation later it may be Silvia Foti's turn.

Skullduggery, Foti's debut novel, is a fast-paced fictional tale of mystery that just about any Chicagoan can enjoy. It involves a crystal skull said to harbor a supernatural force, a murdered Chicago mayor dying in the arms of a surprised member of the press at a New Year's ball, crooked aldermen involved in a cigarette scam, a free-for-all brawl in City Council chambers, and much more.

It's a serious suspense with a good dose of humor added, and you don't see that too often---a legitimate work of literature that doesn't take itself completely seriously, that's not afraid to wink at the reader.

Most folks haven't heard of the Foti name (yet), but many of us in the Marquette Park area remember Silvia Foti by her maiden name, Kucenas. She grew up right here, graduating from Maria High School and St. Xavier University. Her late mother was an opera star, and her maternal grandfather was Jonas Noreika, a World War II general in Lithuania also known by his code name, General Storm. He was a genuine patriot who fought the Communists and paid for it with his life at the hands of the KGB.

I recommend Skullduggery, published by Creative Arts Book Company and available in bookstores.


Murder&Mayhem review
The full review is found at www.murderandmayhembookclub.com/reviews.htm

Here's an excerpt:
With more suspects and more action than Alex can handle, this is a fast-paced, action-filled adventure. With a smart, sassy heroine, a humorous look at Chicago politics, some of the most interesting characters you will ever meet, and an ability to tell a good story with a completely unexpected ending, Foti's first foray into the world of mystery telling is definitely not her last.

Upcoming Skullduggery Signings
Monday, March 3: Noon, St. Xavier University, Meet the Author lecture, 3700 W. 103rd Street

Friday, March 7: 2 p.m. Books A Million, 11 Grant Square, Hinsdale

Wednesday, March 12, 7 p.m. Sahs Grammar School, Central Stickney (after the PTA meeting, discussion&signing)

Sunday, March 16, 2 p.m. Borders Book Store, 15260 S. LaGrange Road, Orland Park (discussion&signing)

Saturday, March 23: 2 p.m. Borders Book Store, 1144 W. Lake Street, Oak Park

Friday-Sunday, March 28-30: Borders Book Store, 2210 W. 95th Street

Tuesday, April 8, 7 p.m.: St. Xavier University Book Club Launch featuring Skullduggery

Saturday, April 12, 10 a.m.-Noon, Walmart, 200 S. Bolingbrook Drive, Bolingbrook

Saturday, April 12, 1-3 p.m. Sanctuary Crystals, 5524 Cal Sag Road (Rt 83), Alsip (Discussion&signing) (P.S.: This place sells crystal skulls!!)

Six-Week Creativity Workshop
With Silvia Foti and Joan Cantwell
May 10-June 14
Saturdays 10 a.m. to Noon
North Lakeside Cultural Center
6219 N. Sheridan Road

Week 1: Beginnings
Week 2: Young Self
Week 3: Creativity Monsters
Week 4: God
Week 5: Power
Week 6: Rewards

Call (773) 743-4477 or (708) 458-8156 to reserve your spot now! Just $45 for all 12 hours. Limited availability.

Book Readings & Workshops
Contact me at lotusink@aol.com for hosting a book reading on Skullduggery at your favorite bookstore or book club, or for doing a lecture on unleashing your creativity.

Story ideas and letters to the editor
Do you have a question or issue on creativity you'd like Lotus Ink to investigate? Send your idea to lotusink@aol.com.

Feel free to pass the Lotus Ink Newsletter on to a friend.

Bloom Like The Lotus