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FOREWORD MAGAZINE'S - FOREPLAY: RESA STEINDEL BROWN
An educator since 1970, Resa Steindel Brown is the author of The Call to Brilliance (978-0-9778369-0-1), a memoir in which she asserts that all children are born brilliant. She home schooled her own three children from kindergarten into college. The Call to Brilliance is endorsed by John Gatto, author of The Underground History of Education, Jack Canfield, co-author of Chicken Soup for the Parent’s Soul, Tobin Hart, author of The Secret Spiritual World of Children, and Victoria Kindl-Hodson, co-author of Respectful Parents, Respectful Kids.
Why you know the name: Author of The Call to Brilliance. Her work as an educator has been featured on CNN, ABC, NBC, CBS, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, The New York Times and The Los Angeles Times.
In her free time: I haven’t had any free time since 1978, when our first child was born. But when I do have free time, I write. And when I work, I write. And when I rest, I write. And when I daydream about having free time, I write. But in the summer, I kayak.
In her former life: I was a duck.
What book are you reading, and where is your favorite place to read?
The Biology of Transcendence: in bed, in the living room, in the kitchen, on the couch, at the beach, in my office, in someone else’s office, at the train station, at the bus station, at the subway station, at the airport, in line at the market, in line at the post office, in line at the DMV, at the counter of the DMV, at the counter of the dry cleaners, at the check out-line at the library and in the car waiting for my kids. My next book will be on time management.
What qualities do you value most professionally?
Honesty, punctuality and short emails.
What are you still determined to learn to do?
Parler le Francais and understand French phone operators. My youngest son went to school in Monaco for a while. I lived there with him and spoke what I thought was ‘not-too-horrific’ French. I did notice that every time I started a conversation in French, the locals switched to English. I won my daughter’s admiration when I actually understood the bus directions to the college. The phone operators, however, left me in the dust. I never understood whether I was supposed to leave a message or put another Euro in at the sound of the bong.
If you were a member of a tribe, what would be your special role in it, and why?
I would be a Shaman, because a Shaman is an elder, a survivor, and a healer. Shamans work with the elements, archaic symbols and the ancient feelings and primitive subconscious of humankind. Also, people bring them food.
What is your favorite hometown library and/or bookstore?
I love the Thousand Oaks Public Library, the Newport Beach Public Library, and Martha’s Bookstore on Balboa Island. Both libraries are flooded with light and filled with friendly, helpful staff and happy people. But Martha’s Bookstore has my heart. The converted seaport cottage is on the one main street of the island. It greets visitors through a white wrought iron trellis blooming with pink bougainvilleas, a brick front patio and an Adirondack or two for sitting. Browse as long as you want, or spend the morning chatting. The store’s owners Kathy and Stephanie will offer you their latest snack, herbal iced tea or champagne. They named the store after their mother, Martha, who loved to read.
What kind of music do you enjoy while you are reading?
Baroque and the sound of someone else cooking dinner.
What would you save from your home if it were burning?
Our four dogs, our horse and our daughter’s paintings. When our daughter turned seventeen, it became her BIG year for paintings…nothing less than 4 feet by 6 feet, the biggest canvas we could buy and transport home in the van. It was also her ‘Joan of Arc’ period. We live in southern California. Lots of glass to bring in the sunshine…little walls. SO…Joan of Arc hangs in the hallway, in the dining room and from the rafters of the living room. Our resident artist is now away at college. She took the horse with her, but left the dogs and the paintings. We have fire season once a year, as the surrounding mountains flame in the heat and we once again pack to evacuate. Recently our family van died, 12 years and 350,000 miles after its birth. In a panic, I thought we’d have to spend $30,000 to buy a new van just to save those paintings. “Take them off the frames, roll them and don’t let the dogs sit on them,” she explained dryly on the phone, chewing on a fruit roll-up. Never occurred to me. Maybe I should go back to college.
What question has never been answered for you?
“Why?” The question of “why” has ultimately never been answered. Why is there suffering? Why is there cruelty? Why is there war, famine, poverty or disease? Why? Why? Why? Why?
What would surprise most people to learn about you?
I have a sense of humor.
If you could have any five people over for dinner, who would they be?
The Pope, Madonna, Osama Bin Laden, Rush Limbaugh and Michael Moore. Although I think the seating arrangement might be problematic.
What book has impacted you the most and why?
Schools Without Failure, by William Glasser, M.D. It reinforced what I already suspected, that all children can find their strengths given the right situation and enough time and energy.
What is your prediction for independent publishing in 2007?
I think independent publishing will blossom. More people will find their voices, realize they have interesting things to say and find ways of getting their messages out. I think it will be more about passion than profit, but I think profit might do very well as a by-product. BACK TO TOP
AUTHOR BEGININGS - BLOG VIEW: RESA STEINDEL BROWN
What inspired you to write the book?
My children inspire me. They have shown me who we are at birth and how we can bring that miraculous divinely inspired being into adult life. They encouraged me to document our experiences so that others may benefit from our journey.
What is your favorite chapter in the book – and why?
“Stephen, Just Stephen” I enjoy reading about Stephen as an adult. It shows how the ‘chaos’ he was so good at creating as a child has facilitated him as an international entrepreneur with a big heart. It shows how what might appear to be our worst challenges can become our greatest strengths.
Do you have other books you have written? If yes, what are they?
I am currently working on a manual that well help others put their own journey into process.
Is there a particular event that stands out to you that helped you become an author?
I would have been a writer, but not a published author, had it not been for the faith, dedication, and vision of my youngest son, Matthew. Had he not taken the document, published it, promoted it and passionately believed in the message it brings into the world, it would never have become a book. It would still have been a document sitting in hundreds of files buried in my computer, and I would still be someone who writes, but not an author.
Was there a person in your life that believed in you even more than you believed in yourself? If so – who was that person?
When editing this book (20 years of writing) seemed like an impossible job, my husband just wouldn’t let me give up. Every night I went to bed feeling overly tired and overwhelmed. Every morning, sitting on my nightstand, was a gift…a love note and a new round of edits.
What advice would you give to writers wishing to have their works published?
Don’t quit.
Who is your favorite author?
I don’t have just one favorite. I read different books for different reasons. I really respect William Glasser, M.D., Joseph Chilton Pearce, Thomas Moore, Parker Palmer and a number of others who focus on the issues I think are vital to the way we see life and raise our young.
What is your favorite quote?
“Follow your bliss.” - Joseph Campbell.
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Thank you Resa for the blogview - Your book really touched my life and the way that I view my children and their personal inner brilliance. My favorite quote from the book - "Every story is a love story regardless of the content because it teaches us about us." BACK TO TOP
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