Joanne discussed her fame with the book Chocolat, made into a $150m movie - alongside her experience of the publishing industry, her writing tricks, and the "magic of everyday life."
She was a true treat :)
The interview lasts just over an hour, as most of mine do.
To listen to my other interviews live at Writers FM, just visit:
Back in April last year, I revealed details of the Karl Blog.com inspiration cards - and how they were to be distributed throughout the globe.
Almost a year on and over 50,000 have found their way into diaries and onto fridge doors across our little planet.
I've even received mysterious little messages about them, such as: "I just got to work and this card was on my desk. My office door was locked. How did it get there?"
The answer: I don't know.
But they're being distributed - and on each card, you'll find one of my four favourite quotes of all time.
I'm reproducing them below, just in case you don't recall the original post.
While I'm on the topic... the ultimate pick-me-up is coming to this blog soon. The Karl Blog.com song. I'm not joking.
If you've ever danced, you'll know how wonderful and vital it feels like.
Once you're in the flow, the music moves you; the rhythm brings your mind, body and spirit to life.
You feel so totally in the moment. What's more, it's fun too!
That's how life should be.
When you treat life as a dance and give it all you've got, you start really living.
Of course, for best results, you choose your dance every time.
It's important that you do what you love ... dance your favourite dance. That way, you will enjoy it all the more.
You can up the tempo whenever you're ready. Or you can relax and enjoy a slow waltz.
That's the beauty of the dance ... you move at your own pace.
As long as you keep on moving, you remain in the flow, dancing through the great cycle that is life.
And the dance is one that takes you from birth until you pass away, into a new life or the summerlands or into eternal sleep, depending upon your beliefs.
I never cease to be amazed by the power of the mind and, more specifically, the power behind a thought.
According to the Oxford dictionary, a thought is an idea or intention and a process or power of thinking.
But a thought is so much more; it has the potential to change our reality.
The mind is a powerhouse of thoughts. It is constantly processing data received from internal voluntary and involuntary physical processes, from external stimulus recorded by the senses, and from conscious and sub-conscious thoughts. The mind is also potentially receiving transmissions from other sources not yet understood.
The mind really is a spectacular super-computer.
But just like your everyday computer, you need to be very careful when it comes to programming information in order to avoid conflicts or undesirable changes.
Your thoughts create your reality.
Choosing your thoughts and, more significantly, choosing how to react to those thoughts make all the difference when it comes to your life experiences.
So, it's extremely important to be careful what you wish for!
If your thoughts dwell mostly on the negative, you're going to attract negative experiences. Remember ... that's what you're programming your mind to receive.
Focus your intentions on the positive and you begin to attract positive experiences.
If you're a little sceptical about just how influential your thoughts actually are, then put your intentions to the test.
The Quantum Cookbook or Advanced Cosmic Ordering will give you a solid introduction on the power of thought and you'll also find plenty of guidance on how to attract abundance and create the reality that you'd really like.
In the meantime, just be careful what you wish for today.
If you've been feeling down and you've let the pressures of the world infiltrate your usual positive self, take some time out to reflect.
In fact, take a day off from your usual routine.
Treat yourself!
Babatunde Olatunji famously said (though rarely credited): 'Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is a mystery. And today? Today is a gift. That's why we call it the present.'
So, unfold your day as you would when un-wrapping a gift ... with anticipation, excitement and wonder.
You see, your day is just that ... a gift ... a beautiful, amazing, special gift that can become anything that you wish it to be.
When you treat life as a gift, you start to savour each moment.
You realize the potential to manifest wonderful experiences and surprises.
You start to notice the small but significant things that really bring magic into your life ... laughter, joy, love, beauty ...
And yes, the air is sweet and you're filled with vitality.
Your spirit is free and you feel like dancing ... so dance!
What an incredible gift this day is.
What's more, it's all yours!
So, enjoy the gift that is this day and may I wish you many, many more gift-filled days to come.
Imagine two paths diverging in a wood. Which way will you choose?
Are you going to stand around for ages wondering which path to take?
Will you look at a map ... consider the environment ... deduce how much time each route is likely to take ... so you can make a more informed decision?
Or will you just act spontaneously ... follow your intuition ... and just enjoy exploring the path you have chosen?
These two paths diverging in a wood are just like all the other choices that we are presented with.
Often, we are caught up in lengthy deliberation and indecision, unable to trust our intuition, fearing that we might make a wrong decision.
And so we stagnate and grow more frustrated at not being able to move on.
The thing to remember though is that there are no wrong turns in life.
Every choice and experience is a chance to grow, learn and develop.
Once you accept that, you can make decisions more easily and your life starts to flow.
Try being random!
Give fate a chance to play its card.
Just see how much fun you can have.
Being spontaneous and learning to trust in your choices brings about more fulfilling and meaningful outcomes.
And remember these poignant words by Theodore Roosevelt: "In any moment of decision the best thing you can do is the right thing, the next best thing is the wrong thing, and the worst thing you can do is nothing. "
Take a moment to reflect ... are you happy and fulfilled?
Are you enjoying the time of your life?
If not, then what are you going to do about it?
There is no better time than NOW so seize the day!
Not only seize it, but own it too!
Henry David Thoreau said: 'Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined.'
So, make sure that you're focused on living your best time ever - NOW.
Let go of the sabotaging thoughts and feelings that are holding you back or telling you that you can't live your dream.
Realize that you're here to experience life and to enjoy it.
You are more than worthy of living your best time ever.
Consider the positive in your life and be grateful for everything that you have.
In fact, celebrate those simple but powerful gifts that you possess ... gifts such as love, kindness, forgiveness, compassion, vitality, freedom of spirit, joy and so on.
You really have so much to be grateful for.
Celebrate the uniqueness that is YOU!
When you focus on making this your best time ever, you really start to live life with meaning and truth.
So, make this the day that you change your life for the better.
Make this... One Fine Day.
(If you're reading this by e-mail, visit www.karlblog.com to view the video.)
Are you living an authentic life of your choosing?
Are you doing what makes you happy?
Or are you just sitting back sulking and wondering when life is going to change for the better?
Here's the truth:
Life will only change when you're ready to make changes.
Mahatma Gandhi wisely said: "Be the change you wish to see in the world."
You need to create the life you want and then go live it.
That better life won't come to you if you're sitting in your chair doing the same old thing and being unwilling to change. Do that and all you will have is pipe dreams.
When you BE the change, you start living your truth.
You begin to blossom into the amazing individual that you have always wanted to be.
Let go of all the perceived blocks that are holding you back, such as fear, insecurity, low self-esteem, or sense of lack.
These are the thought-processes that stop you from changing your life.
Instead, choose to be fearless, bold, secure, confident and abundant.
Life is for living.
Believe you can manifest the life you want.
Believe in yourself.
Anything is possible with the right intent and direction.
Perhaps you're ready to take stock of where you are and what you're doing.
If so, a life audit is probably just what you need.
And, don't worry! It's not as painful as it sounds and there's no number crunching involved.
Quite simply, a life audit involves giving yourself time to reflect upon your life right now and working out what makes you happy and what doesn't.
By doing this, you gain clarity of mind. You begin to see what it is you need in your life and what you need to do to maintain that all essential balance and happiness.
Often, when we are busy 'doing', we forget how to just 'be'.
We don't always see that we are taking on more stressful situations, or making decisions that aren't necessarily right for us. We just keep on going until we start feeling out of kilter.
Doing a life audit brings us back on track. It reminds us of what we want from life.
And the great thing about doing a regular life audit is that we become more aware of what makes life work for us.
Once we have this clarity, we can focus on our intent.
Intention sets direction.
We are then ready to take the next step with greater enthusiasm, lots of energy and a more focused 'I CAN do' attitude.
It's only when you place intention and action behind the word that love becomes all powerful, magical and one of life's greatest motivators.
But what do we really know about love?
There is love for those closest to us such as a partner, family and friends. But there is also the love we can give to others, to life and the world around us.
Much of what we do and try to accomplish in life is motivated by love. We hope to have a loving partner, loving family and loving friends. We aim to love and be loved. We hope to have a life we love. Often, we are moved to decisions out of our love for someone or something.
For some, Love is regarded as complex, painful and difficult. Yet, when we love unconditionally and with truth, it is the easiest thing in the world.
To love unconditionally, we must first love and accept who we are.
Being secure and rooted in happiness allows us to love and be loved in the fullest way.
Often it means letting Go and letting God. It means stepping out of the self that was needy, fearful, insecure and feeling unloved in order to let love in.
'All You Need is Love' sang the Beatles.
'Nothing more, nothing less, only love' sang Louis Armstrong.
Love really is what we and the world needs now ...
Pure, unconditional, true love ... the magical essence that changes lives!
Today, I received a wonderful little poem in my Inbox.
It's called "Slow Dance" by psychologist David Weatherford -- and it helps to remind us that life isn't all about speed.
This week, I've been diagnosed with a heart murmur and pretty bad blood pressure. Which is shocking, really, as I consider myself a pretty chilled out guy.
That's why I'm taking this poem to heart.
And I hope you do too.
* * *
Slow Dance
Have you ever watched kids on a merry-go-round? Or listened to the rain slapping on the ground? Ever follow a butterfly's erratic flight? Or gazed at the sun into the fading night?
You better slow down. Don't dance so fast. Time is short. The music won't last.
Do you run through each day on the fly? When you ask: How are you? Do you hear the reply? When the day is done, do you lie in your bed With the next hundred chores running through your head?
You'd better slow down. Don't dance so fast. Time is short. The music won't last.
Ever told your child, we'll do it tomorrow? And in your haste, not see his sorrow? Ever lost touch, let a good friendship die Cause you never had time to call and say, "Hi"?
You'd better slow down, Don't dance so fast. Time is short, The music won't last.
When you run so fast to get somewhere You miss half the fun of getting there. When you worry and hurry through your day, It is like an unopened gift thrown away.
Life is not a race do take it slower. Hear the music before the song is over.
Your mum, perhaps. Your dad. Maybe your dog. A sibling. Your friends. A partner. Your children.
Our lives are filled with important relationships.
Yet it never ceases to amaze me how many people completely ignore the most important relationship of all. The relationship with the one person guaranteed to be with them for the rest of their lives.
... Themselves!
That includes me, by the way. I forget my inner-relationship all the time. And the inner-turbulence I've experienced as a result could knock the bowels out of Big Daddy.
Budda said: "You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love & affection."
So, why not consciously make the decision today to simply give yourself some love and affection - for absolutely no reason at all?
Literally no reason. Just do it because it's a smart thing to do.
Sit down - and for ten minutes or so, praise yourself, be nice to yourself, let go of "attachments" to arguments and issues.
Stop beating yourself up for being such a bad person. Stop slapping yourself every time you do that thing wrong again.
Just give yourself some love, some approval, some affection - simply because you can.
Let me tell you something.
I've made some crazy decisions in my life just because I haven't loved myself enough. Decisions that have literally changed my entire path, simply because I didn't care enough about this one most important relationship.
It's said: "If I am not for myself, who will be?"
Make the decision to be your own biggest fan, starting today.
And take time out to really give yourself the love and approval needed to make that happen.
Just for fun.
Try it out. And see what happens.
"I never loved another person the way I loved myself." - Mae West
"Never allow anyone to rain on your parade and thus cast a pall of gloom and defeat on the entire day.
"Remember that no talent, no self-denial, no brains, no character, are required to set up in the fault-finding business.
"Nothing external can have any power over you unless you permit it. Your time is too precious to be sacrificed in wasted days combating the menial forces of hate, jealously, and envy.
"Guard your fragile life carefully.
"Only God can shape a flower, but any foolish child can pull it to pieces."
"The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes - but in having new eyes."
Yes, everybody hurts.
Allow yourself to hurt just a little. Then rest, and remember that the sun will shine again tomorrow morning. Allowing you to look at the issue with new eyes. Hopeful eyes. Eyes of happiness.
And smile.
Because you are.
(Visit www.karlblog.com to view the video in this blog post.)
You've probably heard the expression 'getting out of bed on the wrong side'.
It basically means waking up feeling negative, depressed or in a foul mood about the day ahead.
Everyone, at some point in their lives, has probably got out of bed on the wrong side.
It might have happened to you today.
If so, perhaps it's the thought of an event to come ... or maybe you've woken up feeling sour after something that happened yesterday ... or it's possible that you don't even know why you're feeling so crotchety.
All you do know is that when you wake up like that, you feel pretty miserable and it sets the tone for the rest of the day ... that is unless you choose to override those negative thoughts.
And there's the key ... you have a choice!
You don't have to accept the way you feel upon starting your day.
You can choose to banish any negative stuff and replace with wholesome, nurturing thoughts that will set a positive tone for the day ahead.
If you can set your intention and choose a positive outlook when you wake up, you will feel more vibrant and ready to live your life with meaning.
Don't believe me?
Well, give it a try!
Start your day right every single day.
Wake up and smile, sing, dance and be the wonderful individual that you are!
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