A Joyful Pause: 52 Ways to Love Life was the winner in the Inspirational/Spiritual category of the 2019 IndieReader Discovery Awards, where undiscovered talent meets people with the power to make a difference.
Following find an interview with author Nicole Taylor.
What is the name of the book and when was it published?
The name of my book is A Joyful Pause: 52 Ways to Love Life. It was published in August of 2018.
What’s the book’s first line?
The book’s first line is “This book is a love letter.”
What’s the book about? Give us the “pitch”.
A Joyful Pause is about coming home to yourself. Work has shifting demands, home life is busy, and the world around us is changing at an unparalleled speed. Now is the time to find the place in each of us that is steady in the midst of change. Learning how to pause is a helpful practice. We can build the habit of taking a few moments out of each day to turn our awareness inward. A Joyful Pause is structured to make this easy for you to do. These practices are here to help you bring more of your whole self into your life every day and to feel the love that is always there, just under the surface of our experiences.
What inspired you to write the book? A particular person? An event?
I’ve studies yoga, meditation, conscious living, and Ayurveda for years. All of those skills came together to support me and help me to stay balanced while I was going through a divorce a few years ago. As I used the tools every day to find my way back to myself, I thought others might be able to benefit. Many of us are going through losses or transitions and it can be easy to lose sight of self-care and self-love. I wrote this book to help people find their way back to themselves.
What’s the most distinctive thing about the main character? Who-real or fictional-would you say the character reminds you of?
Since it’s a motivational book, the main character is you!
What’s the main reason someone should really read this book?
All of us are at different stages of life, and each of us has some type of challenge that we need to navigate. Even for those times when life is going like gangbusters, self-care is still important for us to build a well of energy that supports our continued resilience. Someone should read this book if they’d like to start or re-energize a self-care practice. They should read this book if they feel like they need to find tips for centering. And they should read this book if they want practical, actionable activities that build a sense of inner love that ripples out into the world.
What do you do for work when you’re not writing?
When I’m not writing I am a manager of communications at a healthcare not-for-profit. I see my role as telling our story in a way that builds connection externally, and a sense of belonging internally for the staff.
Is there something in particular that motivates you?
I think that there are practical, everyday tools people can use to feel more connection, more love, and more aliveness. I am motivated to help people find the tools that work for them so they can have more joy in their lives. As each of us amplifies the best in ourselves, we inspire one another and we change the world.