Posts by Valerie Cantella
Wrapping It Up
Winter is upon us. And when I picture this season, the images that come to mind include twinkling white lights calling us to peaceful merriment, the scent of Christmas trees and giant pine wreaths, the joy of baking goodies, visiting with those near and far, and the excitement of finding gifts for loved ones—expected and…
Read MoreYou’ve Finished Your Manuscript, Now What
Tips for Self-Publishing Authors So, you’ve finished your manuscript and are waiting for the edits or your interior formatting, or your proof copy to arrive. With this extra time on your hands, you can amplify your book and author presence—for FREE—with these seven easy strategies. To get started, keep your key book information in a…
Read MoreDetachment and Boundaries
About nine years ago, I was at a therapy appointment discussing the challenges in my marriage. As I reluctantly described my woes, the therapist listened for a while and then said, “I think your husband might be an alcoholic.” I was shocked as she handed me a copy of Codependent No More and an Al-Anon…
Read MorePursue Your Passion
An email for a 4-day writing workshop arrived over the weekend. It was the same workshop that set me on my book-writing adventure. Back then, I recall being unsure whether I should sign up, even though it was free, because of the intensity of my job at the time. (Think back to January 2021. In…
Read MoreWhat I Know Now About Marriage
This weekend my husband and I celebrated our fourth anniversary, and it got me thinking about our wedding ceremony and intimate relationships in general. Many of these things also apply to our head and heart relationships with ourselves. So here goes: What I know now, in my second marriage with almost 23 years of cumulative…
Read MoreMother’s Day and Mental Health
May is Mental Health Awareness Month and the month in which we celebrate mothers. With that in mind, I am saying yes to several opportunities to talk about mental health from the perspective of a mom whose teens experienced significant anxiety and depression. But first, I want to share A Blessing for Mother’s Day, by…
Read MoreYou’ve Completed Your Book Proposal, Now What?
Insight from the year of my Hay House author membership and self-publishing journey For those who have just turned in their proposal for the Hay House Contest—big congratulations! Going through this process is so unique—it’s a demanding, time-consuming, and enriching experience—one that few truly understand. As someone who submitted a book proposal in June 2021,…
Read MoreLiving With Purpose
A few weeks ago, I shared this post, and I want to speak to the “why.” Today my husband Tom is celebrating seven years of sobriety. On his first sober birthday, he invited me to “give him a cake” at an AA meeting. I had no idea what to expect as I imagined AA as…
Read MoreFalling in Love
Happy February! I hope love abounds in your life during this month focused on affection and romance (and the Super Bowl and Olympics!) These days, I find myself falling in love. Except instead of falling for a person, I’m falling in love with my life, the life I was always meant to have. I have…
Read MoreExcitement and gratitude in the new year
“Enter this new year with a gratitude for this new chance to create your dreams.” Avina Celeste There’s something about the passing of one year and the beginning of another that sparks excitement for me, like turning the page in a book, anticipating the next chapter. And this year will have new beginnings, opportunities, and…
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