Awakening
The Inner Compass, book 1
by Abby Wynne
Genre: Magical Realism
When Marissa’s fiancé leaves her unexpectedly, she is left trying to put the broken pieces of her life back together again. The magical years of her childhood are now lost or long forgotten and, trapped in a downward spiral of worry and anxiety, nothing seems to be bringing the magic back any time soon.
Training to become a therapist, Marissa discovers an unforeseen talent for helping others and, for a while at least, she puts her own needs and concerns to one side. An unexpected windfall prompts a spontaneous trip to Peru, and an encounter while she is there triggers an astonishing series of events. Shaken but excited, Marissa embarks on a wonderful journey of revelation and adventure – after which, her life will never be the same again.
Marissa’s story is your story, is my story, is everybody’s story: we each must find our own true path through life, our one true way.
Abby Wynne, author and Shamanic Psychotherapist, brings all her wisdom to bear on Marissa’s amazing tale of discovery and healing. A catalyst for people’s healing processes, Abby is a problem solver, a creative artist, an alchemist, a healer, a mother, a daughter, a lover of life – and it shows in this, her first novel.
Excerpt:
She went back to room number three and was surprised to discover a woman standing inside the door.
‘Hi, I’m Mandy,’ said the woman, smiling at Marissa.
‘Hi, I didn’t see you come in.’ Marissa became quite flustered and pulled out her list of clients for the evening. Scanning down through the names on it she saw that Mandy was her second client, but they weren’t supposed to start until 7pm.
‘I know, I’m quite early,’ said Mandy. ‘Sorry.’
‘Yes, you are half an hour early, it’s only 6:30. But my first client didn’t show up, so I suppose we could start our session now, if it suited you.’
‘That would be great, thanks. I thought I’d have to wait around ‘til 7…’
‘Well, if the first client had shown up, then you would have had to wait…’ said Marissa, feeling a little irritated at Mandy’s lack of boundaries.
‘Oh dear, well, the door was open and nobody was here, so I thought I could just come in.’
She sighed. ‘It’s okay this time, yes, as there was nobody here, they didn’t turn up, but maybe next time they will.’
‘That happens here a lot,’ said Mandy, taking off her coat and hanging it on the hook behind the door. She chose a chair and sat down in it, putting her handbag on the floor beside her. She was about twenty, not much younger than Marissa. Her hair was dyed dark red, (some of the dye was on her scalp) and she had dark eye make-up. She had a tattoo of a rose on her left wrist, which took up most of her forearm, and she had three earrings in one ear and none in the other.
‘Have you been here before?’ asked Marissa, taking the cushion from her own chair onto her lap as she sat into it.
‘Yeah, I came before, a few times last year, and then last Christmas when my father died. And then before that too, when I was 19 when my brother killed himself.’
Author Interview:
1. Tell us a little about how this story first came to be.
I’ve written more than 10 self-care books, the marketplace is cluttered with them now. I felt that to write another one wouldn’t be adding value, so I took a step back and went inside myself to see if I could merge my life-long wish to write a novel, with the information that I want to share with the world – which is, we are not alone, and there is more to us, and to this reality than meets the eye.
I had read Isabelle Allende’s book ‘The House of the Spirits’ many years ago and was inspired by how she illustrated the main character’s ability to see the dead, while everyone else was unable to. That’s a little like the world of healing. I came up with a main character, Marissa, who was like me but enough unlike me to not be a straight autobiography. And the story came together from there.
2. What, if anything, did you learn when writing the book?
I learnt how much I enjoy writing books! This book was such a joy to write, I let it speak to me when it was ready. I worked energetically with it, as if it was it’s own being and waited for it to crawl up and sit in my lap and whisper to me. It did. And I enjoyed following Marissa’s adventures as much as I know some of my readers have, because I didn’t honestly know what was going to happen next!
3. What surprised you the most in writing it?
What surprised me was how it all came together, and how real the characters became to me. I didn’t mock up anyone, they all formed before me as I wrote them. For example, the clients. These are minor characters in a way, but they do shape how Marissa sees herself as a therapist, and are a useful vehicle to impart some wisdom to the reader. When it was time for Marissa to meet a new client, so I would sit with her and wait with her in her therapy room, just as interested as she was in wanting to know who would show up at her door. They were always interesting, each of them had a different issue so the reader won’t be bored with repetition, and many of them made progress, which I think would inspire people to do their own inner work. I hope it does, anyway!
4. What does the title mean?
Awakening is about spiritual awakening. Marissa, the main character, goes through a spiritual crisis in the books and we follow her through her awakening process, then to transformation (which is book 2), and then expansion (book 3, which I am currently writing.) The Inner Compass Trilogy, well, Inner compass is your intuition. You’ve got to keep your inner compass clear and then you can always find your way home. Where home, is your heart.
5. Were any of the characters inspired by real people? If so, do they know?
There’s one real person in the book, and she has her right and proper name, and she knows! Everyone else is an amalgamation of someone that I know, or is completely unique to the book. One of the main characters is based on archetypal energies, I have a feeling there are a few people who will see themselves in the book but I can assure you, it’s not them! Ha ha!
6. Do you consider the book to have a lesson or moral?
Yes most definitely. It’s about good and evil, why we are here, finding out who we are, and why we need to heal. And it’s about becoming empowered in your life, and allowing magic in. So many lessons are woven in, I don’t think any of them are hidden, or preachy. I do like to let the readers make up their own minds.
7. What is your favorite part of the book?
I think in Awakening, one of my favourite parts is her trip to Peru, when she connects with the force that drew her there in the first place and realizes that there are more beings in the world than just human beings.
8. Which character was most challenging to create? Why?
Séamus was definitely challenging because he is wise, but funny, a showman and a teacher who has a big heart. Or does he? You’re left wondering… You’ll have to read the book to find out more.
9. What are your immediate future plans?
I’m currently finishing book 3, then I think I’ll take a break, write some poetry, and make space for the next book to come in, whatever that may be.
About the Author:
Abby Wynne is the bestselling author of the “One Day at a Time Diary”, “How to Be Well” and “Energy Healing made Easy.” The Inner Compass Trilogy is her first novel, weaving her knowledge of shamanism, psychotherapy and energy healing into an exciting, fast-paced story which spans across many dimensions. Abby’s based in Ireland and lives with her husband, 4 children, a dog and a cat! Abby offers many ways to feel supported while you are on your path of healing; her mission is to empower people by teaching them how to heal themselves.
You can find Abby on either of her websites: here or here.
You can listen to her podcast Healing for Healers.
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You can buy The Inner Compass Trilogy on all good online bookstores.
Giveaway:
Abby Wynne will be awarding a International – €50 off any of the digital products on the author’s website www.abbysonlineacademy.com to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.
Thanks for hosting!
OMG, I love that cover. Thank you for the interview too.
The book sounds wonderful. Love the cover!