Book Signings, Creative Workshops, Author Talks and Updates
Join me on Saturday, April 27th from 2:00pm-7:00pm for a book signing at Creative Suitland’s Cultural Arts Festival! Located at 4719 Silver Hill Road, Suitland MD. I’ll be vending/selling all of my books including my newest poetry book, “Artists’ Paradise Pieces of Life Volume 3.”
Come and check me out! There will be other vendors there, activities for the kids, classes, food and much more. Admission is FREE!
If you can’t make it, then please to go to my store here where you can order books (both paperback and eBooks). There are also bundles available as well!!
Looking forward to seeing my DMV area friends and family on April 27th! Spread the word and see you soon!
#bookrelease #poetrybook #poets #indieauthor #booksigning #artistsparadise #festivalseason #CreativeSuitland
Check Out the Replays of My Author Talk and Interviews Below:
Tune into the replay of MediaScope where I had an author talk and interview about my latest book, “Artists’ Paradise, Pieces of Life Volume 3.” We talked about the journey, steps it took to create it, the audiobook process and more! You can view MediaScope on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitch and YouTube. Don’t forget that you can order paperback books now through the store.
Check out the replay from my interview with KeKe Chanel on her show, “Kickin’ It with KeKe.” We talked about life, self-care and of course, my latest book, “Artists’ Paradise.”
Self-Publishing 101: The Foundation Workshop (Stay tuned for dates)!
Stay Tuned for the Next Workshop…If You Can’t Wait, then feel free to purchase the downloadable workshop at the store here.
Many have poured into me and helped me to get published and now it’s my turn to pay it forward. In this dynamic interactive workshop, participants will learn about the foundation of self-publishing and the steps that it takes to go from starting the writing process, completing the book to being self-published. I talk about accountability, copywriting and how to legally protect your work, the editing process, book layout, how to publish the book, marketing tips and various ways to do book signings. This workshop is designed for anyone whether they want to write a book or just learn about the process. Please bring your questions and let’s go!
HERE’S WHAT FOLKS HAVE TO SAY ABOUT THIS WORKSHOP:
“I attended this workshop and loved it. I left wanting more.”
“This workshop is great for those looking to self-publish and for those who have self-published (like myself) who are looking for additional resources and tips for their next projects.”
“It was such an amazing class! Thank You!”
Self-Publishing 201: The Next Steps Workshop (Stay Tuned for Dates)!
Workshop participants have asked for a follow up to 101 so I created Self-Publishing 201: Next Steps. In this 2-hour workshop we will pick up where we left off in Self-Publishing 101 and do a deeper dive and look at what is next after you self-publish that first book. We will review more marketing tips, ways to reach out to people, investing in a website, audio books, book clubs, a deeper look into ways to self-publish if you want to change the first way you did it and what some of the best companies are offering in regard to print and price, building your audience, how to use your books as tools and resources for other, partnering with organizations and more. The work is never done once you publish a book, the goal is to now build momentum on the first book and keep it going.
This workshop is for participants who have taken Self-Publishing 101 (or have taken other classes and want to learn more), want to know more about the self-publishing process and ready to take that deep dive and learn more! 101 is not required!
HERE’S WHAT FOLKS HAVE TO SAY ABOUT THIS WORKSHOP:
“I learned so much from Serena about the in’s and outs of self-publishing. I appreciated her transparency about her journey and all of the information that she presented!”
“I thought that I was taking too long on writing my book, let alone publishing it and Serena taught me that writing and self-publishing is not a race, but a marathon. The goal is to finish but the timeline is up to me. I felt so much better and now I am buckling down and writing again and I know I will be published. Thank you!”
“I found Serena Wills did a great job of compressing so much useful information, along with great insights, in a relatively short amount of time. She was great at answering the viewers different types of questions, which is not always the case in webinars. “
SELF-PUBLISHING SERIES RECORDED WORKSHOPS AND DOWNLOADABLE HANDOUTS ARE ALWAYS AVAILABLE THROUGH THE STORE
Ovarian Cancer Awareness Fundraiser Continues!
September is ovarian cancer awareness month, it is also GYN Cancer Awareness month. I am an Ovarian Cancer Awareness Advocate. I will be raising funds year-round for organizations who support Ovarian Cancer patients, caregivers and survivors by selling a $25.00 option of my poetry book, “Crying Tears of Teal.”
This poetry book is dedicated to those who have battled this cancer, their families, the survivors and to the loved ones that have passed away. With the price of this book plus shipping you will receive not only an autographed copy of “Crying Tears of Teal”, but you will also receive cool swag as well, such as pens, pencils, bookmarks and stickers.
A portion of the proceeds raised by this book will be given to chapters of the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition.
Stop by my store and pick up your copy today!
Love Is Poetry Series
Love is a universal language and poetry blends in perfectly with teaching people about it. These workshops are open to the public for ages 15 and up. In each 1.5-hour workshop, a safe and creative space will be open for those who want to will learn about various forms of poetry. Participants will be invited to write poems using that form of poetry during the workshops using the theme of love and if they choose to, they can share their poetry at the end of each workshop. Poems can be about a love for their family, friends, teachers (past or present), pets, community, jobs, hobbies, memories, self-love, etc. We will conclude each workshop with a sharing of poems from participants. An example of workshops is below. Other forms we can explore are Cleave, Metaphoric and List poems.
What is free verse poetry and do all poems need to rhyme? Participants will learn about this form of poetry and the myth that all poems need to rhyme will be dispelled. People will be able to write poetry during a 10–15-minute block of time and at the end of workshop, there will be a sharing.
Let’s Tell a Story Through Narrative Poetry!
In this workshop, participants will learn about the art of storytelling through narrative poetry and what this form is all about. Narrative poems can be short or long and can use characters, a theme and setting. Participants will be given 15 minutes to write a poem and at the end, there will be sharing.
Pantoum Poems and the Art of Stanzas!
Participants will learn about this unique and creative form of poetry and how to use stanzas. The great thing about this form of poetry is that every stanza will have something from the last one. Let’s roll up our sleeves for this one! People will be able to write in a 15-minute block of time and at the end, there will be a sharing.
#poetry #poetryclass #poetrylovers #selflove #love #writing
WELLNESS WORKSHOPS WRITING SERIES
Below are a few workshops where we will navigate through life journeys together to learn self-care and coping mechanisms through writing prompts, letter writing, reflection, and more.
RECLAIMING YOUR POWER: HEALING FROM A JOB LOSS
(STAY TUNED FOR FUTURE DATES HERE OR ON MY HEALTH AND WELLNESS COACHING WEBSITE HERE)
Whether you have retired, were laid off, forced to resign; there are a lot of emotions that go along with that. Some of those feelings are grief because it is a loss. You might still carry feelings because it was a very stressful environment and has dampened your spirit. In this 1.5-hour virtual workshop we are going to review what is next for you. We will go through various activities that will assist in purging feelings so you can move forward. Some of those activities will include writing prompts and self-care tips to help de-escalate intense feelings. We will look at what you’re passionate about and what you like or love to do. The goal is to begin the healing process and review holistic tools so you can move forward. We will look at different ways to cope with our feelings so we can gently move forward into the future one step at a time. It’s time to break free of stress and hurt feelings so you can bust a move into your future on a positive note.
We will go through various activities that will assist in purging feelings so you can move forward. Some of those activities will include writing prompts and self-care tips to help de-escalate intense feelings when they arise. The goal is to begin the healing process and to give you tools so you can move forward. We will look at different ways to cope with our feelings so we can gently move forward into the future one step at a time. It’s time to break free of the stress and hurt feelings so you can gently move into your future on a positive note.
HOLISTIC STRATEGIES FOR WORK LIFE RESILIENCE
There are lots of people who go to work every day and are not excited about where they are going. They dread going to work and only live for the weekends or what is to take place after the workday ends. They deal with stressful bosses, challenging colleagues, clients and difficult projects on a daily basis. Join Serena Wills In this 1.5-hour virtual workshop where we will review how to care for yourself while at work and even afterwards. We will explore purging feelings so you can move forward. Some of those activities will include writing prompts and self-care tips to help de-escalate intense feelings when they arise. We will look at self-care techniques so you can thrive while working. The goal is to walk through various holistic tools so you can move forward.
Writing the Next Chapter: Embracing Self-Care During and After Caregiving
Next Workshop is December 13th, 2023, at 7pm EST. It’s Virtual and Free to the Public through the Alexandria City Public Libraries Duncan Branch! Registration information is coming soon!
Whether we are caring for a loved one due to illness, when they heal or unfortunately pass away; we are left with asking ourselves, “Where Do We Go from Here and What is Next for Me?” I lost both my younger sister and mother 2.5 years apart. While I was my mother’s caregiver when she had Ovarian Cancer, I took very good care of her, but lost sight of myself. I didn’t take care of myself, even down to the basics and after I lost her, my sense of purpose was blurry, and I needed help getting back on my path and even figuring out what my new path looked like. In this workshop we will explore my poetry book, “Crying Tears of Teal” which was partially written at my mother’s bedside and some take-aways from the book. We will look at where we are presently standing as caregivers or former ones, review our feelings and emotions, take a self-care inventory to see if we are taking care of ourselves (are we eating, going to the doctor, sleeping, working out) and start to look at what do we need and want for ourselves, what are our dreams and goals and what would our loved ones want for us now and in the future.
We will go through the journey as a caregiver, poems from Crying Tears of Teal and how it is helping many as a resource, a self-care inventory and look at easy ways that we can take better care of ourselves, do some mindfulness exercises and more.
In this 2-hour workshop, participants will walk away with written next steps, some take-aways that can help them along their path, we will write a letter or poem to our loved ones or us about how we promise to make sure we are taking care of ourselves, self-care strategies and a mindful meditation. Let’s see what we need now and what may be next for us on our path.
If we don’t take care of ourselves…then we can’t take care of others efficiently.
Participants will be able to reflect on their own journey, look at where they are presently standing as caregivers or former ones, review feelings and emotions, take a self-care inventory to see if they are taking care of themselves. Let’s work together to make sure you’re taking care of yourself while caring for others.
Testimonies from Workshop Participants
“This whole workshop was my self-care for the week…thank you.”
“Just hearing that I am not alone tonight makes me know that I can push on and that I have folks who understand my journey.”