Jenifer Mohammed's Blog: Resurrecting Jenifer Mohammed - A Life Lived is a Life of Evolution - Posts Tagged "musing"

I have always had two passions deep within me, the passion to teach and the passion to write. For so many years, I have fuelled the fires to teach and let the fires to write flicker and slowly be dampened. I love teaching but it takes an enormous amount of time and effort to do well. So, for many years, I have been directing the majority of my creative efforts towards teaching even though there were stories deep inside me that were crying out to be written. I kept promising myself that someday I would find the time to write, but I always found good reasons to put that time off to some distant future.

I, sometimes, think I would have felt a greater incentive to carve out the time to write if I had seen writing as a way to escape from the daily grind of life. Alas, I love my life. I wake up every day excited to go to work - after all, I get paid for discussing literature and films with other people. What could be better than that? It took me many years to discover the answer to that question.

Sometimes, being so content in one’s life can be a definite impediment to change. I always knew that I could make a comfortable living teaching at the University of Manitoba and satisfy my need for change by continually creating new courses and teaching in different faculties. That took away the possibility of change occurring as a result of a negative situation in my life. Thus, I had to find a positive reason to make a change in my life, to become the writer that I had always known I was.

Eventually, I realized the sand in the oyster did not have to be an irritant but could be an enhancer; the sand could represent potential, the desire to create something better in my life. The hard part now is trying to find the balance between the need to make a living and the desire to satisfy all of my innermost passions. I still want to teach as it is a huge part of who I am, but I also want to send my stories out there for the world to read. That, of course, means I am going to have to carve out the time in my life to write them. So, this year, I have made the choice to cut down on my teaching load and use that additional precious gift of time to make changes in my life and resurrect the author within.

It takes courage to make a change when you have fallen in a rut that is comfortable and makes you content. However, I did find the answer to my question, what could be better than getting paid to discuss literature and films with other people? The answer is when the literature being discussed is something you have written.

Last fall, I finally published my first indie e-novel Resurrecting Cybele, which is about a woman who is unhappy in her life and makes the decision to recreate her reality in order to resurrect her life. As I now put on my publicist hat, I hope you will indulge me as I pitch Resurrecting Cybele to all my potential readers out there.

Once upon a time there was a female graduate student named Cybele who was extremely frustrated because she had not found her true passion in life. Every day, she thought of fun and interesting ways to make money and have a more exciting life. One day, she decided to resurrect an ancient Mother Goddess cult with herself as the High Priestess of her own religion. Because of that, she got suspected of being an eco-terrorist and being investigated by the Winnipeg Police Service. Because of that, her best friend decided to re-enact an apocalyptic ending to her cult in order to get rid of any evidence tying the cult to eco-terrorism. Until finally, Cybele was forced to confront her best friend and betray him too in order to save herself.

I hope you love reading Resurrecting Cybele as much as I loved writing it.

So, there I was just minding my own business killing time on Facebook and I saw a wonderful and enthusiastic review of my novel Resurrecting Cybele that a former student of mine had left on iTunes and then reposted on Facebook. Right now, in Winnipeg, it is cold and raining, and it seems like spring will never come. Despite my best efforts to look on the bright side that at least there was no snow left on the ground, I was feeling a little down. Then I saw this review and it was like rays of sunshine pierced the clouds and brightened my day.

Below is the review exactly as Laura Soriano posted on iTunes and then on Facebook.

"Hey! I read this cool book and felt like posting this! Must read if you want to keep being my friend haha jk!

Resurrecting Cybele will definitely lower your mental inhibitions. I think the way the story was developed is brilliant. A lot of unexpected things happen. I really enjoyed the female empowerment. Matriarchy definitely felt sweet whenever she spoke in the rituals and loved the symbolisms. You can actually feel empowered.


I related to almost ALL the characters,

I really loved Cassie since the moment she decided to stay out of trouble. I wish I had been Cassie many times in life! Cassie seems to be a really good friend. Although she doubted a little bit too much by believing Cyb was delusional. I would love to have a friend like Cybele. I liked hearing Cybele expressing herself when she was feeling concerned.

"You are the most wildly romantic person I know. Idealism seeps through every pore of your body" That’s how Cassie described Cyb.

Janus! What a smart guy! I wish I was as good as Janus playing his games. He has like super powers. Unfortunately I really suck at that and you always end up hurt. Better not to attempt it, Janus was a good reminder of that. His emotional detachment was thrilling in the story

I also felt identified with Achates, a successful lawyer. Not sure why but I was actually happy when he broke up with Janus at the very beginning. As opposed to Achates I would love to be surrounded by Cybele's kind in my professional and personal life.

And finally Cybele! Cybele is a such a sweetheart!! Although she denies being a good person at the beginning, as if she was ashamed to admit it, she actually is. Very unique, smart, talkative and wise. She is has an awesome sense of humor and the best of all is that she loves wine! I relate myself in her attempts to defend her moral code.

Gabe… He's too good. I couldn't avoid feeling jealous of Gabe. That Gabe doesn’t leave any vacancies open haha. But what can you do!.

Oh and not to forget the mindless minions hahaha. They played a very important role throughout the story. It is a good reminder to beware of brain-washers.
This book gives a lot to talk about and certainly revived me.

I got my money’s worth" - Laura Soriano.

Although I try hard not to take reviews personally as everyone's reading tastes are different, it's still wonderful to realize that I created something which had a positive impact on and empowered another person. To return the favour, let me say, thank-you, Laura, for lifting my spirits as well with your enthusiasm for my book.

Happy Star Wars Day to all my fans who are also avid viewers of The Big Bang Theory. As it is May 4, all I can say is, "May the fourth be with you." ;-)