Wendi Christner | The Ultimate Retail Therapy

Feeling down? Buy a new book. Seriously. Have you ever thought about the reasons
we love to read? Sure, there are several, but lately I’ve been giving a lot of
thought to the way stories comfort us.

At our core, we all yearn to connect with others. And we do it all the time. We
pet animals. We enjoy being held by and holding those we love. We like to share
our energy in a calm, loving way because it soothes us and those we touch.

As a child, did you ever press your fingers against a boo-boo or lie on the
grass when you were upset? I did, too. Back then I didn’t think about the nature
of energy, but innately I understood there was power within us and within the
world. Power that could restore our emotional and even physical peace.

As years passed and life brought me experiences, I explored that energy in
different ways. Curious about the power of the mind, I became a certified
hypnotherapist. I’ve received the attunements of reiki. I’ve sought healing from
acupuncturists, massage therapists, and a shaman, among others. I was raised in
Southern churches, have a relationship with God and Christ, and I strongly
believe in the power of prayer.

Through all my searching and experience I’ve become confident there are things
we don’t understand, but that a powerful, unseen energy is around us, affects
us, and nurtures us. People have learned to tap into that energy in different
ways and call it by different names, but I believe it all comes from the same
source.

What does this have to do with reading? Simply, stories have energy, too, and
they offer a connection.

Fictional characters seek relief from suffering the way we all do. None of us
are without wounds, and no one wants to feel alone. If we see ourselves in a
character, we become inspired by that character’s struggles and accomplishments.
On a deeper level, we believe if she can succeed maybe we can, too. That’s how
novels empower us. All that is needed is the connection.

Cassidy, the most wounded character in my novel WATER BEARER, accidentally started a fire that killed her parents. Her journey is one many of us can relate to, though the tragedies we’ve experienced are different from hers. We can share her suffering, her hope, and her instinct to survive. We also know forgiving ourselves can be harder than forgiving others. In the course of writing and revising WATER BEARER, I’ve read the manuscript at least a dozen times, maybe more. Without fail, I have laughed, cried, and fallen in love. Every. Single. Time. But more than that, I’ve been inspired to seek forgiveness of myself and others.

If you’ve sought to ease your personal wounds, no matter your spiritual beliefs,
you probably know by now there is only one way to overcome emotional suffering.
Forgiveness. Forgiveness of yourself and forgiveness of others is how you find
peace. It’s how you make room for more joy in your life.

I invite you to read WATER BEARER. I invite you to laugh, cry, and fall in love. I invite you to feel the connection and share the energy of this story.

Thank you for having me here today. It’s truly an honor.

Water Bearer Blurb