Mary Lane

Author Name: Mary Lane
Best Known Works: Meena: The Fiery Story of a Heroine’s Initiation, Reclaiming Her Authentic Sexual Nature and Her Relationship with the Great Mother, Divine Nourishment:A Woman’s Sacred Journey with Food
Where Can You Find Her? Meena, Divine Nourishment
Top Writing Tip: If there is a story within you, do whatever it takes to write it and share it. If it is soul driven, there will be times when you don’t know if you are writing the story, or the story is writing you. Allow it to be a vehicle for your own healing, and let the characters call the shots. They will come alive, and they can have a strong opinion about who they are and who they want to become in the story. It is the journey, not the goal that is crucial for the soul. Get as much out of the process as you can, and don’t rush through it. I would give the same tip if I was teaching a student about sexuality. Ride the waves, and enjoy the ride. Don’t rush it! 

Hi Mary, thank you for taking the time to talk to us!

When and why did you begin writing?

I actually didn’t realize I was a writer until after I wrote my second book. My first book, Divine Nourishment, A Woman’s Sacred Journey with Food, was non-fiction. Writing this book was merely a way to offer support to nourish ourselves aligned with the earth’s wisdom, and heal the feminine aspect of ourselves so we could live and eat in this alignment. This book was just a vehicle in which to offer information. I didn’t imagine myself writing another one.

It didn’t take long before Meena, began stirring in me. I needed to write another book. But, I had no interest in writing another non-fiction. Never mind that I didn’t have a clue how to write a novel! I did nothing with the stirring for awhile, until it felt like it would turn toxic and make me sick if I didn’t bring it out into the light of day. I couldn’t sit on it any longer, and I didn’t know how to move forward. I started taking writing classes. That didn’t do it. I took a whole semester in creative writing at the college. That helped, but my fiction writing still sucked. 

I hired the teacher as a mentor I could turn to. He confirmed my fiction writing sucked, but he was determined to turn me into a writer. We went through two years of him throwing my passages back at me, and telling me what was wrong with them. He was unforgiving, which I am on knees in gratitude for— now. After story development, character development and layering, I used him as my line editor. Again, he used the time to teach me. 

The writing of this book, Meena, became a five year journey. Not only did I learn writing skills, I experienced what it was like to pull something from the depths of my soul that would force me to do whatever it took to bring into form. Whew! This is the book I share with you today. And, I am starting to consider myself a writer, now.

When did you realise that you were Pagan?

Many years ago I went through a two-year education in five element nutrition taught by a Taoist master. This opened the door for me, and a recognition was ignited. The stirring within was palpable. Shortly after this schooling I landed on the top of a mountain in North Carolina. The combination of my studies fresh in my mind, the silence, and the symbiotic relationship I developed with nature as a result of spending my time hiking, and gathering wild food and medicine was a turning point.

The plant spirits communicated with me. The elements revealed themselves as self similar to my inner landscape. I no longer could feel myself as separate. I dropped into a deeper relationship with the mountain in which I lived. 

One day I was overcome as I gathered wild berries. I had become just another animal amongst the birds and bears. I watched them doing the same thing that I was doing—gathering and eating berries. It was one of those moments when I realised I was so held by the Mother, surrounded by more food and medicine than I could possibly gather, and I was woven into the fabric of her world. I sat and sobbed as I wiped my face with berry stained fingers. In that moment I stepped through a doorway that if I were to put a sign on it, it would read, ‘Pagan’s World.’

What are the main life experiences that have led to this book?

As a sixty-six year old woman, do I see a woman who’s hopes, dreams, passion, and self worth diminished by life when I look into a mirror? Or do I see a woman who has garnered the wisdom of a life lived through many trials, transitions and transformations? Have I succumbed to the belief that an elder woman has no value to our society? Or am I an elder woman who is rightfully taking her seat at the council table, reflecting an authenticity that some seek and recognize deep within themselves? 

If I was to share a bit about myself and what has influenced my latest book, Meena, I would have to say that somehow I have managed to walk through many transformational fires and can stand before the mirror and see an elder who has distilled her journey into a valuable harvest to nourish the next generation. I have entered the autumn of my life and I am doing what nature intended for this season. I have let go and let die what no longer serves, and I am dropping my seeds to support the next cycle of evolution.

I have lived a journey that has enabled me to turn experiences, insights, and teachings from the natural world into art through the written word. I have become conscious enough about transformational and evolution of the soul that I can take the reader on a ride that has the potential for them to honor and garner the wisdom of their own journey.

I have come to realize this is success for me. It has nothing to do with how much money I have made, how many credentials I have racked up, or how I am recognized by a society with very different priorities. I am authentically unique and aligned with my own soul’s contract. And, I can say that it took all the courage I could muster up over many years to be able to see this reflected in the mirror as I stand before it. My new book, Meena, is a novel that supports the same appreciation and respect for the reader’s journey.

Tell us a bit about your story, key characters and plot.

The two main characters of the story, M, who lives in ancient times, and Meena, who lives in the modern world, journey through the heavenly existence that once was, and the hell it became, riding the waves of transformation through the light and shadow of death and rebirth. Their multi-dimensional reality allows them to receive guidance, wisdom, and healing from the natural world, as they embrace their symbiotic relationship with the Great Mother. Through her guidance they discover their authentic sexual nature, love, sisterhood, belonging—and the consequences of feeling cut off from her. Without giving the story away, there is an ending that brings deep meaning and understanding to the journeys of women who are carrying ancient wisdom—and wounding.

Is this your first published piece or have you had work published before?

Divine Nourishment, A Woman’s Sacred Journey with Food was published in 2010

Meena: The Fiery Story of a Heroine’s Initiation, Reclaiming Her Authentic Sexual Nature and Her Relationship with the Great Mother, is launching Dec 1st, 2016.

Are you published or self published, and what has been your experience of this process?

I write out of the box. What I write has no category that it fits into in the mainstream genres. I discovered this dilemma when I attended a writer’s conference years ago. Meena, is in the visionary fiction genre, which didn’t exist then. 

I don’t want to spend the rest of my life reading rejection letters because someone from the mainstream publishing world is scratching their head wondering what the heck I am talking about. I decided to self-publish. I would rather let my books find the readers who recognize and embrace a perspective that is controversial. I want to lead them through a doorway they are stretched to enter. Considering I have never fit into the mainstream, I have not been able to see how my books would. I would rather push the edges and open doors in my writing, than entertain the masses. I may not sell as many books, but I know my books will be a treasure for those who resonate with what I share. 

How important are reviews of your work, do you read them?

I noticed the few people who previewed, Meena, zeroed in on something in the story that touched them, according to who they are. No two reviews have focused on the same thing. With a story that is multi-layered there is a good chance the reader will find themselves in the story. That is exactly what I wanted. No matter if it pushed their buttons, ignited a deep knowing, or reflected a similar experience, their review was more about themselves in relation to the story than the story itself. That realization has freed me from being thrown all over the place at the mercy of someone’s experience reading the story. What a relief! I get to read a review and see how the story affected them, instead of whether or not the story was good or bad. 

What are your future plans for writing?
For me, the journey of stewarding my books in the world so they get into as many hands as possible is as much a part of writing as comprising the written word. I found writing fiction was fun, and a new frontier for me. However, my desired affect of this story is to facilitate a healing and reconnection with our Mother Earth, which is so badly needed. So, my immediate plans are to follow up the journey in the story with a program to participate in, and bring it to life. That will undoubtedly include writing articles that inspire people to read my new book, Meena. I trust that the stirring will return to write another book after I have properly escorted Meena into the world, and she can stand on her own.

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Thank you again for giving us a glimpse into your passion and your process. We wish you all the best with your future projects!