BooksChatter: ℚ Say Yes to Life

Today we have the pleasure of meeting up with Happiness Coach and author Elliott Robertson to talk about Say Yes to Life (25 November 2019, Tellwell Talent, 134 pages), a Spiritual Self-Help book.

"‘Say Yes to Life’ is a sparkling secret gem of a book. Like sips of cool spring water on a steamy hot day, Elliott’s lyrical writing soothes and refreshes the soul." ~ Amazon Reviewer

"This is definitely not what I expected. It is an interesting look at how we view ourselves, our outlook on life, and the world as a whole. The comparisons to The Little Prince were intriguing and well thought out." ~ Amazon Reviewer

|| Synopsis || Teaser: KCR Preview || Author Q&A || About the Author || Giveaway & Tour Stops ||

A very warm welcome to Elliott Robertson; thank you for joining us on BooksChatter!

What compelled you to write Say Yes to Life?

"When I write a poem, an article or a book, I’m usually compelled by my desire to uplift and inspire people.

The subtitle for Say Yes to Life is “Seven Keys to Living Full Out from Within”. I hope the seven keys in the book will help people connect with their joie de vivre and live full out."

Did you have any surprising moments while you were writing the book?

"My original vision for the book was to provide seven keys for the reader, seven springboards for saying “Yes!” to life. I also knew I wanted to include excerpts from The Little Prince in the book and tap into the wisdom in that classic work of fiction.

I had created a very general outline, a list of the seven keys. But I hadn’t written any chapter outlines.

When I wrote the chapter “Say Yes to Happiness and Joy,” I was surprised to be inspired to write a letter from the author of The Little Prince to me. So there’s a letter from Antoine de Saint-Exupery to me in my book. Of course, The Little Prince was published in 1943, and the author died long before I was born. So there’s an element of fiction in my book. Here’s an excerpt from the letter he wrote":
“I’d like to share a little more about the little prince and myself. I felt like he was keeping me from something important when he asked me to draw a sheep for him. I had forgotten what was important. Honoring one another. Seeing into the invisible in the heart.”

Why should we read Say Yes to Life and what sets it apart from the rest?

"It’s in a bunch of small sections cobbled together. Bite-sized pieces. Something you can pick up and read a section and then return to later for the next section.

Also, it is a cross between fiction and spirituality. But it’s not a spiritual novel like The Peaceful Warrior by Dan Millman. There’s something unusual about the structure. The fictional aspect of it engages the imagination. And when the imagination is engaged, it reaches you more deeply, don’t you think?"

I cannot argue with that!

Can you share with us a favourite passage / section?

"I could probably answer this question with, “It’s a tie for first place” and then list 7 or 8 passages—maybe 11 or 12. I’ll share a couple of my favorite paragraphs from The Postlude":
The time has come for the community of humankind to be honest about what we can do with God’s help.

God is waiting for us to look into our hearts and discover the great love we have for Life, the love we’ve had since before we were born.

Who would you recommend Say Yes to Life to and what should readers be aware of (any warnings or disclaimers)?

"I would recommend Say Yes to Life to anyone who is spiritual or anyone who is seeking a deeper sense of happiness and joy than the happiness that comes from the surface level of life.

I’m interspiritual. I write about Kwan Yin, Ganesh, and Jesus. (Not all of them in this book, but in general.) So I think it will speak to people from a variety of backgrounds."

Which would you say you enjoy the most: to write, research, or to read when you can?

"As much as I enjoy reading something by a writer who really speaks to me like Anne Lamott or Richard Rohr, my favorite thing in the world is writing. I write a poem or two most days. And I love it when I’m working on the first draft of an article or a book."

If you could have three wishes, what would they be?

"I’m going to answer with three general, broad wishes, rather than specific detailed ones.

My three wishes are: to be of service to the Cosmos and to fulfill my life purpose; to have fun and to enjoy friendships and sharing and love; to always have more than enough to meet my needs so I can share with a spirit of kindness."

I like that :-)

What is in store next for you as a writer?

"I’ve recently published a volume of poems, The Laughter of Hafiz. I hope to start promoting it soon."

And as a final quirky thing, to get to know you a little bit better... do you have a pet or something that is special to you that you could share with us?