Suzanne Falter-Barns

Interview

 by Nicola Warwick

NW: How Much Joy Can You Stand? evolved after a period of  writer’s block  when you decided to try something--anything.  What was it that give you the impetus to get started?

SFB: I was totally and completely bored with myself and my life. I had the desperate feeling of hating my job and not seeing any way out for myself. Furthermore, I was still doing work at age 39 that I'd set out to do 'for a few years' when I was 20. This realization was REALLY depressing. It appeared the only way out was to write something 'real'--a book, instead of an ad--even though I'd already written three books, one of which had been unsuccessfully published, and two of which had not sold to publishers.

NW: Would you say that the period of writer’s block was important in crystallizing, in some way, possibly subconsciously, the idea for How Much Joy Can You Stand?.

SFB: Perhaps. All I know is that I had been through a lot of rejection with my writing of books, so my heart hurt. For a while, it was physically painful to sit in the chair in front of my computer and try to make that leap of faith that propels you into writing a book. I think the writer's block was probably a grieving process for the other projects that had died and not found publishers. I needed to protect my very vulnerable little soul from rejection for a while, so I stopped . . .  and it showed up as writer's block.

NW: I’m always fascinated by the principle "you teach best what you most need to learn."  Was writing How Much Joy Can You Stand? a case in point?

SFB: Very much so! If anyone needed a pep talk, it was me! I've always been good at encouraging and coaching other people . . . I was always the kid who did this in any group. So this became my chance to turn all that encouragement, etc., on myself. I really didn't know what I was going to write in the book--just what the intention and purpose of the book was. Then one chapter just kept coming after another. I ended up writing about 180 pages in three weeks, with this incredible sense of surrender in the process. It wasn't until I was all finished that I realized that everything in the book was what I, personally, needed to know at that moment. And believe me, I used it in the two year process it took to find a publisher for the book.

NW: Many people feel at some point in their lives that they’re not living the life they should be, they’re not pursuing their dreams or being true to their purpose in life.  What do you see as your purpose in life and what steps would you recommend to help someone discover their own mission in life?

SFB: Great question! My purpose in life is to use my work as a writer and a performer to move people to express themselves. The process of getting in touch with what I call your divine purpose in life is one that takes some time and thought. It's not always easy to sit right down and come up with something as profound and important as the meaning of your life. Actually, those divine purposes are rooted to how we are here in this life to help others . . .  what our gift is that we are here to share. That's why I like to cover this question in my Wild Creative Coach workshop. I am planning to offer some kind of teleclass/e-course on divine purpose work in the future because so many people have asked about it.

NW: To what extent do you put your own theories and philosophy into practice in your own life? What are the benefits you’ve seen since developing your philosophy?

SFB: In taking a moment to look at my life, I guess I live my philosophy completely. Around the time that How Much Joy Can You Stand? was first published in 1999, I quit my day gig, moved to a paradisiacal place in the deep countryside, and have spent my days writing, speaking, singing and fulfilling my purpose since then. I have down days like everyone else, but I also have great support from my family and my support-buddy friends (a key component of my work!) And, of course, I rely on the intuitive spirit we all share to guide my steps. My bad days only kick in when I forget about that great, abundant wisdom that steers the ship, and I think I have to come up with all the answers myself.

As far as benefits go, I've experienced a LOT of growth. As a writer, I've seen my book get published once with a small press, then republished in a good sized 2 book deal with a major publisher. It's been read by more than 75,000 people to date, and has been featured in more than 100 radio and TV interviews. My Web site and the e-courses I've recently developed are doing wonderfully, and spreading my work further in countries where my book is not available.

As for my performing, I gave it up 15 years ago after playing the New York cabaret scene for a number of years. I became a wife and mother, and figured there was no time for this, even though it is a passion for me. Then I moved to the middle of nowhere, my kids started growing up, and suddenly I found the voice teacher I'd always been looking for! Now I'm appearing as the lead in a regional production of Cole Porter's "Anything Goes"--a real fantasy I'd always had AND, at age 43, I'm pleased to say I've learned to tap dance, too. In August of this summer, I will also begin doing my club act again, and have been blessed with a fabulous accompanist who also emigrated up here from New York.

So, yes, the book works!

NW: What are the key lessons you’ve learned from failure? What would be your  advice to others in similar circumstances?

SFB: Failure is a great big bore, initially, as it leaves you with that 'Here we go again!' feeling of defeat . . . evidence of your inadequacies. Yet, then, at the end of it, there is always an unexpected sweetness. You find yourself being directed to something you hadn't expected, and that may push you towards something even greater and more powerful. Failure is simply a right turn instead of a left turn, and it is our nasty little egos that keep insisting that right turn is a mistake! So my advice, then, is to look at what opportunity your 'failure' is now providing.

NW: You mention various miracles that have happened in the course of your creative life.  Do you think you can create optimum conditions in your life to make your own miracles?

SFB: Another great question! Boy, I wish we could patent the miracle magic. Then the world would be a far more peaceful place. Unfortunately, we can't. We can only dig into our dreams as fully and completely as we can, and while not EXPECTING miracles, be open for them to show up. Basically, a miracle can't happen if you're worried about your path, or doubting. But if you're in an open, creative place where any result is truly worthwhile, that seems to be when miracles show.

NW: How did the book lead to your self-help workshops?  Was that something you planned or did it happen naturally?

SFB: I began leading workshops because my first publisher suggested it and it seemed like a fun way to spread the work. The great thing is that the workshops showed up in much the same, organic manner as the book. And so many people have gotten so much value from them, that now I no longer lead them myself, but train coaches and others to lead them themselves. And in that same guided manner, I encourage those workshop leaders to recreate the workshop for themselves, adding their own material and ideas to make it authentically their own.

NW: Do you have any plans for a follow-up book to How Much Joy Can You Stand? If so, (and you can tell us) what will it be about?

SFB: I've written a second self-help book tentatively called Living Your Joy; How to Find the Time, the Money and the Energy to Live Your Dream (And Still Pay the Bills!) It's about the practical aspects of living your joy, day to day.

NW: Do you believe that creativity and happiness/fulfillment are linked?

SFB: Yes, indeed!

NW: You’re a songwriter as well as a novelist and motivational speaker.  Are you still actively involved in song writing?

SFB: I don't write songs much these days, but cover other people's material as a singer.

NW: Your novel has been optioned by Hollywood. That must be incredibly exciting.  How is that progressing?

SFB: Shirley MacLaine optioned Doin' the Box Step and has written a screenplay. She intends to produce, direct and star in a feature film of the book, and last I heard was talking to various stars about doing the project with her, as well as studios, etc..

NW: You talk about "choosing to be a writer" and how you  consciously made that decision.  Many people with ambitions to be a "writer" struggle with that concept.  How did you make that choice and what advice can you give to aspiring writers?

SFB: The fact that I was turning 40 and was not very far along on my career was what pushed my decision to just seize my writing and run with it. Time can be a powerful ally. My advice for anyone wanting to be a writer is to aim big, not small. Too many writers get lost in a world of tiny, obscure journals, too many writing classes, and endless retreats to write things they never show anyone. Why not be reckless and brave and just put your writing out in the world in a big, splashy way? Why NOT submit to The New Yorker, and all the big New York agents? If you start small, you stay small. That's what I've observed.

 Relevant Links

About the Author.
Book Review by Nicola Warwick.
Author's Web site.
How Much Joy Can You Stand?
Doin' the Box Step

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