| 18 March 2010
Born in Santa Cruz, California, Kim Falconer is well-loved Byron identity and highly respected astrologer who has lived in Byron Bay for 20 years. For more than 30 years Kim has been an astrologer, as her father was, and she continues to explore subjects such as alternative health, Jungian psychology, biology, art history, quantum physics, philosophy, mythology, social science and music. All these influence her writing practice, as does her great passion, Iaido, which is known as ‘the way of the peaceful warrior’’. It is an ancient Japanese art that involves the smooth and controlled movements of drawing a sword from the scabbard, striking or cutting an opponent, flicking blood from the blade, and finally replacing the sword in the scabbard.
Kim describes her sword work as a moving meditation where the sword and the body become a conduit for energy flow, which strengthens the practice of allowing and opening. She explained that, ‘practicing Iaido puts me in touch with my core values. Whenever we do something that aligns with one of our core values, we experience an infinite flow of energy. It feels like peace, abundance, joy. It’s what Joseph Campbell meant when he said; Follow your bliss and doors will open where once there were only walls. That bliss he was talking about is the experience of our core values being honored.’ Kim’s dream of writing a book has not only become a reality in January 2009, her debut novel, The Spell of Rosette, published by Stephanie Smith at Voyager HarperCollins, hit the top ten list soon after it was released. This remarkable achievement is proof that dreams can become reality!
It was great to catch up with Kim as our paths had not crossed for ages. We have both lived in this region for 2 decades and we do have a strong connection, albeit without detail. By this I mean that we don’t share day-to-day happenings or regularly meet, rather we deeply engage whenever life brings us together. I had felt/intuited that Kim would be featured in the special first birthday issue for Injoy Magazine, and one day, not so long ago, our paths entwined, dreams were shared and activated, effortlessly. This article was first published in the June/July 2009 edition of Injoy Magazine, and I chose to change the published date for the website, so it would be more accessible for you today.
Living in Byron Bay can cause time to become elusive, changeable and synchronicity is a strong force... paths will cross at the most auspicious moments. Travellers come from all over the globe to experience the magic Byron has to offer, a place where many people turn dreams into realities, a blessed place to call home. So here’s what Kim had to share about her life, her passions, and dreams coming true.
How long did it take you to write The Spell of Rosette?
Rosette began in 2002 with the premise, ‘what if a girl came home one day to find her family murdered.’ From a five hundred-word essay the story grew and a year later I had a rough draft of a novel. Very Rough! After an early read by my friend and local novelist, Ly de Angeles, I completely rewrote the story. It went through more changes over the next few years with input from an assessment agency, my agent and my then prospective publisher, Stephanie Smith. When Steph rang with an offer for a trilogy, there were still more changes to make. All up, it was 8 years from concept to publication. The next two books have come together much faster—less than a year and a half each.
What was the most challenging part of the process for you?
For me, writing is like being on a rollercoaster. It’s a thrilling, surprising, exhilarating, scary, screaming ride—but it’s a ride. It’s all taken care of for me. There is a lot of experience but not what I would call ‘challenge’. It’s like breathing air. I’m just doing it, and loving it.
What advice could you share with emerging writers wanting to publish?
My advice is perhaps different. I won’t tell you to work hard and be disciplined and ‘chin up’ with rejection or harp on how hard it is to get an agent or picked up by a major. I would say things like, ‘write what you love to read and then relax, take a nap, meditate, do things that make you smile.’ Most important, I would say, ‘start to feel now that you are a published writer.’ What would your life be like if you were that person? How would you shop? How would you relate? How would you approach your work? Getting published is about knowing why you want it, letting go of resistance, and allowing it to happen.
What special qualities do your involve into your writing practice?
I have a Virgo Ascendant so I enjoy ritualisng my writing. Seven days a week, I get up early and meditate. Then I take the phone off the hook, brew a pot of tea and go into my writing room. I work there until midday, or until my intention is reached—word count or chapters edited. I approach my work as a sacred time. All who love me have learned to respect this. I’m not available to the world until my morning session is complete.
I’m writing all the time though—listening to conversations, watching body language, testing out lines or characterizations on unsuspecting others. Physical exercise is very important too! The gym and running on the beach can bring up major plot epiphanies. The same goes for meditation and Iaido practice. The main thing is for me is to feed my muse. What ever she wants, she gets—be it green tea and meditation or chocolate and a dating spree. A happy muse makes for a happy writing life.
How do your many talents and passions influence your writing style?
I weave who I am into my narrative—I think most writers do and I’ve had the great pleasure to have a supportive publisher in Stephanie Smith. She’s encouraged not only the development of my own voice but also the inclusion of my passions. From astrology to horseshoeing to sword work and body art, Steph just keeps saying, ‘can we have more of that?’
In what ways do you maintain a positive outlook when we keep being told of an economic crisis and there is so much global unrest?
I’ve never been good at doing or believing what I’m told so it’s pretty simple for me. Words like unrest and crisis don’t make it into my day. I keep my focus on the abundance that is all around me. I run wild with appreciation! Whatever we put our attention on grows, and so my eyes are on the bliss.
What do you love most about living in Byron Bay?
Everything! The sea, my friends, frangipanis, mangos in the summer, jackets in the winter, live music, bicycling, warm rain, fresh water, the surf, (the surfers), coffee at my favorite café, random sightings of rare fauna and Jacarandas in the spring. Also the Toresian crows.
What's the next dream on your horizon?
Another three books in the Quantum Enchantment Series are on the table. They will begin as a prequel to The Spell of Rosette and span a time beyond book 3 Strange Attractors. I’m deep into book 4 right now—W/T Avogadro’s Stray.
To read an excerpt from The Spell of Rosette, and find out more about this amazing book, go to Inspect/Books section of this website.
If you have an interest in Astrology, Mythology, & Quantum Physics, check out Kim’s extensive and impressive web sites: www.falconastrology.com and www.kimfalconer.com
