These four books, and this consulting service for writers, grow from a passionate belief in the power of the individual voice. Your voice and mine.

THE BOOKS:

My two critically acclaimed novels and two very different nonfiction books all focus on some aspect of people boldly speaking out, acting on their beliefs, and living in their own vivid and characteristic ways.

In each of my books, there is a strong current of spirituality, based on the conviction that we must draw on our largest and most profound resources to unfold fully, powerfully, and authentically.

The novels show also the high costs of squelching dreams and trying to hide from risk. Be forewarned: these stories travel some unsettling ground, to the far edges of the spiritual search. A reviewer for The New York Times called Sister India, a "spooky excursion into the lost territory of the soul." These books are about the claiming of our true territory: a necessary step for making one's particular and crucial contribution to the world.

WRITER CONSULTATION:

I would like to invite you to use me as a resource for feedback on your work and/or for counsel on the business of writing. My services are aimed at helping people write more powerfully and marketably. My goal is to help a writer deal with the requirements of a very difficult publishing marketplace while remaining true to his or her voice and message.

What I view as my particular strengths are the ability to see the potential in work that's still in an early stage, to identify ways to increase the emotional impact of a piece, and to brainstorm with a writer on how to best present a book or idea that's nearly ready to go.

"Peggy Payne proves once again that her writer's eye sees to the center of things-to the spiritual center of our beings, whether we're from this side of the earth, or the other."

—Clyde Edgerton, author of Solo

"Given the terrible killings in Gujarat, the theme of communal conflict seemed so very relevant to our times...Wishing you success in writing more books ...about issues that are important to the world we live in."

—Benazir Bhutto, former prime minister of Pakistan

"At the core of the book are the questions: How can we live in this world without compromising ourselves? ...Revelation goes beyond merely asking that basic fictional question—how do we live our lives—to offer some hope for how we might live our lives better."

—Richard Krawiec in The Pittsburgh Press

"From the novel's very first sentence, her ravaged voice grips the reader."

—The New York Times

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Copyright © 2005, Peggy Payne