Heather Conn is the AUTHOR of numerous books and has been published in 50+ magazines and newspapers across North America,  including The Vancouver Sun, Edmonton Journal, and Globe and Mail. Her expertise lies in writing about spirituality and trauma healing, storytelling, and as a writing coach in trauma-related memoirs. Heather has taught the online creative nonfiction course Writing from Pain to Power for the University of King’s College in Halifax, NS, Canada, and teaches creative writing for the City of Port Moody. Over more than three decades, Heather has taught at many venues, including Simon Fraser University and Capilano University. Moreover, Heather is passionate about reaching people interested in spirituality and spiritual practices to help lead them to profound transformation, growth, and healing. She shares her own healing in her memoir and in November last year, she gave a presentation to an audience of 140 about Trauma and Truth-telling in Memoir: The Risks and Rewards of Revealing Secrets.  Quote: "From meditation and yoga to seven months in India, I have spent several decades exploring a variety of spiritual practices. I embrace “eclectic spirituality”; for me, that incorporates concepts and practices from Tibetan Buddhism to pantheism and Taoism. My spiritual mentor from about twenty years ago promoted a concept of Oneness, which I still follow. I believe in a Divine Essence that powers and unites us all." Talking points: Being on a spiritual path, striving to find compassion and forgiveness, and living with greater inner peace (her own spirituality draws on the Buddhist teachings of Thich Nhat Hanh and Taoism).How trauma affects people, and how we can  create a trauma-informed culture, and support survivorsHow to write your own book or story about trauma,  healing, and personal empowermentHer SoulCollage DeckHer Memoir: No Letter in Your Pocket: How a daughter chose love and forgiveness to heal from incest Her Website: https://www.heatherconn.com/ This episode was brought to you by OMByTheBeach.com with your host Josef Schinwald.