Terry Andrews
Book Discussion Questions

Book Discussion Questions for Author Terry Andrews

We have to start off by knowing a little bit more about where your ideas come from! This book completely transcends the "normal" realm of fiction because it goes so deep into our inner psyche, what makes us tick, that some of it is hard to comprehend at first. How did you get involved with this topic?

In 1997 I decided to live the life of my dreams. I had always wanted to live by the ocean, so I moved from Minnesota to Oregon and found a house with a view. I had read a book called Building Your Field of Dreams, and it talked about creating the life you want to live. It said in order to do that, you need to take the proverbial leap off the cliff. That's what precipitated everything. I found myself on a path of self discovery that has led to learning a lot about myself. I have always been a writer. I used to write freelance magazine and newspaper articles. But I had always wanted to write a novel. And the idea that rolled around in my head for quite a while was to write about a woman who discovers she has some unusual powers, a little like Harry Potter. I was thinking about it long before Harry Potter came out. I wanted to write a fun book, a funny book, but one with a lot of truth and information about how to live authentically, and how to find joy.

Book Discussion Questions for Author Terry Andrews

Book Discussion Questions for Author Terry Andrews

Martha is just a regular old gal, not sure what to do with herself or her life after the passing of her husband. I'm sure that many women in the world can relate to this. However, most of them won't end up with the ability to fly! What message do you want to send to women entering middle-age who have no idea how to "reclaim" their lives?

The character of Martha was based on a friend of mine, who told me once that she would have lived her life differently if she were younger and had it to do over again. That made me wonder what a character would do if presented with an opportunity to live a life that felt more authentic. Readers have resonated strongly with Martha's newfound ability to fly, and many of us have flown in our dreams and know how incredible it feels. But in part flying is a metaphor for freedom. Because if you can fly, you can go anywhere and do anything! So that's the message I want to send with the book--that we can do more than we think we can. We can connect with our inner splendor, our spiritual sumptuousness. We can dream beautiful lives into being.

Book Discussion Questions for Author Terry Andrews

Book Discussion Questions for Author Terry Andrews

Is any of the legend of the Quetzalcoatl true? If not, what inspired it?

Yes, it is true. In ancient Mexico, Quetzalcoatl, the plumed serpent, was viewed as the creator of civilization. The legend says that one day he will return, and many feel that his energy will return as we go through the upcoming energetic shifts associated with the Mayan calendar and bring in a time of peace and abundance.

Book Discussion Questions for Author Terry Andrews

Book Discussion Questions for Author Terry Andrews

I am a mother with a son so this story made me think long and hard about making my own decisions or allowing others to make them for me. Granted, my son is only 1 but someday I can see how easy it would be to let him take charge of my life, especially if my husband was gone. How can we allow the children we love to play a significant role in our lives as women, but not let them own us?

The character Martha doesn't like the fact that her son wants to make decisions for her. This is a problem that my friend also faced. Martha's solution (and my friend did this too) is to not tell her son what she's up to. What Martha learns is that she can make decisions about her own life and that it is OK to choose what makes her happy. Once she gives up her wishy-washyness and becomes decisive, she discovers the fulfillment of personal responsibility and the joy of personal autonomy. Children raised in such an environment will recognize and appreciate the freedom of independence and that interdependence can happen in a mutually supportive and co-creative way.

Book Discussion Questions for Author Terry Andrews

Book Discussion Questions for Author Terry Andrews

I think there are many people in the world who are consumed with the idea of control. Why do so many humans want to dominate others? Is it simply because it makes them feel powerful or is there a deeper reason?

The idea that we are in control makes us feel safe. If we think we are in control, we can avoid dealing with the situations that scare us, like being embarrassed or humiliated, or the really big one, dying. The illusion of control creates a false sense of safety. When you give up the idea that you control anything, life becomes easier and less stressful. It becomes happy.

Book Discussion Questions for Author Terry Andrews

Book Discussion Questions for Author Terry Andrews

Another underlying theme I thought quite a bit about is the innocence of children. Much of the story related to the fact that when we are young we are much more "open" to the mystical and magical possibilities of the world. Are adults doomed to a life of fear or can we, like Martha, learn how to find our way back to our innocent selves that give belief a chance?

Of course we can reconnect with the magic! It's all around us. One reason I wrote this book is to show how that's done. Much of our fear is learned, and it's not true. One of the most important things we can do is to look at the validity of our beliefs. What evidence do you have that the fear is true? There are many resources available today for dealing with fear. We can move beyond fear to experience joy, connection, meaning, and magic. We are here to be happy.

Book Discussion Questions for Author Terry Andrews

Book Discussion Questions for Author Terry Andrews

Are women more likely to believe in things we can't prove than men?

I don't know if we can generalize, because we are all so different. But often people who specialize in scientific fields, like Ned in the book, tend to want proof. It is how they have been trained, and it is what they trust. I myself have had to unlearn that way of thinking in order to more fully develop my intuitive side. If we can learn to trust our intuition and our heart and our hunches, we can discover the richness, the beauty, and the mystery of the magical universe we inhabit.

Book Discussion Questions for Author Terry Andrews

Book Discussion Questions for Author Terry Andrews

Do you believe in fate?

I believe we have all lived many lives and that we have come into this lifetime with things to accomplish. I believe we help to create our lives with our personal belief systems and that we can powerfully influence what happens to us. We have choice, we have options, we have free will.

Book Discussion Questions for Author Terry Andrews

This book definitely lends itself to a sequel. Any plans for where Martha is headed? Will we see her and Ned again?

I am working on the sequel now. Lots of readers are eagerly awaiting it. Both Ned and Martha are in it, and it will be interesting. Martha gets into this adventure as unexpectedly as she did the first. There is a new character, too, who invited himself into the book. When I write, the characters take over and they often surprise me with what they do.

Book Discussion Questions for Author Terry Andrews

What piece of advice can you give struggling writers?

Write, write, write. Write about what interests you. I gave up the idea of writing for an audience, and simply wrote the book I wanted to read, never realizing it would have so much appeal to so many others. The more you write, the more you will begin to develop and recognize your own voice. There are some really great books about writing. Two of my favorites are Writing Down the Bones and Bird by Bird.