Free Services
FREE BOOKS!
ALL 6 e-book collections of my work are now available. Simply email me with 'want free books' in the subject line and I'll be happy to send them to you.
Titles:
A Mother's Guide to Clean-Living in a Dirty Universe
First Per-son Plu-ral Im-per-fect
In Whose Name?
Medusa's Mirror
Naked Apes and Their Designer Duds
On the Path to Matera
email address: maia3maia@hotmail.com
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WRITING HELP/MENTORING
I'm always available to any who need help or mentoring in any form of creative writing [anything that takes words, from poetry and song lyrics to movies, plays, novels, advertising copy, et al.].
I was a professional writing consultant in my 'old life' and now do what I was paid fees up to $150/hr for, for free. No strings attached. Just email me and let me know what you need.
The only caveat is that I won't help with any work having violent content. Details sent on request. See below for some feedback from mentees.
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From a writer’s site I monitored daily:
I'll have to say you had a huge influence on my writing--you still do. I always read posts on which you comment. I've watched the pissy little people who didn't take your advice and are stuck in a rut with their writing. I'm still evolving. I've found the more I do, the more I see what's wrong with my own work. And God knows how many books I've read since I met you. That's helped out quite a bit. I just want to thank you for your tough honesty.
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from a soon-to-be university film student:
You have a very unique ability. Every time I send a work to you, you burst my bubble and tell me it's crap [i don't actually say it's that bad]. Then I get defensive, because I love my writing too much. But then I think about it, and realize that you're right. I rework my piece with your help, and it ends up being enormously better than the original.
So, you're right. I've thought about my story and, as always, have realized that all of your points are dead-on. I'm going to re-work it and send you a new version (edited for violence, of course).
You're right as always!
thanks,
Lucas
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from Hannah, a brilliant, 15-yr-old poet/philosopher who started with me at barely 14:
You probably don't realise how much you've helped me over the last year. Mostly with my writing (do you remember how rubbishy some of my poems used to be?), but just in general life too. You've given me the confidence to take pride in my opinions, views and ideas even though very few people appreciate/agree with them. If it wasn't for your encouragement (and also your valid criticisms) I probably wouldn't be who I am today-- I'd be some doormat who had the potential to be so much more.
You have had to snap me back to reality a couple of times when I've "went off the rails" a little, which I thank you for. Without your support I don't know where I'd be. Confused, probably. I'd be exasperated because I'd think nobody else thinks/sees things the way I do, which isn't true. Thanks for keeping me on track.
I can't thank you enough for your generous time in critiquing my work. I've improved a lot in the last year, which is mainly down to your advice. You're honestly the most generous person I've known. I just wish more people would appreciate/be able to access your kind heart. A heart of blooming gold!
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Subject: your mentoring
Thanks to your help in the very beginning I have written and sold one book and my second has just been accepted, I am currently in the midst of preparing to write it. And my third is looking very good.
I wanted to say thank you. Thank you for listening and helping me when I had no clue there even was an em dash, much less what to do with one! It made me determined to learn more and I am still trying to learn more as I go. Your generous soul is amazing and I just can't thank you enough.
Best Wishes,
Tammy
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Maia,
I curled up with your critique. You sounded downright cranky now and then, which made me giggle a bit, but you are sooooo good! I feel thoroughly kicked in the shins at the same time I feel energized and excited. Strange combination, I realize!
Mainly, this is just to check in and warn you that you will be hearing from me again.
Don't let anything happen to yourself! I need you!
J
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my writing history
maia’s writing history
one of my 'mentees' asked me the following questions and i saved the answers to pass along to anyone else needing a rundown on my writing background… because I am no longer this person, I won’t go into details beyond what’s listed here… I hope those who want to know more can be gracious enough to respect my privacy and desire to leave that life in the past:
1) Why did you become a writer?
long story: was born to be one, but just hadn't known it till had the time/freedom to do it... wrote well in school; edited, wrote gossip column and made up crossword puzzles for school paper, [was nat'l honor society member, IQ well in genius range but lazy, so only an a- student]... wrote poems for my kids while having/rearing first 5 in less than 5 yrs, then last 2 in 2nd doomed marriage...
after separation from husband #2 in las vegas, moved to connecticut with youngest 2children [only ones still living at home] & wrote first novel, ‘casa eva’... i became a professional writing consultant, had clients needing all kinds of writing work/help... turned out stage plays, a musical, a screenplay, song lyrics, novels, humorous auto-bio of my own and other books in the works... got an agent who believed passionately in my work and was on brink of selling it, when i left all behind [after my 18-yr-old youngest was settled in her ballet career], gave away all i owned, & became 'maia' a philosopher and seeker/teacher of truth... bottom line answer to your question: i love the use of words!!!
2) Did you go to College?
at hs graduation, won scholarship i never applied for, to most expensive private jr college in us, turned it down; was accepted at antioch univ & didn't go... only college was at age 39-40 when, 22 yrs after 3 yrs hs french, I placed 2nd yr college level in french and audited 5cr fr 2 & 3 courses at u. of nevada, las vegas by day and 3cr italian night course [why?...i traveled in europe every yr and wanted to be more fluent]...
3) What type of writing did/do you do?
anything/everything that takes words, including 4 yrs' paralegal work for 2 child incest victims to free them from their father/grandpa rapists + wrote briefs and interrogatories my $200/hr attorneys used in my own court wrangles, thanks to a vindictive ex w/ too many millions, no morality/honesty...
as a writing consultant in the 80’s/90’s, i had $75-150/hr clients for whom i wrote advertising copy & 'killer' dunning letters [to donald trump & joan rivers, among other deadbeats]; helped a masters-degreed educator write an application essay for her doctoral program then taught her how to write her doctoral thesis; analyzed would-be writers' hopeless novels/whatevers and showed them how to do it right... had stories/poems published [by paying venues] was commissioned by pres. of MCI, NY to write the theme song lyrics for his b'way musical [sadly, it bombed on opening night]... originated & wrote a regional magazine's column for singles; edited magazines; etc., ad infinitum... up to 1995…
since I gave away all I owned and left my old life and old work behind in ‘95, I’ve been writing philosophical essays and poetry [in ‘plainspeak’ for ordinary folk] that I give away for free and retain no rights to; wrote ‘a mother’s guide to clean-living in a dirty universe’ + assorted other world-benefiting stuff [see on website: www.saysmom.com ]; wrote screenplays and rewrote books for others [for free]; had a column of this ‘new life’ work published in the hopi tribal newspaper; and now, I do [always for free], all that I once did for fees, mentoring/helping aspiring writers of all breeds, and go anywhere to help those who want to make a difference for the better in this human-made mess of a world…
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GLOBAL PROJECTS
Giving DOES good & FEELS good!
So many in so many parts of the world are in such great need... many of those I helped with their writing and others who heard of what I was doing helped me establish and keep the Helping-Hands Donation Center and Free Books Program on the island of Tinian operating for nearly 6 years, for which I am eternally grateful.
Now I plan on starting another such Center and Program on the Hopi reservation in northern Arizona this winter [2012]... so please start setting aside whatever books [especially children's picture books, dictionaries, and reference books] and any clothes/toys/games/anything you don't need, or can spare, for these very much in-need people who live a quiet, peaceful life, despite all that was done to them and taken from them by newcomers to what was once their land.
Call or email for updates and mailing address.
Love and grateful hugs, maia
maia's Helping-Hands Books & Donation Center
maia3maia@hotmail.com
"You must BE the change you wish to see in the world." Gandhi
maïa, Founder
The Matera Community:
maïa's Helping-Hands Books & Donation Center
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GOOD CAUSE ORGANIZER/WORKER/ACTIVIST
I'll go anywhere in the world I'm needed by any planet/people-serving or protecting group. I helped organize the human shields to Iraq action in London in Jan/Feb '03, have been a committee member of Abolition 2,000. I've lived with and helped the Hopi, kids in the South Bronx ghetto, and homeless women and children in the shelters of Maine, Nevada, and California.
If I can be useful in any way, to those who seek peace and/or justice in this world, all I need is one room where I can both sleep and work [in London, I lived and worked in a tiny, closet-sized office, left the building only once in 2 months].
Nowhere on the planet is too far for me to go and no one in need is too poor to afford me, since I'm somehow provided with all I need, wherever I go. I'm always just a mouse-click away and will be where needed, 'in the flesh,' as quick as a plane, train, or bus can get me there.
"Though I may frequently do & think stupid, dumb things, I have been designed to be capable of greatness in my smallest, least self-serving act toward others... it only remains for me to prove this, by LIVING it."
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FREE GLOBAL HOUSE AND PET-SITTING
I’m available for situations anywhere in the world. I care lovingly for houses, animals, plants, gardens, do not smoke or drink anything alcoholic & am a vegetarian. I’ve owned, designed, built, renovated and repaired my own homes and had pets of all kinds.
Some homes I've tended:
a classic in Poitiers, France for almost a year; several fine homes in Santa Rosa, CA area; a half-yr stint w/ a family in Nemi, Italy; am in Oklahoma through fall ’03.
2004 update:
I'm now living 'permanently' with a dear couple in altadena, CA [next door to hollywood] as sort of a live-in pet nanny to their 3 little pooches, and whenever-needed housesitter.
2005 latest:
spent near a year with the folks in CA and when they decided to expatriate to spain at the end of last year, I was invited up to Toronto to be step-mom to two wonderful, loving, lovable [and huge!] german shepherds… have my own luxurious apartment in the basement and dogless weekends… just applied for a year extension on my ‘visitor’s’ permit, ‘cause the pups’ parents want me to stay ‘forever’… what a life!
My Soc. Sec. income is sufficient for all my needs and I can provide my own travel fare, if necessary. While minding others' homes, I help/mentor aspiring writers [see above] of all kinds, all over the globe. I can go anywhere in the world for any length of time and "get by" in French, Spanish, Italian [have learned the alphabet, but am still struggling with 'out loud' Greek].
2006 update:
I'm now living on the island of Tinian, in the Northern Marianas, so it's pretty costly to go anywhere from here. But if anyone needs me enough to pay the airfare, I'm still up for a 'sit' now and then.
2012 update:
I spent the past 6 years on the tiny island of Tinian, helping the in-need with a donation center and free books program I started and ran there... I was asked to do the same in Puerto Rico, so made the move to Bayamon, PR in July 2011... my backers backed out, sad to say, so I came to Bogota, Colombia in Dec. 2011, to take on a paid writing gig [rewriting 6 screenplays] in order to save up for my next Donation Center [see more on this above, in the 'Global Projects' section].
I'll be house-sitting in Melaque, Mexico from May to November 2012. Will be available for sits anywhere on the planet after that.
[Note: For info on the listing site I use, see blurb in 'Links' section]
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