Anne Heck

Cover Unveiled

I'm excited to unveil the cover of my forthcoming memoir A Fierce Belief in Miracles, which will be published in September 2020. 

Publishing my book is an exciting achievement, but admittedly, I’m feeling both tender and vulnerable.

I wasn’t sure I could write this book. It called to me for twelve years before I took it on. Even then, writing it was an arduous process that required numerous breaks to grieve and recalibrate. I hired a coach/editor - someone who was intuitive and wise; she encouraged me toward each next step and understood when self-care was the priority.

Even though I was attentive to my emotional self in the process, the writing, organizing, and editing were re-traumatizing. EMDR and somatic experiencing have, once again, become dear friends.

As much as I wanted to gift others with a story that would support their journey, my writing took me to an emotional edge. So, in addition to writing, there’s been the equally important task of listening to my body and my emotions and taking the necessary steps to offer myself great care.

I’ve invested large amounts of energy, time and heart to write my story. Knowing what was required of me to get this book into its final form, I want to send it into the world with my full energy and blessing behind it. This cover was not the top choice of my publisher; it was an image I chose. Every time I look at this image, it reminds me that lightness and joy arise from dark places, that the natural world is fertile and nurturing, and that all life is both tender and resilient. These are messages that, perhaps, my readers will never know. Feeling congruent with this image encourages me in moments like this when I’m being asked to step away from my safe writing nook and stand fully behind my message.

I hold deep gratitude for your support as I follow my heart calling ~

New Year's Gift - Forest Magic

A little new year magic for ye! A family of forest elves have taken up residence in a nearby oak tree. Here’s their lovely door, along with my most recent poem - a new year’s gift to you. Enjoy!

The trails of Pisgah hold magic some say
“Treasures,” I call them; I find some each day

Some treasures stay hidden, like fae, sprite, and elf
It’s a blessing I’ve come ‘cross such treasures myself

Right there by the trail, in the side of an oak
I found evidence there of small woodland folk

Here in Bent Creek, just off Lake Lodge Trail
I spied a wee door - with a teeny brass nail

A little pine bough was hung ‘pon that door
I was eager to knock, to enter, explore

Under the door, hung a twig and rope ladder
As I leaned my head close, I could hear gentle chatter

Sure enough, right there was a door to a home —
Tucked in a tree trunk likely lived a small gnome!

I took a quick peek, such a sweet little nook
And I thought to invite all my friends for a look

Come view this wee treasure, or find some of your own
Come out to the forest — but don’t come alone —

Bring your children, your friends, come walk and be merry
A forest adventure is extraordinary

This is my gift, I invite you outdoors
Amongst the bird song and the sweet sycamores

With your feet on the earth, breathing fresh mountain air
You can sing, walk in silence, or offer a prayer

Come in rain or in sun, with strong or faint heart
Come enjoy this natural great work of art

Please come to the forest, this poem bids you do
There are treasures, my friend, waiting for you

Dancing with Vulnerability

Several people have inquired about my experience of writing memoir about rape. My answer: “It was full of emotion.” I wrote my book to offer hope and healing for others. Still, the writing required me to dig beneath the uplifting message I wished to relay. After twenty-eight years of physical, emotional and spiritual healing involving nearly eighty different alternative healing modalities, I felt there was a chance I could accomplish this writing task without much emotional turmoil. I was wrong. After all, I was dredging up trauma, examining it, sifting and organizing the pieces, attempting to give clear voice to my journey. With the many recent stories of rape and violence that have come to our attention through the media, there was an added dimension of feeling the immense need for emotional healing in this world. 

I decided eighteen months ago that in order to finish my book, I’d need to tuck myself away, sit my butt in a chair and write--this became my plan. I quickly learned that I needed to give myself space to release emotion, listen more intently to my body and tenderly hold the parts of me that resisted the process. I spent six months with a breathwork coach, saw my network chiropractor weekly and did some transformative work with a somatic experiencing practitioner who helped me be more present with my grief. And I continued writing. It has taken a great deal of self compassion to hold space for the feelings that have arisen, to listen and respond in the moment rather than pushing away emotion that’s inconveniently timed and tiring to process. I've reminded myself daily to get behind my eyes, to breath easily, to remember that I wouldn’t be called to do this work without having the ability to answer the call.

I knew the time would come when the manuscript was complete, when it was picked up by a publisher and was amassing its own energy and momentum. While I was writing, I longed for this time, thinking how peaceful it would feel to have long repetitive days of writing, and little geysers of emotion behind me. Now that I’m here however, I’m feeling a new kind of vulnerability. I’m realizing that I can no longer hide in my writing nook. I’ll be called out, asked to show up and speak my truth. This was an expected and desired outcome; still, as this new reality sets in, I’m taking needed action to support this part of my process.

As I transition from writing my book to what’s next, I’ve chosen to step into a medicine wheel process associated with teachings of the Q’ero medicine people of Peru. In simplest terms, the medicine wheel is a symbol used in some indigenous cultures to engage in personal transformation. In engaging this work, it’s my intent to move with clarity and purpose into what my next calling will be. I’ve asked for loving support from my community, and have just finished a quilted cloth to hold the medicine bundle that I’ll be working with this year and beyond. As a reminder that I have all I need to move forward, I’ve appliquéd my cloth with hearts to represent the loving support of my community both in the physical and the spiritual world, and have included the cardinal, a totem I’m working with to support me as I step into being seen—in all my color.

Quilted mesa cloth and fiber fear doll created by Anne Heck.

Big News! My Book Accepted by Top Women's Publisher

I'm excited and grateful to announce that my memoir A Fierce Belief in Miracles: My Journey from Rape to Healing and Wholeness has been accepted by my top choice publisher, She Writes Press.

She Writes Press is an independent publishing company founded to serve members of SheWrites.com, the largest global community of women writers online, and women writers everywhere. She Writes Press is both mission-driven and community-oriented, aiming to serve writers who wish to maintain greater ownership and control of their projects while still getting the highest quality editorial help possible for their work. The She Writes Press family is a female-run company with a strong vision, passion, and work ethic.