The book "Meandering Mindfulness" marks a trail of how displaced executive Chrystine Julian's life has gone from bad to verse

(PRLEAP.COM) LOS ANGELES (June 18, 2009) Chrystine Julian was a Corporate Director of Communications until her employer imploded early in 2009. Living in southern California’s Inland Empire, where unemployment numbers outpace the national average by several points, Chrystine found herself with few job opportunities. So she lashed herself to her creative talents, if not as a lifeboat, at least as a way to keep her head above water.

Now, things that had been something to do after a sixty-plus hour work week are Chrystine’s hope for surviving the recession. For years in her "spare time" Chrystine has been a performance poet, drum circle facilitator and team building workshop leader. Recently these activities have shifted from hobbies and stress release to potential revenue streams. Many families are cleaning out the garage or basement to do a yard sale or list things on e-bay in attempts to bridge fiscal gaps. For Chrystine it is much the same, only she is digging up intellectual property.

The artist mixes her media and often performs poetry with percussion. Likewise her approach to the business end of life is multifaceted. Along with regular performances around Southern California, she has used online services like Craig’s List to promote her programs. She also has used a third party company to place her music on popular download sites like iTunes and Amazon MP3. Most significantly, she has worked with Los Angeles, California-based publisher, Pawpress, to publish a new collection of poems.

Just released, Meandering Mindfulness is available worldwide through distributor Ingram Book Group and online services including Amazon.com. The President of Pawpress, Ina Hillebrandt, is optimistic about Meandering. "The literary market is certainly struggling today, but I see people searching for things — like this book — that move them emotionally. And we are pleased with reviews showing that Chrystine’s work touches not only poets and poetry lovers, it also speaks to many people who previously considered themselves prose-only readers. And, consider this," Hillebrandt adds about prospects for the executive-turned-full-time artist, "Today we have a president who actually reads, enjoys poetry and even hosts poetry events! In many ways, the timing for Meandering could not be better."

Besides the writing, Chrystine is a visual artist. The cover of Meandering is an example of her unique style of visual art.

Will it happen? Can Chrystine make a living with her writing? It is too early to tell. But she is hopeful that the term "Starving Artist" is only an overused generalization. If it turns out to be reality, she is contemplating how to package it up as a weight loss program.

To quote Chrystine, "When the going gets tough, the tough get creative."

For more information about Chrystine’s writing, readers can find excerpts and see Nancy Krieg’s full review plus others at Pawpress’ website, InasPawprints.com, and find out about appearances, programs, artwork and music at the artist’s site, ChrystineDrums.com.

Book excerpts and Images available online at Meandering Mindfulness. Additional images available at ChrystineDrums.com, or upon request.

MEDIA CONTACT: Review copies of Meandering Mindfulness available upon request. The author is available for interviews. (909) 964-6355. E-mail: ladylovesdrums@aol.com

CALENDAR

You can find Chrystine Julian reading from her new book at a special launch party near her Inland Empire home. Join the artist and other musicians, writers and "civilians" as they celebrate the birth of Meandering Mindfulness. Party hosted by Our Poetic Souls, a group dedicated to nurturing poets and lovers of the spoken and written word.

Launch Party for Meandering Mindfulness
June 21, 2:30-5:00 p.m.
Home Brew Coffee
661 West Arrow Highway
San Dimas, CA 91773
(909) 394-1064

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