After turning more than 25 years of experience as a holistic practitioner into books for adults and children, Stanley resident Nicola P Foster is hoping to share her writing journey with local schools
Writing from her home in Stanley, Nicola P Foster has reached a personal milestone with the publication of her fourth book.
Nicola has worked as a holistic practitioner for more than 25 years, helping people through practices including meditation, Reiki and crystal healing. During that time, she has met many people who felt unable to talk openly about their spiritual experiences because they feared being judged or laughed at.
Those conversations, combined with Nicolaโs own experiences, encouraged her to begin writing.
I wanted to create books that were welcoming and easy to understand,โ Nicola said.
โSpirituality can sometimes seem complicated or inaccessible, but it doesnโt have to be. For me, it is often about finding greater peace, understanding yourself and feeling more connected to the world around you.
Her first book, So You Want to Be More Spiritual?, was written as a practical introduction for people who are curious about spirituality but are unsure where to begin. It explores subjects such as meditation, grounding, crystals and spiritual awakening.
Nicolaโs most recent adult book, True Spiritual Stories, grew from the remarkable experiences that people had shared with her over the years. It brings together accounts involving intuition, healing, near-death experiences, signs and connections with loved ones who have passed.
Several of the experiences have strong North East connections.
One contributor describes suffering a severe allergic reaction during a family visit to Beamish Museum. As first aiders attempted to help her, she felt herself leaving her body and experienced an overwhelming sense of peace. She became aware of her surroundings again after hearing her three-year-old son calling, โMammy.โ
Another contributor, Alaina, describes experiencing what she believes was divine intervention during one of the darkest periods of her life. After falling to her knees and desperately asking for help, she suddenly felt a pair of arms wrap around her from behind. Although nobody else was there, she felt surrounded by peace and unconditional love. Alaina says the experience gave her the strength to stop drinking and marked the beginning of a profound spiritual awakening.
Many of the people in the book describe themselves as ordinary people who experienced something extraordinary,โ Nicola said.
โSome had never considered themselves spiritual before it happened. I wanted to record their stories respectfully and let readers reach their own conclusions.
Nicola has also created the Crystal Crew series for children aged approximately six to nine.
The Crystal Adventure introduces a group of colourful crystal characters who help children explore emotions, friendship and the qualities traditionally associated with different crystals. In their second story, A Journey to Space, the characters travel through the solar system, encountering planets, moons and meteorites while learning about courage, kindness and working together. A 3rd and 4th book is currently being planned.
Nicola would now like to use her experience to become more involved in the Stanley community. She is interested in visiting local schools, libraries and community organisations to give author talks, readings and age-appropriate workshops for adults or children.
I would love to meet more local readers and encourage other people in Stanley who may be thinking about writing,โ she said.
โI hope my journey shows that an idea can grow into something real if you are willing to keep working at it.
Nicola is continuing to write and hopes that her books will encourage both adults and children to remain curious, talk openly about their experiences and explore new ideas.
