The Nine Modern Day Muses

Third Edition

Exclusive Excerpts from the Third Edition of The Nine Modern Day Muses (and a Bodyguard)

The third edition is out with a Bea Silly touch-of-fun new illustrations, Albert's new applications of creative principles, and something special from the rest of the Muses (which are 10 dynamic creative principles in the guise of nine Muses and a Bodyguard). The Muses wanted to add something new, so they got together and brainstormed how their principles could be applied to areas where mortals want and need more creative inspiration.

The Nine Modern Day Muses Announce:

Food Fight!

Oh wait, that was yesterday… correction…

BOOK REVISION!!!

The Modern Day Muses (and a Bodyguard) got together surreptitiously early last summer over triple-chocolafied cupcakes, under a cumulus cloud, and in between earthly gigs.

The Muse, Audacity, noted loudly, "HEY! IF WE ARE GOING TO STAY ABREAST OF CURRENT CREATIVE HAPPENINGS WE NEED TO MAKE OUR BOOK CURRENT."

The Muse, Lull, asked her to lower her voice.

Albert said "What breast?"

And Marge agreed with Audacity and took the first step.

So, NOW AVAILABLE TO YOU is the THIRD bright and spangling edition of The Nine Modern Day Muses (and a Bodyguard): 10 Guides to Creative Inspiration!!!

LET'S PARTY!!!!

Muse Book History

The first edition of The Nine Modern Day Muses was published in 2003 by Penguin/Putnam's Gotham division and not but two years later, the Muse Audacity (she's a mover and a shaker), demanded we buy the rights and republish it with more love. Well, Spills was in charge so, well, as much as we love Spills and the process, the second edition did not quite live up to the first.

Now the third edition is out with a Bea Silly touch-of-fun new illustrations, Albert's new applications of creative principles, and something special from the rest of the Muses (which are 10 dynamic creative principles in the guise of nine Muses and a Bodyguard).

A Muse, for those of you who may be wondering, is a beacon of creative inspiration. In Greek mythology it was believed that when writers, poets, artists, and other creative people were inspired, it was because they were visited by a Muse. Each of the nine Modern Day Muses presents solutions to any creative block you could possibly be encountering including procrastination, perfectionism, self-sabotage, distractions, fear, overwhelm, and a closet door that doesn't seem to close all the way.

Here are reviews of the Third Edition from that wily bunch of Muses themselves:

Aha-phrodite, The Muse of Paying Attention: "The new book has added FOUR whole new sections giving brilliant attention to essential newly identified needs of the modern day mortal now prescribing programs for:

1. Getting through Perfectionism,
2. Creativity for Agelessness,
3. even The Use of Creativity with Yoga!"

Marge, The Just-Get-Started Muse: "You forgot the section on Making Marketing Easier with the Muses."

Aha-phrodite: "Oh thanks for paying attention, Marge.… Making Marketing Easier with the Muses (repeat advertising helps mortals pay more attention)."

Bea Silly, The Muse of Playfulness (speaking from inside a Halloween costume made of cereal box tops, chicken wire, crepe paper, Slinkies®, and a cooperative Dachshund named Dillinger): "The new book seems to be a bunch more fun because of the colossal illustrations that I can color in with my new pack of glittery crayons… fun is an elixir for creative ideas. Ouch… chicken wire, down Dillinger, you silly dog!"

Muse Song, Muse of Pampering and Encouragement: "Treat yourself to the new version! You deserve it."

Spills, Muse of Practice, Process and Imperfection: "It IS a bunch better than the second edition, but for some reason mine has mustard all over it."

Lull, Muse of Letting Go of the Process and Gratitude: [not available for comment but did send a thank you note for her copy.]

The Shadow, Muse of the Gifts of the Dark Side: "I liked the Shadow chapter best… Did I just say that!?... How transparently unshameful am I? And liberated!"

Dillinger, Dog: "Bark. Bark bark bark!!!"

Marge, The Midwestern Muse of Okay-Now-Let's-Get-Started: "Okay then, only buy the book if you need to get unstuck then. Or to foil resistance, plow through perfectionism and understand how little steps get your further than high pressured expectations then. And, oh ya, quit readin' books and start doin' things, will ya! (This book will help with that)."

The Bodyguard: "Protect your creative time, protect your dream, and ruthlessly commit to your creative passion. Learn how in this book."

Excerpts from the Expanded Third Edition of The Nine Modern Day Muses (and a Bodyguard)

Hi. For the third edition of The Nine Modern Day Muses (and a Bodyguard): 10 Guides to Creative Inspiration, the Muses wanted to add something new, so they got together and brainstormed how their principles could be applied to areas where mortals want and need more creative inspiration. They wanted to print the whole book here so the world could benefit, however Marge and Audacity provided a PowerPoint presentation that indicated that that wouldn't be so smart for book sales. It was a very short presentation.

The Muses and Marketing

Since each of the Modern Day Muses are creativity principles in disguise, you can apply them to marketing your business, your art, your writing, or yourself. The ideas result in the magnetic forces only Muses can inspire.

They sincerely bring you the power to make marketing authentically YOU and convince you that if you are passionate about whatever it is you are trying to share with the world, and take small steps that feel like a blend of common sense and inspired intuition, you will attract all the business you need.

Here is a sampler of what just three of the Modern Day Muses have to say about Marketing:

Aha-phrodite: Tools to Pay Attention
What you focus on becomes stronger.

• Pay attention to:
  What you are passionate about. Share that passion in a genuine way with joy, confidence and authenticity and people will flock to you.

Albert: Tools to Be Unique and Think Different about Your Marketing Self

• Thinking differently:
  What makes you different? What rules are there for you to tweak to make them work for you? Or break?

Spills: Permission to Be Imperfect, Embrace the Process, and Practice

• Remind yourself you do not have to do this perfectly for it to work and bring you business. Just begin.

The Muses and Yoga

Muse Intentions for Yoga Teachers:

• To allow the Nine Modern Day Muses to awaken your inner Muse or that of your students.
• To be present with the union of creativity and yoga with no attachment to results.
• To bring a creative question or questions to either the series or a particular class, and be open to the messages received

A Sampler of How the Muses can Serve your Yoga Practice:

Each Muse contributes to the yoga experience. Here are three short samples of what is provided.

BEA SILLY:
Essence: The need to play with ideas, to lighten up, pairing moving with creative thought to elicit humor.

Preludes and Closings:

• Where mentally, physically, spiritually can I lighten up?
• "Don't think you have to be solemn to meditate. To meditate, well, you have to smile a lot." ~Thich Nhat Hanh

MUSE SONG:
Essence: Nurturing and encouragement.

Preludes and Closings:

• Touch the heart with both of your hands and feel yourself open to the great reservoirs of love you have inside.
• Surrender the struggle.
  "If you meditate, sooner or later you will come upon love. If you meditate deeply, sooner or later you will start feeling a tremendous love arising in you that you have never known before." ~Osho

AUDACITY:
Essence: Courage, authenticity, uninhibited uniqueness.

Preludes and Closing:

• Get big during your practice today. Be expansive — mind and body. Invite in new ideas without judgment or attachment.
• Take the courage from today's practice with you the rest of today.
• Imagine testing the edges of your creative passion today.
  "When you can do the common things of life in an uncommon way, you will command the attention of the world." ~George Washington Carver

The Muses and Agelessness

AUDACITY:

• Mission: Living your life and manifesting dreams with courage, trust, and sass.
• Focus: Being authentic, jaunty, spirited, and confident. Embracing the freedom not to care what people think — are you capitalizing on it?
• Small Questions: How would it feel to be authentic? What small courageous step can I take today? What's one small way can I embrace the freedom that comes when we don't care what people think?
• Inspired Insight: "I am not a has-been. I am a will be." ~Lauren Bacall