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Laurel Clark, D.M., D.D., is a teacher, author, counselor, interfaith minister, and president of the School of Metaphysics, a not-for-profit educational organization headquartered in Missouri with 15 branches in nine states.  Laurel has been writing since she was five years old.  Starting with poetry, diaries, and children’s books, then articles and full-length books, she has even written verses for greeting cards and continues to write and publish articles and books.

She currently is working on three books: one on visualization called The Law of Abundance, one on Intuitive Dreaming, and one, a collection of fables and parables for adults and young people called Past Life Parables and Other Metaphysical Myths. Laurel has recently been taking advantage of the many on-line opportunities for articles on a variety of self-development topics such as dreams, intuition, meditation, finding your soul’s purpose, and visualization.

Thank you Laurel for taking the time to answer some questions for us!  To start, please tell us about the latest project you've worked on. 

My most recent book is called The Law of Attraction: And Other Secrets of Visualization. Although it includes stories of how to “manifest” desires like jobs, relationships, and desirable objects, the focus of this book is the purpose for even having a creative mind.  It teaches people how to find fulfillment in life, how to create for the goodness of all concerned, how to use the creative power of the mind to uplift and benefit other people.

I am currently working on a second volume to this book called The Law of Abundance.  The Law of Abundance states that when you aid others to abundance, you have abundance yourself. This book describes practical ways that people can leave the world a little bit better just by being who they are and by serving the needs of others.  It is amazing how much fulfillment people find when they are serving a greater good!

Have you received any awards for your work?

Only in college!  Phi Beta Kappa.

Do you also do speaking engagements, or seminars?

Yes, I am a teacher and I teach and speak to all kinds of groups.  Last year I gave presentations to the National Association of Social Workers State Conferences in Missouri and Indiana, to a group of managers at Hilton Hotel, to a national convention of Eli Lilly executives, to real estate groups, Cox Communications, Krupp Construction, to a symposium of hospice volunteers, to the Annual Conferenace of the International Association of the Study of Dreams, and many more! 

My most recent seminar is called The Power of Personal Connection and teaches people how to develop and improve relationships of all kinds:  personal and professional.  It also gives methods for improving communication, both listening and describing clear mental images.  Most people aren’t aware how much telepathy exists in everyday communication.  This seminar discusses this also.

How has your education, profession or background helped you in your writing career? Or conversely, how has you writing success helped you in your  profession?

They go hand-in-hand.  Since 1979 I have been studying and teaching applied principles of metaphysics:  undivided attention, concentration, listening, memory, imagination, reasoning, intuition, breath, and entrainment.  Dreams, meditation, finding your soul’s purpose, and developing creativity and visualization are all a part of the study.  These are the topics I study, teach, and about which I write.

My first published book was on Concentration.  I have published books on Interpreting Dreams for Self Discovery, Dharma:  Finding Your Soul’s Purpose, Karmic Healing, Healing for a Higher Purpose, Shaping Your Life:  The Power of Creative Imagery, The Law of Attraction and Other Secrets of Visualization, and more.  I’ve also published many articles on these and other metaphysical topics including how to be a peacemaker, raising indigo children, and intuitive research.

What kind of other works (books, scripts, poems etc.) have you had published? 

Some years ago I had some verses published in greeting cards (Polar Bears of Barbara Stone, a line of fine art cards).  I’ve published poems, books, articles, and song lyrics.  I am also a contributor to such books as How to Raise an Indigo Child, First Opinion, The Power of Structure.

Is there any aspect to your profession that gets you in touch with your readers directly?

Teaching, book signings, and seminars.

What will your next project be?

I’m writing three books! One is on visualization, called The Law of Abundance.  The one I’m the most interested in is a book of fables based on past life research conducted by the School of Metaphysics.  The past life reports tell a person about a particular lifetime in which they didn’t complete a “soul lesson” that is now appearing in his or her current life … a karmic lesson that can now be understood and resolved. 

This book weaves the past life research into a parable or fable with a “moral to the story” which is the soul lesson that needs to be learned.  It’s called Past Life Parables and Other Metaphysical Myths.  I’m also writing a book called Intuitive Dreaming about precognitive dreams, clairvoyant dreams, dreams of people who have died, and other intuitive or “psi” dreams.

Who inspires you on a personal or business level?

Living a soul-centered life based on fulfilling a higher purpose, and teaching other people to do the same.  I have an idealistic vision of a world in which people live their passion, their soul’s purpose, their divine destiny.  I believe it is possible and volunteer my time to teach others the principles to do so.

What type of work is the most rewarding or satisfying for you?

Teaching, writing, aiding other people to become more whole.

What can you recommend for writers who are just getting started and are trying to make a name for themselves?

Find every avenue to write:  online publications, online blogs, free newspapers and magazines that accept articles fairly readily.

How did you get started as a writer?

Picking up a pen!  I started writing poems and stories when I was about five.  I wrote a newspaper when I was six.  I kept diaries as a pre-teen and wrote long letters throughout my high school and college years.  Wrote and illustrated a children’s book in college.  I’ve kept journals on and off for years.

Which is your favorite book/work published? Is there a favorite?

I think my favorite is Dharma:  Finding Your Soul’s Purpose because I am passionate about aiding people to discover their personal mission or calling so that they can be fulfilled and bring joy to the lives of others.

What does a typical work day look like for you?

I have a very varied life:  I travel by car to six cities (sometimes more), sometimes teach classes in the evenings, sometimes teach seminars on weekends, sometimes give lectures or seminars to business groups, I write when I can, in-between traveling and teaching.

Have you ever had a mentor, or someone who sparked your passion for writing?

A college English teacher, taught a wonderful class on Fantasy Literature.  Both of my parents loved to read and write and read to me a lot when I was a child.  We had a house full of books and an unabridged dictionary I used to read for fun as a kid! 

Who is your favorite writer/author?

Changes daily!  A great book on writing is by Stephen King, it’s called On Writing (I think.)  It aided me to understand the difference between writing and editing.

Finally, a most important question: what was the last song you sang out loud when you were by yourself?  :)

“I pledge my life to peace,” a kids’ song I wrote.

Thank you Laurel! We're looking forward to your next book The Law of Abundance!