Author Bio:
Cori Martinez has been teaching yoga for 15 years and is known for her ability to create an environment where people feel free to laugh at themselves- or her, open up, sigh, pause, reflect, remember, rest, and explore new and challenging territory. A teacher of self-inquiry, yoga retreats, yoga teacher trainings and yoga workshops across the country, Cori also owns Asha Yoga in Sacramento, CA and is a contributor for prominent yoga and wellness websites such as MindBodyGreen, elephant journal, and YOGANONYMOUS.
Her teaching and writing is raw, bold, inspiring and insightful.
What inspires you to write?
I have a message I want to share with anyone who’s interested…though I’m not always sure exactly what the message is. It’s always evolving and sometimes very unclear until pen hits the page and I find out what’s buried inside, what’s deeply known beneath the surface of thinking or talking out loud. Then sharing what has enlightened me or brought me peace (or brought me to knees in prayers of gratitude or despair) becomes a way of connecting, serving and comforting others plus myself. I think, then, the desire to know myself and others more deeply is what inspires me to write.
Tell us about your writing process.
I freewrite. I use writing prompts, often inspired by Natalie Goldberg, like: Write for ten minutes about a red apple. Go. And somehow writing about a red apple turns into my desire for approval, or gratitude for my mother who three minuted ago I was angry at. I re-read and re-read, and re-read. If what I read tugs at my heart, scares me, makes me laugh or cringe or cry- I keep it. If it bores me, I delete. Then I use a writing coach and editor for guidance. “Tell me more about this…” ,”I don’t understand this.” etc.
What advice would you give other writers?
I don’t really believe in giving advice. But I’m obviously willing to share what I do personally. Or don’t do- let’s start there. I don’t read things that talk about writers not being able to make a living, get their books published or anything else negative. It’s depressing and un-inspiring and I love to write so why would I want to read those opinions? I don’t force myself to write specific content if I’m not inspired but I do just write, sometimes total jibberish about red apples or fried fish or whatever, until I become inspired. And I do get help and feedback from a writing coach, an editor, and friends who’s opinions on the subject I value. I allow myself to become totally obsessed with writing if it happens, sometimes staying in bed for days (or off and on for months) because that’s when good stuff comes out of me. Then I try to make sure my book sells so that my husband won’t get on my case when I stay in bed all day writing ;).
How did you decide how to publish your books?
What most influenced me was time. I spent a couple of months trying to get a manuscript proposal together for a large publisher and I hated every minute of it. I just wanted to be writing my book. So I quit. Then, when I was done with my book, I just wanted it to be published like 5 minutes later. So I partnered with a friend to create a small publishing company and basically self-published. I have no idea if that was the best call. But it was pretty quick.
What do you think about the future of book publishing?
We can only wait and see.
What do you use?
Professional Editor, Professional Cover Designer
What genres do you write?
memoir, self-developement, yoga, spirituality
What formats are your books in?
Both eBook and Print
Website(s)
Cori Martinez Home Page Link
Link To Cori Martinez Page On Amazon
Your Social Media Links
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7393791.Cori_Martinez
https://www.facebook.com/cori.martinez.56
https://twitter.com/_corimartinez
