Today, Norm Goldman, Editor of Bookpleasures.com is delighted to have as our guest, ROSE ROSETREE Rose is the author of is the author of several books and is widely considered the world's leading expert at deeper perception. She has pioneered easy-to-learn techniques of of Face Reading, Skilled Empathy and Aura Reading Through ALL Your Senses.
She's written how-to books, two of which were selected by a division of the Book-of-the-Month Club. She's given over 650 media interviews--on five continents-her work praised in publications as different as The Washington Post, The Washington Times, The L.A. Times and The Catholic Standard. Her clients include Clinique, the American Folk Art Museum, the NFL Players Association, USA Today, Freddie Mac.
Good day Rose and thanks for agreeing to participate in our interview. * I'm honored, Norm, and hope that in some way I am able to help every person who is reading our interview.
Norm: Rose, could you explain to our audience what is meant by face reading, Rose: Face reading means looking at physical face data to learn about personal style in areas like career, relationships, power, sex, dealing with money.
Reading other people is a way to gain practical insight, overcome ruts in an existing relationship and evaluate potential dates, employers, etc. Reading yourself can do wonders for self-respect.
If you write fiction, face reading can help you to give characters just the right faces. (Dickens, among others, used physiognomy.) If you write non-fiction, what you learn about your own face can help you work more confidently and sell yourself more congruently.
What else to know from the outset? My system of Face Reading Secrets (R) is an adaptation of a 3,000-year-old Chinese art and is based on the premise that God does not make junk! FAQs galore are answered at my web site.
Norm: And what is aura reading?
Rose: Auras are energy bodies around each person's physical body. Unless you're writing a detective story-in which case the corpse lacks any aura at all. :) But for us among the living, fictional or not, auras are filled to bursting with vital information.
Myths about auras make it appear that a person must possess a rare kind of clairvoyance to access auric information, and that special photos must be used to read auras. Nonsense and nonsense. My system of Aura Reading Through All Your Senses has helped thousands of people to become really good aura readers, and clients often hire me to read auras from regular photos.
One of the most practical benefits is being able to do the most effective, and nuanced, lie detection you can imagine. I've used that for everything from hiring a painter for my house to helping hotshot executives make more informed choices for business mergers. For FAQs on this topic, click HERE Norm: And what is an empath?
Rose: Among writers and artists, the percentage of empaths is higher than among the population at large, so I hope your readers are still scrolling and reading away! Very likely you, Dear Reader, are an empath of some kind.
Gifts can be intellectual, physical, spiritual, etc., not simply emotional.
While anyone can become a face reader and can learn to read auras in depth and detail, either you're born as an empath or not. Most people are not. In America, it's about 1 in 20 people with a lifelong gift as an empath.
How can I tell? Because any empathic ability is encoded in auras. Many gifts are possible. Every empath has at least one significant, trainable gift for directly experiencing what it is like to be other people. Unless skilled-not merely talented-you probably have spent your whole life picking up pain from other people. That part-time job is completely optional, and I'd love to teach you how to turn off that part... and without putting up walls (which never work and only make a person feel dead inside). I also have developed unique techniques for turning gifts on stronger.
Both facets of skill are extremely helpful for writers. FAQs are, as you may have guessed by now, available at my website:
Norm: Why and how did you become interested in face reading?
Rose: At my college, Brandeis, the motto is "Truth even unto its innermost parts." And that could be my personal motto, too. As soon as I discovered that faces could be interpreted meaningfully, I began to study face reading.
That introduction came at a MENSA meeting in New York City in 1975. By 1986, I turned pro as a physiognomist.
Norm: You have written several books, what makes you write a new book and what keeps you going?
Rose: Inspiration starts it up, keeps me going, and reminds me to continue despite any difficulties. At times, I've been so discouraged that I wanted to give up for good. For instance, one day I came to work at Rodale Press, where I had a staff job in their book division. I had moved across the country at my expense, borrowing money, to take this job.
After three months to the day, my boss called me into his office, explained that Rodale had closed down a magazine that same day ("Spring," not their famous one, "Prevention"). Because it would be expensive to fire those employees, he was going to let me go. It was the final day of my probation period, so Rodale didn't have to pay a penny for unemployment or severance pay.
"Be out of here by noon," he said. It took six months before I stopped shaking, deep down.
When I packed up my apartment, I felt so deeply discouraged that I threw away the manuscript of a book I'd worked on for years. I'd never write again, I told myself.
Just one example! The writing has always come back. It is my greatest joy in life.
Norm: You have a very unusual and pretty name. Is Rose Rosetree your real name?
Rose: It's real, i.e., both legal and authentic. Original? No. I've had an eventful life, including multiple marriages (but not simultaneous ones).
Norm: How do you come up with ideas for what you write?
Rose: Again, inspiration. Sometimes I'm so filled with joy or insight, I have to drop everything else and write the stuff down. Maybe this sounds lofty but, really, it's just as natural as scratching an itch.
Sometimes ideas for books result directly from conversations with people.
You may know from my website, Norm, that I teach workshops and do personal sessions with clients related to deeper perception. Service to real people keeps my sights on what is worth writing about. For instance, a friend complained to me that she had taken a workshop on aura reading that was a complete waste of her time. I thought, I could teach something better than that dreadful workshop. So I wrote "Aura Reading Through All Your Senses."
Norm: What methods do you use to flesh out your idea to determine if it's salable?
Rose: The ideas? I trust them. And they come complete with plenty of flesh.
Only ideas that really interest me are worth writing about I never have written just because something is salable. That would be like eating poison.
But sometimes I must work with ideas to make them intelligible, which is required to make any words from a non-celebrity salable.
With "Aura Reading Through All Your Senses," I wrote it three times in its entirety, taking 6 1/2 years. With "Empowered by Empathy," I drafted the book during three months of inspiration and then spent three years revising it so that other human beings would be able to make sense out of the concepts. For "Wrinkles Are God's Makeup: How You Can Find Meaning in Your Evolving Face," I spent over nine years researching, writing, locating photos. Just yesterday I found out that I'm down to my last few cartons and will have to do a second edition next year.
Norm: How have your used the Internet to bolster your career?
Rose: Three cheers for the Net! I love all the ways it has helped my career... except for the used books sold by Amazon and e-Bay. I used to be pretty generous in sending out review copies, but I sure hate seeing them show up for sale.
Otherwise, my website lists my books, classes, tours and articles. A monthly zine with face and aura readings of people in the news has about 2,000 subscribers, and I love having a way to give something for free, yet not be taken advantage of.
When requests come in for free readings of people, I've had to learn to say no or I wouldn't have time left to earn a living. But thanks to the Net, I can give everyone that zine, which alone is reason to be grateful for the e-world.
Right now I'm doing something new with the Internet. In June 2006, I'll officially publish, "Let Today Be a Holiday: 365 Ways to Co-Create with God." But the books came in from the printer last month. So I'm offering advance copies with free shipping through my website and tollfree number only before the Pub. Date. So far it's working well.
Norm: Can you tell us how you found representation for your books. Did you pitch it to an agent, or query publishers who would most likely publish this type of book? Any rejections? Did you self-publish?
Rose: Norm, if you were in the mood for a tear-jerker, I could tell many sad tales of my hideous experiences with 29 literary agents, one worse than the other. And that doesn't even include the agents so terrible I didn't hire them.
At least I can recommend a fantastic agent for foreign rights, Loris Essary of International Titles, lessary@austin.rr.com . He has wonderful integrity.
Any reader who is curious can google on International Titles and find Loris'
website, or just query him about representation. He charges a reasonable fee and it's a far better investment than being displayed by a distributor.
Likewise, with publishing, ooh la la. I've been burned by big, medium and small presses. They make for funny stories now, but I've cried more than I've laughed. Thank goodness I have the skill set to run my own publishing company. I've even gotten to be pretty good at typesetting my own books, though I have covers and inner design from professionals.
Norm: Could you briefly tell us something about your books and their underlying objectives.
Rose: They empower people to use their gifts in life. Every non-fiction work contains leading-edge techniques and understandings that you won't find elsewhere. My lone novel, "The Roar of the Huntids" supports my how-to "Empowered by Empathy," and is very appreciated by people who enjoy fiction.
The great poet Robert Frost, when describing his writing process, wrote, "No surprise for the writer, no surprise for the reader." For me, it's about joy. Readers seem to find that my joy is contagious for them.
Norm: How would you respond to potential readers who might be skeptical about the subject matter of your books?
Rose: Why waste time on skeptics? I appeal to those who are interested.
There's a loyal, growing following for what I offer, so that's where I put my attention. However, I also do lots of media interviews (including one today, for the Chicago Sun-Times), and sometimes those interviews turn skeptics into readers and clients.
Norm: I understand you are called upon to give classes to physicians, psychotherapists, social workers, massage therapists and other professionals. How do you help these professionals?
Rose: Techniques for being more perceptive and emotionally stable, plus new concepts for self-understanding-that's how I help. Nobody else (yet) is teaching the information for empaths, which has the greatest impact. The systems of Face Reading Secrets (R) and Aura Reading Through All Your Senses are also distinctive. And my new book ought to have an interesting life.
It's another big step forward, a daybook about consciously co-creating with God.
Norm: I understand you have students that come from all over the world. How did they find out about you?
Rose: Here's where we can thank the Net. For example, I was scouted by VOICE, the premier seminar company in Japan, and will be teaching there for the third time in 2006. They publish books, too, and will bring out the first Japanese edition of "Empowered by Empathy" to coincide with the book tour.
Otherwise, I must thank Loris, my foreign rights agent. We have many titles worldwide now, including my first national bestseller, the German edition of "Aura Reading Through All Your Senses." I've studied enough German to give funny little answers to my German fan mail, which I adore receiving.
Norm: What challenges or obstacles did you encounter while writing your books? How did you overcome these challenges?
Rose: Publishing was the biggest one, with a subset being my varied and pathetic experiences with agents. Mostly what got me through was the joy at the core of my work and my determination to honor what I'd been given by bringing my best to it.
Beyond that, I do my best to act with integrity in every situation. Sounds waay abstract, so here are two examples:
When I began my publishing company, I got a tollfree number, MORE-JOY. One month, Sprint made what they called a "little mistake" and sold it to a phone sex company. This number was imprinted in every one of my books, plus my how-to aura reading video.
Sprint refused to give me compensation of any kind. I tried to hire a lawyer on contingency, and researched telecommunications lawyers all over America.
I contacted every one I could find, asking for help. Not a single response to any of my letters.... Later, a friend explained to me that I was just too small to be worth their time. I also appealed to a writer's organization to which I belonged, but received no significant help there.
So I cried and raged and then let it go. Eventually, I reprinted "Aura Reading Through All Your Senses" and "The Power of Face Reading" without the offensive phone number. With the insert in my video, I hand-correct that part-did it just last month when ordering a new batch of VHSes. After I bring out this title as a DVD next year, there will be no further reminders in print of MORE-JOY.
At the time, all this seemed like such a big deal. But it would have been a bigger deal to let that stop me.
The second example is the worst thing that has happened in my career. One of my titles, "I Can Read Your Face," was published by a book producer, Ottenheimer Publishing. I worked on it with a delightful editor for about six months. Ottenheimer had a secret arrangement with a mail order company that pretended to remainder books from big publishers. I'd been wooed with a small advance and the promise that my title would sell tens, even hundreds, of thousands of copies.
Imagine the happy day when I opened up my box of author's copies and found a little note from the editor. "Perhaps you already know that the book was remaindered." Yes, after just three weeks it was staler than moldy toast. In fact, I got a phone call from a man who bought a copy of my newborn book for a buck at Wal-Mart. He was delighted with the content and happy to by my book at such a bargain.
What had happened? The mail order company lost interest after my editor there quit and a test ad (two whole column inches) didn't do fabulously well. So they dumped the book.
That wasn't even the worst part. In my contract with Ottenheimer was a clause that rights would revert to me when the book went out of print. I'd paid a literary lawyer to go over that contract with a fine-toothed comb.
But neither of us anticipated that Ottenheimer would lie and claim the book still was in print.
Not having had the presence of mind to get the phone number of my fan from Wal-Mart, I couldn't prove the book was out of print, and because of that technicality, Ottenheimer forbade me to print any more books on my trademarked system of Face Reading Secrets (R). Again, I lacked the funds to pay for a big litigation. For over a year, I wrote the most threatening letters I could pen, but the publishers were incredibly greedy about this possible future source of income for them and, therefore, refused.
Finally, Ottenheimer decided to stop publishing trade paperbacks altogether and sent me a little letter saying they would let me have back the rights to my material.
Bottom line: I persisted. They didn't. That's what joy will do for a person!
Norm: Is there anything else you wish to add that we have not covered?
Rose: My best advice is to go deep inside for the best you have to offer people as a writer. It will help you to write, to market, to make a difference in the world. And yes, if you ever do go through tough times, your desire to help people can help you keep going.
Oh yes, Norm, here's some advice about book reviews: For six years, I wrote reviews of small press books for Pathways Magazine. I quit about five years ago because I'd become so busy. To this day, I receive sample books to review.
Even when I did review books, I asked that people send me query letters only, so they wouldn't waste their money. I explained that I would let publishers or authors know if I was interested in seeing a review copy.
So why do I continue to receive these books? At least one extremely unscrupulous entrepreneur sells my contact info. When I emailed him, he refused to stop.
Thus, this interview's two last bits of advice for my colleagues: Send queries rather than books to any reviewer, whenever possible. And question some of the people who peddle services to self-publishers and authors.
You'll find a higher percentage of scam artists than in the public at large.
Thanks once again and good luck with all of your future endeavors. Aw, you're welcome, Norm. Great questions!
Norm Goldmanis the Editor & Publisher of the Book Reviewing & Author Interviewing site bookpleasures.com. Bookpleasures.com comprises over 25 international reviewers that come from all walks of life and that review all genre.
Norm also offers a Fast Track & Priority Review Service. You can find out more about this service by clicking HERE.
» left by Vanessa Johnson from Fairfax, VA (3 years 322 days ago.)
Interesting! The whole idea of deeper perception is a new one. The author's comments seem heartfelt. I was especially impressed at the idea of joy as a motivator for such a prolific writer. Respond to this comment
» left by Geraldine Amaral from Arlington, VA (3 years 246 days ago.)
Rose's devotion and sensitivity to her path and her work comes across nicely in the interview. Thank you for putting this interview out there so others can benefit from Rose's wisdom and experience. Respond to this comment
» left by Molly Blayney from New York (3 years 246 days ago.)
A delightful interview to read. Felt I was there with you both! Thanks. Respond to this comment
» left by Anonymous (1 year 168 days ago.)
I wrote to you before saying that I did NOT write this review. It's forged -- as are, I suspect, ALL of the ones written on this date. Shame on you both for not removing it, when I politely asked. Respond to this comment
» left by Anonymous (1 year 168 days ago.)
I don't know who you are and I don't know what you are talking about when you say you didn't write this review. What review-this is an interview I conducted with an author. Regards Norm, Publisher & Editor Bookpleasures
» left by Dawn from Reston, Virginia (3 years 246 days ago.)
Fun and insightful! :) Respond to this comment
» left by Amy Patton from Shoreline, WA (3 years 245 days ago.)
Excellent interview! Where can I find out more about Ms. Rosetree's work? Respond to this comment
» left by Catharine Rambeau from Lantana, Fla. (3 years 245 days ago.)
Six years ago, I interviewed Rose for a national country-music magazine. Initially I was dubious, but -- knowing nothing about the genre -- Rose was accurate in ways that couldn't have been researched. She's a 5-star pro and a pleasure to deal with. Respond to this comment
» left by Tatyana Tanika from Encino, California (3 years 245 days ago.)
Deeper perception principle is astounding. First you learn to read faces, and if you do not stop, you learn to see auras. Thank you, Rose, for your good work! Respond to this comment
» left by Linda from Ashburn, VA (3 years 245 days ago.)
Inspiring and down to earth also! Rose shares her talents and insights but then also shares where the rubber hits the road in life. Thank you for your honesty. Respond to this comment
» left by Beth from Atlanta (3 years 245 days ago.)
Rose's work around Empaths is articulate, perceptive and insightful. To learn more and to deepend your understanding, I highly recommend reading her book and experiencing her Empath Intensive workshop! Respond to this comment
» left by Kristy Simmons from Bethesda, MD (3 years 243 days ago.)
I found this interview to be informative, and useful. Particularly interesting was the story about the phone number mishap-- MORE JOY being misdirected-- too funny! I'll let viewers read it and not spoil the surprise! Respond to this comment
» left by Kathy Wilewski from Fredericksburg, VA (3 years 241 days ago.)
This is truly a valuable interview, both for writers and non-writers as well. Thanks Rose, for not only having it all together, but sharing your joy for free. This article is true inspiration for any kind of discouragement, and we all have such times Respond to this comment
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