Title: Spirit @ rest: A journey beyond success toward spiritual awakening
Author: Leela Verity
Publisher: Audience of One Media (Pty) Ltd
What is your background?
After school, I studied law at the University of the Witwatersrand and graduated as an attorney with a BA LLB. I practised law for six years (the same length of time that I had studied for as a full-time student). I found the environment too stressful for a woman. My health was suffering (physical and mental), so I resigned. I took a break, and then specialised in tax law by obtaining a Higher Diploma in International Tax Law. I worked in this field for another couple of years and found it equally stressful! The opportunity came for my husband and me to relocate from Johannesburg to Plettenberg Bay, and I decided to leave the corporate world, a decision which I have never regretted. (It can work for other women, but it wasn’t for me.)
With our new-found freedom living in Plett, we had the time and opportunity to travel and explore my new passion, which was the search for peace of mind, wisdom, truth and the meaning of life. We made many trips overseas, spending time in India and in the jungle in Costa Rica, and doing retreats at Buddhist monasteries in India and the south of France. I have always loved studying, so I studied Buddhist philosophy under great Buddhist teachers, including the Dalai Lama.
Because there was not much available in South Africa, I started a Buddhist retreat centre in Plett, which ran very successfully for about 10 years. We had visiting teachers from overseas, who did retreats at the bigger Buddhist centres in Johannesburg, Cape Town and Natal, and then ended their visit to South Africa by spending time in beautiful Plettenberg Bay and giving a short retreat while they were here. It worked very well.
After I returned to the Christian faith, it was obviously no longer compatible to be running a Buddhist centre, so I had to close it down. At a loss of what to do and eager to learn more about Christianity, I returned to my love of studying and obtained two diplomas in Christianity (one Catholic from St Augustine College, and one non-Catholic from Charis Bible College). Then, when the lockdown struck and I was stuck at home by myself, I wrote a book.
Why did you write this book – what is your inspiration?
For many years, I felt a deep calling to write a book. I felt like a pregnant lady – there was a book inside me (instead of a baby) and it was pushing to birth itself. I believe that God placed this desire in my heart. I never understood what Christians meant when they said that God gave them a “burden” for something. Then I became pregnant with this book, and I felt that “burden”. It never gave up, even though I wanted to give up many times, because writing a book is not easy. Life interferes and throws you off track many times. It is difficult to pick up the thread and continue with your book again. But that “burden” was relentless – it pushed me, just as a baby will push when it wants to come out.
My inspiration is reflected in the title of the book, Spirit @ rest. I had a restless spirit, never satisfied, always searching. I found out later that this is actually “divine discontent”. We all have it – this deep searching for happiness, meaning and purpose. We are pulled to search in many directions to fulfil this need, sometimes in relationships, sometimes in our careers, sometimes in money and material things. But they never completely satisfy our hunger. Blaise Pascal put it beautifully when he said (paraphrased) that we have a God-shaped hole in our souls, that only God can fill. A famous saint, St Augustine, said: “Our hearts are restless, until they rest in God.” I can verify from personal experience that this is 100% true.
Why did you self-publish, and did you not send your book to a mainstream publisher? How did you experience the process?
I self-published because it seemed the easier way to go. It is difficult for a brand new author to get accepted by mainstream publishers. But anybody can self-publish. I think there are advantages and disadvantages to both routes. I found out afterwards that most bookstores won’t put a book into their bookstore, unless you have worked through one of their recognised publishers. I can understand this need for quality control, but it is a disadvantage for self-publishing. The point of writing a book is not to publish it and then sit with boxes of books in your storeroom! You want to reach people. If you self-publish, the onus of marketing the book falls on you, and a gifted author might not be a gifted marketer, as this is a different field altogether.
Because this is my first book, I kind of fumbled along as I went. There is more to it than what you initially think. I discovered that there are different phases to getting a book “out there”. The first phase is the hard work of actually writing it. The second phase is the equally hard work of editing and publishing it. This involves going through the book, it seems like, hundreds of times. My first draft was twice as long as the published version. My first editor literally chopped it in half. I remember being quite angry and upset: How could she just chuck half of my book in the bin? It took me ages to write, and now she was just throwing it away! Editing the book was a whole other journey!
I worked with two amazing editors. My first editor, Sarah Bullen, helped me enormously in structuring the story. My second editor, Elaine Broekman of Audience of One Media, helped me enormously with the finer details, which included correct referencing, checking copyright, doing the layout, etc. I am indebted to both of them. What I particularly enjoyed was having a more personal relationship with them, which I don’t think would have been the case if I had worked through a larger publishing house. For me, it was important to have an editor that I trusted and could work with.
Who is your ideal reader?
The ideal reader of my book, Spirit @ rest, are people who are asking the deeper questions and searching for the meaning and purpose of life (as I was). They are not satisfied with the way things are, and they want to change and heal themselves. It is especially relevant to those who have been drawn into “alternative” religions, like New Ageism, Buddhism or yoga. I explored these religions and/or philosophies in detail, and I describe my experiences with them and discuss their shortcomings and downfalls.
The book will also appeal to readers who have become disillusioned with the church and/or with God. I had many questions which the church didn’t answer, and needs which the church didn’t fulfil. This is why I was drawn to other religions and philosophies in the first place. In the book, I detail my perceptions and “issues” with God, whom I perceived as judgmental, harsh, distant and uncaring. I did not experience God as loving and compassionate. It was a long journey to unveil the true nature of God, which is Love. The book unravels this discovery. Many people have similar (mis)perceptions of God, and reading my book will hopefully help them.
What are your thoughts on the South African literary scene, and would you ever consider sending your book to a publisher?
I am new in the South African literary scene, so am not really qualified to comment on this. I do believe that South African people are very creative, and perhaps more opportunities to write and publish should be made available. Encouragement and education in this regard is very supportive and helpful.
I would consider sending my book to a publisher if it would help with the marketing of my book, by getting it into mainstream bookstores. I did not write the book for myself. I wrote it for others. So, making it available to others is hugely helpful. I love bookstores and can spend hours browsing in them. They are the easiest places to find the right book at the right time. I have had many experiences of a book seeming to jump off the shelf at me, and it was exactly what I needed at that time of my life. Books are not just words on a page – they can be anonymous and much-needed friends, consolers and comforters; they can bring wisdom, advice and healing.
Where can our readers buy your book, and what is the cost?
Purchase the book here: https://www.audienceofonemedia.co.za/leela-verity
Or on Amazon South Africa: https://www.amazon.co.za/dp/1037064542
Or Amazon.com: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1037064542
Publication details: Author: Leela Verity | Spirit @ rest | Spiritual memoir | R320 | Published by Audience of One Media (Pty) Ltd