Second Year Project, Take 2

I am midway through the second year of USM. Time for an update about my project!

When I designed my project back in October, I created a three-step plan to writing a book. I organized it like a scientific research project. During Phase One (from October through December), I focused on gathering background information on twenty species of animals. This included their natural history (habitat, family size, prey, predators, etc.) and their symbolism in different spiritual traditions around the world and throughout history. I also spent time each week honing my intuitive skills and talking to as many animals of as many different species as I could. This was so much fun! I talked to dogs, cats, fish, donkeys, goats, chickens, and pigs.

In January, I breathed an incredulous sigh of relief as this phase finished and I moved into Phase Two: interviewing at least one individual animal from each of the twenty species. I am in the middle of this phase and I can’t believe I’m really gathering information for my book. I’ve been to both the Sacramento and San Diego Zoos this month to talk to the animals. I’ve interviewed over a dozen different animals and asked each one my three questions: What is your spiritual gift? What is your spiritual lesson or challenge? What message do you have for humans? Their answers have been funny, thoughtful, practical, touching, and inspiring.

Phase Three begins after I’ve collected all of my information from interviews, sometime in March. This final phase will be my writing phase. I’ve already started writing chapter summaries (about a paragraph long) about the animal species that I have interviewed. I’m starting to get a little nervous about this phase, because it seemed so far away and safe in October when I planned it, but now it is right around the corner and soon I’ll have to produce words on paper! Lots of them! Yikes! (Yes, USM classmates and grads, I will be working my process on this issue! ;-) )

Another item on my project plan was to write a book proposal and attend the San Diego Writers’ Conference to help me find an agent or publisher for my book. I did this last weekend and had a great trip. I learned a lot about pitches and platforms, queries and editors.

Here is my basic pitch: “My book is a spiritual non-fiction book that answers the question “Do animals have a soul?”. My subjects are twenty animals whose spiritual lessons have important messages for humans. This book offers readers a deeper understanding of themselves, their animals, and the spiritual organization of our world.”

Here is my elevator pitch: “Dr. Doolittle meets The Secret.” (This pitch came from a very practical workshop with a lively Hollywood movie agent who reduced everything to its essence and movie references.)

Here is my academic pitch: “Pioneering the emerging field of spiritual biology, a wildlife biologist bridges science and spirituality by using direct intuitive communication to investigate the unique spiritual lessons and messages of twenty different species of animals.” Not quite as catchy, but a bit more accurate than the Hollywood pitch!

Finally, here is my two paragraph book synopsis:

For millennia, humans have received mixed messages about animals from myths, religions, and science. Animals have been either deified or crucified in ancient and modern lore. Many of the world’s religions relegate animals to an inferior place in a hierarchy that puts humans on top. Even traditional science tells us that animals are merely automatons acting solely out of an instinctive drive for survival. However, many of us intuitively feel that animals’ lives are deeper and more meaningful than that. Until now, though, no one has been able to ask the animals about their reality. Enter the new science of spiritual biology.

Author Dr. Cara Gubbins is a wildlife biologist and spiritual intuitive who uses the scientific method to answer spiritual questions. Divine Beings offers a window into the worlds of twenty different species of animals. Using intuitive communication, dozens of animals were asked the same three questions by the author: What is your spiritual lesson? What is your spiritual gift? What message do you have for humans? Their answers are both surprising and inspiring. Each chapter focuses on one species and includes the symbolism of the animals in mythology and worldwide spiritual traditions, their natural history, and their responses to the three questions. Sometimes science or mythology got it right, but more often reality is far more complex and interesting. Combining science, mythology, and direct spiritual investigation, this unique book offers readers the chance to compare humans’ interpretation of animals’ lives with the actual experiences and insights of the animals themselves. Together, this combination offers readers a deeper understanding of themselves, animals, and the spiritual organization of our world.

So, as you can see, I’ve been busy playing with animals and words for the last several months! I am having fun and learning a lot about writing and selling a book. I’ll keep you updated as I finish Phase Two and move into Phase Three “Writing The Book.” And if you know a literary agent or book publisher who might be interested in me and my book, please have them give me a call!