Hello and welcome to Writer Wednesday! Our author today is Elizabeth H. Cottrell, who is sharing her wonderful book Heartspoken: How to Write Notes that Connect, Comfort, Encourage and Inspire. Let’s make a connection!
In the hands of author Elizabeth H. Cottrell, the handwritten note is set free from old-fashioned irrelevance to become a superpower tool for connecting with others. Heartspoken: How to Write Notes that Connect, Comfort, Encourage, and Inspire will guide you to developing your own unique note-writing voice and give you the confidence to use it. Consider the flipping of a light switch. You can’t see the electricity. You may not even understand how it works. But when power starts flowing through the open wire, it is nothing short of miraculous. She will show you how to find and flip that switch in your own note writing. Grasp this beautiful process, and your writing will become alive, meaningful, and impactful in ways you never thought possible.
“Heartspoken is a work of art—and a work of heart. Your words are packed with wisdom and inspiration. It is so practical and I especially admire how you put the reader at ease with your encouragement to write naturally. Your NOTES formula is brilliant!” – Peggy Post, Director Emeritus, The Emily Post Institute
“This book is a gift. It’s a gift that Elizabeth Cottrell has given to all who read it. It is a gift that you will feel compelled to share with others. As a business etiquette expert, I have been teaching people the value of writing notes as a tool for growing their business and building relationships. Elizabeth has created one of the most valuable books you’ll ever own and will refer to over and over for years to come.” – Lydia Ramsey, Business Etiquette and Modern Manners Expert
Readers can find it here.
Welcome, Elizabeth, and thanks for joining us! Tell us about yourself.
After a career of business and technical writing, the pandemic (and a generous nudge from my daughter) provided the opportunity to write the book that had been in my head and heart for a decade. I’m a Connector, and this book is my heart message to the world. My two grandsons live in London, so thank goodness for Zoom. We also enjoy visiting our daughter and her husband in New Mexico.
How did you get started writing?
I was a science major, and my first published writing was based on my leprosy research. As my children approached college age, I jumped back into technical and freelance writing to help pay those tuition bills. When my husband retired, I took stock of my priorities and pivoted to blogging and, eventually, to writing and publishing a book.
What’s your favorite part of being a writer?
As a nonfiction writer, my favorite part of writing is connecting… connecting with the voice inside me and connecting with the needs and wants of my readers.
What are some of your other hobbies outside of writing?
When I’m not writing and blogging, I’m reading, journaling, writing notes, walking, watching birds, and enjoying ham radio with my retired husband.
What’s next for you, as a writer?
Fueling the Heartspoken Movement and encouraging more people to write Heartspoken notes.
More about the author:
After an idyllic childhood on a Virginia cattle farm, Elizabeth traveled to New Orleans for graduate school and married a Louisiana boy. They enjoyed Louisiana for six years before he brought her back to Virginia, where they raised their children in the Shenandoah Valley. Besides freelance writing, Elizabeth has been a community activist and leader, the first woman board chair in First National Corporation’s (First Bank) 100+ year history. Now a published author and founder of the Heartspoken Movement, her mission is to inspire and teach note writers to claim their connection superpower: writing heartspoken notes that connect, comfort, encourage, and inspire.
You can connect with Elizabeth on her blog, her website, at the links below. You can also email her at riverwood50@gmail.com.
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Thank you for joining Writer Wednesday featuring Elizabeth H. Cottrell’s HEARTSPOKEN: How to Write Notes that Connect, Comfort, Encourage, and Inspire. I hope you’ll check out her book and join her Heartspoken Movement. I did! 💕
Now, I’d love to hear from you: When was the last time you wrote or received a note from the heart? Let us know in the comments, and we’ll see you on the next Writer Wednesday!
Thank you so much for this lovely feature, Misha! You represent the generous spirit of our indie author community.
Elizabeth! Oh my gosh this comment got stuck and never posted. Thank you so much for your lovely comment and for sharing your wisdom on my blog. Big hugs to you, my friend. ❤️