{"id":2842,"date":"2016-09-10T08:18:36","date_gmt":"2016-09-10T15:18:36","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.dianastevan.com\/?p=2842"},"modified":"2023-08-09T07:41:48","modified_gmt":"2023-08-09T14:41:48","slug":"along-came-a-gardener","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.dianastevan.com\/uk\/2016\/writing\/along-came-a-gardener\/","title":{"rendered":"Along Came A Gardener"},"content":{"rendered":"

I’ve decided to take a side trip and write a non-fiction book, called Along Came A Gardener<\/strong>. <\/em>I\u2019ll be combining my love of gardening with what I\u2019ve learned during my twenty-five years working as a family therapist.<\/p>\n

Writing What I Know<\/h3>\n
\"Along

Working In My Garden<\/p><\/div>\n

Readers of my fictional works know that I\u2019ve used my counselling background in my novels. In A Cry From The Deep<\/em><\/strong><\/a>, Joanna visits a therapist. In The Rubber Fence<\/em><\/strong><\/a>, my protagonist is one.\u00a0And just so you know, I’m still writing fiction. I’m working on a few ideas right now.<\/p>\n

But in this book, Along Came A Gardener<\/strong>, <\/em>I’ll write about the problems that people seek a counsellor or a therapist for. I’ll also share what can be done about them, using nature as a guide at times.<\/p>\n

Where the Inspiration Came From<\/h3>\n

I\u2019ve thought about writing this book for a long time. The idea for it was inspired by a teenager who was referred to me for help. She and her sister, both excellent students, were struggling with depression. Their mother was mentally ill. It took tremendous courage for them to seek guidance on how to deal with an unpredictable and at times, scary home environment.<\/p>\n

After seeing both girls for a number of sessions, the eldest gave me a poem she\u2019d written. It was called The Seed of Hope<\/em><\/strong>, which I\u2019ll share further down the road. In it, I was the gardener. What a tribute! Both girls went on to work in the helping professions. I am so grateful to have met them and for what they gave me in return.<\/p>\n

Confidentiality is Key<\/h3>\n

And in case you’re wondering, the names and circumstances of the people I might mention will be altered to protect their identity. Confidentiality is key to gaining trust. A professional therapist or counsellor is bound by the ethical codes of their profession to keep what occurs in their sessions confidential.<\/p>\n

Writing For The Reader<\/h3>\n

This book will be for anyone who\u2019s felt lost at times or so depressed they didn\u2019t know which way to turn. My hope is that what\u2019s between these pages will give some comfort. Or may encourage you the reader to ask for outside help, if need be. There\u2019s no shame in it. Being human means making mistakes. That\u2019s why they have erasers on pencils<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

So for those of you who are interested, please sign up for my newsletter and I\u2019ll send you chapter by chapter of this work in progress. You\u2019ll be the first to receive each chapter for the eventual book, Along Came A Gardener<\/strong>.\u00a0<\/em>I’ll also let you know about any other developments. Like if and when my books are discounted. And if you have any thoughts or questions about what I’m writing, I’ll be happy to read and answer them as well.<\/p>\n

My Blog Continues<\/h3>\n

Otherwise, I\u2019ll keep posting here on my blog about whatever I find interesting at the moment, whether it\u2019s writing, film, books, or aspects of life that intrigue me.<\/p>\n

Thanks for stopping by. I hope you sign up for both my blog and newsletter. \u00a0For those reading this on your mobile phones, you need to click on the full site to see the sign-up form.<\/h5>\n
As always, I welcome your comments.<\/h5>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

I’ve decided to take a side trip and write a non-fiction book, called Along Came A Gardener. I\u2019ll be combining my love of gardening with what I\u2019ve learned during my… <\/p>","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":true,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[4,88,86],"tags":[609,903,78,810,19,311,902,731,812,5],"class_list":["post-2842","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-writing","category-life","category-therapy-2","tag-a-cry-from-the-deep","tag-along-came-a-gardener","tag-diana-stevan","tag-family-therapy","tag-fiction","tag-nature","tag-non-fiction","tag-the-blue-nightgown","tag-the-rubber-fence","tag-writing-2"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p1LuVB-JQ","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":6322,"url":"https:\/\/www.dianastevan.com\/uk\/2023\/writing\/wrapping-up-writing\/","url_meta":{"origin":2842,"position":0},"title":"Wrapping Up Writing","author":"Diana Stevan","date":"20 \u0413\u0440\u0443\u0434\u043d\u044f, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"Year-end is a good time for wrapping up writing and more. With holiday celebrations in full swing, there's too much going on to concentrate on finishing a work-in-progress, or starting a new one. I find writing breaks useful, a time for reflection. My thoughts about story never stop, but while\u2026","rel":"","context":"\u0423 "Writing"","block_context":{"text":"Writing","link":"https:\/\/www.dianastevan.com\/uk\/category\/writing\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"wrap up writing","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.dianastevan.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/1c24164d-0d94-37f5-6ba0-91696063643e.jpg?fit=500%2C353&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":2902,"url":"https:\/\/www.dianastevan.com\/uk\/2016\/uncategorized\/cover-reveal\/","url_meta":{"origin":2842,"position":1},"title":"Cover Reveal for ALONG CAME A GARDENER","author":"Diana Stevan","date":"14 \u0416\u043e\u0432\u0442\u043d\u044f, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"Cover Reveal Thrilled to reveal the cover for my next book, ALONG CAME A GARDENER. In this inspirational book, I'll share some tips on managing life's ups and downs. Tips I gave my clients during my twenty-five years as a therapist. Human Pain Does Not Discriminate I've been blessed to\u2026","rel":"","context":"\u0423 "Therapy"","block_context":{"text":"Therapy","link":"https:\/\/www.dianastevan.com\/uk\/category\/therapy-2\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"untitled","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.dianastevan.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/untitled-197x300.png?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":6478,"url":"https:\/\/www.dianastevan.com\/uk\/2024\/therapy-2\/inside-the-inspirational-pages\/","url_meta":{"origin":2842,"position":2},"title":"Inside the Inspirational Pages","author":"Diana Stevan","date":"13 \u0421\u0435\u0440\u043f\u043d\u044f, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"With fall fast approaching, I thought I'd share what's inside the inspirational pages of my self-help book, Along Came A Gardener, to be launched on March 15, 2025. Those of you who have been following me know this has been a work of love, starting in the late 1970s, when\u2026","rel":"","context":"\u0423 "Books"","block_context":{"text":"Books","link":"https:\/\/www.dianastevan.com\/uk\/category\/books\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Inspirational pages","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.dianastevan.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/IMG_2254.jpeg?fit=1024%2C768&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.dianastevan.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/IMG_2254.jpeg?fit=1024%2C768&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.dianastevan.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/IMG_2254.jpeg?fit=1024%2C768&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.dianastevan.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/IMG_2254.jpeg?fit=1024%2C768&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":6757,"url":"https:\/\/www.dianastevan.com\/uk\/2025\/books\/book-launch-of-along-came-a-gardener\/","url_meta":{"origin":2842,"position":3},"title":"Book Launch of Along Came A Gardener","author":"Diana Stevan","date":"18 \u0411\u0435\u0440\u0435\u0437\u043d\u044f, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Hurrah, my book launch of\u00a0Along Came A Gardener happened this past weekend. 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It\u2019s\u2026","rel":"","context":"\u0423 "Books"","block_context":{"text":"Books","link":"https:\/\/www.dianastevan.com\/uk\/category\/books\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.dianastevan.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/book-reading.jpg?fit=1170%2C879&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.dianastevan.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/book-reading.jpg?fit=1170%2C879&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.dianastevan.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/book-reading.jpg?fit=1170%2C879&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.dianastevan.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/book-reading.jpg?fit=1170%2C879&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.dianastevan.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/book-reading.jpg?fit=1170%2C879&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":6847,"url":"https:\/\/www.dianastevan.com\/uk\/2025\/writing\/folding-memories-into-story\/","url_meta":{"origin":2842,"position":4},"title":"Folding Memories into Story","author":"Diana Stevan","date":"12 \u0427\u0435\u0440\u0432\u043d\u044f, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Writing What You Know Ernest Hemingway, the wonderful author of great works such as\u00a0The Sun Also Rises\u00a0and\u00a0For Whom the Bell Tolls,\u00a0was a master of folding memories into story. 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