POETRY.
GIRL ON A CLIFF
Original poetry+photography piece
Auctioned in 2016 to benefit the Against the Stream Buddhist Meditation Society. CLICK HERE to view details about the auction.
SHARDS OF SELF
Original poetry+photography piece
Auctioned in 2011 to benefit the Against the Stream Buddhist Meditation Society
SHORT STORIES.
AND NOW IT'S LIKE THIS
A travel memoir
Published in the March 24, 2016 issue of the Palisadian Post Newspaper
CALIFORNIA BEACH-BABIES IN OAHU
A travel memoir
Published in the March 27, 2014 issue of the Palisadian Post Newspaper
CUTTER
A portrait memoir*
Cutter won third prize at the 2014 Third Annual Adult Writing Competition at the Palisades Branch of the Los Angeles Public Library
It was an honor to place in this competition amongst so many incredible writers! A special thank you to actor William Jones who performed Cutter beautifully at the awards reception. I will never forget what it felt like to hear you bring the words to life!
*Portrait memoir: a memoir based on the experience of someone who is not the author.
PUBLISHED ARTICLES.
WANDERLUST OAHU 2014
Participatory feature for LA YOGA MAGAZINE with co-authors Alana Littler and Heather Cereghino
Front-page run
March 2014
GRATITUDE IS THE MUSE AT THIS ART AUCTION
Blog-turned-local news feature on AOL'S ONLINE NEWSPAPER PATCH
Extended front-page run in "Local Voices"
August 2011
BEYOND CHOCOLATES AND FLOWERS
Seasonal feature on AOL'S ONLINE NEWSPAPER PATCH
Highlighted as THE TOP SPOT
Extended front-page run
February 2011 | re-run February 2012
ESCAPE INTO BODY AND MIND WITH REIKI
Participatory feature on AOL'S ONLINE NEWSPAPER PATCH
Highlighted as THE TOP SPOT
Extended front-page run
March 2011
TREEPEOPLE VOLUNTEERS DON'T GROW ON TREES
Local nonprofit news feature on AOL'S ONLINE NEWSPAPER PATCH
April 2011
BLOG POSTS.
2014
I've been asked to blog about my experience in a writing workshop called The 90-Day Novel put on by LA Writer's Tribe. The blogs are shared on The 90-Day Novel Facebook Page. And some of the posts will eventually also be shared on the popular blog Best Chick Lit. Click on the titles or photos below to read the blogs, most recent first.
SURRENDER | April 2014
HOLDING IT - ALL OF IT - LOOSELY | February 2014
NOT A GOOD STUDENT | March 2014
EASE WITH A CAPITAL "E" | February 2014
2011
KEEP GALLIANO'S PEDESTAL WARM
Pop Culture
WHAT WOMEN WANT
Musings
EGYPT AND THE ALCHEMIST
Politics
STATE OF THE UNION SALMON
Politics
CHILDREN'S FICTION.
As a child, I fell in love with books like The Velveteen Rabbit, the Chronicles of Narnia, and The Polar Express. As a modern writer of fiction for children, I aspire to write stories for children that are as complex and engaging as the ones that inspired me.
I have also always loved books that are a pure and simple JOY to read and re-read (especially aloud!). Shel Silverstein and Dr. Seuss are authors who I've always admired ...and often memorized. As a modern writer of rhyming rhythmic picture books, I am hoping to express the joy of being a child, the joy of being a parent, the joy of simply being! I aspire to write books that inspire the imagination and that communicate something heartfelt, always.
Following are abstracts of some of my work seeking publication:
SILENCE OF RAINWATER
Set on the intricate and colorful backdrop of Buddhist cosmology and inspired by The Flower Adornment Sutra, one of Buddhism's most widely-read texts, SILENCE OF RAINWATER tells a universal tale of grief and survival through the life of one tiny spirit named Silence.
THE GLASS ORB
Set in the fairytale familiar "Once Upon A Time", but with a twist, THE GLASS ORB's heroine - who has the special talent of making fiction feel like reality - soon learns that living in a fiction (even one of her own creation) pales in comparison to living in reality, especially when it comes to finding true love.
PICTURE BOOKS
I have two rhythmic rhyming picture book series in the works:
The first series is inspired by my sons and the utterly overwhelming toe-tingling joy I feel as their mama. The first completed title in the series is ME NOT A FLOWER.
The second series is an homage to the many priceless teachings I've been so blessed to learn over my many years of practicing yoga and meditation. The first completed title in that series is THE BIRD IS TOO NEAR.
I hope to be able to share both series soon!
Amanda Iyana Michaels (aim) is a writer, photographer, yogi, meditator, and mama residing in coastal Southern California.
She earned her BA from UCLA in Study of World Religions (Study of Religion), with a concentration on Buddhism, Buddhist Meditation Traditions, Historical Christianity, and World Arts and Cultures.
In 1999, aim was taught to meditate by monks at the Hsi Lai Temple when she visited the grounds as research for a paper. Coming up on twenty years later, she continues to dedicate herself to meditation and the practice of yoga.
Her writing has been featured by LA Yoga Magazine, The Palisadian Post Newspaper, AOL's Patch.com Online Newspaper, the Against the Stream Buddhist Meditation Society Art Auction, the Los Angeles Public Library Creative Writing Competition, and LA Writer's Tribe.
Her photography has been featured by LA Yoga Magazine, Wanderlust Yoga + Music Festival, Sagrada Wellness Retreat Center, Well.org, well + GOOD, Yoga Magazine, Om Magazine, Turtle Bay Resort, The Modern Honolulu, VibeWest, Yoganonymous, clover cloth Conscious Apparel, Crayon Collection, and The Palisadian Post Newspaper.
To request permission to use any of aim’s photographs, please connect and wait for a response. Please include as much detail as possible (e.g. purpose, platform). Photos are copyrighted with all rights reserved and cannot be used without permission and credit.
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Before becoming a professional writer, aim was an actress appearing under the name Amanda Michaels in over a dozen independent films - many of which were admitted to festivals including CANNES, HBO'S International Film Festival, SHRIEKFEST, Newport Beach Film Festival, among others. See the International Movie Database for details.
connect [dot] amandaiyanamichaels [at] gmail [dot] com
