• AMANDA MICHAELS-ZECH

AMZ

  • AMANDA MICHAELS-ZECH

poetry + short stories

 

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.

articles + blog

 

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

photography

children's fiction

 

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!

biography

Amanda Michaels-Zech is a writer and photographer residing in coastal Southern California with her husband and sons.

Michaels-Zech earned her BA from UCLA in Study of World Religions (Study of Religion), with special emphases on Buddhism, Buddhist Meditation Traditions, Historical Christianity, and World Arts and Cultures. In the context of her studies, she discovered yoga and meditation and continues to dedicate herself to both practices.

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, 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 Michaels-Zech'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.

_______

Before becoming a professional writer, Michaels-Zech 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

contact [dot] amandamichaelszech [at] gmail [dot] com

poetry + short stories

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Girl on a Cliff | California 2015 | Poetry + Photography Piece by Amanda Michaels-Zech.jpg

articles + blog

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Mandala | Santa Monica, California | Photo by Amanda Michaels-Zech.jpg

photography

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And Now It's Like This | Against the Stream Buddhist Meditation Society in East Hollywood, California 2015 | Photo by Amanda Michaels-Zech.jpg

children's fiction

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Candy Alley | Brentwood, Los Angeles, California 2015 | Photo by Amanda Michaels-Zech.jpg

biography

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Amanda Michaels-Zech and son in the Malibu Mountains | 2016 (1).jpg

connect

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Yoga Hands | Wanderlust Oahu 2014 | Photo by Amanda Michaels-Zech.jpg

Content and image copyright © 2015 Amanda Michaels-Zech