Interview With Author Tzivia Gover

 

1.      What motivated you to write your book, to force you from taking an idea or experience and turning it into this book?  When I was 23, I wrote in my journal, “I am a dreamer, a writer without words. I am a writer, a woman who wants to share her dreams.” So I’ve always been engaged with dreams and writing.  I’ve worked as a journalist and a writing instructor, but I didn’t really come out of the closet fully as a dreamer until after my daughter had left for college and my partner suddenly left as well. Then I lost my job! At that point, I figured I’d either fall into the crater of emptiness that had opened at the center of my life, or I could fill that void with something spectacular. That’s when I decided to formalize my passion for dreams and study and receive professional certification. Since then, I’ve built a lifestyle and a business that combines my twin passions: Dreamwork and poetic writing. And after more than a dozen years of studying the connections between dreams and writing, and teaching workshops and classes in both, I realized I had created an approach to writing that works—both to create great poems and stories, but also as a tool for self-reflection and self-growth. When my students began telling me, “You should write a book about all of this,” I finally did! I wrote Dreaming on the Page as a culmination of my personal journey and my desire to wake people up to their best lives through soulful arts like dreamwork and writing. 

2. What is it about and who is it for? A one sentence synopsis of Dreaming on the Page might read: Everybody dreams and everybody has a story to tell! Dreaming on the Page goes on to explain why that’s true and why it’s important. The book is packed with short essays about dreams, writing, and the places where they meet. It also includes some 40 writing prompts, and instructions and inspiration for making our work public and also creating Dreaming on the Page writing and dreamwork circles. It’s not just a book to read, it’s also a guide to empowering people to pick up a pen and befriend all the aspects of who they are.  This is a book for anyone who is curious about their dreams, and who has a desire for self-expression. It’s appropriate for writers at all stages of their journey, from casual journal keepers to experienced authors--whether they remember their dreams or not. 

3. What takeaways might the reader will be left with after reading it? People will learn that creativity is our birthright, and that our dreams remind us of that every night by creating narratives filled with vivid imagery, plot, strong emotion, memorable characters, metaphor and symbolism: All of the elements of great literature! People will also come away with practical tools for recalling more dreams, and methods for taking an active role in dreaming through dream journaling, dream incubation, and lucid dreaming. They’ll also get guidance on simple writing practices, and how to build habits that support and sustain their creativity. 

4. How did you decide on your book’s title and cover design? The title, Dreaming on the Page: Tap into the Midnight Mind to Supercharge Your Writing reflects my belief that writing helps us deepen our understanding of our dreams, and paying attention to our dreams brings more authenticity and vibrancy to our writing. It’s also the name of my workshops and classes.

The cover design conveys both aspects of the book--dreams and writing by depicting a starry midnight sky at the edge of an open field of possibility for creativity in its many forms. The image is printed on coverstock with the texture and feel of fine writing paper. This is also part of the message of the book: Dreams, writing, and the stories and poems we generate are valuable and valued. So, the whole package celebrates these aspects of who we are. This end result represents a creative collaboration between me and the team at The Collective Book Studio.  

5. What advice or words of wisdom do you have for fellow writers? Write!  Yes, it’s that simple. One of my teachers told me: The hardest thing about writing a book is not writing a book. It’s true! We are naturally creative beings. Stopping up the flow is more effort in some ways than taking a few minutes a day to express yourself on the page.  Start by writing down your dreams. Then see if you can turn any of those into stories or poems. 

6. What trends in the book world do you see -- and where do you think the book publishing industry is heading? One thing I write about in Dreaming on the Page is that there is a long history of writers putting their work out into the world using creative means that circumvent the gatekeepers. Walt Whitman self published Leaves of Grass, and after being rejected by the publishers of her day, Emily Dickinson created hand-sewn folios of her poetry that she tucked away in her dresser drawers, and channeled some of her creativity into writing poetic letters to her family and friends. Today way have so many options for getting our words out into the world from blogs, to podcasts, to social media posts to on-demand-printing. I’ve used all of those methods myself (including publishing with traditional publishing houses). So, I’d say while the landscape is always changing, there’s a lot of hope and optimism knowing that writers have so many choices. In this case, I published with the Collective Book Studio, a company that prides itself on being a disruptor in the world of publishing by teaming up with authors and a creative team of editors, designers, etc. to create beautiful books.  

7. What challenges did you overcome to write this book? My main problem was paring down all of what I wanted to say into the space I had to work with. I literally think about writing and dreaming day and night! I’ve studied these topics for decades through the lenses of science, psychology, and spirituality--so I have a lot to say! The challenge was putting it into a form and structure that would best serve the reader. 

8. How would you describe your writing style? Others say my style is warm, encouraging, and engaging. I hope that that’s true! 

9. If people can buy or read one book this week or month, why should it be yours? Dreaming on the Page isn’t just a book that you read. It’s a book that you engage with through journaling prompts and writing exercises. Page by page you also begin to connect with your dreams and imagination in new ways. All of this adds magic and meaning to your life. Plus, it’s a beautifully designed book that is a pure pleasure to hold in your hands or keep close by your bedside. 

About The Author:  Tzivia Gover, founder of Dreaming on the Page classes and workshops, is the author of several books, including The Mindful Way to a Good Night’s Sleep. She teaches programs internationally, domestically, and online. She is also a Certified Dreamwork Professional and a Certified Proprioceptive Writing instructor. Gover has an MFA from Columbia University in creative nonfiction. She writes and dreams in western Massachusetts. For more info, please see: www.tziviagover.com.

 

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Brian Feinblum, the founder of this award-winning blog, can be reached at brianfeinblum@gmail.com He is available to help authors promote their story, sell their book, and grow their brand. He has over 30 years of experience in successfully helping thousands of authors in all genres.

 

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About Brian Feinblum

Brian Feinblum should be followed on Twitter @theprexpert. This is copyrighted by BookMarketingBuzzBlog ©2022. Born and raised in Brooklyn, he now resides in Westchester with his wife, two kids, and Ferris, a black lab rescue dog. His writings are often featured in The Writer and IBPA’s The Independent.  This award-winning blog has generated over 3.2 million pageviews. With 4,400+ posts over the past decade, it was named one of the best book marketing blogs by BookBaby  http://blog.bookbaby.com/2013/09/the-best-book-marketing-blogs and recognized by Feedspot in 2021 and 2018 as one of the top book marketing blogs. It was also named by WinningWriters.com as a "best resource.” For the past three decades, including 21 years as the head of marketing for the nation’s largest book publicity firm, and two jobs at two independent presses, Brian has worked with many first-time, self-published, authors of all genres, right along with best-selling authors and celebrities such as: Dr. Ruth, Mark Victor Hansen, Joseph Finder, Katherine Spurway, Neil Rackham, Harvey Mackay, Ken Blanchard, Stephen Covey, Warren Adler, Cindy Adams, Susan RoAne, Jeff Foxworthy, Seth Godin, and Henry Winkler. He recently hosted a panel on book publicity for Book Expo America, and has spoken at ASJA, IBPA, Sarah Lawrence College, Nonfiction Writers Association, Cape Cod Writers Association, Willamette (Portland) Writers Association, and Connecticut Authors and Publishers Association. His letters-to-the-editor have been published in The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, New York Post, NY Daily News, Newsday, The Journal News (Westchester) and The Washington Post. He has been featured in The Sun Sentinel and Miami Herald. For more information, please consult: linkedin.com/in/brianfeinblum.