Featured Interview With Shaman Elizabeth Herrera
Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I was born and raised in Michigan. I moved to Florida with my husband and kids for six years before residing in North Carolina.
Michigan has a cold, unrelenting winter.
Florida was hot year round and so very exotic. It was like living in zoo with large snake, alligators, osprey, bald eagles, flocks of parrots, lizards, boa constrictors and others, sometimes only a few feet away. And of course, we lived there during the infamous hurricane period.
North Carolina is a compromise between the two. Hot summers and mild winters. The people are friendly, but I miss the casual atmosphere of Florida.
At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
All I ever wanted to do was read! And once I learned, I visited the library every time I could. I’d check out the maximum limit and read them all before returning for more books. I won a third grade reading contest by reading over 80 books during the school year.
Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
Visionary fiction has always been one of my favorite genres, even as a kid, I read “A Wrinkle in Time,” “Jonathan Living Seagull,” and “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.”
I am usually inspired by a need to get a specific message out to the world while at the same time learn a specific life lesson for myself.
“Shaman Stone Stone” is a memoir, but my intention was to too show that shamanism (Native American spirituality) doesn’t have to be scary. Along the way, it turned into a book about miracles, because I began to realize how many miracles and healings had happened in so many different ways besides shamanism…such as dreams and divine intervention. I let the story evolve on its own.
“Dreams of Dying” was inspired by a vivid dream, in which Jesus showed me four pivotal scenes. When I woke up I knew I would write the story although I had never written fiction and frankly didn’t expect to write another book.
I would pray for guidance before writing and just let it flow. I had no idea how the pivotal scenes would connect or how the story would end. I realized I wrote the ending afterwards!
I believe “Dreams of Dying” came together perfectly, but it’s NOT a Christian book. Jesus Christ in my book is more about love and Oneness, not doctrine. I believe this has confused many readers, but I had to write the book as the inspiration came to me.
Tell us a little about your latest book?
My latest book, “Earth Sentinels,” was inspired by a story told to my children over breakfast. When I saw their eyes wide with fascination, I knew I was on to something!
My mission with “Earth Sentinels” was make people aware of the environmental concerns that are killing our planet while at the same time offering insights to indigenous spirituality and a damn good adventure.
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