A bestselling author, Liliane Fortna has been a professional contemporary dancer (performing in both Europe and the US), European fashion model, fashion consultant, and Amazon rain forest explorer. Since 2008 she has been an Energy Healer in both Europe and the United States, having received her education in France, Belgium, and the United States. She has a degree in English Literature from the University of Maryland and is fluent in French, English, and German. Liliane suffered a very difficult childhood which allows her to understand those who deal with rejection and mistreatment. Over the years, she has helped women feel more confident about themselves, and during the last 14-plus years has used Energy Healing to continue individually helping men and women face and work through difficult physical and emotional situations. With Winks from Above, she helps a broader audience rediscover their innate gift of communicating with their guides and higher self to create a better, richer, and happier life. And as a contributing author in the anthology Turning Point Moments, Liliane helps readers see painful challenges as powerful opportunities to become more resilient, open and hopeful.
When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?
When I was a teenager growing up in France, I loved writing stories, poems, anything. I just had so much fun playing with words. My goal was to become a journalist. The idea of travelling around the world, witnessing and writing about exciting events excited me greatly. Unfortunately, in the 60’s in France, journalism was not well regarded as a profession for a woman. My rather conservative family consequently prevented me from following the path I desired. Only several decades later, after I mustered the courage to get a degree in English Literature, did I finally start focusing on writing my first book.
Which genre are you most passionate about?
I’m an avid reader. I enjoy historical novels, but otherwise I focus on a wide range of non-fiction, primarily biographies, philosophy, esoteric and transformational. As a writer, now that I’ve finished my first transformational book, I intend to turn to a series of children’s books that I’ve been sketching out for some time. I also plan to write an historical memoir based on several generations of women in my family and the impact wars had on them.
What is the most surprising thing you learned while publishing your work?
Winks from Above is a transformational book meant to help others achieve richer, more meaningful lives. But as I went from initial drafting through editing to publishing the final copy, I was struck by how much it also exposed new positive insights for me too. Specifically, as I developed my material, I had to revisit many painful episodes of my life. During this process, I was amazed to see events in a different light, understand their deeper meaning, and appreciate that many of them were connected. Each difficulty I experienced was a step to help me rise to a higher level of consciousness. It was truly cathartic.
What advice would you offer new writers?
Don’t be like me – don’t wait for decades to follow your dream (but if you are a “late bloomer”, that’s okay too). No matter what you write about, dare to amuse, entertain, inform, teach, and share your most inner thoughts. If it comes from your heart, your message will resonate with those who need to read your words. And in the process, it will also allow you to discover parts of yourself hidden in the deepest recesses of your inner being.