Where is the world headed?
What’s 2012 really all about?
A new friend at the conference suggested I go see her agent regarding representation. His name was Bill Gladstone. She mentioned a couple of things about Bill which immediately grabbed my attention:
- He’d represented Eckhart Tolle (Author of The Power of Now/ A New Earth).
- He lived in Cardiff-on-Sea (Between San Diego and LA).
- He’d just had a brand new novel on 2012 published called ‘The Twelve’.
Hmmm…This was potentially synchronicity at play...
One: Aside from the impressive fact that here was an agent behind such a best selling author, I have all of Eckhart Tolle’s books, as I’m quite the spiritual seeker. I even spent last Xmas watching about 10 hours straight of Eckhart teaching on Oprah’s World Wide Web event recordings. (Undoubtedly Oprah was playing her part here trying to help the public ‘wake up’ to a spiritual consciousness at this time, to be less attached to our materialistically-led ‘egos’, especially in a recession, and become aware of our deeper authentic selves and ‘spirit’). It sounded like Bill might be intent on saving the world too!
Two: ‘Cardiff on Sea’ sounded like a SIGN that was potentially symbolic. I’m an Australian, who lives in London, with ancestral roots in Cardiff, Wales in Great Britain! (You know, the homeland of Catherine Zeta Jones). My mouthful of a name ‘Myfanwy’ is Welsh.
Three: Finding out about 2012 as a turning point in our planet’s consciousness and humanity - and the idea of doing my ‘bit’ to help, was the very impetus that spurred me back into action a few years ago after a period of grief and tragedy. (This involved a tall, dark and dangerously heartbreaking relationship that led to a ‘Dark Night of the Soul’… As opposed to my ‘Knight in Shining Armour’!). Consequently I did some serious soul searching and spiritual research and became intrigued and propelled to find out more on 2012 and the part I could play.
I was on a mission, and from what it sounded, so was Bill Gladstone.
It was looking more and more like I had to meet him.
More signs along the way...
As I drove from San Diego, (passing billboards advertising the movie 2012 with 'you were warned!'), the SIGNS - literally - road signs began to jump out at me one by one. BIRMINGHAM AVENUE, MANCHESTER AVENUE, GLASGOW, EDINBURGH (Scotland), OXFORD… all British towns. I currently live between England and Scotland. I always look for signs on my life path, and these seemed glaringly auspicious.
I arrived at Bill’s beautiful home overlooking the sparkling Pacific Ocean only to find yet another British connection – he was sitting on his balcony with the son of one of the BEATLES legends!
Bill’s Publishing Expertise…
Bill was incredibly sharp and insightful and I soon realised - pretty darn accomplished too. He pioneered on-demand book publishing, was behind the global hit ‘DUMMIES’ series of books, worked with the likes of; Tom Anderson, founder of My space; Peter Norton, founder of Norton Computing; and Linus Torvalds, creator of the Linux operating system, and authors such as Deepak Chopra.
I discussed my book (and a bunch of other ideas) and got the encouragement and focus I so needed from an agent, and before long he was giving me real gems of wisdom about the publishing world today.
I said, ‘wow, other people would really like to hear this advice’ (and might I add; giving his time and advice for free, with no agenda of gaining anything in return). Before I knew it, I was invited back to film a little interview with him for the web, on both publishing tips for authors and on his new novel about 2012 called: ‘THE TWELVE’, which I read in one go till 4.30am. I found the novel special in its own way, but it did remind me of Celestine Prophecy and The Alchemist. I couldn’t put it down and lapped it up like nourishment for the soul. (http://www.12thebook.com/)
So what’s the novel ‘The Twelve’ about?
An adventure thriller story which leads up to and concludes at December 21st, 2012 – which is the end of the Mayan Calendar. Some people point to this date as the ‘end of time’ but the Mayans (and Bill) say it’s a new beginning, a new cycle.
The story tells of a young man who has a near death experience and is given a vision of 12 names while unconscious. He doesn’t remember the names and then spends the rest of his life slowly discovering who these people are – and his life purpose. He is given the task to pull the 12 people together and the fate of humanity, around 2012, hangs in the balance.
The character, Max Duff is largely based on Bill and his own life, including the near death experience!
Talk about a mission!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4_ORKFiJVB8
I couldn’t wait to find out from Bill what was real and what was fictionalised (well up to 2009 anyway). I always find it fascinating when I meet people who became incredibly spiritual and deeply intuitive after passing over and coming back to life, and gained a renewed sense of purpose. Then of course, I was intrigued to find out what he’d have to say on 2012.
12 is a magic number. The 12 Apostles, 12 Knights of the Round Table, 12 lost tribes. So, here’s…
12 reasons to read THE TWELVE (and watch the interview)...
1. From fear to hope - Seen the Blockbuster disaster movie 2012 about destruction and the end of the world? Now read the flip side of what 2012 could really be about – a new beginning for humanity. Choose Inspiration! Choose Hope over Horror.
2. It’s timely – here’s a snippit from Bill about why NOW – 2009 into 2010-2012 is the time to make changes. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=boRSXTxCfXI
3. Escapism – the novel is a good old read that’s a page turner with ongoing adventure and a complex character whose destiny unfolds.
4. Be intrigued – A lot of the novel is based on truth! Ever wondered how a near death experience changes people’s lives? Bill had his own near death experience and he writes about this along with other real life experiences in the book. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wq8Wt-Sju1w
5. Have a mission - Do you ever wonder about your life mission and soul’s purpose? What’s it all about? Why are you here? What can you contribute? Make it your mini-mission to read the book and meet a character who discovers his life purpose and then ponder on your own. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PI04RUe5LJM
6. Do your bit to change the world for the better – Find inspiration and clarity on general values and focus for your ‘call to action’. Gather ideas on what can we all do individually and collectively to make a positive difference to our world, environmentally, spiritually, economically, socially…
7. Open your mind to the bigger picture – isn’t it bizarre that other religions and traditions around the world roughly point to the 2012 time as a major transition? Isn’t it bizarre that scientists tell us that Dec 21 2012 coincides with the winter solstice and a major galactic movement that happens only every 26,000 years? Bill, a Yale Graduate, and someone who is in touch with leading scientists – offers facts & insights that will fascinate and stir your mind. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QA10W124_co
8. Ever wonder about destiny and synchronicities? - This book is full of them.
9. Believe in Soul mates? – Ever felt like you just knew someone even though you’d just met? There’s a connection like that in this book (reminded me of The Alchemist). http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0l7ILDokpQ0
10. A religious, spiritual fix - You can read this book no matter what religion you are – there are characters in it from every leading faith– from a Hindu to a born again Christian and even an atheist. It’s full of beautiful spiritual principles and values that can change the world.
11. Get the inside scoop. This book is being turned into a major Hollywood movie right now. Read the book first!
12. Be part of the solution – Bill is all about providing solutions. Someone said on Facebook the other day; “be a fountain not a drain” Yes – be an ever flowing source of refreshing energy to others, not a drain. Love that. Well, it’s what I’m telling myself anyway!
Now here’s your invitation/
Call - to - Action…
1. CHECK OUT THE INTERVIEW WITH BILL I’VE UPLOADED TO YOU TUBE by starting here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4_ORKFiJVB8
(This is clip #1 but watch clips 1-9 for chat about the novel & 2012).
Questions include:
* In what way is your novel (and take on 2012) different from the blockbuster Hollywood movie?
* Are you hopeful about 2012?
* What do we all individually and collectively need to do to help the planet, and ourselves at this time, and be ready for the big 2012 ‘shift’?
* What do you really think will happen on December 21st, 2012?
* Your character Max has a mission, a purpose, a destiny thrust up on him, do you feel that way about bringing this book about?
2. CHECK OUT A POSITIVE TAKE ON GLOBAL CHANGE for the years leading up to and beyond 2012 at http://www.planetchange.tv/ and http://www.planetchange2012.com/ including; how to be eco-friendly in this time of global warming! The websites are all about good news and solutions.
3. BUY & READ BILL’S BOOK!
http://www.amazon.com/Twelve-William-Gladstone/dp/1593155565/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1260361735&sr=8-1
4. SEND A MESSAGE TO BILL (AND MYSELF) about what you thought of the novel and how you feel about all this 2012 talk and even better what you’re doing to help the planet. (Bill’s at: http://www.12thebook.com/)
For Authors…
And if you’re an author/writer, here are Bill’s tips and insights about the publishing world today:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Ifdwt3s3K8 (clip 10)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0PXU9ll1MtE (clip 11)
Questions include:
* Are Publishers still giving advances to authors?
* What can authors do to build their marketing ‘platform’?
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“Every single human being is a spark of divinity.
Look within, you have the divine within you.
You have the answers within you"
- Bill Gladstone
"It’s hard to call (the Mayan/ 2012 predictions) ‘malarkey’ when you have scientists saying; it’s remarkable this Mayan calendar is so accurate and does coincide with certain alignments of the galaxy, with the ‘wobble’ or rotation in the universe. Some scientists do poo poo it and say it doesn’t mean anything, but it does mean something. I mean how can you have a civilization create a calendar that is this accurate unless they also had some form of knowledge? So I think there is something to it… Now who is saying this is real? Well atleast the people I’m involved with who are Scientists are saying it’s real..."
"Scientists are saying: From a purely scientific point of view, lets use this date (2012) to galvanise energy and serve as a catalyst for getting people to realise that the systems we’ve created are not sustainable, not just the environment and ecology - that’s clear, but also economic systems, the political systems, the educational and medical, many of the systems that are running our lives. We’re not running them. At the time we created them they made sense, but they don’t really make sense any more. From a scientific modelling point of view these systems will break down and it is essential that we transform the way we’re thinking...
As Einstein was quoted as saying: ‘you can’t solve the problems of today with the same thinking that created the problems’. You have to make a quantum leap – that’s what scientists are saying… Take 2012 as an important date for action."
- Bill Gladstone
(hear Bill talk more on this in my YouTube interview)
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One last thought: At around age 21 when I was gearing up for a career in making documentaries (which I went on to do at BBC for over a decade), I found myself blurting out the following words which seemed to come from somewhere deep inside: 'I WANT TO SAVE THE WORLD'. I never thought for a second that in my lifetime, it would literally be a topic of conversation! Whatever 2012 is really about, like Bill says, I'm inspired to see the date as a goal post for positive change. My hopes are simple: a kinder, gentler, more honest, cooperative, sustainable and loving world.
As we say in London, Cheers for now!
Myfanwy
© Copyright Myfanwy Marshall 2009.
Disclaimer:
* No, I don’t work as a publicist, just sharing my experience and spreading a story of hope and inspiration!
* Footage - Just before interviewing Bill I bought one of those new tiny phone size FLIP cameras so the interview on YouTube was my first experiment with it. While they’re handy little gadgets, unfortunately its inbuilt editing software is basic and limited and I’m told my camera has a software glitch - I was trying to trim clips with out -of- sync footage! So it’s been sheer determination to put it together in its very raw, organic state and upload and share with you.
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