Author Cynthia Waring to Lead Memoir Classes

Author and performance artist Cynthia Waring will teach two six-week courses on memoir writing beginning February 27. Titled "The Power and Healing of Writing Your Memoirs," the two-hour classes will take place at 7 pm Mondays and 3 pm Wednesdays (beginning March 1) at the Family Therapy Institute of Santa Barbara, 111 E. Arrellaga Street. The courses cost $240 and space is limited. To register, call (805) 798-2930.

"What I most want to inspire in my students is love of language, love of metaphor, and love for their very own story," said Ms. Waring, whose book Bodies Unbound was published in 1997. "In my own case, finding my voice and story through writing opened a path of self-discovery. I can honestly say that the process can be very therapeutic and lead to an emotional awakening. These classes will emphasize the creative process and strategies for fostering self-expression."

Born in Modesto, Ms. Waring published poetry and essays before embarking on a long career as a massage therapist. Determined to chronicle her experiences with patients - who often revealed their innermost insecurities during therapy - she spent 15 years writing what would become Bodies Unbound. Publishers at first rejected the manuscript, prompting Ms. Waring to create a one-woman show of the same name. Her first performance in Boulder, Colorado, met with a standing ovation, and she soon landed a publishing contract with Books Beyond Borders.

Writing in Touch Therapy Times, Jack Thomas has described Bodies Unbound as "extremely well-written and totally engaging." According to NAPRA Review, "Raw language replaces jargon in this gritty tale of how one woman forged a path to recovery."

Ms. Waring has performed her one-woman show Bodies Unbound in Denver, Los Angeles, New York City, Ojai, Santa Barbara, and Edinburgh, Scotland. In 2014 she developed another one-woman show based on her own music compositions. Songs to My Soul was performed in Los Angeles, Ojai, and Santa Barbara.

She has led writing workshops in and around Santa Barbara over many years.

For more information, call (805) 798-2930 or visit http://bodiesunbound.com.

About Cynthia Waring

Cynthia Waring is an acclaimed author and performer whose book and one-woman show, both titled Bodies Unbound, have garnered plaudits from readers and audiences nationwide. A former massage therapist, she is also a seasoned writing instructor. Additional information is available athttp://bodiesunbound.com.

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