Alice Lee Martin (Aley Martin)

Aley Martin grew up in New England and has lived in eleven states. She has two grown children and three dogs. Aley loves teaching and writing and teaches literature and humanities at three different academic institutions.

As a self-described spiritual "mutt", Aley embraces humanism, Buddhism and Native American philosophies.Her favorite time periods are the Enlightenment and Victorian Ages.

She loves the concept of flanerie and spends as much time sauntering sans a turtle for company! Charles Baudelaire knew of which he wrote!

With a love of travel Aley would spend at least 4 months out of the year aboard her RV, but duty calls. Humor is key to her existence and her favorite improv guy is her son, Alex. Her daughter Kate and she love blogging and are appointed wordsmiths and curiosity mongers.

Aley loves hard back and soft back books but is willing to read books on her Kindle, expecially when traveling. Board games bring her joy: Scrabble, Majjhonng and the Game of Life are a few favorites.

She is a liberally minded woman and a spiritually invested part of the whole. She prefers her status as a Global Citizen, as she is not "attached" to any place therefore is comfortable in all places. There are however a few geographic places she actually abhors, (but is reluctant to insult anyone who might live there).

If there was such a thing as reincarnation, she knows she has been a man more times than a woman, as she feels totally balanced in her male and female energies. Her spouse also is balanced thus, making them a completely well rounded duo.

If Glenn Miller music is playing on the radio, you can bet her parents are sending her a message, and her big brother Don introduced her to Joseph Campbell's works and it changed her life.

If there was ever any advice Aley would give solicited or otherwise, it would be to have the courage to think for yourself and to keep educating yourself throughout your entire lifetime, this leads to the last momentous adage: "Know Thyself".

As a writer, I admonish other writers:

Not to write just to "make money".( Even excellent writers only make about $14, 000 a year writing.) Have you been in a bookstore recently? EVERYONE thinks they can write! And they should do it IF THEY LOVE IT!

Write because you must!

Write to enjoy yourself, write to be free....! Enjoy the hell out of it!

As with all things, if it is right, the money will come...

In the Spotlight

"The only real wisdom is knowing you know nothing" Socrates

The author examines the words of one of her heroes: "Socrates" and our modern society.

In the Spotlight

Herbal Treatment for Dogs with Cancer

The author shares her experience with alternative therapies that allowed her beloved pet to live 2.5 years longer than her diagnosis for bladder cancer.

In the Spotlight

Taking it off the chin

The author describes how change has been embraced in her life including the newest change: Smart lipo of the chin and neck.

In the Spotlight

Duality and Contradiction in Citizen Kane

It is ironic that Orson Welles, an indisputable auteur and master of formalism created his crowning masterpiece “Citizen Kane” at age 24 years old. His ability to reproduce reality in various manners gives him such high distinction. Themes of...

In the Spotlight

Flanerie a la 21st Century

Flanerie is a 19th century phenomena that was evident in Paris. Strolling, or walking at a leisurely pace, flaneurs would often walk their pet turtles on a leash through Paris...this examines the more modern 21st century flaneur

In the Spotlight

"Fear" of open minded people: Reptiles of the mind.

Why can't we see that by not opening our minds, we remain in what Blake called: "reptiles of the mind,?" By being open to new ideas, we free ourselves from imposed restraints that were ingrained from our earliest schooling and put us on a path to enlightenment.

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  12
  Literature

  Absurdism and "The Stranger" by Albert Camus

  13 years ago

  Albert Camus was a contemporary writer who lived in French Algeria during the 1940's. His philosophy, which was an extension of the philosophy of existentialism, explored the seemingly random meaninglessness of life.  Absurdists believe that it is...

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  44
  Home Schooling & Life Experience Education

  "The only real wisdom is knowing you know nothing" Socrates

  14 years ago

  The author examines the words of one of her heroes: "Socrates" and our modern society.