Hey. I’m glad you stopped by.
I’m Beth Ann Erickson, a freelance writer since 1995, owner of Filbert Publishing since 2000. In the past we published a small amount of fiction and reference books for freelance writers. To date, I’m the author of ten titles and manage a stable of ten authors. I’m also the publisher/editor of our zine called Writing Etc. I write advertising for local and online businesses, have worked as a stringer for various publications.
I was a life long Christian (evangelical, pentecostal, fundangelical, then “moderate”) until around 2005 when I got deep into spirituality, eventually becoming an ordained minister for “Wisdom of the Heart” church and hosting the University of Metaphysical Sciences Minnesota Office in the Filbert Publishing site here in Kandiyohi, MN. I worked for them for two years.
Ugh. I know. I cringe as I typed it. Metaphysical and sciences in the same sentence. I didn’t see the irony back then. 🙂
My point in mentioning this is that I’ve got a deep reservoir of experience in the world of religion. I also have extensive experience in the writing field. My advertising background is particularly helpful in recognizing the sometimes unscrupulous persuasion methods charlatans use to manipulate their flock.
Given the trajectory of my life up until I realized I was a full fledged skeptic, the realization that I simply couldn’t make myself believe in the supernatural anymore… my world crumbled. A benevolent god no longer had my back. He didn’t have a grand plan for me.
I had everything in place to make Filbert Publishing the next Hay House (look it up if you dare). Once that world crumbled, I felt like I was left with nothing. Everything I’d built to that point dissolved and all I was left with was reality. I’d never dealt with reality before.
So, I’ve spent the last few years rebuilding my life and career. Through that, I’ve developed a newfound love of science and the scientific method, and everything I covered in my college days (yes, it was an accredited, legit college) came back amazingly fresh.
With this project, my hope is to help people like me… people with a million questions, people who have built their entire lives around church and spirituality only to discover that there is a wonderful, scary, horrific, untamed world called “reality.” That you, indeed, are able to guide your own life without the outside help of a celestial being.
So… enjoy and I hope we have an amazing adventure together.
Oh, and as for the name of this blog, I’ll explain next time. Here’s a hint: It’s swiped from a very famous copywriter, persuader, and all around… uh… we’ll leave it at that. 🙂
