Hi, I’m Kristen Baumgardner Caven.
And I hear voices.
You might know me from my books. Or my stories or my poems or my overly ambitious theatrical efforts. Or from the line at the DMV, where you liked my shoes. Or from my childhood, well-spent youth, school daze, multiple jobs, volunteer work? Maybe you’ve seen me on stage at a parenting talk, literary reading, panel, zoom event, community event, or Zumbathon? Maybe you’ve read my articles, essays, or stories somewhere? Maybe you’ve been a subscriber to my blogs—which I write like they’re books—or to one of my many Facebook pages and groups. Maybe you’ve been to one of my parties, salons or convivia. Or maybe you know me from my husband’s blog, Entropical Paradise.
Self-expression is essential for my mental health, probably yours, too, and ever since I was very young, (“born with a crayon in my hand,” according to mom), I’ve made sense of the world in every possible medium.
Art is when your self-expression finds an audience, when your creativity makes a connection with another mind. So thanks for being here.
Creativity was always a challenge for me. I’d rather be cartooning/writing/designing than eating, sleeping, exercising, or anything else. It felt, for so long, like a burden or a curse that made me different, distracted, or doomed to be either underpaid or unhappily employed. (You can read about this journey in Perfectly Revolting: My Glamorous Cartooning Career.) Like in these imaginary titles from the bookshelf of my mind:
But on my journey, as happens in fairytales, I began to see my creative urges as the gift that they are, and get behind the joy that they bring.
And since then I’ve reveled in my ability to make art out of life, and vice versa. Generous Muse is the name I’ve given to the outpouring of my creative work. Over the years this newsletter has presented info about my arts and entertainment, plus biting criticism, brilliant visions, time-stopping poetry, funny lyrics, head-scratcher jokes, insightful one-offs, and random self-inventions. A certain ineluctible quidity permeates it all, as I try to shed light and awareness on places formerly in the dark, making scary things okay and inspiring others to go farther. I’m a freak or a genius, depending on my (comic) timing. I try to build bridges from confusion to opportunity. I try to make sense of the past where I can, and articulate what has not yet been named. I try to bring people together to open their hearts and feel the emotions of each moment. I’m here to universalize information & help the world walk in new paradigms.
Oh, and here’s how you pronounce my name!
Choose Your Thread:
All subscribers are automatically subscribed to all of the streams in this publication. Turn off the ones that don’t nourish you; sip from the ones that quench. To completely mix my metaphors, (but I have a poetic license so I’m allowed), each email will drop with a “Doink” into your inbox, a little gem from the “Fountain of Jewels.”
Generous Muse is the general creative outpouring.
The Museletter is a semi-annual round-up of current events (recent past and near future). See below for how to reduce your emails and only get this occasional announcement.
Woo! From home remedies to homeopathics, mysticism to metaphysics, this is where I write about healing and spiritual philosophy.
The Forest is where I come from: this planet, this family. Personal essays about seeing the big picture. Or seeing my kin.
A World Gone Right features Articles and Essays, Hints and Solutions, Tips and Triumphs, Rants and Raves that ask Why Not and What If?
The Flab Lab Department of Vitality is my wellness biz, and info about food, fitness, and fun might sort itself into this thread.
The Whining Family is a podcast of the book, The Winning Family, its pearls of wisdom wrapped in oyster-like essays about my family, and what it’s like having a parenting expert for a mom.
All subscribers will get funny stories, experimental thoughts, raves and rants, midnight song lyrics, cartoons from the archives, book launch announcements, event invitations, meditations, movie reviews, pix of flowers, food & recipes, better ideas and unexpected insights, practical solutions to human dilemmas, links to fresh works, or calls to action. Some critical thinking. Some serious whimsy. Everyone can comment.
About That Paywall.
As a creative professional. I spend time on what you’ll read, and I take pains. Some people find my output to be unique and valuable. If you’re one of them, here’s how you can support me!
Some of newsletters you find in your inbox offer a combination of public and secret stuff; you can find links to the latter in The Cave. My “inner circle” (aka $upporting $ubscribers) has access to my library of movies, books, songs that have a ticket price elsewhere, plus discounts, special events, and bonus content. You might even get a holiday card.
Your $upport also helps my community contributions. If you have unreliable income, you can apply for a free subscription by emailing me with the answers to these three questions:
How is my name pronounced?
What’s your favorite thing of mine you’ve read or watched and why?
What might I like that you made or like?
Thank you for your support and enjoy your time as a subscriber! Your financial donations also support my volunteer efforts as an activist writer, dance instigator, child whisperer, community leader, arts organizer, good neighbor, family caretaker, guide and/or muse to those who need it, storyteller, and thing maker. I appreciate them more than money.
Too many emails?
Do this to get just 2-4 per year:
Go to Generous Muse in your browser and click on the drop-down menu under the hamburger menu (three bars). If you’re using the app, click on the three dots on the top right. Select “Manage Subscription” and scroll down to “Notifications.” Uncheck everything except “Museletter” and you’re good to go for that semi-annual round-up. It should look like this (except it says “Generous Muse” instead of “Erleichda”):
(Geez, whatever you do, don’t hit that shiny red “Unsubscribe” button! I’d miss you so!)
Are you still here?
Yay, hi! 👋🏻 Please read this! 👀
“If you've loved one of my books 📚 but haven't sprinkled stars or written a review for it yet on Amazon (or GoodReads, B&N or somewhere else), please do so! Every five-star review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ increases the chances for earning a win for my next book in today's crazily competitive literary lottery. Note to any of you who don't know this already: When you're buying the work of someone who is still alive, buy a new copy (not a used one). A writer gets no royalties on used books. Even if you have no money at all in your budget for buying books, you can support your favorite living writers by requesting their work from your local library.” — reposted from Barbara Quick, my current author crush
