Entertainment

by AMANDA WINTERS
Sequim Gazette

Linda Andrusko did it all for her book, “Journey to Planet Positive.”

 

She wrote the poems, the short stories, the inspirational thoughts, designed the layout, designed the cover and chose the photos, which were taken by her husband, George.

 

The cover photo, a sunset in Dungeness, is one of several local scenes featured in the book that served as inspiration for Andrusko while she wrote.

 

“It was the best sunset we ever saw,” she said.

 

The Andruskos moved to Sequim in 2007 after living in Minnesota. She lived in Southern California before that but always wanted to live in a place that looks just like the Olympic Peninsula. The natural beauty is exactly what she dreamed of, she said.

Inspiration
Nature, music, life and other people — particularly Greek composer Yanni — inspire her, she said.

“All my life I hated poetry,” she said. “I didn’t want to read it, I didn’t want to write it.”

 

But after participating in an online writing forum for Yanni fans, poetry began coming naturally to her. Yanni’s philosophies on daring to dream and thinking positively encouraged Andrusko to step beyond her typical writing and do something different.

 

“Everything is meant to be positive and uplifting,” she said of the book.

 

Andrusko said after going through lots of trauma in her life, she had to change herself a lot in order live a positive life. The book reflects that journey and is meant to help others who need to heal, she said.

 

“I refuse to give in to the negative,” she said. “I just appreciate every day.”

Self-designed book

Andrusko spent four days compiling her writings and designing the book on www.blurb.com, a website that lets writers and photographers design their own books and sell them through the international Blurb bookstore online.

 

Blurb will print, bind and ship the book upon order, she said.

 

The creative freedom was so refreshing she plans to re-do a children’s book she previously published through a different outlet.

 

To find “Journey to Planet Positive” and see a free 15-page preview, go to www.blurb.com/bookstore/

detail/2771355.

 

Reach Amanda Winters at awinters@sequimgazette.com.