An Interview with Author and Content Creator Stacey L. Tucker

Julie McGue

Author

Stacey Tucker and I met in a small writer’s work group. Besides warm and approachable, she is an award-winning author, creative entrepreneur, and content creator. Her book, Ocean’s Fire, took gold at the Living Now Book Awards. It was the first installment in the Equal Night Trilogy. Stacey has reached thousands of people with her message of authority from within. She teaches how to connect to inner truth and take inspired action.

Stacey L. Tucker

Author & Content Creator

www.staceyltucker.com

Tell us a little about yourself?

I am turning 50 next month so that data point is coloring everything about my life right now. I am feeling like I am coming alive. Like many women, for most of my life I was a people pleaser and cheerleader for others. But now, I see my own priorities moving into the spotlight and that is glorious. If I had to pick one adjective, it would be “creative.” If I were a season, I would be summer and if I were music, a show tune! I am the stepmom of old kids and the mom of a 16-year-old son. He is my greatest project ☺

How would you describe your most recent work?

My most recent work is an Oracle Deck (and guidebook.) The Creation Codes is a culmination of 20 years of tools that I have used to connect to the creative muse/my higher self to write my fiction series and many of my articles. I partnered with a friend who is a conception catalyst, her specialty is fertility. She views infertility from an energetic perspective, not necessarily a physical perspective. Our deck is about the three C’s-Connection, Creativity and Conception.

When did this project hit the bookshelves?

I started my own media company, StarSea’d Media, LLC with visions of growth for the future. And we started with this project. The traditional publishing pipeline is very slow. We were able to get our deck from idea to Amazon shelves in 8 months. And most of that time, it was just me writing the guidebook. I am looking into a digital app version which might be fun. We’ll see how it costs out. Right now, the deck of 44 cards with guidebook is available on Amazon.

What inspired this project?

I have been using a method of connection that some might call “channeling” to write for decades. It’s more of a co-creation with my imagination, which is another way of saying visualization. It’s the same muscle. All writers do this, they may call it something different. Both my creative partner and I wanted a toolbox to share with clients and readers so they can practice the exercises and use them for their own creative experiences.

What has getting this out in the world meant for you?

We live in a world of sound bites. This deck gives me short, succinct opportunities to share my work with my audience in fun and transformational ways that don’t take too much time.

How did you choose the name for the deck?

Creation is everything. We are creators just by being human. My co-creator and I knew, The Creation Codes, wasn’t fancy or catchy, but it is the heart of what we are teaching. And sometimes simple is best.

Were there other names you considered?

I think we knew it was The Creation Codes from the start.

What can you share about some of the main themes?

The main theme is CONNECTION to your internal guidance system. Society and culture want us to relinquish personal authority at every turn. We need to hear the message often that your internal voice is the one to listen to above all else. And you can make your dreams happen. This deck and guidebook serve as a cheering section for your goals and a toolbox for deepening your connection to your internal compass.

Are there key issues you want to draw attention to?

The majority of our happy deck users are women. And some of the themes discussed are the stages of a woman’s life, from maiden to mother to crone, the archetype of the triple goddess. One of my main messages is that there is one archetype missing: the Queen. It is an essential archetype to embody in the third stage of life for a richness and deepening of connection to Self.

Was there anything about your project that was difficult to create?

There are a couple of cards I saved for the end, or I should say “put off” until the end because I wasn’t as connected to the subject matter: Elemental Wisdom and Golden Blanket to name just two. But it’s interesting––when you set your intention, trust the information you are receiving, and work through edits––you can really be pleased and connected at the end, when at first you might not have been.

What do you hope readers take away from your project?

The deck is highly interactive. Participation is required! Yes, there is guidance and supportive language but also visualizations that the reader can use to begin to see their lives and experiences and dreams differently. As well as practices to put into place to help change habits for the better.

When did you begin working on this?

This was a very quick project because the subject matter is so ingrained in my heart. I started writing the guidebook in October of 2022 and was done by Feb of ‘23. And that was with taking a month off for the holidays.

Can you describe to the reader where you did the creating?

At my dining room table. I write on a laptop and tend to bounce around my house, from my art studio to my loft, all over. But most of my books, including my 1000-page trilogy, were written at my dining room table, even though I have moved houses, same table. I try and move around the eight chairs though, lol. I was putting a groove in a couple of them.

What were your writing habits while writing it?

For this project I had to really connect to my heart and channel ideas and information from my superconscious mind. To do that I listened to D Sharp (google him!!). He is a stunning violin player and the Piano Guys–amazing covers of current and classic songs. Instrumentals are magical because they keep your mind focused yet relaxed to be in the flow of energy that you need for creativity. Yet there are no distracting words. I would write until the energy was gone. When the energy is gone, there’s no use. It’s futile. Then I would have to move my body from sitting so much and it was time to exercise.

What were your greatest challenges/satisfaction?

This was one of my easiest projects because I was so familiar with the content. The deck was mostly satisfaction. The biggest learning curve was getting it produced. Because it was a deck, it was a different process than a book, but it still needed an ISBN number, copyright, etc. So, there were some similarities. The biggest bear was getting it on Amazon. They use a lot of bots to run their processes and set up roadblocks at every turn to prevent fraud, so it was like navigating a very frustrating maze. That set-up process took about a month, but now I know what I’m doing and look forward to helping others navigate the process should they need help. It’s interesting how many people I talk to who have the desire to write a book or birth a creative project.

Is there anything you would have done differently, either in the research, writing process, or publication process?

We went with the least expensive production house which was needed at the time given our budget constraints. And we really wanted to print in the US, not China. We were uncertain how much time the overseas shipping would add to our timeline, and we really wanted this available by mid-June. I would have done a couple of the design elements differently, i.e., rounded edges on our cards, not hard edges. But good to know for the next deck.

Which authors inspire you?

I love Taylor Jenkins Reed. I like to think that one of my strengths is dialogue, but she is a master. I’ve written down some of her quotes as they are so deep and worth remembering. Stephen King has a gift for painting a picture in the least number of words possible. I don’t read his genre but his memoir, On Writing, is a must read.

What 3 tips do you have for aspiring women looking to write their first book

Read a couple of “bad” books. I was writing my trilogy while reading some of the Harry Potter books. I thought to myself, “why should I bother?” but then I came across a book in my fantasy genre that I read and thought, “I can do better than this.” I realized we are all on the rainbow of capability. Some will be ahead; some will be behind. The important part is hopping on the rainbow.
Find an accountability group or partner. It helps keep you on a timeline and gives you a deadline when you might not have had one otherwise. My first book took three years, my second a year and a half, the third took 2 months. If you must get it done, you will.
Remember your why. I had a very strong why writing my first fiction book. And when the reviews came out, they were horrible. Well, some were, some were great, but the negative ones seem to stick. And I was crushed. I loved my book so much and when others didn’t, it was quite a blow. But over time, I remembered my why, that I had a mission and a story to tell. And the opinion of others is their own projection onto your work. That is part of art, the eye of the beholder, the consciousness of the reader colors how they interpret your work. I had one reviewer go off on a completely random tangent in her review about her childhood.
Bonus: I put a couple of sexually explicit scenes in my first book that felt right at the time. And many of my readers really enjoyed that part! But in hindsight, it limited my ability to market to YA (not that YA was my intended market) and it colored a lot of the negativity I received for that book. Looking back, it taught me a lot about myself, why I wanted it in there and what I might do differently now. But I am running a writer’s group on writing sexuality, how it connects you to yourself, and how it can unlock enthusiasm for your current writing project and your life. It’s important not to be afraid or deny this aspect of yourself.

Other works you have published?

My very first writing gig was an essay in Chicken Soup for the Soul, New Moms. I would recommend Chicken Soup as an outlet for new writers. It’s an easy win and I still cherish that essay and being a part of that book. Eat, Drink and Remarry: A how-to and memoir on getting married twice before thirty. The Equal Night Trilogy: Ocean’s Fire Alchemy’s Air Sky of Water

What are you working on next?

I am in the process of updating Eat Drink and Remarry. It is the 20th anniversary in 2024 and I’m still married! So, it feels like a good time for an anniversary edition. I am also noodling on a screenplay for the story. Lastly, I am formulating an on-line course on writing for connection, many of the concepts I teach in my oracle deck.

Contact links for you?

If any of your readers have any additional questions, my email is stacey@staceylu.com. Link here, for The Creation Codes oracle deck on Amazon: If anyone is interested in my trilogy, send me a note and I can mail you a copy of the first book. It’s out of stock on Amazon but I have plenty! And it’s also available on Kindle. I have a YouTube channel: Stacey Tucker https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYlJWeFuvWkuZVMZ2on4UBA Instagram: @staceyltucker FB: authorstaceyltucker www.5d50.co www.staceyltucker.com Thanks so much for having me here!!

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On October 18, Julie will guest on the Anchors of Encouragement podcast with Tim Maudlin.

October 29, from 5-7 PM CDT, Julie will be launching her new book, Belonging Matters: Conversations on Adoption, Family & Kinship, in a private event with family & close friends at the Restaurant, fourteensixteen, in La Grange, IL.

On November 1, Julie’s new book, Belonging Matters: Conversations on Adoption, Family & Kinship will be available for purchase in all formats wherever books are sold.

On November 2, 3PM ET, Julie will share the virtual stage with fellow Muse Literary author, Jill Schultz. Come join these two authors as they discuss their new books and writing journey. To sign-up, email Dominique at hello@museliterary.com.

On November 16, Julie will return to guest on the Thriving Adoptees podcast with Simon Penn.

On December 18, Julie will do a Q&A/Author Talk about Twice a Daughter with the Hiraeth Hope & Healing Book Club.

On January 9, Julie will speak to The Respect for Life Group at St. Mary Star of the Sea on Longboat Key in Sarasota.

“Society and culture want us to relinquish personal authority at every turn. We need to hear the message often that your internal voice is the one to listen to above all else. And you can make your dreams happen.”

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