Rahima Warren never aspired to be a fiction writer.

In fact, she began writing solely for self-expression and personal enrichment. She never imagined she would be the author of The Star-Seer’s Prophecy, an epic fantasy trilogy about a young man’s journey from evil and suffering to the attainment of soul-redemption and love.

But Naomi Rose’s therapeutic book-development writing process turned out to be just right for Rahima, as it centers on listening and allowing — creating a deep connection to the author’s process and unconscious. Naomi refers to this way of treasure hunting and extracting what is found as the “Writing from the Deeper Self” approach.  Her belief is that “if you are willing to genuinely look into yourself, be patient with the process as it unfolds, and then write what comes to you, you can build a book, or whatever you choose, out of that.”

A Non-Linear Approach

This is not a linear, top-down means of creating but rather a more intuitive one. Its focus is largely on guiding, supporting, and nurturing, while mindfully seeking a balance between putting forth large, abstract ideas and the concrete details that make them accessible to a reader. This was an approach to writing that was in harmony with Rahima’s professional therapeutic trainings as well as her own creative approach. 

Being an avid painter as well as writer, Rahima used this analogy to describe her experience of the Writing from the Deeper Self process: “If I set out with the intention of painting a landscape, I will get in a tangle and freeze up,” she explained. “But if I trust a process of listening and allowing from the unconscious, my painting just flows and becomes what it wants to be. I needed someone who understood that.”

Rahima also needed someone with the necessary industry knowledge and professional credentials to ensure that her book would be worth publishing. No problem. With over 30 years in the publications field as book developer, editor, writer, and published author, Naomi applied her extensive professional experience to their work together.

As the two women worked together, attention was given to characterization and bringing scenes to life through the addition of vivid details. There were several important characters and plot lines to develop and fine-tune. Naomi’s suggestion to keep the focus on Kyr and his experiences, internal conflicts, and emotions, gave shape and coherence to all three books:

Book One – Dark Innocence

Book Two – Fierce Blessings

Book Three – Perilous Bliss

Another major focus was to improve the book’s flow by homing in on potential places where readers might not relate enough to be fully engaged with the story — for example as a result of too much “telling” and not enough “showing.”

The Star-Seer’s Prophecy has gathered rave reviews, including these:

"Spellbinding . . . Fearless . . . Soulful . . . Redemptive."

“Longtime psychotherapist Rahima Warren brings her daring, passionate, and compassionate trilogy to a most satisfying close in Perilous Bliss” [Book Three of the trilogy]. — A reader

“If you’re ready to encounter your wounded side, to understand and release its pain, and to walk with it through a more serene future, then let yourself experience the fiercely potent, healing magic of The Star-Seer’s Prophecy, because it was written for you.” — Jodie Forrest, author: The Rhymer and the Ravens, and The Ascendant

“A deep and powerful story that ranks with the best fantasy-fiction, ever.  A richly rewarding story for those with the courage to seek the fullness of being alive." — Richard Scheiffer, Mankind Project Elder

“Emotionally gripping, very well written, deeply moving . . . a magnificent story of the soul’s journey.” — R. C. Angell, MA, MFT

"Like eating thick, dark chocolate — deep, rich, dense, meaningful, and interesting — and very hard to put down. From her deep understanding of human nature, Rahima Warren has written a beautiful and unique story. Harrowing at times, it is ultimately positive, inspiring, and expansive. I'm grateful for the privilege of being able to read it, and I can't wait for the next book! "— Ivana Marshall, MA, Counselor

The book has also been used by therapists as bibliotherapy to help clients heal from trauma:

"As a mental health specialist, I have dedicated the last 15 years to helping others process many different kinds of trauma. A special kind of progress can be made from bibliotherapy selections when working with certain clients. Trauma work often is not an easy road, but it is an important and often life-saving effort. I have used Dark Innocence with clients who have found themselves stuck in their therapeutic progression with great success, in terms of unlocking parts of themselves and their experiences that — until this point — have been inaccessible." — Molly Doll, MS, LPC, NCC 

"The story is told as an exciting fantasy tale peopled with believable characters of emotional depth, yet Rahima Warren is unflinching in exposing the inner and outer struggle with loss and suffering, and the need to recommit again and again to the 'hard path' of healing. For both Kyr and the reader, the outcome is worth the effort, and could be inspiring to anyone dealing with emotional healing.” — Hannah Kusterer, MFT

Meeting initially every two weeks and then tapering off to less frequency, based on Rahima’s time and ability to work on her book, they developed a collaborative process. Rahima took Naomi’s suggestions and worked with them independently, turning them into her own words or scenarios.

“My work with Naomi was seamless. It was hard to tell where the developing began and ended, and where the editing picked up,” Rahima recounted. “She has a way of telling you what to fix or change without being critical. I needed that.”

Rahima acknowledged that she didn’t feel pressure to apply Naomi’s ideas and edits, and she appreciated having ultimate control of the book’s outcome. The result: Rahima’s book became more refined, the technical and grammatical edits were the polish needed for publication, and Rahima came away with new writing and editing skills.

Life Rewritten, Now an Author

This retired psychotherapist had no previous fiction-writing or editing experience. After working with Naomi, she had validation for her writing, creative fulfillment and growth, success in translating professional healing modalities to the writing process, met her goal to heal her readers, and had confidence to pursue further writing projects.

Working with Naomi provided the validation Rahima needed—that she had something valuable to offer through her writing, and that her writing had greatly improved. 

As a result of honoring her inner character’s voice that longed for recognition and devoting a period of her life to telling his story, this retired psychotherapist ultimately found within herself a means to once again offer healing to people — this time through the writing. To her deep satisfaction, some readers actually experienced the kind of healing that being in therapy often provides, simply by reading the book. 

“I could safely start to heal old wounds,” one reader, Tetje Ann Barbee, wrote to Rahima. “And it all happened through the story . . .”

While the process of getting the story down and perfecting it was its own reward — along with an expanded ease of being not only a writer but a good writer — Rahima also appreciates the external rewards she has received for all her deep work and devotion. She can now, with confidence, call herself an author and a fiction writer.

“It is so valuable to have someone who is a book developer, as well as a writer and editor — someone who gets your vision and supports you in creating a well-written book that embodies your soul’s offering,” Rahima said. “I say get the support for bringing out the book that your heart and soul want — and at the same time, get the support to make it a well-written work.”

For more information on my work helping therapists write a book, see:

• The “Book Writing for Therapists and Other Healers” page

• My interview in the professional journal, “Where the Therapist Is”

• Learn about my complimentary Gift Sessions to explore your own book-writing journey