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The Powerful "Why" Behind Carolyn Meers’ Work: Her Vision Boards

  • 3 days ago
  • 2 min read

For author Carolyn Meers, a vision board is more than just a collection of clippings—it is a map of a life reclaimed. As she prepares for her upcoming book release, Carolyn is opening up about the deeply personal experiences that fueled her creativity and her mission to spread hope.


A Superpower for Seeing Love



The "Heart" vision board serves as a vibrant testament to her belief that love is a tangible, guiding force in the world. The board features a world shaped like a heart and the bold declaration, "I Have a Superpower.”

For Carolyn, that superpower is the ability to spot hearts in the everyday world—a gift she views as a direct message from her "angels, spirit guides, and mom.”


This isn't just about aesthetics; it’s about survival. "I believe love conquers all," she shares, "because my love saved my life.”


Her board reflects this global perspective, sparking memories of hearts she has encountered across the U.S. and around the world.


Finding Grace in the Struggle


If the heart board represents her "why," the "Finding Grace" board represents her "how.” This second board is a raw, honest look at the obstacles she has overcome. It is a collage of heavy truths:


  • Adversity: References to addiction, drug abuse, and "no more hiding".

  • Health: Her "amazing cancer journey" and her battles with anxiety and depression.

  • Identity: The complexities of adoption, bullying, and revealing secrets that "no one really knew".


Despite the weight of these topics, the board is crowned with words like Grace, Healing, and Risen from the Ashes.


A Message of Hope


The ultimate goal of her book is to provide a lifeline to those currently walking the difficult paths she once navigated. By telling her story on her terms, she hopes to show readers that regardless of the mistakes or the diagnosis, there is a way forward.


"Most of all," Carolyn says, "the vision board represents HOPE.”



Bootstrap Publications Welcomes Three Authors to its Growing Literary Community

  • 5 days ago
  • 3 min read

Tahoe City, CA - Bootstrap Publications, in its ongoing mission to publish impactful and meaningful works, is proud to formally welcome three distinct voices to its established community of authors: Carolyn Meers, N. E. Weisberg, and Chasejamison Akilah Manar-Spears (CJ). This collaboration brings together a scholar, a speculative visionary, and a creative survivor to offer readers a range of perspectives on resilience, history, and healing.


A Triptych of Perspectives


Carolyn Meers: Creative Healing and Restorative Wonder An England-born artist, musician, and mother, Carolyn Meers brings a narrative voice shaped by empathy, recovery, and purposeful living. A breast cancer survivor and six years sober, her path is defined by hard-earned self-awareness and a belief that love and creativity can conquer the greatest of challenges. A "drummer at heart," Meers utilizes rhythm as a tool for transformation, while her handmade fairy wands reflect her deep-seated belief in wonder and intention. As a proud mother to a trans son and a steadfast LGBTQ+ ally, her work serves as a compassionate voice for the marginalized, human and animal alike.


N. E. Weisberg: Historical Allegory and Speculative Depth A dedicated educator and historian, N. E. Weisberg offers a literary voice informed by a background in history and psychology. His upcoming novel, The Space Pirate King, evolved from a deconstruction of science-fiction tropes into a political drama focused on the "home front" of a galactic frontier. Drawing inspiration from the historical resistance of non-Western nations against colonialism—such as Japan, Ethiopia, and Iran—Weisberg explores the cultural and economic consequences of first contact and unprecedented threats from space.


Chasejamison Akilah Manar-Spears (CJ): Afro-Surrealism and Revolutionary Healing Born and raised in the Bay Area, CJ Spears creates at the intersection of poetry, Afro-surrealism, and "ancestral world-building." As a Yoga teacher and co-founder of the Black Seeds Bloom collective, CJ crafts stories where ecology and spirit blend to envision life beyond the "forest fire" of capitalism. Bootstrap Publications supports the development of CJ’s climate fiction trilogy, beginning with The Book of Cadence. Rooted in themes of tel-empathy and matriarchal liberation, her work centralizes Black womanhood and organic patterns in nature to re-envision indigenous societies within dystopian settings.


About the Authors


  • Carolyn Meers is a multi-media artist and vegan advocate who finds joy in drumming, gaming, and her cherished cats, Luna and Corn Chip. Her creativity emerged as a form of restoration, proving that healing is possible when we accept our past as part of our power.


  • N. E. Weisberg is a middle school social studies teacher and family man. When not in the classroom or his study, he shares his home with a cherished rabbit and remains committed to the complexities of the human experience.


  • CJ Spears is the author of the poetry collection Becoming Friends With Trees & Other Creative Prophecies. Their work is informed by Afro-surrealism, daydreams, and the silent growth of trees.


About Bootstrap Publications


Bootstrap Publications is dedicated to discovering and championing authors who provide compelling narratives of survival, scholarly insight, and imaginative spirit. By collaborating with these three authors, the press continues to provide readers with the tools to find their own "superpower" in the stories of everyday life and the worlds beyond.


Connect with Carolyn Meers:

Connect with N.E. Weisberg:


Connect with CJ Spears:

Learn more about Bootstrap Publications: https://www.bootstrappublications.com/ 

For more information on our book collection or to schedule an interview with the authors, please contact: info@bootstrappublications.com


Tags: Literary Fiction, Speculative Fiction, Creative Healing, Historical Allegory, Afro-Surrealism, Sobriety & Recovery, Cancer Survivorship, LGBTQ+ Advocacy, Military Sci-Fi, Colonialism Resistance, Climate Fiction, Ancestral World-Building, Black Womanhood, Matriarchal Societies, Political Drama, Multi-media Art, Veganism, Social Studies Education


Industries: Book Publishing, Education & Academia, Arts & Culture, Mental Health & Wellness, Advocacy & Non-Profit, Science Fiction & Fantasy




Introducing Carolyn Meers

  • Jan 12
  • 1 min read


We are delighted to welcome Carolyn Meers, an England-born artist, musician, and mother whose work is grounded in the core values of resilience, compassion, and creative healing. A drummer at heart, Carolyn uses rhythm as both a means of expression and a powerful release. This rhythmic energy is balanced by her delicate craftsmanship of handmade fairy wands, which reflect her deep belief in wonder, intention, and the power of transformation.


Carolyn’s path is defined by perseverance and a hard-earned self-awareness, having navigated life as a breast cancer survivor and celebrating six years of sobriety. Her creativity emerged later in life as a vital form of restoration, shaped by her journey through recovery and a commitment to purposeful living. Leading with heart in everything she does, she is a proud mom to her trans son, a devoted LGBTQ+ ally, and a steadfast advocate for those—human or animal—who do not always have a voice.


When she is not creating, Carolyn enjoys the quiet joys of gaming, puzzles, and spending time with her beloved cats, Luna and Corn Chip. As a dedicated vegan and animal rights supporter, she brings a perspective rooted in deep empathy to our community. We are honored to have her voice and her story with us.

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