July 11, 2025

Author to discuss new book about writing in Windham

By Ed Pierce

As a writer, teacher, and creative encourager dedicated to helping people reclaim their stories and their voice, Anna Brooke believes everyone has a story worth telling and that writing it down can be a profound act of healing, clarity, and connection. It’s the basis of a new book “WRITE! Revealing the Writer Within” she co-wrote and will be discussing in Windham during an upcoming event.

Author Anna Brooke will appear
at Sherman's Maine Coast Book
Shop in Windham from 1 to 3 p.m.
Sunday, July 20 to promote her
latest book called 'WRITE!
Revealing the Writer Within.'
PHOTO BY ROBERT WHITE
 
Brooke will be at Sherman’s Maine Coast Book Shop in Windham from 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday, July 20 to meet the public and answer questions about her new book.

She said that “WRITE! Revealing the Writer Within” is a warm, encouraging guide for anyone ready to bring their story to life.

“Whether you’ve been journaling for years or are just beginning to explore the idea of writing, WRITE is a friendly companion for the journey,” Brooke said. “It’s designed to demystify the writing process, the book offers a blend of inspiration and down-to-earth strategies that help you get your words onto the page – your way, in your voice.

According to Brooke, she co-wrote the book to remind people that their stories matter.

“This book is here to hold your hand and give you practical ways to start, continue, and finish your writing, whether it’s a journal entry, a memoir, or something else entirely,” she said.

Born and raised in New York City, Brooke attended Boston University and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Art History and then obtained a master’s degree at Sotheby’s Institute of Art in London in Post-War Contemporary Art. She’s worked in the healing arts for the last 24 years as a counselor, body worker, and energy worker.

“I have also been a performer for the last 18 years and regularly host and perform in cabaret and variety shows,” she said. “Last but not least, I am also a full-time wedding officiant and use all of my writing skills in crafting custom ceremonies for couples from here and away.”

But Brooke has always loved stories and storytelling and writing was a natural progression for her.

“I was very fortunate to be raised in a house full of books with two parents who loved to read, and they still do,” she said. “I have always kept a journal and when I was younger, I would write short stories and turn them into handmade books. I guess I always wanted to share my work with the world. I have a very busy mind that is often disorganized, but writing helps me slow down and organize my thoughts. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve grown to appreciate how storytelling transports readers to another time and space along with its power and potency for both imagination and inspiration.”

Her first book was called “Stripped Down: How Burlesque Led Me Home” which she is revising with the intention of reissuing it in 2026. She’s also contributed to a couple of anthologies “Awakened Leaders: Empowering Stories of Self-Healing, Triumph, and Transformation” and “Sex on Stage: Performing the Body Politic.”

The idea for her latest book came from when she started co-teaching writing classes with a fellow author, Vindy Teja, in 2021.

“We had both published our first books with the same publishing house which is how we met,” Brooke said. “She is a Punjabi Canadian and despite our different cultural backgrounds, we connected over the importance of not just telling stories but preserving them within our families and communities. This book is a product of our collaboration and the shared ethos of helping people get their stories out of their heads and down onto paper. As we like to say, we’re not going to tell you how to write, but we are going to tell you to write no matter what.”

She says in total, it took them about 18 months to write the new book.

“Co-writing was a new experience for me, so we would get together every other Friday for three hours to just work on the book together,” Brooke said. “We would write on our own and keep each other updated for feedback, edits, or additions. It was a pretty seamless process once we found our groove. We also made sure that we didn't rush anything.”

She likes to write when the mood strikes her, but if she’s working on a deadline or a piece that is time-sensitive, she’ll schedule daily writing time into her calendar.

“When I wrote my first book, I discovered that setting aside an hour was too much time for me,” Brooke said. “In retrospect, I was feeling overwhelmed. I landed on scheduling only 15 minutes per day. That way, if the muse was speaking, I could fill that 15-minute window and let it flow until the inspiration dried up. If, however, the muse was not speaking, 15 minutes of proverbially squeezing blood from a stone felt a lot easier than 30 or 60 minutes.”

Those attending Brooke’s appearance at Sherman’s in Windham are encouraged to bring their questions about writing, creativity, and self-expression. She will also have copies of “WRITE! Revealing the Writer Within” available for purchase on site. <

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