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the Vero Beach Book Center.
It’s ironic that some people assume writing for children is
easier than writing for adults. To do it well takes a rare sensibility
relying on a fresh eye, purity and often, a sense of fair play
combined with humor – all qualities found in McGuirk’s books.
McGuirk starts with a title. Her Tucker series about the
friendl\ :est +igKland terrier Kas a diͿerent stor\ for eYer\
holiday starting with the Christmas story of Ho Ho Ho for
Tucker. Thanksgiving is Gobble, Gobble, Tucker. Another dog,
Wiggens, has his own series of adventures including Wiggens
Learns His Manners at the Four Seasons Restaurant complete
with McGuirk’s charmingly fresh and action-packed illustrations
of the Four Seasons Restaurant in New York City.
It’s a rare day that McGuirk isn’t immersed in writing
and illustrating a children’s book in her sprawling studio in
Summer Place. But scheduled throughout the day are her
astrology consultations conducted by phone and catering to
an international clientele. Each reading takes 90-minutes, is
recorded and goes into surprising depth and detail.
In 2001, McGuirk began leading creativity workshops for
various U.S. corporations. She gave the keynote address at
the AARP Regional Sales Conference in Savannah in 2014,
where she addressed a number of questions.
´+ow do \ou Ànd original tKougKts Kow do \ou sta\ inspired?”
tribe,” she says.
McGuirk maintains that most people in the corporate
world are afraid of creativity so she rarely uses that word.
Instead, she talks about how to increase the frequency of having
74
McGuirk asked her audience. “Generally, corporatetypes
don’t interact with creative-types. I’m from a visiting
an inspired thought.
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& Refrigerator • Fitness Center • WiFi
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“All companies need inspired workers,” McGuirk says.
´:e KaYe a tendenc\ to turn into adult ombies wKen we·re
overworked and burnt out. The key to success for any com-
San\ is to NeeS tKeir staͿ KaSS\ and engaged. <ou can·t do
that without engaging someone’s imagination.”
Along with seminars and workshops, McGuirk’s speaking
career has taken her traveling.
“I went on a Silverseas cruise ship to South America to
speak to the M. Financial Group,” she says.
As the creator of the Quest for Inspiration Workshop series,
McGuirk teaches everyone how to think creatively. Her website
says, “In the corporate world, she has…helped thousands
think outside the box to achieve positive business outcomes.”
McGuirk wants to devote more time to such workshops
while continuing her other ongoing work in writing and illustrating
children’s books and astrology.
She has spent two years writing The Power of Mercury. She
worries that fewer and fewer people know how to read an
astrology chart properly.
“This is an ancient art and I don’t want it to be lost,” she
says. “Also, I believe astrology helps us be more compassionate
fulÀlled SeoSle ² if we understand it SroSerl\.µ
The fact that she’s only writing and illustrating books,
giving TED Talks and leading creativity seminars because
of the lessons she’s learned from astrology aren’t wasted on
McGuirk who considers it a calling.
“For years, I never promoted myself as an astrologer,” Mc-
Guirk says. “I prayed that if God wanted me to be of service,
He would bring the clients to me. I didn’t have business cards
or a website for a long time. The clients have come via wordof
mouth.”
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