Stepping Stones To The Top Of The World
Stepping Stones To The Top Of The World
People need to understand that life is not about what they
wish to see happen in their lives.
Life is what actually does HAPPEN to them, moment by
moment. Every catalyst, every setback or blessing,
regardless of its nature, is an invitation to address a karmic
debt.
Even though we, mere humans, have no way of guessing
how or why we have merited any unanticipated debt or
challenge, if we are unwilling to address the moment
holistically – that’s the end of our personal evolution.
Nothing and no one can alter either a karmic deadline or an
unpreventable outcome. All we are karmically expected to do
is deal with it from an accepting heart. Yudit C.S.
People need to understand that life is not about what they
wish to see happen in their lives.
Life is what actually does HAPPEN to them, moment by
moment. Every catalyst, every setback or blessing,
regardless of its nature, is an invitation to address a karmic
debt.
Even though we, mere humans, have no way of guessing
how or why we have merited any unanticipated debt or
challenge, if we are unwilling to address the moment
holistically – that’s the end of our personal evolution.
Nothing and no one can alter either a karmic deadline or an
unpreventable outcome. All we are karmically expected to do
is deal with it from an accepting heart. Yudit C.S.
When fiction intersects reality
Dear Reader,
My passion is to peek inside the dark corners of my characters’
emotional baggage and engage the reader as a witness to their
strength of character.
Alex, Maddy, Jo, Emilie and Tamara are gay women.
Each one is a main character in my earlier novels. Morgan, a young FTM
transgender is the central character in Morgan In The Mirror, my last
novel.
In many ways, he could be described as a transman coming of age.
True, the challenge is to respect my characters’ integrity, not only for
the readers’ sake but, more importantly, for the women who, in real life,
have felt in their heart a pain that is similar to that of my characters.
The scenarios that created themselves in my mind provide a means to explore variations on the theme of female love, desire and gender identity which can
be, at times gritty, at times sensual and, at times, both.
Because my characters live in this 3-D world of ours, not on Planet X, inevitably, some of their lives intersect with men and, at times, I call upon ‘my women’ to
survive the sort of great odds that have marked the lives of many girls and women worldwide.
Some readers have also said that aspects of my characters’ experiences have been useful conversation starters on topics such as gender dysphoria,
attraction to same sex and non binary gender fluidity when one has been hesitant to broach those experiences with friends or family.
What I know for a fact is that, at the very least, they provide very sexy moments to share with someone … close – and that your best friends will love you for
lending them a Saint-Clair novel because they’ve been hard to get.
Spoiler: these texts are not ideal for anyone who wants a book that can be read in short bursts while keeping an eye on the kids or the bus route.
Book 1
Book 1
Book 2
Book 2
Book 3
Book 3
Silent Goodbyes
Silent Goodbyes
Risking-Me
Risking-Me
North & Left From Here
North & Left From Here
Morgan In The Mirror
Morgan In The Mirror
Jagged Dreams
Jagged Dreams
Far From Maddy
Far From Maddy
Benchmarks
Benchmarks
'Awakening' is a metaphor for
accepting What-Is and not letting the
ego drag us into What-Ifs...(13 pages)
A fantasy fairytale minus the fairy.
Proceed with caution…(13 pages)
Moomba, loved by all, finds herself in
the deepest peril…(4 pages)
A collection of 12 mind-meandering
essays on the Heart and Soul of
our daily lives.
1
Background
2
Warriors, We Are
3
Corona
4
Caught Between
5
Evolution vs Adaptation
6
When There Is Nothing
7
Alone With Them And With Ourselves
8
Like the Lotus
9
Are We Having Fun Yet?
10
Coming of Age
11
Our Best
12
Lucky For Us GPS
LGBTQI Novels
LGBTQI Novels
Short Reads
Warriors We Are
You are very welcome to use, free of charge, any article authored by C.C. Saint-Clair or any section thereof, provided:
•
you acknowledge me as the author
•
you do not edit the content
Heartfelt thanks to Jayne Doah for the cover designs she has donated to the Stepping Stones series.
Tucked deep inside a faraway
kingdom there was once a hamlet
where the villagers gave each other
The Gift of Pain…(8 pages)
Awakening
How The Unicorn Saved
Little Moomba
Slim and grungy in her stained
overalls, she punched the time clock.
Off to hang out with the gang and
shoot some pool…(2 pages)
C.C. Saint-Clair - Lesbian feminist writer currently living in Brisbane, Australia, was first published in 2001. Her debut novel, North and Left
From Here [Take II], launched her as the 'undisputed mistress of the sensual lesbian storyline' and the Alex Delaforet series.
Though the sensuality of her writing appeals beyond label boundaries, Gay, Lesbian and Transgender welfare associations have extolled the touching sensitivity Saint-Clair has deployed in the handling of her plot beats and character development, giving further kudos to tag already assigned to her back in 2004: “The Thinking Woman’s Lesbian Romance Writer.” C.C. Saint-Clair went on to writing another six novels.C.C. Saint-Clair - Lesbian feminist writer currently living in Brisbane, Australia, was first published in 2001. Her debut novel, North and Left
From Here [Take II], launched her as the 'undisputed mistress of the sensual lesbian storyline' and the Alex Delaforet series.
Though the sensuality of her writing appeals beyond label boundaries, Gay, Lesbian and Transgender welfare associations have extolled the touching sensitivity Saint-Clair has deployed in the handling of her plot beats and character development, giving further kudos to tag already assigned to her back in 2004: “The Thinking Woman’s Lesbian Romance Writer.” C.C. Saint-Clair went on to writing another six novels.
REVIEWS
Silent Goodbyes
Risking-Me
North & Left From Here
Morgan In The Mirror
Jagged Dreams
Far From Maddy
Benchmarks
The Chain
The Whip Hand
Far From Maddy – Screenplay
RIIFF Announces Barren Branches GLBT 2005 Screenplay Competition Winners
(September 9, 2005) After weeks of deliberation, the Rhode Island
International Film Festival (RIIFF) is pleased to announce the winners
for this year’s Barren Branches GLBT Screenplay Competition.
Many excellent screenplays were submitted covering the spectrum
from comedy to drama to contemporary to historical.
1
st
Prize: Outing Joey – J.T. Tepnapa, Los Angeles, CA
3
rd
Prize: Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell – Zachary Lee DeGregorio, Los Angeles, CA
“C.C. Saint-Clair’s genre is GLBT, but we were struck by how vividly she
portrayed human emotion and, in particular, Morgan’s need to BE a man in her
screenplay Far From Maddy. We felt that her story speaks to a larger audience.”
Morgan In The Mirror
Screenplay Excerpt
Screenplays by CC Saint-Clair
Far From Maddy
Screenplay Excerpt
Stepping Stones - Three volumes of mind-meanders focussed on holistic spirituality and a rethink of the roles
of our Heart and Soul in our day-to-day.
“What you refer to as “mind-meanders" I have to disagree emphatically. The breadth, depth, amount of wisdom, etc. you
possess in your writing transcends that description.” - Reneé Phillips
Stepping Stones - Three volumes of mind-meanders focussed on holistic spirituality and a rethink of the roles
of our Heart and Soul in our day-to-day.
“What you refer to as “mind-meanders" I have to disagree emphatically. The breadth, depth, amount of wisdom, etc. you
possess in your writing transcends that description.” - Reneé Phillips
LGBTQI romance novels - Saint-Clair’s characters search for happiness within the all too common reality of prejudice and limiting
beliefs. More often than not, they succeed.
LGBTQI romance novels - Saint-Clair’s characters search for happiness within the all too common reality of prejudice and limiting
beliefs. More often than not, they succeed.
Short Reads – Easy reads ranging from soulful awakenings to soft erotica.
Short Reads – Easy reads ranging from soulful awakenings to soft erotica.
Warriors We Are – Wide-ranging blogs focussed on an authentic search for a state of heart/mind coherence.
Warriors We Are – Wide-ranging blogs focussed on an authentic search for a state of heart/mind coherence.
Tough Stuff – It can be hard work overcoming old habits to do our best to be our best- from the inside out, now and forever.
Tough Stuff – It can be hard work overcoming old habits to do our best to be our best- from the inside out, now and forever.
Jane Fynes-Clinton, Australian Courier-Mail:
“Author
C.C
Saint-Clair
explores
the
tetchy
notions
of
transgender
and
gender
identity
to
the
nth
degree
in
Morgan
in
the
Mirror.
She
puts
meat
on
the
bones
and
a
face
to
the
name
and
gives
us
a
central
character,
Morgan,
a
23
year
old
trans
man,
who
is
so
multi-layered,
so
deep
and
so
real
that
Saint-Clair
succeeds
in
challenging
her
audience
to
rethink,
re-evaluate
and
discover
a
new
level
of
compassion
for
those
caught in a gender conflict, and those who love them.”
Insights from the 'Tough Stuff' Collection crafted to illuminate our path
towards inner contentment
Recognizing that personal evolution unfolds slowly and profoundly from the inside-out, these writings serve as beacons on our ongoing journey of self-discovery.
As Earth dwellers, we play dual roles as co-producers and lead actors in the diverse tapestry of our lives. Amidst the good, bad, and neutral moments that span our
existence on planet Earth, the inevitability of occasional missteps is a testament to the complexity of our shared human experience.
Grounded in the timeless adage of "Be careful what you wish for," the Stepping Stones series and the 'Tough Stuff' collection of blogs delve into the intricate
dimensions of overcoming ingrained habits tied to the pursuit of ego-based desires.
Through an exploration of the challenges involved in exerting heart-based control over our thoughts, Saint-Clair advocates for a holistic spirituality that
recognizes our capacity – and occasional inability – to coherently respond to the present moment as a defining factor in our journey toward self-realization.
This holistic approach to spirituality, as discussed in these writings, becomes a guiding lens through which we deal or grapple with whatever springs up in the
present moment – moment after moment.
The moment underfoot can be accepted as a karmically choreographed experience we have (consciously or unconsciously) co-created with Soul and, of course,
with the universe.
And all is, for now, for our personal growth, exactly how it needs to be.
By acknowledging the karmic choreography that fills the little and huge moments in our day-to-day, today and every day, we gain the power to shape our reality
from within and without.
Dear Reader, whether you find these pages in 2024 or 2043, the 'Tough Stuff' collection promises a timeless exploration of the universal quest to transcend old
habits, confront the challenges life presents, and authentically manifest the truest expression of ourselves. Let this be your companion on the transformative
journey within."
2
nd
Prize: Far From Maddy – C.C. Saint-Clair, Australia
C.C. Gender Talk Interview 2005
CC Saint-Clair
INDEX
![“The soul is sexless. Why should it lower itself through the imagination of either one of the sexes? Whoever wants to be [a] complete [yogi] must abandon the idea of one sex.” - Vivekananda.](index_html_files/12906.webp)
Stepping Stones To The Top
Of The World
People need to understand that life is not about what they wish
to see happen in their lives.
Life is what actually does HAPPEN to them, moment by moment.
Every catalyst, every setback or blessing, regardless of its
nature, is an invitation to address a karmic debt.
Even though we, mere humans, have no way of guessing how or
why we have merited any unanticipated debt or challenge, if we
are unwilling to address the moment holistically – that’s the end
of our personal evolution. Nothing and no one can alter either a
karmic deadline or an unpreventable outcome. All we are
karmically expected to do is deal with it from an accepting heart.
Yudit C.S.
Book 1
Book 2
Book 3
Silent Goodbyes
Risking-Me
North & Left
From Here
Morgan In The Mirror
Jagged Dreams
Far From Maddy
Benchmarks
LGBTQI Novels
C.C. Saint-Clair - Lesbian feminist writer
currently living in Brisbane, Australia, was first published in
2001. Her debut novel, North and Left From Here [Take II],
launched her as the 'undisputed mistress of the sensual
lesbian storyline' and the Alex Delaforet series.
Though the sensuality of her writing appeals beyond label boundaries, Gay, Lesbian and Transgender welfare associations have extolled the touching sensitivity Saint-Clair has deployed in the handling of her plot beats and character development, giving further kudos to tag already assigned to her back in 2004: “The Thinking Woman’s Lesbian Romance Writer.” C.C. Saint-Clair went on to writing another six novels.
REVIEWS
North & Left From Here
Morgan In The Mirror
Jagged Dreams
Silent Goodbyes
Far From Maddy
Risking-Me
Benchmarks
'Awakening' is a
metaphor for
accepting What-Is
and not letting the ego
drag us into What-Ifs...(13
pages)
A fantasy fairytale
minus the fairy.
Proceed with
caution…(13 pages)
Moomba, loved
by all, finds
herself in the
deepest peril…(4
pages)
Short Reads
Tucked deep
inside a faraway
kingdom there was
once a hamlet where the
villagers gave each other
The Gift of Pain…(8 pages)
Awakening
The Crab Catcher and the
Fish Whisperer
How The Unicorn Saved
Little Moomba
Slim and grungy in
her stained
overalls, she
punched the time clock.
Off to hang out with the
gang and shoot some
pool…(2 pages)
SCREENPLAY SAMPLE
FAR FROM MADDY
The Chain
The Whip Hand
Opening scene
from the award
winning
screenplay adaptation of
Far From Maddy (first 11
pages of 104)
Far From Maddy – Screenplay
RIIFF Announces Barren Branches GLBT 2005 Screenplay Competition Winners
(September 9, 2005) After weeks of deliberation, the
Rhode Island International Film Festival (RIIFF) is pleased
to announce the winners for this year’s Barren Branches
GLBT Screenplay Competition.
Many excellent screenplays were submitted covering
the spectrum from comedy to drama to contemporary
to historical.
1
st
Prize: Outing Joey – J.T. Tepnapa, Los Angeles, CA
3
rd
Prize: Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell – Zachary Lee DeGregorio, Los Angeles, CA
“C.C. Saint-Clair’s genre is GLBT, but we were struck by how
vividly she portrayed human emotion and, in particular, Morgan’s
need to BE a man in her screenplay Far From Maddy. We felt that
her story speaks to a larger audience.”
A collection of 12 mind-meandering essays on
the Heart and Soul of our daily lives.
Warriors We Are
C.C. Saint-Clair - Lesbian feminist writer currently
living in Brisbane, Australia, was first published in 2001. Her debut
novel, North and Left From Here [Take II], launched her as the
'undisputed mistress of the sensual lesbian storyline' and the Alex
Delaforet series.
Though the sensuality of her writing appeals beyond label
boundaries, her work quickly attracted the tag of ‘the thinking
woman’s lesbian romance’.
C.C. Saint-Clair went on to writing another six novels.
Stepping Stones - Three volumes of mind-
meanders focussed on holistic spirituality and a rethink of
the roles of our Heart and Soul in our day-to-day.
“What you refer to as “mind-meanders" I have to disagree
emphatically. The breadth, depth, amount of wisdom, etc. you
possess in your writing transcends that description.” - Reneé
Phillips
LGBTQI romance novels - Saint-Clair’s
characters search for happiness within the all too common reality
of prejudice and limiting beliefs. More often than not, they succeed.
Short Reads – Easy reads ranging from soulful
awakenings to soft erotica.
Warriors We Are – Wide-ranging blogs focussed on
an authentic search for a state of heart/mind coherence.
Tough Stuff – It can be hard work overcoming old habits
to do our best to be our best- from the inside out, now and forever.
Jane Fynes-Clinton, Australian Courier-Mail:
“Author
C.C
Saint-Clair
explores
the
tetchy
notions
of
transgender
and
gender
identity
to
the
nth
degree
in
Morgan
in
the
Mirror.
She
puts
meat
on
the
bones
and
a
face
to
the
name
and
gives
us
a
central
character,
Morgan,
a
23
year
old
trans
man,
who
is
so
multi-layered,
so
deep
and
so
real
that
Saint-Clair
succeeds
in
challenging
her
audience
to
rethink,
re-evaluate
and
discover
a
new
level
of
compassion
for
those
caught in a gender conflict, and those who love them.”
Insights from the 'Tough Stuff'
Collection crafted to illuminate our
path towards inner contentment
Recognizing that personal evolution unfolds slowly and profoundly
from the inside-out, these writings serve as beacons on our
ongoing journey of self-discovery.
As Earth dwellers, we play dual roles as co-producers and lead
actors in the diverse tapestry of our lives. Amidst the good, bad,
and neutral moments that span our existence on planet Earth, the
inevitability of occasional missteps is a testament to the
complexity of our shared human experience.
Grounded in the timeless adage of "Be careful what you wish for,"
the Stepping Stones series and the 'Tough Stuff' collection of
blogs delve into the intricate dimensions of overcoming ingrained
habits tied to the pursuit of ego-based desires.
Through an exploration of the challenges involved in exerting
heart-based control over our thoughts, Saint-Clair advocates for a
holistic spirituality that recognizes our capacity – and occasional
inability – to coherently respond to the present moment as a
defining factor in our journey toward self-realization.
This holistic approach to spirituality, as discussed in these
writings, becomes a guiding lens through which we deal or grapple
with whatever springs up in the present moment – moment after
moment.
The moment underfoot can be accepted as a karmically
choreographed experience we have (consciously or
unconsciously) co-created with Soul and, of course, with the
universe.
And all is, for now, for our personal growth, exactly how it needs to
be.
By acknowledging the karmic choreography that fills the little and
huge moments in our day-to-day, today and every day, we gain the
power to shape our reality from within and without.
Dear Reader, whether you find these pages in 2024 or 2043, the
'Tough Stuff' collection promises a timeless exploration of the
universal quest to transcend old habits, confront the challenges
life presents, and authentically manifest the truest expression of
ourselves. Let this be your companion on the transformative
journey within."
2
nd
Prize: Far From Maddy – C.C. Saint-Clair, Australia
C.C. Gender Talk Interview 2005
CC Saint-Clair
INDEX
![“The soul is sexless. Why should it lower itself through the imagination of either one of the sexes? Whoever wants to be [a] complete [yogi] must abandon the idea of one sex.” - Vivekananda.](index_html_files/12942.webp)
