About Carmy
CARMY STUBBS is a lover of the Word and its power for transformation and
healing. Through her poetry, short stories, writings, and illustrations, she explores
the creative force of the Heart and the finding of one’s True Voice. Carmy is the
author of the novel The Six Knowings of ASAIRA, a metaphysical fantasy, where all her loves ~ the poems, the magic, the storytelling, and the search for the Divine ~ weave themselves alchemically through text and illustration.
Carmy also holds Creativity & Silence Meetings and Workshops on Healing through Writing, Storytelling, and Art. She lives in Port Coquitlam, British Columbia, with her husband, Antonio, and their little dog, Milo.
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Below you'll find:
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What has been the most challenging part of writing? (Both of these questions are part of a bio for the Port Moody Public Library and their White Pines Local Authors Collection.)
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What inspired Carmy to become a writer?
There have always been books in Carmy’s world! As a child in England, she was an avid reader, and her favourite school subject was creative writing. Later, as an adult living in Spain, she majored in English Philology, which included studies of English, Spanish, and French literature. However, even though Carmy loved writing, she never saw herself as a writer. That all changed about twenty years ago when Carmy found herself on a spiritual path of self-realization and discovery that made her see the world in a new and different light. And her heart yearned to express and share all that it was feeling! Since then, Carmy hasn’t stopped writing, drawing and creating. First, it was mostly poetry from the heart, then it was short stories, and then one day, one of the short stories started growing and growing, and after twelve years, the short story had turned into a five hundred and sixty-three-page illustrated, metaphysical fantasy! To answer the question of what inspired Carmy to be a writer: Carmy would say that it was an alchemy and synergy of all her experiences living in England, Spain, and Canada, as a reader, a teacher, a spiritual seeker and finder, and most importantly, fearlessly listening to the heart and its creative force.
What's been the most challenging part of writing?
Self-doubt, fear, and imposter syndrome. All three manifested themselves also on the spiritual path, and that’s how the writing and Carmy’s inner journey intertwined. They are also the themes present in The Six Knowings of ASAIRA. To find one’s true voice and to know one’s true self can take a lot of courage, and the doubts may overwhelm and paralyze. Yet, these challenges became part of the fuel for Carmy’s writing and the actual story. For Carmy, the solution was to carry on, no matter what the fear might say. On another level it was crystal clear for Carmy that she had to get to the end of the story, and that she needed to share it, however terrifying that appeared to be. The heart was open and exposed, and of course, that felt frightening, but it was also magical and exciting, and truly astonishing and amazing to see how the story unfolded as if Carmy had nothing to do with it!
Carmy: Teacher and Facilitator
I've been teaching in one way or another for over 40 years. It all started when I was 18 and having a gap year in Spain. Everyone was so keen to practise their English and have conversation lessons! From there, I had many different English teaching experiences: ESL in Spain and Canada, being part of the English Department in the University of Alicante, and one-on-one classes. Recently, I had the opportunity to do a workshop called Healing through Writing, Storytelling, and Art. As I gave the workshop I felt how my teaching experience, plus my spiritual journey with healing and creativity come into place in a way I'd never imagined. The Creativity and Silence Meetings, a healing circle using silence (meditation) and creative expression that I had re-commenced to facilitate, as if in confirmation, have also taken on a more profound teaching direction. So, I open up to this with all my heart and I hope to do more workshops very soon. If you are interested in hosting a workshop, or participating in a Creativity and Silence Meeting, please get in touch!
Honouring My Origins
Some Short Anecdotes
Maria del Carmen Stubbs: What's in a Name?
I was given the beautiful name Maria del Carmen when I was born in the UK to my loving parents Carmen and Denis, in that incredible time that were the Sixties. My parents called me Mari Carmen, although my dad pronounced it 'Mary' Carmen. My mother, being Spanish, kept the Spanish melody, speaking to my brother and I in her native language. My brother also had a Spanish name, Tomás, but we mostly pronounced as is the custom in English. When my brother started calling me by name as a toddler, Mari Carmen was apparently a mouthful... he shortened it and made it into one easy word: Carmy. I didn't use it myself until many years later... but that's another story...​
Maria Stubbs: Who's she?!
I have a memory of my first day at primary school. We were all given a box to put our pencils and crayons in, The teacher wanted to write our names on one of the sides of the box so we could find them easily. When she got to my box, she read my name out, Maria del Carmen Stubbs, and added, "That doesn't fit. Let's put Maria Stubbs." I'm not sure if she asked me if that was okay. But I do remember being a tremble and embarrassed about my strange, long name, so I gave a slow nod... and it happened: I suddenly turned into Maria Stubbs! Who's she?! From that day on, at school, with friends etc, I was Maria. No Carmen in sight.
Maria del Carmen: The Spanish Way
​Carmen, or Maria del Carmen, is a very popular name in Spain. Sometimes it´s shortened to Mari Carmen or Carmencita. "Maria del" is often added before a name in honour of the Virgin Mary, meaning "Mary of" and in some ways is not really the actual name. It's usually shortened to Mari, and other times dropped altogether. For example, my aunt was called Maria del Rosario, but everyone called her Rosario or Rosarín. My mother was always known as Carmen, and for the most part, I was, and still am, Mari Carmen.
​Our Lady of Carmen or Carmel has a big feast day in Spain every July 16th. All the Cármenes celebrate their Saint Day, which in the past was more important than celebrating your birthday. Nowadays, Spaniards get to celebrate both their Saint Day and Birthday. Nice!
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Las Cármenes in the Family and Lineage
In the photo you can see, left to right, the youngest Carmen (myself!) at that time, my Abuelita Carmen (my Spanish Grandmother, Carmen Martinez Sanz), and my Mama, Carmen Gómez Martínez.
There are other Cármenes in the family. There's my lovely cousin, Carmen Gómez Cayuelas, who's the last Carmen at the moment. And an aunt, who, had she lived, would have had the name my mother has, meaning my mother would not have been called Carmen, and I would probably have another name....
I'm curious to know more about my lineage, so lately I have been asking the family about my grandmother. There are some stories that I'm feeling to share.
Two Cármenes: My Abuelita & My Tía
​This beautiful photo is of my Abuelita Carmen (my Grandmother) and her sweet daughter, my Tía Carmen (my aunt). I don't know the exact dates, but little Carmen died from smallpox when she was probably at a similar age as in the photo. My mother was born in 1921 and was given the name of Carmen. My Tía had obviously already passed away. I don't know much else about my Tía Carmen, but it does feel so right to talk about her and honour her existence. I often look at this photo and feel my Abuelita and Tía's presence.
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Coming soon: My Courageous Abuelita Carmen (This seems to want to come as a longer story which I might post in the Storytelling Section).
