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Author empowers girls in ‘Adventures of Isabelle’

Published:Thursday | September 17, 2015 | 12:00 AMKeisha Hill

The Adventures of Isabelle Book I: The Embryo Goddess and the Morpho is a great book! Dr Nicole Cutts has opened a new world for her readers introducing them to Xamayca, an unusual land of mystery, adventure, and apparent magic. You will also like Princess Isabelle and her family and where her journey takes her.

This is the first book in the chronicles of Princess Isabelle of Xamayca. Born to the powerful Sun King Vata Helios and the imperious yet stunning Ice Queen Cythona; Princess Isabelle is no ordinary princess, but a wild and fearless heroine.

The Adventures of Isabelle series is a heroine's quest told within this cosmic fairytale. Book one takes you inside the formative years of this half goddess, half mortal in the seemingly idyllic kingdom of Xamayca. Life in the palace is not always what it seems, and magic shrouds the secrets behind the castle walls as Princess Isabelle and her faithful companions Xerxes and Philippides go on this exciting, sometimes perilous journey.

Cutts is a licensed clinical psychologist, success coach, speaker, artist and organisational consultant who seeks to inspire and empower people to achieve a more balanced and successful lifestyle. As a child, she was not caught up in the princess craze and was never fascinated with the regular fairy tales of Snow White or Sleeping Beauty.

If you too are tired of the old male dominated fairy tale, Cutts has found a way to spin a new tale for the ages. In her own way, Princess Isabelle sets off on an adventure to see if there is more to life than what is at the castle. "The stories of fairy tale princesses of my childhood contained fairly one dimensional characters,"Cutts said.

Not reflected in stories

"They were often damsels in distress waiting to be saved by Prince Charming - never true heroines, or at least not what I thought of as heroines. These women were beautiful, to be sure, but not brave or adventurous; and none of them looked or acted anything like me," Cutts said.

"I did not see myself reflected in these stories and did not aspire to emulate these models that abounded in literature and cinema. Today, I am happy to see popular culture presenting more complex characters who reflect real heroism; and there is room for so much more diversity," she added.

The book, she said, is a reflection of her belief that everyone has an important mission and is on their own adventure or on a hero's quest. Her hope is that, no matter where persons are on their journey, the book will help them to become clearer about their mission.

"We are all writing our own stories. This is mine and I hope you enjoy it and learn more about yourself while reading it. I want women and young girls to see true reflections of themselves and to be their own heroines and knights in shining armour. They do not need to be asleep or in distress to find love or happiness. We find true happiness and love when fully awake and owning our power,"Cutts said.

Cutts has consulted with and trained executives, managers, and teams at Fortune 500 Companies, Federal Government Agencies, and Non-Profit Organisations. She has helped people create an exceptional life by honouring their mind, body, and spirit so they can experience joy, passion, meaning, and ultimate success in their work. She was named 2011 Entrepreneur of the Year by The National Black MBA Association's DC Chapter and one of Tagg Magazine's Most Enterprising Women in 2015.

So far, the book has received good reviews since its launch earlier this year. According to one reader while the genre isn't her usual favorite, she thoroughly enjoyed the book. "Dr Cutts is a good writer and the story was well-crafted and compelling. It is especially helpful for young women (and old ones, like me!) to be exposed to strong females who overcome adversity and find their inner strength. I look forward to Books II and III," said author Maria Olsen, Esq.

"As a little girl, I was told I could be anything I wanted to be, but I was also bound by strict convention and gender role expectations that did not fully support who I truly was or who I was truly meant to become. In other words, the pretty, polite, smart, nice little girl I was supposed to be had very little to do with the fierce warrior woman/goddess I truly am," Cutts said.

In 2009, she created Vision Quest Retreats to help women discover their passion and purpose and bring this to life through their work. An avid yoga practitioner, she ignites change, using somatic coaching principles helping people create an exceptional life. It is her dedication to well-being and belief that also motivated her to start Cutts Consulting, LLC in 2002.

The book is available on Kindle at Amazon.com or online at wisionquestretreats.com Novelty Trading Company will distribute the book in Jamaica and the Caribbean. There will be three books in the series with book two - Journey to Orphalese already completed and scheduled for publication in May 2016.

keisha.hill@gleanerjm.com