By Dan Guarino
The mood was like a party as entrepreneur, creative personality, personal/business mentor, entertainer and Rockaway Times columnist Shane Kulman hosted a celebratory book signing at the Coastal Market across from the Rockaway Hotel on Wednesday, August 21. “Enchantress Shane” signed, chatted and took photos with the people who came by the dozens, some from as far away as Brooklyn and Connecticut, to purchase her new book, “The Ten Commandments for Turning Fear into Joy!”, an adult coloring book on the theme of “Screw Your Fears.” Even some attendees who came to buy frozen yogurt were initially surprised by the event and live music and went home with newly signed books.
The event, Kulman later said, “exceeded my expectations and hopes. Thank you to everyone who came. There were so many surprises!”
Already the author of Dear Enchantress, a collection of her advice columns in the Rockaway Times, and From Anxiety To Ease, The Feminine Way, described as “activities to relax in under ten minutes,” her latest work takes a new form.
It’s a “coloring book, (but) not just a traditional coloring book. It’s a creative journey and a therapeutic tool,” she says.
It’s designed for adults, but it’s also playful and fun, and teaches practical life lessons. The imaginative images, illustrated by artist Tim Lukowiak, feature the magician Shane herself, her little dog Cooper, who was present at the opening, and even her neighbor and friend, soon-to-be nine-year-old Noa, who helped set up the event.
Kulman explains, “Every page of the book is inspired by what she calls the Ten Commandments: “Screw Your Fears,” a set of guiding principles she developed over years of working with people facing fear, doubt and self-limiting beliefs.
“Designed to encourage self-reflection, creative expression, and emotional healing, the book combines lavish illustrations, inspirational quotes, and exercises that invite users to engage with the material in a deeply personal and meaningful way.”
For example, in “Commandment Number 4 – Treat Yourself,” she writes: “When was the last time you gave yourself a time out? A time out? Time for yourself? How about a time out where you treat yourself to doing nothing?” She suggests giving yourself permission to leave “all worries, shame, and to-do lists” behind and set aside a day to do whatever you want, whatever you like, or just enjoy doing nothing – guilt-free. “Add an hour of lounging and set a timer,” she writes, “to complete that hour of doing nothing. It’s not as easy as you think.”
Although the adult coloring book format is becoming increasingly popular, Kulman says the idea has been in her head for some time. She says, “I knew I would create a coloring book, but I didn’t know when.” The idea took a while to develop, but “then artist Tim Lukowiak reached out and offered his artistic services. I fell in love with his art, responded to him and said, ‘YES!'”
Kulman sees it “as a journey, along with the ability to color it! There is a transformation for those who seek it.”
“Tim was great to work with. I can be very controlling and come up with ideas on the fly, and he had tons of patience,” Kulman said. Lukowiak, she adds, “got” her ideas quickly and put them on paper. He was “absolutely the most creative mind to create what I would describe and add to. This book had more of a playful aspect, and it’s both a coloring book and a workbook. I will always be a preschool teacher at heart!”
Kulman also holds a master’s degree in behavioral and special education and has worked as a special education teacher.
Kulman explains how the content and concepts came about, recalling that their main intention is to “give people clear guidelines on how to live more positively in a world that is not always positive and joyful.”
“She was babbling away,” she explains, as she one day presented a best friend with “a list of ways to live a good and happy life” and then exclaimed, “These are MY Ten Commandments!” Her friend then said, “Write it all down and sell it as something! POOF! The coloring book now had an outline.”
The book is described as a way to “feel the success that comes from using unconventional methods so that your personal development is sustainable,” and it is selling well. Many brought copies they had already purchased, while others bought the books on the spot.
Readers also have good things to say about Ten Commandments for Turning Fear into Joy. One noted, “This really is so much more than a coloring book – it’s a guide to living a fun, daring, and creatively fulfilling life. Written and illustrated in an irreverent, entertaining, and memorable way, Shane’s ‘commandments’ give you permission to take risks and shine!”
Connie Dann-Duval, who came to the event, said, “The guidelines here seem to be geared toward the integration of our various inner parts and living comfortably.” Along with refreshments, conversation, photos with colorful boa accessories and the equally colorful author, many sat down to color and have fun with the crayons provided. From the top hat to the boots, Kulman herself was dressed exactly like the cover image of her illustrated book.
She says of her work that she helps “people live the life they want and help them overcome limitations and live a life of growth and personal liberation.”
As a Far Rockaway resident, Kulman says what she loves most about the peninsula is “THE PEOPLE!!! I love the love and the community and the small-town feel. It reminds me of Canarsie, Brooklyn, where I grew up. Everyone knows everyone there, and if you ask people to come and support something, they do, and then the joy is multiplied. I’ve completed so many creative projects here with so many wonderful people!”
With “The Ten Commandments for Turning Fear into Joy!” she adds another chapter to this list. “And there’s more to come!” she says.
For those who missed the book signing: Kulman’s book can be purchased on Amazon.
Photos by Dan Guarino
