Look what these creatives are bringing into the world
This is what happens when people give their creative lives attention.
Over the years, I’ve had the joy of crossing paths with so many creative people. Some have come through my workshops and classes, sometimes at the very beginning of a creative idea. Others are friends and collaborators I’ve had the pleasure of knowing and working alongside.
Creative Spotlight is a place to celebrate it all — books, articles, music, performances, videos, and all kinds of creative projects.
Because creating something is one thing. Having the courage to put it out into the world is another.
Creatives supporting creatives. That’s what Creative Spotlight is all about.
Take a look around. You might see someone you know or discover someone new.
Every time you read, watch, listen, share, or buy, you’re doing more than supporting the work — you’re supporting a creative who had the courage to put something they dreamed about out into the world.
And that little bit of support can mean a lot.
✨ THIS MONTH’S SPOTLIGHT ARTIST ✨
✨ NEW RELEASE ✨
Miraj Lee Saxton — Rub Down
There’s something special about watching someone take a creative idea and actually put it out into the world — especially when that someone is a friend and fellow creative.
Here’s Miraj Lee Saxton’s brand-new release, Rub Down — a sexy, dance-driven beat that definitely gets you movin’!
Miraj and I go back a bit creatively. She’s been a featured guest artist in several of my Make a Scene productions, and I’ve had the pleasure of watching her bring her talent and energy to the stage more than once. So it makes me especially happy to shine a little light on what she’s creating now.
Press play, turn it up, and enjoy! 🔥
Want to see what else Miraj is up to?
MORE CREATIVES IN THE SPOTLIGHT ✨
Liz Harrell — Enchanted Ελληνικά
Sometimes a creative idea shows up when you’re supposed to be doing something else.
Liz Harrell’s Greek-language journey began in 2016, just a few months before her first trip to Greece. After putting the language aside for several years, she picked it back up at the start of the pandemic in 2020. Then one day, while avoiding the grammar exercises her tutor had assigned, Liz started writing a story in Greek. Turns out, procrastination can have its perks. ✨ Writing stories brought together two things Liz loves — language and storytelling — and became an important part of her own Greek-learning journey. She discovered that the slower process of writing by hand in Greek was helping her with spelling, grammar and much more. And there’s another creative twist: every one of Liz’s stories is inspired by a painting. A work of art becomes the spark that gets a new story going — bringing visual art, storytelling, and language together in a wonderfully unexpected way. And now those stories have a home. Through her Substack, Enchanted Ελληνικά, Liz shares her enchanted stories in Modern Greek with the hope that other Greek-language learners will enjoy them — and perhaps find them helpful on their own language journeys.
Who knew avoiding your homework could lead to a Creative Spotlight?
Prelude to the Big Reveal!
Because creativity shouldn’t only count once something is finished.
Here’s a peek at what’s coming to life.
Not every Creative Spotlight needs to begin with “Look what I did!”
Sometimes the really interesting part is “Look what I’m doing.”
Stories are being written. Ideas are being chased. Scripts are taking shape. Music is being composed. Collaborations are happening. And somewhere, somebody is probably staring at a blank page wondering what the hell comes next.
That counts, too.
There’s something going on behind that curtain… 👀
Debra Albrecht — Writer
Debra Albrecht is a former teacher, professional grandmother of four, and a member of the Newburgh Writers Hub.
Her current project began with something wonderfully simple: a writing prompt from one of our monthly meetings. From that prompt, a novel started to take shape.
At the heart of the story are two people seemingly destined to find one another — a connection that brings pain, anguish, unexpected consequences, and a path neither of them could have anticipated.
As the story unfolds, the protagonist begins to discover his true destiny with the help of unforeseen interventions of mystical origin. An older woman who stops to offer assistance becomes part of a tale filled with twists, turns, and surprises that continue to reveal themselves as Debra writes.
And that may be one of my favorite things about a work in progress: sometimes the writer is discovering the story right along with the rest of us.
For now, Debra is still following where the story leads.
When the novel is ready to step out from behind the curtain, we’ll share more here.
Nakresha Joseph — Writer
I met Nakresha Joseph through the Newburgh Writers Hub, where I’ve had the pleasure of getting to know her and a little about the writing she’s been working on. Her current project began from a deeply personal place — the death of her mother. What the project will ultimately become is still revealing itself. It may take the form of a collection of short stories or journal entries, or perhaps evolve into a memoir. For now, Nakresha is giving herself the space to write, edit, and discover how the pieces belong together. What excites her most is where all of this might lead — not only to a published book, but to something that could have a meaningful impact on other women. And that’s one of the things I love about watching a creative work take shape. You don’t always have to know what it’s going to become before you begin. For now, Nakresha is continuing to write, edit, and follow where the story leads. And I’m looking forward to seeing what emerges. ✨