Today we’d like to introduce you to Valerie Anne Burns.
Hi Valerie Anne, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Valerie Anne Burns, lover of story and beauty landed in the glamorous life of Los Angeles. As it turned out, working in Hollywood as a stylist, producer, and story editor wasn’t as glamorous as it appeared…
“Since childhood, when I was living on a tropical island, I have been finding ways to remain in the magic of ethereal beauty as a mermaid does when crossing over to face the demands of life,” said Burns, who has had a business as Santa Barbara’s makeover specialist for wardrobe image and home décor.
Valerie Anne was diagnosed in July 2013 with a cancerous tumor in both breasts, which showed a genetic disposition. Initially, two surgeries were planned. However, because of complications of staph infection and a chronic autoimmune condition, She endured nine surgeries resulting in 64 days in the hospital.
Burns began writing personal essays before her diagnosis. The first one she wrote was about the one memory she has of her mother who died of breast cancer when Burns was three. It is a book of personal essays beginning as a toddler in Miami and the island of Key Biscayne. It focuses on strength and survival while seeking moments of exceptional beauty with an awareness of all the humorous ironies in life. Valerie Anne’s own diagnosis and ordeal with breast cancer doesn’t come into the story until 2/3 of the way through the book. Caution: Mermaid Crossing, Voyages of a Motherless Daughter.
Valerie Anne states, “The book was a cathartic endeavor, with its raw honest words, and I’ve found moments of beauty even in the most painful times. It will hopefully resonate and be of meaning to others facing what seems to be an insurmountable challenge that is often a lonely and isolating journey.”
Valerie Anne has had essays from her upcoming book, Caution: Mermaid Crossing, Voyages of a Motherless Daughter published in Grande Dame Literary, Deep Overstock, Sea to Sky Review, and HerStry. Essays in print include Chicken Soup for the Soul: Tough Times Won’t Last but Tough People Will and Rituals Anthology by Bell Press, and Women in a Golden State by Gunpowder Press. Additionally, she’s had a poem published in Writing Through the Apocalypse by Weeping Willow Press. In September 2021, she received a Finalist Award from Page Turner Awards in the category of manuscript submission
Valerie Anne, a former LA Personal Stylist, Film Producer, and screenplay Story Editor also graduated from a fashion and design school in Atlanta, Georgia. In addition, Valerie received a full scholarship from the Santa Barbara writers conference in 2016 and 2019. One of her memoir pieces was submitted to the Prague Summer Writing Program, which offered her a $1,000 scholarship, where she traveled to Prague to work on her book. Additionally, in 2019, Valerie was sponsored by the nonprofit, www.sendmeonvacation.org a trip to Italy and The Dominican Republic to share a workshop she developed that utilizes her background in fashion and décor, as well as writing titled, “Living and Healing Through Color”, which she shared at breast cancer survivor retreats for https://sendmeonvacation.org/ (SMOV) Burns states, “Going back to Italy was a dream come true and even more meaningful when contributing to participants of a beautiful retreat.” She was also sent to Rome September 2022 as the first international free style participant for SMOV with the assignment of blogging about her experience.
Valerie Anne continues to find natural beauty daily in Santa Barbara where she encourages women to find moments of beauty in the most painful of times. As well as guide women to feel and look beautiful when her image consultant business was thriving and her “closet and color therapist” approach designed to inspire women toward positivity and purposefulness through all of life’s highs and lows.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Beginning as a toddler who experienced losing her mother young, I was taught to be strong, independent, and a survivor by my father. While it was a confusing trial and often a lonely road, it instilled a fierce spirit in me. Hummingbirds are fierce soaring through the insurmountable and have been my angel guides through difficult times. If I’m to be honest, I can’t say that my life’s path has been smooth or easy. I move forward. I reinvent myself depending on circumstance, loss, inspiration and as a survival technique when something falls apart, I find a way to transition into a butterfly from the cocoon. Finding purpose is the key and looking ahead to a new dream or desire I can visualize paves the road. I am a two-time cancer survivor and during a long ordeal with breast cancer and complications resulting in 9 major surgeries, I was not confident I would stay alive.
I am also a survivor of sexual assault twice where my life was threatened. My empathy runs deep. Everyone goes through harsh times and get through it in their own unique ways. As a result of my own personal heartbreak, I yearned for a purpose on the other side. So, I created my workshop “Living and Healing Through Color” (utilizing my fashion/design as well as writing background) to present at breast cancer survivor retreats globally. I speak out strongly against misogyny and sexual predators so prevalent today and how I believe all women should stand in solidarity for victims of sexual abuse. Through it all is my daily connection to beauty whether at home or in nature. I am a beauty seeker and one who cherishes the divine intelligence of nature and wildlife. Since I was a teenager and given the gift of holding a baby jaguar in my arms and noticing the world in those soulful eyes, I took a vow to be a passionate protector of the natural world. When I look back, my life has been a rollercoaster of deeply painful challenges but also deeply beautiful connections and glorious moments of awe.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
My focus is writing after owning a business as a Makeover Specialist for home decor and wardrobe image, which I lost during a 6-year ordeal with breast cancer. I would not be as far as I am in my writing career if not for the support of friends, mentors, Santa Barabara Writer’s Conference, Prague Summer Writing Program, and the writing groups I participate in and facilitate for on a weekly basis.
I would say that I’m also known for being creative in all that I do. Beauty and a tropical sea saves a mermaid such as I. I’ve been an advocate for the environment, wildlife/animals and women’s’ rights for over thirty years. It is a passion, not a hobby. I am loyal and there for anyone who needs me. I live in Santa Barbara with my therapy cat, Lucia.
Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
I’m like a cat who continues to land on her feet… but with more than nine lives. It’s nothing short of a miracle that I’m alive after surviving multiple life-threatening crises.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.valerieanneburns.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/valerieanneburns/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/, https://www.facebook.com/valerieanneburnsauthor/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/
- Twitter: Not as long as musk is involved
Image Credits
These are all my photos. They are on my website as well.
