This section is meant as a starting point for your own research.  I hope you find as much inspiration in these authors as I have.  These books have helped to form my beliefs and views of the world.  They are like old friends who I visit with when I feel the need for some courage, strength, (or a kick in the butt.)  Occasionally I have a "recharge" day to retreat, and allow the creative juice to build up again.  So get a comfy chair, a cup of tea...and some words of wisdom from someone who's *been there*...

 

Triumph Over Adversity, Fear, Courage

Journal of Solitude  -May Sarton, 1973 Norton
Plant Dreaming Deep  -May Sarton, 1968 Norton
Joseph Campbell Companion, Reflections on the art of Living  -edited by Diane K. Osbon, 1991 Harper Collins
The Hero With a Thousand Faces  -Joseph Campbell, 1949 Bollingen
Man's Search for Meaning  -Viktor E. Frankl, 1959 Simon & Schuster
The Alchemist  -Paul Coelho, Harper Collins
Gift from the Sea  -Anne Morrow Lindbergh, 1955 Vintage
Earthly Paradise  -Colette, 1966 Noonday
Hundreds and Thousands: the Journals of an Artist  -Emily Carr, 1966
The Singing Creek Where the Willows Grow, the mystical Nature Diary of Opal Whiteley  -Benjamin Hoff, 1986 Penguin
Peace Pilgrim-Her Life and Work in Her own Words  -1982, Friends of the Peace Pilgrim http://www.peacepilgrim.com
Diary of Anne Frank  -Anne Frank
I know Why the Caged Bird Sings  -Maya Angelou, Random House
Wouldn't Take Nothing for my Journey Now  -Maya Angelou, 1993 Random House
The Seat of the Soul  -Gary Zukav, 1989 Simon & Schuster
Peace is Every Step  -Thich Nhat Hanh, 1991 Bantam
Anatomy of the Spirit  -Caroline Myss
Women's Bodies, Women's Wisdom  -Christiane Northrup
 
 

Creating, Courage

*If You Want to Write  -Brenda Ueland, 1938 Graywolf
Wisdom of the Heart  -Henry Miller, 1941 New Directions
Stand Still Like the Humming Bird  -Henry Miller, 1962 New Directions
Long Quiet Highway  -Natalie Goldberg, 1993 Bantam
*Writing Down the Bones  -Natalie Goldberg, Bantam
Wild Mind  -Natalie Goldberg, Bantam
Everyday Sacred  -Sue Bender, 1996 Harper Collins
Artist's Way  -Julia Cameron, 1995 Putnam
Vein of Gold  -Julia Cameron, 1996 Putnam
*Learning By Heart-Teachings to Free the Creative Spirit  -Corita Kent & Jan Steward, 1992 Bantam
Inspiration Sandwich  -Sark, Simon & Schuster
Creative Companion  -Sark, 1991 Simon & Schuster
Simple Abundance  -Sara Ban Breathnach, 1995 Warner
Writing As A Healing Art: The Transforming Power of Self-Expression  -Laura Cerwinske, 1999 Perigee (Penguin)
Spilling Open: The Art of Becoming Yourself  -Sabrina Ward Harrison, 2000 Villiard.
Dharma Bums -Jack Kerouac, 1991 Penguin.
Wabi Sabi: For Artists, Designers, Poets and Philosophers  -Leonard Koren, 1994 Stone Bridge Press.
I Shock Myself: The Autobiography of Beatrice Wood  -Beatrice Wood, 1985 Chronicle Books.
Pilgrim at Tinker Creek  -Anne Dillard, 1998 Harper Perennial.
The Essential Writings of Ralph Waldo Emerson  -Ralph Waldo Emerson, 2000 Princeton.
Traveling Mercies  -Anne Lammot, 1999 Anchor Books.
Walden  -Henry David Thoreau, 1998 Beacon Press.
 

Artist"s Journals

The Diary of Frida Kahlo: An Intimate Self Portrait -Frida Kahlo 2000, Abradale.
The Journey is the Destination :The Journals of Dan Eldon  -Dan Eldon, 1997 Chronicle Books.
The Journal of Anais Nin
Keith Haring Journals  -Keith Haring, 1997 Penguin.
Tibor Kalman: Perverse Optimist  -Peter Hall, ed., 1998 Princeton.
Evidence: The Art of Candy Jernigan -Candy Jernigan, 1999 Chronicle Books.
Sara Midda's South of France: A Sketchbook -Sara Midda, 1990, Workman.
Moonlight Chronicles: A Wandering Artist's Journal -Dan Price, 2000, Ten Speed Press.
Living on the Earth  -Alicia Bay Laurel, 1972, Random House.
Working Days: The Journals of the Grapes of Wrath 1938-1941 -John Steinbeck, 1990 Penguin.
 

Business & Money

The Business Side of Creativity  -Cameron S. Foote, 1996 Norton
Six Steps to Free Publicity  -Marcia Yudkin, 1994 Penguin
Graphic Artist Guild Handbook  -published yearly by the Graphic Artist's Guild 
The Business of Illustration  -Steven Heller & Teresa Fernandes, 1995 Watson Guptill
The Seed Handbook
Voluntary Simplicity  -Duane Elgin, 1993 Quill
Your Money or Your Life -Joe Dominguez, Vicki Robin, 1999, Penguin.
Nine Steps to Financial Freedom  -Susie Orman, 1998 Crown
 

Research for Artist's/Illustrators

How to Make a Living Doing What you Love

How to Start as an Illustrator -Promotion Basics
Freelance Illustrator's Job Acceptance Check List
Seven Steps to Getting Published -or How to Sell Your Ideas