Valerie Mason-John facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Valerie Mason-John
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| Born | 22 November 1962 Cambridge, England
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| Alma mater | Leeds University, Sussex University |
| Occupation | Co-founder of Eight Step Recovery and Mindfulness Based Addiction Recovery |
| Known for | Author and public speaker |
Valerie Mason-John (born 22 November 1962) is an English author, speaker, and teacher. They are known for co-founding Eight Step Recovery, a program that uses Buddhist teachings to help people overcome challenges and find inner peace. This program offers a different approach from other recovery methods.
Contents
About Eight Step Recovery
Since its book was published in 2013, Eight Step Recovery has won awards. It was named a Best USA Book Award winner in 2014 and a Best International Book Award winner in 2015. Meetings for Eight Step Recovery are now held in many countries, including the UK, USA, Canada, India, and Finland.
Valerie Mason-John also helped create Mindfulness Based Addiction Recovery (MBAR). This program was inspired by another mindfulness program that helps people with their thoughts and feelings.
Valerie Mason-John has written eight books and travels to speak about mindfulness for emotional well-being. They also train people in how to handle bullying and solve disagreements peacefully. Valerie is a spiritual leader in the Triratna Buddhist Community, where they received their spiritual name, Vimalasara. This name means "she whose essence is stainless and pure." They also lead the Triratna Vancouver Buddhist Centre. Valerie used to write for The Voice newspaper and performed as a spoken-word poet using the stage name "Queenie." Born in Britain, they now live in Canada.
Early Life and Education
Valerie Mason-John was born in Cambridge, England. Their parents were from Sierra Leone Creole background. Valerie spent much of their childhood in foster homes and care facilities, including the Barnardo's Orphanages in Britain. They lived with their mother for a short time during their early teenage years.
Valerie left university before finishing their first degree in the 1980s. However, they continued to study and train in different fields. Since the early 1990s, they have worked as a writer, performer, and lecturer. They earned a teaching certificate from London South Bank University. Today, they lead workshops on managing anger and resolving conflicts.
After studying philosophy and politics at Leeds University, Valerie went on to study journalism. They also earned a master's degree in creative writing and a diploma in theatrical performance from Sussex University and The Desmond Jones School. By 2003, Valerie's interest in helping others and their spiritual journey led them to focus on writing and teaching about emotional well-being. In December 2007, Valerie Mason-John received an Honorary Doctorate from the University of East London for their achievements. Valerie continues to write, teach, perform, and give talks around the world.
Writing and Media Work
Valerie Mason-John's writings have appeared in many newspapers and magazines in the UK and internationally. These include The Guardian, The Voice, Curve Magazine, and The Morning Star. They have also contributed to several books, sharing their experiences and ideas.
From 1992 to 1997, Valerie Mason-John was the editor of Feminist Arts News. They also directed the London Mardi Gras from 1997 to 2000 and spent four years as the director of the Pride Arts Festival. Valerie has worked for television channels like the BBC and Channel 4. They have also been featured on British radio shows for the BBC World Service and other programs.
Valerie Mason-John also has a career in theatre. They studied at the Desmond Jones School of Mime and Physical Theatre. By 1998, they began performing and writing plays, often one-person shows. Their plays include Brown Girl in the Ring, The Adventures of Snow Black and Rose Red, and You Got Me.
Their first novel, Borrowed Body (2005), was later re-released as The Banana Kid (2007). This book won the Mind Book of the Year Award. Valerie has since written six more books, including their spiritual non-fiction book Detox Your Heart (2006), which was updated in 2017 to help people with emotional healing.
The Great Black North
In 2012, Valerie Mason-John worked with spoken-word artist Kevan Anthony Cameron to edit a poetry collection called The Great Black North: Contemporary African Canadian Poetry. This book, published by Frontenac House, features over 90 poets. The Great Black North was one of the first complete collections of modern Black Canadian poets. It includes famous poets like George Elliott Clarke and M. Nourbese Philip. The book is special because it separates "page" poetry (meant to be read) from "stage" poetry (meant to be performed). This way, it honors both the written and spoken traditions of poets from the African Diaspora.
Published Works
- 1992–97: Editor of Feminist Arts News
- 1992: Black Art and Culture on the Mainland of Europe: France, Belgium, Germany, Netherlands, Spain (editor), Arts Council of England
- 1993: Lesbians Talk: Making Black Waves (co-author with Ann Khambatta) Scarlet Press, ISBN: 9781857270075
- 1993: Words from the Women's Cafe: Lesbian Poetry from Word Up (contributor; eds Bernadette Halpin and Dorothea Smartt), Centerprise Publications, ISBN: 978-0903738767
- 1994: Talking Black: Lesbians of African and Asian Descent Speak Out Anthology (editor), Cassell, ISBN: 0304329657
- 1995: Assaults on Convention (contributor), Cassell, ISBN: 978-0304328833
- 1999: Brown Girl in the Ring: Plays, Prose and Poems, Get A Grip
- 2005: Borrowed Body, Serpent's Tail, ISBN: 1852428910
- 2005: Tell Tales (contributor), Tell Tales/Flipped Eye Publication, ISBN: 1905233027
- 2006: Detox Your Heart, Windhorse Publications, ISBN: 9781899579655
- 2007: Black British Aesthetic, edited by Victoria Arana – contributor, ISBN: 978-1443806015
- 2008: Broken Voices Ex Untouchable Women Speak Out, ISBN: 978-8183860734
- 2012: The Great Black North - Contemporary African Canadian Poetry (edited with Kevan Anthony Cameron), ISBN: 978-1897181836
- 2013: New edition of Borrowed Body, Demeter Press Canada, ISBN: 978-1927335369
- 2014: Eight Step Recovery - Using The Buddha's Teachings to Overcome Addiction – co author, ISBN: 978-1909314023
- 2017: New revised expanded edition of Detox Your Heart - Meditations for Emotional Trauma, ISBN: 9781614293873
- 2020: I Am Still Your ...: An Homage to James Baldwin. Canada: University of Alberta Press, ISBN: 9781772125108
Prizes and Awards
Valerie Mason-John has received many awards for their work:
- 2000: Windrush Achievement Award for Arts and Community Pioneer
- 2001: Winner of the Black, Asian and Chinese Shoreline/Cultureword First Chapter Award
- 2005: Young Minds Book Award (shortlist) (for Borrowed Body)
- 2006/7: Grant For The Arts – Arts Council England
- 2006: Winner Mind Book of The Year Award (for Borrowed Body)
- 2007: Black LGBT Community Award
- 2007: Honorary Doctorate for Life time Achievements - Doctor of Letters
- 2014: Alberta's Book Awards Best Educational Book (for The Great Black North)
- 2014: The Best USA Book Award (for Eight Step Recovery)
- 2014: The Robert Kroetsch Poetry Award (for The Great Black North)
- 2015: The Best International Book Award (for Eight Step Recovery)
