FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Healing and personal growth take center stage in “Eris Rising”
San Francisco, CA — A professional dancer, choreographer, and yoga teacher with talent in spades crosses paths with an enticing, yet manipulative man in Courtney Ramm’s honest memoir, “Eris Rising” (Acorn Publishing, Oct. 27, 2020).
As one of 229 offspring born from the controversial “Genius Sperm Bank,” a genetic experiment that existed in the 1980s and ’90s, Courtney found herself driven toward success. Following her passion for dance, by the age of eight she was studying at the renowned School of American Ballet and soon thereafter, performing on New York’s greatest stages. At twenty-five years old, she acted upon a strong inner calling to start her own dance company in Hawaii. Moving across the globe, Courtney brought along her endless to-do lists and a strong determination to succeed. But one thing was missing from the picture-perfect life she had imagined: a perfect husband. When she first locked eyes with Marcus at a spiritual gathering, she sensed something was off in the uncanny intensity of his stare. But she dove into a relationship anyway, not grasping the danger of the decision.
“Eris Rising” is a story of breaking deep karmic patterns, grappling with the calling of destiny, and changing long-held karma into mission. With the powerful feminine spirit of Eris as inspiration, Courtney’s brave memoir shows how it’s possible to move forward after life-altering harm, in order to find the true warrior within.
Praise for the author…
“This is a book you will insist your friends read next just so you can continue to talk about it long after you finish the final page.”
– Holly Kammier, best-selling author of Kingston Court
“Eris Rising is a scary-good book. Scary because it tells a story of a beautiful life gone sideways–so far sideways that the author is dangerously close to going over the edge. Against compelling odds, Courtney manages to right herself. Therein lies profound life lessons”
– Brad Alan Lewis, Olympic Gold Medalist and author of Assault on Lake Casitas
“Eris Rising: A Memoir of Finding the Warrior Within”
Courtney Ramm | October 27, 2020 | Acorn Publishing | Nonfiction, Memoir
Hardcover | ISBN: 978-1-952112-12-6 | $24.99
Paperback | ISBN: 978-1-952112-11-9 | $16.99
About The Author
Courtney Ramm: Born and raised in the heart of New York City, Courtney Ramm has followed her passion for dance since childhood, which led to a career as a professional dancer, choreographer, and teacher. She’s directed dance schools, performed, and taught all over the world, from Singapore to Thailand to Manhattan. With her Master’s degree in Dance Education, Courtney has led wellness retreats in Hawaii, focusing on empowerment and transformation. Courtney is the founder and artistic director of the non-profit dance company, RammDance. She blends her love of dance with holistic healing, and is a certified Pilates instructor, Yoga teacher, Ayurvedic consultant, Theta healer, Master Detox Chef, and Reiki practitioner. Alongside her focused training and career in dance, writing has always been one of Courtney’s passions. She knew she would write a book — although she never imagined her memoir would take such a twisted turn. Courtney is a full-time single mama to two toddlers. “Eris Rising” is her first book. For more information, please visit: https://www.courtneyramm.com
In an interview, Courtney Ramm can discuss…
- Her writing process, and why she chose to document the painful experiences she had within an abusive relationship
- The meaning of “genius,” and how even the smartest people can be susceptible to manipulation and harm from others
- How she found the strength to leave a cult-like religious community and an unhealthy partnership that her life revolved around
- Her passion for dance and holistic healing, and how she was able to regain her power and sense of self through these means
- What the feminine warrior spirit Eris means to her, and why she chose Eris as her memoir’s namesake
An Interview with Courtney Ramm
You have had a longstanding interest in writing, and have always imagined writing a book. When it came time to write your memoir, what was the process like for you?
I truly felt called to write this book. It wasn’t a conscious decision at first, and the words would flood through my head at any given moment, sometimes at 3:30am! The process of writing was a practice of discipline, something I had to commit to every single day for an indefinite period of time until my story was complete. Writing my memoir was filled with all sorts of emotions: nostalgia, sadness, anger, joy, and ultimately deep fulfillment as I imagined finally sharing my story with those who need to hear it.
As one of 229 offspring born from the controversial “Genius Sperm Bank,” you have been in the media’s spotlight from a young age. In fact, your memoir opens with Lisa Ling interviewing you on the topic of genius. Has your concept of “genius” changed at all over the years?
I used to believe that genius meant you were unquestionably intelligent or talented in one specified area–a math genius, for example. I’ve come to understand that genius comes in many forms and the true meaning of genius is broader than I once believed. As I answered Lisa Ling when she asked, “Are you a genius?”, I truly believe that there is genius in every person–that each of us possess an outstanding talent or ability waiting to be tapped into.
The titular feminine spirit Eris becomes an important symbol for you as you regain your power following your escape from an abusive relationship. What can you tell us about Eris, and all that she represents to you?
Eris is actually the name of a planet in our solar system, discovered in 2005. Because of her size, Eris is considered a “dwarf planet”, although she is identical in size to Pluto (which was reclassified as a dwarf planet in 2006). Astrologically, Eris represents the feminine warrior spirit. Eris calls us to embrace our inner power and muster the courage to see the truth, to face oppression, and to fiercely protect what is sacred. In a world long fractured by patriarchal power, Eris comes to set things straight, to balance the scales. Everything I learned about Eris rang so innately true with my story. I feel very connected to Eris, so much that I decided to name my book after her.
You have many passions and talents that have guided you throughout your life, including dance, yoga, pilates and holistic healing. How have these practices helped you to remain grounded and uncover the warrior spirit within?
While I was going through the intense experience I write about in my memoir, I was actively teaching yoga and incorporating different holistic healing modalities in my life. I had a steady self-care practice that rarely waned, despite my circumstances. Even though my partner at the time called me “selfish,” I knew that taking care of myself was the best thing I could do for both myself and others around me. Mindful practices such as Pilates and yoga helped me calm my racing thoughts and connect to my true self, which eventually gave me the strength to find my warrior spirit within.
While recalling riveting — and often dark — real-life events, your memoir also provides an empowering message of hope, especially for readers who may have experienced similar pain in their life. What message do you ultimately want to share with your readers through “Eris Rising”?
When I sent my manuscript to friends for feedback, I was shocked and amazed at how many people resonated with my story, saying how “close to home” it hit for them. I reveal the dark moments because so many of us share these same experiences, and they need to be brought into the light so we can collectively heal and move forward. My story is proof that you can recover and rebuild your life even with the most painful and unexpected circumstances. Ultimately, my message is one of empowerment and hope.
What’s next for Courtney Ramm?
I’ve spent the last year in graduate school at NYU, where I received my Masters degree in Dance Education. It was an incredible experience that opened me up to new possibilities, and I am excited to be creating a curriculum for early childhood dance that incorporates the profound humanistic philosophies of John Dewey, Rudolf Steiner, and Isadora Duncan. I am also re-launching my non-profit dance company, RammDance. Now more than ever, we need the power of dance to connect us to each other and to our unique spirit within.
A former award-winning journalist with national exposure, Marissa now oversees the day-to-day operation of the Books Forward author branding and book marketing firm, along with our indie publishing support sister company Books Fluent.
Born and bred in Louisiana, currently living in New Orleans, she has lived and developed a strong base for our company and authors in Chicago and Nashville. Her journalism work has appeared in USA Today, National Geographic and other major publications. She is now interviewed by media on best practices for book marketing.
