Melita Harvey - Blissfully Dead: Life Lessons From The Other Side

Melita Harvey writes vividly and with passion. Once I suspended my disbelief about a voice from the other side, I was swept into an utterly convincing realm where the mind is replaced by a heart connection, where souls are drawn to others whose energy they need. The life lessons of the title are enlivened by a cast of characters whose stories are vividly, and sometimes movingly, brought to the page. A wise and beautiful book.

Jennifer Kavanagh, author of A Little Book of Unknowing and The Emancipation of B

This extraordinary account is a riveting and heart-warming story for anyone open to know that life, love and learning continues after death, and that the major learning, in life and in death, is to relinquish judgement of self and others. Its authenticity has the power to transform the reader.

Carla Van Raay, Gods Callgirl

A guidebook for the heart, full of insight and hope that teaches us how to live, love and die with purpose.

Lawrence Ellyard, The Spirit of Water

This book is an absolute joy to read. Its a beautiful story of what happens after we die where we go, what we do and what we experience told by Janelle, who took her own life and wanted to know why.

Janelles loving presence is tangible in every page as she comes to terms with the life she has just ended, and discovers the truth about herself. Clarity, honesty and compassion shine from every page, as she takes us on this amazing journey of discovery.

This is also a journey about Oneness of coming home, of being loved, of being known. And this makes it our journey, too. Gaynor Foster, editor and freelance writer, www.consciousmedia.com.au

First published by Sixth Books, 2015

Sixth Books is an imprint of John Hunt Publishing Ltd., Laurel House, Station Approach,

Alresford, Hants, SO24 9JH, UK

www.johnhuntpublishing.com

www.6th-books.com

For distributor details and how to order please visit the Ordering section on our website.

Text copyright: Melita Harvey 2014

ISBN: 978 1 78535 078 8

Library of Congress Control Number: 2015937448

All rights reserved. Except for brief quotations in critical articles or reviews, no part of this book may be reproduced in any manner without prior written permission from the publishers.

The rights of Melita Harvey as author have been asserted in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.

Design: Stuart Davies

Printed and bound by CPI Group (UK) Ltd, Croydon, CR0 4YY, UK

We operate a distinctive and ethical publishing philosophy in all areas of our business, from our global network of authors to production and worldwide distribution.

To my husband Graham, who made it all possible

Nel mezzo del cammin di nostra vita

mi ritrovai per una selva oscura,

ch la diritta via era smarrita.

Midway upon the journey of our life

I found myself within a forest dark,

For the straightforward pathway had been lost.

Dante Alighieri, The Divine Comedy

To all of you who stayed interested in the progress of the book throughout the years.

To those of you who read the script and encouraged me to continue with your positive feedback.

To Fez McLeod, for your ongoing support. Your passion for writing is inspirational.

To Vicki and Glenys, for being such loyal readers and for genuinely looking forward to the next chapter.

To Justo, for reading the script with enthusiasm at a time when you were unfamiliar with the language and the topic. For your unwavering interest throughout the progress of the book.

To the Spiritual Writers Network, whose writing challenges made me pick up the pace.

To Mandy and Helena, for creating the space to talk about the book, which helped me grow.

To Riana, for taking me on numerous horsey outings and to the horses, for clearing my mind.

To Irina Dunn, for the excellent assessment. Seeing the script through your eyes has enabled me to make changes that have greatly enriched the book.

To Gaynor Foster, who turned out to be so much more than an editor. Your magic pen sprinkled love in the words and throughout the pages.

To John Hunt Publishers, for believing in me, and for making the process fun.

To the John Hunt Publishers team for doing such a fantastic job.

To Peter and Kay, for offering me use of your impressive knowledge of the English language, with patience and love. For your time and dedication in reading and editing the script and for your suggestions and honest feedback. Above all though, for inviting me to your stunning house for a lovely lunch, encouraging me to talk about my book until dinner time, and presenting me with another beautiful meal. Nothing can top that!

To Francis, do you remember the magic fairy from The Velveteen Rabbit? You were that fairy for my book. I had a script and your love and faith in it made it real to me. Then there was your invaluable knowledge on writing; your consistency in being there for me; and the fun we had working together. Thank you. Gratitude to your wife, Michelle, for creating the space in your busy lives for you to help me.

To my husband, for being my reader, critic, editor, round the clock soundboard, my most loyal supporter, but above all, for being a true companion throughout the process. You are awesome.

And to Janelle. For your sense of humour.

Janelle and I first met in 2010 when a member of her family came to me for a reading. At the time I was living in Western Australia, offering psychic and medium readings from home. After this particular reading I overflowed with compassion, feeling the pain of those who believe they have lost their loved ones forever. I said to myself: I wish I could do more, and Janelles voice answered loud and clear: Writing my story would help.

This is how my spirit friend and I started to write this book.

Even though I had never met Janelle in person, I had seen her on TV. She was a well-known Australian personality and a very pretty one too. She was only 29 years of age when she died, but she will tell you all about that herself.

It took us one and a half years to write the first version of this book. I would sit down with pen and paper and Janelle would pour out her knowledge to me. At the end of this process I typed my notes into the computer, then printed and bound it. However, when I reread it, I found the content too clinical and full of repetition. Janelle would give me the same information over and over again, each time in a different way, until I had completely understood what she was saying. This made my unedited text overly repetitive and lacking in intimacy.

I went in search of someone who could give the book a makeover. I found an editor who specialized in books of my genre, and we agreed on a trial deal, but her intervention did nothing to improve what I saw as 275 pages of information overload, so I moved to Plan B. I had found a website called 75 Books Every Writer Should Read and threw myself into an enlightening journey which left me feeling confident enough to give the draft the necessary makeover myself. The result after five months of cutting, rephrasing and correcting was 190 pages of information overload instead of 275.