About Me
Magic is believing in yourself, if you can do that, you can make anything happen.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
My
Story
I believe in magic. I believe in hope. And I believe in supporting people in sharing their biggest, most amazing gifts with the world!
I believe everyone has a special gift to share with the world and the ability and the right to SHINE AND SPARKLE BRIGHTLY!
Being a survivor of a major Chronic Illness (Advanced Neurological Lyme Disease) has taught me the preciousness of every day that we have on earth. During some of my darkest times, I have felt my own inner "sparkle" dulling down.
Through these dark times, finding my inner light and SPARKLE has become my North Star.
It was because of this that I founded "State Of Sparkle," a coaching service designed to help others shine more brightly in the world...no matter what challenges they may be facing personally, creatively or professionally.
I have been blessed to have worn many hats throughout my life: national park ranger, wilderness guide, event promoter and marketer, website and graphic designer, music booking agent, rock n' roll singer, freelance writer and author, grad student (in professional writing), branding photographer, intuitive, accountability coach, world traveler (check out "Around The World With The Thurston Girls!"), and inspirational public speaker.
I truly believe that each of us--including YOU--were born with unique gifts. And that the more we use those gifts the better the world becomes.
I absolutely LOVE helping my clients identify their gifts and their greatest SOUL'S CALLING.
I believe we are here to LIVE AUTHENTICALLY, TO SHINE BRIGHTLY, to SHARE OUR GIFTS with the world, and TO LIVE IN A STATE OF SPARKLE...no matter what challenges come our way.
As a loved one once told me many years ago, "This sin't a dress rehearsal, Rachel! This is the REAL DEAL."
If this resonates for you, I hope you join me on this journey!
Rachel Sarah Thurston, MPW
My Education & Experience
Coaching, Consulting,
Public Speaking & Event Promoting
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2020 to 2023 Founder and Owner of "State Of Sparkle"
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2023 Santa Barbara Writers Conference Author Branding & Marketing Consultant
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2010 to 2023 Coach and Coach with Action Coaching Teams
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2001 to 2023 Event Promoter, Marketer and Lead Singer for "King Bee," Santa Barbara based retro rock n' roll band
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2020 "Around The World With The Thurston Girls" Travel Presentation at the Santa Barbara Woman's Club with Karen Custer Thurston
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2001 to 2019 Santa Barbara Writers Conference participant, staff photographer, and co-host of the Talent Show
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2010 Women's Economic Ventures Speaker and Featured Artist
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2016 presenter for the Association For Women In Communication
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2003 Santa Barbara International Film Festival Documentary Reviewer and Human Rights Doc Film Announcer
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1996 to 2019 Creator and Presenter of World Travel and Conservation Slideshows for the National Park Service, retail travel stores, Santa Barbara City College and the Santa Barbara Woman's Club
Published
Published Works
*Writing & Photography
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Feature articles and photography in The Los Angeles Times, Santa Barbara Magazine, Women's Adventure Magazine, Food and Home Magazine, The Santa Barbara Independent, Destination Wine Country, and The Writer Magazine
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Contributor to travel humor Travelers Tales anthologies "What Color Is Your Jockstrap" and "More Sand In My Bra" along with best-selling author Susan Orlean (The Orchid Thief) and award-winning travel writer Tim Cahill
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Author of The Beautiful Santa Ynez Valley with Chuck Place
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Prologue for Best-Selling Healing Memoir From Lyme To Light by Caroline Deloreto
Ongoing Education & Conferences
Ongoing Education
& Conferences
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2023 Book Launch In A Box Marketing Course (Write Publish Sell/Alexa Bigwarfe)
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2023 Women In Publishing Summit | Alexa Bigwarfe
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2023 Masterclass In Book Publishing with Carla King (Nonfiction Authors Association)
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2021 Nonfiction Writers Conference (Nonfiction Authors Association Conference)
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2003 to 2023 Santa Barbara Writers Conference
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Masters In Professional Writing, University Of Southern California, with honors
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Miami University (Oxford, Ohio), Bachelor In Interdisciplinary Studies with a focus in Conversation of Natural and Cultural Resources, with honors
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2010 Women's Economic Ventures Entrepreneurial Training
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School Of Media Arts, Santa Barbara City College (web design, film editing, and documentary filmmaking)
In The Press
Let’s Work Together
Are you interested in working with me?
What are you current author
branding and marketing needs?
I'd love to talk more and see if we're a good fit!
15 Minute
Complimentary
Discovery Call
Santa Barbara, California
USA
E-Mail
rachel@stateofsparkle.com