Alena Hennessy, author of Cultivating Your Creative Life, is now at home in the Asheville, NC, River Arts District.

After studying her craft in Oregon, the Florida native has set up her own studio ... her first as a full-time artist ... in Asheville, where she takes many of her artistic cues from nature. Hennessy's new book is a multi-faceted work where creativity and wonder intermingle to show how to live a creative and balance life while moving toward your goals. It will be available in June.

Read a profie of Hennessy, which appeared in The Laurel of Asheville, here .