Friday Author Interview Series: JC Niala

Posted on February 17, 2012 by Lisa Shultz

A Kenyan Christmas “The biggest lesson I learned is that nothing will be perfect.  You have to learn when to put your pen down and get your book out there.” – JC Niala

How did you get started writing your book? Or what inspired your book?

I got started on my book as I wanted to leave the kind of book for my daughter that I never had when I was growing up, then a good friend died leaving behind three children under the age of 4 and it brought into sharp focus the realization none of us know how long we have.

What was the hardest part about completing your book?

A couple of decisions on illustrations and paper type.

Did you learn any lessons in the book creation process, if so what where they?

The biggest lesson I learned is that nothing will be perfect.  You have to learn when to put your pen down and get your book out there.

Did you enlist support in getting your book done? If so, what kind of support?

I got support from a great design house.

JC NialaWhat tips or advice do you have for aspiring authors?

Write, write, write.

If you self-published, what made you self-publish?

The time frame I wanted the book turned around in and my heroes ranging from William Blake who self published to the musician Ani di Franco who is a successful independent musician.

If you had to do your book all over again, would you?

I would do my book over again because it made me realize that (a) it is actually possible (b) self-publishing is a lot of fun and (c) it was a dream come true. Continue reading →

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Friday Author Interview Series: Anita Waggoner

Posted on February 10, 2012 by Lisa Shultz

Farewell to Freedom“I learned how important it is to be consistent and to allow time every day to write.” – Anita Waggoner

How did you get started writing your book? Or what inspired your book?

The 13 years I spent building and operating a “guest ranch” in Freedom, Oklahoma, inspired me to write my book. I also raised rodeo bulls and experienced living life in a tough man’s world. My book tells my story. I made it fiction to avoid any problems with the actual people I met who inspired me to write the book.

What was the hardest part about completing your book?
The hardest part of writing the book was actually making the time to write. The storyline was fresh in my mind, since it was based partially on my true life experiences. The hours and hours it took to sit at the computer and type it out was the hardest part for me.

Did you learn any lessons in the book creation process, if so what where they?
I learned how important it is to be consistent and to allow time every day to write.

What tips or advice do you have for aspiring authors? Continue reading →
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Friday Author Interview Series: Rebecca Ryals Russell

Posted on February 3, 2012 by Lisa Shultz

Rebecca Ryals Russell“Begin advertising yourself and your books years before they are even finished. Get involved in writing groups, forums, wherever your book fits.” – Rebecca Ryals Russell

How did you get started writing your book? Or what inspired your book?

I first conceived the concept of my book 30 years ago. I was reading a lot of Fantasy by Terry Brooks and David Eddings at the time. But I was also teaching middle graders , who absorbed my energies and the book got shoved to the back burner. Over the years I tried rising early to write or staying up late, but I couldn’t maintain the effort and filed the story again. When I retired from teaching about five years ago I finally took the time and energy to reveal the story that had been growing within me and within six months I had the rough draft of the first two books of The Seraphym Wars Series.

OdessaWhat was the hardest part about completing your book?

The hardest part of completing the book is revising and editing because there is no end. Even though Odessa has been out for nearly a year, I itch to revise it still.

Did you learn any lessons in the book creation process, if so what where they?

I think the biggest lesson I learned about getting my book ready to publish was that with each rejection I revised the book—taking into account whatever the rejection suggested—until finally a publisher accepted it. But during the editing process, I learned even more about good phrasing and the difference between ‘show’ and ‘tell’. Since that first editing, I’ve been going back through my subsequent submissions and revising before the editing process even begins in order to save us all time. Continue reading →

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Friday Author Interview Series: Charles S. Weinblatt

Posted on January 27, 2012 by Lisa Shultz

Jacob's Courage“Never stop writing.  We learn by doing.  Like any other talent, you will become a better author with practice.” – Charles S. Weinblatt

How did you get started writing your book? Or what inspired your book?

In 1985, after my second spine surgery, my wife suggested that I write a book to keep my mind active while recovering.  I decided to write a short book about something that I knew well.  I was teaching job search skills as a vocational rehabilitation counselor.  So, I wrote a book about how to get a job, from the perspective of a young job seeker.  Job Seeking Skills for Students was published in 1986 by the Kendall-Hunt Publishing Company.  Kendall-Hunt is a major textbook publishing company in North America.  They offered a contract and a nice advance.  Suddenly, at age 33, I was a trade-published author!  Frankly I was amazed.  I was able to sell many books through my consulting practice and later as required reading for graduate students at my university.

Charles S. WeinblattIn 2004, years after my fourth spine surgery, I had to retire on disability from a very rewarding career in higher education at the University of Toledo.  I decided again to keep my mind active with writing.

My mother, who is 102, had told me years ago about terrifying pogroms against her Jewish family in Russia.  I decided that I would write a novel about the Holocaust, to honor persecuted family members. Shortly after I began researching and writing, my mother received a packet of information from a cousin in New York.  It included detailed information about family members who perished in the Holocaust.  Almost two entire generations, from grandparents through grandchildren, were lost to the Nazi genocide of Europe’s Jews. These family members were mentioned by name.  Suddenly, the purpose of my research and writing became much more urgent.

The research alone for this new book required a significant effort, because I wanted the novel to be historically accurate.  But the writing flowed smoothly from day to day.  At times, it felt as though I was taking dictation.  Finally, three years and 524 pages later, my novel was complete.

Jacob’s Courage (2007, Mazo Publishers) is a tender love story of two young adults living in Salzburg when the Nazi war machine entered Austria.  The novel explores the dazzling beauty of passionate coming-of-age love, powerful faith and enduring bravery in a lurid world where the innocent are murdered. Continue reading →

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Friday Author Interview Series: Valerie Haynes Perry

Posted on January 20, 2012 by Lisa Shultz

Tanner Blue“Frustration with a series of near misses with traditional publishers made self-publishing seem like a viable alternative. I love the empowerment that it affords.”  -Valerie Haynes Perry

How did you get started writing your book? Or what inspired your book?

My first book, a novel titled, TANNER BLUE, was inspired by a walking tour in Paris.  I learned that the African-American painter, Henry Ossawa Tanner, was so popular in Paris in the late 1800s and early 1900s that the French people named a color after him—Tanner Blue. In my novel, that is the name of the main character, who is an African-American woman named after Henry Ossawa Tanner.

What was the hardest part about completing your book?

It’s always hard to let go of the characters—to release them into the hands of readers who will apply their own interpretations to the story. That’s the beauty of writing and reading—the interactivity. I can never anticipate what readers will bring to the process, which greatly enriches the overall experience. When I finish writing or reading a book, I miss the characters and wonder how they’re getting on with their lives.

Valerie Haynes PerryDid you learn any lessons in the book creation process, if so what where they?

Absolutely. A central issue in the story is Tanner’s desire to share with those closest to her a “goldmine” that she discovers. Along with Tanner, I learned that sometimes, what we want for others because we are convinced of its value, is not what others want for themselves, nor would it necessarily be what is best for them. Regarding the process of producing a physical book, I’ve worked in the publishing industry for many years as an editor and indexer.  So, I’m familiar with what it takes to complete a project. As an author, I have an even greater appreciation for the role that talented editors play. Their objectivity can make all the difference in the world.

Did you enlist support in getting your book done? If so, what kind of support?

Yes, my husband and a dear friend designed the cover for TANNER BLUE.

What tips or advice do you have for aspiring authors? Continue reading →

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Friday Author Interview Series: Cara Lopez Lee

Posted on January 13, 2012 by Lisa Shultz

They Only Eat Their Husbands“On my journey, I learned that ‘The purpose of my life is not to get what I want. The purpose of my life is to become who I am.’ I hope my story inspires women to approach life as an adventure.”             – Cara Lopez Lee

What inspired your book?

I’d wanted to write a novel ever since I read Little Women in third grade, but I thought authors were magicians, not mortals like me. When I was a TV journalist in Alaska, the dream returned, but this time I didn’t think I had enough life experience to write a book. So I saved money for a world trek. At 35, I spent a year traveling throughout America, Asia, and Europe. Afterward, I tried to turn my experiences into a novel, but my journalistic habits were strong, and what came out was nonfiction. They Only Eat Their Husbands: A Memoir of Alaskan Love, World Travel, and the Power of Running Away is the story of my nine years in the Last Frontier, where I landed in a love triangle with two alcoholics, and the year I ran away to backpack around the world alone. On my journey, I learned that “The purpose of my life is not to get what I want. The purpose of my life is to become who I am.” I hope my story inspires women to approach life as an adventure.

What was the hardest part about completing your book?

It was tough finding the pattern in my experiences that yielded a meaningful story, and then carving away the excess. A world journey may yield an epiphany a day – but 365 epiphanies does not make a story. The pattern I discovered kept coming back to relationships. So, everything that dealt with the strange world of relationships: I kept. Everything else: I threw out.

Did you learn any lessons in the book creation process, if so what where they?

Cara Lopez LeeI learned that a compelling story structure is just as important as beautiful sentences. My story wouldn’t have had as much dramatic tension if told chronologically. So I framed it as a journal about my solo travels, which led to reflections on my crazy relationships in Alaska. Each of these two stories provided a counterpoint for the other, allowing me to build excitement. A book is like a puzzle: once you complete the frame, it’s easier to fill in the pieces.

Did you enlist support in getting your book done? If so, what kind of support?

I asked friends and fellow writers for feedback on my writing. I also joined writers’ organizations in my community and online for support and networking. Those groups include the Lighthouse Writers Workshop, Denver Woman’s Press Club, and She Writes.

What tips or advice do you have for aspiring authors? Continue reading →

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Friday Author Interview Series: Betsy Riley

Posted on January 6, 2012 by Lisa Shultz

“I wanted total artistic control over the publication, and very quick distribution. It was a great way to get my feet wet.” -Betsy RileyThe Comet

How did you get started writing your book? Or what inspired your book?

I wrote the original text during therapy after my second divorce. I began by describing some of my feelings, then rewrote to be sure I made a happy ending possible. I had friends going through nasty divorces and I wanted to share it with them, as a positive message.

What was the hardest part about completing your book?
I spent the most time getting the images exactly the way I wanted them, and formatting the text to fit with each illustration.

Did you learn any lessons in the book creation process, if so what where they?
I learned a lot about Print On Demand, ISBNs, copyrights, and marketing. I also learned that having a finished, physical copy in my hands was a great morale booster.

Did you enlist support in getting your book done? If so, what kind of support?
Lots of moral support from family and friends. Lots of technical advice from colleagues on LinkedIn, including exceptional help in converting to epub format.

Betsy RileyWhat tips or advice do you have for aspiring authors?
First, finish your book. Then explore your options. Self-publishing is very inexpensive these days.

If you self-published, what made you self-publish?
I wanted to experiment with the technology, and I had a short piece ready. I wanted total artistic control over the publication, and very quick distribution. It was a great way to get my feet wet.

If you had to do your book all over again, would you? Continue reading →

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Friday Author Interview Series: Karen van Huizen

Posted on December 30, 2011 by Lisa Shultz

The whole process of writing and producing the book taught me so much about myself. That alone was magical. ~ Karen van HuizanExperience the wonder of you

How did you get started writing your book? Or what inspired your book?

After suffering depression and feeling like I had no life direction I began searching for answers just over 13 years ago. I studied books, cds and went to numerous seminars on personal growth. I began to help the people within the teams in my business with the tools that I had learned.  Over time I came up with my own concepts and wanted to teach personal growth in a simple manner so that people could grasp the concepts quickly and easily. I found that I loved supporting people to expand their knowledge and belief in self. People kept saying I should write a book as they loved the way that I made personal growth so simple. Seeing depression and suicide rates rising I felt that the concepts I share could help many people, so it inspired me to write Experience the wonder in you – and the magic you can create.

What was the hardest part about completing your book?

For me the hardest part was getting the words onto paper. I have a form of dyslexia and can share very easily when speaking with people. There seems to be a glitch though between the thoughts in my head and my hand (it gets lost on the way). I spent a lot of time recording myself and typing what I said then there was also a lot of rewriting until I got the words just right. Fortunately there were some days when the words just flowed beautifully which made the process pleasurable.

Did you learn any lessons in the book creation process, if so what where they?

Yes, there were people who would tell me that there is already too much personal development out there and I just had to keep believing in myself and the knowledge that my books can help a lot of people. Then there were the people who would say it’s hard to get published. I found that if I remained focused, there are plenty of people out there like Andrea and Lisa who could help to make my dream of publishing a reality. It really didn’t have to be hard.

Did you enlist support in getting your book done? If so, what kind of support?

I had quite a few people proof read the book for spelling and grammatical errors. I also had a designer for my book cover and the typesetting.

What tips or advice do you have for aspiring authors?

Surround yourself with supportive people who believe in you and what you are doing. That way if you hit a glitch (they happen to the best of us) then they can support you to stay on track and get the job done. It may mean that you have to enlist support in certain areas like I had to. The most important thing is to believe in yourself, your abilities and what you have to share with the world. There are plenty of people out there who will support you with the right advice.

If you self-published, what made you self-publish?

Karen van HuizanI have seen the closure of so many book stores in Australia and I wanted to have more control of my books. I decided to self-publish and promote my books through my website, affiliates and my seminars.

If you had to do your book all over again, would you?

The whole process of writing and producing the book taught me so much about myself. That alone was magical. Continue reading →

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Friday Author Interview: Marcus Taylor

Posted on December 23, 2011 by Lisa Shultz

“When two creative people work together on something they’re passionate about, a kind of ‘synergy’ forms, which ends up being greater than the sum of the two individuals.” – Marcus TaylorGet Noticed

How did you get started writing your book? Or what inspired your book?

Get Noticed originated as a blog post that I was writing on different techniques of getting people’s attention (I am a social media consultant by day). When I started writing I couldn’t stop and before I knew it I had several thousand words!  After meeting up with Rob Lawrence (who later became a co-author of the book) I realized the potential of going the extra mile and creating a book on the topic of getting noticed.

What was the hardest part about completing your book?

We found the hardest part of writing the book was giving ourselves a finishing line. With a non-fiction book like Get Noticed, which covers a vast array of topics such as psychology, neurology, sociology and anthropology there is no obvious completion point, as each topic can be covered in as little or as much depth. We could still be writing Get Noticed in 2015 if it wasn’t for setting and sticking to firm deadlines and a finishing line. Besides that, Get Noticed was a very natural project that we didn’t struggle too much with when it came to completing.

Did you learn any lessons in the book creation process, if so what where they?

I learned more about life and people whilst writing this book than I have in my whole life, honestly. Whilst writing Get Noticed, Rob and I experimented and guinea-pigged all of the concepts and techniques that we suggest in the book, which meant lots of time spent around people and contemplating successful techniques to meet more of the right people.

In terms of lessons about writing, the main lesson I learned was the value of collaboration. This book is the first time I have collaborated with another creative person on a major scale, and it’s been an amazing journey and I cannot envisage Get Noticed being half the product it’s turned out to be without the input of Rob. When two creative people work together on something they’re passionate about, a kind of ‘synergy’ forms, which ends up being greater than the sum of the two individuals.

Did you enlist support in getting your book done? If so, what kind of support?

I would say, the main aspect of creating the book that we looked for support on was the editing process; we hired three separate editors with varying specialties to produce an edit. Rob and I felt that we were too involved in the book’s content to take an objective view. Outsourcing the editing turned out to be incredible valuable and something I’m very pleased we did gain support on. We have also had a lot of support whilst researching and now marketing the book.

Marcus TaylorWhat tips or advice do you have for aspiring authors?

My best tip is to stop aspiring and start writing. I never thought I could write a book – I got a C in English at school and was never a fan of reading until three or four years ago. That said, I am so passionate about what I write about that the aspect of writing is irrelevant – and that’s why you hire editors! Stop procrastinating and realize that writing 30,000 words is not a lot if you’re passionate about what you’re writing about. Think about it, if you wrote 500 words a day, you’d have a book completed in two months.

If you self-published, what made you self-publish?

We want to put our money where our mouth is. We have researched and presented what we believe to be the best advice on how to raise awareness of your talent or product in a busy space, and we want to use the exact same techniques in the book to get our book noticed. I personally love the idea of self-publishing as it really does put the pressure on you to make your book a success.

If you had to do your book all over again, would you?

Of course, writing this book has been an incredible experience; mostly down to the people I’ve met through writing it and the things I’ve learned about getting noticed through experimenting and researching the concepts within the book. Everything about writing this book has been so great and it’s something I’d recommend to anyone who is passionate about writing. The best part of writing the book, for me, was the researching stage, where I had to meet lots of interesting new people to interview and gain ideas from. One of the greatest parts of having a ‘project’ like writing a book is that it forces you to meet people who share your passion, which for me turned out to be invaluable.

Are you writing or planning to write an additional book(s)? Continue reading →

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Friday Author Interview Series: Jan Haas

Posted on December 16, 2011 by Lisa Shultz

“The biggest lesson to learn was that at some point, I finally had to let the story go. It would never be perfect, and there would always be one more piece I could add.” – Jan HaasMoving Mountains

How did you get started writing your book? Or what inspired your book?

I have always been a writer.  As a teenager, I would spend hours in my room crafting poetry.  I have kept a journal for as long as I can remember.  So when I was faced with this life changing illness, I kept a journal, knowing that at some point, it would become a book.

What was the hardest part about completing your book?

The hardest part of completing my book was trusting the process.  The story itself took place over 16 years ago. I needed to experience years of healing and develop more self-acceptance before I could finish the story.  During the writing process, I found myself facing certain emotions. What I finally realized was that my body was taking me back to places in my journey so I could write about it.  Trusting my gut and writing from that place took a lot of courage.

Did you learn any lessons in the book creation process, if so what where they?

The biggest lesson to learn was that at some point, I finally had to let the story go. It would never be perfect, and there would always be one more piece I could add.  Even when I was dropping copies off for endorsements, other stories popped into my head, and I could hear myself saying, “That story should be in the book.”  My story has a beginning, middle and an end. It is the best I can do at this point in my life. Letting it go is a huge lesson for my life.

Did you enlist support in getting your book done? If so, what kind of support?

The initial help I enlisted was a group of peer editors who read my first draft and gave me suggestions on how to improve and turn my journals into a story.  I struggled in the beginning of the writing process to keep on track. I would go weeks without looking at the manuscript or writing something new. Accountability became vital to the finishing of this book.  Andrea was a great support, as was Donna Mazzitelli.  As an editor, she was able to see how things flowed together and where I needed to fill in the gaps.  Both women helped me bring my book to completion.

Jan HaasWhat tips or advice do you have for aspiring authors?

First, claim your title as author. When you begin to express your desire to write a book, all kinds of resources begin to show themselves.  When I told people I was writing a book, I felt the support I needed to keep writing. Be willing to let go of what you think your final book should look like.  Just because you write a terrific piece doesn’t mean that it will necessary fit into your book.  Keep writing, keep polishing, and don’t be afraid to let go of what doesn’t fit. I know I said this before, but trust the process and it will all be good!

If you had to do your book all over again, would you?

Yes, if I had to do this all over again, I would in a heartbeat.  But I would enlist someone to be accountable to much quicker in the process. Continue reading →

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