Finding a catchy book title is a headache, says Gabor Holch

The author Gabor Holch: Worldwide business leaders who try to comprehend China’s unavoidable impact on their livelihoods often ignore the most important voices: those of expatriate managers with years of experience in the country. Based on interviews with China-based corporate executives over five years, Dragon Suit brings to life the country’s swarming cities, recent economic tsunami, unstoppable middle class.
Interview with Gabor Holch
Interview with Gabor Holch, the author of the book, "Dragon Suit"

The man, exposed to various cultures at a young age, is a Hungarian with a deep love for communication, particularly drawn to China. It's the ancient cultural richness of countries like China and India that captivates him. He finds joy in learning languages and excelling in communication.

In his book "Dragon Suit," he explores how business managers in China and other office cultures, from HR to executives, search for professionals to place in their companies. Featuring over 20 high-level individuals, from doctors to businesspeople, who have achieved prominence in society.

Gabor discusses the financial struggles of foreign countries like China. As a coach, he regularly engages with high-level managers, sharing both disastrous and successful cases. The book includes numerous stories of failure and success from clients aiming to do business in China.

The man, exposed to various cultures at a young age, is a Hungarian with a deep love for communication, particularly drawn to China. It's the ancient cultural richness of countries like China and India that captivates him. He finds joy in learning languages and excelling in communication.
Worldwide business leaders who try to comprehend China’s unavoidable impact on their livelihoods often ignore the most important voices: those of expatriate managers with years of experience in the country. Based on interviews with China-based corporate executives over five years, Dragon Suit brings to life the country’s swarming cities, recent economic tsunami, and unstoppable middle class.

Interview with Gabor Holch

When did you first consider writing a book, and at what age, and why did you wait so long? Is there any specific reason? Tell me about you from the beginning and how it all happened to you.  

Gabor: in a way, I have always been writing. At the house of relatives, one of my favourite toys was a typewriter. I already remember around the age of six, if I could find one, I started punching away for fun. 

I wouldn’t say I waited long. I published in journals and conference papers already during my studies, and I published my first book based my graduate thesis. Since then, I published two books in English and an order two in my native language, Hungarian, and about a hundred articles. 

As an executive coach, trainer and consultant, I am constantly bombarded with problems that people face, and both good and bad solutions. Writing is a great way to share these ideas without charging high fees. Some ideas naturally shape into articles, others into books. 

You wrote a book, “Dragon Suit.” How did the inspiration stick in your head and how did it all start?  

G: it started with 15 years of coaching international executives while living in Shanghai, and working in China and other east Asian countries. However, the problem with coaching is strict confidentiality: you cannot share the stories you hear. In recent years, I revisited former coaching clients and asked them to share their stories with me as a writer. Dragon Suit is a result of these interviews, which I structured into a book, reflecting a typical expert journey from the decision to relocate until an expat leaves China and somebody else takes their job. 

What was the most inspiring story in the book that it forced you to write, and why? Do you have any favourite characters from this book?

Dragon Suit: The Golden Age of Expatriate Executives In China
The Golden Age of Expatriate Executives In China

G: The most inspiring character in the book might be Renata, a CFO from Brazil, working at the Shanghai branch of a large industrial company from her native country. Her China expat story is a fascinating journey, starting with a tough personal leadership style and the fairly bad chemistry with China, but ending with a moving transformation as a leader, and wonderful stories about her connection with her local team, the city of Shanghai and China itself.  

How many characters are there in the book, and did you find it difficult to begin with? And thus, how did you overcome that?  

G: I interviewed over a dozen executives for the book, and another half dozen people who support them: coaches, executive search professionals, human resources, managers, and even their doctors. 

It wasn’t too hard to get these interviews, because as a coach, I support dozens of people on their expat executive journey every year, as a trainer I help hundreds, and as a conference speaker, I meet thousands of people. Each interviewee had the choice of having their name published, or appearing anonymously, which made it easier for people who wanted to share, intimate stories, or juicy details about their professions. 

Have you ever thought about self-publishing your book, and why did you not take a risk about it?  

G: Of course, I thought about it: all writers do. But ultimately, I love working with the kind of super smart, super strict teams that good book publishers provide. The process of an expert team trimming your manuscript can be painful but ultimately, it makes the book so much better. Publishing houses also supercharge other aspects of the book as a final product, such as the cover design, marketing and retail. 

Writers must work hard to get a deal from a decent publisher, but in my future writing career, I will still go in that direction. 

Why did you choose business? What was the reason behind it? And why not a fictional story to muse your readers?  

G: I chose executive leadership as a topic because it surrounds me in my daily professional reality. In some of my keynote speeches, I start by saying: “A German, a Mexican, an Indian, and three Chinese walk into a meeting room. This is not a joke, this is my job.” 

I have been experimenting with writing fiction since I was a teenager, and a few years ago I even took a creative writing course to improve my skills, where the project was a novel. Eventually, I will publish. But for now, I feel that real stories, serve my readers better. There are both horrible mistakes and respectable best practices in business. There is also a fair amount of scepticism towards multinational companies and their executives. I would like to show people who read my books and articles that anything can be done right, even the kind of work that large multinational corporations do. 

What is an expatriate executive in business terms? Do you think there is Western influence on China? If yes, what are those influences?  

G: In narrow legal terms, an expatriate executive is someone in a high-level leadership position at an international company, whose salary, bonuses, living budgets, and other benefits are paid from their home country. These are the kind of people who started flooding into China in the early 2000s. 

Of course, the West had enormous influence on China. In the 1980s, around the time when my father was working in China as part of a Hungarian engineering team, the leadership in Beijing ended the country’s struggle as a state-planned economy, and Leninist state system, by opening up to the West and developed Asian countries like Japan and Singapore. They borrowed know-how in a wide range of sectors, from macroeconomic theory to how to manufacture cars, pens, and how to raise chickens. This teamwork between East and West is often forgotten as people write and talk about China’s miraculous rise as a modern economy. 

Do you carry your pocket diary and pen? It is one of the most famous traditional ways of collecting notes. However, it still looks old-fashioned, yet it is so effective and stress-free. How do you collect ideas while writing?  

G: I always walk around with a small notepad and pen, and if I carry a briefcase, I also have a larger-format notebook. Of course, these days, it might seem easier to take notes or make short voice recordings with your phone. But remember that for the human brain, handwriting is a much more creative process. In a notebook, you can create ideas “out of the box” the way you cannot in the linear text that you enter into your phone. You can draw, make charts, underline, circle, connect ideas with arrows, and so forth. 

Like many writers and creatives, I also love the smell, touch, colour, and quality of some stationary products, and can walk around in shops selling them like a kid in a toy store. In my workshops, I use markers and post-its that make people think and share ideas playfully.  

Which are the best and strongest economic cities in China, and what are the businesses that you have learned about?  

G: Over 90% of foreigners who live and work in the country are in a handful of cities, including Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen, which is really one big conurbation, and recently a few cities west of the coastline, like Chongqing. For historical reasons, the Chinese government built almost the entire foreign-facing industry of the country in these places, either because they used to be the concession ports that traded with the outside world or, like in the case of Chongqing, because it was a national capital and industrial centre in the early 20th century. 

So, if you live in one of the cities, you are surrounded with all industries, from investment banking to automotive and light industries, such as companies making computers, toys, and clothes. 

I never differentiated between clients from different sectors, but for some reason, there are a couple of industries that love the coaching, training and advisory solutions we provide with my team. These are car companies, banks, technological firms, and suppliers. But we also worked for a dizzying variety of companies, from Steinway pianos to five-star hotels to Wall Street hedge funds. Learning about how people live and work, and how they build executive careers in these realms is the fun part of my job. 

Every book has a storey and an author who wants to convey a message. In your case, what is the key message in your book that you want to convey to the readers?  

G: On one hand, I simply wanted to show people how international managers work in China, because this country is still one of the most isolated in the world. There are more foreigners living in Tokyo than in the entirety of China. In my speeches, I often mention that there are more people working at State Grid, the national electricity provider in China, then there are foreigners in the country. On the other hand, many international companies and expat managers quietly fail in China, and some even create huge scandals when they make a big mistake. But there are also countless successful partnerships, whose stories I hear as a coach and consultant. I wanted to find a way to share those stories with people who work, or aspire to work in this country, so that they can do a better job for themselves, for their employees in China, and for all countries involved. 

Why the name "Dragon Suit" and what is the message hidden in this book, especially in the business terms?  

G: To find out the story of Dragon Suit, just find a way to read the foreword of the book. The dragon is powerful symbol in China, especially every 12th year that people call the Dragon Year according to their traditional calendar, including this one, 2024. As for the Suit, it is a metaphor of high-level business decision-makers, the ones I meet every day. As for the rest, I don’t want to spoil it for you in case you have a chance to read the book. 

I know that China is the second-largest economic country that has power and money. What are the most significant recent developments in China, in your opinion?  

G: China is the first, the second, the fifth, the twentieth and so on, depending on which indicators you watch: population, GDP, GDP per person or something else. 

I arrived in China in 2002, and at that time the big national program was integration into the global economy, as well as other areas of human activity like sports, culture, tourism, and so on. The leadership at that time called this “the coming-out party of the nation.” This mood lasted until the mid-2000s. 

If you want to understand what is happening in China right now, you must digest a mixed picture. In some areas, like incorporating and financing international companies, China continues to open up to the world. But in others, the leadership decided that China should limit foreign exposure. Examples for this are China’s participation in scientific cooperation and education, the sharing of digital data, imported literature and art, or large-scale tourism in and out of the country. This also coincided with a dramatic decrease of the number of foreigners living and working in the country. 

So, in comparison to 10 or 20 years ago, foreigners, visiting, or moving to China will find a more challenging environment, and fewer fellow foreigners, but also more opportunity to put themselves to the test in a new environment, and learn an awful lot about how work and life are conducted in this enormous nation. 

Michael Sakraida: Everybody needs a direction in life

Michael Sakraida

Michael reveals the secret to success in financial balance and happiness, showing how things work out best for each individual. Many individuals have praised his art, stating that it is so fantastically intuitive. His message is similar to a do-it-yourself strategy.

You may therefore refer to his work as a self-help book because millions of people desire to read it in order to improve their financial situation, find happiness, and live a balanced existence. Many others have benefited from his thorough fact-checking in order to write this book. Numerous individuals face emotional difficulties, and this book offers strategies for overcoming them.

Michael Sakraida's Money balance joy book
You can buy the book, Money Balance Joy (Amazon.com), Money Balance Joy (from Amazon India)

About Author Michael Sakraida:

Michael Sakraida is the author of the book “Money, Balance, Joy,” which improves your life story. He is also the founder of a coaching-based programme related to his book. Michael is a financial advisor for firms and companies. He brings us to our self-awareness of fulfilling and meaningful lives. Michael guides us on the sidelines of distractive emotions and leverages our positive emotions and values.

What is your book about and when did the idea of writing “Money, Balance, Joy stuck in your head?

Money, Balance, Joy is an intuitive and enjoyable journey – based on research and stories based on many people and professionals’ experiences, including my own – to enable people to improve their life stories by having fulfilling lives of money, balance, and joy. This journey is intended to go beyond the reading of Money, Balance, Joy. I’ve had the idea for this book my entire adult life, but this specific idea didn’t coalesce into this book idea until just over a year ago.

What inspired you to write this book and whom do you think your mentor is?

Instead of helping tens of thousands of individuals and financial professionals over the years, I want to help hundreds of thousands of them – heck, I would love to help a million people and financial professionals. My book, Money, Balance, Joy, is the cornerstone, or spark, of the movement most people need.

What are the key takeaways you hope readers will get from your book and why they should read it?

To help them further along in their lifelong quest for a fulfilling and meaningful life of money, balance, and joy. We all need an understanding of what we’re up against, we all need a better understanding of ourselves and how our mindsets can enable us to overcome what we are up against, we all need a path for our journey, and we all need the outside perspectives, accountabilities, and adjustments that come from the right kind of financial advisor. Years ago, I created a presentation for individuals capturing the essence of Money, Balance, Joy, and, to a person, every one of the thousands of individuals who heard it loved it, were more hopeful, and wished they heard it much sooner in their lives.

What makes your book unique or different from other books on the same topic?

Most books in this investment genre fall into three categories: the first category is what I call the “hero” writer (where it is about how one should bask in their brilliance). Often this brilliance is suspect and comes off as more self-promoting than helpful. The second category is the do-it-yourself book – for 90% of people, it is impossible to substantially improve one’s money, balance, AND joy with this DIY guidance approach. And the DIY approach results in books that are longer than 90% of people want to read. And the third category of such books are written like textbooks and are as interesting as the textbooks of our least favorite classes when we were kids.

How did you research and fact-check for Money, Balance, Joy?

Would you like to share some experiences while writing? Fortunately, there were many studies, including academic ones, that touched upon the human-nature-based financial and emotional challenges and solutions covered in Money, Balance, Joy. And the common experiences I’ve observed with countless individuals and financial professionals over the years drew me to search for some of these studies. In short, I am curious.

What are your plans for promoting your book? Which marketing strategy you loved the most?

As I mentioned earlier, my book, Money, Balance, Joy, is just the initial spark or cornerstone behind my goal of helping hundreds of thousands of people and financial professionals. This is because my book enables me to have related articles written about it. The articles lead to podcasts like yours, which both provide compelling and helpful content to hopefully spread like wildfire through the leverage of a social media-based sharing helping effort. And all this hopefully will lead to the holy grail of radio and television.

How long did it take you to write your book? Have you considered a beta reader for your book?

Off and on, it probably took me over 500 hours from the initial outline in my head to the finished work. I never kept track of it. After my first draft, I had some individuals and financial professionals read it. Substantial improvements came from that feedback – but I had to fight the urge to be defensive or hurt from it.

What is your writing process like and how long do you write a day like targeting hours or words?

I’ve always had the ability to create content in my head first, then create the very basic outline, and then fill it out. I’m only half-joking when I say, “I have the book in my head, now I just need to write it out”. Since Money, Balance, Joy wasn’t my full-time job, I would spend from an hour to 10 hours a day writing, on the days I did write. There were a couple of nights where I just went to bed and great ideas came to me. I jumped up and wrote all the thoughts for hours. Some were garbage, but a good portion was great.

To avoid beginners making the same mistakes, what are some of the challenges you faced while writing your book?

I should have had more discipline with avoiding procrastination – the story of my life – and getting feedback earlier.

Everyone develops their own writing style. What are some of your favorite writing tips you would like to share with your readers?

All these tips are for my own writing style – not everyone can realize the same results as I did – this is the definition of one’s own writing style. I wrote the same way I would talk if I had an actual one-on-one conversation with the reader. I let my personality, humor, and mission permeate Money, Balance, Joy. I made my book about the reader, not about myself – in other words, I took my mission seriously – with humor – but didn’t take myself seriously. And I considered the human nature of the reader, to write in a style that resonated with their feelings, rather than their brain.

Do you have any advice for aspiring non-fiction authors?

First, have an overall mission to help people – not make money. Second, consider their human emotions to have a book that has an intuitive and motivating read and journey that extends beyond the mere reading of the book. Third, make sure this is an enjoyable journey for the readers. And, last, use lots of stories and have research that backs up your assessments and solutions.

Would you like to share some of your expertise on how you got started as a non-fiction author?

As a professional change agent, I always had to articulate new thoughts to people in companies and firms with an “infotainment” approach. Infotainment is the presentation of information and concepts in an entertaining way. And I quickly learned that I had to map out the journey for the change. This mapped journey is needed because most people HATE change or focus on changing the wrong things. This is why the first chapter of Money, Balance, Joy is “Zen and the Art of Change”. All this made it easy for me to write my book.

What are your biggest influences as a writer?

The human psyche – what makes us do great things and bad things, even though we mostly know when they are bad things. Then how do we use this self-awareness – mostly with the help of others – to achieve fulfilling and meaningful lives by sidelining our destructive emotions and leveraging our positive ones.

Non-fiction takes a lot of hard work. What are your goals for your writing career?

Yes, readable, and change-inducing non-fiction takes a lot of work. I already have two more non-fiction books “in my head” right now – one of which I can make a series of books. But first, I need to get further along with my mission to help over 100,000 people – the reason I wrote Money, Balance, Joy in the first place.

Authors have a free mind that keeps searching and finding what they want until they find its roots. What do you enjoy most about being a non-fiction author?

I love the readers’ positive reaction to my mission, and the journey I have shared with them for me to accomplish that mission. For my abilities, non-fiction is the best way for me to help people have more fulfilling and meaningful lives that will improve their life stories.

What are some of the challenges you face as a non-fiction author?

I need to flesh out the criticism of those who’s way of life I’m threatening with my mission and flesh out the equal criticism of those who are frightened by my mission. But both are necessary so that I can address them in my book.

For beginners and Amateurs, what advice would you give to someone who wants to become a non-fiction author?

Write down what your mission is right now for helping people. Then write down a high level “first thoughts” review of the path you have for them to follow. If you can do that, you can try to write your non-fiction book. If you can’t do that, you need to first work on your mission and/or your path. In your bookshelf how many books are there and what are you reading right now. Also, list of your favorite books and authors I have bookcases of historical books - a few signed by the authors – and human-nature-based self-help and self-awareness books. In Money, Balance, Joy I mention much about human nature and emotions that can be learned from history.

My history book specialty is books written about somewhere in the period between and including World War’s one and two. We really didn’t have two world wars but had one world war with a pause in the middle. I just read “Range – why generalists triumph in a specialized world” by David Epstein. It is a great guide for anyone wanting to do great things. Also, I love books by Malcolm Gladwell, David McCullough, John Grisham, Tom Clancey, and others.

Which types of books do you love to read? You prefer hard copy or electric version and why? What are your favorite books of all time?

I love the feel and vibe of hard copy books over electronic versions. In terms of “vibe” grabbing a book and reading it on a plane, the beach, camping, wherever, I feel like I’m unplugging and having a mini retreat to “sharpen my ax blade” as a friend puts it. Also, when I read non-fiction help-based books, I’m constantly underlining key points and making notes in the margins about specific ideas I have in incorporating those key points in my work or my life. Otherwise, its just entertainment, in my eyes.

What are some of your hobbies and interests apart from writing?

I love being creative with my hands, with many different activities. This was my first love, before writing and giving emotions-based help to people. This could be cooking, gardening, building things, like a 10-foot high spongebob square pants pineapple house for a kid’s birthday party.

What is your favorite thing about being a writer?

Having people tell me how I helped them and/or rhetorically asking me why no one else ever covered this topic this way?! And I love knowing how many lives I can impact.

What is the biggest challenge you have faced in your life and how did you overcome it?

Oh, I had a triple threat, emotionally wrenching year in 2001. I unexpectedly loss my wife, less than a month before 9/11. Oh, and I lost my job before both, because of the collapse of the Internet bubble. I don’t know if I fully overcame that year, but I’m better at living with it, and I’m a better person through surviving it.

Everyone and every day we learn something and add it to our learning. What is the most important lesson you have learned in life that you would like to share with your audiences?

You cannot change people, but you can change how you interact with them and help them. That’s why in Money, Balance, Joy, I guide people on “sidelining” their destructive emotions – I don’t try to guide them on “eliminating” those feelings.

Plot a novel has Many Strategies, Read The ideas of Cheryl Burman

The plot of a novel is a skill every author develops on their own. However, simple yet popular, Cheryl talked to me in the below interview. Please keep reading and explore different ideas of plotting and writing.

About Cheryl Burman

When Cheryl Burman moved to the Forest of Dean in SW England, she, like Tolkien and Rowling, was inspired to write. Her fantasy MG trilogy, Guardians of the Forest, is loved by all ages. Her second novel is Keepers, women’s fiction set in the 1950s Australia. Furthermore, her flash fiction, short stories and bits of her novels have won various commendations and ten of these are included in her slim collection, Dragon Gift. Her most recent book, Legend of the Winged Lion, is a prequel to Guardians, and in September, she will release River Witch, a magical realism story set on the banks of the River Severn.

As Cheryl Mayo, she is Chair of Dean Writers Circle and a founder of Dean Scribblers, which encourages the creative writing spark in young people in the community.

Usually, how long does it take to you craft a novel? Any memories of hurdles you ever stuck while processing the ideas?   

Cheryl Burman: I published my first book towards the end of 2014, and have since written 6 more, including an unpublished manuscript. I tend to think of myself as a slow writer, but the stats suggest otherwise! I spend a lot of time on editing, which is where the really hard work comes in for me – the structure, the character development, the settings as well as plain old grammar. Regarding hurdles, I'm not a detailed plotter, so the story tends to unfold as I go along and there's rarely a blockage. It's true what they say about characters taking on lives of their own and determining their courses of action for themselves!

One of your successful novels, “Keepers” is based on women. What made you write this of fiction? Keepers has a female lead character, Raine, but the other two main characters are men. Their stories are so tightly woven with Raine's that I would more say the book is based on people! It's a character-driven rather than a plot driven novel and it fits well into the women's fiction genre.

How many characters in the book, “Keepers” have, and how did you find them? Looking at the book cover, it seems like inspired by a real life incident.

Cheryl Burman: Keepers has three main characters and several secondary characters, each with their own stories. And yes, Keepers is inspired by real life. The novel is set in Australia between 1949-1950 and is a much dramatised and fictional derivation of the more mundane tale of my parents' early years together. Some of it is true, an awful lot is pure imagination, and what is fact and what is fiction only a few knows! As for the characters, many of them are based on real people, some still living, but I've played fast and loose with their personalities and motives. So far, no one has been upset if they recognise themselves!

Would you like to read the few paragraphs of the first chapter?

Do you design book cover for your novel or all you get it from the third party? Therefore, the self-publishing on Amazon has made too easy for all the author.

Cheryl Burman: My first book covers, for my middle grade fantasy trilogy, were terrible, but in 2018 I rewrote the books, gave them new titles and designed new covers. I'm happy with them now. The cover for Keepers was designed by a friend who is extremely talented. We did a swap – I edited their material, and they did my cover. I love it. I wanted something very different for my soon-to-be released book, River Witch, and in this case, I've paid a cover artist. It's a very rich and gorgeous cover and I hope will tempt people in! Amazon (and other) self-publishing platforms have indeed made it very easy for people to upload books, and there are some shocking covers out there, including some of my old ones!

Share us with your daily routine of writing, the best suited hours as per your experience and why?

Cheryl Burman: I walk first thing, and then do errands and chores. Normally, I get to my computer mid-morning but spend time on marketing matters, like answering interview questions! And of course, social media, both for fun and promotion. So writing time is normally in the afternoon. As I don't have a paying job, I don't need to write in the evening, which is the time for me and my husband to catch up on the day.

What project you are currently working on? Would you like to tell us more about it?

Cheryl Burman: In September, I will release River Witch, a magical realism/historical fantasy novel set where I live, in the Forest of Dean in the UK, on the banks of the River Severn. The protagonist, Hester, is a farmer's daughter who talks to the river, which she knows as Sabrina, goddess. Determined to follow in her great-grandmother's footsteps as a herbal healer, Hester persuades Aaron, a man powerful in this lore, to teach her. But he understands all too well Hester's relationship with the river and is reluctant to take her learning further – he's been there before with tragic results.

What if aspiring authors asks you “How to Plot A Novel?” What would be your take on this?

Cheryl Burman: I mentioned earlier that I'm not a detailed plotter. I start with a general idea of how the story should go, create a main character or two, and move it from there. There are many authors who plot every scene and chapter before they start, and I admire them greatly. I can't do that as I have to get into my characters' heads, really understand what they want and what drives them, before I can see what will happen next in the story. It all depends on how your brain works!

Must read interviews

Writing a biography is difficult to write in some respects

Mario

According to Mario, Research and gathering facts about writing any non-fiction involves great hard work than the fiction. Read full interview including important topic about writing a biography.

Mario Dell’Olio is the author of several books: Letters from Italy is the love story of his immigrant parents. A memoir, Coming About: Life in the Balance, is about a sailing adventure going terribly wrong. Body And Soul, is an LGBTQA+ fiction that explores the strife of coming out during the 1980s.

This talk is about in details of his journey writing his latest non-fiction book, “Letters from Italy” and covering many other important things

Do you think writing non-fiction is easy? Tell us more about your experience of writing a biography and how hard or easy it was from writing fictional characters?

All of my stories feature characters searching for deeper meaning in their life experiences. Non-fiction is more difficult to write in some respects. The research and fact-checking take a great deal of time. Getting the timeline correct was a constant struggle. Another challenge I found after I had all the facts written was writing the narrative to frame the story. Facts can be very dry. I needed to get into the hearts and minds of the characters in order to re-create dialogue. Making it come alive was my greatest challenge. 

Writing fiction has different challenges. The writer has to come up with a viable plot and arc to the story. In non-fiction, the story is already in existence. I love writing both fiction and narrative non-fiction.

Could you please tell us in details about the book, ''letters from Italy'' and how special this book is for you?

Letters From Italy is narrative non-fiction of a love story about my immigrant Italian parents. My mother and father were always storytellers. Framed by letters written from the 1930s to the 1950s, I recount the experiences of my parents, who emigrated from southern Italy to New York City. Nicoletta was orphaned at a young age, and her position in life changed dramatically. Her family struggled to make ends meet after the war, and her dreams of higher education were dashed.

Orazio Dell’Olio was born into a poor family split between Italy and the United States. Half of his siblings grew up in New York, while he and three of his siblings remained in Italy. His dream of joining his family didn’t come to pass until he was twenty years old.

Tales of their childhood in a little town on the Puglian coast beget images of a fishing village, families from different socio-economic classes, and of love born out of chance.

Their romance began in 1950 when my uncle sent a photograph of his new fiancé to his parents in New York City. Orazio spotted an attractive young woman in the photo. What ensued was two years of correspondence. The letters he received from Italy were his life-line. Eventually, they led to their first encounter in the town of Bisceglie, Bari. Married nearly sixty years at the time of my father’s death, theirs was a love story like no other I have known. 

The most difficult scenes to write were those where my mother or father left family and friends behind, risking stability in hopes of a better life, a dream of the unknown. Reaching deeply into their struggles and fears, I tried to communicate the intensity of their experiences.

The easiest parts to write were scenes that described their longing for each other, and their two-year courtship through expressive love letters. One of my favorite chapters was when they finally meet. The connection between Nicoletta and Orazio is palpable. There was such adoration and heartfelt emotion in their first encounter.

My mother, now 90 years old, is very special to me. During the four years it took to write letters from Italy, I came to know my parents as young, romantic dreamers. Most of us know our parents solely from the perspective of a child. The many hours spent with my mother, listening to her story and reading the letters she and my father wrote, gave me an intimate perspective into who they were/are as complex individuals. This book means more to me than all the others I've written.

How did you feel on the day of the NYC Book Launch at Bryant Park? Was it a dream coming true? Moreover, tell us one of the inspirational stories every writer should know from the book launch.

Having my book launch at Bryant Park Grill in New York City was a dream come true. The setting was quintessential NYC, flanked by the New York Public Library, 42nd Street, and the beautiful Bryant Park. It couldn't have been more beautiful. The gathering included a journalist from “La Voce di New York,” parents of my students—past and present, and friends from many stages in my life. They were all there to support me and celebrate my accomplishment. Having some of the most important people in your life at a book launch makes it all the more special. The party was filled with love.

Have you come across any other love story? Furthermore, is there any other book you are writing at the moment? If yes, please tell us in short for your readers.

My life’s journey has been imbued with the lessons I’ve learned through the challenges I’ve overcome. Each significant person in my life has taught me more about myself and my ability to love and be loved. This theme is present in all my books, whether they be fiction or non-fiction. Reflecting on one’s life and experiences yields a profound understanding of self and can help guide the individual as they continue their journey. Ultimately, each of my main characters follows a path of self-discovery. My next love story will be published in December 2022 by Black Rose Writing. It is called, Tilting Toward the Sun. It is about two men who fall in love. They face the tumultuous 1980s and 90s. Amidst the AIDS crisis, they navigate a world of fear and uncertainty as they seek not only to survive but to thrive. Tilting Toward the Sun is a journey of undying devotion and love through the decades. As youth turns to maturity, they grapple with life’s challenges, reaching for the elusive happily ever after. Tilting Toward the Sun is an #OwnVoices story.

What are your favourite genres for reading. Please enlist the recent books you have read and one good thought from them which will help the aspiring writers.

I love reading historical fiction, coming of age stories, and contemporary fiction. I prefer realistic plots where the characters discover more about themselves. I enjoy complex relationships within a story, conflict, and resolution. I also enjoy stories that don't follow a formula for a particular genre, such as romance or fantasy. I like writers who think outside the box and do their own thing.

Doug J Cooper: “Writing a story, just having fun creating characters”

As stated by Doug, creating characters for his book is a fun-loving. Doug J. Cooper, who is not only a master in, creating short stories but also, expert crafting super hit character, Criss in Crystal Series. Cooper has total five books in the series. Furthermore, he has also written, “Bump Time

About author

Doug J. Cooper is the author of the Crystal Series and Bump Time science fiction novels. Moreover, is professor emeritus of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering at the University of Connecticut. And is founder and director of Control Station, Inc. His passions include telling inventive tales, mentoring driven individuals. And everything sci-tech. He lives in Connecticut with his darling wife and with pictures of his son, who is off somewhere in the world creating adventures of his own.

In the below interview, Doug talked about his journey of writing books, his process of work effectively with dedication and joy. Keeping his readers in suspense, what his characters will do next, is one of his styles of writing. Cooper thinks that plot developing is like solving puzzles.

He also discussed his key factor to success in writing. Keep reading and explore more ideas in writing and crafting novels in the interview.

What was your journey to become a writer?

At age 56, I was looking for a new creative outlet in my life. I sat down and began writing a story, just having fun creating characters. At the time, I didn’t know if it would be a short story, a book, or just something to do to pass the time that particular afternoon. Fifteen months later, I released Crystal Deception, the first of a popular four-book science fiction adventure series.

What is your writing process?

I’m not a planner. I create a story as I write it. My joy comes from the creative process of writing into the unknown. It’s fun for me to discover what my characters will do next, how they’ll behave in challenging situations, their morals. Plot development is like solving a puzzle. I enjoy being at a particular point in an adventure, with characters deployed here and there, all with histories and in certain situations, and now I must move forward in a plausible and entertaining fashion. My key to success is persistence. I write every day for a few hours. And slowly, but surely, I accumulate words that become books.

Do your books have a message?

My highest priority is to entertain. The professor in me reveals itself, though because my next priority is to teach, weaving tidbits about science and technology into the stories. For example, in a scene in Crystal Conquest, a character is in space looking back at Earth, marveling that the atmosphere responsible for protecting and nourishing all life appears as a thin layer—a wisp of gas—encircling the planet. If this is a new idea for the reader, perhaps it will inform their future thoughts and actions about how to treat our atmosphere. In the different books, you can find a science-filled sentence or two about AI inference engines, orbital mechanics, automatic control systems, cloaking devices, and lots more.

What is the name of your upcoming novel, and could you please tell us more about it? 

I’m starting a new series, and I am quite excited about it. The main character is Cuss Abbott, Interworld Marshal. Imagine a blend of Jack Reacher or Harry Bosch or Lucas Davenport investigating crime in a massive space city of two million residents, with chases taking them across worlds, their quarry defeating technology of the future to commit horrific crimes.

Cuss Abbott’s debut story, called Lagrange Rising, is an exciting sci-fi crime drama due for release in August 10, 2022. It’s fast-paced, easy to read, and no hanging ending. Each story wraps up in one book.

Did you use a professional editor? If so, why? 

All of my books have been edited by the talented Tammy Salyer of Inspired Ink Editing. The process begins with a book first being read by my beta readers. I make changes based on their input, and then the book receives a formal manuscript evaluation from Tammy. I make changes and then Tammy gives it a line by line copy edit. I make changes and then a proofreader finalizes it. It’s the rare person who can produce a quality novel without the involvement of writing professionals. That’s why I do it.

What's your favorite part about writing? 

I love having my characters surprise me, which they do pretty much every time I write, and which is why I can’t plot ahead. The conversations are the wild card. Once the characters start talking, then all bets are off. In a verbal exchange, a character will reveal information I had planned on holding back, note something that becomes a flaw in my own plot, or make a quip that takes the scene in an unexpected direction. I don’t fight it. I embrace it. Discovering what’s going on in a character’s mind is one of the thrills that keeps me writing.

What advice do you have for new writers?

Write every day and enjoy the time. Writing is art, and so there will be people who like what you do and those who don’t. So, like any art form, do it for yourself.  Write what brings you joy and satisfaction, and you will produce the best work you are able and have fun doing it.

If you have enjoyed reading, “Writing a story, just having fun creating characters”,

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All you need is a Life coach mentor in the life to succeed

The universal truth that everyone need a life coach mentor. In this interview with Andrew, he talked about his source of inspiration, books, hobbies and sung his favourite poem for us.

About author

Andrew Lafleche is the award-winning poet and author of No Diplomacy, A Pardonable Offence, and Ride—among other titles. His work uses a spoken style of language to blend social criticism, philosophical reflection, explicit prose, and black comedy. Following his service to Canada as an infantry soldier in the Canadian Armed Forces, Lafleche received an M.A. in Creative and Critical Writing from the University of Gloucestershire. He lives on a farmstead in the Bonnechere Valley with his two cats, Hemingway and Bukowski, and his Gerberian Shepsky, Raymond Carver.

Please tell us about your native favourite place, the most lovable person in your family and your hobbies apart from writing

The east coast of Canada, hands down, is my favourite place. Signal Hill in Newfoundland, the red sands of Cavendish Beach in Prince Edward Island, the Hopewell Rocks in New Brunswick, the Cabot Trail of Cape Breton. It’s the way the ocean meets the land and the fog rolls in and the tide chases the moon that creates this tragic romance of existing, that ever since I first seen the Atlantic as a child I’ve been drawn to her.

The most lovable person in my family? My younger brother, Kenny. He’s a real stand-up guy. Kenny owns his own landscaping company, coaches little league, teaches young people to ice skate, and always has time for the people of his inner-circle. He’s full of life and I’m proud to know him.

Apart from writing, there are a variety of activities I participate in. It’s the spice of life, right? In the spring and fall I’m out hunting bear with my bow. I also do a little trapping over the winter months. My grandfather was a carpenter and some of that must have rubbed off on me—though I am nowhere near as talented—but I like building tables and other small pieces of furniture. My current project is using 3-inch thick slabs of ash wood from out back to build a 7-foot live-edge farm table. Other days if I’m feeling inspired I pull out a clean canvas and work on an oil painting. I love playing darts, going to the firing range for target practice, hiking the woods; very rarely do I get bored.

How many books you have written yet, please enlist them, and what is your favourite one from them?

It feels outrageous to admit, but I’ve written 14 books so far, which includes eight collections of poetry and two novels. Asking me to pick a favourite is like asking a parent to pick their favourite child—and we all know they have a favourite—so, if I had to choose one, it would be my novel Ride. It’s terse, punch-rough, and trade-sex-ready; it’s about a young man trying to find his place in the modern world while reeling from teenage id, peer-pressure, and drug addiction.

POETRY

  • Shameless (CreateSpace, 2016).
  • Ashes (Bywords.ca, 2017).
  • On Writing (Pub House Books, 2018).
  • Merica, Merica, on the Wall (Pub House Books, 2019).
  • After I Turn into Alcohol (Cyberwit.net, 2019).
  • Eyes Wide (Cyberwit.net, 2020).
  • Moon Poems and Other Deathless Songs (Cyberwit.net, 2021).
  • Spring, Summer, Winter, Fall (Pub House Books, 2021).

FICTION

  • A Pardonable Offence (Pub House Books, 2017).
  • Ride (Pub House Books, 2020).
  • The Morning Edition (Cyberwit.net, 2021).
  • Trident Legion (Cyberwit.net, 2022).

NON-FICTION

  • No Diplomacy (CreateSpace, 2015).
  • One Hundred Little Victories (Pub House Books, 2018).

When did you think that writing is the most interesting and easiest thing for you? Furthermore, when did you write your first story, which was appreciated the most by your friends and family?

For as long as I can remember, I’ve been a creator of some sort. All through childhood I wrote poems and stories and radio plays. Actually, my mother saved one of my first books I wrote, complete with illustrations, titled “The Magic Bird.” My mom even wrote an author bio and glued my Grade 3 school photograph to the back cover of the staple bound pages. In high school, I was fortunate to have an English teacher, Ms. Sheila Mayberry. Who was passionate about the freedom writing permitted and spent quite a bit of time mentoring me, developing the craft of writing, and encouraging me against self-censorship, to write unfiltered. If not for her, I might never have pursued writing as I have.

Tell us more about your experience writing the memoir, “No Diplomacy” and what inspired you the most?

It took some time to clear my head after returning from combat in Afghanistan. No Diplomacy became the result of working through those thoughts on paper. At the time, a lot of the material being written about the war by soldiers who were there had the Hollywood glamour to them, everybody was a superhero, and well, that wasn’t my experience. I wanted to let the reader feel what it was like to be in the middle of it. The anger, frustration, disgust, excitement, joy, fear, love, hatred, unease, trust, and peace. All those emotions, collectively, simultaneously because that is the soldier experience. I wanted to give a voice to the people who were struggling at home, let them know that it was okay to be feeling the way they did.

One Remembrance Day, here in Canada, I was at an event when a soldier approached me, pulled out a knife and just let it rest there in his hand, blade pointed in my direction. He said, “You’re that author, aren’t you? The one who wrote No Diplomacy.” (Believe it or not, some people did not appreciate the book!) He reached into his pocket with his free hand and pulled out a clear plastic sheath encasing his challenge coin. He said, “I read your book, then my wife read your book, and then we read it together.” He said, “You saved my marriage. You wrote what I couldn’t say.” He cut a slit in the sheath and dropped the coin into his hand and gave it to me. That was the most inspiring thing to come out of writing this particular book.

How did ideas of writing the book, “Shameless” (poetry) comes from? Do you have any other poetry in progress?

Most of the poems in Shameless are true (except for the lies, of course!) and are about people I knew. One of the first modern poetry books I ever read was Charles Bukowski’s The Pleasure of the Damned. And I remember putting it down after I turned the last page and thought, I didn’t know you could write like that. A lot of Shameless was experimenting with finding the proverbial line and flirting with it, stepping over it at times, shying away from it. I wanted to write something to serve as a reminder for the rest of my career that it’s okay to have fun while writing. I wanted a book to give myself permission to step off the edge now and again.

Last year, Spring, Summer, Winter, Fall (Pub House Books, 2021) was released and serves as a collection of my poems from 2015-2020. It’s my favourite volume to date and captures the journey through a variety of poem styles. Much of the poetry I’m writing today is similar to what was included in this last book.

Andrew Lafleche Reading his favourite poem

What do you do apart from writing books, do you hold any IT or other professional degree?

Before I focused on writing, I served as an infantry soldier in the Canadian Armed Force, 3rd Battalion of the Royal Canadian Regiment. Following my time in the military, I returned to school and completed a Master of Arts in Creative and Critical Writing from the University of Gloucestershire, England. Currently, I’m enrolled in the Master of Divinity program at ACTS Seminary, Trinity Western University. Aside from writing and education, I have a small farmstead where I raise chickens and pigs and tend a few crops. It’s very satisfying to work with my hands and care for these young animals.

Read more interview like this

Best book business strategy [complete guide for authors]

crop person making notes in notepad

Every year, a plethora of excellent, poor, and great book business strategies emerge. Because the business changes year after year, many authors and writers find it difficult on how to increase traffic to book sales.

confident elegant lady in eyeglasses hosting | Author Press Release: Simple guidelines for new book authors webinar
Best book business strategy [complete guide on book marketing] | Image credit to Pexel.com

What is best book business strategy for online marketing?

For many authors, the best book marketing is essential to their success. The author who actively engages with readers and discusses his ideas on writing books has the best book marketing.

When authors are having difficulty selling their books, the most effective book business strategy comes into question.

Increasing book sales requires a well-rounded marketing and promotional strategy. Here are some effective strategies to boost book sales.

Many people has a question about which marketing strategy is most effective? Let's discuss and decide which one fit best for you and also which marketing strategies to avoid.

Identify your target audience: Understand who your book appeals to and tailor your marketing efforts to reach that specific audience. This will help you create more relevant and targeted marketing messages.

Develop a compelling book cover: A visually appealing and professional book cover is crucial for grabbing attention and enticing readers. Invest in a high-quality design that reflects the genre and content of your book.

Leverage online platforms: Utilize various online platforms to promote your book. Create an author website or blog to showcase your work, provide updates, and engage with readers. Leverage social media platforms to share interesting content, engage with your audience, and run targeted advertising campaigns.

Seek reviews and endorsements: Positive reviews and endorsements from reputable sources can significantly boost your book's credibility and visibility. Send review copies to book bloggers, influential readers, and relevant media outlets. Encourage readers to leave reviews on popular platforms like Amazon and Goodreads.

Implement effective pricing strategies: Experiment with different pricing strategies to find the sweet spot that maximizes both sales and revenue. Consider promotional pricing, discounts, or bundling options to attract potential readers.

Engage with your readers: Building a strong connection with your readers can help generate word-of-mouth marketing and encourage repeat purchases. Respond to reader emails, participate in book clubs, attend literary events, and consider hosting author signings or speaking engagements.

Collaborate with influencers and bloggers: Partner with influential bloggers, bookstagrammers, or podcasters who have a dedicated following in your book's niche. Arrange guest posts, interviews, or giveaways to tap into their audience and gain exposure. I have seen that good books always had strategy from the book title to marketing the book.

What is Guest Posting?

A cutting-edge digital marketing technique for websites and blogs that increases traffic and assists you when you write a guest post and discuss your books, brand and services, ultimately increasing the sales.

Offer limited-time promotions: Create a sense of urgency and excitement by offering limited-time promotions, such as discounts, giveaways, or exclusive content. This can help drive immediate sales and generate buzz around your book.

Consider Press release: You may find a blog or website who help you spread a word about your book release. Therefore, If you are interested in this marketing strategy, you can read complete guidelines on press release and plan your book press release.

Leverage email marketing: Build an email list of interested readers and send regular updates, exclusive content, and special offers. Use compelling subject lines and personalized messages to encourage readers to open and engage with your emails.

Attend book fairs and events: Participate in book fairs, literary festivals, and other relevant events where you can interact directly with potential readers, network with industry professionals, and promote your book.

Remember, marketing and promotion should be an ongoing effort. Continuously assess the effectiveness of your strategies, adapt to changing trends, and explore new avenues to reach your target audience.

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Author interviews: Effective strategy to increase book sales

woman with sunglasses reading book in library

Author interviews play a crucial role as a marketing strategy for book sales. Each author must participate in an online or offline interview to reach the maximum number of readers and spread awareness about the book.

In this article, I discussed various reasons why author interviews are significant, as well as the potential reward from participating in the interviews. Author interviews should never be avoided; for novices, I recommend going for paid author interviews and press releases. It is one of the most effective book marketing tactics.

man in gray sweater sitting on chair | Author interviews: Effective strategy to increase book sales
Author interviews: Effective strategy to increase book sales | Photo by EA GRAPHER on Pexels.com

Why Author interviews are important for several reasons

  1. Insight into the writing process
  2. Understanding the author's intentions
  3. Personal connection with the author
  4. Promotion and publicity
  5. Building a community
  6. Preservation of literary history
crop counselor writing in diary while talking to patient | Why Author interviews are important
Why Author interviews are important | Photo by SHVETS production on Pexels.com

Learn why Author Interviews are important in details.

Insight into the writing process: Author interviews provide valuable insights into the writer's creative process, inspirations, and writing techniques. Readers often find it fascinating to learn how their favorite authors develop ideas, overcome challenges, and craft their stories. These interviews can provide aspiring writers with valuable tips and advice.

Understanding the author's intentions: Sometimes, readers may interpret a book or its themes differently than what the author intended. Author interviews allow readers to gain a deeper understanding of the author's intentions, motivations, and underlying messages. It can help clarify any confusion or misconceptions and provide a more comprehensive reading experience.

Personal connection with the author: Interviews create a sense of connection between readers and authors. By listening to or reading interviews, readers can get to know the author on a more personal level, understanding their background, experiences, and perspectives. This connection can enhance the reader's engagement with the author's work and foster a sense of loyalty and admiration.

Promotion and publicity: Author interviews are an essential part of the marketing and publicity process for books. Interviews provide exposure for the author and their work, reaching a wider audience and generating interest. They are often featured in newspapers, magazines, podcasts, radio shows, and other media platforms, allowing the author to connect with potential readers and fans.

Building a community: Author interviews contribute to building a community around a particular book or author. They can spark discussions among readers, who may share their thoughts, interpretations, and questions about the author's work. This sense of community fosters engagement and enthusiasm, creating a supportive environment for both the author and the readers.

Preservation of literary history: Author interviews serve as valuable historical and cultural records. They provide insights into the time and context in which a book was written, capturing the author's thoughts and perspectives at a specific point in their career. These interviews can be studied by scholars, researchers, and future generations, offering a glimpse into the literary landscape of a particular era.

Overall, author interviews are important because they deepen our understanding of the author, their work, and the creative process. They facilitate a connection between readers and authors, promote books, and contribute to the preservation of literary history.

Increasing book sales requires a comprehensive and well-executed marketing strategy. Here are some effective strategies to consider:

The most effective strategies to consider for book sales

  1. Identify your target audience
  2. Develop a compelling book cover
  3. Implement a strong online presence
  4. Leverage book reviews and endorsements
  5. Offer promotional deals and discounts
  6. Engage in content marketing
  7. Organize book launch events and signings
  8. Utilize email marketing
  9. Utilize email marketing
  10. Consider book giveaways and contests
woman draw a light bulb in white board | Famous author's uses these book selling strategies to increase sales
Famous author's uses these book selling strategies to increase sales | Photo by Andrea Piacquadio on Pexels.com

Famous author's uses these book selling strategies to increase sales

Identify your target audience: Understand who your ideal readers are, their demographics, interests, and preferences. This will help you tailor your marketing efforts and reach the right audience.

Develop a compelling book cover: A visually appealing and professionally designed book cover can attract potential readers and make your book stand out. Invest in a high-quality cover that represents the essence of your book and captures attention.

Implement a strong online presence: Create an author website or blog to showcase your work, provide information about yourself, and engage with readers. Utilize social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Goodreads to connect with your audience, share updates, and build a community around your book.

Leverage book reviews and endorsements: Positive reviews and endorsements from reputable sources or influential individuals can significantly boost book sales. Seek reviews from book bloggers, industry professionals, and respected authors in your genre. Encourage satisfied readers to leave reviews on platforms like Amazon, Goodreads, and BookBub.

Offer promotional deals and discounts: Temporarily reduce the price of your book or offer limited-time promotions to incentivize potential readers to make a purchase. Consider running targeted advertising campaigns on platforms like Amazon, BookBub, or social media to reach a wider audience during these promotions.

Engage in content marketing: Create valuable and relevant content related to your book's themes, characters, or writing process. Write guest posts for popular book blogs, participate in podcast interviews, or contribute articles to relevant websites. This can help increase your visibility, attract readers, and position you as an authority in your genre.

Organize book launch events and signings: Plan engaging and interactive events for your book launch, such as book signings, author readings, or Q&A sessions. Collaborate with local bookstores, libraries, or literary festivals to host these events and reach a wider audience.

Collaborate with influencers and book bloggers: Partner with influential bloggers, bookstagrammers, or booktubers who have a substantial following in your genre. Offer them a free copy of your book for an honest review or ask them to feature your book on their platforms. Their recommendations can generate buzz and attract new readers.

Utilize email marketing: Build an email list of interested readers and send regular s with updates about your book, exclusive content, or special offers. Provide value to your subscribers by sharing relevant book recommendations, writing tips, or behind-the-scenes insights.

Consider book giveaways and contests: Organize giveaways on social media or collaborate with book-related websites to offer free copies of your book as prizes. Contests and giveaways can create buzz, increase visibility, and attract new readers.

Remember that consistency and persistence are key in any marketing strategy. Continuously evaluate your efforts, monitor sales data, and adjust your approach accordingly. Building a strong author brand, engaging with readers, and providing quality content will help you establish a loyal readership and increase book sales over time.

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5 Ultimate Aspect of writing skills from the Author Lacey London

5 Ultimate Aspect of writing skills from the Author Lacey London

Lacey also talked about the important aspect of writing skills—when a writer should stop writing and step away from the laptop. She has also explained the most famous bad habit of most aspiring writers.

photo of woman sitting by the table while writing
Photo by Antoni Shkraba on Pexels.com

Lacey London well known for her books, "The Clare Andrews series" talked about aspect of writing skills

Lacey London interview | On Aspect of writing
Lacey London interview | On Aspect of writing

Lacey London is well known for her books, "The Clare Andrews series," While speaking to i'mBiking (formerly i'mBiking Magazine), Lacey shared an idea for turning her books into bestsellers. Therefore, read how her experience of rewriting helps her as well as others.

Lacey London is the bestselling author of the Clara Andrews series, the Anxiety Girl series, and the Mollie McQueen series. Lacey London lives in Cheshire, England, with her husband and their Yorkshire Terrier. When she is not writing, she can usually be found enjoying the countryside or with her nose in a book. Failing that, she is probably sleeping.

Interview with Lacey London

What, in your opinion, comes first when you start a new book? Creating characters, creating a story, or beginning to gather ideas?

Begin with a simple idea

All of my books began with a simple idea that grew into something more as I put pen to paper. I am a big believer in allowing the characters to take the story in whichever direction feels natural at the time of writing. Often, I begin writing a book and discover halfway through that I have gone completely off-piste, but if it feels right, go with it.

Could you please tell us more about the "Clara Andrews series," one of your most popular books?

the Clara series explores the minefields of dating, parenthood, mother-in-law chaos

The Clara series follows the life of a twenty-something woman as she finds her way through life and all the trials and tribulations that come with it. Spanning fifteen books, the Clara series explores the minefields of dating, parenthood, mother-in-law chaos, and much more. Fans of the Clara books have followed the series for many years and consider the characters to be good friends who they love catching up with.

What is the most challenging aspect of writing?

The most challenging aspect of writing skills

In my experience, the most challenging aspect of writing is knowing when to step away from the laptop. The desire to polish your manuscript into perfection is one I believe most writers have, however, there comes a point when you are simply tearing your work apart rather than pulling it together. Having faith in your ability to recognise that you have done all that needs to be done can be tricky, but I do think it gets easier with experience.

How does writing Clara differ from writing Anxiety Girl?

Aspect of writing skills | To write a book is to live and breathe it

As the Anxiety Girl series was inspired by my own battle against anxiety and depression, it came from a different place entirely to Clara Andrews and Mollie McQueen. To write a book is to live and breathe it, therefore, writing romantic comedies generally makes you feel all warm and fuzzy inside. At the other end of the spectrum, writing about your darkest moments is challenging, even when it is done through the eyes of a fictional character. 

Many writers keep their work in rest for rewriting. However, what is the proportion of writing vs rewriting according to you?

Some books are a breeze to rewrite, aspect of writing skills

In my experience, it is usually 50/50, but it does vary from book to book. Some books are a breeze to rewrite as I am relatively happy with them from the first draft, others are a different story entirely. On average, I complete around three drafts of a manuscript before submitting to my editor for publication.

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Lance Meredith: “My parents encouraged my love of reading.”

lance meredith

Lance described his journey, from his early love of reading to how his parents encouraged him to turn that love of reading into writing. In an interview with i'mBiking, he talked about his book, Guardian, its protagonist, and how he came up with the traits. I can sum it up by saying that he enjoys role-playing games where players create characters.

He tells us the tale of a woman who spent 800 years traveling the globe. Born and raised in the small Ontario town of Chatham-Kent, where he practically lived in the children's library's classics section, Lance Meredith, also known as JL Meredith, started penning stories of adventure and bravery when he was in the fourth grade. An old soul, he tries to sing, and dance, and play, a little each day. He has degrees in political science and psychology.

Please elaborate on your upbringing, way of life, birthplace, and how your interest in writing first arose.

I was born in the rural community of Chatham-Kent in Ontario, Canada. My parents encouraged my love of reading; that, and a vivid imagination, led to my interest in writing.

While writing "Guardian," how did you choose your protagonist, and what are his characteristics?

I created the Guardian in 1986. I enjoyed playing roleplaying games, a type of game where the players create a character and, acting as a team, go on adventures narrated and refereed by a game master. I had two superhero roleplaying games and made a lot of characters with complete backgrounds, powers, and appearances. Guardian was one of those characters.

In June of 2015, I had some time and wrote the first ten pages of an outline. In August, I began writing her story, completing the first draft in January 2016.

The character has a big heart. My readers describe her as strong, sassy, and smart.

What is the concept of superheroes in your novel and why did she roam the earth for 800 years?

Guardian assumes her superhero name during a television interview in the first chapters of the novel. She’s an entity that arrived on earth in the year 1194 while exploring the universe--she’s an infant by her kind’s standards. She happened upon a young mother who died during childbirth in the English countryside and assumed the mother’s form to care for the newborn and save the child’s life. Experiencing humanity first hand, she fell in love and chose to remain. She does not age, so she moves on every few years to avoid difficult questions.

Other newly super-powered heroes (and villains) appear after the inciting incident, the asteroid’s appearance.

What do you want to tell the readers through this novel?

The novel is first and foremost an entertaining read, I wrote it to be a fun, page-turner--a beach-read. There are underlying themes, such as being your true self, and living in harmony with those who are different—which is all of us. One of the great paradoxes of being a human being is that we are all unique and yet, so very much the same.

Before figuring out about the character, Elizabeth, did you have any optional characters who were replaced by Elizabeth? Or, it was just the first and final one. 

She was the one constant character in the book. All of the others were in flux until the book went to my editor. Some characters were cut, some were amalgamated. The character, Jennifer, Guardian’s new best friend and the brilliant scientist that helps her through the book, took some time to come into focus. Some characters I can find their voice quite quickly, others I really have to stop and listen and hope they talk to me.

Do you only enjoy writing science fiction, or do you also have other books in other genres in the works?

The first story I recall writing was a fantasy. I was nine at the time. I have written fantasy, science fiction, horror, and superheroes. Presently, I’m writing two stories; one of them is another Guardian story, and a paranormal detective story.

When did you begin writing, how did you do it, and what gave you the inspiration to do it? Moreover, did you write short stories before this novel?

I read a lot growing up. My first recollection of a story that I wrote was a fantasy story involving a marauding dragon that had to be slain. It was only one page long, and I used up my red pencil crayon drawing the dragon and the battle described in the story. I wrote many more stories after that, particularly between grade ten and the end of my second year of university, after that the writing workload for school became so intense that writing became a burden.

What is your favourite quote that always reminds you and forces you to write and write more? the total number of books you have both written and read.

Shannon Hale provides an excellent quote: “I'm writing a first draft and reminding myself that I'm simply shoveling sand into a box so that later I can build castles.”

Louis L'Amour: “Start writing, no matter what. The water does not flow until the faucet is turned on.”

Guardian Into the Light of Day is my first novel.

Furthermore, tell us about the most powerful books you have read yet and would like to recommend to your readers and writers.

Techniques of the Selling Writer by Dwight V. Swain is an excellent text for fiction writers.

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