You can make money writing about what you know
Interview With
Book Title
Expat Writer - Release the Book Within
First Published
Who is this book written for?
Anyone who wants to write a book about their life, skills or experience, expat or not, but is not quite sure where to start. New writers, would-be authors, expats, those in search of a portable career would all benefit from this book based on a course that has been running, successfully, all over the world for five years. Do you know you have a book in you - but just can't seem to dig it out? Do people tell you that you should 'write a book'? Are you scared that you don't know enough, don't know where to start, can't plan or have no focus? Not sure whether to self-publish, find a publisher or use a virtual publisher? Questions, questions. This book has the answer.
How much did you know about your subject before writing this book? In other words, what qualifies you to write this book?
I had written 30 odd books since 1985 when my cookbook, French Tarts, was accepted by the first publisher I approached. I did not write the recipes, nor had I cooked many of them. I soon learned the tricks of the trade and how to make a publisher prick up his or her ears. Before long I had written 15 word processing handbooks for Macmillan, McGraw Hill and co, another cookbook, and started my own publishing company, Summertime. Currently I have 6 titles in print and am published by Bookshaker, having learned from my mistakes and learned the best way, for me, to maximise income while minimising effort! I've tried every method, written over 30 books and taught over 600 people to write books. What's more, since 2002, I have run The Book Cooks, offering a complete service to authors 'from brainwave to bookshelf'.
What makes your book different?
No-one else has written a book geared to those who want to write about their life overseas. But actually, its methods work for anyone, anywhere, who wants to write about what they know and what they have experienced. Few other writers are as inspiring and empowering as I am told I am. So, this book has a wow factor I am proud of. Written by a creative person like me, it is full of new ideas too.
Why did you write this book?
Because I could, having been there, done it and got lots of teeshirts. It is based on my popular course, Release the Book Within. I can't travel and teach enough to show the world of would-be authors how to make their publishing dreams come true. I can write a book and make my knowledge available to anyone anywhere, though. So I did.
So many people ask me whether they should use an agent or publish themselves. They need help with writer's block, finding the right ingredients and recipe for their perfect book. This book has it all there in one place.
What kind of research did you do for your book?
I did all this stuff myself and helped about 50 other people do it too. I only ever write about stuff I know inside out. This way, I don't need to do much extra research - but when I need an answer to something extra I find out.
Tell us the single most important thing we'll learn from your book...
How to knuckle down and write the damn thing!
How would you describe yourself?
Preparing to wear purple with a hat that doesn't go. My mission is to share what I know to help others to grow. That's me.
What's your greatest achievement so far?
That standing ovation.
Who are your role models/influences and why?
Robin Pascoe, www.expatexpert.com, because she is my buddy, mentor and Canadian clone who made me believe I could do it too.
Natalie Goldberg, author of Writing Down the Bones, because she showed the value of writing authentically. Ditto Julia Cameron, Ann Lamott, Sheila Bender, Christi Killien.
What's the most exciting thing that's happened to you as a result of writing your book?
Exciting things happen to me all the time, that's why I am compelled to write about them. I've been on the radio umpteen times, interviewed by lots of magazines and websites and am often asked to speak. This year, as the closing keynote of the Families in Global Transition conference, I spoke about how writing saved my life on the expat rollercoaster and got a standing ovation and the best feedback ever ever ever. That was my highpoint.
What are you working on now?
a novel
third edition Career in Your Suitcase
second edition Grow Your Own Networks
my memoirs
a new website called ExpatRollercoaster
What else do you do?
I teach writing and entrepreneurship, mainly to expats.
I work two days a week at the Outpost Archive Centre www.outpostarchive.com in The Hague, teaching writing, encouraging people to write their life experiences and promoting the centre.
I am a board member of Connecting Women www.connectingwomen.nl
I have two teenage boys who still talk rather than grunt
I have a talented musician of an oil working husband, to whom I have been married for 19 years and whose wonderful job keeps me in the expat bubble. yay.
I have a surrogate daughter called Rebecca, who keeps me on the straight and narrow.
I network like crazy
I usually write two or three books at a time and run TheBookCooks.com
I am a professional keynote speaker and workshop presenter!
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