Sy Asad, born in Philadelphia and raised in Houston, is a published author, freelance writer, songwriter as well as entrepreneur. As a child she escaped through books and reading was one of her favorite things to do. She wrote her first song at seven years old and she also won many awards performing poetry. Seeing the impact words, hers and others, had on people; she knew writing was something she wanted to be involved in heavily.
● Where are you from? Born in Philadelphia, Raised in Houston and Reside in GA
● Why do you write? It’s part of my mission in life.
● What do you write about? I’ve written two self-help books, a how-to book, and a fictional children story.
● Do you have a specific writing style? I just write from the heart
● What are obstacles that come in the way of writing? Of course life can have it’s own challenges so authors must stay focused and motivated enough to finish their book.
● Whats the most memorable thing asked/said by a reader about your work? That she read excerpts of my book to her daughters.
● How long have you been writing? Since I was a young girl. I wrote my first song at 7 years old.
● When did you first realize you wanted to become a writer? When I was young and realized how my words could affect people’s emotions.
● What is your work schedule like when you are writing? I plan my writing according to my daily schedule and keep a digital notepad near me so if I get randomly inspired I can type the words to myself and edit it later.
● What would you say is your interesting writing quirk? I write like I’m talking to a close friend.
● How long does it take to write a book? (if you’ve written one -published or non) It truly depends. I have a book called, “ How to Write A Book in 24 Hours.”
● Do you have suggestions on how to become a better writer? Worry less and Write More.
● What challenges do you come across when writing/creating your story? Any writer can come across writer’s block. If that is an issue for you check out my book “ Write Your Book in 24 Hours” or my webinar www.WriteABookThatSells.com
● What do you think makes a good story? Something written that readers from different backgrounds, age groups and genders can read and appreciate.
● What does your family think of your writing? They’re not surprised. They are supportive.
● Do you see writing as a career? Yes I do. I see it as a passion and a career.
● Do you have anything specific you’d like to tell the readers? I am creating a non-profit called Books For Betterment and I have a webinar called “How To Write A Book That Sells” available at http://www.WriteABookThatSells.com.
● When did you first consider yourself a writer? When I wrote my first song and performed it at my mom’s wedding reception.
Saying “Yes” To (NO): : Learning the Power of (No)
As Roderick Clark says in the Foreword, “It’s all about love, isn’t it?”
In The Benefits of Breathing, Christopher Meeks’s third collection of short stories, Meeks dives again into the human condition, particularly within relationships. As one reader wrote on Amazon, “Some authors need a lot of words to describe their worlds and their people. Christopher Meeks says a lot with a little.” The Los Angeles Times has called his stories “poignant and wise.”
In this volume, “A Dog Story” captures a crumbled marriage and the love of a dog named Scrappy. “Joni Paredes” shows the birth of a new relationship that starts at a daughter’s wedding. “Nestor by the Numbers” follows one man’s often hilarious online dating experiences after he finally accepts his wife is gone. “Jerry with a Twist” shows an actor on an audition while his pregnant girlfriend helps him through a crisis. These and seven other stories will bring you into the special world of Meeks.
As reviewer Grady Harp notes, if you’ve previously “discovered the idiosyncrasies of Meeks’s writing style and content, rest assured that this new collection not only will not disappoint, but also it will provide further proof that we have a superior writer of the genre in our presence.” “If you like Raymond Carver,” said author David Scott Milton, “you’ll love Meeks.”
Review:
Christopher Meeks is an award winning writer and picking up his collection of short stories makes me feel excited. I love short fiction stories depicting events from our everyday life we all can connect with. This book has 11 beautiful short stories that are written in a simple manner with details of everyday life we can all engage in.
Meeks has focused on stories revolving around relationship, mostly on how we all feel when relationships crumble and when new ones blossom. I love how in one of the short stories, he described how perplexing online dating can be and how we define each phase of the dating period, as one person might seem to be a little more invested than the other.
In another story, we see how a mother of a grown-up girl meets an interesting man at her daughter’s wedding. Another one, by the title “The Benefits of Breathing”, describes an old man’s life surrounded by his loving family and this story provides us an opportunity to observe life from a 90-year-old man’s perspective.
Nadean Barton was born on the small island of Jamaica, and grew up in Bronx, New York. She enlisted in the U.S. Navy in October 1995 and completed basic training at Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes, Illinois. Her first assignment after training was Helicopter Squadron One in Jacksonville, Florida, followed by Dental Assistant Class “A” school in San Diego, California. Then, she Bon Voyage on the USS Kitty Hawk homeported in Yokosuka Japan. While stationed in Japan, she visited countries such as Australia, Singapore, Jebel Ali, Thailand, Dubai, Middle East, and Korea. Barton then went to Naples, Italy, where she pursued her dream in track and field while still working as a Dental Assistant. After she left Italy, she continued to Bethesda, Maryland. She then transferred to Navy Recruiting District Miami, Florida, where she switched Careers to Recruiting and after seven years, she transferred to Navy Recruiting District Dallas, Texas and then Navy Recruiting District Seattle, Washington where she advanced to Chief Petty Officer. After that tour, she transferred to Navy Recruiting District Atlanta, Georgia from which she will be retire. Her personal decorations include Nine Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals, Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, and various unit awards. She has a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Ashford University. Nadean’s book “Can A Girl Catch A Break” was birthed from tragedy to triumph while enduring a miscarriage. She turned my pain, hurt, and grief into motivation and courage to push herself forward to positively impact others through her story. She wrote Can A Girl Catch A Break? in just 6 days and published it 30 days after. Writing was her healing outlet and was the first step in sorting out her emotions. She loved the idea of being able to share her experiences with the world to help others going through the same or similar circumstances. After seeking therapy after her miscarriage, she got the opportunity to be a co-author on the best-selling book, “The Voices Behind Mental Illness, The Life of a Veteran” she utilized that book for the Map to Mental Wellness Success. Following that she wrote her other book, “The Love She Never Had.” Nadean is also a co-author on the best-selling book, “There is No Health Without Mental Health Anthology.
Where are you from? I was born in Jamaica and grew up in Bronx New York
Why do you write? I write to ease the pain of my miscarriage
What do you write about? I write about the love I never had growing up with my dad and the love I lost in my miscarriage from my first child.
Do you have a specific writing style? I am a new author so I do not have a specific style.
What’s the most memorable thing asked/said by a reader about your work? Why did I start writing at this age.
How long have you been writing? I started writing Oct 2019 during the miscarriage of my first child, where my boyfriend left me bleeding.
When did you first realize you wanted to become a writer? During my miscarriage, I needed an outlet
What is your work schedule like when you are writing? I don’t have a specific schedule since I have a fulltime job. I wake up early and go to bed late so that I have enough time to work on my writing or my online store http://www.cangirlcatchabreakchicboutique.com, which came about after my miscarriage.
What would you say is your interesting writing quirk? I find myself staying home more since I started writing and just thinking of new ideas to write about.
How long does it take to write a book? (if you’ve written one -published or non) My first book that I have written during my miscarriage, “Can A Girl Catch A Break?” I wrote in 6 days and published it in 30 days, I just needed an outlet of all the bottled up emotions I had from not getting the love I needed from my dad, from my boyfriend who left me and from bad treatment from some co-workers, hence the reason my first book was generated, “Can A Girl Catch A break?’’
Do you have suggestions on how to become a better writer? I would love to be a better writer, and I am learning as I go, so my suggestion is to just jot down any thoughts that you have and put them together at a later date.
What challenges do you come across when writing/creating your story? Sometimes I hit a wall and just have to think my way out and let it flow naturally, going back to my own experiences.
What do you think makes a good story? I think a good story is different from everyone’s my good story may not be somebody else’s good story.
What does your family think of your writing? Some or ok and some doesn’t support because I write about my dad.
Do you see writing as a career? I would love for it to be a career or 2nd career
Do you have anything specific you’d like to tell the readers? You can get to know me through my book and a lot of people that knows me though I had it all together until they read my story.
When did you first consider yourself a writer? After my book was published and people kept telling me you’re an author now.
I am also a co author on 2 other books:
The Voices Behind Mental Illness Series 5: “The Life of a Veteran”
2222 is an epic story about three future populations. The story begins with a romantic setting but is soon covered with mystery. The Americanos, Tibetans and Aussies of 2222 are called to war.
Review:
This is a short book that consists of only 54 pages. It is rather a short read and the story develops very excitingly from one chapter to another. The only downside of it is that some of the characters are named after Roman numerals, which can be quite confusing at times. Apart from that, the story is easy to follow although several chapters lack continuity.
A native of Cleveland, R.R. Noall penned her college essay on her love affair with words. Since then, writing has permeated her career aspirations and pastimes.
Beginning in the summer of 2016, Rachel dedicated herself to writing. Since then, her creative work has been published in books, journals, and on blogs.
For Rachel, writing was a natural segue into the field of marketing. To supplement her writing experience, Rachel has earned marketing certificates from reputable journals and universities. Under the name R.R. Noall, Rachel currently works with numerous clients as a copywriter, marketing strategist, and SEO specialist.
You can find Rachel teaching English classes at Red Rocks Community College, where she aims to try to convert everyone to the dark side (to be English majors). She teaches English Composition and pushes her students to find their voice through each and every writing assignment.
Noall is also the founder and Editor-in-Chief of an arts and literary magazine called From Whispers to Roars. The magazine was founded on the idea that artists should have communities for exchange and growth; From Whispers to Roars hosts weekly writing prompts, a blog, and published its first issue in April of 2018. After only a year in existence, the magazine has a readership of over 25,000 globally.
R.R. Noall is a Denver typewriter poet, and works weddings, events, and parties. Her love of typewriter poetry ultimately led to podcasting. She recently started a poetry podcast called Poems for People. The new poetry podcast, which releases new episodes every Wednesday, focuses on amazing humans, their stories, and how each story can be turned into a poem. She also earned her MA in Creative Writing from the University of Denver in 2019.
Yes. Rachel does A LOT of things. But, in her free time, she continues to fall in love with Colorado, explores national parks, spoils her dog (named Potato), writes poetry, and drinks adult beverages alongside good company.
When did you first realize you wanted to become a writer?
The first time I said it out loud – I think I was about 15. I had just travelled to Italy for the first time, and was so inspired by the beauty. I remember wanting so badly to capture it with words, and feeling frustrated that I couldn’t.
When I look back, however, I have been writing for much longer. I used to write little quotes and tid bits into a journal. I even used to write song lyrics. I suppose that I knew, but had no idea what that would actually look like as a career.
Do you have a specific writing style?
Yes and no.
In terms of length, I love short form, which Instagram is great for. In my next book, readers will see many more longer pieces, however. I think that books give more room for further explanation, whereas social media is more about brevity.
When and how I write also differs. Sometimes, I write in chunks of time, but I am always happy to allow the inspiration to strike when it comes along throughout the day.
Location and life experiences can really influence writing, tell us where you grew up and where you now live?
Great question. I grew up in Cleveland, Ohio. I also went to college in the Rust Belt – In eastern Pennsylvania. Midwest people and communities have a grit I can’t quite describe. I think it’s in their blood, and maybe in part due to the harsh winters. Being from there, I learn a lot about resilience, hard-work, and focus.
After college, I moved to Denver. What attracted me to Colorado was the nature – I love getting lost in the trees, camping, and exploring small and quirky mountain towns. Additionally, Denver is a city of transplants, which means that everyone is just really nice, but also bring their unique perspectives to the city. It really is a global place.
I feel constantly inspired. The people I surround myself with are hustlers in every way – I feel so fueled creatively by them and by the adventures we go on. It definitely impacts my writing.
How do you write – lap top, pen, paper, in bed, at a desk?
Actually, I write a lot on my typewriter! I am an Denver typewriter poet, which is a really fun side gig, but it also means I’m just writing a lot on there every day. I also host a poetry podcast, where I interview inspiring humans, and then turn their stories into typewriter poetry on-the-spot.
When I’m out an about, and the typewriter isn’t with me, I usually write in the Notes section on my phone. It allows for real-time writing when I feel inspired.
Most writers have a day job. What’s yours?
I am the founder and CEO of a marketing firm, RN Marketing Collective. We exclusively serve creative entrepreneurs. Most creatives think that “traditional marketing” is out of their budget, and that just isn’t true. I feel so thankful that I get to help people grow their creative businesses. I am constantly inspired, and feel so lucky that I get to do so many things that I love.
Alayna Hallward is an author who enjoys pushing the limit. She is still considered new to the writing community, but she prides herself on creating chilling stories. In her stories, she tries to pay homage to other things that she finds interesting. While she enjoys entertaining readers, she believes it is important to challenge a person’s wit.
Describe yourself in five words
If I had to pick five words then they would be mysterious, compassionate, childish, headstrong, and sarcastic. All of which bundle together for good memories and fun times.
What fact about yourself would really surprise people?
I love nature and while I love animals, I am big on gardening. It was something that my great grandfather loved doing. When he passed away, I found myself keeping his memory alive. When you plant a lovely garden, it attracts different creatures. On top of seeing different animals, a garden gives a backyard personality. I love coming up with a new personality each year.
How do you work through self-doubts and fear?
While I have my family and they are very supportive, sometimes it is not enough. I tend to talk to my friends. They tend to give me the swift kick in the backside that I really need. If I am struggling with plots, they offer advice. If I am truly struggling with a certain matter, then I have a group of friends that help me with writing. After working with them I find the strength I need to go back and tackle a certain problem.
What scares you the most?
While it may sound a bit cliché, I actually fear letting people down. I don’t like when people put a lot of faith in me and I am unable to deliver. It is not about making a name for yourself. It is about doing what you set out for yourself. I feel that if I don’t give my all then I have wasted the time and effort that they put into me. The last thing I want to do is make someone feel as if they have wasted their time.
What makes you happiest?
I am the happiest when I am with my friends or family. I wish I could say that we are doing something cool, but that is not the case. It can be as simple as eating dinner together or playing a card game. As long as I am with the people that make me smile, I tend to be rather happy. When it comes to my friends, if I am not playing games with them, I am actually happy when we write together. There is something about coming up with a story together, that just makes my day.
Why do you write?
I write to express myself and as a way to relax. There is something about coming up with a world of my own that keeps me going. I could never draw and there were dreams like becoming a veterinarian that I did not achieve. I realized with writing, I could make a character that could do what I could never do.
Have you always enjoyed writing?
That is actually a tough and somewhat tricky question to answer. I tended to write and read a lot when I was growing up. I did not come to enjoy it until high school. Before that, I mostly wrote for a grade and nothing more. I guess what stopped me from realizing my love was getting over grammar issues. The constant corrections and feedback made me think that writing was not fun. After doing lots of reading, I realized that writing is more than papers. You can express yourself in ways that some people may never understand.
What motivates you to write?
Most of my writing is done with my friends. If they come to me with a storyline and it has a great plot, I cannot resist bringing that story to life. When I am working on a story alone, it all comes down to an idea. If it has grown to a point that cannot be ignored, then I am all for creating the story. When I am creating the story, I want to ensure that I am not the only person that is going to enjoy it.
What writing are you most proud of? .
I am proud of the short story that motivated me to actually write “Deviously Sincere”. It was something that I made in my creative writing class. If it was not for the positive feedback from my classmates, I doubt that I would have kept it going. When I came up with the second draft, I fell in love with the story.
What are you most proud of in your personal life?
When it comes to my personal life, I will have to say I am proud of my own personal growth. I am comfortable with who I am. Since I know who I am, I am finally able to be the friend that I have always wanted to be. While I am still flawed, I like to think that diamonds are flawed as well. Regardless of my flaws, I still strive to make my friends happy.
What books did you love growing up?
I loved “A Series of Unfortunate Events”. I remember seeing the posters for that book in the hallway for a few years. Each year that I saw it, I wanted the series more and more. Then one day I was given the set as a gift and I could not put it down. I also loved Shel Silverstein’s poems. There was something about his poems and books that just made me smile. Other books that I could relate to were “Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing” and a few Beverly Cleary stories.
What do you hope your obituary will say about you?
That is something that I have not even thought about. It is actually something I don’t place much thought in. I just hope that it makes people smile and is honest at the same time. Since my family will be the ones writing it, I am sure it will capture my personality in some way. In all honesty, that is one piece that I want to have no connection with.
Location and life experiences can really influence writing, tell us where you grew up and where you now live?
Since I don’t want my life to have much sway over my work, I will give a few things. I spent enough time in the city and in the country. I am open to living in the country or city. While it may be slower, you can actually appreciate nature in rural areas.
How did you develop your writing?
I discovered online roleplaying and fell in love with it. I learned how to develop characters, plots, and many other things. Without roleplaying, I don’t think I would have gotten this far. Working with other people is a good way to develop yourself as a writer. Since roleplaying has a lot of different genres, like fantasy, fan fiction, etc, you can grow in many ways. This also helped me to see that I was not limited to just one thing.
What is hardest – getting published, writing or marketing?
They are all hard. I would say marketing takes the cake for sure. Once you create the story and then save up the money you think it would be easy. That is far from true. There is no promise when it comes to marketing, especially if you self-publish. I remember sitting down and thinking that I had to have missed a step. I felt like I was some kind of baker that forgot to add eggs or sugar to the batter. There is no set plan that you have to follow. There are a lot of suggestions out there, but nothing that is for sure. While people can help you, in the end, it all falls on your lap. If you honestly want to see results it all comes down to you. You cannot be shy about things. You have to get out there and promote your baby, because no one else understands everything that went into your masterpiece. There are times when you will get discouraged, because the market is not a stable place. In the end, it is all about determination and going even when you want to sit down. You don’t fully realize the struggle until you have to market your work.
What marketing works for you?
I discovered the Writing Community on Twitter. I tend to promote through there. Like I said, nothing is perfect. I am sure I am not fully using my platform properly. I am sure I could reach more if I had my own website or book trailer. For now, those are projects that I need to start. Word of mouth, via tweets is what truly works for me.
Do you find it hard to share your work?
While I bite my nails over reviews, it is not that hard. The fact that I took a creative writing class truly helped with that. The teacher of the class, I remember tore my work apart and my classmates enjoyed it. At that moment I realized, you cannot make everyone happy. Some people are going to hate it and others are not. As long as someone likes my work then I can keep going. If I didn’t share it, then I would never know where people stand.
Is your family supportive? Do your friends support you?
My family and friends are very supportive. Without them I doubt I would have made it this far. They keep me going and for that I am very grateful.
What else do you do, other than write?
I love playing video games. For the most part I enjoy playing alone, but there are few games that I will play with friends. When I am not playing video games, I enjoy card or board games. I used to play Star Wars: Imperial Assault and Catan. I love games like that and I love learning new games. Outside of gaming, I am big on sports. There are some sporting events that I have not attended, but in time I will check them off.
If you could study any subject at university what would you pick?
Paleontology since I love fossils and dinosaurs for sure. That is mainly something that was brought to life as a child when I watched “Jurassic Park” for the first time. If I had to pick a language to study, it would be Japanese. I was actually supposed to take that class, but it closed before I could join. I ended up studying another language for four semesters.
If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be?
There are actually two places that I want to live. I would not mind living in England or in Japan. I love the rural areas for both places. The cities are nice as well. The weather would not hinder my choice. It would just mean that I get to grow a certain garden, depending on where I decided to live.
How do you write – lap top, pen, paper, in bed, at a desk?
Most of my writing is now done on a laptop. If I am out or in bed, then I use a notebook and a pen. I have a lot of notebooks filled with different ideas or plots. If I am typing a story, I will use a notebook to help me track certain events or names. I tried writing at a desk, but I never liked looking ahead at a wall. I may get a desk again, but for now I don’t use one.
How much sleep do you need to be your best?
I need at least six hours of sleep to feel like I am at my best. Since I have issues sleeping at night, my sleep is all over the place. As long as I get over four or five hours of sleep, I can function and think.
Every writer has their own idea of what a successful career in writing is, what does success in writing look like to you?
Success comes from having an active group of people that give you feedback on your work. They participate in questions and answers and want to know more about the story. I wish I could say I care more for the rewards and other things, but I am interested in what the readers have to say. Rewards to me are a second bonus.
It is vital to get exposure and target the right readers for your writing, tell us about your marketing campaign?
I wish I could write for everyone, but I mostly target people that are in their early twenties. That is the starting age, since I encourage people that are older as well. If my book did not have some violent moments, then I am sure it would be something that possibly young adults would like as well.
Tell us about your new book? Why did you write it?
It started as a short story that dealt with a serial killer giving his confession to a doctor. The feeling that I got while writing as Hyde was something I could not pass up on. It was actually the villain that encouraged me to keep writing the story. I had a vision that revolved around Hyde and his reasons for harming women. I was inspired by other ideas that added more fuel to Hyde’s development. While I created this interesting villain, I had to create someone that could go against him. The idea of a female agent was something that popped into my head. While I wish I could say more about the two, that would require me to spoil the ending of the book. This book pays respect to everyone in my creative writing class that told me to keep going and they wanted more of Hyde. I will admit that some aspects of the short story appear in the novel.
If you could have a dinner party and invite anyone dead or alive, who would you ask?
It would not be a party if I just invited one person. I will start with the people who are no longer with us. I would invite: Maya Angelou, Toni Morrison, Oscar Wilde, Charles Dickens, Edgar Allen Poe, Robert Stevenson, Bram Stoker, Arthur Conan Doyle, Shel Silverstein, and Mary Shelly. For those that are living I would not just stick with authors or poets. I would invite: Lemony Snicket, Patrick Stewart, Jeremy Irons, Ian Mckellen, Tom Hiddleston, Beverly Cleary, and Judy Blume. I like that my guests are all over the place since each has inspired me in their own way.
When you are not writing, how do you like to relax?
Depending on the season, I am either outside in my garden or doing something that allows me to be outside. I love going to sport events. When I feel like being lazy or it is too cold, then I enjoy playing video games or any type of indoor game.
What do you hope people will take away from your writing? How will your words make them feel?
I hope that people just get lost in the story. I hope they feel some type of chill run through their body while they are reading. I truly wish that they are able to picture the characters how they want. There is a reason why I never actually describe how my characters look. My story gives the reader the world they are in, but they come up with how the characters look. I may give minor hints, but for the most part it is on them to create their own view. I believe that doing that allows them to feel closer to the story. Also, I encourage my readers to read closely. Names are mentioned for a reason and it is important to track dates, names, and other important details. I may mention a name once or twice, but it has meaning. Meaning is something that is explained either right away or over time.
I am an Audit Director, married, with two small children. I work part-time and like to spend my free time writing.
Why do you write?
Writing has become my main hobby over the last two years.
What do you write about?
I write about all the beautiful things in life that I like. However, I only write about things I know a lot about.
My work as an author began with a first small book on “Rare Gemstones And Other Precious Stones” because I always wondered what is out there apart from the well-known diamonds, pearls and so on.
As a second book, I wrote about “How to Generate and Earn Royalty Income” because I know a lot about it and myself own some music royalty income. This book helps people to generate a side income from royalties.
My very recent book is the first try in fiction, wherein I use my experiences from 20 years of auditing. “Too Deep In With The Auditor” is somewhat my third child and I am very proud of it. I am now writing a second part. You can follow the progress on marinapetersbooks.com or my Goodreads page.
Do you have a specific writing style?
I try to keep my work easy-going, casual and easy to understand.
What are the obstacles that come in the way of writing?
You need so much time until a book is born. The funny part is writing itself but then you need a cover, you need to format, you need to publish, you need to market …
What’s the most memorable thing asked/said by a reader about your work?
“Wow, I didn’t know that the auditing business is so cool!”
When did you first realize you wanted to become a writer?
About two years ago.
What is your work schedule like when you are writing?
I normally write the day I am not working as an auditor. Sometimes I also write late in the evenings or at weekends.
What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?
In “Too Deep In With The Auditor” I tried to keep the pace high. So the writing style is very casual and moving forward. I think you will like it when you read it.
Do you have suggestions on how to become a better writer?
Always have something with you to take notes – always!
What do you think makes a good story?
As simple as it sounds: People should like to read it, they should always want to know how the book moves on.
Do you see writing as a career?
Well, not for me, but generally speaking, yes, absolutely!
It was 1992 when her father saw the economic collapse coming, he had two choices, the rough path or the easy path, and he chose the rough one… Dad began.Then, I interrupted, “DAD, ITS MY MEMOIR!” And then my Mompiped in and yelled, “OH MY GOD! I RAISED A BUNCH OF NARCISSISTS!” Let’s try again… Meet Michaela: she’s the girl nextdoor–except that “next door” happens to be a 27-foot 5th Wheel Trailer with no electricity or running water in the Sierra Nevada’s. At 17, she sets out to take on the world, but 10 years later, she finds herself right back where she started…in a small mountain town in the middle of nowhere. You’ll laugh and you’ll cry-sometimes at the same time- as she stumbles upon a few Mr. Right Now’s and other adventures on her quest to find love and uncover the girl she always was but had lost somewhere along the way. Join ‘Crazy Kayla’ and her nutty cast of characters for a little muddy-path Rock Crawlin’ through the true story of how her American Dream survives and thrives, in the face of life’s inconveniences and heartbreaking setbacks that sometimes leave her Teetering on Disaster.
Review:
I loved the first part of Michaela’s memoir. Her family moved from a house into a trailer with no electricity and basic necessities. I am not sure if I could cope with a life similar to that of the one she lived but all I can say is that I admire the family’s tenacity to stick together during tough times.
The second part describes her life post marriage and divorce, which can be a little depressing as things turn hard for her in her marriage life.
However, I enjoyed the sense of humor the author incorporated into the book.
Michaela Renee Johnson is an award-winning author, licensed psychotherapist and host of the top iTunes podcast, Be You Find Happy which encourages people to speak their truth with grace and live a courageous life of authenticity. Her initiative, Be You Find Happy, holds workshops and conversations on finding happiness in spite of life’s setbacks and has landed her speaking opportunities across the nation.
She is an avid adventurer, having traveled to over 20 countries, and self-proclaimed “Boho Mom” who loves all things metaphysical as well poetic quotes.
She is a Sagittarius and an ocean-lover who lives in Northern California with her husband and young son, and a homestead full of animals. In her spare time she’s often hiking, doing yoga, gardening, golfing or reading.
Bachelor’s of Arts in Journalism Communications, Master’s of Arts in Psychology. California State Licensed Psychotherapist.
What fact about yourself would really surprise people?
I have sung the national anthem at major sporting events on five different occasions.
How do you work through self-doubts and fear?
I recognize that self doubt and fear is a motivator for pushing through uncomfortability. Without it we would self limit our growth. I talk to self doubt like it’s a friend, ask why it’s there and explore ways to push through it.
What scares you the most?
I mean, the obvious horror movie things like drowning in a car, but also not living life to the fullest.
What makes you happiest?
Making memories makes me the happiest.
Why do you write?
It’s probably different each time I pick up the pen, at the end of the day I could summarize it to inspire myself or others.
Have you always enjoyed writing?
My first “journal” was in the third grade, so I’d say so.
What motivates you to write?
Anything that pisses me off. It doesn’t take much, but if I feel flabbergasted by something you can bet I’m going to sit down and hammer it out with the pen.
What writing are you most proud of?
That’s hard to say…I feel mixed emotions about my work often. If I had to pick something I would say Teetering on Disaster because it helped me process some of the toughest emotions I’ve had, and I think inspired a lot of people.
What are you most proud of in your personal life?
This is where I feel like, as humans, we have to list all the tangible things we’ve done, marathons, Summitting Mountains, the birth of our children…but for me, I’m most proud of the fact that I am open to other perspectives.
What books did you love growing up?
Let’s start with PD Eastman Are You My Mother, my all-time favorite when I was young…I was a huge Beverly Cleary fan as pre-teen.
What do you hope your obituary will say about you?
Is it sad to say that this is kind of a morbid question I live by? I hope they say she loved photography to a fault, laughed a lot, especially at herself and loved deeply. No one ever wondered what she was thinking or how she felt and she shared herself wholly with those around her.
Location and life experiences can really influence writing, tell us where you grew up and where you now live?
I grew up in the rural Sierra Nevada Mountains, where the town shuts down with the sun. Creative writing was definitely inspired by my upbringing as it was something I could do with my spare time, and it was something that was heavily influenced by living a simpler life.
How did you develop your writing?
I have had a lot of great mentors along the way, but I believe just writing from the heart, without worry of what others would think inspired my greatest growth as a writer.
What is hardest – getting published, writing or marketing?
The publishing world is by far the most difficult to keep up with. It’s sort of like trying to fling a shoe on a moving fan (which I don’t recommend trying).
What marketing works for you?
I have found that my real life connections grow my business the most. It seems word of mouth is still a very powerful tool, whether it’s social media or otherwise.
Do you find it hard to share your work?
I’ve never been one to shy from sharing, I wish there was more transparency in the world in general.
Is your family supportive? Do your friends support you?
My friends and family are incredibly supportive. My family has always been supportive in a very “tough love” type of way. They ground my crazy ideas and never let me forget where I’ve come from.
What else do you do, other than write?
I wear a lot of hats, but primarily, psychotherapist, podcast host
What other jobs have you had in your life?
In my prior life I was a marketing director, in marketing for 12 years.
If you could study any subject at university what would you pick?
If I were to go back I’d probably want to get into marine biology or astronomy.
If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be?
I would want to live right where I am…but travel everywhere.
Tell us about your family?
Loving, supportive, challenging and fun.
How do you write – lap top, pen, paper, in bed, at a desk?
Yes, Yes, Yes, all of the above.
How much sleep do you need to be your best?
I’m a solid 8 hours a night, no negotiation. I take my sleep very seriously.
Is there anyone you’d like to acknowledge and thank for their support?
All of the people who have guided my journey.
Every writer has their own idea of what a successful career in writing is, what does success in writing look like to you?
My husband often jokes about my royalty checks being “bacon bits.” So I guess seeing the financial rewards from making the best sellers list. I say that because it’s easy to get on various best sellers lists these days…but when the royalty checks go from bacon bits to bacon, I guess I’ll know I’ve made it. Other than that, I feel like I’ve already achieved great success, just in inspiring others.
If you could have a dinner party and invite anyone dead or alive, who would you ask?
I’ve thought about this often…so it changes frequently. Probably Thich Naht Hahn.
When you are not writing, how do you like to relax?
Hiking, reading, sitting on the beach…anything outdoors really.
What do you hope people will take away from your writing? How will your words make them feel?
I hope people realize that happiness is a constant reset and is absolutely attainable in spite of life’s setbacks.
Where are you from?
California
Do you have a specific writing style?
Conversational.
What are obstacles that come in the way of writing?
Time.
What’s the most memorable thing asked/said by a reader about your work?
That they laughed and cried at the same time. That’s a good emotion. I feel honored to have inspired that.
What is your work schedule like when you are writing?
I’m always juggling a lot of oranges. I try not to put pressure on myself to stick to a solid schedule, I look at the week, and lay out the days with a general sense of check list items and just work to tick them off.
What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?
The ellipsis…
How long does it take to write a book? (if you’ve written one -published or non)
Depends on the book, children’s books verses self help verses fiction…anywhere from a week to a year.
Do you have suggestions on how to become a better writer?
Stop judging whether you are writing well enough and just write.
What challenges do you come across when writing/creating your story?
In my newest fiction novel there are 4 main character (so James Patterson style) jumping between their personalities and staying in “character” has been a really fun challenge for me.
What do you think makes a good story?
Any story that encourages you to think about things differently.
What does your family think of your writing?
I think they’ll think a lot more of it if I make the New York Times Best Sellers List.
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