Interview With Author ELENA MINTZ
Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’ve always had a thing for turning ideas into something real — whether it was a book, a business, or a PR campaign. My first serious book came out back when Twitter was brand new — it was called “140 Characters of Self-Expression”, and it helped early adopters and tech companies figure out how to use this strange little social platform for business. At the time, I co-founded a PR agency and wrote the book partly as a way to share what we’d learned and position ourselves as specialists in startup marketing.
Since then, I’ve co-authored a few other books — including a textbook on trade show marketing that was used in MBA programs — and later published several creative titles, from recipe books to activity books for kids. Some of them I wrote myself, others I produced as a publisher. But the one thing that stayed the same: I love building things that are both useful and personal.
In total, I’ve been involved in publishing over a dozen books in different roles — as author, co-author, editor, or publisher. While the Kids Slept is my newest — and maybe my most personal one yet.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My new book is called While the Kids Slept. And to be honest, I didn’t set out to write it — not at first.
I already had a business that was doing well. I was consulting for startups, watching them build incredible things through chaos — wars, pandemics, economic crises. I kept thinking: someone should write these stories. But no one ever did. And then it hit me — maybe I should start with my own.
Because my own story had everything: a newborn and a toddler, a war, a sudden relocation, homeschooling, late-night work sessions, and a business that somehow kept growing. I kept getting messages from friends: “How do you do it?” “Is it even possible to start from scratch today?” So I sat down and wrote it all — not a business guide, not a how-to, but a true story. A very personal one.
Writing it was hard. I cried, I remembered things I didn’t want to. But somewhere in the middle of all that pain, I realized I was also healing. This book gave shape to something I’d lived through, and in doing so, it helped me move forward.
And when I launched it as a free promo, over 1,300 people downloaded it. Sure — maybe it was free. But still, 1,300 people chose to read my story. And some of them wrote back. They told me it gave them courage. That’s when I knew: this book wasn’t just for me. It was for them, too.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Let’s just say the title While the Kids Slept isn’t a metaphor — it’s literally when I write. Even this interview is happening at 3:30 AM.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
Honestly, I can’t say there was a single author who shaped me as a writer. I didn’t grow up dreaming of writing books, and I’ve never had a literary idol. What shaped me was life — real people, real chaos, and the quiet determination it takes to keep going when everything around you falls apart.
That said, a few books stayed with me. I remember reading Elizabeth Gilbert and feeling like it was okay to want more — more freedom, more creativity, more self-respect. Orwell’s Animal Farm and Huxley’s Brave New World were wake-up calls in different moments of my life — sharp, uncomfortable, and important. I don’t try to write like them, but their voices are somewhere in the background.
What are you working on now?
Right now I’m catching up on a few loose ends in my business. While I was working on the book, some things had to wait — and with Christmas coming up, it’s the worst time to leave anything hanging. So I’m in full prep mode again.
At the same time, I just launched something that’s not technically a book, but still very close to my heart — it’s called My First Calendar 2026. It’s a keepsake handprint calendar where kids leave a handprint for each month of the year. It’s the kind of thing families really love — because those tiny hands don’t stay tiny for long. We offer it in digital format (so you can print it at home), and also as a printed book — so parents can keep it like a memory journal.
So yes, no big literary plans at this exact moment — just building things that matter, one project at a time.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
At first, I relied on my personal network — mostly Facebook and LinkedIn, where I’d built a following through my business. I also ran Amazon ads, but I have to admit, the biggest impact came from free promotions.
The first free promo was modest. I shared the book manually, joined some Reddit threads, got a few nice messages — but nothing groundbreaking.
The second time, I decided to try something more structured. I scheduled a two-day promo, used Freebooksy for an email blast, and also paid for a featured spot on Awesome Gang. That combination worked like magic: over 1,300 downloads in 48 hours.
But the most surreal moment came when I checked my Amazon dashboard late at night (of course, while the kids were asleep) — and saw that While the Kids Slept had hit #1 in three different bestseller categories. I just sat there staring at the screen. I’m not even sure I blinked.
So if you’re asking what worked? A well-timed free promo campaign, email marketing via trusted platforms like Freebooksy and Awesome Gang, and — maybe most of all — believing that your story might actually matter to someone out there.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
If you’re thinking about writing a book — just start. But don’t start blindly. In my case, While the Kids Slept came at the right time, after years of trial and error. I had already published books that didn’t go far, and I’ve made my share of mistakes — from choosing overly niche topics to thinking emotional catharsis alone would find an audience.
This time, I did it differently. I chose a topic people had been asking me about for years — how I built a business from home during unstable times — and I felt the demand was there. That made all the difference.
My advice? Keep learning. Don’t wait until you feel “ready,” but do take time to understand your audience, your niche, and your market. Read newsletters, follow people who curate useful resources, and surround yourself with the kind of content that helps you grow.
Also — test your idea. Share a few chapters with people you trust, or even better, with someone who doesn’t know you. Feedback is gold. You’ll quickly know if your words land where they need to.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Feel the fear — and do it anyway.
That’s what gave me the courage to leave a stable corporate career, start a handmade business with two little kids, move countries, and rebuild everything from scratch. Courage isn’t loud — it’s just doing the next right thing, even when you’re scared to death.
What are you reading now?
Right now I’m reading Butter by Asako Yuzuki — a strange, slow, fascinating dive into another culture that makes me pause and reflect.
I’m only halfway through, but already it feels like a quiet exploration of how women navigate their desires, guilt, and identity in a world shaped by men — even when the setting is far from my own.
Last month I read The Rose Code by Kate Quinn, a story from the past that unexpectedly echoed the present — war, uncertainty, and the quiet strength of women who step up in moments of chaos. These characters felt like sisters across time — brilliant, underestimated, and quietly rewriting the rules while no one was watching.
And I just started re-reading Brave New World. I read it years ago, but now it feels eerily familiar — like Huxley saw it all coming. It’s not just dystopia anymore. It’s a manual we ignored.
What’s next for you as a writer?
While finishing While the Kids Slept, I added a section on AI tools for e-commerce — literally two weeks before publishing. And yet, by the time the book came out, some of it already felt outdated. That’s how fast things are moving now.
At first, I thought I’d write a follow-up book just about AI for small business owners. But honestly, by the time it’s written, edited, and out in the world, half the tools would already be replaced. I can barely keep up myself — one day it’s a new GPT update, the next it’s Canva’s magic features, Etsy’s AI listings, or Google rolling out Gemini.
So instead of chasing the next book right away, I decided to start something quicker — a weekly-ish newsletter at SheRunsAI.substack.com. It’s still new (be kind!), but I’ll be sharing what I’m testing, what’s actually working, and how to build something real using the tools we’ve got right now.
If that sounds helpful, feel free to subscribe. No pressure.
If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
Honestly? I’m not sure I’d bring books at all — or at least not the kind people usually name in interviews.
A friend of mine recently visited a British school during their open house. One of the subjects they proudly teach is called Future Skills — a mix of AI, robotics, 3D printing… and wilderness survival. That last bit made the biggest impression.
So if I were stranded on a desert island, I’d bring exactly one book: a survival manual. Ideally something like How to Stay Alive in the Desert, packed with diagrams, first-aid checklists, and coconut-related hacks. As for the remaining three items? Forget novels. I’d go with whatever that book says I need most — firestarter, water purifier, satellite beacon?
Because I plan to make it out alive.
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