Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Around a decade ago, a friend shared a book with me that changed my life. Before that, I had never read anything other than what was required to get through school. That book looked like a thick school textbook, but the information in it opened my eyes to what a massive impact a book could have on a persons mind.
Before that, I just thought books were used to bore kids and teach them about irrelevant things that hold no value in real day-to-day life. Also, I thought they were used to help prop up furniture that had become rickety over time. No way did I think books could hold the life’s work of geniuses that came before me. That they could capture their ways of thinking, and that I could read them and become inspired out of it.
When I realised this was possible, I read. And I mean I read a tonne. I read books I paid for, books I found for free, eBooks, audiobooks, heck, if I saw a pamphlet and it looked like I could gain some knowledge from reading it, we’ll I’d go ahead and read that too!
For purely selfish reasons I made notes on everything I read so I could be better, be sharper, be knowledgeable, and to understand more about myself and others. I captured these notes on journals and on my phone. To date I have 5,000+ individual notes on my iPhone. Plus many more on journals I’ve bought over the years.
Unknowingly I was building a database of incredible thoughts, ideas, and concepts that have the power to create revelations in the mind and transform lives. I find it incredible that one great idea can completely change the direction of a persons life.
So, after much collating of ideas for selfish reasons, I figured it would be good to share these ideas and any others I collect in the future with others. Hence, my author career. So far I have released the one book: How To Become Fearless: A Practical Guide for Destroying Fear and Living With Freedom.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
How To Become Fearless: A Practical Guide for Destroying Fear and Living With Freedom.
We all suffer from fear every now and then. I certainly did for 2 decades. Then like a rubber band that had been pulled past breaking point, I snapped!
I looked into fear, I researched and applied, I tested everything. I figured out what works for me and realised I was gathering important life skills that has helped me to go into new ventures fearlessly.
I know millions of people struggle with fear. It limits them, it cripples them. It’s a debilitating emotion. So my hope is that this book will help those people and give them a path to eradicate their fears.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I must have a cat and a coffee nearby. Both help to put me in the writing mood.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
Robert Greene – The 48 Laws of Power, Mastery, The 50th Law.
Mark Manson.
Eckhart Tolle – The Power of Now
What are you working on now?
Freshly released the How To Become Fearless: A Practical Guide for Destroying Fear and Living With Freedom book, so promoting this and will soon be working on another book project. I’m currently in the process of combining ideas, but I have a general topic which I’ll disclose as time goes on.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Still figuring this one out myself.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Just start typing. It could be absolute rubbish to begin with. Talk about what you ate for breakfast, what you plan to do today. The simple act of typing about anything will get you in the zone. Well it does for me. Once the hands are in action, the words will come.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
People overcomplicate things too much. If you want to do something, do it. If you don’t, don’t.
What are you reading now?
Robert Greene’s work is always on my list.
What’s next for you as a writer?
Will disclose this later, but just know it’ll be an excellent read. It’s something I’m really excited about!
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?
I think it would have to be my science textbooks from high school. 4 of them. Simply so I could hollow them out and stuff them with food and knives. And possible one that could teach me how to get off a desert island and get back to my family and friends.
Author Websites and Profiles
Jay Mistry Website
Jay Mistry’s Social Media Links
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