Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I live in Cambridge, NY about 10 miles from the Vermont border. I grew up in Rhode Island and lived in New England for the first 32 years of my life until moving to the Cambridge area in 2004. I have worked in sales for the past 25 years and have had the opportunity to work and live in Boston, Portland, ME, New York City and Upstate NY during the course of that career. Back To The Front Porch is my first book.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Back To The Front Porch is my first book. I tell people it is an advice column to myself. I started writing it to put down on paper the things I should be incorporating into a daily or weekly practice to help slow things down. These practices include yoga, meditation, a gratitude practice, self-compassion, and journaling. I work hard every day to follow my own advice.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I start each day by writing for 20 minutes straight in an online journal. I don’t worry about spelling, punctuation or sentence structure. When I go back to read some of these entries weeks or months later it can be fun to try and translate what I was writing about that morning.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
From about 9th grade to 12 grade I think I read every Stephen King novel that had been published up until then. Over the last couple of years I picked him up again and remembered why I enjoyed him so much in my teens. I have recently been reading poetry by Billy Collins. He has changed my mind about poetry and has inspired me to pick up more books of poems.
What are you working on now?
I am posting on my blog three days a week. I have put a couple of ideas on there for a new book and am waiting to see what kind of feedback I get there.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
My book has been out for just over a months so I am flying blind right now. I am spending a lot of time online and in author groups to try and find the best ways to promote the book. I am learning a bunch about book promotion and it has been exciting. So far Facebook seems to be where I am getting most traction.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Being a new author myself, I think the best thing I have done so far is to keep to a daily writing practice in order to not lose sight of my main goal which is to write and challenge myself to be creative every day.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
So far the best advice has been to make sure to get out into the author community. Ask questions, be curious, support other authors. I have found people in the author community to be very supportive and willing to help a new author.
What are you reading now?
I am reading “Lives of The Stoics” by Ryan Holiday and Stephen Hanselman. I am also reading a book of poetry by Billy Collins called Aimless Love
What’s next for you as a writer?
I am going to continue to write for my website and promote my current book. I have some ideas for my next book and will work on that as well.
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?
It- Stephen King
Memoirs of a Caddy- David Noonan
A son of the Game- James Dodson
Author Websites and Profiles
Jim Sweet Website
Jim Sweet Amazon Profile
Jim Sweet’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account