Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Hi, I’m Lalia! Lalia Isabella Amadore. What a mouthful, eh? My husband often calls me “Bella” but most people just call me Lalia or Lia. I’m generally an upbeat person who tries to see the brighter side of life while injecting a little humour into it.
How many books have I written? Two, actually. I had a manuscript of poems I’d written over the years that heart-breakingly got lost in a move years ago. More recently though, I have self-published my first book, a self-help book on Amazon.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The name of this latest book is “They Called Her Jezebel: A Cult Survivor’s Self-Help Memoir”. It is based on the events of my life from many years ago. That period of my life was incredibly painful, but there were many lessons learned during it, and much healing found after I left that church. When people think of cults, the dramatized ones from the news often come to mind, but they actually exist in small towns as well as big cities. There could be one just down the road from you and you might not even suspect it! The people who manage to leave a cult are often demoralized and confused. I wanted to share my experiences and subsequent healing process in order to help others who might be in a similar situation that I once was in. There isn’t a lot of available help out there from people who have a clue to what you may have experienced. They need to know they are not alone, and it wasn’t their fault.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I usually write in my pajamas, coffee mug beside me and a cat on the back of my chair!
What authors, or books have influenced you?
When I was a child, my mother had a collection of the works of Mark Twain, and those books are the ones I remember when my love for reading began to grow. She had a lot of classics on her bookshelves, so I was exposed to the likes of Little Women, Wuthering Heights and Jane Eyre. I think the books that have in recent years had the most influence on my were ‘The Shack’ by William P. Young and ‘The Alchemist’ by Paulo Coelho. Both books see the protagonist on a journey to self discovery.
What are you working on now?
Right now, I’m working on outlines for two more books. One is a how-to book and the other is hopefully going to be an inspirational one.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Since I’m quite new to all this, I can’t really tell you a ‘best’ method. Right now I’m using social media like Facebook, Twitter, and Google+ and looking into websites such as this one to promote my book.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
I am a new author so I’m still navigating the waters here. I guess I would say, good job! Writing a book takes a time commitment many people make excuses not to find. Believe in yourself, encourage yourself and don’t give up! Being an indie author isn’t always easy but it is incredibly rewarding.
Most of all, be professional about it. That means paying for editing, formatting and book covers if you are not highly skilled in these areas.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Don’t take life too seriously. No one gets out alive, anyway.
What are you reading now?
My small town’s independent newspaper while I write this and drink my morning coffee.
What’s next for you as a writer?
A whirlwind North American book tour, an interview with Oprah and a European cruise? Actually, I write two blogs under another name so I will keep that up while I continue to work on the books I mentioned earlier. Beyond that, who knows? My expectation is that the best is yet to come!
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?
Can I just bring my Kindle? If not, I’d have to say, The Boy Scout Handbook, The Complete Coconut Cookbook and War and Peace. They says it’s a huge book and it looks like I might be on the island for a while….
Author Websites and Profiles
Lalia Amadore Website
Lalia Amadore Amazon Profile
Lalia Amadore’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile
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