Interview With Author Merili Freear
Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m Merili Freear, an ultrarunner, author, and a running coach originally from Estonia, now living in rural Lincolnshire, England. I started running during the first Covid lockdown in 2020 for my mental health and ended up running a 100-mile ultramarathon four years later. I’ve written two books so far: Just Run: Discovering my love for running and how the impossible becomes possible and Whispers and Footsteps: Poems from Doubt to Becoming.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest (and second) book is Whispers and Footsteps. It was inspired by my feelings after running my first 100-mile race. I felt a strange emptiness, like I had reached a destination but didn’t know what came next. Poetry helped me process my thoughts and emotions in a way nothing else could. Running took me far, but poetry brought me back to myself.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I wouldn’t say unusual, but I often process my thoughts during runs. Running clears my head and helps ideas flow. I also jot down thoughts in my phone’s notes app while out walking or doing everyday tasks — inspiration tends to come when I’m not trying too hard. My poetry, though, was written differently. I often wrote in bed, just before sleep, when everything was quiet and I could finally hear myself.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
I’ve read many running books that have deeply influenced my mindset and training. Outside of running, Lost Connections by Johann Hari changed how I view depression — it gave me language for what I’d felt for years. The Imposter Cure by Jessamy Hibberd also helped me recognise and challenge the thoughts feeding my imposter syndrome. I mainly read non-fiction — books that help me understand myself and others better.
What are you working on now?
I’m currently writing my third book — a creative non-fiction piece that’s quite different from my first two. It’s less about running, but running still weaves through it, because it’s been a big part of my healing and growth. I also still write poetry — it’s something I return to often when I need to reflect, slow down, or make sense of something I’m feeling.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Instagram and TikTok have been the most effective for connecting with readers — especially when I show up as myself and share parts of my story. I also write guest articles, appear on podcasts, and have a website where I share my books and blog. Amazon’s author tools and free promo sites like this one are helpful too.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Be honest, even if it feels scary. You don’t have to sound like anyone else — just write like you talk. Don’t wait for perfect conditions or the right moment. If you have something to say, start saying it.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
‘Done is better than perfect.’ That advice helped me stop overthinking and actually publish my first book. It also gave me the courage to show up online. Progress matters more than perfection — in writing, running, and life.
What are you reading now?
I usually read a few books at once. Right now, one of them is The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin. I was curious to see how she approaches happiness and the practical ways we can bring more joy into our everyday lives.
What’s next for you as a writer?
Finishing my third book is the main focus, but I’m also working on turning Just Run into an audiobook and creating a companion journal to help readers build confidence, practice positive affirmations, and shift their running mindset. I still write poetry and may release another collection in the future. I might write another running book one day, but for now, I’m following where the words take me.
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’d bring my own Whispers and Footsteps to remind myself that I am enough — even on the hard days. I’d take something like The Daily Stoic for daily reflection and perspective, and a big novel to pass the time. If I were allowed, I’d bring notebooks — because I know I’d need to write to stay grounded. Writing is how I process the world.
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