Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am an award-winning journalist, who has written and contributed to numerous nonfiction works, including a long list of articles for Black Enterprise, Essence, Heart & Soul, School Library Journal, The Network Journal, Uptown Professional and a host of other publications. Though most known for my health book, It’s a Sistah Thing: A Guide to Understanding and Dealing with Fibroids for Black Women, I have ghostwritten a number of projects for other authors. I also have authored a series of eBooks on how to successfully write, market, and complete an eBook.
Being a supportive mom to my three beautiful children, however, is my greatest joy. That why co-writing the children’s picture book My God is Awesome! with my five-year-old daughter, Kyla was awesome! My sons Tyler (age 10) and Myles (age 8) are their little sister’s biggest supporters. Thus, My God is Awesome! is my most rewarding project yet!
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My God is Awesome! is my latest book that I co-wrote with my daughter, Kyla McKenzie (who was 5 years old when it was released). She came up to me one day and said she wanted to write a children’s picture book to share her love of God with her friends and family and that’s how it all began. I then helped her with the manuscript and we contacted an illustrator via the Internet. At the time, we didn’t know that our illustrator Dr. Jan Spivey Gilchrist was world renowned and a Hall-of-Famer.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I don’t think I do anything unusual. These days I use my laptop though in the early years I did write everything by hand. I need to transcribe my work as everything is getting pretty old and damaged.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
All authors who are able to rely on the money they make from their writing as their primary source of income are my inspiration. I aspire to do that as well instead of splitting my time between writing and doing what pays the bills. I want my passion to become my primary profit and am striving towards that end.
What are you working on now?
My daughter,Kyla McKenzie, has another book she is working on called My Grandmother has wings. So we look forward to that project. I am also working on christian fiction for adults so that it is pretty interesting for me.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Since our picture book, My God is Awesome, is Christian-based connecting with churches either online or by phone has worked well for us as they are very open to hosting us for book signings. In addition, I have hired several people from the website Fiverr (where all services are $5) and they do an awesome job with sharing the book on social media.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Never give up on your dreams. For my first book, I sent out more than 100 query letters to literary agents and only received two positive responses. I only needed one positive response to get my book to a publishing house and in readers’ hands. So remember, no matter how many rejections you get, you only need one “YES” for success. And since you can self-publish now for virtually free, the “YES” can come from YOU!
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Just recently Steve Harvey said he only focuses on how he plans to succeed at his goal and not all of the ways that his goal will fail. That was powerful for me. I think sometimes I get caught up in the “why this can’t work” and that puts me at a standstill. As Harvey says, the naysayers will always show up but you have to be motivated to succeed anyway.
What are you reading now?
I don’t read books as much as you would think. I love to listen to books on tape. I am listening to Wishes Fulfilled: Mastering the Art of Manifesting by Wayne W. Dyer.
What’s next for you as a writer?
My daughter, Kyla, and I are working on our first book on tape so we are holding auditions. It is exciting.
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?
If I were on a desert island, I would take the Bible, my own writing journal and The 4-Hour Work Week: Escape the 9-5, Live Anywhere and Join the New Rich by Timothy Ferriss. That book is absolutely loaded with valuable information not just for improving your professionals but for improving your standard of living overall. I know that would be crazy because if you’re on an island you already have achieved a 4-hour workweek or even less but it still teaches you to value your time and that’s essential no matter where you live or what stage you are in life.
Author Websites and Profiles
Monique McKenzie Website
Monique McKenzie Amazon Profile
Monique McKenzie’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile