Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Next to being an author of two books, I consult and coach organizations to become (even) more responsive and agile in order for them to succeed in today’s fast-changing markets.
No matter the technology, in the end, success is all about human behavior, cooperation, and communication. I find a great deal of satisfaction in guiding professionals to a higher level of (co-)operating with and within their organization.
My special interests go out to Leadership and Psychology. I find the (social) psychological aspects of coaching more and more intriguing, and that is the reason I’ve been expanding my knowledge in these areas with great passion by doing online courses at Cambridge, Yale, and the University of Toronto.
I’m proud to call myself an author of two books. My first publication was a booklet named, “Agile Essentials for Modern Leadership”, available on Amazon. My second book is a 300+ page work named, “Essential Psychology for Modern Organizations”, available worldwide through most outlets that sell books.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is called, “Essential Psychology for Modern Organizations”, and I wrote it because I felt an urge to share some of my newfound knowledge in the field of psychology. Since a couple of years I’ve been diving deeper and deeper into the world of psychology to figure out how to apply scientifically proven psychology at work. There aren’t that many books dealing with this interesting cutting-edge between proven psychology and your everyday workplace – so I just had to write it…
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Since I didn’t quit my day job, I have to do all my writing in the evenings or in the weekends. This includes many very, very late nights in which I barely get any sleep at all.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
I’m a huge fan of Christopher Hitchens, the late, great, contrarian – whose most famous book is named, “god is not Great”. I admire his style of writing – and speaking – for its unapologetic brutishness in combination with a civilized flair that induced a critic to say that Hitchens couldn’t write a dull sentence if he wanted to.
What are you working on now?
After writing two business-oriented nonfiction books, I’m returning to finish multiple fiction books that have been lying on shelves – half-baked – for years. I also started a new book – what you could call a mystery – that I think I’ll finish first.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Since I’m quite a newbie at this book promotion thing, I’m not sure yet, trying out different things and figuring it out along the way.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
For any new author: finish one book first and try out publishing it, promoting it, selling it – all the way from A to Z. That way you will know what’s coming and what is really necessary and what not.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Use a tool like Grammarly to correct your spelling and writing in general. It really, really helps a lot. Not that I take every piece of advice it gives, but at least it makes me think about it.
What are you reading now?
Currently, I’m reading Mythos by Stephen Fry, a superb writer.
What’s next for you as a writer?
Since I have my book “Essential Psychology for Modern Organizations” out only recently, I will continue to promote it for the coming months. In the background, I will work on the fiction books which I would really like to finish one by one.
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?
Certainly “god is not Great” by Christopher Hitchens would come along to a desert island, as well as George Orwell’s “Nineteen Eighty-Four”. “The plot against America” by Philip Roth is another favorite, and – to top it off – I’m truly enjoying “Mythos” by Stephen Fry, so that one I’ll take as well.
Author Websites and Profiles
Patrick Heller Website
Patrick Heller Amazon Profile
Patrick Heller’s Social Media Links
Twitter Account