Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am a free spirit, psychic, introvert, gypsy-at-heart and love talking about myself in third-person. Most of all, I believe our stories have the power to heal. My desire is to heal the world one woman, one book at a time. I am The Write Your First Book Coach for aspiring female non-fiction authors, a healer, international bestselling author, and founder of Awaken Inner Goddess. I am on a mission to help unconventional women coaches get their first book out of their soul and into the world in 3-6 months. My story was featured in the book by New York Times bestselling author Mark Anastasi, about how inspiring women escaped the 9 to 5 grind and became successful entrepreneurs. I am the co-author of an international bestseller Rising Above and a bestselling author of “Leap Afraid”. My spiritual home is in Edinburgh.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My most recent soul baby titled “Leap Afraid” is the quest of a single woman who beat all odds and survived the unimaginable. A few years ago I contracted a potentially life-threatening illness, lost my job and found myself homeless. To top it all off, this is when the love of my love abandoned me and unceremoniously walked out of my life at the time when I needed him the most. I was under a quarantine for a month. Worst yet, none of my family members visited me during that time. I was in so much physical and emotional pain I was numb from suffering. This is when I decided that there’s a reason for all this suffering. I completely transformed my life inside out and went from being unemployed to making $7k within a few short months, I went from being told my English wasn’t “good enough” to publishing two bestselling books within a space of little over a year and have since started my own coaching business teaching unconventional, spiritual women coaches to write and publish their first non-fiction book in 3-6 months.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I usually don’t get out of bed to… write. I’m a self-confessed lazy bum. I have a long-winded morning routine as I meditate, journal and do pilates before I sit down to write. I then top it off with a shot of espresso downed with dark chocolate as the two get my creative juices flowing. I have written some of my best content while on the road, in a tiny, cosy cafe in suburban Tunisia, in a smoky seafood restaurant conveniently tucked away between the sea and high-rise mountains of Montenegro. I always have a little notebook of BIG ideas by my bedside along with a pen for when my “spiritual team” attacks me with the lines for my next bestselling book. I often catch myself scribbling ideas on my mobile and then save it either as a text, or a memo and then send as an email to myself to copy and paste into my book. I am 83% introverted but dictated and recorded parts of my book as even though I’m an impressive typist, my fingers can’t always catch up with my thoughts. I write at least 100 words a day (most days a lot more) at the same time every day but do it with religious devotion.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
Mike Dooley, the author of “Leveraging The Universe” has an uncanny ability of presenting universal principles in a very practical and down to earth way. He weaves wit, wisdom and mischief into his teachings in a way that most authors can’t. From the time I could read and write, and especially after I got a copy of Anne of Green Gables in my little hands, I knew I wanted to become an author. The character I use a combination of good, old fashioned reviews and built a book launch team consisting of 60+ people ready and willing to share their honest review. I then use book promotion sites, such as this one and run paid ads on platforms, such as Amazon. I find that while running free promotions helps with rankings it does very little to boost sales. I teach my clients to not rely solely on the sales from the books alone but to have systems and structures in place that bring in consistent leads and clients. Anne Shirley was a personal hero of mine. She was an out-of-the-box thinker. An outsider. A dreamer. She was an orphan. She was highly imaginative and eager to please. Besides, nobody wanted her. I thought we could be friends.
What are you working on now?
I am currently working on a part of the series, “Leave Afraid” (as a continuation of “Leap Afraid”) on resolving relationship indecision once and for all and walking away from anything or anyone that no longer grows us, serves us or makes us happy. It is based on my own experience of being stuck in relationship indecision with the constant on-again, off-again and calling off my engagement after being in a committed relationship for 7 years.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I use a combination of good, old fashioned reviews and build a book launch team consisting of 60+ people ready and willing to share their honest review. I then use book promotion sites, such as this one and run paid ads on platforms, such as Amazon. I find that while running free promotions helps with rankings it does very little to boost sales. I teach my clients to not rely solely on the sales from the books alone but to have systems and structures in place that bring in consistent leads and clients so they can then re-invest back into ads to promote their books.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Consistency is key. Singers sing. Actors act. Writers write. You can’t become a published author unless you write daily and consistently. As a first-time author, the very first negative feedback you receive will hurt the most, after a while you develop a thick skin. Some readers will leave a one star review just because your religious or spiritual beliefs don’t align with theirs, yet others simply because your book didn’t resonate with them. You are not everyone’s cup of tea and can’t please everyone. It’s a good thing. If you are not polarising people you don’t have an opinion. Most importantly, don’t give up and keep mastering your craft. I learnt how to write by posting daily on Facebook.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Don’t make the same mistake twice. Make a new, better one. Or, my all time favourite: “”Do one thing every day that scares you” by Eleanor Roosevelt.
What are you reading now?
I am currently reading a fiction book “The Seven Lives Of Grace” by Elena Shelest that I have been asked to review. Grace Ainsworth leads sufficiently fairy-tale-free existence as a legal file clerk in rainy Seattle. But her orderly life is about to change when a mysterious package arrives from her eccentric Aunt Louise. Named the next “carrier of the gifts”, she has only one week to sort through her supernatural inheritance or lose it all. It’s finally her chance to get her dream job and maybe even her prince – if she doesn’t screw things up. But that “Happily-Ever-After” plan soon turns as ill-fitting as the pair of disagreeable high heels she’s forced to wear. As she blunders through unpredictable magic, it challenges her beliefs, uncovers the wounds of her past and throws unexpected foes her way. A perfect mixture of feel-good vibes, intrigue, clean romance, and a pinch of magic. Empowering book for all ages.
What’s next for you as a writer?
I am planning on writing and publishing many more books. I’m an avid reader and can’t believe I actually get paid to read and write. It is my passion and mission in life to teach first-time female authors and coaches how to write and publish transformational books in 3-6 months so they can get fully booked with soul, high-end clients, exponentially grow their empire and embark on a round-the-world, never-ending adventure. The more I learn the better I can serve them. I believe our stories have the power to heal and transform the world. I live and breathe books and it is my calling to help other women make their dream of one day writing a book a reality.
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?
“The Science Of Getting Rich” by Wallace Wattles on those scorching summer days, “Think and Grow Rich” by Napoleon Hill while having a bubble bath, “Emergence” by Derek Rydall before bed and “Leap Afraid” my very own book as I don’t take myself seriously.
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