Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am a hypnotherapist and in the past have written a few ebooks as part of video webinars on sleep and stress. I have just written my first standalone book.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Stop Trying To Be Positive: How to reduce negative thoughts without forcing yourself to be positive.
The inspiration came from my clients. I see a lot of people who have lives dominated by anxiety and negative thoughts. The standard response from a lot of people is to look on the bright side and think positively but that can be hard work. I wrote the book to help people find a naturally more positive mindset so they don’t have to struggle with the forced positivity that can seem impossible to achieve.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
No
What authors, or books have influenced you?
A lot of people in the self help industry have influenced me – hypnotists, energy practitioners, nutritionists, positive thinking experts. Some have been published authors and others have been professionals at workshops.
What are you working on now?
I am completing a book I wrote several years ago about chronic illness and mindset. The person who was going to market it never did and so it has just been sitting around since then.
I have also started a novel about a hypnotist so hope to have that completed soon.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
This is my first book so I can’t say.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
As a new author I can’t really comment. I am reading advice from existing authors so hope that will prove successful.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
With regard to writing it would be that completing the book is just the start because there is a lot of promotion to do.
In general life I think it wold be to prepare for the worst, expect tbe best and then you are ready for whatever happens.
What are you reading now?
The Will to Live which is about the effect of the mind in illness. Also A Second Chance which is the final book in a series about a woman’s life in New Zealand at the turn of the 20th century.
What’s next for you as a writer?
Finishing my novel about a hypnotist is the next thing on the list I then have ideas for some more books with the same character. Some more practical self help books are planned. Now I just need the time.
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?
That is such a difficult one because I dread being without anything to read so if I was going to be there for a long time they would have to be long books. I think I would take an encyclopaedia because it would be full of interesting things. I would also take a couple of good mysteries or detective stories. If it’s allowed, I would take an empty notebook so that I could write my own books as I would definitely have the time on a desert island.
Author Websites and Profiles
Sharon Stiles Website
Sharon Stiles Amazon Profile
Sharon Stiles’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account