Interview With Author Stephen Rue
Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I grew up in New Orleans with some medical challenges that made my childhood difficult, and I had to learn to overcome them. I was creative and sensitive, but because my biological father left early, I often felt like I wasn’t enough.
Later, my stepfather took his own life, which felt like another form of abandonment, and my mother, grieving, wasn’t fully there for me emotionally. I lived with a lot of pain and learned to get through as much as I could, but I still longed to find meaning and significance in life.
That desire carried me through law school, an MBA, and other achievements. I am presently getting my doctorate degree in Organizational Leadership. I am a certified trauma life coach from LSU. I also received certification in leadership from Harvard Law School. A big part of my motivation was proving to myself and to the world that I mattered, that I was capable, and that I truly was enough.
I have written several books on law. I co-authored a book entitled Rise Above with Les Brown. My book Must has recently been released, and its Companion Guided Journal is being released this month.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is named Must: Becoming the Person You Are Meant to Be. I’ve spent three decades studying personal development, psychology, philosophy, and the principles that shape human potential. So how many people live below what they’re capable of. They get stuck in survival mode, weighed down by doubt, trauma, or habits that hold them back. They want to help themselves achieve their goals, but they don’t know where to begin and feel overwhelmed.
The book comes from my own “must”, my personal mission in life is to help people see what’s possible for themselves, to understand their values, and to take intentional steps toward the life they’re meant to live. It’s filled with practical strategies, real-life stories, and lessons I’ve learned through my work as a family lawyer, a certified trauma coach, and simply from living through my own personal tragedies and challenges. My goal was to give people a guide they can take and apply in their own lives.
This is why my book is 502 pages long. It’s not for the faint of heart. It’s for people who really want to change their lives, and in doing so, impact the lives of their loved ones and friends. It covers the full building blocks of personal development that I have studied, so readers don’t have to wonder which self-improvement book to pick next.
If you were to walk into any Barnes & Noble, or search Amazon, or Goodreads, the number of options is confusing. Should you start with habits, goals, or something else? That’s where Must comes in. I knew my purpose was to be the empathetic guide people can turn to, leading them down this yellow brick road toward discovering their own goals and building the life they’re meant to live.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I go up to my study with my dog and write until 1 to 2 in the morning. I then edit and revise it a week or more later, after it has time to settle.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
I discovered self-development as a young man, and it has become a lifelong learning journey. I still have Tony Robbins cassette tapes from my 20s. Over the years, I’ve learned from many incredible mentors, including Les Brown, Brian Tracy, Jack Canfield, Tony Robbins himself, and many others. I’m now lucky enough to call some of them friends. I’ve also been inspired by Mel Robbins; her no-nonsense, practical approach to getting people moving and taking responsibility for their lives resonates with me. These authors and their books have shaped the way I approach my own life, my coaching, and the guidance I offer to others.
What are you working on now?
A fiction on suffering and expanded books from my Must Book Personal Development Series.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Smother social media with the wonders of the content of your book through the stories of others.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Don’t get caught up in a plethora of sales pitches from individuals and companies that will approach you to sell their services for promoting your new book.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Be yourself and don’t listen to other people.
What are you reading now?
Brian Tracy’s new Fourth Edition of his book entitled Goals.
What’s next for you as a writer?
I am working on an Allegory regarding how we deal with Suffering.
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 Bible
Unlimited Power by Tony Robbins
Gulliver’s Travels
Robinson Crusoe
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