-- World of Writing -- Author Interview --
As many of our loyal readers are already aware, I like to share author interviews every 3-6 weeks or so on this blog. I feel these interviews help our audience get a feel for what the world of writing actually entails, the behind the scenes activities, the individual challenges and the unique situations each writer will face. Today we have the pleasure of featuring Elise Brooke, author of The New Zealand Dream.
She invites you to visit her at: MyNZDreamBlog.com , on Instagram @: mynewzealanddream or on FaceBook
Q: Hi Elise! It is great to have you here today. I had such a good time doing the interview on your blog back in March, and now it is my turn to ask you the questions. :) We already introduced some of your social media and blog, and I know you also manage a a FaceBook group ( A Journey Of Transformation ), however before we delve too far into the interview let's have you tell our audience a little about your work.
The New Zealand Dream is a story and account of my life so far. You take a journey from birth, growing up in a beautiful country town. Moving to the suburbs, discovering New Zealand’s underground in Book One The Seeds Are Sown. Life has been a struggle and a uphill climb, I was born with learning difficulties that caused me challenges every day. My mother, who single-handedly raised my brother, and I suffered from mental health problems. I dived into the drug and alcohol scene at a young age, growing up surrounded by violence and gangs. I escaped a religious occult, got married and had children.
In Book Two Growth And Destruction, before I hit the age of thirty, I am a divorced single mother. My support network passed away, and I sank into the world of abuse. I stayed trapped in an abusive relationship for over eight years until one night he nearly killed me and I escaped. You will meet characters you may relate to and characters that will shock you. I will lead you into the world that surrounded me and nearly killed me.
In Book Three I will show you how I changed my world, escaped the traps, leading me here to tell my story.
Q: Oh My Gosh ! It sounds like you have been through a lot of adventures in your life, challenges that might have seemed insurmountable and it looks like you successfully made the journey of accepting and loving yourself. Sharing your through writing could really help people facing similar situations. Tell us about your journey to publication… (How long have you been writing? Why did you decide to pursue writing?)
I have written and self-published two books in my autobiography series of three, called “The New Zealand Dream” by Sheila my pen name. I have written and published many content articles. In all I have been writing for 24 years, I started in short fiction stories and poetry. I write in many genres, at the moment I am finishing my last book in my autobiography series, writing a short horror story called “Taken Over” and a modern day romance called “Star gazing.”
I am also a blogger and post regular articles and content there: https://www.thenzdreamblog.com and I am a writing mentor. I help others in their writing journey to complete their manuscript and share their story. I first decided to write stories and share mine to give hope and inspiration to others.
Q: Do you still have the first piece you wrote?
Yes I do, I keep all my first drafts and notes, hand written in a folder. These and photos would be the first thing after any humans and animals I’d grab if there was a fire they mean a lot to me.
My main reason when I do write poetry is for release to let my emotions out, and to touch another who reads it and make them think. Poetry is like my therapist along with music.
Q: Every writer approaches the work day a little differently. What is your typical workday like? (Do you stick to a writing schedule? Do you set daily goals?)
My typical work day is I get up at 7.30am, start my work day at 8.30am. I begin by checking my emails and responding, the next thing I do is engage with my audience and answer any questions, follow leads. I then provide a value or curiosity post to spark further engagement latter. I spend 3-4 hour, 4-5 mornings working on my story projects as this is when I’m freshest. I spend the afternoons creating articles, researching, and marketing or mentoring.
Q: What is the most difficult part of marketing for you?
The most difficult part of marketing to me is closing the sale, I can bring readers to me, engage, build trust and direct to subscribe/freebie but after subscription a lot do not buy. Also finding a suitable way to send my books overseas that is reasonable in shipping, at the moment if the reader is in Australia or NZ I can send them my book direct but overseas I have to refer them to Amazon as shipping is three times the book, ouch.
Q: Authors must develop what is known in the industry as an Elevator Speech, referring to being able to describe a book in a sweet, succinct manor. Would you mind sharing your Elevator Speech? Sell us on your books in 20 words or less.
The New Zealand Dream, The Seeds Are Sown and Growth And Destruction by Sheila Smith; takes you on a journey around New Zealand starting with my parents New Zealand Dream, which quickly turned into my nightmare.
Q: Have you had, and how did you handle, writer's block?
I take a break, I do not force the writing process. Or I just write, even if it sounds like gobble-te-goop, and edit later. This helps me bring back the flow.
Q: Do you use certain tricks that help prevent you from straying from your goal?
I use a vision board with pictures of what I want in my life to focus on daily. I set goals with dates every day doing steps towards achieving these goals. I practice visualization, I visualize myself already achieving and holding the goal, how it smells, feels, the emotions, what it looks like to me etc to help build belief and faith.
