Interview with Sheri Kaye Hoff, author of Keys to Living Joyfully

First of all, I'd like to thank Sheri and Dorothy for sending me a copy of this book. I loved reading it!! If you haven't read a review of my book, then head over to this link for my book review

Sheri is on a virtual blog tour with PumpUpYourBookPromotions all of March and April. You can visit her website and her tour stops @ http://www.lifeisjoyful.org/id4.html

About the Author:

Inspirational author and life coach, Sheri Kaye Hoff resides in Parker, CO with her husband and three children. She teaches college classes as an adjunct faculty member and has earned her Master of Arts in Organizational Management. Her new inspirational book, Keys to Living Joyfully, offers a way of living a meaningful, successful and joy filled life. Ms. Hoff is a personal and executive life coach. She conducts individual life coaching, teleclasses, writes online curriculum, gives in person small and large group coaching, is a keynote speaker, and conducts corporate training. You can find out more online at her website http://www.lifeisjoyful.org/

Sheri is a wonderful person who is always willing to help! I exchanged a few emails with her after I read her book and she was very prompt and sweet in replying to my queries...I am glad she took some time out of her busy schedule for this interview....

[Me]: Hi Sheri, Thanks for taking the time out to answer these questions. Can we start off by knowing what inspired you to write this lovely book – Keys to Living Joyfully? How did this whole thing happen?
[Sheri]: When I was 17, my 15-year-old brother died tragically. This altered the path of my life. For years after my brother’s death, I felt numb and thought I did not deserve to be truly happy ever again. Gradually, I healed, but still struggled with on and off depression. I married my husband and gave birth to three beautiful children. I worked in a career that I loved; yet, I did not truly enjoy my success. I read hundreds of books on leadership and motivation. When I went deeper into my spiritual life, I experienced a way to merge my personal leadership skills and my spirituality. My life clicked into place. I became truly happy, and I felt so free. I, then, had a deep desire to share my keys with others. I hoped that people would be inspired to tap their sources of joy. This desire created my book idea.

[Me]:Based on the reviews and feedback that you have received for your book, do you feel you have been able to strike a chord and connect well with the readers? It definitely inspired me!
[Sheri]:The reviews have been wonderful and my book seems to be well received. I think every author has some nervousness associated with reviews. The book has connected with readers and one thing I am told, often, is that people feel like I am writing to them on a personal level-like I already know them and their stories. I felt blessed during the writing process and allowed the book to flow into creation, so I did have a peacefulness about the book and that it was meant to reach people.


[Me]:How long did you take to write this book? Your book is mainly based on your personal experience which in itself is a positive indication to all the readers that the methods suggested in your book will yield desired results. Did you still do any additional research while writing this book?
[Sheri]: I wrote the book in five and half weeks and published it about five months from the date that I started writing. It happened very quickly and I felt inspired during this time period and not pressured to make things happen. I do have some quotes in my book and some verses from the Bible, so I did have some research related to this information. The way that I live my life is a result of a lifetime of studying leadership, motivational, and spiritual books and living a spiritual life. I know some people study and study, but don’t get it. You have to have an open heart and be willing to change and grow. I maintain this openness so that I will continue to grow. I could have stopped at the point of seeing my own life change, but I felt, deeply that there were others who were searching and wanted more joy and happiness. If I could inspire people to be their best selves, I thought I should share what I have learned along with the very personal way that I apply my techniques.


[Me]:The cover design looks simple and serene. How did you arrive at it?
[Sheri]: I knew that I wanted something that would convey wisdom along with the idea of happiness and joy. I brought about six or so book covers that I liked to my graphic designer and then we talked about my book. I sent her an electronic version of my book so she could read through and get the feel of the material. Then she came up with three concepts for me. I picked my favorite, but did not tell anyone and then everyone that I asked for their opinion picked the same concept that I liked. The final cover is very close to one of the first three concepts. We made a few slight changes. I think that my openness with my graphic designer helped convey to her what I was looking for. Though I think that she went beyond anything I could have created if left on my own. She was very good.

[Me]: Why did you choose to add exercises/workspaces with blank lines at the end of each chapter? Did you feel that it would work well with the readers?
[Sheri]: I think that people need to work and reflect in order to really incorporate change in their lives. I felt that if people had exercises and work spaces that they would be more inspired to write down thoughts as they occurred. I also felt that having these exercises created almost a dialogue between the readers and me. It provides an opportunity to connect with the material at a deeper level, as well. I, also, like reading books with workspaces and exercises.

[Me]: Have you always considered yourself a writer or was it just something that you felt you needed to do at this point in life? Do you have any advice for aspiring writers like me?
[Sheri]: From a young age, I knew that I was a writer, but I did not really aspire to make it a career. I was sure that one day I would write and publish a book, but I also imagined that I would have a career that is separate from my writing and I do. I am a life coach and work with individual clients as well as groups. Publishing my book did spark other types of writing. I started writing poetry and short stories again. My advice to an aspiring writer is to continue to get to know yourself on a very deep level and write about things that are meaningful and important to you. Don’t write about things that you think you should write about. Write where your heart leads you. When I stopped telling myself what I should do, was the moment my book was born.

[Me]: What kind of books/authors have influenced you the most and why?
[Sheri]: I like philosophy. Aristotle and Kant are some of my favorite theorists. I look to the Holy Bible for inspiration. I had it open during most of my writing. I like thinkers like Thomas Jefferson, Napoleon Hill, and Dale Carnegie. My taste also includes modern books from Stephen Covey, John C. Maxwell, Daniel Goleman, Jack Canfield, Janet Attwood, and Joe Vitale. I think Joel Osteen’s first book was very good. I tend to like books that focus on positive thinking, spirituality, love, character, and leadership. My list could actually go on and on. For lighter reading, I like biographies of presidents and world leaders, and for fun, I like historical fiction and mysteries.


[Me]: Are you working on your next book? Would it be an inspirational one too? What should the readers expect from you?
[Sheri]: My next book is an inspirational book directed specifically towards people suffering from post traumatic stress disorder. I think there is a great deal of suffering for these individuals, yet people out of survival needs have to function in the real world. For PTSD individuals, functioning is greatly impaired. I suffered from PTSD and consider myself to be one who has overcome the disorder. Some studies indicate that as many as 50% of sufferers do not fully recover. I am interested in why and how some people do seem to recover. Some of my research for this is part of my doctoral studies.

[Me]: What do you like to do when you are not writing?
[Sheri]: I am very involved in my children’s activities and in our local church. I do like reading, traveling, social networking, visiting and entertaining friends and family, and I work full time with my life coaching practice. For fun, I teach some college classes on the subjects of ethics and business.

[Me]: Do you see any challenges in writing self - help/inspirational books?
[Sheri]: I think one challenge in writing inspirational books is to arrive at something new. And, really, so many of the greatest thoughts are from ancient times-Jesus, Aristotle, Buddha, Confucius, Socrates, Plato and others. One thing that makes my book unique is that I weave my personal story into it and show how I have applied the keys to living joyfully to my life. I am honest about struggles and victories, and I think that my readers sense this and develop a connection.

[Me]: Did you face any rejections or issues while publishing or promoting this book?

[Sheri]: I chose to self-publish from the beginning, so I did not face any rejection.

[Me]: After I read the book and mailed you seeking advice, you were very kind enough to reply to my emails very quickly. Considering that your book has reached a larger audience, don’t you feel overwhelmed with such emails? How do you manage time to reply to each of these?
[Sheri]: Hearing from readers seeking advice is one of the greatest joys that I have received since writing the book. One thing I have learned is that we are all more similar than we are different as humans. I enjoy being able to personally respond to emails like this and set it as a high priority. It gives me more energy instead of overwhelming me. I set time aside each day to respond individually to people. Now, I do run into some roadblocks here and there. For instance, sometimes I will have people call me out of the blue (I have my cell phone number on my website) and they will give me their email address and I write down the wrong address (perhaps transposing numbers or letters). I am not able to get back to some of these people and have no way to let them know that I want to respond to their request. Sometimes I try to solve this by letting messages go to voicemail so I have a better record, but there are times when I feel very powerfully that I must answer the call because the person needs me. Usually, I am able to respond quickly.

[Me]: If you had a chance now, would you change anything about this book or do something different?
[Sheri]: I feel happy to say that I would not change anything about the book, but now that I have learned more about marketing, I would have done more prebuzz before the published date.

[Me]: What ways have you been promoting your book, online and offline? How important do you think self-promotion is?
[Sheri]: Self-promotion is highly important whether you are self-published or with a major publisher. I have been on a virtual book tour with Dorothy Thompson in March and April of 09. The Chicago Sun Times picked one of my interviews up. I do a lot of social networking on Facebook, twitter, LinkedIn, and a few others. I also have an account on authorsden.com. I publish my poetry there and have a blog. I love networking with other authors. I have a blog on my website (this also feeds into my Amazon listing for the book). I am a guest speaker for different groups locally, as well.

[Me]: Thanks for your precious time and also for sending me a review copy of this book. I will always treasure it!

Hope you readers enjoyed reading this interview as much as I did interviewing Sheri! :)

Interview with Diana Spechler : Author of Who By Fire

I got to know about 'Who By Fire' when I read a review of it on Ramya's Bookshelf. The book caught my attention immediately and I read up a lot more reviews of it on the network of book blogs that I regularly follow. There was something about this book that seemed quite interesting to me at the very first go and made me want to read it. I am still eagerly looking to get a copy of it.

I have always wanted to get to know the author better before I read the book. I personally feel, knowing the author and the thoughts that went behind writing the book gives you a totally different perspective when you read it... Incidentally I got in touch with Diana Spechler, the author of 'Who By Fire' and she was very kind enough to spare some time to answer all my questions. Thanks again Diana!!

(Photos from author's website)


Here's an excerpt of the interview that I wanted to share with all you readers. I hope this helps you to get to know her better, get some tips on writing, and may be even make u want to grab this book! :)
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Me: What inspired you to write your first book, Who By Fire? How did you get the idea for the story and the characters? Is it drawn from any experiences of someone you know? If so, how much of the book is realistic?
DS: It’s made up, but I have spent a lot of time in Israel, so I was able to draw on those experiences. I wrote a story about the characters from Who By Fire when I was a grad student. When I graduated, I returned to the story and fleshed it out into a novel. It took four and a half years


Me: After reading multiple reviews and the excerpt of your book, I am very eager to know what made you choose the title “Who By Fire” and also how did you come up with the cover page?
DS: The title comes from a Jewish prayer that includes a litany of ways a person might die: “…who by fire, who by water,” etc. I love that prayer. It’s so haunting. As for the cover, my publisher sent me four choices. The one I picked was by far my favorite.


Me:The story of “Who By Fire” does seem like something that can have a huge impact on the readers. The multiple reviews of the book on the internet and book blogs bear testimony to this fact. Is there any specific message in your novel that you want the readers to grasp?
DS:I’m not looking to send a message. I do hope people like the book and want to read more of my work. If I could inject a subliminal message into the pages, it would be, “You love Diana Spechler’s writing.”


Me: If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your book, Who By Fire?’
DS: I can’t even think about that. Okay, obviously I think about it. I try not to look at the book too often. If I do, I find things I’d like to change. I spent so much time rewriting (writing is mostly rewriting), so looking at Who By Fire and thinking of ways to change it became a habit I have yet to break.

Me: Based on the reviews and feedback that you have received for your book, do you feel you have been able to influence and connect well with the readers?
DS: I am overjoyed that people like the book. Before it came out, I had nightmares about bad reviews. Then the reviews were glowing, almost across the board. It was mind-blowing. It was like being in high school and finding out that every hot guy in my class had a crush on me. Which never happened. I’m just saying.


Me: What was the hardest part of writing Who By Fire? Did you face any significant challenges?
DS: Plot! It took me forever to come up with a plot! Plot always comes last for me. Characters come first.


Me: When and why did you begin writing? Did you always dream of becoming a writer someday or did it just happen in the due course of life?
DS: Becoming a writer isn’t one of those things that “just happens.” It takes a lot of work and self-discipline. But I never wanted to do anything else. Writing was always the thing I loved best. I’ve been doing it since I could pick up a pencil. So in a way, becoming a writer was natural, but mostly, it was grueling. If you want to be a writer—like really be a writer—you have to thicken your skin and understand that you are going to face a ton of rejection

Me: Being a writer yourself, I am curious to know what kind of books/authors have influenced the most in your life and, why?
DS: It’s hard to say and it changes all the time, but a few authors that I know impacted me were Joy Williams, Raymond Carver, and J.D. Salinger. When I discovered those writers, I recognized a simplicity (which is actually far from simple to craft) that I wanted to emulate. I studied their fiction carefully to figure out how they did what they did. Of course, you can study someone’s writing forever and never quite figure it out. There’s no formula.

Me: Have you read Indian Fiction? If yes, what are your thoughts on it? If not, is there any specific reason that you haven’t felt like reading it till now? Who is your favorite Indian author?
DS: India has produced many great fiction writers. My favorite is probably Jhumpa Lahiri.

Me: There is a lot of fresh talent emerging these days, with a new book on shelves every couple of weeks. Are there any new authors that have caught your interest?
DS: I am partial to contemporary fiction. I love Curtis Sittenfeld, Rebecca Curtis, Katherine Taylor, and Aryn Kyle, to name a few.

Me: Are you working on your next book already? What should your readers expect from you?
DS: Yes. I’m writing a novel set at a weight-loss camp for children in the mountains of North Carolina.

Me: Every writer at some point experiences a ‘writer’s block’. Have you ever been through that phase? If so, how did you overcome it?
DS: Writer’s block is a real thing. It’s awful. Like blue balls. From what I hear. I like to read good fiction to pull myself out of it. But it doesn’t always work. One time, I had writer’s block for almost a year. I was going through a lot of life changes and I just couldn’t concentrate. I mean, I wrote, but I wrote very little of substance, and I was constantly frustrated.

Me: Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers who are planning to pick a copy of this book (including me :-)) ?
DS: Get in touch and let me know what you think!

Me: I wish to be a writer someday. Do you have any suggestions to help me become a better writer? Do you feel it is a skill that can be acquired or is it that some people are just gifted with the talent?
DS: I think you have to have talent, but that’s just the first step. A lot of people have talent. The ones who take it to the next level are the ones who are willing to do the work.

Me: What other things in life interest you? What do you usually like to do when you're not writing?
DS: I love the people in my life. I spend a lot of time with my friends. I also love Bikram yoga. And of course, I love to read.

Me: Who critics your writing?
DS: I have a few friends who are also professional writers who read my work for me. I don't know what I would do without them. They help me so much, and they have saved me a lot of embarrassment!

Me: What was the best piece of advice you've received with respect to writing?
DS: Write every day.