Empower You is geared towards readers who struggle with negative thinking, setting goals and sticking to them. Or, if you just feel stuck in life and feel like there's something more you should be doing with your life, then Empower You is the book for you.
Kezia Arterberry – 27 April 2018
The Back Flap
Empower You is all about empowering you to find the courage and motivation to pursue your goals, live your dreams and to ultimately live your life operating in your God given purpose. In Empower You, you will learn various tips and techniques that will help you develop the kind of mindset that will allow you to empower yourself in those moments when you need it most. This 70 day devotional focuses on the topics of self-confidence, goal-setting and developing a positive, success mindset. It's about shifting your focus (mindset), therefore enabling you to overcome setbacks and break past limiting beliefs so that you can be your best self and live your best life!
About the book
What is the book about?
Empower You is a motivational – devotional designed to escort you through 70 days of mindset transformation. There are 70 days, each with a new topic that will challenge your current way of thinking and help you to develop a more positive and optimistic perspective in life. It's a great place to start and offers stepping stones to success. I share tips and techniques that will help you improve in multiple areas in your life. The only catch is that you have to be willing to commit and to do the work!
When did you start writing the book?
I flirted with the idea of writing Empower You long before I actually began writing it. It wasn't until I attended a workshop called Publish a Book and Grow Rich, which lit a fire beneath me, inspiring me to write the book. The writing process began in December of 2015.
How long did it take you to write it?
It took me about 1 year and 6 months to write Empower You, not including editing and designing the book cover. Even after what I considered the "final edit" of the book being completed, there were sections that were added after the initial year and 6 months.
Where did you get the idea from?
As I mentioned, I'd flirted with the idea of writing this book long before I actually began writing it. The idea was to take the entries from an inspirational blog that I had written and to turn that into a book. The blogs I wrote were based on my personal life experiences and making the best of negative situations. I had the idea to turn that blog into a book for a while, but I never acted on it. That is, until I attended a workshop called Publish a Book and Grow Rich. That workshop inspired me in ways I cannot explain. The information I learned went beyond learning how to write and publish a book and make money from it. I learned things about mindset and success that changed my entire perspective on life and how we live it. Ever since, I've been on a mission to share the knowledge I learned from it, because I've seen results in my life after applying the information I learned. So, Empower You, encompasses both ideas but with a twist; a 70 day devotional for mindset transformation.
Were there any parts of the book where you struggled?
My biggest struggle while writing Empower You was writers block. As passionate as I am about the topic of mindset transformation, and as much inspiration as I had, I still had moments where I just felt stuck and didn't know what to write. And, I think that largely was due to my tendency to over-think and wanting to say the right thing, in the right way. Perfectionism, you can call it. When I was in that head-space, I would stop writing for a short period of time until I let go of the over-thinking, allowing myself to write freely. Because, once I began writing again, that's when the ideas would flow with ease.
What came easily?
Starting. Simply starting to write the book was the easy part for me, because I was feeling inspired and was full of ideas that I couldn't wait to get down on paper. I had all this momentum that made it feel like I could write the entire book in a day.
We all know how important it is for writers to read. Are there any particular authors that have influenced how you write and, if so, how have they influenced you?
There are so many individuals who inspire me, from family and friends, to well-known influencers. But, the one author I'd like to highlight is Brian Tracy! Brian Tracy is a very well-known author, motivational speaker, self-development and success expert. I absolutely love reading his books, because I have learned so much on topics that I have become very passionate about.
Do you have a target reader?
Empower You is geared towards readers who struggle with negative thinking, setting goals and sticking to them. Or, if you just feel stuck in life and feel like there's something more you should be doing with your life, then Empower You is the book for you. Empower You, is also a great read for the seasoned entrepreneur, as well as aspiring entrepreneurs in need of motivation and strategies to take their life to the next level!
About Writing
Do you have a writing process? If so can you please describe it?
I don't have a specific writing process. I tend to just write when I'm feeling inspired and having an idea in mind. It's one of those things where I'm spontaneous and go with the flow. But then again, that is how I go about doing a lot of things in my life. It helps me to be more creative and enjoy the "process."
Do you outline? If so, do you do so extensively or just chapter headings and a couple of sentences?
I do not outline. However, for Empower You, I did write in the format of outlining, simply because I had the 70 quotes as headlines/titles in place prior to writing what is really just an extension or elaboration of the quote itself.
Do you edit as you go or wait until you've finished?
I did not hire a professional editor to edit my book. So, I did edit as I went along, as well as after the book was completed. The editing process took a few months. Hiring a professional editor definitely would have saved time and energy.
Did you hire a professional editor?
No, I did not hire a professional editor this time. However, I did have someone else edit my writing only after I'd edited my book many, many times beforehand. I definitely plan on hiring a professional editor to edit my future books.
Do you listen to music while you write? If yes, what gets the fingers tapping?
It's funny, but I listen to music while I'm going to sleep, drive, cook, clean, etc. But, I must say, I do not listen to music while I write. I really enjoy writing in silence, because it feels like I can hear my thoughts more clearly, if that makes sense.
About Publishing
Did you submit your work to Agents?
I did not submit my work to an agent. This time around, I've really dedicated my time and effort to researching and figuring out how to successfully self-publish my book on my own.
What made you decide to go Indie, whether self-publishing or with an indie publisher? Was it a particular event or a gradual process?
I have had previous experience with self-publishing and traditional publishing. I made a mistake with both. I did not do my research. I got excited and went with the most convenient options made available to me at the time. To make a long story short, in both instances, I ended up with a box of books and no idea how to promote/market my book. And, in order to get support from the publisher, I would have pay up more money than I had available.
Did you get your book cover professionally done or did you do it yourself?
You know, I decided to really embrace the experience of self-publishing and decided to create my book cover myself. My goal for the book cover was to create something that would convey the overall concept of my book and standout in the company of other self-help and personal development books. I didn't want it to look like a typical self-help book.
Do you have a marketing plan for the book or are you just winging it?
One of the biggest mistakes I made in the past, with my 2 previous books, was not having a marketing plan. Unfortunately, at the time, I wasn't aware of the necessity of having a marketing plan for my book. So, this time around, I definitely have a marketing plan in place.
Any advice that you would like to give to other newbies considering becoming Indie authors?
Yes, I encourage new authors to take their time (writing the book) and don't rush the process. Also, do your research and do it well, when choosing a company to publish with. Publish with a company that will support you during the publishing process and after. And lastly, make sure that you have a marketing plan in place for your book. That way, you'll avoid the biggest mistakes I made with my previous books. By not doing my research and not having a marketing plan in place, I ended up with a box of books and no idea what to do with them, beyond selling to close family and friends. You can avoid that if you research well and plan, plan, plan in advance!
About You
Where did you grow up?
I was born and raised in the sunny and hot valley of the sun! I am a Phoenix native.
Where do you live now?
I live in my hometown of Phoenix, Arizona.
What would you like readers to know about you?
I love to laugh, I am a proud cheesehead (go Packers!) and really, I just love to see people win in life!
What are you working on now?
I am working on putting together my upcoming book tour which will officially kick-off in May, lasting all throughout 2018 and well into 2019!
End of Interview:
For more from Kezia, visit her website.
Get your copy of Empower You from Amazon US or Amazon UK.
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