Author Bio (tell us about yourself)

I live in Alpharetta GA, with my wife of 16 years and our 9-year-old son. I am an assistant principal at a high school in town and have been an educator for 18 years. I enjoy soccer, music, and horror movies.

Tell us about your book. What is it about?

I was diagnosed with leukemia at 14 years old. I turned 20 when I was officially done with all my treatment. It dominated so much of my adolescence that I never really dealt the with the emotional piece of going through something like that. So, several years later, as an act of catharsis, I began writing down stories and memories from my time in the hospital and being sick. These short essays and stories became the book.

What motivated you to write this book? (Inform? Educate? Share?)

I never sat down to write a book. I mostly just began writing down these memories as way to expel some of the things I was thinking about and dealing with in the years following my treatment.

Who is your target audience for this book? Why should they read your book, or how will it help them?

Now that these passages are collected in a book, it really is for anyone who finds themselves diagnosed with cancer. I was a teenager when I was sick, but this book could be for anyone. It’s meant to show people that you can get through it and live a productive normal life afterwards. The title, “It’s A Lot Like A Bee Sting”, came from another little boy in the hospital at the same time with me. He shared his experience about a procedure he had when first admitted to the hospital. I would be facing that same procedure later that day and was extremely nervous and scared. His response of “Oh yeah, that! It’s a lot like a bee sting” helped me to calm down a bit. And knowing someone else went through it, and appeared to be fine, made it easier for me to face my fear.

Are your books tied to a business you own or work for? If so, tell us about that business and how the book and the business work together.

I don’t have my own business. However, I do feel that working with children every day can be stressful and my traumatic experience having cancer as a kid has helped me to relate to kids with a bit more insight, patience, and care. We all come into the building every day bringing some things from home that no one else sees. I remember going back to school after that long hiatus in the hospital. My backpack wasn’t the only baggage I carried into that school. I felt pain, fear, anger, and was very self-conscious about my physical appearance chemotherapy had produced. I try to keep those memories in mind when a student comes into school yielding some baffling behavior. One never really knows where it may have been generated and how it impacted his/her morning.

Are you ever concerned that the language of your book is either too technically difficult or too elementary and potentially insulting for your target audience? How do you decide?

I do have some chapters in the book that have some harsh language as well as some topics that may not be suitable for young children. However, these were experiences that happened to me as a teenager, and they are true to what happened. So, for my own purposes and my own emotions, I felt that I needed to include those things in my writings.

How long did your book take to complete?

About a year.

Are you currently working on another book? Is it the same genre?

I have no plans to write another book.

What is your goal as an author?

I wrote this for my own clarity and emotional help. I suppose if there was/is ever a time where I find the need to do it again, I would hope that I can devote the time to sit and write again.

Why did you decide to self-publish?

Honestly, my mother was the one who was able to have it self-published. She encouraged the stories to be put together and created the artwork for the cover of the book. She was really the one who made it become something that people could consume.

Did you use IngramSpark, Amazon KDP, or another company to handle the printing and distribution of your book?

Lightening Source/Ingram. It’s published under Little Worm Publishing. My mother is an author, Linda Oberlin, and self-publishes under her own company, LWP. She had a great deal of help from Jera Publishing and still uses them frequently for formatting, etc. for all of her books.

Did you purchase your own ISBN or have one assigned to you by Amazon KDP or IngramSpark?

I purchased my own through Bowker Identifier Services.

Now that your book is in print, do you have any regrets?

No regrets for me!

What parts did you do on your own, and what did you hire out to have done? (Editing, book design, cover design, eBook, marketing, etc.)

As stated before, my mother did the artwork for the cover and published under her publishing company, Little Worm Publishing. She typically is the one to market the book on her professional and private FB pages, LinkedIn, and Instagram. But neither of us are very interested in marketing. The technical formatting and editing work was done by Jera Publishing. All of the writing was done by me, however.

What is the most difficult part of writing this book?

Finding the time to do it. With work, family, and other interests it is important to spend the time on things in general that help you, motivate you, etc.

How old were you when you started writing?

I began thinking about and writing the essays for this around 24 years old.

What skills, education, and/or experience have you acquired that helped you develop as a writer for this topic?

Being an educator requires a lot writing and presenting every day. Even as a math teacher, you are constantly communicating with students, parents, school personnel, and the community in general. Finding ways to deliver material that fits, relates, educates, and informs all sectors of that community can be challenging.

 

Your Author Bio (tell us about yourself)

I am a retired businessman.  I write for the sheer enjoyment I of it.  I had little time for writing during my career.  And like most writers I read – a lot, mostly fiction.  Sometimes, after picking up a book and reading it through, I used to tell myself that I can write as well, if only I had enough time.  Now that I’ve finished my career, I finally have that luxury.

Tell us about your book. What is it about?

El Milagro is a short story, an uncomplicated feel-good parable. Set in the southwest circa World War II, it looks at discrimination through the innocence eyes of a child.

Who is your target audience suited for this story?

Young readers

Are you currently working on another book? Is it the same genre?

Yes, two others.  Both thrillers.

Why did you decide to self-publish?

I didn’t think I could find a publisher without an agent and I don’t have one.

Did you use IngramSpark, Amazon KDP, or another company to handle the printing and distribution of your book?

I decided to publish through Amazon KDP.  You can’t ignore Amazon’s immense market reach.  And it’s free.  It’s hard to beat that combination.

Now that your book is published, do you have any regrets?

Yes.  I might have avoided, or at least mitigated, startup problems had I sought help before getting started.  Things went much smoother after I signed up with Jera.

What parts did you do on your own, and what did you hire out to have done? (Editing, book design, cover design, eBook, marketing, etc.)

The text is my own.  A friend did the artwork, and Jera did the interior and cover design.

What is the most difficult part of writing this book?

Editing and proofing.

How old were you when you started writing?

Old enough to be on Social Security.  For me, career and writing were, for the most part, incompatible.

If you could tell yourself anything as a younger writer what would it be?

Start as soon as you can scribble, kid.

What motivates you as a writer?

The desire to be heard.  Like any other author, I don’t write to keep my work hidden like a candle under the proverbial bushel basket.

Do you try to be original or to deliver to readers what they want?

I don’t presume to know what readers want.  So, I write what I like while trying to be as original as I can.

Any advice you want to pass on to other authors looking to self-publish their book?

Seek quality help.  Scrub your manuscript before you submit it for publication.  Rinse and repeat this procedure until it’s clean.  Do not let sloppy work hurt your reputation.  Remember: The bane of self-publishing is poor craftsmanship and earns us the label of “not good enough for prime time.”

Tell us about yourself

Osunfemi Wanbi Njeri curates life-changing courageous conversations to build intergenerational communities of wellness. She has served her community through 1 on 1 sessions and has blessed crowds of up to 60,000 people using music, cardology & literature. Today Osunfemi is making her debut as a Children’s Book Author! As a Priestess of Osun, Certified Cardology Coach, Sickle-Cell Warrior, and Music Artist she’s helped thousands of people change their perspectives and realize their great potential! Her Album “Warrior Woman” is the catalyst for her Wellness Workshops as well as her new book Little Warrior Woman: Just Like Mama! Through interactive community workshops and her Instagram LIVE show “Lounge 11:11 All in The Cards’ ‘ she interviews local heroes, well-known celebrities, and offers her own wisdom as jewels of inspiration and insights towards their own personal healing.

Tell us about your book. What is it about?

Little Warrior Woman: Just Like Mama stands as a creative summation of easily applicable, foundational tools that have been proven to help anyone especially women and girls (re)direct their life with intention & purpose. Imagine how magical each day would be having the essential tools and time to develop a deeper spiritual practice with your child and yourself. Little Warrior Woman Just Like Mama is a story that reinforces good character, discipline, curiosity, freedom, and more through the eyes of Prosperity, our little shero.

What motivated you to write and publish a book for children? Is there a moral or message in your book, or is it just for fun?

I was completely guided to write a children’s book. In cardology, there is a writer’s card and I had it in 2019. I thought I would be writing music. And I did a little bit. But in the midst of recovering from a sickle cell crisis, the whole story came to me. It just flooded in or downloaded as some may call it. I got a close piece of paper and pencil and wrote it all down right then. Yes, there is definitely a moral to this story, there are many. However, a major theme is to develop helpful rituals, like brushing your teeth and washing your face, to offer children tools for grounding, alignment, and longevity.

Who is your target audience suited for in this story? What age group of children do you suggest for your book?

That was a big question for me, lol. I don’t like to conform. If I must narrow it down I’d say children ages 3-9. But in my eyes and the vision that was given to me, it is a book that grandparents will read to their grandchildren, mother’s and fathers to daughters and sons, single parents, everyone in the family is apart of my audience because it’s about passing down legacies of healing, laughter, fun and ritual… not trauma. Everyone is welcome to follow along, add their two cents and remember & share their rituals. It takes a family, a community to raise a child. I had a grown woman purchase the book for herself to nurture her inner child. Also, a mother of a newborn boy purchased the book for him, his first!

Do you have a favorite character in your story?

My favorite character is Mama. I like her style, lol.

Are you currently working on another book? Is it the same genre?

Yes, this book is the first in the series.

Do you find reviews helpful? Or intimidating?

All eyes on my work are helpful. I’m doing some amazing helpful life changing things.

Why did you decide to self-publish?

I self-published for ownership purposes. But also because I won’t wait for a company to discover me, I have to start and keep pushing what God gave me.

Did you use IngramSpark, Amazon KDP, or another company to handle the printing and distribution of your book?

I used IngramSpark

Now that your book is in print, do you have any regrets?

No, never.

What parts did you do on your own, and what did you hire out to have done? (Illustrations, editing, book design, cover design, eBook, marketing, etc.)

I wrote it and teamed up with the people the universe brought me to work with. This book wanted a team. It required and requires more than me to reach the audiences it wants to reach.

What would you do differently if you were to self-publish again?

I wouldn’t do anything different. I trusted the process and leaned into the necessary patience needed. Jera, specifically Kimberly has been Amazing to work with.

What is the most difficult part of writing this book?

Remembering where I put the piece of paper that I chicken scratched the story all over, lol.

If you could tell yourself anything as a younger writer what would it be?

Keep writing. Like Dori, just keep writing just keep writing, lol.

What marketing have you done for your book? What worked and what did not?

So far I’ve engaged my email list, text messages and social media. It has all worked well. We’ll be doing interviews starting next week and reaching out to other sources to help market Little Warrior Woman.

Did you start marketing before your book was launched? If not, do you regret that decision?

Yes. I’m so glad I did. It built up the anticipation, A Lot!

How do you use social media as an author? Has it worked well for you, or is it something you want to do more or less of?

I use it to promote my book, it works well and I enjoy it.

Which platform do you use the most?

Instagram

Any advice you want to pass on to other authors looking to self-publish their book?

 I do have advice. I will be sharing it all in a webinar for everyone who purchases the book from now until August 30th.

Anything else?

Get Your story out of you, on paper and into the hands of others. We’re not meant to transition, still holding onto all the knowledge, secrets, and wisdom.

Tell us about yourself

 After 24 years as a US Army paratrooper, as well as 4 combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, Colonel David Fivecoat, US Army, Retired, founded The Fivecoat Consulting Group. He now blogs, speaks, coaches gritty leaders, and helps develop gritty organizations. A native Ohioan, David Fivecoat resides in Columbus, Georgia.

Tell us about your book. What is it about?

Everyone wants more grit. Students. Athletes. Executives. Sports Teams. Entrepreneurs. Non-profits. Military units. Companies. Until now, there wasn’t a process to develop grit. In Grow Your Grit: Overcome Obstacles, Thrive, and Accomplish Your Goals, David Fivecoat combines science, hard-won experience, and a wide-range of real life stories to illuminate the mysteries of developing grit. Whether you are trying to grow your personal grit or attempting to develop your group into a gritty organization that achieves its long-term objectives, Grow Your Grit will help you do it more effectively. From the battlefield to the boardroom to the ballet studio, leaders are leveraging their grit to achieve the improbable. As Fivecoat shows, by harnessing your grit, we can transform ourselves, our lives, our families, our teams, our businesses, and our communities. Grow your grit, thrive, and accomplish the impossible.

What motivated you to write this book? (Inform? Educate? Share?)

I thought that other writers had done a good job of defining what grit is, measuring it, and describing it, but didn’t provide a process or a path for individuals or groups to develop their grit. This book tries to fill that niche.

Who is your target audience for this book? Why should they read your book, or how will it help them?

I wrote the book to help people who struggle to accomplish their goals both personally and professionally and need a process that can help them. Readers have ranged from teenagers to octogenarians and everyone in between.

Are your books tied to a business you own or work for? If so, tell us about that business and how the book and the business work together.

I own The Fivecoat Consulting Group which does executive coaching and leadership training with corporate groups. The book is a way for me to help more people than I can do one-on-one or with groups.

Are you ever concerned that the language of your book is either too technically difficult or too elementary and potentially insulting for your target audience? How do you decide?

No

How long did your book take to complete?

Almost a year.

Are you currently working on another book? Is it the same genre?

I’m currently promoting Grow Your Grit, working with individuals and companies to grow their grit, and trying to decide what I want to write on for book #2. Right now, I’m leaning towards a book to help individuals handle life and business transitions, both big and small, better.

What is your goal as an author?

To help people grow their grit and accomplish their goals.

Why did you decide to self-publish?

I liked the challenge of learning how to self-publish as well as the speed that it enabled me to take a book from idea to being in reader’s hands in almost a year.

Did you use IngramSpark, Amazon KDP, or another company to handle the printing and distribution of your book?

I used both IngramSpark and Amazon KDP.

Did you purchase your own ISBN or have one assigned to you by Amazon KDP or IngramSpark?

I purchased 10 ISBNs from a third party.

Now that your book is in print, do you have any regrets?

I wish I had finished the book and then spent three months promoting the presales. I would budget in an extra three months next time.

What parts did you do on your own, and what did you hire out to have done? (Editing, book design, cover design, eBook, marketing, etc.)

I did the writing and marketing myself. Jera Publishing did a great job with the cover design, interior design, and formatting. I hired an editor and an indexer to help me out as well.

What would you do differently if you were to self-publish again?

I would have done three months of promoting presales before releasing the book.

What is the most difficult part of writing this book?

Figuring out my own writing system and developing the perseverance to do something to make the book better every day – from writing to editing to researching to taking pictures.

If you could tell yourself anything as a younger writer what would it be?

Don’t wait until you are 50 to write your first book!

How old were you when you started writing?

I had written professional magazine articles for the past twenty years. This is my first book.

What marketing have you done for your book? What worked and what did not work?

I have done 9 podcasts on the book. I promoted the book on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram. I paid for ads on Amazon. I encouraged friends and family to post reviews of the book to help with the Amazon sales.

Did you start marketing before your book was launched? If not, do you regret that decision?

As soon as the cover format was done, I started promoting it for presales. Amazon makes it tough because until you post the digits of the book, you can only do presales of eBooks. Next time I’d finish the book, hang the digits, and spend three months promoting presales in eBook, paperback and hard cover formats.

How are you handling marketing with COVID closing down many events authors often do, such as book signings and book clubs?

I have done several book talks with corporate groups both before and after the book was published. I am also in talks to do a couple of more this fall virtually and in person.

Your Author Bio (tell us about yourself)

I grew up in the small town of Bartow, Florida. Following marriage, the birth of two sons, and an eventual move to Atlanta, Georgia, I embarked on a successful 30-year real estate career.

In 2008, I helped my Rotary Club organize a program to fly WWII veterans to Washington, D.C. to visit the memorials. I wrote tributes for many of the honorees, including one about my father, Herman Allen. As I learned more about his experiences during the war and about my mother’s parallel journey in the intelligence service, the OSS, I began to research the story of the Liberty Lady.

Tell us about your book. What is it about?

LIBERTY LADY is the true story of a WWII bomber and its crew forced to land in neutral Sweden during the Eighth Air Force’s first large-scale daylight bombing raid on Berlin. 1st Lt. Herman Allen was interned and began working for his country’s espionage agency, the OSS, with instructions to befriend a businessman suspected of selling secrets to the Germans. Soon Herman fell in love with a beautiful Swedish-American secretary working for the OSS, their courtship unfolding amid the glamour and intrigue of wartime Stockholm. As Swedish newspapers trumpeted one of the biggest spy scandals of the war, two of the main protagonists walked down the aisle in a storybook wedding presided over by the nephew of the King of Sweden.

Who is your target audience suited for in this story?

When I began to write this book, my target audience was someone just like me … a person who was interested in WWII, specifically the air war, but didn’t know that much about it.

As I learned during my research, there was very little written in English about World War II in neutral Sweden. So my target audience became others who were interested in this important bit of history.

Recently, I was contacted by the Public Affairs Officer at the U.S. Embassy in Stockholm. They were developing a WWII Office of War Information outdoor exhibit and were using my book as a resource.

Do you have a favorite character in your story?

My favorite character would have to be Erica. She worked for German Intelligence doing a similar job as my mother did for the OSS. Erica hated the Nazis, however, and became a spy, known by her code name “Uncle.”

Do you find reviews helpful?  Or intimidating?

I have had heart-warming reviews, and I am grateful for every one of them. A favorite ends with “I loved reading this book.”

Why did you decide to self-publish?

While I was writing my book, people would ask, “Do you have a publisher?” My answer was always, “I’m not there yet.” The office for Jera Publishing was located in my city and hosted meet-ups of local authors.  They also had webinars for each aspect of self-publishing, and I took them all. When my book was ready, I knew I wanted to move quickly. It was an easy decision to work with Jera. Kimberly walked me through each step, very professionally.

Did you use IngramSpark, Amazon KDP, or another company to handle the printing and distribution of your book?

At Kimberly’s suggestion, I used both IngramSpark and Amazon KDP.

What parts did you do on your own, and what did you hire out to have done? (Editing, book design, cover design, eBook, marketing, etc.)

I had 2 friends who were professional editors and proofreaders, and they helped with editing. Jera’s professionals took care of the book design and the cover. I am very pleased with the results.

What was the most difficult part of writing this book?

People would ask, “Have you written before?” Yes, I wrote real estate marketing ads.  In 2009, my son Johnny suggested that I blog my research. At the time, I’m not sure I even understood what “blogging” meant. He designed my website, and I took off. Johnny was right. I connected with people from all over the world, and they found me.  www.LibertyLadyBook.com

I’ve said so many times that the research was fun. Some highlights:

1. I went to Sweden twice.

2. Attended 2 reunions of my Dad’s 8th Air Force bomber group, the 306th.

3. My initial research was at the library of the National Museum of the Mighty Eight Air Force Near Savannah, GA.

4. Rode in a B-17 bomber.

5. Interviewed many WWII veterans.

6. Spent 2 weeks at the National Archives near Washington, D.C.

7. Visited the Air University Library at Maxwell AFB in Montgomery, Alabama, twice.

8. Toured the OSS exhibit in the CIA headquarters at Langley.

9. Watched hundreds of WWII movies.

10. Read dozens of WWII books.

11. Blogged faithfully at www.LibertyLadyBook.com

So, the research was fun. Sitting down and putting it all together as a book was the hardest job I’ve ever done.

If you could tell yourself anything as a younger writer what would it be?

Don’t be intimidated. Do your research, and get it done.

What motivates you as a writer?

What motivated me for Liberty Lady was pulling together all the research I did to create a historical record of what was happening in Sweden during the war.

How old were you when you started writing?

When I began the research for this book, I was 64 years old.

What marketing have you done for your book? What worked and what did not work?

Most of my marketing has been via my website, email, and Facebook. I held several book launch events.

 

Recently, I’ve been invited to do an author talk at the Mighty 8th Museum in Savannah. This will be later this year or early next.

Did you start marketing before your book was launched? If not, do you regret that decision?

I suppose I could say I began marketing in 2009 when I began to blog my research. The book was published in 2016.

Any advice you want to pass on to other authors looking to self-publish their book?

Use professionals to help you, and do your research. Beware of the many “vanity” publishers who will charge a lot and do very little. Again, Jera did a great job for me and I can highly recommend.

Anything Else?

When I (thought I) was 90% finished writing my book, I had the opportunity to interview an author who had written one of my reference books. When I told him how many words I had written so far, he told me my manuscript was too long. I took his advice and cut, honed, and edited for several more months. This was great advice and I’ll pass it on.

Tell us about your book. What is it about?

Truly “Nothing Wasted” as Dr. Kama Thomas invites you into her life to experience her joys, her disappointments and her nurtured dreams. Adorned in resilience, bravery and tenacity all wrapped in God’s undeniable favor, she faces every obstacle with grace. Her divine destiny to serve as a pharmacist, a journey “speckled” with hills and valleys, was no childhood conception but a mere “nudge.” While she thought her calling to serve as a physician was simply a dream deferred, God’s hand was upon her rearranging the canvas of her life.

 

She takes readers from her anchor of origin, the tiny fishing village of Anse La Raye in St. Lucia to the United States where her countless testimonies take root and sprout. Arriving in America at 17 years old in pursuit of higher education, she is awakened by a jolt of disappointment. As readers travel cross country with her, they are wrapped in the story of an immigrant woman who displays nothing shy of fortitude. Her selflessness knew no boundaries with unforeseen responsibilities.

 

In her story, there are no villains as she believes that every event positive or negative happens for her and not to her. She is grateful for every “no” that has helped change the trajectory of her life. As you travel this intimate unpaved path with Dr. Kama Thomas, your soul will never be the same as she inspires you and even demands that you assume your responsibility of living a life of purpose regardless of your calling.

What motivated you to write this book?

I have often been told that my story of migrating to the US is an inspiring one. I wrote this book in hopes that someone somewhere would hear my own story and this challenge them to revisit a dream they may have forgotten.

Who is your target audience for this book? Why should they read your book, or how will it help them?

My target audience is middle school and beyond. Immigrant stories seldom get told. Many people will be able to see themselves in my story because it is one of resilience and triumph over life’s hurdles.

Are your books tied to a business you own or work for? If so, tell us about that business and how the book and the business work together.

Yes, as a speaker, I often tell my own story in order to connect with my audience. Whether I am giving a commencement speech or speaking on a podcast, by telling my own story, I am hopeful that my audience will understand the importance of telling their own stories in an authentic and empowering way.

Are you ever concerned that the language of your book is either too technically difficult or too elementary and potentially insulting for your target audience? How do you decide?

 No, I sought to write a short book that almost anyone could read. I wanted to highlight stories along my journey that readers would identify with. I centered my stories around common themes that bind us; family, education, disappointment and triumph.

How long did your book take to complete?

Roughly 9 months

Are you currently working on another book? Is it the same genre?

Not yet but I hope to write another book which would be a devotional/book of affirmations.

What is your goal as an author?

My goal as an author is to ensure that my readers feel seen and heard. That they identify something in my story that resonates with them on a personal level. That my readers leave inspired and encouraged after finishing my book.

Why did you decide to self-publish?

I chose self publishing because it afforded me the freedom to work on the book at my own pace and to make decisions that centered my own voice and ideas.

Did you use IngramSpark, Amazon KDP, or another company to handle the printing and distribution of your book?

Yes, both

Did you purchase your own ISBN or have one assigned to you by Amazon KDP or IngramSpark?

I purchased by own ISBNS on Bowker.com

Now that your book is in print, do you have any regrets?

No regrets, just a deep sense of accomplishment and joy.

What parts did you do on your own, and what did you hire out to have done? (Editing, book design, cover design, eBook, marketing, etc.)

I hired out: editing, book design, cover design, eBook design and social media graphics

What would you do differently if you were to self-publish again?

I would give myself a longer deadline for publication.

What is the most difficult part of writing this book?

Because the book is a memoir, the most difficult would have to be having to re-live difficult moments of my life throughout the writing process.

If you could tell yourself anything as a younger writer what would it be?

Write often and write freely.

What motivates you as a writer?

Knowing that I have created a body of work that I can be proud of. If my work impacts one life then I would have done my job.

How old were you when you started writing?

9 years old

What marketing have you done for your book? What worked and what did not work?

Social media posts on Instagram, LinkedIn, Created an opt in landing page, Podcast interviews.

Did you start marketing before your book was launched? If not, do you regret that decision?

Yes, I started marketing on social media platforms a few months in advance.

How do you use social media as an author? Has it worked well for you, or is it something you want to do more or less of?

I used Instagram to engage my audience prior to my book’s release and to grow my waitlist prior to the book being published.

Which platform do you use the most?

Instagram, then LinkedIn

How are you handling marketing with COVID closing down many events authors often do, such as book signings and book clubs?

Virtual book signings and Zoom podcast interviews

Anything Else?

My advice to other authors would be to not rush the process, celebrate small wins and ask for help when needed.