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Sunday, February 26, 2012

Welcome to my blog Wendy and Myron.  Thank you for taking the time to answer a few questions about yourself, your book, writing services and travel experiences.


Myron at Work 
 
Q. Tell us about your latest worktitle, genre, etc. and why you wrote it?
A.  Cats are creatures with multiple personalities…most of them good.  They pay attention to the most important matters at hand and don’t give a second look at something bothersome.  We could learn something from them…
That’s why I “asked” my cat, Myron, to share some wisdom on how he lives life. It’s a simple concept, really. But one we often overlook. 
This humorous short read reminds us how to slow down and enjoy life like a pampered cat. Remember…don’t take yourself too seriously.

Q   What draws you to your genre(s)? Why is this type of story compelling to you?
A. Humor has always been an important part of my life. Seeing things differently is second nature to me. Combining those I watch as Myron often provides me with inspiration as well as humor throughout the day.
Working from a home office, distractions are inevitable. Distractions from him sometimes help my writing or editing processes. Those distractions can help if I get “stuck” when writing. They remind me to look at things differently.
Myron’s antics and his view of life’s issues provided the background for this book.

Q.  What is your writing process like? Do you map the whole thing out or do you just let it unfold?
A.  I start with an outline. Regardless of the size of the book I am writing…I start with an outline. Often it will be revised and additions will be made. But it is a starting point for me and it keeps me working toward my end result.
Having said that, things do unfold throughout the process. And that’s okay. But I feel it is a more cohesive piece by starting with an outline. It is the roadmap in my process.

Q.   What kind of research was involved in writing your book?
A.   For this book…not much.  Observing my cat is about all it took. That’s not true of other books I have written or am writing, however!

Q.   How much of YOU makes it into your characters?
A.   Many times, my sense of humor makes it into my characters. For this book…I believe my sense of humor allowed me to take Myron’s antics and expressions and turn them into “lessons”.

Q.    What is the most positive experience in your writing process?
A.  Helping other authors realize their dream of having their manuscript turned into a book. It happens over and over. Plus, it’s nice when I get a referral from a satisfied client. That always feels great.

Q.  What is the hardest part of writing for you?
A.  When I am writing a book that requires research…that is a part I do not enjoy doing and becomes a “chore” for me. In a perfect world the research would be already done for me and then I would just use it as I need it. 
The other piece is devoting time. As we all know our everyday lives get so involved. Writing is on my calendar but some days I let interruptions take over. I’m getting better about this, though.

Q.  Do you have a favorite place where you like to write?
A.  In the spring, summer, and fall…by the pool. In the winter…in my office.

Q.   How do you balance the need to have time to write with the needs of family, society, etc.?
A.  Balancing my writing with other necessities is easier some days than others. For me, I rely heavily on my calendar. I’d like to say I strictly stick to that calendar…but not so.
It does keep me focused and gives me a weekly overview of what I need to get done.
Since I do manuscript editing on a freelance basis sometimes that takes precedence when I should be writing. Therefore, I have developed a system which works fairly well. I devote a full day some weeks or a few half days other weeks to my writing and not my editing business. Those days are added to my calendar.
Throughout the course of writing books and articles I now know what it takes to accomplish a completed project, whether that is a book, e-book, or magazine article. I set a deadline for myself and add it to my calendar. Again, that can change. But I have found it doesn’t change all that much once it is on my calendar.
When I first started I only put my writing on my “imaginary calendar” and not on my “real” one. That did not work. My writing always got lost somewhere.

Q.  What do you read for fun when you’re not writing?
A.  I love fiction books, humorous books, travel books, inspirational books…depending upon my mood. I also like to read home and garden magazines.


Q.   Have there been any authors in particular, that inspired your writing?
A.  Styles vary of the authors I love to read. Jack Canfield, John C. Maxwell, Danielle Steele, Erma Bombeck, Nora Roberts, Seth Godin, Robert Kiyosaki, Dave Barry…as you can see this varied list goes on and on.

Q.   Is there a story you want to tell behind or about your work(s)?
A.   About this book…only that life is short and we need to enjoy it as well as ourselves.

Q.  What other projects are you currently working on or about to start?
A. I just co-authored a book about women and success…”My Life the Sequel; a Girlfriend’s Guide to Personal Success”.
Currently I am working on a couple of other books.
I am writing one about my dad and WWII. This is a fiction book, based on facts. Dad had stories but did not share all of them. After he died I found a box of “things” from WWII, with photos, stories, letters, and more. I also learned some things from my aunt. The story is from a daughter’s perspective, finding this box, and remembering the stories as a little girl. That’s why it will be fiction…I do not have all the facts.
Secondly, I am co-authoring a series of children’s books. These will be from Myron’s perspective once again. This time they will have a message for children, one per book. For instance, one will be about saying please and thank you, another will be about telling the truth, another about bullying, and so on.

Could you share some of your marketing strategies?  Which ones are the most effective in your opinion?
A.  I use a management services firm to do my websites, monthly newsletter, social media postings, blogs, and other marketing items. It is up to me to develop how I want things to look, add content to the blogs, write the newsletter, etc. They put it together and do the postings.
This is the part that is my least favorite. Perhaps because I know the least about it!
Again, I add my responsibilities to my calendar. It is on my 2012 list to learn more, develop more of a plan, and move it forward.

Q.  What would be the top five, (or 3 or 1 or however many) things you would tell aspiring authors?
A.  Educate yourself on the process of writing, researching, editing, publishing, self publishing, and marketing your books.
Gather as much information as possible. If this means taking a workshop, attending a seminar, or whatever…do it.
If you are not already disciplined…develop that discipline.
Develop a process that works for you…start with a calendar to set aside your writing time, research time, etc.
Gather a team to help you…an editor, cover designer, formatter, marketer, web designer, publisher, and more. All of these professionals must be involved if you want a polished product. If you want to write…write. Let other professionals do their parts. You do not need to do it all. In fact, it’s better if you do not.

Q.  I understand that you along with your books you provide a writing and editing service.  Could you tell our readers about this?
A. Yes. As a published author I understand what it takes for an author to turn his or her writings into a finished product. In my VanHatten Writing Services I offer several approaches for authors.
I offer a One on One Coaching Program where a new author or one needing some extra help can work with me. In this I tailor my program to meet their needs. For instance if a writer is just getting started but keeps getting stuck or off track in their writings…I help them by setting some goals, putting some accountability measures in place, help with developing an outline, and so on. I offer feedback, assistance, and work closely with the writer. Sometimes a seasoned author will hire me to assist in one part of their manuscript in order to get the “flow” better or to develop a character.
In addition, I am a freelance editor for authors. I work with authors of most genres all over the world editing their manuscripts and assisting them in getting their manuscripts ready for publishing. I edit website copy for some business owners, business brochures, magazine articles, promotional submissions, etc.
I am also an editor for a regional magazine in northern California. My travel articles can be found in a quarterly publication, Siouxland.

Q.  Is your blog on Travels and Escapes mostly about places you have been?  Where is your favorite place in the world?
A. in my Travels and Escapes blog, the places I talk about are places I have been. Occasionally I will give some info regarding a place I have heard about and will ask for feedback from readers. Also, the tips and ideas are ones that have been used by me or by a trusted source. Anything on there will have been tested and tried. All the photos are ones I have taken.
My favorite place…that’s a hard one to answer. There are so many I love. If I could list a few they would include: the northern California coast; Yosemite National Park; Sienna, Italy; Sedona, Arizona; beaches in San Diego, CA; Luxembourg, Napa Valley, CA in the spring…the list goes on and on.
In a nutshell my favorite place is where I am traveling to next.


Again, thanks Wendy for taking the time to share your knowledge with us. We appreciate you and your work.  And a special thanks to Myron for all his hard work!

Good luck with your current and future publications.

For more information: 
           Email:                  wvanhatten@gmail.com                  
       
         Purchase:         www.amazon.com or directly from author at   wvanhatten@gmail.com


         Blog/Website:          http://www.wendyvanhatten.com/www.vhwritingservices.com www.wendyvanhatten.com  



   Please go to the comments button below in white box next to the time to interact with our Author and other readers.

        


Monday, February 20, 2012

Welcome to my blog Sarah.  Thank you for taking the time to answer a few questions about yourself, your book ‘99 Things Women wish they knew before Getting Fit Without Hitting The Gym’, T.V. appearances, and Dancing with Parkinson’s.



 
Q. Tell us about your latest worktitle, genre, etc. and why you wrote it?
A.  My latest book Getting fit without Hitting the Gym is part of the revolutionary 99 series. It is a practical, fun and simple guide to living a healthier life in the places where you are spending the bulk of your time without having to go to the gym. There is a health crisis with over 3 billion people suffering from obesity on our planet.  One of the main reasons is that people have a lack of time and money to workout. In this very unstable economic time people are working more and more hours and can’t seem to find the time to take care of their physical and mental fitness. This book breaks down the perceived barriers to healthy fit living by giving day by day tips and tools to live a more active, mindful and satisfying life through exercise in the places people are spending the bulk of their time.

Q   What draws you to your genre(s)? Why is this type of story compelling to you?
A.  I have been in the fitness industry for 15 years and have seen trends come and go. The only truly sustainable way to increase your longevity and stay energized and healthy is through exercises. I empathize with the masses that it can be truly impossible to make it to the gym when we have so many obligations with work and family. It is a necessary step to start looking at our environments as our own 24 hour gyms so that we can make practical and incremental efforts to live healthier. I am very inspired and passionate about finding sustainable approaches to healthy fit living. I am not interested in quick fixes, boot camps or spending hours on end working out. I don’t believe that fitness is an all or nothing approach. Healthy living can be obtained by taking little steps each day on the path to longevity and a tight tush! Every little bit of exercise adds up and has a huge pay off for our mind body and soul.

Q.  What is your writing process like? Do you map the whole thing out or do you just let it unfold?
A.  Usually I brainstorm for a few days and jot down whatever comes to mind. Then I ask clients and other people what their personal challenges are on the subject. I then research answers and try to make them as simple and practical to understand. I always begin with the main chapter headings so there is a clear road that unfolds. I wrote about 5 drafts of this book. If I had more time I would still be doing re –writes!

Q.   What kind of research was involved in writing your book?
A.   I am a health journal junkie, read magazines, surf the web, and ask professional opinions to make sure I have the facts right. Most importantly I am writing from years of experience in implementing the tips and tools with myself and my clients. I have seen great success with those who fit little bits of exercise in all throughout the day.

Q.   How much of YOU makes it into your characters?
A.   100 percent of what I write is personally applicable. Write what you know. I can be confident to say I know about the challenges of fitting it all in. We all face many demands, challenges and barriers to health. I have found ways to leap through the gates and make mindful minute by minute changes to make life easier and more enjoyable to live.

Q.   How do you balance the need to have time to write with the needs of family, society, etc.?
A.   When I am writing (even now as I fill out this interview) I set my alarm 2 hours before the household wakes up! I need absolute quiet! I am a single mom and have a dog and run a few businesses. Once my son and dog wake up it’s a bit of a scramble. I work best in the morning …my brain turns to mush at 7pm at night.

 Q.  When you are able to take time away from writing and your business what do you do for fun and relaxation?
A.  I love to have dinner with my friends, get a massage or go see a movie with my son.

Q.  What other projects are you currently working on or about to start?
A.   I am currently developing a TV series aimed at getting people fit on the job…stay tuned.

Q.  Could you share some of your marketing strategies?  Which ones are the most effective in your opinion?
A.  Social networking is the way to go. Also you can’t be afraid to ask, friends family and colleagues to spread the word. If you believe in what you have written about its easy to ask.

Q.  What would be the top five, (or 3 or 1 or however many) things you would tell aspiring authors?
A.  Looking back on published work can be disheartening…lots of I should haves pop up. Don’t be down on yourself for anything you have written. You can always improve on it in your next book!

 Q.  Sarah, you have a very interesting background.  I understand that you are a trained Ballet Dancer and have trained at the Bolshoi Ballet School, Moscow.  Could you tell us about your experience as a dancer?
A.  I began dancing at 10 years old in Toronto with a professional childrens company. When I was 16 I trained in Russia and went right to Europe to begin my career. I danced classical ballet for many years then moved into musicals . I had a wonderfully lucky career as a dancer and choreograpgher that provided me with a motivation and work ethic that has helped me in every aspect of my life.

QWhat led you to design dance classes for people with Parkinson's Disease?
A.  I was working as a personal trainer with  a client who was diagnosed with Parkinsons disease and I was researching the best way to get his body moving through exercise. I learned that dance was a good therapy from a company in NYC and I decided that would be my give back to the community by starting a weekly dance class for those with PD. Please visit our website www.dancingparkinsons.com
It is a magical class that is the highlight of my week. We now are in our 4th year operations and have 5 locations in our city.

Q.  I am sure my readers would be interested to learn more about your T.V.  work in New York and Toronto.
A.  I am on air fitness expert for a couple of shows I Toronto and in NYC. I provide segments on every topic to improve our physical health. I always provide  exercises that can be done anywhere anytime without going to the gym.

Q.  Are the people you work with in keeping fit from all walks of life or mainly business women and men?
A.  I train every age and ability. I have some children suffering with obesity and young adults . I train actors, bankers, musician, doctors, ….personal training isn’t just for the wealthy anymore. I think more and more people are realizing that personal traiining can really help them with a clear structure to reaching their goals.

Q.  Can you share with our readers one of your most effective/favorite keep fit tips?
A.  I try to make everything in my life as active as possible. I walk run or ride my bike wherever I can. I play sports with my son. I make running dates with my girlfriends . I try to incorporate fitness into every aspect of my life so I don’t resent slogging away at the gym!

Again, thanks Sarah for taking the time to share your knowledge with us. We appreciate you and your work.

Good luck with your current and future publications, T.V. show and Dancing with Parkinson's.

For more information: 
Email:                             sarah@sarahrobichaud.com                      
Purchase:                     Amazon and 99 series website     
Blog/Website:              http://www.sarahrobichaud.com/index.html    http://www.99-series.com/

Sarah Robichaud is an on-air fitness expert for CBC Television's Steven and Chris and CBS Early Morning Saturday in NYC.
 
Sarah is also the president, founder and creative director of the charitable organization Dancing with Parkinson's.
 She is the Author of Getting Fit Without Hitting the Gym, and of Working on the Ball - a simple guide to office fitness. Sarah is a motivational keynote speaker for corporate events and wellness workshops.

 Please go to the comments button below in white box next to the time to interact with our Author and other readers.




Monday, February 13, 2012

99 things you wish you knew before...Planning for Retirement
Welcome to my blog Helen.  Thank you for taking the time to answer a few questions about yourself, your business, 99 Series, and your book, 99 things you wish you knew before…Planning for Retirement.



 
Q. Tell us about your latest worktitle, genre, etc. and why you wrote it?
A.  As a financial specialist for over 10 years, I realized that women were not getting the proper information to help reduce poverty in their retirement.  I spent thousands of hours building retirement plans for women and decided a book in this format would be the easiest way to inform them without overwhelming them.

Q   What draws you to your genre(s)? Why is this type of story compelling to you?
A.  This is a story about my life and why I became a financial specialist so it’s not only a true story, but written in a very specific format that makes the book a map of a woman’s life and how not to take the wrong path.

Q.  What is your writing process like? Do you map the whole thing out or do you just let it unfold?
A.  The 99 Series is about the Top 11 points of any given subject- so we take the top 11 points of retirement, they become the chapters and we write from there.

Q.   What kind of research was involved in writing your book?
A.   Thousands of hours!!! Online, in person, speaking at seminars….

Q.   How much of YOU makes it into your characters?
A.   All of me. I breathe the books I write.

Q.   How do you balance the need to have time to write with the needs of family, society, etc.?
A.   Writing is therapeutic and it helps my family because I have learned to cope better.

Q.   Have there been any authors in particular, that inspired your writing?
A.   Robin Sharma and Napoleon Hill.

Q.   Is there a story you want to tell behind or about your work(s)?
A.   The story is  http://womenonthefence.com/2010/02/15/a-single-moms-valentines-day-one-womans-story/ all played out here to help inspire other women.  

Q.  What other projects are you currently working on or about to start?
A.  The 99 Series was the journey that took me to my Write Club- the opportunity to work with children encouraging them to read and write their own stories that the 99 Series publishes. www.writeclub.ca
Follow the link to read a very special book written by Katie Wood one of the Writeclub children.

Could you share some of your marketing strategies?  Which ones are the most effective in your opinion?
A.  Word of mouth is key- people talk a lot about networking but for me the most effective is just opening your mouth.

Q.  What would be the top five, (or 3 or 1 or however many) things you would tell aspiring authors?
A.  Write from your heart, stay true to yourself no matter how painful the writing is and never sell yourself short because you have valuable content to share with the world.

Again, thanks Helen for taking the time to share your knowledge with us. We appreciate you and your work.

Good luck with your current and future publications.

For more information: 

                  Email:                   Helen@99-series.com             
    Phone:                  514-298-3582           
Purchase:              Amazon, Kindle,

                              Blog/Website:     www.99series.com

                         Video:                http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lQnx-v-kCN4&feature=mfu_in_order&list=UL




Monday, February 6, 2012



Welcome to my blog Sue.  Thank you for taking the time to answer a few questions about yourself, your career, and books on Zero Stress for Selling.



 
Q. Sue you have an interesting background in sales and business. Could you tell our readers a little about yourself?  What are some of the events that have influenced your life as it is today?
A. I had been in sales for more than 25 years, with the last 9+ years as a sales manager for a Fortune 500 company with 10-14 sales representatives reporting to me. I was extremely busy with work eating up all my time and draining my energy. Unfortunately, this stress was taking its physical and mental toll. With my son in college, it was just me, the pets and my job. I got into the vicious cycle of working 12-hour days and sleeping 10-12 hours a night. Weekends passed as a blur of grocery shopping, laundry, napping and trying to catch up with work. I was stressed out to the max and ready to break apart.
I knew I had to make a change. I already had one stress-induced disorder, fibromyalgia, and I didn't want to get any other illnesses. So I took some time off from work and made some tough decisions to eliminate everything that stressed me out (including several friends). It took a while but I finally started to feel better. And eventually, I experienced a feeling of joy that I had not felt in a very long time. 

Q.  Please tell us about your book and why you wrote it?
A. It wasn’t until I started training and coaching on how to sell 11 years ago that I realized all the fear and stress that surrounds selling.

I would hear:
·         “Sue, I just don’t know how to close”
·         “How do I get my prospective client to actually talk to me instead of me doing all the talking?”
·         “Sue, how do I sell without being pushy but still make a great living?”
Out of these questions, Zero Stress Selling was born. I specialize in helping women business owners shift gears into relaxed, confident and lucrative sales conversations.

Now, I’m on a mission to help coaches and consultants fill their practices and to learn to enjoy selling without stress or fear.
Part of that mission was to write a book on how to get more clients and fill your practice using online methods of marketing.


Q.  What kind of research was involved in writing your book?
A.  I started my own online business after leaving corporate America and the book was a natural progression of all that I learned making my company, Zero Stress Selling, successful.

Q.  Is there a story you want to tell behind or about your work(s)?
A.  I absolutely love helping coaches and consultants find new clients online and then have relaxed and confident client enrollment conversations. By knowing how to close the deal, they will always have a full and thriving practice.

Q.  How many books have you written? How many have been published?
AI have written two books. The other book is “Zero Stress Selling: 7 No-Fail Strategies to Lose Your Stress Now”. It is for any woman who sells. They sell on Amazon.com, both as paperbacks and as Kindle editions.

Q.  What is the hardest part of writing for you?
A. There really hasn’t been a hard part. I enjoy the process and finished each book within 3 months’ time.

Q.  What is the most positive experience in your writing process?
A.  I love the idea that my books can be purchased inexpensively by any coach or consultant that needs help with marketing or with stress and work/life balance.

Q.   Do you have a favorite place where you like to write?
A.  I’m old-fashioned in that I like to write long-hand on yellow pads and then get my assistant to type the pages to send to my editor. So I enjoy writing curled up on my couch or armchair with my dog, Winnie the Pooh, at my feet.

Q.   What other projects are you currently working on or about to start?
A.  I’m starting a book on client enrollment strategies for coaches and consultants. I also offer classes and private consulting on how to get more clients and fill your practice.

Q.  Could you share some of your marketing strategies?  Which ones are the most effective in your opinion?
A. Having a system is very important, whether you do coaching or consulting from your home office or have a professional services business, like a financial planner or a chiropractor.

Offline activities, like speaking, networking and direct mail still work. But you can get more clients if you take your activities online in addition to just offline sales and marketing activities.

QWhat would be the top five, (or 3 or 1 or however many) things you would tell aspiring authors?
A.  Just push through and write. Don’t censor yourself – your editor can prune it back. Just keep on writing one page a day or three pages every weekend.

Q.  How do you balance the need to have time to write with the needs of family, society, etc.?
A.  Work/life balance is so important. I believe you have to figure out your most important values and spend time on the top 3 each and every day. I follow that system myself so that I spend time with my family, creating and writing and relaxing each day.

Q.  What do you read for fun when you’re not writing?
AMurder mysteries! I love Sue Grafton detective fiction the best of all.

Book Details-

#1 emphasis - can be only emphasis if we want: "Zero Stress Selling: 5 No-Fail Strategies to Get More Clients and Fill Your Practice.

It is for women business owners - primarily coaches and professional service providers.

If, and only if, we want to, #2 emphasis is "Zero Stress Selling: 7 No-Fail Strategies to Lose Your Stress Now" - same target market.

And my 3rd book is just a book of quotes that I give as gifts: "Zero Stress Selling: Inspiration for Women Business Owners"

Ask any other questions that may come to mind!

If you enjoyed these tips about article marketing and would like more practical sales and marketing strategies, visit Zero Stress Selling today. Sue is known for her relaxed and authentic customized client enrollment and sales conversion training.


Zero Stress Selling: 5 No-Fail Strategies to Get More Clients and Fill Your Practice

Your journey towards your thriving, full and successful practice will be simple yet practical – 5 no-fail strategies to help you achieve your goal of filling your practice with your ideal clients. You will learn the no-fail strategies of building your list, selling your services, doing profitable teleseminars, creating products, marketing with articles and how to connect with joint venture partners.


About Sue Kasson
Sue Kasson specializes in helping business owners get more clients by having relaxed, authentic and confident client enrollment conversations. She is on a mission to help coaches and consultants fill their practices and learn to enjoy getting clients without stress or fear.
Sue has a 20+ year sales and sales management background with several Fortune 500 companies and, in the last 11 years, has trained and coached hundreds of people to help them get more clients and sell more of their products and services. She is also the author of two books.
Senior District Sales Manager for 10 years at Novartis Pharma
Business Manager for 1.5 years at OrthoLogic
Sales Consultant for 3 years at Ciba and Dorsey
Business Manager for 2 years at Everest & Jennings
Executive Sales Consultant for 6 years at Wyeth Labs

Founder and creator of “New Leaders” group for newly promoted/hired sales managers at Novartis Pharma

Founding member of “Women in Leadership”, national organization for women in management at Novartis Pharma

Remember that kid who won the bike for selling the most at the school fundraiser?
That was me. I’ve always had a gift for selling.
But when I attended college in the 70’s, women didn’t go into sales as a career.
So I became a teacher. Finally, when one of my girlfriends got a job in sales in the early 80’s, I applied for sales positions so fast your head would spin.
Since then, I’ve sold matchbooks to hotels, linen service to restaurants and medical devices to hospitals and wholesalers. I was great at it, I won awards for it and I enjoyed it.
It wasn’t until I started training and coaching on how to sell 11 years ago that I realized all the fear and stress that surrounds selling.
I would hear:
·        “Sue, I just don’t know how to close”
·        “How do I get my prospective client to actually talk to me instead of me doing all the talking?”
·        “Sue, how do I sell without being pushy but still make a great living?”
Out of these questions, Zero Stress Selling was born. I specialize in helping women business owners shift gears into relaxed, confident and lucrative sales conversations.
I’m on a mission to help coaches fill their practices and to learn to enjoy selling without stress or fear.
And it would be my honor to show you how easy it is to fill your business with your ideal, high paying clients can be too.
Get a copy of my free report, The 3 Biggest Mistakes Coaches Make When Trying to Enroll Clients….and How You Can Avoid Them to get started now.