Mega Artists Magazine #3

MEGA BOOK REVIEW
Issue no: 01
Is there anything you find particularly
challenging in your writing?
The fact that I write in English and I am a second language
speaker of the language is a challenge to a certain extent. I
indulgently insist on writing this foreign language the way I
speak it and at times that does not resonate with the editors.
That creates a struggle on how much of my African English
should go in and how much of it should be panel beaten.
Who is your favourite author and what is
it that really strikes you about their work?
I have many favourite authors. Maya Angelou and
Chimamande Ngozi Adichie are some of the outstanding
ones. That is because they always succeed in transporting
the reader into the world of their narrative. When you read
their text you feel like you are in fact in that world. You feel
and experience what the characters go through.
Do you have any advice for other writers?
I would advise them to invest time and hard work into their
work and also to consult with those who are more
experienced. And most of all to read a lot.
Do you have anything specific that you
want to your readers?
I would like to express my gratitude to all the humbling
positive feedback I have received from most of them and
also to the many who reviewed my work.
Do you ever have writer’s block?
No I have never experienced a writer’s block, but there were
many instances where I doubted myself.
You can get Love Interrupted at
Exclusive Books and Bargain books.
If it’s not on the shelves ask them to
order it for you. You can also
download it online or get the e-book
version from www.kalahari.com and
other sites.
To establish yourself as expert in a field.
In an era of increasing specialization, and a daily explosion in
knowledge, experts have clout and authority. So if you want
to be at the head of your field, you need that book – especially
if you’re a consultant or something similar, who’s hired
because of your expertise. And then you’ll probably need
another book in a few years’ time. But let’s worry about the
next book later.
To become a professional public speaker in your field.
Public speakers – the paid ones – still need a book to point to,
to establish their bona fides. The only exception to this is
celebrity status from something remarkable you've done. If
the status is sufficiently strong, you can just have people talk
to your agent when they call. But watch out – last year’s
celebrity status fades quickly, and then you'll need that book.
Even (former) President Clinton has had to write books to
keep himself in the public eye.
To satisfy your inner need to get it down on paper.
It may be ego, it may be explanation, it may be just wanting to
leave a record of your passing through this world of woe. But I
happen to think that writing a book to make a personal
statement is a perfectly good idea for book writing.
To create a public persona and personal brand in order to
succeed in your field of endeavor.
It used to be loyalty that bound employer and employee
together. Now, loyalty is passé, and you need an edge for
getting that promotion, or making that smart lateral move, or
jumping to another organization. I’ve seen too many great
workers cast aside because of politics or because of a sudden
shift in the business. They’re left in career limbo and may
never get back to where they were. A book is the beginning of
a personal brand and a public persona that will keep you in
demand.
To create marketing oomph.
I've seen a number of friends and clients write their way to
marketing success with a book that catapults them into the
inner circle of consultants, companies or service providers. If
you’re a small organization, a book can help you compete with
the big players. If you’re in a crowded field, a book can help
you stand out. And so on.
I believe all of these reasons are good ones to write a book.
A combination of several reasons makes even more
compelling an argument. Each one of these reasons will
suggest different marketing strategies and roles for your book.
That’s why it’s important to get clear from the outset why
you’re writing one.
On the next issue, we'll talk more about what to do next, after
you have decided on writing a book. (Forbes.com)
www.megaartists.co.za August 2014 Page 16