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Question |
Answer |
| 01 |
Am
I related to Alex Haley? |
Not
that I know of. However, I am always honored when someone
even mentions me in the same breath as such an accomplished
author as Alex Haley. I can only hope to touch as many
lives as Mr. Haley did with his phenomenal works. |
| 02 |
Is
Nobody's Perfect based on my real life? |
No,
this is not my story. I often tell people that this
story represents everyone I know and no one I know.
In essence, aspects of the story are common enough that
just about anyone can relate to some part of the story
and/or its characters. As a confirmation, sales have
been spread across ethnic groups, religious orientations,
genders, ages, marital statuses, and socio-economic
groups. Basically, all kinds of people are reading Nobody's
Perfect. |
| 03 |
Is
there a Neal in my life? |
The
character, Neal Pierce, is an absolute dream in Nobody's
Perfect. My buddy, Jeffrey helped me with the self-publishing.
Even with his demanding, full-time management consulting
job, he dedicated an unheard of amount of time and support
to the Nobody's Perfect self-publishing project.
When I initially wrote the book, I didn't know Jeffrey.
Now that I do, I must say he surpasses the wonderful
nature of the character Neal, because Jeffrey is real.
(We are now happily married). |
| 04 |
Do
I have an agent? |
Yes,
I am thrilled to be represented by Ms. Cross, who initially
signed me while she was at the William Morris Agency
in New York. She recently moved over to Sterling Lord
Literistic in New York, and is still representing me
at this agency. |
| 05 |
What
does it take to self-publish a book? |
The
five key factors necessary for successful self-publishing
include having a business plan, financial resources,
much available time, strong support group, and deep-rooted
determination.
Please see this segment on my website, How
to Get Published, for more detailed information. |
| 06 |
Did
I send Oprah a copy of Nobody's Perfect? |
Of
course, I sent Oprah a copy. There are very few authors
who wouldn't want to have their book featured on the
Oprah show. Remember, there are over 60,000 new books
released every year. That's a lot of books. I'm sure
many of them find their way to Oprah's P.O. box. There
is no way her show can feature each and every book.
What is important to me, is that you, the reader, enjoy
the book and refer it on to someone else. |
| 07 |
Am
I planning to quit my job and write full time? |
At
some point I will most likely quit my business systems
consulting job to write full-time. For right now I am
comfortable working part-time and spending the rest
of my time on the literary side. So far the balance
has worked well for me.
I have been blessed to see Nobody's Perfect move
to the # 1 spot on the bestseller's list without quitting
my wonderful "day job" that I happen to enjoy.
It has been quite a bit of work, sacrifice, and diligence
to simultaneously maintain all three of my jobs (writing,
publishing, and consulting), but by the grace of God,
it has happened. I'll just have to decide the rest later.
In the meantime, I have no complaints. |
| 08 |
Does
ANOINTED VISION publish other authors / poets? |
Nobody's
Perfect was ANOINTED VISION's first project and
no other titles are currently slated for publication. |
| 09 |
Why
isn't Nobody's Perfect in hardback? |
Since
I published the book, myself, it was more cost efficient
to print in trade paperback size. This is pretty common
for small, self-publishers with their first projects. |
| 10 |
Does
ANOINTED VISION have a religious meaning? |
Yes,
it definitely does. I actually started writing in 1996,
but God gave me the vision (idea) in 1993. I wrote the
vision down in 1994 and then waited for God to show
me when and what I needed to write. Writing fiction
that deals with modern-day issues and appeals to both
the general and the religious arenas is new to the literary
arena.
Taking a bold step out into a new writing category (genre)
and treading in uncharted water requires significant
support. I know my writing is inspired and supported
by the Lord, which is where the term Anointed comes
in. Without a moment of doubt, I know God has Anointed
my literary Vision, and so I write on. |
| 11 |
Will
I continue to self-publish? |
I
knew that having a vision (plan or goal), the Lord,
and a tremendous support group, would all lead to wonderful
things.
I am blessed to see the project go so well, but it's
not finished. I truly feel like I'm just getting started.
I look forward to much more work and joy coming from
my literary efforts. |
| 12 |
Did
I expect everything to go so well with self-publishing
Nobody's Perfect, including selling nearly 20,000 copies
and making several bestseller's lists? |
I
knew that having a vision (plan or goal), the Lord,
and a tremendous support group, would all lead to wonderful
things. I am blessed to see the project go so well,
but it's not finished.
I truly feel like I'm just getting started. I look forward
to much more work and joy coming from my literary efforts.
|
| 13 |
Is
that a picture of me on the front cover of Nobody's
Perfect? |
No,
it's not. It represents the main character, Rachel.
I think it is a common-looking face and has that familiar
look.
When Keith Grace designed the cover, his ideas on hairstyles
and facial features came from magazine pictures. My
only input was the colors and the outfit. |
| 14 |
Why
does the front cover of Nobody's Perfect only
show 11 characteristics from the 12-point checklist
instead of all twelve? |
The
twelfth characteristic was that Rachel didn't want a
man who already had children from a previous relationship.
Phrasing that item in one or two words seemed challenging
at the time. So, if was left off. |
| 15 |
Why
is the bonus chapter of Nobody's Perfect only
on the web site and not in the book? |
After
completing the book, I felt that there should be a chapter
that contains a scene with all of the main characters.
In the final round of editing, the six readers were
asked to vote on whether or not the chapter should be
included. The vote was 3 to 3. At the time of the vote,
the chapter had not been written. So, it was subsequently
written before the book came back from the printer and
put onto the web site. |
