New Yorker, Linda Lodding, talks to Jo Parfitt about how she found a US publisher for her children’s book while living abroad. Find out what you need to know about word counts, working with an editor and illustrator and how she found support while living overseas from the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. Discover how Linda went about making herself attractive to a publisher (Flashlight Press), and be inspired by her amazing, successful journey.

See Linda’s book trailer, here:

You can listen to the show here.

I spoke to Angela Williams, who writes as Susan Carey not only about the Writers Abroad online writers’ circle to which she belongs, but also about their newest anthology of fine writings, called Foreign Flavours. The organisation provides support and inspiration for a group of writers all over the world and this is their second anthology, published by Lulu. It has a foody theme, which suits me fine, and there are lots of really great recipes in the book too, for unusual delights such as Indian idli and a Turkish pear and quince dessert. My chat with Angela, who lives in Amsterdam will whet your appetite. In addition, you get a sneak preview into her own novel, which will be about one of my other favourite topics (apart from food) – bellydancing.

Listen to her interview here

Today, I am delighted to welcome Louise Wiles to guestpost for me about how she overcame her blocks by writing Turning Points.

Can I Really?

When the email from Kate arrived in my inbox I was intrigued. It was the title of the book that initially caught my attention, Turning Points. As someone who has relocated as an expat/repat five times in the last twelve years there have been a number of turning points, some good some not so good. But as far as having an impactful story to tell as a result I was unsure.

Kate and I had a chat and she encouraged me to give some thought to those Turning Points. I realized that I did have a story to tell. Mine is not a story of tragedy or heartbreak but more about how I have reacted to circumstance and change. I decided to give it a go.

I have always had a nagging thought somewhere in the very deep recesses of my mind, that one day I might like to write a book and so the idea of writing was already there. I write blogs for my business and have done a lot of academic writing for endless qualifications, writing is something that I do – my question though was do I do it well enough?

For these reasons I decided to give Kate’s book a go. I also hoped that sharing my story would encourage accompanying partners to give their business/career ideas a go, and would also raise my profile as an Expatriate Coach.

Expecting trauma and heartache as I settled down to write my first draft, I was pleasantly surprised at how easily it flowed – but was it good enough? I tentatively sent draft one off to Kate expecting an encouraging email (Kate’s always encouraging) and the request to “please have another go”. To my delight only a few edits were suggested and then it was sent on to the editor.

I waited with bated breath; a professional was reading my writing for the first time ever. How would I react if she told me it read really badly? She did not, some small edits and I was done!

An easier process than I could ever have imagined. I think this is for several reasons. The subject matter, Turning Points is something that spoke to me and my situation as an expatriate. I had a story and message about “all that” that I wanted to get out… and so out it came! This taught me a valuable lesson, write about what matters to me and write from the heart. From a more practical perspective, Jo and Kate also provided a great structure and good writing tips which made the task easier.

Now I find that there is something more than the writing I struggle with, and that is feeling comfortable with sharing what I write. It’s a bit like standing on a stage. In opening ourselves to others through whatever means of communication, we open ourselves to judgment, both good and bad and that feels scary.

I’ve been writing a blog for a few years now. Only my newsletter subscribers know about it. Occasionally I post links to articles on Linked-in and my personal Facebook page, but that is the extent of my promotion. I’ve used lack of time as my excuse, but now I am beginning to wonder if the lack of promotion was more about me not feeling that what I wrote was good enough or worthy of being shared.

Becoming involved in the Turning Points project has made me realize that we all have worthwhile story and message to share. I may not write brilliantly, but if I don’t step out and share what I write, then the time I take to write is wasted. Promoting my blog has now become a much higher priority.

I have learnt:

• To write about what matters and write from the heart. If a topic doesn’t grab my interest or emotions then I leave it alone and write about something else instead.
• Structure is my friend. It might not sound very creative to work with a basic outline or structure but it makes writing so much easier.
• I need to write with the full intention of sharing.
• Plan my promotional and PR campaign for each written piece of work, schedule it and then if there really will be no chickening out!

Louise Wiles: Success Abroad Coaching website and BLOG!

Email: Louise@SuccessAbroadCoaching.com

Linkedin: Louisewiles.

Twitter: @LWexpatlife

Turning Points Book – Turning Challenges into Success.

On Sunday, Doris Fuellgrabe interviewed me by the magic of video for the Expat Coach Association website. In this 54 minute film I share my journey starting with my experience, before discussing expat writing and publishing market opportunities, the main reasons expats get into writing, how the publishing industry has changed, where to focus your writing attention, how automation can help you be present in several platforms, how to go from blog to book, and when you know that a book is ‘done’. We finish up by talking a little bit about my first novel, called “Sunshine Soup,” also the featured item of their newsletter .

Fascinating, informative, inspiring interview with Nick Snelling of the highly successful blog www.culturespain.com about how he makes a living writing while living abroad in Spain with his family. Nick is the author of four books – Taking the Heat, How to Sell Your Spanish Property in a Crisis, How to Buy Spanish Property and Move to Spain – Safely and his next book, for November release – Laptop Entrepreneur. Nick’s next book shares how anyone can get to grips with the internet and can create a lucrative career from home anywhere in the world. This interview is crammed with tips and takeaways. Don’t miss it.

Listen to the show here

I have just read this super book in one sitting. Written clearly and accessibly, reading Kama’s words is like sitting down over a cup of tea with a friend. With a lifetime of international moves behind her, a divorce, the experience of an empty nest (and her children in another country), few authors could be more suited to writing such a book.

The Happy Migrant.  I love the title and the book’s content and voice is consistent with the cheery, upbeat tone of its words. Divided into chapters, covering before the move, leaving family and friends, embracing the new location and relationships, Kama has shared every scrap of her experience and knowledge, it’s evident from her ideas and solutions that she knows a lot about spirituality, mindfulness, Neuro Linguistic Programming and counselling techniques. Each chapter has checklists and tasks and that makes the book practical as well as comforting.

I tell authors that they should be sure that their book does one or more of the following:

• Inspire
• Support
• Inform
• Entertain

Kama’s does the first three very well.

Her book is available from her website TheHappyMigrant

TURNING POINTS – 25 INSPIRING STORIES FR

Putting together a collaborative book is not easy. From experience I know that the only way you can make this work is to have a strong, resourceful editor. Kate Cobb, a Brit who has emigrated to France, is that editor.  Orchestrating a team of 25 collaborators, using the internet to the full, Kate has done a sterling job.

Perhaps the cleverest by-product of this book is the fact that each of its contributors has now become its promoter and salesperson.

Find out what Kate did  here

Suzanne Kamata of www.gaijinmama.wordpress.com @shikokusue and www.suzannekamata.com is one of the most prolific expat writers there is. An American, from Michegan, Sue has been in Japan for 23 years now, is married to a Japanese and has biracial twins, one of whom has cerebral palsy and is deaf. Drawing from her experience and her go for it attitude, Kamata has had many books published by a range of publishers all over the world and continues to be inspired by all she experiences. Her anthology of writings from other multicultural mothers, Call me Okaasan, is probably her best known work.

To find out how she achieved such success please listen to her interview here.

Natalie Tolleneare is a Belgian artist, art therapist and expat coach. An accompanying partner, she has lived in Africa for almost 20 years and is currently in Rwanda. Two years ago she decided to write a book based on her the workshops she creates to help expat partners find happiness and their identity while overseas. Being Belgian she was determined to produce the book in French and in English. In this interview she explains how she wrote the books in record time and even designed them herself. Later she explains the impact her books have had on her businesses and why she believes companies should also purchase books like hers in bulk.

You can listen to the show here