Can you share a little about your recent book? Why do you write? Do you have a theme, message, or goal for your books?
My most recent children’s picture book, Eat God’s Food: Kids Activity Guide to Healthy Eating educates and entertains children. Previously, I published seven healthy living nonfiction books for adults. Now I am launching into the children’s book genre to teach kids to eat wholesome foods. I want to change the American statistic: 50 percent of adults suffer with a chronic ailment and 40 percent experience obesity.
My mission is to improve the health of the body of Christ so others can serve God to the best of their ability. I fulfil that mission through publishing.
How long have you been writing?
I wrote a Star Wars Bible study around 2010, but I never published it. After that I dabbled in writing young adult fiction, but again never published the book. I self-published my first book, Scripture Yoga, in 2016. I received loads of persecution for writing about yoga; but I wanted to provide a godly environment for Christians to perform yoga, as I had been teaching Christian yoga at my church since 2004.
And how long did it take you to get your first major book contract? Or are you published non-traditionally? How did that come about?
I did not land my first traditional book contract until 2020. But I did not wait for a publisher. Instead, I self-published seven healthy living books from 2016 to 2019.
- 7 Steps to Get Off Sugar and Carbohydrates won the Selah award and sold over 17,000 copies in three years.
- The sequel Christian Study Guide for 7 Steps to Get Off Sugar and Carbohydrates won the 2019 Directors Choice award.
- The third book in the series, Healthy Living Journal, won the Golden Scrolls award “2019 Best Inspirational Gift Book.”
- Healthy Living Series: 3 Books in 1 is a mega-book.
- Solving the Gluten Puzzle: Discovering Gluten Sensitivity and Embracing the Gluten-Free Lifestyle helps those who are gluten intolerant.
- Scripture Yoga became a #1 Amazon bestseller.
- Yoga for Beginners
Which of your books is your favorite?
My favorite and cornerstone book is 7 Steps to Get Off Sugar and Carbohydrates. This book provides a day-by-day plan to wean one’s body off of these addictive products and regain health. It includes a spiritual and physical approach. There are few Christian healthy living books on the market, so this book met a need. It is beneficial to write a book that solves a problem for a large target market.
How long does it take you to write a book? What’s your writing work schedule like?
Typically, I take five months to write a book. I am most productive and creative from 10 am to 2 pm, therefore, that is the time I write. I tell myself I can answer emails and do the rest of my work before 10 am and after 2 pm.
Do you have an interesting writing quirk? If so, what is it?
I like to stay physically active, so while I am proofreading I either get on my stair stepper that is in front of my elevated desktop, or I walk around my house to gain steps. To learn additional tips, check out my article on Edie Melson’s blog The Write Conversation, Tips to Stay Physically Active When Writing.
What has been your greatest joy in your writing career?
I love it when a reader contacts me and lets me know how one of my books helped them. Last year, a reader informed me that his seven-year diabetes type-2 condition was reversed after following the guidelines in 7 Steps to Get Off Sugar and Carbohydrates. I was thrilled!
What has been your darkest moment? How many times in your career have you experienced rejection? How did they shape you?
It took over seven years to find a traditional publisher who would publish one of my books. I write about my experience in the Southern Writers Suite T blog, Finding Your Writing Path through Rejection. With time, I realized God did not want me to write fiction. He wanted me to use my nursing and medical background, along with Christian spirituality, to help others improve their health through the nonfiction health genre.
What advice can you give aspiring writers you wished you had gotten, or that you wished you would have heeded?
Don’t give up. Rejection is part of this career. It will strengthen you and may lead to a divine writing path like it did me.
Where do you get your ideas?
Most of my book ideas are divinely inspired, but as I perform research on topics, more ideas pop up. At that point, the words flow like water off my fingertips onto the keyboard.
What are common mistakes you see aspiring writers make?
As the Director of the Christian Indie Publishing Association and Christian Indie Awards, the number one mistake I see authors make is not getting fifty Amazon book reviews. After you get that many reviews, the reviews begin posting organically without solicitation. So work very hard to get those first fifty reviews. If I give my book to someone, I add to my calendar to contact them in two months and request a review. It is the least they could do. Be brave and ask.
Where/How do you recommend writers try to break into the market?
If a writer cannot land a traditional publishing contract, they need to decide if they will self-publish. If they choose to do so, they need to publish well. I am a certified writing coach and teach many authors how to independently publish on my website under authorcoaching. Also, Christian Indie Publishing Association (CIPA) provides tools to publish professionally and market effectively. Learning about the publishing industry is challenging. CIPA discounts, educational materials, and marketing tools make an author’s experience easier and more profitable. Why do it alone when you can join CIPA?
As a Certified AWSA Writer Coach, Susan Neal RN, MBA, MHS, desires to help others publish and sell their God-given message. She is the author of seven healthy living books. Her self-published number one Amazon best-seller, 7 Steps to Get Off Sugar and Carbohydrates, won the Selah award and sold over 17,000 copies in three years.
Susan won the 2020 Christian Author Network Crown Award for Outstanding Broadcast Media for her book marketing campaign. She is a trusted advisor for authors and helps many sell more books. Susan is the new Director of Christian Indie Publishing Association (CIPA) and the Christian Indie Awards. CIPA teaches authors how to self-publish like a professional.
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