Original interview published and courtesy of bookloversplace.com.
Q: What excites you most about your book’s topic? Why did you choose it?
Author: What excites me? Making what seems to be impossible possible; pursuing dreams, growing, evolving, living life authentically, trusting the flow of life and living an enriching, and abundant life. This book details the lessons I’ve learned as I began to listen to my own inner guidance, leaving the comfort and pseudo-security of a career to pursue a dream. The Tao of Mia and Leo, details this journey, and the life lessons I learned from Mia and Leo. Each vignette is sprinkled with metaphysical truths that are a reflection of all of our journeys. The vignettes give the reader insight into my life, and the lives and adventures of Mia and Leo, two cats that through their everyday antics helped me to reawaken to life, to rediscover the tools for creatively and courageously living my life. I didn’t choose the topic, the topic chose me!
Q: How long did the book take you from start to finish?
Author: This book came as a result of my entertaining and wise felines. I left my job, with the hope of fulfilling a dream, I began writing a novel, once I completed the manuscript, I started looking for an agent, or a publisher, no one seemed interested in my manuscript, rejection letters and bills filled my mail box, I became afraid and depressed by the lack of interest in my “prized” manuscript. I found solace in watching the funny antics of my two kittens, Mia and Leo. I began journaling their adventures and my feelings in an effort to continue writing. Evidently these notes starting in 2006 lead to the beginning of the book, The Tao of Mia and Leo. I completed the book in 2008.
Q: What aspect of writing "The Tao of Mia and Leo" did you find particularly challenging?
Author: I enjoyed the whole process, primarily because it was an opportunity to hear my own voice, to be honest, authentic, to reflect on my journey, to cry, laugh, to experience the sadness of loss, to reexamine values, beliefs, and the lessons we all need to learn in transforming our lives. It was also a delight to write about Samantha, Mia, and Leo.
Q: What surprised you the most about the book writing process?
Author: The evolution of this book, this was not the book that I had planned to write, the courage to write authentically. I enjoyed the discipline of writing; my day started early, yoga class or a walk along the ocean, breakfast with friends from yoga or walking, home to clean the house and then to my office to write, for the next 5-6 hours. I love the creative process!
Q: Did you have any favorite experiences when writing your book?
Author: The freedom to create, taking the time to reexamine my life; finally having quality time to reconnect to family and friends. Going to the movies in the middle of the day, slowing down, and seeing the world that I was too busy to see when I worked in corporate America. Obviously, watching my kittens play, relating their adventures to everyday life lessons that I chronicled in the book. I documented their experiences to show that the simplest creatures in simple scenarios can teach us the most profound life lessons.
Q: What do you hope your readers will gain from reading your book?
Author: Change is inevitable, whether we are ready for it or not; but the real question is, how do we cope with life changes, without becoming stuck in fear, anger and sadness and rediscover our joy and zest for living? This book explores these issues and provides some suggestions. In these uncertain economic times when many are being forced to reevaluate their lives, their choices, and values, this book offers insight into how we can learn to make authentic changes. Small, simple, yet thoughtful changes, empowering us to be more conscious of our lives, conscious of the choices we make and conscious of our responsibility to the world around us; becoming better people and making the world a better place to live.
Q: What projects are you currently working on?
Author: I’m working on a children’s book and a television script, for a new cable series.
Q: Is writing your sole career? If not, what else do you do?
Author: I have accepted that I love writing and that this is what I want to do fulltime; it is keeping me quite busy. However, on occasion I do consulting work, my background is in marketing.
Q: Did you do any research for your books, or did you write from experience?
Author: Mostly from experience, but it was necessary to do some research.
Q: How did you come up with your title?
Author: Tao means, “the way, the path,” Mia and Leo helped me find my way back to myself.
Q: What books have influenced you the most?
Author: The books that have influenced me are so varied, anything by Deepak Chopra; Lessons in Truth, Emily Cady; Living with Joy, Sanaya Roman; Simple Abundance, Sarah Ban Breathnach; Women’s Bodies, Women’s Wisdom, Dr. Christiane Northrup; The Artist’s Way, Julie Cameron.
Q: Who was your publisher and why did you choose them?
Author: After doing extensive research, I decided to go the POD route, Publishing on Demand, instead of seeking out a traditional publishing house. I found that Infinity Publishing was a company that would support my goals as a new author.
To learn more about the book and Author, please visit – http://www.miaandleoinspired-tails.com/
