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​book reviews

Woman With A Voice by Vicki Hannah Lein

2/5/2023

60 Comments

 

Daring to Live Authentically Ever After

Multi-volume, multi-genre, multi-format author, Vicki Lein introduces us to her inspirational and self-revealing book, “Woman With A Voice”:
You have never read a book quite like this one, and you will never be the same when you finish this unique literary adventure. Woman with a Voice is a great selection for book groups; each chapter ends with a Your Turn section, giving readers a chance to put new insights into action. WARNING: You may cry as you read how Vicki stood up to her father, refusing to listen to a racist joke. You may discover you are mixed up with a soul-killing man when you read How to Spot a Real Man. You may decide you are finally going to give yourself the love you deserve when you finish the chapter on Impeccable Self Care. You may feel compelled to give this book to everyone you really care about.

These little miracles are offered in a unique combination of candor and humor. Vicki Hannah Lein shares the discovery of her authentic voice as she offers help to readers who want to do the same. Through stories, poems, and song lyrics, she shares insights about growing up in a home with too much drinking and violence. At age forty-three, Vicki loses her central vision and is forced to redefine and rediscover her purpose on the planet. Part autobiographical, part self-help and spiritual growth, this book provides hours of validation and inspiration for anyone who desires to live from their deepest truth and highest calling.

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I hardly know where to start. This book is full of stories, poems, songs and more stories. There is anger, love, frustration and revelation. All of this is woven through the life that Vicki has lived as she grew, loved and lost most of her eyesight to a disease inherited from her mother. 
What do you want from life for yourself and the people you love? Honesty, love and acceptance? Be careful what you wish for as you may get it, but not without working for it.
I award 4.9 stars to Woman With A Voice! 
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You can buy this book:
https://www.amazon.com/Woman-Voice-Daring-Authentically-After-ebook 
https://www.goodreads.com/-woman-with-a-voice 

 
You can follow the author:
https://twitter.com/vickihannahlein 
https://www.linkedin.com/in/vicki-hannah-lein 
https://www.facebook.com/vickihannahlein 
http://www.findthefunnyfaster.com 
https://radicalkindnesswarrior.com 

I have reviewed another book by Vicki Lein: From Frustration to Funny in Ten Seconds Flat! by Vicki Hannah Lein, MS Counseling - Word Refiner 
I reviewed another book by Vicki: www.wordrefiner.com/book-reviews/courage-to-lead 

 
Copyright @ 2023 Mark L. Schultz except for the author’s introduction 
60 Comments
Vicki Lein link
2/6/2023 12:05:30 pm

I feel a little like Sally Field at the Oscars, "You like me! You really like me!" Perhaps some people write to be famous and perhaps rich; I write because if I can stop one heart from breaking, I shall not live in vain, as Emily Dickinson wrote. I put an intention on this book. I want people to be able to open it to any page and find something that will enrich their lives. Thank you, Mark, for allowing my book to contribute to your life and inviting others to be served as well.

If you are a writer, I hope you have a friend like my friend, Jan Bateman. She spent hours and hours, ten hours a week for about two years, going over my book with me, line by line. To have someone read deeply what you have written is a great gift. Writing can be a lonely journey. Having anyone respond to my writing gives me the fuel to keep on keeping on.

Reply
Mark
2/6/2023 12:11:50 pm

You are very welcome, Vicki. While I raced through your book to finish reading it in time, I noted that there were many sections I want to spend more time in.

We are going to continue the conversation we started in the promotion of "From Frustration to Funny in Ten Seconds Flat" the link for that review and interview is just above.

First question.

How much time passed from when you got the idea to write your book; then actually starting to write the book?

Reply
Vicki Lein link
2/6/2023 01:54:11 pm

This book started bothering me to be written when I was about thirty. At that time, I had two, small children and a job teaching high school English classes. When my children were in high school, I had more time and started writing with friends in a coffee shop. When my daughter's best friend got married and asked her mother's friends for advice, I thought "I have a bunch of advice about relationships. I will put them together into a book. Easy, peasy.
Not so easy, peasy, as it turned out. I spent two years putting the book together, writing new material, and editing. The whole time my inner critic, my bespoke piranha, constantly told me what I was writing was self-indulgent drivel. My counter argument was: If one person will benefit from this book, then I am going to publish it.

Reply
Mark
2/6/2023 02:04:17 pm

That book was a long time in the making. But I am going to guess the time lag worked in your benefit because it gave you more material and probably more perspective on the material.

You were very honest in the book and didn't try and cover your warts. That very candor runs throughout the book and makes it very real.

Your piranha, or dinosaur as you called it in the book is just as insistent as what I call the inner liar. My inner liar is always accusing me of past transgressions and assuring me that I cannot rise above them. It is a joy to prove him wrong every day.

New questions.

You have contributions from a number of friends and family in your book.

Was it hard to get them to contribute?

Was it their idea or yours?

Reply
Vicki Lein link
2/6/2023 03:31:14 pm

My teenage daughter was unwilling to read the book. At the time I wrote it, I asked my son to read it to make sure it was okayed to publish it. He agreed, he read the book, and he also agreed to write a little piece for it. My friend JAN, who helped me edit the book also agreed to write some thing about our incredible friendship. I change the names of people in the book to protect their privacy, and when it was feasible, I showed people the stories that included them.
It is very tricky to write about people who are still living. I tried to be very respectful, and, at the same time, honest about how I felt and what had happened. I also knew that some of the people I wrote about, would never in 1 million years read my book, so it didn't matter as much if they liked it, or didn't like it..

Reply
Mark
2/6/2023 04:46:47 pm

No surprise about your daughter. That was very nice of your son. Changing some of the names was a good idea. It is tricky in more ways than one to write about people who are alive.

The same applies to fiction. One author told me how he partly based the characters in his urban fantasy novel on family members. All were in agreement. At one point in the story a particular family member became upset because the character did something she wouldn't have done. It developed into quite a hullabaloo. He regretted doing that and swore to never use anyone he knew again in story.

New question.

How many drafts did you go through to have a ready-to-publish manuscript?

Reply
Vicki Lein link
2/6/2023 04:52:06 pm

1 million? There's no way I can answer that question because I wrote and re-wrote and revised and edited and added and re-wrote and revised and edited. Right now I've taken the loving and harmony section of the book and I am rewriting it to publish as a separate book. So everything in that section is up for grabs. Since I wrote some of the material 20 years ago, much has change

Reply
Mark
2/6/2023 08:16:08 pm

I understand that. You are not alone. Many writers work the same way. They don't keep track of drafts, they keep working, kneading and massaging the same draft. Other authors have definite drafts, and no two authors may divide or tag their work the same way.

Taking part of that book and making something new doesn't surprise me. It felt like several books to me. There was something in each section I needed to work on. I didn't take any notes, so I don't know what those things are without going back through the book.

New question.

Going back in time, did you do any kind of creative writing, even back in grade school?

Reply
Vicki Lein link
2/7/2023 11:12:41 am

No. I took a creative writing class my senior year in high school and loved it but did not feel I was particularly good at it. Those stories got thrown out, and I sure would love to be able to read them now.
When I started therapy in my early thirties, my therapist asked me to keep a journal. Since I was paying for the therapy out of pocket, I did not want to waste a dime. I wrote the truth uncensored and found my voice. I have never lost it.

Reply
Mark
2/7/2023 12:08:38 pm

I had to do some creative writing in high school also. All I wanted to do was read a book. Our prompt was a dark, impressionistic painting that I couldn't make any sense out of. I decided the little splotches of red and yellow reminded me of birds. My story was about time birds that used the fabric of our lives to make their nests. I was not clear about how the nest making influenced our decisions or if it was the other way around. I think I barely made the minimum word count.

I love how your thrifty nature propelled you to work hard on your therapy.

New question.

How early was it that you realized how powerful words can be?

Reply
Vicki Lein link
2/7/2023 01:07:37 pm

I learned very early in life about the power of hateful words, the power of ridicule. That is why my entire professional life has been built around, creating psychological safety for my students, for my friends, for my family, and for anyone who is in my home. If hateful words had such power, I thought, how much power could words have to heal? When I read "The Road Less Traveled" by Scott Peck in my early 30s, my life changed. The first three words are "life is difficult". That simple sentence and our ability to accept the fact that life is difficult and no matter what we do, no matter how good we are, no matter how clean our floors are, life is still going to be difficult. That was the beginning of a road less traveled journey I have been making, and it has made all the difference.

Reply
Mark
2/7/2023 05:47:10 pm

Those three words, 'life is difficult' are very impactful and true. Everyone wants the easy road; we think we deserve it, and nothing could be further from the truth.

People like to pretend they have an easy life, they only show the good stuff on Facebook, Instagram and other social media.

Congratulations on fighting the good fight. because there will always be a struggle on this earth.

New question

Do you have alpha-readers and/or beta-readers to help you smooth out a lot of wrinkles before publishing? If you don’t, why?

How did you find your beta-readers?

Reply
Vicki Lein link
2/7/2023 05:56:52 pm

I have a very good friend who graduated from Northwestern in journalism. She reads my stuff and responds. My husband also reads a lot of what I have written. Sometimes I ask other people I know if they will look over what I've written, and give me some feedback. What I have found is that everyone has an opinion, and when it comes right down to it, I need to listen to what people say, but also trust my gut. My voice is unique, as is everyone's.

Reply
Mark
2/7/2023 08:36:12 pm

So very true. Not everyone has the pure gold you are looking for. Pick and choose the nuggets carefully. The comments that resonate with your gut are probably the best.

I talked with one author several years ago. He would send a manuscript to only one beta reader at a time. He would make changes before sending it to another beta reader. More changes and then another beta reader. He discovered some of the changes brought parts of his manuscript back to where he started. I think he changed his plan and now sends out the manuscript to all beta readers at the same time.

New questions.

At what stage in your writing process do you bring in the readers?

Do you give them an e-version like a PDF or a hard copy you printed?

Reply
Vicki Lein link
2/8/2023 11:16:18 am

Usually I send an E version of my writing. They fix the typos, and put XXX anywhere they think something needs changing. Because of my vision, it is easier for me to search for an XXX take a look at their comments, and then make changes if I think it's a good idea.

Reply
Mark
2/8/2023 12:25:15 pm

That sounds like a good system. The triple X is a great idea.

New questions.

Do you ask them questions or let them provide any feedback they think is necessary?

Do you reward the alpha/beta readers in any way particular?

Reply
Vicki Lein link
2/9/2023 01:07:56 pm

Sometimes I ask people, specific questions, such as do you think this part belongs here or should it be somewhere else? Sometimes I ask for general feedback, but not often. I do reward people who help me with free books and free cheerfulness.

Reply
Vicki Lein link
2/9/2023 01:11:17 pm

I have a question for you, or anyone who reads this: I'm thinking of starting a Tick Tock account. What do you think of the title practical happiness tips?

Reply
Mark
2/9/2023 01:47:23 pm

Placement of chapters can be important. Many authors gift their beta readers a copy of the book.

I am not on Tic Tok. But the title sounds good. Consider Happiness Hacks as a title.

New questions.

Do you have other writers you connect with, as in a critique group or support group?

How many critique group members show up for the meetings usually?

Reply
Vicki Lein link
2/9/2023 02:08:39 pm

I have had more success, writing with one person, one person I trust, than with the writing group. I love, Happiness Hacks! I think that's timely and brilliant!

MARK, I have a question for you because I trust you. What do you think my strengths as a writer are and where do you think I could use improvement?

Reply
Mark
2/9/2023 03:51:49 pm

I am glad you like the idea of Happiness Hacks. I hope Tic Tok brings you more success.

I am a detail-oriented person. With that being said, you have many strengths including passion and drive to share your message. That is very important. I find your writing to be quite engaging. You are good at capturing readers' attention and not letting go. I am not able to identify a particular writing weakness, you have a good support team for your writing and related activities. My inability to highlight an area that needs strengthening might be due in part that I read mostly fiction.

New question.

What is the most important thing you learned from publishing your latest book?

Vicki Lein link
2/9/2023 03:40:12 pm

Go Fund Me

Grandmother advocating for a kinder world.

I’m revising my Radical Kindess Warrior book and launching a campaign. It is personal. I want to make the world safer for my grandson who has Down syndrome. When the world is safer for him, it will be safer for you and everyone you love.

I need help, so I’m asking for help. This sounds easy, but I am way, way, way out of my comfort zone. I’m doing it anyway because this mission, to help people stand up instead of standing by, is more important than my insecurities.

How about if we start by trying to end death threats? When you see or hear a death threat, take action. Do not add aggression. Keep yourself safe. This is what Radical Kindess Warriors do.

If you would like to help by donating money, that would be groovy.
If you would like to help by sharing this link, that would be groovy.

The antidote for anxiety is taking intentional action. Don’t sit and worry about the state of our country, do something!

Samuel Beckett’s mantra:
“Try Again. Fail Again. Fail Better.”

As Emily Dickinson said, “If I can stop one heart from breaking, I shall not live in vain.”

Thanks!

Vicki


My fundraiser link is https://www.gofundme.com/grandmother-advocating-for-a-kinder-world

Reply
Mark
2/9/2023 03:55:46 pm

Children with Down's Syndrome are so very special! I think God has a special love for them because they are so honest and loving.

Thank you for pursuing this.

Reply
Vicki Lein link
2/9/2023 05:14:01 pm

My grandson is indeed a very special person. He is one of the kindest people I know. Just today he asked us how our day was, and he listens to us. For the record, though, he can also be a poop. He can be difficult, contrary, and just no fun to be around. He has wonderful parents, and, I also might say, wonderful grandparents. My point is that he needs parenting to help him, become the best version of himself, as does every other child in the world.

Reply
Vicki Lein link
2/9/2023 03:59:56 pm

I've hired a company to publish and market my newest book, radical kindness warrior. The book is not yet ready to be published, so it remains to be seen whether their three month marketing effort makes any difference. They created a new cover I really like, and they formatted the book in a way that I think works, but it remains to be seen, as I said, whether or not they follow through with their promises.

Reply
Mark
2/9/2023 05:21:24 pm

I wish you the best with the new book.

You are right, the proof of their efforts will be known in the results. When it comes to marketing and promotion, I don't believe that results can be guaranteed. Only the exposure can be guaranteed up to a point.

New question.

What are three things, that you wish you knew before you wrote your first book?

Reply
Vicki Lein link
2/9/2023 08:42:15 pm

The first book I wrote, was about creating a caring, courageous community, which featured songs and assemblies I did as an elementary school counselor. The assemblies were interactive and taught emotional skills in a very fun way. I won several awards for these assemblies, and the awards got me traveling all over the world, getting people up, singing, and doing sign language. What I wish I had known… I'm not sure.
I've been very clear for a long time that my mission has to be more important than my ego. My mission needs to be bigger than my fear and is usually bigger than my fear unless I fall into my slew of despond, and my bespoke piranhas come and bite me and try to convince me that I really should just give up. I should just select all in a race and save the world from my ridiculous, self-indulgent writing that doesn't help anybody. As long as I keep my mission clear, as long as I remember, if I can stop one heart from breaking, I shall not live in vain, then I am just fine, I'm having lots of fun, and I'm making the world a tiny bit better.

Reply
Mark
2/9/2023 08:47:52 pm

You have an audacious goal! I love it. I like that word a lot also and don't get to use it nearly enough.

You are attracting people and bringing more joy into the lives of people in many parts of the world. You may not be able to meet every person in the world or travel t every country in the world. Your books and songs can take your place for many years after you have left this earth.

Be strong and of good courage, your message is going out.

New question.

Do you have a hero, real or fictional? Tell us about why this person is your hero.

Reply
Vicki Lein link
2/9/2023 10:46:49 pm

John Lewis is one of my heroes, was one of my heroes. He put on a suit and march for civil rights and walked into State trooper's on horses with truncheons. They beat him on his head and almost killed him, and he still was never filled with hate. He never let anything get in the way of his goal a peaceful change, making the world safer and more just for everyone. I also love Jamie Raskin, the representative from Maryland. I'm listening to his book on thinkable about the suicide of his beloved son on December 30, 2020 and then his dealing with the insurrection at the capital on January 6. He is brilliant, and he is using his intelligence and his heart to make the world a better place for everyone

Reply
Mark
2/10/2023 08:14:50 am

The Civil Rights movement was long overdue. It should never have been necessary after the Civil War. But external events do not change hearts, hearts must be changed first then society will follow.

I reviewed a book about a person in the time period. The Life and Times of Clyde Kennard is an amazing story and snapshot of what people went through to win their civil rights.

New question.

What are three things that you love about writing?

Reply
Vicki Lein link
2/10/2023 10:53:54 am

When something important happens to me, it helps me a lot to memorialize it in writing. I called these writings poetic graphs. Since I lost my central vision, photos, unless they're very huge, don't really do much for me. But if I can write about what has happened and preserve it someway, catch the emotion, and the details of the time that I will forget, then that makes my life richer. I also love to share what I've written with the people I've written about. That is a way of connecting unlike any other. After collecting a bunch of these writings, it's fun to put them all together, connect them in someway, shined them up a bit, but don't make them too shiny, and then I can publish a little book.

Reply
Mark
2/10/2023 11:53:46 am

Those are great ideas. I had a hunch that you would not be able to see the tweets I have been sending out about your book and our chat here.
In some ways, writing down the event and associated feelings is perfect when you can't see photographs. Smell and scents are another powerful trigger for memories good and bad. We don't have smell-o-graphs yet even though people have been working on the idea for many decades. For the time being we must be content with photographs and writings; music can fill in sometimes also.

New question.

What is the most valuable piece of advice you have ever received from another writer?

Reply
Vicki Lein link
2/10/2023 12:23:01 pm

You are correct; I cannot see the tweets. Do you get any response?
The best advice I have gotten from a writer is from William Goldman, author of Princess Bride. In his book about screenwriting, he says that no one knows anything about what is good. Many hit movies, including Pretty Woman, almost did not get made. Do your best to communicate with liveliness and courage and let the critics do what they will. It is an art to listen to what makes you better and let go of the rest.

Reply
Mark
2/10/2023 12:54:11 pm

I do get responses and interactions sometimes. A few even click on the link to get to the review or our chat directly.

Goldman's comment explains a lot. There seems to be a great deal of knee-jerk reaction when it comes to making movies. I know they have to make a profit. No one can remain in business long operating at a loss. After all of the market research and focus groups are done, it boils down to one or two people making an emotional decision. Just like traditional publishers, come to think of it.

I like the comment, whether yours or his, about communicating with passion; liveliness and courage describes it quite well.

New question.

What has been the biggest surprise in your writing journey?

Reply
Vicki Lein link
2/10/2023 03:10:30 pm

I have been surprised about what comes out of me when I tap in to the truth inside me. I am surprised and delighted by an image that emerges. Sometimes I'll come up with a phrase that I didn't know I had in me. It's a delightful journey of exploration.

Reply
Vicki Lein link
2/10/2023 06:38:10 pm

Wonder, awe, gratitude, appreciation – these are the qualities that keep me interested in writing about life.

Reply
Mark
2/10/2023 04:02:18 pm

That sounds like a divine connection. I have had that happen to me also. It is very exciting.

New question.

What are common traps for beginning writers?

Reply
Vicki Lein link
2/10/2023 04:14:08 pm

I think the biggest trap is writing for approval instead of writing to try to find your truth. If I try to write a good poem or a good song, or a good essay, I will fail. The subtext of my writing will be: aren't I terrific? Don't you love me? I don't have to be worried about being worthy to be on the planet. Some people can probably get away with this, but I sure can't. I don't want to be able to get away with it either.

Reply
Mark
2/10/2023 06:12:11 pm

That is a trap that we are all likely to fall into one or more times in the course of our life. Whatever people give they can also take away. Depending upon others for approval and significance is a big trap.

New question.

Do you think a strong ego is an asset or liability for a writer and why?

Reply
Vicki Lein link
2/10/2023 07:16:06 pm

Arrogance is a bad human trait as a writer or as a citizen or family, member, or friend. So, if that's what ego is, it is not helpful. Being able to find your center and find your grounding and staying the course, even when people are telling you, you are wrong, is something altogether different. I am the first and only person as far as I know of in my family to be in recovery.
I have generations of alcoholism on both sides of my family. If I had waited for my family to understand my need to recover, that never would've happened. In fact, I got a lot of pushback from family members who were deeply embedded in family dysfunction. It's just not easy to know when you need to listen to somebody and when you need to trust your gut. I think it's called being a human being, living a real authentic life.

Reply
Mark
2/11/2023 07:50:26 am

A balance is very necessary. leaning too far to one side or the other is detrimental to yourself and others around you. I recall what you said earlier, 'life is difficult' and that is true in almost every aspect of life. Living an authentic life is part of the answer.

New question.

Other than every person on earth, who do you wish would read your book?

Reply
Vicki Lein link
2/11/2023 11:39:01 am

I hope someone with connections and resources and a passion for making the world a kinder place reads my Radical Kindness Warrior book. I want to go all over the world.

Reply
Mark
2/11/2023 11:41:25 am

I hope the right person reads your book also.

In the meantime, new questions.

Can you describe the demographic of your likeliest or ideal reader?

Who is the person most likely to buy your book?

Reply
Vicki Lein link
2/11/2023 12:18:01 pm

I wish I knew the answer to that question. iPad engineers, mixed martial arts, champions, PhD's, people who didn't graduate from high school – all sorts of different people resonate to what I write. I think I'm depending on the title to resonate with someone and think oh what would it be like to live authentically ever after. That's an intriguing question. I think I'll read this book.

Reply
Mark
2/11/2023 05:41:12 pm

That is one of the remarkable things about your book. It does resonate with authenticity; it resonates with your authenticity. Readers recognize it and enjoy your book. Their lives will change if they seek after their authenticity.

New question.

Do you have an item or a routine you consider to be your writing lucky charm?

Reply
Vicki Lein link
2/11/2023 05:45:12 pm

My writing lucky charm I learned from Julia Cameron in the artist way. It's morning pages. You can go on YouTube and have Julia Cameron explain them to you, which she does in great, wonderful detail. When I write regularly in the morning, three pages without stopping or criticizing or editing, I find my true self, my authenticity in the moment.

Reply
Mark
2/11/2023 06:37:04 pm

That is a great routine, a great way to start the writing day and energize your creativity.

New question.

What is your writing Kryptonite and how has it affected you?

Reply
Vicki Lein link
2/12/2023 10:53:18 am

When I feel I am singing into a canyon that does not echo back, when I feel no one is reading or responding to what I'm writing, I am invited to feel that what I do doesn't matter, and I should just give up. This is when I remind myself that, if only one person benefits from my work, that is enough. I'd benefit from my work, so my work is always enough.

Reply
Mark
2/12/2023 11:43:31 am

That is a great reason! Truth be told, that is one of the best pieces of advice any author has been given. Write for yourself first. If you don't like what you are writing don't write it.

New question.

Do you struggle with writer's block, if so, how do you overcome it?

Reply
Vicki Lein link
2/12/2023 11:59:55 am

I'm glad you asked this question because I have strong feelings about the myth of writer's block. Tell me a time you can't dictate or write. You can always write. What stops people from writing, the thing they call writer's block, is really fear of failure. So, write about that fear of failure. Ask it questions. Interrogate it. Find out what you're afraid of and you will find juice, juice, juice!

Reply
Mark
2/12/2023 02:34:20 pm

Your idea of exploring the reasons behind the block are well founded. That is one of several pieces of advice that writers can use to overcome a creative stoppage.

Writing about anything can help to restart the flow of words. Morning words are an excellent example of that. Some writers have more than one work in progress and can jump from one stalled project to another with flowing words. Setting writing aside and engaging in another activity is also good. Some writers do well with other forms of creativity, while still others find the juices start flowing again when engaging in a mindless chore or activity.

Writers just need to try different methods until they find what works for them.

New question.

Do you see an advantage of writing under a pseudonym, why or why not?

Reply
Vicki Lein link
2/12/2023 03:24:32 pm

I wrote a series of diary entries, called Tiffany's Epiphany. It was based on a character I created, a southern woman who listen to a sermon, and heard she's to love your neighbor as yourself and wakes up to a realization. There is no asterisk. She decided she couldn't hate Muslims or homosexuals or democrats or anybody. The writing was good, I guess, I got comments from people who said they really understand how she felt and gave a lot of support. I was delighted that people were responding, but I was appalled that I had accidentally fooled people into believing a character I created was a real person. This is the only fiction I've written, and I stopped writing on it because I can't make up my mind, the best way to move forward.

Reply
Mark
2/12/2023 04:55:47 pm

According to some, fiction is written to help people understand truth. It sounds like Tiffany's Epiphany fit the bill quite well. Not every novelist gets a response to their book that you did. There might be a need for your books as fiction also. If you are concerned that people might think you are writing about a real person mention the word novel on the cover.

Writing fiction like that doesn't require a pen name. You might do well writing fiction under your name.

New question.

Are there any issues that are peculiar to writing self-help books that might not apply to fiction or other types of books?

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Vicki Lein link
2/13/2023 11:22:09 am

The rule of thumb is: you can't take any body further than you've actually gone yourself. I see a lot of coaches, self-help books – where the people just haven't done their own work. They are good at marketing, they have charisma, but they haven't done their work. For example, the book by John Gray "Men Are From Mars Women Are From Venus" was full of horrible, horrible, horrible advice! And yet it was one of the all-time, bestselling non-books in history. I would rather be honest and have integrity than be a bestselling author. On my tombstone I want it to say, "Vicki walked her talk."

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Mark
2/13/2023 01:06:21 pm

That makes sense. Integrity is a major part of authenticity.

New question.

Are there any writing styles or genres that you disliked at first but came to like after reading a book or two?

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Vicki Lein link
2/13/2023 02:30:40 pm

I used to think, reading murder mysteries was a guilty pleasure, until I discovered Dorothy Sayers, who is absolutely brilliant! I like finding out I'm wrong about some thing because it expands my world instead of contracting it.

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Mark
2/13/2023 03:30:53 pm

I have heard she is a great writer.

I used to read only sci-fi if I had the chance. I have since learned that there is great writing in almost every genre. I have been surprised by romance and historical fiction. Hist-fic is now in my top 5 favorite genres.

Last question.

Do you think reading or listening to music help you be a better writer?

Reply
Vicki Lein link
2/13/2023 03:36:08 pm

I am a voracious reader

Reply
Mark
2/13/2023 04:16:52 pm

Then we have a lot in common. I love to read also.

I want to thank you for being a fabulous guest on the Word Refiner channel. You have been so kind to share your writing and publishing journey with us. Your passion and enthusiasm are infectious.

Until next time, keep on writing.

Reply
Vicki Lein link
2/13/2023 04:23:53 pm

I highly recommend MARK to any writer who wants to give her writing exposure. He is dependable and has absolutely fulfilled all of the things he promised to do.
My gut called me to write woman with a voice, and all the way through. I worried about whether or not I was worthy to write the book. I was afraid telling my truth might literally get me killed. I am very glad I wrote it because no one can ever take that accomplishment away from me. In writing the book, I built courage muscle that has served me ever since. To all of you out there, who are thinking about writing some thing, write it, write it right now. You won't regret it. You might regret never having taken that risk, and regrets are a pretty miserable burden to bear.

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