It's TODAY! I am overjoyed to announce the launch of Dr. Stephanie O'Leary‘s book, Parenting in the Real World. I will try not to gush too much but… Stephanie is a recent graduate of The Author-to-Income Formula training and to her credit…she devoured the information, sprung into action, and is ready to take flight! I asked Stephanie to take a few minutes to share her insights about writing & publishing her first book and advice she has for aspiring & published Authors. Read on…
Tamara: What inspired you to write Parenting in the Real World?
Stephanie shares her biggest challenges in writing and publishing her book here.
Tamara: What are 1-3 key issues that most parents face today that may be different from past generations?
Stephanie: Parents today face new issues like internet safety, the impact of social media on friendships and bullying, and the need to balance screen time with “real life” experiences and interactions. These are circumstances that past generations didn't give any thought too, and today's parents must rise to the challenge of raising kids in the digital age.
Tamara: What will readers come away with from reading your book?
Stephanie: Parents will come away from this book knowing how to navigate the hectic daily grind while minimizing drama and creating lasting bonds with their kids. They'll also be able to drop the guilt and focus on things that really matter, like self-care and limit setting, knowing that keeping kids happy all of the time is not the best way to prepare them for the real world. The steps outlined in Parenting in the Real World will help readers build confidence and know how to handle any parenting situation that pops up.
Tamara: What was the most challenging aspect of writing/publishing your book?
Stephanie: Writing Parenting in the Real World was actually the easy part because the book had been coming together in my mind for over a year. Publishing was a different story. I was overwhelmed by all of the options, and once I decided to self-publish, my inner critic started to scream and yell! I was terrified of making a mistake, choosing the wrong font, or botching the cover. To keep myself grounded, I focus on the fact that my message is genuine and that I put 110% of myself into my work, mistakes and all.
Tamara: What advice would you give to other aspiring authors?
Stephanie: I would tell other aspiring authors to stay true to their vision and constantly return to the value of their message. For me, a simple piece of paper that said, “Parenting in the Real World is important because it will help people” grounded me and helped me persevere. It sat on my desk, and eventually my wall, and gave me a simple, practical reminder of why I was writing in the first place.
Let's help Stephanie hit #1 on Amazon! You can pick up a copy here.
I read Parenting in the Real World during several drafts and learned so many great parenting tips. My “real” copy arrived a few days ago and I got even more out of it in re-reading. My husband also saw the book on the dining room table and got so much from it as well. In just the past few days, our family life has been more peaceful and mroe fun, proving that this is one of those parenting resources you can keep going back to, reinforcing the lessons and messages each time. I highly recommend it.