Tamara: What inspired you to write the book?
Kay Hirai: Desire to write this book has been on my mind for many years. I wanted to document my experiences because I knew doing so would help me to feel more secure and complete as a person. I just didn’t want to forget the ups and downs of going through my lifelong journey of building my business and the things I learned. I also wanted the “real” news about small businesses heard. People believe the “fake” news that starting their own entrepreneurial enterprises will lead them to acquiring instant wealth. I want to help women and men who aspires to be in business, already operating his/her own business, or looking for a sense of purpose in their lives. I want to helping them uncover the core values which lay deep within each one of us, waiting to be awakened. It is essential to find what truly motivates us… if we don’t know what it is, we will live our life without direction.
Tamara: What's been your biggest challenge as an author so far? 
Kay Hirai: Putting the truth about myself out to the world. I keep having nightmares that vouchers are flying down to pick apart the weaknesses in my character. I’ve had to constantly challenge my self-doubt that sharing my trials and tribulations with the world may not be that useful or appreciated by the readers. They may be happier going along their life as they are.
Tamara: What's one thing you've celebrated or what's been a high point of writing your book?
Kay Hirai: I feel fortunate that Tamara Monosoff became my publishing coach. She gave me strong and enthusiastic guidance to help me take my book to the finish line. I am so excited that she taught me to integrate social media technology into publishing and promotion of my book. I feel this has helped to transform my book from ordinary to extraordinary. This is my third book and I was looking for an innovative way to take it up another level.
Tamara: What's surprised you the most about writing your book?
Kay Hirai: When I completed many of the chapters, I could hardly believe that I did what I wrote. I said to myself, “Oh my gosh, was I crazy to take such risks? What was I thinking of?” I never considered myself to be a big risk taker, and writing the various chapters of my book taught me a lot about myself.
Tamara: What's one piece of advice you would give to aspiring authors?
Kay Hirai: When writing your story, be painfully honest. Go to the top of the mountain and drag out everything from your head and soul. Let your passion flow out. I've read too many books where I would put it down after the third chapter and lost interest in reading the rest. I believe this is because the author gave me the feeling that he/she revealed only the surface of their feelings. In the beginning of my writing career, I worked with a writing coach. She often brought me to tears saying, “Your crappy first draft is dull. You’re not telling it all. Come on, spill your guts out”. Another thing she said was, “Just because you know, you’re assuming that the reader knows too. Well, we don’t know… what did this character look like, act like, sound like? Tell me more about what the room looked like”. I thought she was mean, but looking back, I know she helped me to become a writer that can describe every scene using good descriptive details.
You can check out Kay Hirai's book here or visit her website: keikokayhirai.com
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