Q: What is a typical writing
day like for you?
Jo: I don't have a typical day as such. Being a fulltime mum to a 4 year old
and a 9 month old means I have to fit in my writing time around them. I grab
time when I can and make the most of it when they're napping. I tend to get
most of my work done late in the evening after the kids are in bed.
Q:
What do you do to help balance your writing life with your family life?
Jo: It's not easy but I try to make time for both
everyday. I always have a to-do list written up for each day and make sure it
includes both work and family based tasks. A trip to the park with my kids is
right up there with writing a new chapter or carrying out marketing tasks.
I think when you love doing something you make the
time for it in your life regardless.
Q:
You recently released your first children's book Out and About at the Zoo. Tell us a bit about it and what you feel
is the most important message you share.
Jo: I'm really excited about this book coming out. Out and About at the Zoo was released on
1st June 2012 and is a children's picture book. It's a fun day out discovering
the different animals at the zoo. The rhyming text and colourful pictures make
it perfect for younger children.
It also carries an important message as it highlights
the joys of spending quality family time together. A day out like this one will
remain with both the mother and child for a long time.
Q:
How did you come up with the idea for the book?
Jo: I wrote the text after taking my son to the zoo for
the first time. It was great to watch him discovering all the animals. Children
see everything as magical and interesting. It's amazing watching them discover
the world and being able to see it through their eyes.
I decided to make it rhyming text as those are my sons
favourite type of books.
Q:
You published this book using Create Space. What made you decide on this
publishing route?
Jo: Self publishing is my plan A, not a back-up plan B.
I like to have full control over every element of the book and call all the
shots. In the past I've used Lulu.com
(which I am very happy with) but, when I was researching print costs for
publishing a full colour children's picture book, Create Space was nearly half
the price. I'd been wanting to try them out and so this seemed like the perfect
occasion.
So far I'm really pleased with my choice. The print
quality is great and Amazon has one of the best customer services I've ever
come across.
Q:
You're currently doing a 3 month tour to promote the release of the book. Where
can people find the tour schedule?
Jo: I have a page dedicated to Out and About at the Zoo on my website www.JoLinsdell.com that contains all information
regarding the book and the tour.
Q:
Do you have any other works in progress? Can you share a little about them?
Jo: Yes several. I'm already working
on another rhyming children's picture about a young fairy called May that
dreams of one day becoming a tooth fairy.
I'm also working on a chick-lit and
a non-fiction book about social media.
Q:
Where can people follow you on-line?
Jo: I'm a real social media junky and pretty much
everywhere. The sites I use most are:
http://www.amazon.com/author/jolinsdell
Wish I'd asked how she manages to fit all that social media networking into her life too...
Thanks so much for fitting us into the schedule, Jo, and all best wishes for the success of the book. Looks just right for the great-niece.
