Book: Wise Up Stand Up
Q1. Hello Ma’am, can you please introduce yourself? Readers would love to know more about you.
I’m a relentless writer and Canadian bestselling author from Toronto. You can always find me jotting down ideas, reading books, and being creative. I release book and music projects where all my books are accompanied with music. I’m the author of bestselling novel, ‘Hold on please, Emily,’ and my latest release is a quotebook called ‘Wise Up, Stand Up.’
Q2. What were the key challenges you faced while writing ‘Wise Up Stand Up’ book?
My book is a collection of 101 life lessons, written as quotes. If you read quotes before, you’ll notice that they are usually witty, short, and memorable. One of the biggest challenges in writing my book was packing everything I needed to say in as little words as possible (and still be witty and eloquent).
Q3. What books or authors have most influenced your own writing?
John Green is a legend in my books. He has a way of writing that transports the reader into the novel immediately. Readers emotionally connect with his characters and in many of his books, his protagonists are very real—people with imperfections and relatable issues. His book, The Fault in Our Stars, inspired me to write my debut novel, Hold on please, Emily.
Q4. What’s your favourite spot to visit in your own country? And what makes it so special to you?
The Toronto Islands has a special place in my heart. It’s the perfect urban getaway. You hop on a short ferry ride and you’re instantly in a completely different world. Every summer as a child, I used to visit with my family. We would rent bikes, have a BBQ, and enjoy the mini amusement park attractions with my siblings. Plus, what a view of the skyline from the island.
Q5. Is there lots to do before you drive in and start writing a book?
Brainstorming. Lots of it! It can take weeks or maybe months, depending on the book’s complexity. I usually need to mind map everything out before I dive into a book. Although I don’t always follow my notes, it helps me visualize my story better.
Q6. How long did it take you to write ‘Wise Up Stand Up’ book?
I had the idea for this project last summer. I grew up reading the “Quotable Quotes” section in Reader’s Digest. I always dreamed of having my own collection of quoteworthy thoughts one day. The whole project took about a year to complete, but it took about half a year to write it all out.
Q7. On what all platforms readers can find ‘Wise Up Stand Up’ book to buy?
My book is available in e-book, paperback, and hardcover on Amazon and major online retailers, like Barnes & Noble and Walmart. You can also read it for free via Kindle Unlimited. The accompanying music, Sonder, is available on all music streaming platforms, like Spotify, and there’s a QR code you can scan to easily connect to the album.
Q8. Tell us about the process of coming up with the book cover and the title ‘Wise Up Stand Up’?
The cover for my book took over 2-months to create and the first design looked very different from what you see today. The tree is a symbol of wisdom and the fall colours represent how our perspectives can change with the right words (just like the colours of leaves). The title was inspired by the song “My Shot” from the Broadway Hamilton.
Q9. When writing a book how do you keep things fresh, for both your readers and also yourself?
I feel that merging literature and music together in my projects is what keeps things fresh for my readers. It introduces a unique reading experience and helps readers emotionally engage with my content. When I create the accompanying music for my books, I collaborate with other creatives. This experience helps keep things fresh for me too.
Q10. Are there any secrets from the book (that aren’t in the blurb), you can share with your readers?
Each quote has its own story attached to it that wasn’t written in length in my book. Readers got a preview of these stories from the 12 book trailers I released to promote the different themes in my book. You can find these story videos on Instagram and YouTube. Also, the final quote in my book is my favourite in the collection. It was actually the first quote I wrote down when I started the manuscript.
Book Is Available On Amazon
Sassy Reviews 