Q1. Hello, can you please introduce yourself? Readers would love to know more about you.
A1. Hey, I’m Mandy the Creative Genius Consultant, artist, author and owner of a Creative Retreat in Scotland. I help creative women to launch, grow and scale their businesses and make more money.
This book was part of my mission to bring the voices of creative and neurodivergent women to the world.
Q2. What were the key challenges you faced while writing your book “Beyond the Ordinary”?
A2. The key challenges while writing the book have been juggling 30 co-authors, some who struggle with confidence in their work. Getting everybody to keep on track with deadlines and doing revisions etc was hard, but we got there! I had an author drop out at the last minute and I had to find a replacement to keep the number at 30. I always find a way.
Q3. What books or authors have most influenced your own writing?
A3. I adore the Lord of The Rings and always have but also many key influencers in the self-help genre such as – Jack Canfield, Glennon Doyle, Brendan Burchard etc. I like a story when I am helping people with self help guides and I have included personal anecdotes in every chapter of this book.
Q4. What’s your favourite spot to visit in your own country? And what makes it so special to you?
A4. I have moved to my favourite spot in Scotland – Dalbeattie in Dumfries & Galloway. My late husband and I holidayed here all the time and after he passed I sold our house and moved here to my ‘Mini castle’ (that’s a story all of it’s own) and created my amazing creative retreats. Scotland has always held a special place in my heart since I went to University in Edinburgh, I have been trying to get back here for thirty years. And now I’m home.
Q5. What inspired you to write the book ‘Beyond the Ordinary’?
A5. I was inspired by the women I have worked with over the years. Observing their struggles and how overlooked they had been as creative and neurodiverse business owners gave me the motivation to step into the spotlight and bring them with me. Amplifying their voices and stories became part of my business mission and it has been so rewarding.
Q6. How long did it take you to write your book ‘Beyond the Ordinary’?
A6. The book has been an ongoing project over the past couple of years for my part. The past 6 months have been about finding and bringing together the right women to collaborate with the project. All in all just under three years.
Q7. On what platforms can readers buy your books?
A7. All of my books are available on Amazon under Mandy Nicholson or A J King (my pen name for my fiction stories) and on Austin Macauley Publishers as A J King. You can also find them on my website www.mandynicholson.co.uk
Q8. Tell us about the process of coming up with the book cover and the title ‘Beyond the Ordinary’?
A8. The title was the easiest and it came to me almost immediately as these women are beyond the ordinary. I worked with a cover designer for the cover and graphics and wanted to include the neurodiverse and creative right brain and all of its colours and connections. She did a wonderful, striking job of capturing my brief by including a tree with the brain.
Q9. When writing a book how do you keep things fresh, for both your readers and also yourself?
A9. I keep myself up to date with how people are feeling. Tapping into feelings and exploring what people want rather than need has always been my driving force. If you can give them what they want and also reach what they need, you are onto a winner.
Q10. What is the most valuable piece of advice you’ve been given about writing?
A10. Write how you speak. Don’t try and be over-wordy nor try to compete with people who are not you. You are unique. Be you.
Buy Beyond the Ordinary on Amazon
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