Book: The Male Nurse Survival Guide
Q1. Hello, can you please introduce yourself? Readers would love to know more about you.
I grew up in a small town outside Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. I started nursing school at eighteen years-old and graduated with my Registered Nurse Degree at twenty years-old. I have been a nurse for over fifteen years now. I have worked all over the United States and love to travel. I now live in Park City, Utah. I love snowboarding, golfing, hiking with my dog, spending time with my wife and sharing my new book.
Q2. What were the key challenges you faced while writing ‘The Male Nurse Survival Guide’ book?
The hardest part for me was the constant re-reads and edits. I didn’t have a problem getting on the computer and just typing out what was on my mind. Reading it over and over getting to sound the way I wanted after was harder. I would often step away for a week or so and then come back to it with fresh eyes. I didn’t have any deadline so it really took self discipline to get it finished. I was lucky to find a great editor, formatter and cover artist online in my first attempts.
Q3. What books or authors have most influenced your own writing?
I have read a lot of personal development books over the past ten years. Probably read hundreds of books which influenced me wanting this book to be humorous, but also educate the reader and help them be better nurses. A favorite influence I got from Joe Vitale in Hypnotic Writing was that readers want to hear your voice in the writing. They want to relate to you, so you don’t have to be an expert writer. Just write and be yourself. Seth Godin taught me it’s ok if some people don’t like you or your book. That means it just wasn’t for them. Create your art anyway and get it out there.
Q4. What’s your favorite spot to visit in your own country? And what makes it so special to you?
That is a really tough answer. I love to snowboard so many of the ski resorts have a special place to me. I love visiting all the national parks when I travel. They are so beautiful. I also love American history so places like Gettysburg National Battlefield and Mount Vernon which was George Washington’s home are must visits. Very beautiful and full of great history.
Q5. Is there lots to do before you drive in and start writing a book?
No, you just need to start. I brain stormed an outline of chapters and then just started typing away. Don’t get caught up trying to work out the whole process before you start. Just start writing. I didn’t write my chapters in order, many times I just would write what chapter I felt like that day. Sometimes, I would set a timer for 90 minutes if I needed to focus and just type away for those 90 minutes. I would then go back and read what I wrote and add things. The re-write part is harder, but if you want to start writing a book, sit down on your computer and just start unloading.
Q6. How long did it take you to write ‘The Male Nurse Survival Guide’ book?
It took me a year and a half from outline to published book. The idea started in December of 2020 where I began with an outline and began writing January 2021. The book was finished up in 2021 and then most of the past five months of 2022 was editing, formatting, design and finally publishing.
Q7. On what all platforms readers can find ‘The Male Nurse Survival Guide’ book to buy?
It is available on Amazon, Kindle and Apple Bookstore. Working on some book stores now.
Q8. Tell us about the process of coming up with the book cover and the title ‘The Male Nurse Survival Guide’?
The title was the first thing I thought of before I even started writing the book. It was originally a joke that I should write a book titled “The Male Nurse Survival Guide”. As that idea sat there in my brain, I began to really believe in the book and that I could write it. The cover art was something I thought about a good bit, and somehow came up with this Rambo person. I loved the idea of a ripped macho dude holding a med cup and water pitcher with a little nursing hat. The tattoos were also funny to me, and putting Florence on his arm in a heart for his love for “Florence Nightingale” the famous nurse still cracks me up. I was lucky to find an artist on Fiverr who translated what was in my brain beautifully to the cover. I went to the book stores and really liked that blue color for the book and that is how I picked mine. I wanted something that stood out on the shelves.
Q9. When writing a book how do you keep things fresh, for both your readers and also yourself?
I really tried to put myself in the readers eyes when I was going through my book. I wrote it where someone with no experience could enjoy this book and learn as well as a seasoned pro. For myself, I would step away for a few days or a week and come back to my book. It would allow me some fresh eyes. I also was still in the mix working as a nurse when I was finishing my book. This helped me think about ideas for my book in real time.
Q10. Are there any secrets from the book (that aren’t in the blurb), you can share with your readers?
Yes, the first is that anyone will enjoy this book. You don’t need to be a male or a nurse to love it and learn new things. Even if you aren’t a nurse you can gain a lot of understanding and appreciation for the nursing profession after reading. The second secret is from the first look of the cover and blurb it shows this is going to be a book full of funny stories and anecdotes associated with nursing. What you will find when you get to the meat of the book there is really solid tips and lessons for nurses of all kinds. A fellow male nurse with over ten years of experience after reading my book said it like this, “The middle is filled with so many “pearls” that every nurse needs to hear. Great job man. You could rename this book the practicalities of nursing”. That was what I was going for. I wanted the reader to have fun while they learn.
Book Is Available On Amazon
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