To read the article on the Fascinating Author's Website click here.
Author Profile: Cheryl Maloney
Cheryl Maloney was an out-of-work, out-of-shape, over-fifty corporate executive collecting unemployment, questioning her own worth, coping with her husband’s scary health diagnoses and beating herself up for the stupid financial mistakes. She began sharing her experience in 2009 on her website & Facebook page. Her posts of been viewed over 60 million times.
Learn more at: www.SimpleStepsRealChange.com
Author’s excerpt reading: Available on the Fascinating Author's Website.
About the book:
When Cheryl Maloney first started blogging in 2009, she was an out-of-work, out-of-shape, over-fifty corporate executive collecting unemployment, questioning her own worth, coping with her husband’s scary health diagnoses and beating herself up for the stupid financial mistakes she had made. Is that enough baggage?
After months of daily writing, Cheryl started posting her thoughts on Facebook. Eventually, she realized that she wasn’t alone in her challenges. There were more people dealing with major life issues than she had thought—and by reading Cheryl’s posts, they knew they weren’t alone, either!
Cheryl is passionate about helping others. She continues to blog, share inspiration on the Simple Steps…Real Change website and Facebook page along with co-hosting a weekly radio show on Empower Radio.
Q. What excites you most about your book’s topic? Why did you choose it?
A. There are simple solutions to every challenge and opportunity in life. What excites me is helping others to see that while they may not always be easy… they are simple. By bringing clarity to the issue the answer is simple. I choose Simple Steps because I believe that people want a way to make their life better and want to do so as simply as possible. (That’s plenty of “Simples” in here… I deal with the positive so I don’t tend to talk about what people don’t want.)
Q. How long did the book take you from start to finish?
A. Start to finish 1 year.
Q. What aspect of writing the book did you find particularly challenging?
A. My challenge is in editing. I write as I speak and am grateful for a fabulous editor who kept my voice and made my writing more professional.
Q. What surprised you the most about the book writing process?
A. That it took so long. Revision, revisions, revision… and yet each one made the book better.
Q. Did you have any favorite experiences when writing your book?
A. Once a week my business partner, Kenny Brixey & editor Nancy Luscombe would get on a conference call and talk through the book. We discussed everything from organization to assessing the value of a particular Simple Step. It was their support, their honest and their humor that took my dream to reality.
Q. What do you hope your readers will gain from reading your book?
A. That they are not alone. While we may not walk in each other’s shoes there are more similarities than differences. These Simple Steps are a culmination of lessons learned from thousands of friends that are part of the Simple Steps… Real Change family on Facebook.
Q. What projects are you currently working on?
A. 6 Mini Workbooks providing Simple Steps on the topics of Relationships, Self Worth, Money/Financial, Body Image, Finding Peace and Taking Risks.
Q. Is writing your sole career? If not, what else do you do?
A. The development of the Simple Steps brand is my career. It includes writing books, co-hosting Simple Steps… Real Change radio show on Empower Radio, public speaking & coaching. The later two are in the early stages.
Q. Did you do any research for your books, or did you write from experience?
A. I write from experience, my own and those who are part of the Simple Steps… Real Change Facebook page.
Q. How did you come up with your title?
A. I have always believed that the simpler something is the more likely someone is to do it. As I was going through the worst times of my life I read every self help book I could get my hands on. Most contained long programs or complex plans and that didn’t work for me. I wanted Simple and as I realized that I was not alone in what I was going through I wanted to help others find simple ways to change their life. Thus Simple Steps… Real Change. As I was writing this book I wanted the audience to know that these Simple Steps deal with Real Life issues.
Q. What books have influenced you the most?
A. Viktor Frankl, Man’s Search for Meaning… though in reality it is the documentary Viktor & I that had the most impact. This documentary reflects the lives that Viktor Frankl touched… and that is where I see my future. Touching lives with positivity.
Q. Who was your publisher and why did you choose them?
A. Balboa Press. Reasonable programs to accomplish what I need someone else to do.