Featherstone 
When your book takes on a life of its own
It made me smile to see Dellaram Vreeland’s piece in The Guardian titled: ‘I’ll see you in a year’ the Australian women over 60 hitting the road solo.
The piece starts by referencing Robyn Drayton’s decision to travel to some of the most remote parts of Australia. What began as a one-year trip, morphed into a six-year adventure.
And guess what she took with her ‘as an itinerary and keepsake’? A coffee table book called Australian Bush Pubs.
And I know the coffee table book, because I interviewed the entrepreneurial authors of Australian Bush Pubs for Look-It’s Your Book!, the guide to writing, publishing and marketing non-fiction.
In the interview they told me how that book had become a bit of a cult hit, travellers carrying it with them, asking the publicans of each hotel they visited to autograph it, while also trying to replicate photos from the book and sharing them in online groups.
Indie authors Cathy Savage and Craig Lewis have built a life around their passions – and a business too – writing and self-publishing books including 4WD Treks Close to Sydney, Australian Bush Cooking Recipes for a Gourmet Outback Experience and plenty more.
Their advice for authors and those thinking of self-publishing runs to five pages in my book because it was all pure gold! It covers the little and large things they have done to make a great living from their writing for more than 20 years.
It refreshingly (sorry, couldn’t resist the pub pun) confirmed again how much books matter, that they can accompany readers through different moments in life while actively changing and enhancing lives.
And it’s through other people’s interpretation and passion, our books take on a life of their own.
But first we have to envision, and then write them.
Every article, and every book (traditionally or self-published), has the capacity to inform and inspire when done well. That’s what Cathy and Craig’s books have done. And it’s what I wish for yours.
If you need any guidance on your current book idea or project, grab a copy of Look-It’s Your Book!, get in touch for some 1:1 mentoring or join me for a non-fiction writing retreat.
And in the meantime, happy writing.