Interview Questions & Answers
about
Flicker to Flame
with
Author Jeffrey Thompson Parker

Q. Where should people be when they read your book/in what mindset?

A. Flicker to Flame was written to help people accomplish goals, realize dreams, and live with more purpose, meaning, and happiness. So, I’d say readers should be reflecting upon their aspirations, their talents, callings, and gifts, the things that will bring joy to their lives.


Q. In 25 words or less, what's the book about?

A. Accomplishing goals, realizing dreams, and living with more purpose, meaning, and happiness through the application of the principles of the Nine Axioms of Happiness.


Q. What inspired you to write this story?

A. I’ve always felt I had a book inside me. It just needed the light of discovery. I wrote the following passage and included it in Flicker to Flame because it happened to me and I believe it to be true that, “When the light of discovery reveals an ultimate calling, destiny is set in motion”. On a business trip to the Bahamas I had an epiphany and my mind was filled with ideas and thoughts about how we are all given gifts or flickers by our Creator and that by discovering our gifts and letting our light shine our lives will have an abundance of joy and happiness.


Q. How much time do you have invested in this project?

A. I started writing the book in January 2005 and it was in print in December 2006. As for the amount of hours, I’d guess well over 1000 hours.

Q. How many drafts did you go through?

A. I don’t really know how to answer this question. I just started writing, compiling, changing, improving, and editing until it was done.


Q. How did you hook up with your editor/publisher/illustrator? What is your relationship with your publisher?

A. “All writers need allies” is a quote from Guerrilla Marketing for Writers by Jay Conrad Levinson. Levinson first wrote Guerrilla Marketing which changed the way small businesses do business and his Guerrilla Marketing series has sold over 14 million books and been translated into 41 languages. Levinson was the keynote speaker at a business conference I attended in January 2006 and after his presentation I had an opportunity to meet him and discuss books and publishing. He agreed to read my manuscript and the following day called me and said, “This book must be published, the world needs this message. I’ll introduce you to a publisher and write a blurb for your book.” You know the old saying that “luck is when preparation meets opportunity” I went to the business meeting with my manuscript and the intent to give it to Jay Conrad Levinson hoping to get some feedback from a published author who has sold millions of books. His response took me by surprise. Levinson introduced me to David Hancock CEO of Morgan James Publishing, New York. I sent the manuscript to Morgan James Publishing in February 2006 and signed a contract in March 2006.

As for my editor Amanda Edmonds, I met her through a customer of mine from my day job. My customer is an Indiana University professor and has published books and she has edited his books.

As for my illustrator/graphic artist Nate Trueblood, I know him and have done business with him through my day job.

I wholeheartedly believe in the concept of networking. By using the resources you have available to you, by being aware of opportunities, and by seizing those opportunities it is possible to create the destiny you have envisioned.

I have a wonderful relationship with Morgan James Publishing. They call themselves the “Entrepreneurial Publisher” which is a good fit with me as I’m an entrepreneur. They are good at what they do and their speed of going from manuscript to marketplace is impressive. We went from final manuscript version in August 2006 to having the book available for sale in December 2006.

Q. How long did it take to find a publisher?

A. Being a first time author and new to the publishing world I did things in an unorthodox way. I didn’t write a book proposal, hire an agent, and shop the proposal to publishers. I just wrote the manuscript and figured when I got it done then I’d figure out the next step. The very first publisher Morgan James Publishing, New York, to whom I sent the manuscript, which was 90% complete, wanted to publish the book. So the answer to how long did it take to find a publisher, not very long.


Q. How long from finding the publisher until the book was printed? Did you have any say in the artwork on the cover? What about illustrations? Did you do your own, hire an artist, or did the company take care of it? How much say did you have?

A. Less than nine months. I signed my deal with Morgan James in March 2006 and the book was in print December 2006. I designed the artwork for the cover. I had a vision of what I wanted the cover to be. The sunrise of an extraordinary life filled with joyful experiences rising over the mountains of a mundane existence. I created the cover with the help of my illustrator/graphic artist. I hired the graphic artist and together we created all the images in the book. The images had to fit into the publisher’s parameters but I had complete control over the content. Morgan James Publishing being the “Entrepreneurial Publisher” allows authors to use their creativity and entrepreneurial spirit to take the book where the author wants to go with it.

Q. What's your writing ritual?

A. I need peace and quiet to write, so with a full time job and the responsibilities that go along being a husband and a father to three children I found that time to be in the evenings usually after everyone is in bed. I have an office in my basement that allows me the solitude to do research and write. I also like to write when I’m out town in a totally different environment, because for some reason my creative thinking and imagination are sparked when my surroundings are different than normal. I also always have a legal pad and pen with me because I never know when inspiration will strike. For me good ideas are like clouds floating across the sky of my mind and if I write down my thoughts I can recreate and expound on them later in my quiet time. If I don’t write my thoughts as they appear it is much more difficult for me to remember or recall them.

Q. Paper, computer or typewriter?

A. Paper and pen on a legal pad followed up by the computer. Hunt and peck on the computer if you can believe it. I told you I’m unorthodox.

Q. In what kind of environment do you work best?

A. Quiet, where I delve into the recesses of my mind and concentrate on creating my thoughts into words. I also like a change of scenery which can fuel creativity.


Q. Why do you write?

A. I write because I like to communicate thoughts, ideas, and concepts to others. I also like to write because it is a challenge and I feel as if I have an affinity with words. I wrote Flicker to Flame because I wanted to share a message I felt I was given, the message that we all have something to offer and as we let our light shine and give thanks for our blessings it can not only bring joy and happiness into our lives, but also help make the world a better place.

Q. What book would you most like to take credit for writing?

A. The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey

Q. What's the last book you read?

A. Guerrilla Marketing for Writers by Jay Conrad Levinson

Q. What author do you wish you could emulate?

A. Stephen Covey

Q. What book would you take on vacation?

A. John Daly My Life In & Out Of The Rough

Q. Where can people buy your book? Cost?

A. The book is available for sale on my web site jeffrey-t-parker.com. Each book purchased through my web site I personally sign. The hardcover is $23.95 and the paperback $13.95. It is available at Borders, and Barnes & Noble if it is not in stock it only takes one or two days to get it in. It’s also available online at amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com, and walmart.com.


Q. Who is marketing your book?

A. I am marketing the book along with Morgan James Publishing.

Q. What steps are you taking to market your book?

A. I have my web site jeffrey-t-parker.com where people can go to get information and purchase books. I am using an email marketing campaign which introduced the book and I send out a monthly newsletter which focuses on one of the Nine Axioms of Happiness. The newsletter is free and sign up is available on my web site. I am giving presentations to groups on how to accomplish goals, realize dreams and experience more purpose, meaning, and happiness through the application of the Nine Axioms. My latest presentation was to the Royal Fiberglass Pools national dealer meeting in Louisiana. I am contacting over 150 college professors who teach positive psychology classes about using Flicker to Flame as a supplemental reading for their classes. I am contacting media outlets about interviews and doing reviews on the book. I also network with everyone I meet to spread the word about the book. It will take a grass roots effort and word of mouth support for the book to successful. Success for me is letting people know how they can let their light shine, transform their flicker to flame and live with purpose, meaning, and happiness.