Hello Author Gary Sinclair, Welcome to WorldAuthors.Org! Why did you write the book? What was your motivation behind it?
My wife and I are big mountain people, hikers, a little technical for me. I’ve done 9 14000 foot peaks but she had never done a summit. So in 2003, she did her first only to discover three months later that she had stage 3 cancer. Over the next 18 months we climbed that mountain together but found ourselves using principle from our climbs. We began to tell that story, enough that I finally wrote it down to accompany my website and speaking in 2019.
Who do you see as your main audience for this book and what do you hope they will get from reading your book?
Anyone who has a personal mountain to climb can benefit: finances, job loss, grief, discouragement, relationship struggles or breakups, getting counseling, etc.
How do you see this book being relevant today?
Every person pretty much faces something bigger than they are but the stakes are higher in these Covid and post-pandemic days. Life can be even more overwhelming and the climb can seem tougher.
Why do you think you are the right person to write this book? How do you think your qualifications or experience make this a better book?
Well, first I’m a climber so I’ve done most of what I suggest here on both granite and in our personal lives. Second, I have a master’s level counseling background and decades of experience helping people overcome.
Can you share a little bit about the process of writing the book? Did you keep writing once you sat down? Did you blog first? Did you experience any writers block and if so, what did you do about it?
The book almost wrote itself because we’d talked the story to people over and over. However, I wanted it to be very readable, personal and engaging so there are lots of stories about my growing up to our times in hospitals and struggling with Jackie’s cancer.
Does writing energize or exhaust you?
It does both and I think it should. It should energize because that means you’re telling stories and situations that inspired you and continue to make you proud, confident and positive. It should exhaust however because that also means you’re working hard at your writing, trying to make it as good as it can be. That takes work!
What is your writing Kryptonite?
The tendency to keep the same style, not take risks but become too predictable.
Do you want each book to stand on its own, or are you trying to build a body of work with connections between each book?
I’m not opposed to connections, but I’d rather write about something that means a lot or that I know could uniquely help someone else. If I ever write fiction then I might consider a trilogy or series.
How did publishing your first book change your process of writing?
It made me work harder. I would read, then re-read and re-read realizing that my first couple of drafts weren’t my best. I began to love the proofing and editing part because I knew I would end up with a better book.
What was an early experience where you learned that language had power?
I learned this personally in my family, knowing that there were big hurts from things said to me as a child. Then I saw the same thing happening in people I’ve counseled. There is power in our words.
As a writer, what would you choose as your mascot/avatar/spirit animal?
A lion combined with a golden retriever.” I want my writing to be strong and compassionate.
What kind of research do you do, and how long do you spend researching before beginning a book?
Depends on the book, but I don’t usually write until I feel I’ve got the substance and facts to write it. The extra work is merely to be sure I’ve documented my work and have great stories or examples.
Do you view writing as a kind of spiritual practice?
To a degree, yes. Writing brings out many of the things I both struggle with and use to overcome inside of me. As a person of faith, I believe that God is the core of who I am and become, so I can’t write totally devoid of that.
What is your favorite childhood book?
Dr. Seuss’ ‘Oh, The Places You’ll Go.
How long on average does it take you to write a book?
Several months depending on how much I have already let simmer.
Have you written any other books or do you have any books planned for the future? Tell us as much as you are willing to share!
Yes, four others, one on parenting, one on marriage, one a joint venture (one chapter) called “The Happiness Code” and one about living life NOW and not leaving everything for someday.
Anything else you want readers to know?
I have a super wife of 45 years, two grown kids and six grandsons. I love coffee, the mountains of course and travel.
To know more about the author don’t forget to visit Amazon’s Gary Sinclair page