Wednesday, May 17, 2023

Interview With Author Dr. Endya Perry

 


 

1. What inspired you to write this book?

This book is the fruit produced from many years of experiences. Along my journey through every valley and my climb to reach every mountaintop, I gained strength and wisdom. That strength and wisdom was all sprouted from my spirituality which is the seed within me. I was taught early on to plant my seed, my spirit, in the word of God. I am eternally grateful for that lesson. For it is the word of God that gives me the principles, strength, and wisdom to overcome and to thrive. A tree does not produce fruit for itself. Therefore, I seek to share all I have gained with as many people as possible.

 

2. What exactly is it about and who is it written for?

Grounded and Rooted is about the life-changing nutrients and concepts found within the word of God. The various concepts and themes in the Bible are useful and necessary for people at all stages of life and spirituality. For those curious about Christianity, this book provides a guide to key concepts in the Bible. For those new to Christianity, Grounded and Rooted provides practical stories and principles that can be applied to help them build their spiritual foundation. For those who are seasoned in the faith, this book provides refreshing and affirming messages to strengthen their spiritual foundation. For those that are broken, this book is a reminder that healing is possible. A broken tree with strong roots can still survive. This book provides a biblical guide for the path from brokenness to better to blessed. This book was written for all people.

 

3. What do you hope readers will get out of reading your book?

When people finish the book, I want them to be confident in their spiritual foundation. This book is also a resource which points to the true source of continuous nourishment, growth, and development – the word of God. My hope is that through Grounded and Rooted, people will discover the power and purpose of anchoring their life to the word of God.

 

4. How did you decide on your book’s title and cover design?

The evolution of my book’s title is an interesting story. I actually started writing portions of this book decades ago. When I began writing it, the title of the book was “Walking the Path of Spiritual Growth.” I was early in my spiritual journey; and I had a vision of the path of spiritual growth. The initial vision I had was a beautiful tree-lined path, sprinkled with rose petals; with people along the path cheering you on as you progressed on your spiritual journey. However, through the years of walking this path, I realized that the vision I initially had was not the reality of what I was experiencing. I realized that, as Jesus forewarned us in John 16:33, “in this life, you will have tribulations.” My spiritual journey has not been a smooth path. There are hills and valleys. There are thorns and thickets. It is not always full of sunshine. There are storms that pop up, sometimes without warning. There are no rose petals sprinkled along the path. The path can be cluttered with rocks, and blockages that I have to navigate. The people that are present are not always cheering me on; some may mock me, others may try their best to push me off the path. The only way I have been able to progress on this spiritual journey was to go beyond reading the Bible without understanding. I had to truly be grounded and rooted in the word of God. I had to know, believe, and hold on to what the word of God said about me and my destiny. I had to ensure I was walking the path with Jesus, and not attempting to navigate this difficult, and often confusing, journey alone.

 

I have always been interested in growth and development. I research and study various growth patterns and principles. The growth and transformation a seed undergoes to reach its full potential is inspiring; and it also translates to our own growth and transformation. When assessing our growth, is important to determine the soil in which we are planted. What is feeding your spirit? What nutrients are you gaining? We must be aware and intentional of where we are planted. If we are grounded and rooted in the word of God, we will have all the nutrients we need to stand strong and prevail. The storm may rise. There may be periods of drought. But we can rest assured that we are firmly planted in the nutrient-rich word of God. We therefore have access to all we need. The title “Grounded and Rooted – firmly planted in the nutrient-rich word of God” is a characteristic that I have finally grown to possess. I can now say that I have this characteristic. I am grounded and rooted. I am firmly planted in the nutrient-rich word of God. This allows me to combat many defeating situations, thoughts, and behaviors. When the winds of change and difficulty seek to blow me off of my path, I can stand firm and say “I am grounded and rooted. I will not be blown away.” When the heat of trials cause me to feel exhausted and worn, I can say “I am firmly planted in the nutrient-rich word of God.” Since my hope is in God, I can declare as it is referenced in Isaiah 40, that my strength will be renewed. I will mount up with wings as an eagle. I will run and not grow weary. I will walk and will not faint (Isaiah 40:31).

 

For the cover design, I sought to create a design that aligned with the purpose and message of the book. The image of the tree planted in the Bible directly speaks to the fruitfulness of the word of God. The roots growing into the pages signifies the depth of study necessary to truly be grounded and rooted. It is not about gaining a surface level respect for the Bible, but it is about truly sinking and growing roots into it so that the word of God has an impact on your life. The roots being in the Bible means that the Bible is the source of all the nutrients the tree is obtaining to create its growth and development. This picture depicts that important relationship and context of the Bible as the source of our growth and development.

 

5. What advice or words of wisdom do you have for fellow writers – other than run!?

My advice would be as follows: Do not run; instead you should pour. Maya Angelou once said “There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.” When you carry the weight of the untold story that needs to be heard, you will not be able to run. It will be too heavy. Therefore, I would say release the weight of your untold story by pouring it all out. Continue to pour and the weight will subside. Continue to pour and you will see others refreshed. Your story is meant to feed more than just you. Extend the impact of your experiences and the lessons you learned. Pour, refill, and pour some more.

 

6. What trends in the book world do you see -- and where do you think the book publishing industry is heading? 

The world remains, and I believe will always remain, hungry for adventure, wisdom, and inspiration. Books have the power to quench this hunger.

 

As the pace of people’s lives continue to accelerate, the demand for newer technologies and avenues (such as audio books) to deliver the adventure, wisdom, and inspiration that is sought will continue to rise. I believe the publishing industry will continue to thrive as it leverages advancements in these capabilities.

 

There are many authors now taking advantage of self-publishing as another avenue to tell their stories and spread knowledge. The increased options in delivering the stories and messages that authors have to give will create an increase in supply and options for readers to explore. This is quite exciting!

 

 

7. Were there experiences in your personal life or career that came in handy when writing this book? 

In terms of the content of the book, all of my experiences came in handy. I truly believe that every experience has a purpose. I make an intentional point not to waste any challenge or any victory. Through this book, I was able categorize and summarize many experiences of my life. This is the reason that I am fully resolved in the messaging within the pages of this book. I lived it. Therefore, I know that it is true; and I know that it works.

 

In terms of the writing process, my doctoral journey was very helpful in writing this book. I gained a great deal through my doctoral journey. My experience and understanding of qualities such as perseverance, determination, and humility was amplified. I also gained a routine of research, validation, and the consideration and incorporation of comprehensive perspectives. All of these things contributed mightily to my writing process for this book.

 

8. How would you describe your writing style? Which writers or books is your writing similar to?

As far back as I can remember I have always been called an inspirational and motivational writer. Yet my writing includes an aspect of practicality that facilitates growth. It is one thing to be inspired to grow. But it is another thing to be given the practical steps that lead to comprehensive understanding and growth. Therefore I do not settle for providing inspiration without the practicality needed for application. I learn from the writings of Dr. Martin Luther King, Maya Angelou, and Brené Brown.

 

9. What challenges did you overcome in the writing of this book?

There are two major challenges I had to overcome in writing this book. The first was the challenge of self-doubt. I could, and likely will, write an entire book about overcoming self-doubt. The process of discovering and embracing your value is one of the most critical and most rewarding process you can undergo. Through writing, you are releasing your thoughts onto paper. That is a power action. But the next step of releasing your writing into the world takes a different level of courage and conquering. I am grateful for the experience of overcoming this obstacle. My hope is that more writers who are currently succumbing to the paralyzing fear of this obstacle will push through the anxiety and fear to experience the joy of liberation and releasing.

 

The second challenge I had to overcome was the challenge of distractions. My favorite definition of focus is selective attention. There are many people, places, and things that are vying for your attention. The ability to strategically select that which you pay the currency of your attention to is a game-changing skill to attain. I had to develop the discipline to designate time to strategically select my writing as the area that I was going to apply my attention, energy, and effort. This was a skill and discipline that has resulted in great rewards. This book is one of those rewards.

 

10. If people can buy or read one book this week or month, why should it be yours?

People should read Grounded and Rooted because of its impact. After reading Grounded and Rooted, the reader will not be the same. The reader will be stronger, more confident, and wiser. This book will create an appetite for the word of God that will result in deeper and purposeful study of the Bible. That result is life-changing.

 

Dr. Endya Perry is a prolific author and dynamic speaker called to lead people to the wisdom, strength, and healing power of God through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. She is fully dedicated to this calling. She earned her bachelor's degree from NC State University in Accounting, her MBA with a concentration in Business Law from Campbell University; and her Doctorate specializing in Organizational Leadership from Northcentral University. Her background is rich in finance, business analysis, digital tools, and leadership.  She is a proven leader and transformational life coach with a strong passion for inspiring and transforming people and teams. She gives God ALL the praise and glory for all these things. Her mission each day is to look for and take advantage of opportunities to inspire and be inspired to make positive change. For more info, please see: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-endya-perry-40a82668/

 

   Need Book Marketing Help?

Brian Feinblum, the founder of this award-winning blog, can be reached at brianfeinblum@gmail.com  He is available to help authors promote their story, sell their book, and grow their brand. He has over 30 years of experience in successfully helping thousands of authors in all genres. Let him be your advocate, teacher, and motivator!

 

Read This!

 

Help For Authors Becoming Speakers

https://bookmarketingbuzzblog.blogspot.com/2023/05/help-for-authors-becoming-speakers.html

 

Do Authors Need Accountability Partners?

https://bookmarketingbuzzblog.blogspot.com/2023/05/do-authors-need-accountability.html

 

Should You Write Another 10 Books?

https://bookmarketingbuzzblog.blogspot.com/2023/05/should-you-write-another-10-books.html

 

Can Libraries Overcome The Pandemic Setback?

https://bookmarketingbuzzblog.blogspot.com/2023/05/can-libraries-overcome-pandemic-setback.html

 

What Helps Authors Get Media?

https://bookmarketingbuzzblog.blogspot.com/2023/04/what-helps-authors-get-media.html

 

Book Trends Coming Out of the London Book Fair

https://bookmarketingbuzzblog.blogspot.com/2023/04/book-trends-coming-out-of-london-book.html

 

Impressions Of My First London Book fair

https://bookmarketingbuzzblog.blogspot.com/2023/04/impressions-of-my-first-london-book-fair.html

 

Avoid These Book Marketing Mistakes

https://bookmarketingbuzzblog.blogspot.com/2023/04/avoid-these-book-marketing-mistakes.html

 

What Is The New Media Landscape For Authors?

https://bookmarketingbuzzblog.blogspot.com/2023/04/what-is-new-media-landscape-for-authors.html

 

Blog Posts That Sell Books

https://bookmarketingbuzzblog.blogspot.com/2023/04/blog-posts-that-sell-books.html

 

About Brian Feinblum

Brian Feinblum should be followed on Twitter @theprexpert. This is copyrighted by BookMarketingBuzzBlog ©2023. Born and raised in Brooklyn, he now resides in Westchester with his wife, two kids, and Ferris, a black lab rescue dog. His writings are often featured in The Writer and IBPA’s The Independent.  This award-winning blog has generated over 3.3 million pageviews. With 4,400+ posts over the past dozen years, it was named one of the best book marketing blogs by BookBaby  http://blog.bookbaby.com/2013/09/the-best-book-marketing-blogs  and recognized by Feedspot in 2021 and 2018 as one of the top book marketing blogs. It was also named by www.WinningWriters.com as a "best resource.” For the past three decades, including 21 years as the head of marketing for the nation’s largest book publicity firm, and two jobs at two independent presses, Brian has worked with many first-time, self-published, authors of all genres, right along with best-selling authors and celebrities such as: Dr. Ruth, Mark Victor Hansen, Joseph Finder, Katherine Spurway, Neil Rackham, Harvey Mackay, Ken Blanchard, Stephen Covey, Warren Adler, Cindy Adams, Todd Duncan, Susan RoAne, John C. Maxwell, Jeff Foxworthy, Seth Godin, and Henry Winkler. He recently hosted a panel on book publicity for Book Expo America, and has spoken at ASJA, Independent Book Publishers Association Sarah Lawrence College, Nonfiction Writers Association, Cape Cod Writers Association, Willamette (Portland) Writers Association, APEX, and Connecticut Authors and Publishers Association. His letters-to-the-editor have been published in The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, New York Post, NY Daily News, Newsday, The Journal News (Westchester) and The Washington Post. He has been featured in The Sun Sentinel and Miami Herald. For more information, please consult: www.linkedin.com/in/brianfeinblum.  

 

 

No comments:

Post a Comment

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.