Author Interview: Mark Wentworth

How long have you been writing for? 

21 years

What would you say is the most difficult part of writing a book?

Learning to know when enough is enough or too much information. In a new book I’m currently writing I realised I was trying to put 3 books into one book which is why I had hit a block in my writing.

What genre do you generally write?

Personal Development.

Do you have a favourite author and why?

I like many authors for different genres. I like Elif Shafak because she writes fictional stories about Turkey and that part of the world, I’ve worked there for 12 years so it has personal reference for me. I like the style of James Hillman and Carol Pearson because both use story and myth to write about depth psychology. I’ve started reading Becoming by Michelle Obama which I am also enjoying her style, again because it’s a story, her story.

What is your book called and how did you choose this title?

My book is called “Add a Little Colour to Your Life” – I chose the title because it ‘does what it says on the tin’ it’s a very simple and direct title. I don’t even remember how I came up with the title, I think it just came to me when I as thinking about what to call it. I believe the more you think about it the more difficult it becomes to get the right title.

Synopsis:

Add a Little Colour to Your LifeHave you ever wondered why some colours fill you with joy and inspiration and yet others just leave you cold and flat? Did you know that yellow speeds up decision making and green gives the feeling of slowing down time? Add a Little Colour to Your Life reveals the hidden power of colour, this great little book gives you an introduction to and insight into the silent yet powerful language of colour, including décor, clothing, healing, and how to find your own personal life path colour. A little book that goes a long way.

Has your book been published and how did you go about this?

I wrote my book in 1998 and for many years I used to print it out at a local photocopy shop, fold it in half, two staples down the middle, and there you had my book. Jump forward to 2012 which is when I asked Jo to format my book for putting onto Amazon and Smashwords as an e-book. In-between ’98 and 2012 my book was also translated into Portuguese, Spanish and later Turkish, all printed in the same way. Jump forward to 2019 and my book has recently been published in Greek by a small publisher, in December ’19 it will be be published in Turkish. As well as being published by Amazon in English and French, and soon to be in Portuguese and Romanian too.

Approximately how long did it take you to finish your book?

I don’t remember how long it took, I know it was probably no more than a month. It seemed to write itself, I kind of did it without thinking and because I saw a gap in the market.

What advice would you give aspiring authors?

Write about your subject because you love it, create lots of post it notes with key words, chapter ideas and overall theme. Also decide who your ideal reader is, create a character of this person and then write your book to them. If you get lost, come back to your character and ask “so what would x think of this if he/she read this”.

Do you use social media to promote your book? If yes, then which social networks do you like the most?

I posted the front cover both on Facebook and Instagram. It did prove popular because I could see on the Amazon KDP Select chart the spike upwards after the social media posts.

What other ways do you market your book/s?

I talk about my book whenever and wherever I can, I have copies of my books with me at events I present at. Before it was available on Amazon I used to travel with my books everywhere and if I sold out I took orders and sent them all over the world. Since 1998 I’ve estimated that I’ve sold around 14,500 copies worldwide.

Have you enrolled your book onto Amazon’s KDP Select and how have you found it?

I have enrolled onto Amazon KDP Select and think this is an excellent service, easy to use and a great way to get your book out there. Having an Isbn number and a print on demand service gives you an opportunity to mention this if you are applying to a publishing house to get your book or another book published.

If you had to do it all over again, what would you do differently?

I am doing it again, in fact I’m writing two new books, one I am co-authoring with a friend and the other one is a continuation on from Add a Little Colour to Your Life. I’m putting into practice everything I’ve mentioned, my favourite is to have all these coloured post it notes with ideas and sentences laid out on the floor and putting them into an order for the book.

What books do you like to read in your spare time?

I have many, I have a room at home filled with books, I have to keep adding more and more shelves. I love books, each one whether fact or fiction has the opportunity to open you either your mind or your heart or both to something you didn’t know before. With this latest trend of de-cluttering and where you are supposed to live with 5 of everything, my response is ok, but not the books, no chance at all on that one!

What do you feel is the most important stage of writing a book?

Today I would say filling in the ideas and bring the concepts to life through the writing. Last week that would have been my least favourite part. For me it depends on where I’m at with the book.

How did you go about designing the cover for your book?

I worked with the designer who created my logo and the style of my website. I trusted and liked what she had done previously so knew we could come up with an equally great cover, and we did!

Are you writing or considering writing a follow-up to your book?

I am writing two more books. Both connected with colour, one about colour and fashion and the other about using colour for personal development.

Do you have a day job (if so, what do you do?) or do you write full-time?

I’m a Global Colour Ambassador which means I travel around the world teaching and sharing the wisdom of colour and how to use it as a tool for self-discovery, corporate team building, and as a method for creating what you want in life.

Check out Mark’s book, Add a Little Colour to Your Life