• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Janice Beetle Books

Writing, editing, book development, and publishing help

  • Home
  • About
    • My Books
    • Clients’ Books
    • Privacy Policy
  • Services
    • Creative Writing Review/Coaching
    • Book Development /Writing
      • Book Development Sampler
    • Book Editing
    • Copy Editing
    • Book Design
    • Publishing Guidance
  • Blog
  • Poem Pods
  • Shop
  • Contact
  • Order My Book
You are here: Home / All / A Q&A on Willful Evolution

A Q&A on Willful Evolution

April 5, 2021 by Janice Beetle 4 Comments

With Willful Evolution: Because healing the heart takes strength available now in my Shop and on Amazon, I wanted to put some more information out there to help potential readers get a better sense of what the book holds. I asked my intern, Jillian Tully of Westfield State University, to interview me and take notes. Here is the conversation she captured. (Please consider sharing this post on your social media platforms!)

What encouraged you to write a sequel to Divine Renovations?

I didn’t actually plan it as a sequel. My original idea was to compile a bunch of blogs. I was going to do two different books—a “Best of” featuring blogs on travel and another on online dating. I asked previous interns over the past few years to pick and choose their favorite blogs. As I looked at what they chose, I saw that the material told a story, but the idea for a sequel still was a long time in coming. I would look at an intern’s compilation of blogs, then put it aside. Then I’d look at another’s selections—all similar picks—and again, no inspiration on what to do with the material. It took a few years before I saw that I didn’t need to use the blogs themselves, that they could be the spark for the story of the past 10 years—a sequel to Divine Renovations—and then I wrote it.

You’ve said you added some aspects of your life near the end of the process. What aspects did you feel you were missing?

The most relevant one was business development because growing my business was such a huge part of my transformation—getting stronger financially made me feel independent and more secure. The book is divided into sections like Family, Travel, Adventure. Near the end of the process, I added a Business section. I also added in more vignettes featuring my longtime housemate Craig Fear. In the beginning, he was more of a random character. He would be in the story, and then he was gone. There was no thread of Craig that carried through, and an early reader pointed that out. I thought to myself, “Yeah, he was a big part of my life,” so I added him in. It was adding Craig that made me realize the business material was missing. I met him in a business networking group called BNI, and growing my business and networking was a huge factor in personal growth. Finally, a big part of my evolution was trying to find a sense of home again. In final drafts, I feel like I refined that message and made clearer what I experienced.

What edits did you make that you thought were most impactful in the final product?

Edits that had to do with my older daughter Sally. She wasn’t in the book very much, and my younger daughter Molly was; an early reader pointed out that lack of balance. She said something like, “When I search for Molly’s name in your manuscript, it is in here 174 times, but Sally is in here about 22 times.” So, I had to come to terms with the fact that that thread needed to be included. Sally and I had had difficulties, and my work was becoming a mom who could empathize. That belonged in there, too.

How are you feeling about publishing the book this week?

I feel excited because when I read Willful Evolution, I think it’s really good and useful to other people. It is saying, “Here’s how I got from Point A, which was bad and sad, to Point B, which is great.” I hope that the story inspires people and that it is motivating. But, there are two parts of my brain: the other is going, “Fear Fear Fear Fear,” and I have to shove that away. 

What are you working on now?

In addition to four client manuscripts, I am also at work on my first work of fiction. Yes. No. Maybe. is a love story (because I love love), and I think it’s powerful, raw, and amusing. Due to COVID-19, I had more time to work on my own projects in the past year, but I see that some work may be returning, and that’s a good thing, but it means finishing the novel will take longer! Stay tuned. I am also hoping to put out my Poem Pods book this summer. I am working with my step-grandson, Darian, who is telling me that he is almost done with all of the illustrations. So, that’s exciting. 

Anything else you want the people reading the blog to know?

I was talking to my husband the other day with my fear voice, asking him, “Why are people going to care about a book about the last 10 years of my life?” And then I answered my own question with my strong-Janice mind: “Because it’s useful—and it’s funny.” I think that sometimes we all get stuck inside ourselves, and we don’t even understand the roadblocks we are putting up. Sometimes those roadblocks are our fear, sometimes it’s our lack of confidence or the feeling of “I can’t do it. I don’t know how.” I want people to see how I noticed I was doing that to myself—doubting and reacting to anxiety—and how I got out of that thinking. I want people to feel good. So, that’s why. 

← Previous Post
Next Post →

Filed Under: All, Books Tagged With: memoir, new book, publishing a book, q&a, Willful Evolution, writing a book

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Charlene Moses says

    April 5, 2021 at 12:48 pm

    Awesome interview. You brought up a lot of good points. One in particular for me is fear. Never connecting fear with lack of confidence. I had never put the two together before. Makes sense.
    I think your book is a great read, I am sure your audience will feel the same.

    Reply
    • Janice Beetle says

      April 5, 2021 at 2:07 pm

      Yes, definite connections there. Fear-confidence. And thank you as always for reading and commenting!

      Reply
  2. Claire L. Hebert-Dow says

    April 5, 2021 at 1:04 pm

    I like this exchange. In short, recognizing and learning to kick fear to the curb.
    Girl power!
    Claire

    Reply
    • Janice Beetle says

      April 5, 2021 at 2:08 pm

      Yes, that and also learning to listen and to empathize! Go girls, indeed!

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Subscribe

Please enter your email address to receive blog posts by email.

Categories

Recent Posts

  • Larceny in the Aisles is Hot Off the Press!
  • Ten Tips for the Travel Writer-Wannabe
  • Thrilled to Meet My Client From London

Archives

  • October 2022
  • June 2022
  • May 2022
  • March 2022
  • February 2022
  • January 2022
  • December 2021
  • November 2021
  • October 2021
  • September 2021
  • August 2021
  • July 2021
  • May 2021
  • April 2021
  • March 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • August 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • May 2016
  • April 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • December 2015
  • October 2015
  • August 2015
  • July 2015
  • June 2015
  • May 2015
  • April 2015
  • March 2015
  • February 2015
  • January 2015
  • December 2014
  • November 2014
  • September 2014
  • July 2014
  • June 2014
  • May 2014
  • April 2014
  • March 2014
  • February 2014
  • November 2013
  • October 2013
  • September 2013
  • July 2013
  • June 2013
  • May 2013
  • April 2013
  • March 2013
  • November 2012

Footer

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

© 2023 Janice Beetle Books · Privacy Policy
Content by Janice Beetle Books · Site by Turn Signal Media