Interview with Stephen Renwick – Ramona Portelli Blog

Interview with Stephen Renwick

Tell me more about your latest book

My latest book called ‘Sleepwalk. Live in the Dream. A 9-step program of Self-Destruction’ is a self-help book with a different approach. Firstly, it explains a mock 9-step program to show you how to screw your life up, with the idea that you shouldn’t do these things, and if you’re are doing them, you need to stop, press pause and think about how you’re living. Secondly, there is a section based on acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), explaining how you can start to lead a life of fulfilment rather than destruction. My book uses humour to help the reader or listening lighten up and become more open about their mental health. My book aims to help people discuss their mental health issues and learn how to make value driven behaviour choices in life.

The feedback for the book has been very positive on Amazon etc. For instance some readers have said.

“A well-written counterintuitive self-help guide with nothing but authenticity and humour of the author. Whatever personal crisis you are dealing with, this book is the therapy you must read and embrace. Kudos to S. R. for sharing this simple yet effective and heart-warming book. A masterpiece indeed”.

“I have to say this book is brilliant! So ridiculously funny! I was laughing out loud, so much so, that the table next to me at the cafe today must have thought I should have been carted off in straight jacket!….. Then to be sobered by genuine, profound and honest instructions on how to sort out/my life was just amazing!!!! … I love that this author, they just allow you to explore yourself, and capture the essence of the true self sprinkled with a dark, dry, silly humour which you just cannot help but fall in love with!!! MORE PLEASE!!!”

“Sleepwalk is a very book, it made me laugh and laugh again! The irony and whit is just brilliant! It made me think about how I was living and what’s most important to me now. Recommend for the humour!”

Synopsis

“SLEEPWALK – Live in the dream”—provides a detailed roadmap to multi-faceted personal ruin via clear steps, real-world testimony, hot tips, and inspirational quotes. This tome leaves no stone unturned to leave no life unscathed. Savage in approach, my mock 9-step program is a punchy, dark, and unrelentingly irreverent parody of the self-help genre. Yet, as hysterical as it is pseudo-smart, the humour is entirely at my expense. At its heart, this is a confessional. That is what makes this so touching. Few could be so honest. Fewer could be so funny whilst being so honest. Whether you are confronting your own demons and seek some perspective or are simply looking for an opportunity to laugh at the mistakes of another, or both, this book is a smart celebration of irony, wit, insight and humility that will leave the reader feeling better for the experience

I feel that to date, this is the best book I’ve ever written, and people relate to the book because we have all screwed things up! My book appears to be getting people to open up about their mental health issues and talk about them more.

What was the most challenging aspect of writing this book?

It’s quite interesting, because once I get an idea to write a book, I see the entire book in my mind, chapter by chapter and I have an image of what I want it to look like. The most challenging aspect is reading your own work and spotting mistakes. Another challenge, is making the book funny, yet serious at the same time. I enjoy watching comedy to help me with my own mental health issues, and therefore I wanted to portray this in my latest book.

What is your normal procedure to get your books published?

I have self-published all my books so far because I find it quite easy to do and remain in control of everything. I have found a good team now who can proof read, format and design the books and help with marketing. I would love to find a publisher going forward though.

Do you view writing as a kind of spiritual practice?

Writing for me is quite therapeutic, and gives me a sense of using my experiences to help other people. This meets one of my life values of helping others. It does feel satisfying once you hold a copy of your book in your hand or see someone reading it in pubic. Spiritually, it feels as though you are leaving something behind for other people to benefit from and it does feel like a spiritual benefit.

How many books have you written so far?

  1. Tennis is Mental (I appeared on Dragons Den with this book in 2007)
  2. Tennis is Mental too
  3. Charlie and the cookies
  4. Inside the mind of a Gambler
  5. Sleepwalk. Live in the Dream. A 9-step program of Self-Destruction
  6. Rescue Casper the dog (coming soon)

What’s the best way to market your books?

Facebook, Instagram, book signings, free promotions, author interviews and direct mailing to bookstores. Also, listing your book with Gardner’s Books and Nielson Book Data.

How hard or easy is it to establish and maintain a career in writing?

I write just because I enjoy writing, however it doesn’t feel like a job or career to me. It’s more about adding value to other peoples lives. If my book only helps one person then I feel it’s been a success. Life is valuable. As a career, I never planned or dreamed to be an author, it just happened and I started writing books, enjoyed it and felt I was helping others.

What is your advice for aspiring writers?

Believe you can do it, start writing some book ideas down and see where you end up. You don’t need to be amazing straight away, but over time your skills improve and get better. If you have always wanted to write a book, just start it and keep going to the end.

Visit Author Stephen Renwick book links:-

Amazon

Audible

https://www.audible.co.uk/pd/B09M58PGGR/?source_code=AUKFrDlWS02231890H6-BK-ACX0-286271&ref=acx_bty_BK_ACX0_286271_rh_uk

Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/sleepwalk9steps

Website

www.sleepwalk9steps.com

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