Paul: I like to start my interviews by asking if you have any writing rituals?
April: I
write better and am more efficient with everything on the days I am fasting or
detoxing. When I am fasting I find my mind is far clearer, my energy is
excellent and the ideas, thoughts or words just start to flow. I fast regularly
doing a 10 day cleanse most months as part of my overall lifestyle approach, so
it has been an easy way to keep motivated with my writing.
Paul: What types of books do you like to read? Who
are your favorite authors? Why?
April: I love
to read nearly everything from Sci Fi to historical novels. One of my favorite
authors is Diana Gabaldon with her Outlander series of books which bring in the
historic element, time travel and modern day living. I love anything with time
travel and interesting characters you feel you must get to know.
Paul: If
someone had the power to step into your creative mind what would they see?
April: They
would probably see other worlds! LOL As an Intuitive I used to work hard to
stay focused on this world, but then I realized the benefits of being able to
peek into several times, spaces and places and have embraced that side of me
more and more. They would also see how much I think about food, cooking,
nutrition and all of these interconnected threads leading back to health.
Paul: What is a typical day for you?
April: A
typical day for me involves homeschooling my two children - but first we look
after the animals. We have goats, geese, turkeys and ducks as well as a few
pets such as canaries, turtle, dog, cat and a pond full of fish! Once they are
sorted out first thing in the morning, we get going with some lessons. They are
both involved in sport, dance, theater, sailing, Tai Kwon Do, rock climbing and
so forth - so we do have a fairly busy week during the day. However, I still
find time each day to write - usually once they are set up with their lessons
and of course late at night.
Paul: Do you have a favorite character in each of
your series, aside from the lead? If so, which one and why?
April: My writing would be a bit different from most
other authors - I write about walking the spiritual path taking lessons and
information I myself have learned, and recording the journey. My other writing
has been about my own recovery from cancer a number of years ago - it changed
my entire life, started me off on my road to total commitment to better health
in a medication free lifestyle. I healed myself by using only diet, lifestyle
changes and of course positive visualization. And right now I am working on a
recipe book to accompany The Pagan Diet -
cooking is a passion for me.
Paul: In all the years you’ve been publishing your
work, what is the biggest mistake you made that you could share so others can
avoid making it?
April: I have
been writing for many years but only started putting my books out there about 6
years ago. Perhaps the one mistake I made was to listen to other people who
were negative or fearful about my writing/lifestyle. Against my better judgment
I deleted my first blog after some advice from a friend - I have since learned
to never destroy any of my work, it's all a part of the writing process. I
guess you could say I have learned to only listen to my heart when it comes to
following my dreams!
Paul: How do you find the time to write?
April: I must make the time - I can find myself on a
walk or exercising and have some thoughts flooding through my head and have to
stop while I write them down. That's why I now have a notepad and pen in the
exercise room. I find that an article or piece I am working on builds up, layer
by layer and I keep working with it until I am satisfied I have said what I need
to say. With small children, animals and clients, I tend to grab a bit of time
whenever I can.
Paul: What is one thing you hope I do not tell the readers?
April: I guess there is really no one thing here
that I would not want readers to know - I was a bit stressed about people not
understanding what it means to be an Intuitive and wondering how I might
explain this better. However it is all there in my books, so I am not talking
about anything new. It is more difficult to talk about yourself then it is to
write about your experiences - if that makes sense.
Paul: If you are self-published, what led to you
going your own way?
April: From
my standpoint, I am interested in 'energy' surrounding things. That being said,
I wanted my own imprint on my books, my writing and my personal signature on
all that I do. I have long felt that if my books were to be published by
someone else - they would require input from others. This might dilute the
message contained in these books and of course this is not what I want. From
the beginning it has been self-publishing all the way for me.
Paul: Do you
plot your stories or do you just get an idea and run with it?
April: Because I am relating something that has
either taken place or writing about insights I have regarding the physical
body, the food we eat and lifestyles we lead - these are broader concepts that
I take and whittle down to an issue or discussion that might be of assistance
to someone wanting to re-gain their health, walk a spiritual path, heal some
physical or emotional condition and so forth.
Paul: Do you do a lot of editing or do you find that
as time goes on your writing is more fully-formed?
April: I
edit, edit and edit - also there is a research element to some of my work as
well. So this might mean I am working on a piece about detoxing - I will look
for other experts opinions about this and compare or contrast these ideas in my
own work. I find I might write something then completely reorganize it to get
it to read more clearly or to emphasize the points I need to make. Fortunately,
years of studying, research and teaching/marking college papers has come into
some benefit!
Paul: Do you have to do much research for your books?
April: Yes,
there is always a research element to the pieces I am writing unless they are
strictly from my own experience and I am wanting to emphasize that. For example
I often talk about the human bio-energy field and would draw on my own
experience. But if I am discussing the benefits of goat's milk or endurance
exercise I would be pulling in other thoughts and information as well.
Paul: What is your most recent book? Tell us a little
about it
Paul: What inspired you to write this book?
April: I have
always been a recorder - I have decades of journals having written down dreams
for many years. When I start anything new I find myself compelled to write it
down or record it in some way. It has been the same with my detoxes and
cleanses - I have journals and diaries of each day over many years. After a
while seeing people who were struggling with their weight or their health and
knowing how beneficial detoxing is in each of these inflammatory states, I
decided to compile my notes and writing into a book.
Paul: How much marketing do you do for your published
works or for your ‘brand’?
April: The
only real 'marketing' that might come about is from word of mouth - people seem
to find me and see me as a professional Medical Intuitive first and then buy my
books. Usually all of them! LOL Other than that I do have a flyer and use
Twitter and Pinterest to talk about the work I am doing and what I am
discovering on my own journey.
Paul: What’s your favorite / least favorite aspect of
your writing life? Has anything surprised you?
April: Once
upon a time I used to do this for 'fun' - then when it became 'work' the
dynamics changed and perhaps so did my own focus. I had to think more carefully
about what I was writing, plan out my time more efficiently while still
allowing the intuitive process to guide me. Some days it is hard to find time
to get the writing done and I feel a thought has come and gone. This is perhaps
the difficult part of writing while raising a family and following a
sustainable lifestyle. What has surprised me is how much there is to say!
Paul: What do
you do when you’re not writing? Do you have any hobbies or party tricks?
April: When I am not writing I am doing each of the
things I write about - I have a large medicinal herb garden as well as
vegetables both winter and summer. We raise our own food animals – honey, eggs,
meat and milk. We are also beekeepers and have our own natural design beehives.
I home-school my children and have my clinic next door to the house, although
most of the work I do is over the phone. So, my hobbies - kind of all blend
into a lifestyle. As a party trick my intuitive abilities would have been seen
as unusual!
Paul: Thanks April, that was most fascinating. I wish you every success for the future.
April is in private practice combining her education and experience into assisting clients with diet, lifestyle and conscious living and does occasional talks in Nutrition, Energy Medicine and Medical Intuition. Her interest is in practitioner safety, weight loss, detox, inner child, energy attachments, candida or anti-fungal diets and is a skilled Medical Intuitive.
‘Who I am really, aside from what I have learned, experienced and the places I have been - is a person deeply committed to fully understanding my body, mind and soul on the deepest levels. My books, blogs and life are all about living as close to nature and health as possible.’
April's Blog: April Danann
April on Twitter: @DanannSpl4ces
April on Facebook: unknown
April's latest book: The Pagan Diet (Amazon)
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