Kytka Hilmar-Jezek is the bestselling author of Reiki for Children, Born To Learn, The Waldorf Community Exchange, Waldorf Talk Series and Book Power: A Platform for Writing, Branding, Positioning & Publishing. She is dedicated to assisting you harness your full potential. Kytka speaks globally, teaching people how to write a book and use it to brand and position themselves and construct a platform. In all of her books, she applies her expertise & credentials as a Master Practitioner of NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming), Dr. of Naturopathy, Reiki Master, Entrepreneur, Childbirth Educator, Waldorf Homeschooling Guru, Personal Development Coach and Thought Leader.
AUTHOR INTERVIEW
What
is your name, where were you born and where do you live now?
My
name is Kytka Hilmar-Jezek. I was born in Prague, Czech Republic. My parents
escaped in 1968 and were taken to the United States under Political Asylum. I
grew up in Southern California and have spent the last 8 years traveling
extensively. My home is with my family.
Did
you always want to be a writer? If not what did you want to be?
I've
always been a pioneer and an adventurer. As a child I loved reading because I
did not know any other children who had a life like my family growing up. I
came to the US when I was 4. I did not speak a word of English, none of us did.
It was difficult to be different in a culture that values sameness. Books were
my friends because I could find stories that were much like my own, I felt
connected.
When
did you first consider yourself as a "writer"?
I
have boxes upon boxes of my diaries, journals and notebooks. I have been
writing since I can remember.
Did
it take a long time to get your first book published?
I
self published with 1st Books which later became Author House. I paid a lot of
money and I was not happy with the final result. I felt I had no control and my
words and images were changed in a way which I did not like. Many years later I
discovered Amazon's CreateSpace and I published through them and never looked
back. I am happy with them because they make it possible for so many people's
unique voices to be heard. It's not costly, you maintain control, it's easy and
now there's Kindle too. The more authors in the world, the happier I am.
Do
you work another job as well as your writing work?
I
am a speaker and I teach people how to be entrepreneurs by monetizing what they
know. I teach them to write and create books which I've found creates and
entire framework for them enabling them to then create entire product lines.
The tools today make it so simple, everyone should do it.
What
is the name of your latest book, and if you had to summarise it in less than 20
words what would you say?
Book
Power: A Platform for Writing, Branding, Positioning & Publishing. I take
the reader through a gamified way to creating your book, much like a puzzle, to
get out of writer's block and a book into your hands - and your client's hands.
Who
is your publisher? or do you self publish?
Be
More Network, LLC working through CreateSpace.
Do
you have a "lucky charm" or "lucky routine" you follow when
waiting for your book to be accepted by a publisher?
I
like the control I have self publishing. I don't necessarily believe in luck -
I believe we make our own luck when we take action.
How
long does it usually take you to write a book, from the original idea to
finishing writing it?
Since
I speak my books into being, it can take anywhere from 3-4 days. The process is
always much faster in my head and if I sit down to write, much is lost before I
can capture it. When I get into these moments of creative flow, I turn on a
recording device and just capture it to be transcribed later. In Book Power and
my Book Power Training, I teach my students to do the same. Often times they
are surprised with how it later appears on paper. The usual comment is
"Wow, I don't know I was so awesome!”
Which
of your books were easier/harder to write than the others?
I've
ghost written a few books based on notes and recordings of the authors. They
are difficult for me because it is their essence, not mine. If I am not in a
deep relationship with the person, it makes it challenging. I don't ghost write
anymore for that reason, though I do have two assistants that are very good at
it.
What
can we expect from you in the future? ie
More books of the same genre? Books of a different genre?
My
genre is "out of the box" types of content, whether it be alternative
medicine, education, parenting, holistic medicine, raw foods, entrepreneurship
or small business marketing - I love creative concepts that are new and not
common. We continue to grow and evolve and the people that are tipping the
scales to ne ideas, concepts, growth, etc. are gaining more power and speed
because of the technology available to us. I am on a mission to find all of
these amazing people and give them further reach through their own books.
Do
you have plans for a new book? Is this book part of a series?
Book
Power is based on a workshop I have been
teaching for many years. People kept asking for a book, so I created it. Right
now I am in post production for the home study training program because not
everyone can get to my live events. But I enjoy the travel and meeting people
at the events. I love hearing their ideas and the best part is seeing them
light up when they grasp the simplicity of actually creating a book and how
important it is as a tool to build your personal brand. I share how to get
engineer a best seller and how to use Amazon as a search engine. This is
important information for writers of fiction and non-fiction.
Do
you have a favourite out of the books you have written? If so why is it your
favourite?
My
favorite is probably Reiki for Children because it is my first. The wonderful
thing about that book is that it consistently brings royalties, even 20 years
later. If I want a surge, I simply call a radio station or write a guest blog
post and more sales roll in. In a workshop recently, I was outlining how
royalties add up over time and I normally make about $350 a month on that book.
Multiply that by 12 months a year and then by 20 years and it comes to approx.
$84,000 dollars. And it took me less than a week to write. When people begin to
think longer term and grasp that reality, it makes sense. This is why I teach
people to write. It's my little nest egg and I have about 50 of them now, some
in my name and others in pen names. It gives me the freedom to live life on my
terms, and that is very powerful.
Do
you have a favourite character from your books? and why are they your
favourite?
I
primarily write non-fiction so the character does not apply, though in my
parenting and homeschooling books I am the true character, sharing my
experiences.
How
long have you been writing?, and who or what inspired you to write?
I
have been writing since I can remember. I still have my certificates for best
penmanship in class for grades 1, 2 and 3. I love writing, the written word,
how writing flows, looks, reads... all of it.
Where
do you get your book plot ideas from?What/Who is your inspiration?
Life
is the best teacher. My ideas come from what I see, live, experience. I have a
strong desire to help people express their true essence and I believe that is
what we are here to do, to be storytellers of our experience to teach others
what paths to follow, which steps to avoid and so forth. Everyone has an
incredible story, and everyone should write it.
Do
you have a certain routine you have for writing? ie You listen to music, sit in
a certain chair?
I
record because I can type all of about three words per minute. My routine is to
always have some kind of recording device. I speak my writing. My hands could
never keep up, so I record and then have my words transcribed. Many people
stumble with “writers block” and I just don’t believe in that.
Do
you have anybody read your books and give you reviews before you officially
release them? ie. Your partner, children, friends, reviewers you know?
Sometimes.
I know that many of my students give their manuscript to family and friends and
while they may mean well, they have comments that discourage the author from
publishing. This breaks my heart because so much of our identity in this
culture is based on acceptance from the herd. I believe that books are meant to
allow you to let your true voice come out and that the process helps people
overcome fears that they have. I tell my students to let them comment and
review after they've published and not to give too much weight to the words of
others. No one should have to censor or edit their story to please others - it
is like denying their right to their own voice.
Do
you gift books to readers to do reviews?
Yes,
sometimes. Though I know Amazon has "google slapped" several authors
who had reviews from people who were not verified buyers, so it's a tricky
space these days.
Do
you read all the reviews of your book/books?
If
I have time, I do. Again, I travel a lot. The reviews that mean the most to me
are the letters I receive from parents whose journey has been changed because
of my parenting books. I love those letters, and actually call them my
"love letters". I have about 13,000 of them. I've been collecting
them for over 20 years. They started coming back in the day when I had a yahoo
discussion group. I was very vocal there and had quite a following. That was
way before social media!
What
was the toughest/best review you have ever had?
I
had a virtual assistant upload the wrong eBook file to Kindle and we scheduled
a free promotion for the next day. There was not enough time to stop it. What
she uploaded was the transcripted version with no corrections, fill ins, etc.
It was very raw and almost sounded like it was in code. It's like my shorthand
to myself - I know when I get the document where I need to add on, etc. But
that was what made it's way to Kindle. The review was horrible and because it
was mixed with a direct transcript from a tele summit I did on "radical
unschooling" it set the space for taking things out of context. I just
wish she had let me know so I could have tried to pull the book. In any case,
things like that happen. I replied to the review explaining what happened and
many other reviews came in that were 5 star by people who enjoyed it - even in
it's raw state, so it's all relative. You can never please everyone and that
should not be your goal. In fact, if I am pissing off people, I know I am
usually on to something good!
Would
you ever ask a reviewer to change their review if it was not all positive about
your book/books?
No,
not at all because I am a strong advocate of freedom to express oneself and as
I said before, we cannot please everyone. If there are grammatical or editing
issues, I would like to be alerted because something may have slipped through.
But as far as subject matter - I know there will be people who like and others
who do not like my books.
How
do you come up with the Title and Cover Designs for your book/books?Who
designed the Cover of your books?
I
believe that books are like business cards, they are marketing tools and I
teach my students how to use them to grow their businesses and brands. If you
begin there, your title and cover should convey your brand and unique
proposition. Because as I said, Amazon works like a search engine, you should
be conscious of what is being searched, relevant keywords, etc. and to optimize
your book as you would sales copy for a web page. I know this takes us out of
the author space, but authors are in business too, so I include these things
when I teach others because they help sales and sales drives attention to the
author, which helps business.
Do
you choose a title first, or write the book then choose the title?
I
select a book title after I have done keyword research and written the book.
Starving artists who paint for themselves, and then cannot part with the
paintings usually die unknown and hungry. Many authors follow this path too. I
believe you should have flexibility and keep a business mind if you want to
make money and generate business from your book.
Do
you basic plot/plan for your book, before you actually begin writing it out? Or
do you let the writing flow and see where it takes the story?
I
always create an outline. It normally comes in the form of a question. I think
most people buying nonfiction books are seeking answers to questions or
solutions to problems. If you can ask the question the reader is asking and
then offer the best answers, you have the makings of a powerful book that will
help people. I do not write to entertain or escape, I write to inform, inspire
and educate so yes, I have a plan. I want to take them on a specific journey
from point "a" to point "b". For example, in Book Power I
share the way I create books by playing the content like a game which I put
together much like a puzzle. There is no room for writers block because you are
focused on playing the game. Most of my students do complete their books with
this process.
How
do you market/promote your books?
I
teach workshops, have trainings and speak at events. The books are tools that
people want, so I create them. The more personal books on education, parenting,
etc were also requested... People would say "tell me how you do this"
and so I answered the question. I was just being me and sharing what I've
learned and how I've proceeded. I do not have a strong book marketing or
promotional campaign because that is not my focus. I love to teach and inspire
others by sharing my unique journey.
What
do you think makes a book a really good/bestseller ?
I
think that best sellers are engineered and constructed. Good books stand the
test of time. But people change, culture changes. What resonated with the group
15 years ago may be the absolute opposite today. Traditional publishing houses
have controlled whose book will get to number one for many years. With the self
publishing industry exploding right now, I love seeing the people choose and
select who should be a best seller. Followers decide. A good twitter or social
media campaign can create such a buzz, sometimes a book gets to the top just
because it is "the thing" of the day. Tim Ferris talks about how he
applied internet marketing techniques to make his book go to number one. Kindle
authors discuss using KDP free days to jolt Amazon's ranking systems.
Categories can be set in a way where you have little competition in your niche
and can easily make it to number one, even if the book is garbage. So I do not
really give much weight to the best seller ranking. All of my books have been
at #1 on Amazon at one time or another. I would test specific strategies and
it's actually very easy to make it to number one. As I said, most are
engineered. More value to me are the books that stand the test of time, ones
with incredible depth, sensitivity and filled with a veracity of human feeling
and expression.
Have
you ever suffered from a "writer's block"? What did you do to get
past the "block"?
Never.
I think it's an excuse. Where people get stuck is in trying to choose the right
words, select the correct way to state specific things. I think if they just
wrote (or better yet spoke) and then went back to select better words, etc. the
block would not be there.
What
do you do to unwind and relax?Do you have a hobby?
All
of my free time is spent with my family. We travel a lot so we like to go
exploring. I like to see the culture of where we are. We meet people and go
into their homes. We eat at local mom & pops restaurants, visit the smaller
shops, talk to the inn keepers, etc. Everyone has an interesting story, so I
try to inspire everyone I meet to share their story.
Have
you ever based characters on people you know or based events on things that
have happened to you?
I
have written several book under pen names from different parts of my life, all
inspired by true events though they are listed as fiction. I have had some
amazing adventures in my life.
Are
there any hidden messages or morals contained in your books? (Morals as in like
Aesops Fables type of "The moral of this story is..")
No.
I am a "tell it like it is" kind of person. While I understand the
archetypical essences of fables and fairytales, and I love them - I do not
include any of that in my writing.
Is
there a certain Author that influenced you in writing?
The
authors I enjoy are rebels and pioneers. They are brutally honest and open.
When I read them I feel as though they are baring their souls. I connect with
this type of writing.
Which
format of book do you prefer, ebook,hardback, or paperback?
Paper
books. I like the look and feel of a hardback and those are the keepers.
Paperbacks are more practical and mine are all filled with highlights and dog
eared pages. I don't think you'll ever see me on a e-reader. I like the sound
of the pages turning and I pick up many books in second hand stores. I like
they smell of them. Sometimes I find notes, inscriptions, an old reciept...
What
is your favourite book and Why? Have you
read it more than once?
I
have many favorites from different parts of my life. I enjoy true adventure. I
respect movers and shakers, those who stir things up.
Then
there are those with honest common sense or poignant human feeling and
expression who reveal the obvious and make it seem divine. I love to read
Derrick Jensen.
Do
you think books transfer to movies well? Which is you favourite/worst book to movie transfer?
No,
I do not care for book to movie transfers. It's always much better in my head.
If I had to choose, I suppose The Notebook was done well. Also Tuesday's with
Morrie. Jack Lemmon did a great job.
Do
you think ebooks will ever totally replace printed books?
Never.
Too many people see books as their trusted friends. They are fun to curl up
with on a rainy day. Why would we want to be rid of them?
Do
you think children at schools these days are encouraged enough to read? and/or
do Imaginative writing?
No.
I think schools would be better replaced with libraries and the children should
have free reign of reading what best suits their interests. Books give the
vision and the impact that schools today are seriously lacking.
Did
you read a lot at school and write lots of stories or is being a writer
something newer in your life?
I've
always been an avid reader. I love books and reading. I still read aloud to my
children. They are 20, 15 and 12 and we all read to each other. Reading is very
important in our family.
Did
you have a favourite author as a child?
Judy
Blume in grade five was the answer to all girls' prayers.
Do
you have a treasured book from your childhood? If yes, what is it?
I
had a few: The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein.
Jonathan Livingston Seagull by Richard Bach. Born Free: A Lioness of Two
Worlds by Joy Adamson and Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes
Do
you have a favourite genre of book?
Non-fiction
Is
there a book you know you will never read? Or one you tried to read but just
couldn't finish?
I
have read hundreds of Theosophic and Anthroposophic books, but no matter how
much I love his work - Rudolf Steiner's words just do not translate well into
English. I actually got much more value reading them in Czech than in English.
Are
there any New Authors you are interested in for us to watch out for? and Why
should we watch out for them?
I
meet so many aspiring authors, and when I hear their stories - they are all
amazing. My personal policy is if it comes to me and catches my attention,
there must be a reason, and I usually pursue by reading. I find all stories
captivating especially by writers who are not afraid to take chances, to say
something revealing, controversial, poignant, inventive. People are so
interesting, wonderful, vulnerable, strong, weird, amazing and so much more. I
love the human story.
Is
there anything in your book/books you would change now if you could and what
would it be?
It
would be visual aspects, perhaps formatting. Maybe I did not thank enough
people who inspired me.
What
do you think about book trailers?
For
me they are like movies. I love film as much as I love books. But some people
see and therefore should create via film and others express with word so should
create via book. Rare is it that it transcends the boundaries and works in
both.
What
piece of advice would you give to a new writer?
Forget
"just do it" - get to "just DID it". Just get it going. Set a deadline. Play it
like a game. Don’t listen to the writer's block nonsense. Stop chasing
perfection. Don’t try to be someone else. Your voice is unique and your message
powerful - share it.
Do
you or would you ever use a pen name?
Yes,
I do and I have.
If
you could invite three favourite writers to dinner, who would you invite and
enjoy chatting with?
I've
been fortunate to have dinner with most of my favorite writers. I am very
blessed and privileged with the opportunities that come my way and I have met
all of my heroes who are living. An impossible then would be someone who has
died or who is hidden. I would like to have dinner with Milan Kundera, author
of The Unbearable Lightness of Being (and a Czech like myself). Subcommandante
Marcos who wrote "Our Word Is Our Weapon", most may recognize him
from the Chiapas stories. And finally, Rumi.
Where
can readers follow you?
My
New Book: Book Power: A Platform for Writing, Branding, Positioning &
Publishing
Amazon
Author Page: http://amazon.com/author/kytka
Website
& Blog: http://www.BeMoreThanYouAre.com
Media
and Speaking Contact: http://www.KytkaMedia.com
Facebook: http://www.Facebook.com/BeMoreThanYouAre
GoodReads: http://www.goodreads.com/kytka
Twitter: @Kytka
And
any other information you wish to supply?
I
wanted to THANK YOU Sandra, for the opportunity to share here today! I do live
Book Power Events all over the world and am open to invitations to speak and
present my methods. Just contact me!
