Lisa

Hi, everybody.

Lisa

My name is Lisa Askalise, known as the Inventress.

Lisa

I'm also the author of my favorite book of Lala.

Lisa

I'm so happy to be here.

Lisa

Thank you so much for having me.

Host

My pleasure.

Host

Lisa, you know, I have to tell you something.

Host

First of all, you're close to my heart.

Host

I'm a grandparent also.

Host

Now I have.

Host

I know you have three granddaughters.

Host

I have three granddaughters and two grandsons.

Host

It's kind of neat to get into this with you because of us having that familiarity with our grandchildren.

Host

If we could jump right in and if you could tell us.

Host

And I probably have given that.

Host

The listening audience a hint already.

Host

But tell us about the inspiration behind your book.

Host

My favorite book of lullabies.

Host

And how did it all get started?

Lisa

Many years ago.

Lisa

I mean, I wrote songs that are in this lullaby book 20 something years ago.

Lisa

So backstory.

Lisa

I always love piano.

Lisa

I love.

Lisa

I love music.

Lisa

Love, love, love music.

Lisa

And I was never given the opportunity to play the piano as a kid because my sister was given piano lessons.

Lisa

She didn't like it, so.

Lisa

And she's older than I am.

Lisa

I was never given the opportunity to have piano lessons.

Lisa

I never said, mommy and daddy, I want piano lessons, but give me piano lessons.

Lisa

I went to a place and I had it in my head that I'm going to buy a piano and I'm going to write music and play music and sing music.

Lisa

Not a singer, not a musician, don't know how to read music or anything like that.

Lisa

And anyway, so, long story short, went and purchased the piano.

Lisa

My husband came home, saw the piano in the living room.

Lisa

The piano, the baby grand piano.

Host

Wow.

Lisa

In the living room.

Lisa

And he said, who's paying for that anyway?

Lisa

So when that piano sat in that formal living room, I didn't know how to play, but I loved music.

Lisa

I just started playing what I could hear in my head and writing numbers on the keys and so forth.

Lisa

So I started writing the lullabies that I sang to my children that I made up.

Host

Your lullabies came first.

Host

Before the book probably.

Host

Probably wasn't even in your head.

Lisa

Not even a thought.

Lisa

So sang lullabies to my children.

Lisa

I said, oh, wow, this is really cool.

Lisa

Now I have a piano, I could create songs.

Lisa

We're talking again.

Lisa

Over 20 years ago, my daughter, my youngest daughter, 30, now they have children.

Lisa

The same songs I sang to my children and kind of played piano to.

Lisa

I started singing to my grandchildren.

Lisa

Olivia, who is now two and a half years old, 53, was singing all of these songs to Olivia, rocking her to sleep.

Lisa

She started singing the songs that I was singing.

Lisa

And I said, why am I not creating a lullaby book that my children and my grandchildren could have for a lifetime?

Lisa

I have the words, I have the melody, I have the all of it.

Lisa

Last year I said, okay, I'm going to start to do this.

Lisa

And it evolved into something I knew I could do.

Host

Right, right.

Lisa

People writing books, authors writing books.

Lisa

Why not put my lullabies into a book and have it for our family for.

Lisa

As a tradition for generations to come.

Host

Isn't it cool how your motivation started even before your children and then you had your children and that made it stronger and from there your grandchildren.

Host

Really, it's funny how grandchildren get the best out of us, right?

Lisa

They do, absolutely.

Lisa

And as Olivia sang my song, well, who inspired me was Olivia and that.

Host

She'S your oldest granddaughter, right?

Lisa

Yep, my two and a half.

Lisa

She'll be three.

Lisa

So Olivia was singing the songs I sang to her, which I didn't think was anything.

Lisa

I really didn't think.

Lisa

I mean, this is, this is what I sing.

Lisa

Grandmother sings a song to you.

Lisa

Olivia started singing, singing the song.

Lisa

She says, grandmama, sing I love you, my favorite song.

Lisa

Singing I love you to Olivia.

Host

So explain to me how you got from the songs to actually the children's book.

Host

Because I, I love it.

Host

How you've.

Host

You've built it into four stages, your website, and we'll talk more about that, But I just love how you did that.

Host

So tell us, as someone listening in, tell us how you did that.

Host

How did you take those songs and then build it into almost a four stage book?

Lisa

It's called insanity.

Host

I love it.

Lisa

I do things that when I decide something, first of all, I have to say this, and I know that everybody does it, but I have to say this.

Lisa

I'm being honest and completely transparent.

Lisa

I'm laying in bed, it hits me.

Lisa

I'm saying, why not take these lullabies and put it into a book form to have the, the words, the pages I create, pages I type, pages I call a graphic artist.

Lisa

The graphic artist helps me to create these designs.

Lisa

This is going to be a little insane.

Lisa

And I call a musician and I said, I need to record, I need to record these songs.

Lisa

So I call a musician to record the songs I'm singing into my phone.

Host

I just had a guest on not that long ago.

Host

She woke up in the middle of the night and, and she had her phone beside her and she recited the whole book into her phone.

Host

So it doesn't sound crazy.

Host

It sounds to me like you're pretty normal.

Lisa

Well, I am normal.

Lisa

Abnormal.

Lisa

So I sang.

Lisa

No, but I sang the songs to my phone in a key of whatever the key was, and I gave it to this amazing gentleman, a good friend of mine, Brandon Williams.

Lisa

I said, brandon, I'm singing this song, and I want to create this lullaby book.

Lisa

And he goes, well, what key are you singing?

Lisa

I said, I don't know.

Lisa

I said, you're the musician.

Lisa

I don't know how I'm singing.

Host

Did all the music come first and then you wrote the book?

Lisa

My songs came first, yes.

Lisa

Yeah, all my songs came first, and then I wrote the book.

Host

Okay, terrific, Terrific.

Lisa

This had to happen.

Host

Tell us.

Host

You know, I talked to everybody about their publishing approach, and you've heard traditional publishing, you've heard self publishing, and a lot of people use what's called hybrid publishing.

Host

So tell us a little bit about what publishing route did you go and why?

Lisa

I saw Book Baby while watching Netflix or whatever.

Lisa

The commercial came on, and I said, you know, let me reach out to bookbaby and see what they.

Lisa

What they do.

Lisa

I heard about Amazon.

Lisa

I knew nothing about publishing.

Host

Was bookbaby a hybrid?

Lisa

It is, Baby is a publishing company where they publish, print your book.

Lisa

You have to provide graphics.

Lisa

You provide print.

Lisa

And all of those things that I did typed it all out and had it edited, and I provided this to bookbaby.

Lisa

So bookbaby.

Lisa

Okay, well, I can do this, but you need to provide it in this format.

Lisa

And bookbaby then created a format that was.

Lisa

Well, we kept going back and forth.

Host

Sure, absolutely.

Lisa

Until it was perfect.

Host

It is.

Host

It is beautiful.

Lisa

I thought so everyone out there, it doesn't happen overnight.

Host

Oh, absolutely not.

Host

You've Hybrid published.

Host

Do you do Print on Demand, or do you do a large print run, or do you do a combination of both?

Host

Tell us about that.

Lisa

I now do Print on Demand.

Lisa

My preference is Print on Demand.

Lisa

The reason I like to do Print on Demand is because I don't want to overprint.

Lisa

I don't want to have more books than I can sell.

Host

Right.

Host

Absolutely right.

Lisa

That, to me, that's the smartest way to go.

Host

You know what?

Host

I.

Host

I got your book very quickly.

Lisa

And did you get that on Amazon?

Host

I did.

Host

I did.

Lisa

Hey, great.

Lisa

I'm so happy.

Lisa

How long did it take for you to receive it?

Host

Two or three days.

Host

Yeah, it's almost instant, right?

Lisa

Yes, yes.

Host

So it's.

Host

It's fantastic.

Host

Fantastic.

Host

I always ask my guests this story too, but I find I Looked at your website.

Host

Beautiful website, by the way.

Host

I love the blue.

Host

Like, I'm a blue guy.

Host

I like, I love the color blue.

Host

And this is so vibrant.

Host

It's incredible.

Host

And you and your website matches that.

Host

But here's the question for you.

Host

Was it the.

Host

It's, it's like the chicken or the egg.

Host

Was it your website first and then the book or the book first and then the website?

Lisa

Book first and then the website.

Lisa

So.

Lisa

But I, but I knew what I wanted.

Lisa

In my head, it was the book came first and it all has to come together.

Lisa

It.

Lisa

For me, I see things in stages.

Lisa

I.

Lisa

I mean, I saw the book and I saw the colors and I knew that the website had to match.

Host

And that's what happened to us.

Host

Everybody said, they always say this to you just before you go to print your first book, right?

Host

Publish your first book.

Host

They say, oh, you should have a home for your book.

Host

I say, what do you mean, a home?

Host

They said, yeah, you should have a website.

Host

Well, it took us about six months before we had a website.

Host

It's just the way it worked out.

Host

But we, the thing that we had, and to your point is we had the graphics.

Lisa

Yes.

Host

And you've got such beautiful graphics.

Host

And like you said, you know, you had your book in your head, but you also had your website in your head at the same time.

Lisa

I'm an inventor, though.

Lisa

You have to remember this.

Lisa

Like, I invent, I create.

Lisa

And you'll have all that bio information on the site.

Lisa

But all I think, I think I create.

Lisa

And things evolve in my head daily.

Lisa

Look the way I perceive them and so forth.

Lisa

So I saw the website before it was built.

Host

I haven't asked this question before, but it's the vibrancy of the blue.

Host

So how did you come up with that vibrant blue?

Host

Was it a transition between daylight and nighttime or how did you do that?

Lisa

No.

Lisa

So I have always, always been, I'm going to say, married to that blue.

Lisa

And it was even younger.

Lisa

I remember seeing an outfit in a store that, that I could not afford.

Lisa

And I'm talking 40 years ago.

Lisa

I saw this blue jumpsuit that I wanted maybe longer than 40 years.

Lisa

And it was so expensive.

Lisa

But that blue, that very same blue I loved, I was so attracted to it.

Lisa

I said, I have to buy that jumpsuit and I afford it.

Lisa

I put on layaway.

Lisa

Blue has been the blue that when you see me on different talk shows and usually I'm wearing black, it's so weird because I'm wearing black, but that I'm So attracted to that blue.

Lisa

I don't know whether it's biblical, I don't know.

Lisa

I don't call it practice.

Lisa

I am attracted to that blue.

Host

When I look in your book and how the blue makes all the other colors pop out, it's phenomenal.

Host

Just phenomenal.

Host

So congratulations on doing that.

Lisa

Thank you so much.

Host

Nice choice.

Lisa

It wasn't mine.

Lisa

It just happened.

Lisa

I'm saying I was drawn to that.

Lisa

I'm drawn to that color and my first billboard.

Lisa

And the things that I've done have always been not even knowing what I was going to wear.

Lisa

I was attracted to that and still am attracted to that blue.

Host

Interesting.

Host

So I know we talked, you talked a bit about before your daughter was born, when your daughter was born, your granddaughters were born, about the building blocks, the motivation.

Host

Is there anybody else that motivated you in this journey to become a children's book author or was there an event like what finally triggered it?

Host

You said this is it.

Host

This is the year I'm going to do this.

Host

Like tell us that.

Host

Was there one person?

Lisa

I authored a book.

Lisa

It's called the Inventress Guide to Inventing all or Nothing, now or Never.

Lisa

And so in my title of authoring my other book, I in that, in that title triggered me to do all of the things that I thought of right of doing in my life, from inventions to books to songs.

Lisa

That triggered me to say, what the heck?

Lisa

Why am I not creating a book on with all of these lullabies so that my children and my grandchildren can have them forever?

Lisa

A book never goes away.

Lisa

A book never.

Lisa

It never exhausts itself.

Lisa

Book will sell for centuries.

Host

Absolutely.

Host

And it's interesting you should say that because you and I are so much alike because I actually wrote two business books before I ever wrote and published a co authored with my granddaughter, a children's book.

Host

It's kind of wild, but anyway, so fantastic.

Host

My, my granddaughter's a co author with our book I'm interested in.

Lisa

How old is your granddaughter?

Host

She's.

Host

When we started she, this whole journey, she was about 5 or 6.

Host

She's now 21.

Lisa

Oh, so sweet.

Host

Yeah.

Host

So we.

Host

The whole journey.

Host

Yeah.

Host

And so it's pretty incredible actually.

Host

And, and that leads me to my next question.

Host

Character development.

Host

Now I know this, this.

Host

It's a little different with your book.

Host

All three of your granddaughters are in the book.

Host

They're visible because that you, that you actually have their name.

Host

So tell us a little bit about the character development and talk about the stages because I think Olivia comes in the first part of the book.

Host

And then your twin granddaughters come a little later in the book.

Host

Correct.

Lisa

So the coolest thing ever is I wrote this book.

Lisa

Olivia was two.

Lisa

I mean I literally just did this.

Lisa

Olivia was still two.

Host

Okay.

Lisa

Anna just had the twins.

Lisa

So as I.

Lisa

So I have twin granddaughters who are.

Lisa

Will be one year old next month.

Lisa

So all of this was happening during the journey of Olivia turning being two Gianna having twins.

Lisa

It all literally had just unfolded while they were babies and still are babies.

Lisa

So when you talk about the growth, Olivia, when I was writing the book, did not have such a full, full knowledge and understanding in full scope of what I was doing.

Lisa

But recently at Christmas time, I put it in her stocking.

Lisa

She had the book, but now she's two and a half.

Lisa

So she understands it now.

Lisa

She says, grandma, that's Isla and Ivy.

Lisa

And she started singing the song.

Host

Fantastic.

Lisa

From the book.

Lisa

From the book.

Host

So I mean, and the reason I asked that it'll lead me to my next question.

Host

So in.

Host

In our book and I'll just show you our book, it's called the Adventures of Caboose the Rocky Mountain Bear.

Host

And I forgot to show you, but Caboose has a K instead of a C.

Host

And the reason being is my oldest granddaughter, her name is Kira.

Host

That's why we chose a K.

Host

The K boost stands for Kira.

Host

Now the other four grandchildren, we've all written more stories.

Host

So We've written about 38 books in our books here.

Host

We now we've only published one and we're working on our second one.

Host

But the other four grandchildren, they.

Host

They're actually.

Host

Their names will actually transfer into the stories of the book.

Host

Okay.

Host

And so that's what I'm interested in finding out from you.

Host

Can you explain the significance of using your granddaughter's names in your book?

Lisa

Yeah, sure.

Lisa

Their mom, their there, Britney, Olivia's mother, Brittany.

Lisa

I sang the songs to them.

Lisa

Well, their names are their names.

Host

Yes.

Lisa

No significance into any name.

Lisa

I mean their names are their names and I'm singing to them.

Lisa

So it wasn't like I translated any name into something else or transformed.

Lisa

I'm singing to my granddaughters, I'm singing to my children.

Lisa

And if you see in the very beginning of the book when I giving thanks in the reference portion, giving thanks to my children and giving this as a gift to them and thanking them as, you know, for having Isla, Ivy and Olivia as my grandchildren, there was nothing besides the reality of who they are and what they've done for my heart.

Host

And I have to say, try to share with, not only with the readers your motivation worth, but also with aspiring authors to understand that there's so many different ways we all go at this, and sometimes it's to give recognition.

Host

And to your point, Lisa, the book will live forever.

Host

So when they're having their grandchildren, they'll say, look at what my grandma did.

Host

Right.

Host

It's incredible.

Host

It transcends generations in time.

Lisa

And for those to come, you know, and they'll.

Lisa

Olivia may write books for her children and grandchildren and Island Ivy and, you know, your.

Lisa

Your grandchildren, your granddaughters, your.

Lisa

Your two grandsons.

Host

Yes.

Lisa

And it just goes on forever.

Lisa

It doesn't go away.

Lisa

It's not like a product that is on the shelf and it goes away.

Lisa

A book forever.

Lisa

Forever.

Host

Well, I want to jump into the QR codes, and I'll tell you why.

Host

Because again, I mean, again, similarities here.

Host

I'm thinking, oh, my goodness.

Host

I.

Host

I'm not musical.

Host

I can't.

Host

I would scare my grandchildren if I sang to them, so that ain't gonna work.

Lisa

But what I did is, by the way, I didn't care.

Host

Oh, and no, that's.

Host

That's important.

Host

That's important, too.

Lisa

I said, I'm.

Lisa

This is my authentic self, my authentic voice.

Lisa

And I'm.

Host

I'm sure I did sing some songs with the grandchildren when that.

Host

That didn't really matter.

Host

Right.

Host

So what I did is I used a QR code and I created a bookmark.

Host

What's cool about this QR code is that we use this as a promotional item and to get people interested in our book.

Host

The.

Host

When you scan the QR code, our middle granddaughter, Bailey, she actually.

Host

We turned the book into an audio book.

Host

So you get the audiobook of our book in your hot little hand, and it comes on your.

Host

It comes onto your phone or your iPad or whatever at.

Host

When you scan the QR code.

Host

So, I mean, I just loved.

Host

I.

Host

I scanned your.

Host

The music, I scanned the audio in the book.

Host

I thought, what a neat feature.

Host

You're the first person I've ever talked to that's actually taken a children's book.

Host

I've seen this done in business books, but I've never seen this type of thing done in a children's book.

Host

Can you explain to everybody that's listening, you had vocal and you've got music.

Host

Explain how that all worked.

Lisa

My daughter Gianna.

Lisa

Okay, so it was my.

Lisa

My youngest daughter, Gianna, where, you know, I wanted to do a lullaby book.

Lisa

I didn't want to do one of those.

Lisa

You Know, push the button and play things.

Lisa

And she says, mommy, why don't just do a QR code?

Lisa

So when they purchase the book, they can hear it, you know, wow.

Lisa

They can hear the instrumental.

Host

That's amazing.

Host

You just sat down and you.

Host

And you came up with a strategy for each QR code and away you went again.

Host

Readers understand that the value add that you add to the book is incredible.

Host

So I love that part.

Host

And then to aspiring authors, remember what Lisa did.

Host

This technology nowadays allows us all to do that.

Host

So, you know, don't be afraid of technology.

Host

And Lisa, I don't know your technological background.

Lisa

I'm not techie.

Lisa

I'm just creative.

Lisa

Okay, so I'm not techie.

Lisa

I'm creative.

Lisa

So I think of things.

Lisa

And I have an incredible team of people, have a wonderful family.

Lisa

And again, as I, as I mentioned to you, my youngest daughter.

Lisa

So my youngest daughter is, I mean, they're in the tech world, they know things instantaneously, right?

Lisa

So she was like, mom, just do this.

Lisa

Why not just make it like this?

Lisa

I go, why not?

Lisa

Why not just make it like this?

Lisa

Because we have access to it.

Lisa

Years ago, I thought about writing a book, but it was so expensive to write a book, they didn't write the book, right?

Lisa

So now there's so much technology, AI is here to help us, and almost for, almost for free, you could write a book.

Host

It's interesting, Lisa, you should say that, because I said to everybody, I created, other than the printing costs, the QR code was free.

Host

I went to Canva and guess what?

Host

I got a QR code and I attached the audio file to it, and that didn't cost me a dime.

Host

To your point, today with technology, it's not like you have to spend tens of thousands of dollars to bring your aspirations of writing a children's book to life.

Lisa

You don't.

Lisa

And it's such a wild thing because it wasn't that long ago that it would have cost me, I don't know, $15,000.

Lisa

When I went to a publishing company, they sort of.

Lisa

It would cost you this because I didn't go out and look for the Simon and Schuster for the to get published and all that stuff.

Lisa

I went to a publishing company and they said, well, this is what it's going to cost.

Lisa

So it discouraged me.

Lisa

Today I'm so inspired and encouraged to do write 10 books a year, 15 books a year, right after this podcast, really.

Lisa

So I'm inspired.

Lisa

I hope other, the listeners, the authors, the coming of age authors to be inspired enough to Write your story, Write your book.

Lisa

Create your journal, the journal that you've been writing forever.

Lisa

Make it into a book, make it into a story, because everything.

Host

Very good point.

Lisa

But listen and be interested in what you have to say.

Lisa

Believe it or not, when people buy my book, I'm surprised.

Lisa

They go, why do they want to hear from me?

Host

So tell us a little bit about your book.

Host

Tell us a little bit about the.

Host

The central theme, the lesson or the teaching that you want readers to get from your book.

Lisa

So from the lullaby book, okay?

Lisa

So from the lullaby book, I want you to get heart.

Lisa

I really want you to get heart, because my heart and soul is in the book.

Lisa

And you will hear it.

Lisa

I mean, you hear me, right?

Lisa

This is real.

Lisa

You can't make this up.

Host

Right?

Lisa

When I wrote this book and I sang the book, it's all about my passion and my love for my children and my grandchildren.

Host

And by the way, you have a great voice.

Host

You don't want to listen to me singing in the shower, but we could listen to Lisa singing in the shower, no problem.

Lisa

Only in the shower.

Lisa

No, but I mean, it's to.

Lisa

To answer your question, it's love and passion and authenticity.

Lisa

Right.

Lisa

I think what people love and are driven by to purchase or to be a part of is another person's authenticity and sincerity.

Lisa

So I do it from my heart with love and sincerity, and it was my grandchildren, but it's for the entire world to hear.

Host

So I want to talk to you a bit about your writing process, because this is your first children's book, correct?

Lisa

Yes.

Host

And you said, I've got 10 books in me now.

Host

I know you've written motivational book or business type book, but from a children's author standpoint, is there more?

Host

Lisa's children's book author, writer that wants to come out, Is there more?

Lisa

Oh, it's out.

Host

Okay.

Lisa

So I wrote many years ago.

Lisa

I write and write and write many, many years ago.

Lisa

As I mentioned to you, I just wrote.

Lisa

And it was so expensive to publish that I just let it go.

Lisa

I have some shows and all the, you know.

Lisa

So, yes, to answer your question, yes.

Host

Tell us about your writing process.

Host

Because, you know, a lot of times aspiring authors, they just don't know how to get started.

Host

So what's your writing process?

Lisa

My writing process is I write.

Lisa

Right.

Lisa

I'm going to be very, very literal.

Lisa

I write things down on a pad and I type at the same time.

Lisa

So as I write, I type what's in my heart and what's in my head.

Lisa

Has to happen.

Lisa

Or, or I speak into my phone.

Lisa

If something happens, something hits my brain instantaneously.

Lisa

I pick up this thing and I go.

Lisa

I speak into my notes.

Lisa

Speak into my notes and what's in my heart.

Lisa

And you know, many of you authors who are becoming authors or who are authors understand exactly what I'm talking about.

Lisa

It only happens.

Lisa

It comes around once.

Lisa

Right.

Lisa

But on the New Jersey Turnpike, I'm like, dumb.

Lisa

Give me a pen.

Lisa

I want to add to this book.

Lisa

And this is literally, honestly my first poem that I wrote.

Lisa

I wrote it on a deposit slip.

Lisa

I was from an audition.

Lisa

My youngest daughter did a Pampers commercial.

Lisa

Right now 30.

Host

I used to phone myself when I was driving.

Host

I'd phone myself, leave myself a message.

Lisa

You're really.

Lisa

You're really aging yourself.

Host

I am, I am.

Host

Isn't that crazy?

Lisa

I love it.

Lisa

I love it.

Lisa

I literally.

Lisa

I was at a toll.

Lisa

I wrote a poem and I wrote it on a deposit slip because it came to me while Gianna after her shoot.

Lisa

And I wrote my first poem on a deposit slip.

Lisa

Had to happen that moment.

Lisa

So when you capture the moment, everybody, all of you authors out there, capture the moment.

Lisa

Write it down, record it.

Lisa

And that's, that's, that's my process.

Host

Terrific.

Host

So when you, when you started putting the children's book together, did you do any additional research into any.

Host

Into any part of the book?

Lisa

No.

Host

You just pushed the button and went.

Lisa

I'm telling you, okay, I can't make this up.

Lisa

So for those of you.

Lisa

Sorry.

Lisa

You know, people become actors and they want to hear a backstory.

Lisa

That's crazy.

Lisa

And I was this.

Lisa

And I lived this life and I did this.

Lisa

No, I just said, okay, you know what?

Lisa

I'm doing this today because my life is very, very busy.

Lisa

And I said, if this doesn't happen now, it's not going to happen.

Lisa

Hence the reason from my book, all or nothing.

Lisa

Now or never.

Lisa

So when it came to my.

Lisa

I knew I would put it off if I didn't do it in that moment.

Lisa

I was probably not going to do it for another five years.

Host

You're just like Nike, just do it.

Lisa

Correct.

Host

I'm also interested in, you know, everybody has their own thoughts about success.

Host

I'm not sure what your original goal was or goals were for the book.

Host

I'm not sure.

Host

You know, a lot of people think, well, I gotta get thousands of sales into my book, or that's the only way I can measure my success.

Host

Tell us how you measure the success around this book.

Lisa

Oh, this is a Great question.

Lisa

Another unusual answer.

Lisa

1.

Lisa

I said, if I sell one, you better.

Host

Hopefully I'm not your only customer, but we got proof.

Lisa

Oh, person.

Lisa

And I mean that.

Lisa

I'm telling you I'm the most.

Lisa

I maybe or maybe not the most unusual you'll ever have on your.

Lisa

Your podcast.

Lisa

I'm serious.

Lisa

I've done this with even products that I have and the products that I developed on national television.

Lisa

But I said, if they buy one, I'll sell others.

Lisa

So if one person buys, others will sell.

Lisa

I've never, ever, ever said I want to make a million dollars on this product.

Lisa

I'm not that.

Lisa

That person.

Host

Right.

Host

I.

Host

You know, I've said that to people before.

Host

You know, if you think you're coming to this for fame and fortune as a children's book author, pretty hard to do there.

Lisa

Can I interject?

Host

Absolutely.

Lisa

You will get out of anything as much as you put in, right?

Lisa

You will get out of anything as much as you put in.

Lisa

And that's the truth.

Lisa

And I'll give you an example.

Lisa

Okay, Ready for this one?

Lisa

You didn't ask for it, but I'm me give it to you.

Host

Okay.

Lisa

So my daughter lives out in the Cherry Hill area.

Lisa

I was out there, I was hanging out with them.

Lisa

I have my books.

Lisa

I said, you know what?

Lisa

I'm gonna go visit the Barnes and Noble stores in Cherry Hill and in surrounding areas.

Lisa

Had my books made.

Lisa

A call, asked for the store manager, whoever's gonna be there.

Lisa

I said, I'm gonna come into your store and do a book signing.

Lisa

They said, oh, you are?

Lisa

I go, yeah, do a book signing.

Lisa

Went out to the store, went into one of the stores, went to one of the stores.

Lisa

And they said, well, you know, we.

Lisa

We need a book that's printed already.

Lisa

You know what I'm talking about?

Host

Yes.

Lisa

Like printed books.

Lisa

I do print on demand.

Lisa

Went to the next store.

Lisa

They said, send us an email the day after.

Lisa

The next day, well, before I got home, actually, the next day, opened up an email, they said, when can you do a book signing?

Lisa

I went there and physically presented the book.

Lisa

The next day, I got a yes.

Lisa

So what?

Lisa

I didn't have to go there.

Lisa

If I didn't go, guess what?

Lisa

I wouldn't be on their shelf right out what you put in.

Lisa

So kids, author, you.

Lisa

If you're out there, I don't care what you're selling over and over and putting your passion into it and believing in your product, you're going to sell it.

Lisa

If you don't, you won't.

Lisa

So as much as you put into whatever the product is that you want to get out there with your passion, I promise you, you will sell it.

Lisa

If you don't, you won't.

Host

Lisa, I couldn't agree with you more.

Host

It's absolutely true.

Host

Yes.

Host

It comes from passion first.

Host

So do it for passion, and the rest will follow.

Host

I'm curious.

Host

Is how, how much time do you devote to writing?

Host

Or is it spawn, more spontaneous?

Host

Tell us a little bit about that.

Lisa

Yeah, with my other book.

Lisa

So with my business book, I decided over a weekend that I was going to put in the entire 48, 72, whatever it took to finish my book.

Lisa

Because I don't like to do things in sections.

Lisa

I don't like to do that.

Lisa

I.

Lisa

I mean, I'll add more to it.

Lisa

But when I decide to do something, I'm doing it.

Lisa

And I'm focused and I'm driven and I'm doing all of it, and then I can fill in.

Lisa

So to answer your question, when I decide to do something, I have to do it all the way.

Lisa

All the way.

Lisa

And then the rest is filled.

Lisa

Filler.

Lisa

You understand?

Host

Yep, absolutely.

Lisa

Because it needs to be edited and filled.

Lisa

They go, okay, that's what I left out.

Lisa

And this is neat.

Lisa

The rest is filler.

Lisa

So the filler action happens when I'm in my car driving down the Garden State Parkway.

Lisa

Go.

Lisa

Okay.

Host

Yep.

Lisa

That's what I need to add to this.

Lisa

So the decision is made.

Lisa

I decide when I'm going to do it, and it's done.

Host

Fantastic.

Host

Fantastic.

Host

As we're.

Host

As we're talking to people, especially aspiring authors, what kind of advice would you give aspiring authors?

Host

Because I.

Host

I know you're.

Host

You're a just do it kind of gal, but what other advice would you give someone who's maybe not as just a just do it kind of person?

Lisa

The only reason I'm a just do it kind of gal is because I do a lot.

Host

Right.

Host

I seen that from your bio.

Lisa

I don't have the time to not just do it.

Lisa

I don't have the time, and it would bother me to not just do it.

Lisa

If I had a lot of time, I would probably take my time and leisurely write, I don't know, a couple of hours a day.

Lisa

But it's not me, so I'm not telling my own story.

Lisa

So for a person who is writing something, just write with your heart.

Lisa

Write your passion.

Lisa

You know, in the shower, you know, think consciously of what you.

Lisa

I don't have to tell you.

Lisa

Cause if you're an Author, you're thinking about writing your book.

Host

Yes.

Lisa

So the times to do it will come to you when your time is your time, whether it's a shower or when you wake up first thing in the morning or when you have peace and I sit on a beach sometimes and I meditate and I write like that.

Lisa

So telling you how to do it is not what I can do for you, but just telling me to put your heart and soul in it, that's really.

Lisa

Don't write something for fluff.

Lisa

Write it because it's your passion.

Lisa

Right.

Lisa

Use passion because people will see right through superficial.

Lisa

People see through a superficial paragraph.

Lisa

Like what I was there and I announced people with rainy day.

Lisa

Better than that.

Lisa

Don't.

Lisa

Better than that.

Lisa

Tell it.

Lisa

Give me your heart.

Lisa

Give me your heart.

Lisa

So give the people your heart.

Lisa

Take your time.

Lisa

If you have the time to take your time and do it and write your passion.

Lisa

It takes 10 years.

Lisa

It could take five years.

Lisa

It could take.

Lisa

Don't rush yourself to write your passion project.

Lisa

Don't rush through it.

Lisa

And the reason, again, I did it.

Lisa

I'm in my business.

Lisa

My, my guidebook.

Lisa

I'm doing what I do for 35 years.

Lisa

And all of it, I knew what I was going to write.

Lisa

I just had to write it in my timeline that I was going to do it or else I wouldn't do it.

Host

Talk to readers.

Host

Let's, let's.

Host

So let's have some encouragement for the readers here.

Host

So why should they purchase this book?

Host

Your book, the My Favorite book of lullabies.

Host

Why should they purchase this book?

Lisa

So they should purchase my favorite, favorite book of lullabies.

Lisa

Because as I said before, it is such a.

Lisa

It's.

Lisa

They'll feel it.

Lisa

It's such a passion project.

Lisa

And for those who have children or grandchildren, you will feel the love, the quiet, the passion and the sincerity.

Lisa

Whether you were an adult or a child.

Lisa

You know you will feel the love because it was for my children and my grandchildren that is put into this.

Lisa

And you'll feel it.

Lisa

A person who purchased the book from me was a stranger.

Lisa

And I answered my phone, as I do, and she said, I'm crying.

Lisa

I'm going, why are you crying?

Lisa

She says, I just purchased your book of lullabies.

Lisa

And she says, I listen to every song.

Lisa

She says, I bought it for my granddaughter, but I'm keeping it for myself.

Lisa

And so I'm purchasing two more books.

Lisa

And I didn't know it was going to have this effect on you know what, Lisa?

Host

Most of the children's Book authors that I've talked to have, have shared this insight that you're sharing that you know what a children's book is just not for children.

Lisa

Yes.

Host

You know, it's generally you've got parents or grandparents reading the book with their children or grandchildren.

Host

It's for all of us.

Host

And, and Lisa's absolutely right.

Host

I mean, I just love what you've done with this book.

Host

Tell us where we can purchase your book.

Lisa

Sure.

Lisa

So it's.

Lisa

It's everywhere.

Lisa

Books are sold.

Lisa

You can go to my website, inventing A to Z.com or my favorite book of lullabies.

Lisa

Com.

Lisa

And I, I mean, go there because it's just a very interesting, very, very cool website.

Host

It.

Host

It is.

Host

I love your website.

Host

We have very similar thoughts how you set up your website.

Host

Our website is caboose the RockyMontainBear.com.

Host

so, again, you know, the, the title works into the website, which is very important.

Lisa

Yeah, I mean, that's what, that's really what you need to do, too.

Lisa

So my lullabies, you'll hear a snippet of the book, which is really important to me.

Lisa

Was important to me.

Lisa

And it's creative.

Lisa

I mean, you'll see like a record spinning a little bit.

Lisa

I love it.

Lisa

So I love the website, but you can buy it anywhere.

Lisa

So Barnes and Noble, go to Amazon, got.com.

Lisa

it's everywhere.

Host

Great.

Host

Good for you.

Host

Final thoughts.

Host

Is there anything that you're thinking, oh, man, I want to make sure I get this final thought out to both aspiring authors and readers.

Lisa

For authors out there.

Lisa

I mean, I have to reiterate, you know, just when you write your passion, take your time to write your passion and put on those blockers.

Lisa

You know, just be, you know, do your tunnel vision self, get out there on a beach or, you know, in your favorite spot and just write your passion.

Lisa

Write your passion.

Lisa

Write your passion.

Lisa

And for those readers out there, give that time to the author who has written something for you to really pay attention to the literature, to what they've written on their pages for you readers.

Lisa

Take your time.

Lisa

Take your time, because somebody authored that book for you.

Host

Absolutely.

Host

Very good point that.

Host

Well, you know what?

Host

Thank you, Lisa, for being part of Adventures in the Heart of Children's Book Authors Podcast, your generosity of time.

Host

I mean, I just love it.

Host

I know how busy you are and all the insight.

Host

I mean, you've jammed a lot of insight into this podcast and I can't thank you enough.

Host

It's.

Host

It's just incredible.

Host

The other thing, to the listeners we'll make sure all of the links that Lisa has talked about, we make sure.

Lisa

They'Ll be in the show notes inventingatoz.com, my favorite book of lullabies, and Lisa Askley's Adventurous I'm here for you.

Host

We'll make sure all your social media links are in there.

Host

And to the listeners, if you've enjoyed the podcast, please hit the subscribe button to listen to future episodes.

Host

And of course, this episode that Lisa's being so generous with her time.

Host

Thank you so much.

Lisa

My pleasure.

Lisa

This was so much fun.

Host

I love it.