July

Author Interview

Do you outline your books in advance, or do you prefer to let the story unfold as you write?

Writing a self-help book is like mixing a cocktail of heart, strategy, and just the right amount of patience (with a dash of chaos thrown in for fun). First off, I had to get laser-focused on my purpose. I mean, what’s the point if you don’t know why you’re writing? I asked myself, What problem am I solving, and why the hell am I the person to tackle it? That “why” became the rock-solid foundation of the whole project. I needed to know exactly how my readers would transform by the time they closed the book – from stuck and stressed to hell yes, I’ve got this.

Then came the fun (read: slightly manic) part: mapping it all out. My wall looked like a crime scene of sticky notes – ideas, steps, outcomes, all colour-coded, of course. It was a beautiful mess of what I needed to include, what had to come next, and how to make the whole thing flow seamlessly. It wasn’t just about writing words; it was about creating a journey that felt easy, exciting, and oh-so-doable for the reader.

Luckily, my training as an NLP coach and clinical hypnotherapist came in clutch here. Understanding how people think, learn, and change gave me a solid edge in piecing everything together. It wasn’t just about throwing advice at them; it was about speaking to their brains and hearts in a way that made them go, “Oh my God, this is exactly what I needed!

What inspired the main idea or premise of your current book?

I’ve read my fair share of self-help books, and honestly? Most of them were just so bloody boring! I mean, page after page of fluffy nonsense or overly serious waffle that made me want to nap instead of feel inspired. Where’s the fun in that? My inspiration for writing was… me! I wanted to create something that felt real—written in a voice I actually connected with, not one that sounded like it came out of a corporate manual.

I wanted my book to deliver information and insight in a way that was clear, down-to-earth, and had humour. That was non-negotiable. So many self-help books felt stuffy and overly serious, which only made me switch off faster. But for me? Humour is everything. I learn best when things are explained in plain, unpretentious language, with a cheeky laugh thrown in. So that’s exactly how I wrote my book – no fluff, no boredom, just honest, relatable, and hopefully, a good giggle along the way!

How do you balance writing for entertainment with exploring deeper, more complex themes?

Deciding to sprinkle humour into a serious self-help book was definitely a balancing act. Sure, I wanted it to be funny in places – that’s just who I am – but I also needed to deliver some serious messages and help readers experience deep, personal transformations. So, how did I manage it? First, I just let the words pour out in the first draft. Honestly, humour is second nature to me (thanks to a lifetime of using jokes as a survival mechanism – but that’s a whole other book waiting to happen!). So, the funny bits kind of wrote themselves.

At the same time, sharing information is my jam. I love explaining the science behind how our minds work and how coaching methods can help rewire them. That part flowed just as easily. The real trick was weaving it all together – making sure the jokes didn’t undercut the serious bits and that the science didn’t feel dry or dull. Enter the editing process and my fabulous beta readers! Beta readers are like gold dust – trusted people who read your work before it’s published and give honest feedback on everything from flow to comprehension. Their insights were invaluable for making sure the humour and the serious stuff danced together in perfect harmony.

What has been the most rewarding part of being an author so far?

Being able to say, "I am an author!" still feels surreal. Since publishing my book, I’ve been diagnosed with ADHD and autism, which has been a real lightbulb moment for me. It explains so much about how I wrote the book – and honestly, it might just inspire the next one! Late diagnosis in women, especially at 59 like me, is such a rich and important topic that I feel could help so many others.

Looking back, the fact that I managed to stay focused long enough to write a non-fiction book – and not just any book, but one that’s been well-received and has genuinely helped people – feels like a bloody miracle. The feedback I get from readers, the stories they share about how the book has made a difference in their lives, absolutely makes my heart sing. It’s a level of pride I never expected, but I’ll gladly take it!

Do you have any advice for aspiring writers looking to break into the industry?

Whether you’re writing fiction or non-fiction, my number one piece of advice to any aspiring writer is this: WRITE! Get those words out, no matter how messy, garbled, or downright awful they might seem at first. I still remember hearing Ben Elton in an interview saying, "Your first piece of writing will be shit, and that's ok." Honestly, that gave me the confidence to get started. Every writer starts with a bit of rubbish – that’s what editing is for.

The trick is to just keep going. Don’t stop to reread or tweak things as you go; that’s the easiest way to lose momentum. Get the first draft done, and then dive into the edits. And believe me, there will be edits. Your first, your second, your third, your tenth—there’s no magic number. You edit until the book works. I’ve had to cut chunks of writing that I thought were bloody brilliant, which hurt, but if they didn’t serve the book, they had to go. Other times, I’d reread something, and a better way to phrase or explain it would smack me in the face, so I’d rewrite or add to it.

The most important thing? Just write! Let the ideas flow, however they come out. Oh, and grab a copy of The Artist and Illustrators Yearbook. It’s packed with advice and information for writers—it’s a proper goldmine.

What can your readers expect from you in the near future?

Since being diagnosed with ADHD and autism, I’ve had to edit my life, not my writing! It’s been a complete game-changer, giving me this whole new lens on how I think and process the world around me. Honestly, it’s transformed everything – both personally and professionally – in the best way possible.

On the professional side, I’ve started combining my creativity and coaching skills to help bring awareness of neurodiversity into businesses. It’s such a passion of mine now, helping people see the incredible value that comes with thinking differently. And creatively? My art has absolutely exploded! Realising that I was never stupid – which is something so many neurodivergent people are led to believe – but that I just think sideways, has opened up a whole new world for me. It’s been so freeing and exciting to explore this part of myself.

There will definitely be more books in my future. I loved the whole process of writing the first one, and I already know the next will focus on neurodiversity. There’s so much to share, so much to celebrate, and I can’t wait to dive back in!

Tell our audience where they can find more of your work—are there any platforms or promotions you'd like to mention?

Buy The Fairy Godmother Mindf*ck; How to Rewrite Your Life Story, Create Your Own Destiny and Have a Happy Ever After on Amazon. For my art, find me on Facebook and Instagram as Jools Teare Art

Thank you Jools for this wonderful interview. Looking forward to seeing what 2025 brings for you. :)

Book Review