Author: Melissa Galt

ISBN: 978-0-9790103-0-9

Today Norm Goldman, Editor& Publisher of Bookpleasures.com is honored to have as our guest Melissa Galt author of Celebrate Your Life! The Art of Celebrating Every Day.

Melissa began her professional career in hospitality purchasing with a degree from Cornell University and she later returned to school for a degree in interior design. She now operates a successful business as an independent designer and is devoting more of her time to speaking nationally on Designing Your Signature Life, Lifestyle Selling and Celebrate Your Life. Melissa has also contributed many magazine articles and has a budding coaching practice.

Her mother was the late Academy-Award-winning actress Anne Baxter, her god mother was the well known Hollywood costume designer, Edith Head and her great-grandfather was the renown American architect Frank Lloyd Wright.

Good day Melissa and thanks for participating in our interview.

Norm:

I noticed that you are a woman who wears many hats. Could you tell our readers how all of these different endeavors helped you write Celebrate Your Life! The Art of Celebrating Every Day?

Melissa:

Actually, all of my endeavors fall under the umbrella of design, from designing interiors to showing clients and audiences how to design their lives. As a designer I have always been a coach, a guide and a director for my clients in translating their dreams to interior reality. Interior design provides the stage for our lives, and therefore is essential in establishing our foundation of celebration.

One of the fundamentals in designing one’s life is to celebrate each day we are given. Each role I play, from teacher, to coach, from designer to speaker, from author to connector shows others how to make the most of each moment they have. It is by celebrating our gratitude for every gift that we truly experiences the abundance life offers.

Norm:

Why do you feel that this was an important book for you to write and for all of us to read at this time? What differentiates your book from others pertaining to the same subject matter? What are your hopes for this book?

Melissa:

Too many people live their lives by default, caught on a path not of their own choosing, but instead one that they’ve fallen into. Often people forget the dreams they had and how to celebrate their life. Instead, they are caught up in overwhelm, overwork, stress and negativity. My book provides 100 easy ways to shift focus to gratitude and celebrate each day in many ways.

Celebrate Your Life! is different as it is not a book about throwing a party but about connecting to others in our lives in meaningful ways. It is not merely philosophy but provides directions for taking positive forward action to making each day a celebration. I want to reawaken in people the realization that life is perishable, fragile, and unpredictable and we have only the moment we are in to rejoice and make a difference in the our lives and the lives of others.

Norm:

Why did you choose the title Celebrate Your Life! The Art of Celebrating Every Day?

 
Melissa:

I chose the title Celebrate Your Life! The Art of Celebrating Every Day because I entertain on a regular basis and know that celebration on every level is most often what is missing in people’s lives. I often have friends ask when my next event is, rather than creating their own opportunity for celebration. It is not in the waiting for events or opportunities but instead it is truly in seizing the moment and celebrating the joy of life.  It is about honoring ourselves, realizing our dreams and helping others along the way to achieve theirs.

Norm:

What has been your overall experience as a published author?

Melissa:

The feedback has been very positive, people are glad to receive the wake up call in a positive way and have a guide book that will give them fun ideas to celebrate themselves, their family, their friends, their careers and much more, each and every day. So often we live for those around us and forget to honor ourselves. This book is as much about sharing and connecting with others as it is about honoring ourselves in healthy, gracious ways.

Norm:

Do you feel that writers, regardless of genre owe something to readers, if not, why not, if so, why and what would that be?

Melissa:

Every book needs to provide readers with either thought provoking content, entertainment, or a personal growth opportunity in the form of motivation and inspiration, some books do all of these things. A good book is reader focused not author centric .

Norm:

How do you approach the work of writing?

Melissa:

I write quickly, having done my research and thinking first. It is almost an out of body experience as when I slide into that zone, I find that the words flow, the feelings and thoughts fill the page. I get excited about the material I am sharing and imagine how my reader will benefit.

Norm:

Could you tell our readers more about your interior design business and what motivated you to go into interior designing?

Melissa:

I have always been creative and had planned to pursue costume design initially. I got into one of the best schools, but lacked the confidence at the time, to follow through on my dream. Instead I followed my Mother’s recommendation of Cornell’s Hotel School and entered hospitality purchasing.

I moved cities, companies, and states every 8 months for 5 years. My strong suit was going in and cleaning up the operation, putting controls in place and then I’d be bored by the daily routine. It lacked creativity, the most fun I had was space planning the storage needs!

Mother had passed away shortly after I began my career and it took awhile, but I finally got the lesson in that painful loss – do what you love and the rest will follow. So I decided to pursue interior design, I’d designed my college apartment to rave reviews and every home I’d been in along with having given a lot of design advice to friends that asked.

I left hotel work and returned to school to pursue my degree. I held down a full time job while in school and was truly on path, on purpose, and on fire with excitement. Now realizing that design is a path of self discovery and by designing our interior environment, we truly design our interior selves, I believe that designing our lives with purpose and passion is essential for individual happiness.  That is why I am transitioning from interior design to sharing with audiences how they to can design their lives and realize their dreams.

Norm:

What was the first piece you ever wrote? What was the reaction?

Melissa:

I’ve been writing for as long as I can remember. The first published piece would have been articles done in the last decade on design when I first moved to Atlanta from Birmingham. I recall one particularly for Atlanta Singles titled “Making Your House A Home” that was very well received. It encouraged readers with shortcuts and quick tips to design their home for themselves rather than put their life on hold until a significant other showed up.

Norm:

Will there be any unique ways you'll be marketing your book that is different from how others authors market their books?

Melissa:

My book is designed not only as a stand alone, but also as an integral part of my speaking platform. I present keynotes and workshops on Celebrating Your Life! The Art of Celebrating Every Day. It is a good fit with my overall philosophy of designing your signature life and is the first in a series. In addition, celebrating is a great stress reliever and there is a significant demand for stress management strategies in today’s workplace. I plan to design a celebration kit that can accompany the book. I’ve found that many purchase the book as a gift for a sister, mother, daughter or dear friend.

Norm:

What is your definition of happiness?

Melissa:

To do what you love, and love what you do; to be who you are and love who you are; to be the change you want to see in the world.

Norm:

How do you want to be remembered?

Melissa:

As the woman that carried on the incredible legacy of my mother’s grace and generosity, my great grandfather’s originality and artistic genius, and my godmother’s creative brilliance; each led lives that were unique and original and I want to show others by example and by inspiration how they to can do the same.

Norm:

Is there anything else you wish to add that we have not covered and what is next for Melissa Galt?

Melissa:

Making a global difference by writing additional books, and sharing with the world how we can each design our lives for our greatest happiness. When we are each passionate about what we do and who we are, we make the greatest difference of all and celebrate our contribution to this journey of life in the best of ways.

Thanks once again and good luck with all of your future endeavors.

To read Norm's Review of Celebrate Your Life! The Art of Celebrating Every Day CLICK HERE

The above interview was contributed by: NORM GOLDMAN: Retired Title Attorney: Editor & Publisher of Bookpleasures. Here are  Norm Goldman's Reviews