Today, Norm Goldman Publisher and Editor of Bookpleasures.com is pleased to have as our guest, Sue McDaniel Ph.D author of I.M. Heart.

Good day Sue and thanks for participating in our interview.

Norm:

Sue, could you tell our readers why you have a life-long interest in searching for understanding of yourself and others?

Sue:

I remember as a child questioning the whys and wherefores of events occurring around me and wanting to understand myself.  I was always an emotional kid, growing up in a culture where emotions were not understood or acknowledged.  Somehow, I knew that emotions were an essential part of me. As life evolved for me and people moved through my life – I kept getting broadsided by this range of feelings and began the process of learning how to live with them as well as watching the patterns of my behaviours. Feelings are often the internal driving force behind actions and behaviours and are a part of our lives, whether or not we want to acknowledge them.  We all have patterns that we repeat and I have repeated some that were not in my best deserving interest.  This process of healing and loving is a life-long journey.

My career has always involved working with people in a teaching role. It began in the elementary classroom and with the Missouri Women’s Council where the mission was to help women and their families economically. So, I found myself in positions to help people succeed.  I’ve watched people stop themselves when a wealth of opportunity awaited them. 

Fear of success, failure, family, our own value or worth and many more - can stop us dead in our tracks.  I love watching people succeed -- including myself.  When we can take a step - maybe just one – but take a step to move life forward, then other steps can follow.  I hope I.M. Heart gives readers those steps.

Norm:

What does the title of your book I.M Heart represent? How did you come up with the title?

Sue:

The title of the book I.M. Heart is a play on words.  It is the title of the book, and the name of the character in the book.  It also represents me, you and everyone else on the planet. We are all I.M. Heart – which really means, I AM HEART since all of us have feelings.  I.M. Heart represents our individual power to be in touch with how we feel so that we can heal those feelings that hurt, and connect lovingly to ourselves, each other and to spirit, instead of being disconnected out of fear.

I.M. Heart is intended to be an introduction to feeling -- for those who have avoided or denied feelings.  It tells folks to begin by noticing – paying attention to this part of you that gives you information about who you are – your feelings.  Feelings are not good or bad, right or wrong – they are a barometer for you and your place in the world in any moment in time.  How you feel is information to be used in taking care of yourself and making choices.

The title came to me one morning like a whispered thought lingering in my consciousness just after I woke up – I was in one of those half- awake, half asleep modes and the words just kept floating through my head. Finally, I got up and wrote them down, and as the days passed, I realized that this was the title of a book.  Then as I began writing, the rest of the book gradually took form and I.M. Heart was born.   

Norm:

What makes your book different from others who have written about the same topic?

Sue:

The character in the book, I.M. Heart, is intended to be an inspiration to others.  In everyday life and especially when the going gets rough, I.M. Heart – the character – is a model for how to live with and process feelings, heal the hurts and grow in love.  Imagine a scary or difficult situation in which you hold the image of I.M. Heart in your heart and mind ---- knowing that you are ok in this moment and will be just fine in the next – you can handle it!  I.M. Heart gives hope!

During a recent nasty situation I held a glass stone in my hand with the angel in it and it made all the difference in my composure and confidence. I was connected to spirit and was being blessed, even though that moment might appear to be negative.  That is how I want you to think of I.M. Heart.  Imagine a glass stone with the image of I.M. Heart imprinted on it -- it is in your hand – and you are connected in your heart to spirit – all is well!

The design of the book is appealing.  It is printed in purple ink, a healing color. The graphic work is beautifully creative and gives the book an inviting feel.   The I.M. Heart character changes throughout the book to reflect different feelings. It was not my intent that this book be detailed and academic - but instead very user friendly, inviting the reader to read it in its entirety or to open a page and capture a message for the moment.  Finally, each chapter has specific points that can be reviewed again when needed. 

This is intended to be an introduction to living with feelings.  It is not intended to address serious issues requiring professional help. For those wanting to take charge of this personally, there and many wonderful techniques to heal and grow found in other sources.   Many times if we stop, look and listen to ourselves we can manage our own health and self-help.

Norm:

Has your environment and/or upbringing influenced your writing?

Sue:

I am a Mid-West farmer’s daughter.  However, I was an only child as a sister is 10 years younger – so I learned to entertain myself and let my imagination run away with itself.  My family tells tales of my imaginary playmates and my love of the animals.  I grew up in a secure, loving, supportive environment. There were cousins and family, a sense of community and the church.  I also learned to work as we had a garden and lots of farm chores. 

As a child there were always books around and reading is a hobby.  I’ve always loved to learn and early on had the goal for a college education – first generation – which resulted in my Ph.D. I’ve also always liked to write, love books, love to read and have always had the dream of being an author.   To answer how this influenced my writing -- it is an accumulation of all the factors in the environment along with my personal interests and goals.

Norm:

What is the message in I.M. Heart that you want your readers to grasp? Why do you think this is an important book at this time? Whom do you believe will benefit from your book and why?

Sue:

I want readers to grasp that I.M. Heart is about connecting. 

First it is about connecting with your feelings – all of them – the ugly, nasty, grimy ones as well as the happy, warm, and fuzzy ones. The purpose in connecting is to heal those that hurt and be more loving of you. 

Second, it is about connecting to others – at a more meaningful and intimate level – because you have healed some of your bumps and bruises so you can be more loving with yourself and others.  3) Third, it is about connecting to spirit – through an open loving heart.  Spirit is love – we are love.   Love is the most powerful energy in the universe.  Loving in spirit is the ultimate connection to each other.      

I think this book is important at this time because so many people feel disconnected.  As I’ve talked about the book, people have commonly expressed a sense of isolation, loneliness, and lack of community.  The Internet is a wonderful medium, but doesn’t allow for face-to-face, hear your voice communication.   Voice and body language is 93% of the communication message.  Words account for 7% of the message.  Many have a real need to connect with each other. By being honest with ourselves about our feelings, healing those that hurt, we can break down the walls put up to protect against being hurt again. When the walls come down and we discover that we are all more alike than different - then we can connect on a loving common ground.

I believe everyone – reading this with an open heart and mind – can benefit from I.M. Heart.  Regardless of age, race or gender, we all have feelings – and can benefit from the material in this book.   Many may think this is a “chic book”, or a book only for women. . 

I recently talked to three men I know well and they all understood the message.  One did, however, ask if it was just for girls. The answer is, “no!”  All three guys could relate to how feelings impact our life.  One even said, “We carry this stuff around with us, don’t we?”  Stuff means the fear-based feelings that stop us.  These guys all bought a copy of the book.

Norm:

What kind of research did you do to write this book? How did you decide you were ready to write the book?

Sue:

I have researched for years as I’ve prepared talks and presentations on these topics.  Over time, I’ve incorporated all of this into my own philosophy so I drew from my own personal experience, creativity and teaching background.  I avoided research while actually writing because I wanted this to come from I.M. Heart.  

I knew I was ready to write this book after the name of the title came to me. I knew the book would evolve once I got started.  

Norm:

What's the most difficult thing for you about writing your book?

Sue:

For any creative project, there is a flow. Writing, for me, is an amazing process – sometimes the words flow and sometimes the well is dry – or dries up after you’ve written a while.  At times there is nothing to be written and when I push ahead anyway it is often gets deleted or revised.  It just doesn’t have a heart and soul when you go back to edit it.   I’m an early morning or late night writer and it varies with other demands on the schedule.  When I wake up in the middle of the night with a burning idea, I often get up and write it out, because if I don’t it’s gone by morning.

I love the artistic process and am amazed at what shows up on the page when I am relaxed, calm, centered, happy and can “get myself out of my own way”.  Then I can focus and make a point.  Sometimes it as if the ideas came from some magic place, through me, and manage to get into the computer. There have been times when it was necessary to write – now – because I have to write now. It is a cleansing and release for me just to write it.  

The hardest part for me is not the creative effort, but the revision and editing.  That is tedious, detail-oriented and not much fun!  A second difficult task is erasing what appears to be great words or thoughts, but they don’t work in this article or stray from the point.

Norm:

What has been your overall experience as a published author?

Sue:

People are so impressed that I actually published a book – it’s like something they could never imagine themselves doing, so they call me the famous author, just because the book is published.  They don’t understand that getting a book published is not getting it into the hands of the reader.

I self-published this book, so I had to figure out all of the detail steps to make that happen. Some days that was a traumatic experience!  Trial and error, understanding federal policies, learning printing language, making decisions with perhaps a gap in information, and simply knowing what to do next were some of the hoops I jumped through. 

Now, I have a copy of it in my hand and discover that the name and author name are not on the spine. Great!   However, perhaps the hardest for me is the Internet marketing world.  It constantly changes, I don’t understand it and barely know how to do some of the steps necessary to play the game. I’ve asked a lot of questions and will continue to do that.  I think it requires a passion for making a book a reality to keep going every day when you are basically working alone, with few resources for a reference.

I’ve done some regional marketing and will continue to do that. Book signing events are fun and I also do some speaking on the book. Setting up all components of a marketing  effort in a city requires working the media, book stores and gift shops, and potential speaking gigs.  It takes a lot of work, especially when I.M. Heart is not well known – yet!   

Norm:

Do you set yourself daily, weekly, yearly goals? If so, what are some of your goals?

Sue:

I set goals and am better at keeping them when I am comfortable with what I’m doing.  I am most uncomfortable with Internet technology –so this is where I slip up in achieving goals. 

I set weekly and monthly goals for the I.M. Heart related projects, and have some yearly goals for additional I.M. Heart books and other books.  The self-motivation to keep me moving in a solitary industry is something I struggle with and other authors have expressed.  I wish for a team to balance my strengths and the areas in which I am challenged.   Publishing organizations provide networks and resources.

Norm:

Do you worry about the human race?

Sue:

Don’t we all?  So many people feel so disenfranchised, powerless and hopeless.  They literally struggle thorough life on a daily basis – and they are living with much fear of a tomorrow that may never get any better – and maybe worse.  

I have a friend who is very perceptive and often senses people’s pain.  He will say something to another person to be supportive of their life and maybe is the first person who has nurtured them for a long time – if ever.  Often he sees tears and a sense of gratitude that someone actually cared for them.

What’s wrong with us that we can’t care for each other – so that we can all live in a civilized, humane, caring society in this world? It hurts me to see the suffering and know that there are those who have the wealth and power to help – yet don’t. In this world we are all God’s children and all deserve basic human rights as well as the gifts of love.  That’s why the concept of I.M. Heart is so important.  Can we heal and connect – one human being to another human being?  I hope so!    

We talk about new frontiers – and look to outer space as a frontier yet to explore. It seems to me that the most significant new frontier to explore is an inner frontier. This exists in each of us.  It’s taking an honest look at our feelings, thoughts, attitudes and behaviours.  The purpose of this exploration: to let go of the gnarly, judgmental, fear based feelings that separate and isolate us ----- and ------ to nurture and expand the feelings of compassion, hope and gratitude that create connections based in love. 

Norm:

Are you working on any books/projects that you would like to share with us? (We would love to hear all about them!)

Sue:

I always have ideas percolating. There are plans for more books, marketing products and  speaking topics.   I want to have an I.M. Heart stone or rock for inspiration and support as well as other items to remind people to live with heart.   There are plans for an I.M. Heart Stories – a collection of real people sharing their experiences.   There are other I.M. Heart opportunities – like I.M. Heart Families, Children or Teens, and I.M. Heart at Christmas.  The possibilities are endless. 

I am currently working with the friend mentioned earlier on a book that offers real solutions for living everyday in more meaningful and enjoyable ways.  The title is great but we’re keeping that under wraps for now.  We have future plans to write more books together and I also have three more titles that I would like to write. 

Norm:

Is there anything else you wish to add that we have not covered?

Sue:

I want readers to know that I too am in process of healing feelings and growing to love myself and others.  On this road called life – I have my own potholes and sometimes I get lost on the highway.  However, I don’t fall in a pothole as often and I can climb out of it in a shorter period of time.  I am stronger under pressure, more open and willing to be vulnerable in relationships, and kinder to myself.  My world looks different than it did in the past – more sunshine, hope and spiritual connection.  I M Heart – and I AM in process and so excited about the miracles to come. Blessings! 

You can find out more about Sue and her book by CLICKING HERE

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

Click Here To Purchase I.M.Heart From Amazon