Bookpleasures.com welcomes as our guest, Geraldine Brown Giomblanco, author of Geraldina & the Compass Rose: One Woman's Faith-Filled Journey To Find Love. A Memoir.

Geraldine, in addition to being an author, is a motivational speaker. She is also a former Vice President, General Manager and thirty-year veteran of marketing for high-profile shopping centers. She left the corporate world to help others find their "true north" paths in life and bring those dreams to fruition. Born and raised in New York, she now makes her home on the Connecticut and Long Island NY shorelines.

 Norm: What has been your greatest challenge (professionally) that you’ve overcome in getting to where you’re at today?

Geraldine: At the beginning of my career, I was the youngest vice president of marketing, and my colleagues at the time had degrees and experience that surpassed mine — this insecurity brood within me before the meeting.

After attending the day-long strategy session, I realized my ideas and strategic thought process went beyond average; it changed the course of the assembly into a more honest assessment of how to overcome obstacles and proceed with courage in dealing with difficult situations.

On the way home, I stopped at the bookstore inside the terminal, and the book Emotional Intelligence by Daniel Goleman jumped into my hands. "It is a report from the frontiers of psychology and neuroscience, which offers startling new insight into our two minds—the rational and the emotional—and how they together shape our destiny."

This incident was the confirmation I needed to become a leader within my scope of responsibility and put behind me the idea that I am not smart enough.

I realized, as did the executive team, this was a gift, and I was fortunate to continue to advance my career using and developing my emotional intelligence and training others to trust in themselves.

Trusting in my God-given talents was and still is a great challenge of mine. In the parable of the talents (Matthew 25:14-30), Jesus describes a master who gives each of his servants talents (a unit of value or roman coin) and to make a good profit using them. I love this parable because each one of us has unique gifts. Some may have five or some just one, it's not how many but what you do with the talent that counts. I’m trying to cultivate and develop those talents as a published author.  

Norm: I notice from reading your bio that you are a motivational speaker. Do you have a special approach to showing people how to deal with change? 

Geraldine: I ask people to take a moment to think of their life where they are right now. Do an honest personal assessment, not a test or psychological survey, or something of that nature but to dig into themselves. And write what resonates in a way not influenced by personal feelings or opinions but what exists—then look at this list objectively.

I often refer resources, and one comes to mind—The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz. His #4 is Always Do Your Best.

In my book, Chapter Fourteen, titled Freewheeling, poses a similar question. "When was the last time you gave something your all?" And my answer dated back to the fourth grade when I was in an ice skating tournament! So, I use this question as a starting point. Followed by always do your best. It may not be easy, but that's what change is known for—shifting into the uneasy!

Norm: How many times in your careers have you experienced rejection? How did they shape you? 

Geraldine: A few times I didn't get the job I wanted, but this one time sticks out in my mind during my career in retail. It was pivotal. I invited a senior regional manager to observe my work as a speaker during a nation-wide event in which I was the hostess.  The event was something I was doing above and beyond my duties as a store manager, hoping she would recognize my ability, and therefore, it leads to a promotion.

She said I missed my calling. I had an epiphany and resigned on the spot, thinking I’ve just begun. While she may have said it as a compliment, it hit a nerve. The thought of someone else in control of my destiny propelled me into action. Within three weeks (giving six weeks' notice), I landed a job with another company where I worked for the next 16 years of my life.

Norm: Do you ever worry about the human race?

Geraldine: All the time. I'm concerned about the lack of eye contact from people texting all the time and not connecting eye-to-eye, especially children. I think the human body will develop a natural curve of the spine from looking down all the time going back to the likes of the Neanderthals.

I don't watch TV. My soul can't handle violence, and it makes me deeply sad to see our youth lose hope and turn to harmful alternatives to avoid reality. 

Norm: What makes you laugh?

Geraldine: I have this talking bird; it records what you say and repeats it back in an adorable voice (as it flips its wings). I love to be silly, impromptu, and out of the ordinary. For example, instead of a typical Easter egg hunt with my nieces and nephew, one year, I created an obstacle course, and we videotaped the kids doing many silly things to get to the eggs. Another year I filled the eggs with little blurbs and instructions to act out. The whole family enjoyed the mini theatrical moments and creating memories.

I love a funny book - The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion is hysterical — I read it out loud to my husband. Nothing better than a great comedian like in the old days. I enjoyed watching the repeats of I Love Lucy and Carol Burnett Show. In the movies, Mellisa McCarthy makes me laugh, but so does Mel Brooks, Woody Allen, and Jimmy Fallon, Flip Wilson as Geraldine is hysterical! Check out the YouTube with Flip Wilson as Geraldine guest Harry Belafonte or Ray Charles. Classic!

Norm: What are your thoughts about why people read memoirs? 

Geraldine: I believe most readers want to relate to their own stories. Not settling for the wrong kind of love, connecting with the departed, seeking signs along the journey—these are some examples of themes in my book that readers related too. I believe a reader is eager to learn something about themselves and attempts to find the right memoir that may help interpret how they feel and give a solution to a problem similar to theirs.

Norm: What has been the best part about being published? 

Geraldine: I laugh at myself thinking back to last year as I was in creative turmoil. I thought, will I ever finish this book? And then it's done. It's amazing. Editing is painfully time-consuming. I love sharing the emotional side of it all. I had three independent drafts of this book. The first was the fairy tale version; the second was the screen-play version; the third was peeling back the onion to reveal the real deal—The Memoir. The accomplishment is the best part of being published! 

Norm: If someone can only buy one book this month, why should it be Geraldina & the Compass Rose: One Woman's Faith-Filled Journey To Find Love. A Memoir?

Geraldine: One reader said this, "Good morning, Geraldine! Your book has been a game-changer for me! I am 58 years young. I was engaged three times and never married. I am also a 26-year cancer survivor with a 34-year-old daughter I raised on my own. I never settled to be with someone. I am perfectly ok alone and capable of taking care of myself.

Your book has helped me pray for it, to ask God to guide me to where I'm supposed to be. You gave me hope. I've given up on ever meeting that person I would be comfortable with and ever feel that connection again. Well, I recently met a handsome man. He is more than that; he is a good man. I wanted to thank you for helping me open my heart back up to let someone near me and letting me know it's never too late to give love a chance."

Norm, Geraldina & the Compass Rose is more than a memoir of one woman's quest. It holds the elements of analysis that will lead others to identify what makes for a truly fulfilling, beautiful life, whether the reader is single, searching for love, or in a relationship.

Norm: What motivated you to write your memoir, and how long did it take to write it?

Geraldine: A miraculous, unexplainable event happened to my husband and me.  I call it the ring story. Regardless of my many attempts to tell my husband that I did not want an engagement ring, his persistence gave way to a Lord & Taylor shopping trip.  In the first chapter of my book, The Man in the Airport, the foreshadowing question, "Your grandmother has a message for you," comes through fruition. And this event prompted me to think about what to do with this story.

The funny thing is I always knew I would produce something significant. I approached writers for Hallmark and Lifetime, thinking this experience has the potential to become a movie. And the person responded, "You have to write a book first." So I did. And now we are working on the screen-play. I'll take an adaptation for Broadway, too! I met Jerry Zaks, the King of Broadway, at the beach in the Hamptons within weeks of my publication date. He has a copy of my book—Hey, you never know.

I believe the experiences I write about in my book were pre-destined for Geraldina & the Compass Rose. The chapters, Emma Jean & Frog and The Power Of Nineteen, were life lessons, and with each, I had this overwhelming sense to document the experience with pictures and notes. Anne Lamott is my favorite memoirist.  When I first discovered her book Traveling Mercies, I could relate to her style. Reading her books gave me the confidence to write using my distinctive voice. And to have the courage to share deeply personal accounts of my faith portrayed in real-life situations.

It  took me 2 1/2 years to write the book.

Norm: What do you hope will be the everlasting thoughts for readers who finish your memoir? 

Geraldine: Never give up hope. Trust your intuition. Seek the signs that guide you on your journey. God is Good. And prayers do get answered.  Extraordinary things can happen to ordinary people. The need to love oneself and others is the final everlasting thought I hope my readers take-away.

Norm: Many people have the skills and drive to write a book, but failure to market and sell the book the right way is what keeps many people from finding success. Can you give us 2-3 strategies that have been effective for you in promoting your book? 

Geraldine: SHOW UP and SPEAK UP. Most people are afraid to approach others. I see every moment as an opportunity to sell my book-while waiting for a doctor's appointment, on the grocery line, to walking on the beach. Call your library, chamber of commerce, women groups, social media outlets. People love to meet authors (this I am finding to be so delightful) and most greet you with open arms. Place yourself in front of a group, individual, couples. While waiting for a table at a restaurant, my husband and I shared the ring story a thousand times.  Many bought the book on Amazon on the spot from their phone.

We gave away tons of books, especially when we were on the beaches on Long Island. Timing is everything. We would find people reading and give them a signed copy as a gift. I had an agent approach me because of this tactic. I also mailed out to my most influential contacts.

I am securing many speaking engagements and treating the book as part of my business plan for coaching clients. 

Besides social media, use video too. Ask for reviews.

Pitch the media. Finding the right hook to make it newsworthy works. I received a half-page (with a color photo) deemed the title, "Can spirits of the departed talk to us on earth?"

I asked for an interview and sent an email to the publisher who in turn forwarded my pitch to the appropriate reporter. I claimed it a perfect story for October instead of Halloween for All Saints' Day (which is a chapter title in my book). The journalist also plugged my event for the following week. My event sold out because of the press I received.  People travel over an hour to hear me speak.

Norm: What was the most difficult part of writing your memoir? What did you enjoy most about writing it? 

Geraldine: The most challenging part was the third version. I call it the whole truth. Revealing my secret sorrow and writing about it was the hardest thing I ever did.

I love sharing the wedding scene, dancing with my dad, who is now eighty and not in good health. I thought he may have passed before I ever married. I loved writing of the joy and amazing graces my husband and I received and putting the pieces of the story together to read like a novel.

Like a producer, finding the resources to finish the job, putting together the acknowledgements, I also enjoyed fact-checking and research—making sure my dates were accurate to the storyline.

Norm: What was one of the most surprising things you learned in writing your memoir?

Geraldine: Not everyone will like your story. But those that do like your story will be your best marketers! Take advantage and ask them to promote your book. Word of mouth is powerful!

Also, I learned to heal from a feeling of deep sorrow. Writing about it has brought me peace. 

Norm: Where can our readers find out more about you and Geraldina & the Compass Rose: One Woman's Faith-Filled Journey To Find Love. A Memoir?

Geraldine: You can find me on FACEBOOK

INSTAGRAM

MY WEBSITE

LINKEDIN

YOUTUBE

email geri@gbgbooks.com

Norm: What is next for Geraldine Brown Giomblanco?

I have two more books brewing. One is a memoir, the continuation of Geraldina & the Compass Rose, and the other is a children's story—I'm calling it the companion book for children. Some characters in my memoir Geraldina & the Compass Rose come to life. Emma Jean and Frog and I become a dynamic trio on a faith-filled journey guided by the Compass Rose.

I am producing a presentation to take on a tour called The Power of Nineteen. It describes the powerful messages from my book using a multi-media platform. I am thrilled to coordinate with the daughter of the late Gordon Mackenzie—author of Orbiting The Giant Hairball and creative genius of Hallmark. I will post the event dates on my website when available.

Norm: Thank you so much for taking the time to answer my questions. It's been an absolute pleasure to meet with you and read your work. 

Geraldine: Thank you, Norm, this was wonderful. I enjoyed sharing my story and the depth of your questions!

FOLLOW HERE TO READ NORM'S REVIEW OF GERALDINA & the COMPASS ROSE