<![CDATA[James Vandenburg - Q & A Blog Page]]>Thu, 13 Nov 2025 18:10:06 -0800Weebly<![CDATA[Author Interview with J.K. Robinson]]>Thu, 05 Jan 2012 00:37:16 GMThttps://www.jamesvandenburg.com/q--a-blog-page/author-interview-with-jk-robinsonAuthor Interview's J.K. Robinson Talks with James Vandenburg, Author of Making Life Better

Why did you write this book?
I wanted to prompt discussion and offer some practical ways to process and engage what I have long-felt has been one of the “missing links” in the personal development discussion.

So many of our self-improvement efforts seem to neglect the effects and influence of our perspective, our levels of self-awareness and the multitude of assumptions we have deeply embedded and installed within our perceptions – our basic 
operating systems. It seems to me that unless we become willing (and able) to devote some of our focused attention to, and include a growing understanding of, our auto-pilot habits of action, reaction, thought and feeling, we can fool ourselves into thinking and living such that making our lives better becomes completely dependent on what other people do. And, in the words of Richard Bach (in his book, Illusions), “If your happiness depends on what someone else does, then you really do have a problem.”

How did you choose your title? How did you choose your genre?
Well, the genre pretty much chose itself. I tend to be a fairly philosophical person by nature – kind of a personal development junkie. Even before I had the words with which to describe this innate tendency, I've always been one who likes to question the questions. I've always felt that living with a better-serving question is far more valuable than having answers. And, as you can probably imagine, this can steer any unsuspecting conversation into some fairly unusual territories. But that's a “whole 'nother Oprah.”

The title came from a long, honest look at the chapters and list of subjects I wished to cover. Wisdom, choices, simplicity, communication, forgiveness, attention, inner-peace etc. – these are all pretty elusive topics. Yet to me, they represent the heart of everything we mean when we think about improving our lives. So, as I questioned the questions, the idea of owning our part of our making and the word “better” kept popping up. Of course the word “better” is also fairly elusive. And, rightfully so. “Better” is definitely in the eye of the beholder and can only derive its meaning from each person's unique sense of purpose, meaning and direction. 

The subtitle, “... from someone who chooses to...” just comes from my own desires – how I hope I am understood. It can be pretty presumptuous to write a book of this nature. As I say in the first chapter, “Making Life Better does not come from some high and lofty place, but from a fellow learner who's still learning.” 

What inspired you to be a writer?
I don't think it's so much that I was inspired to be a writer and then set out to write a book. For me, it's much more that, over the years, I have found myself continually in the role of counselor, confidant, consultant, coach and the ever-ready “go-to” guy for help and advice – regardless of my job description or title. It seems to be just a part my nature – an important part of who I am. And, over countless thousands of conversations, I slowly began to recognize some patterns in both the issues being raised, and my own thinking – my own brand of help. I noticed that what each and every one of these conversations had in common were some very specific, “common to all of us” concepts and ideas that eventually came to be expressed in “Making Life Better.” 

Although I've always been an avid reader, I'd never before really considered myself a true writer. In Making Life Better, I just tried to find ways to give full voice to some ideas with which I have lived for a long time and about which I am passionate. But I sincerely do hope that I have written well, communicated clearly and that I am understood. 

Are you writing another book?
Yes. Slowly, but yes. I don't even have a “working title” as yet to share (Although I've toyed with ideas ranging from “Kicking and Screaming” to to “Help Unwanted”). This work is shaping up to revolve around, as you might expect, learning and growing – only this time, the focus is on some of the most unlikely, unwanted, and most strongly resisted teachers: fear, worry, regret, pain, failure etc... It's about understanding that avoiding, ignoring or resisting those experiences that we find ourselves unable to interpret as anything but negative, is not the same thing as over-coming them. Over-coming and moving beyond them depends entirely on our ability to engage the lessons that they alone can teach us; to understand them – or, more accurately, to understand what they have to say to us, about us. 

It's still very much in a concept development stage. But I'm slowly wrapping my brain around it little by little. 

What do you feel is unique about “Making Life Better” that might set it apart from other books within this vast genre?
The first thing that comes to mind is humor. It's very “me” and I'm kind of funny – both “ha-ha” funny and just plain odd. Or, so I've been told.

Beyond that, I think my approach to the subject matter is fairly uncommon, unconventional even. In fact, one of the reasons I wrote this book was the sheer number of times someone has commented on the uniqueness of my way of thinking, or my approach to one or more of these subjects, and said “You really need to write this stuff down” or, “Everyone needs to hear this.”

The concepts are really quite simple (in a “well duh” kind of way), just not simplistic. They're complex, but not really all that complicated. 

I think Making Life Better prompts new trains of thought, changes the questions and offers its most valuable help in that it challenges the reader to constantly be willing to trade-up for better-serving questions. (Again, “better” being defined through one's own sense of purpose and meaning.)

What is it you hope readers will be able to take away and add to their lives from their reading of “Making Life Better” ?
I really hope to foster within each reader the kind of thoughts that create choices where auto-pilot reactions used to be (and of course, I hope I have provided lots of tools to be able to engage those choices). 

From my perspective, the ability to bring ourselves back into a position of being “at choice” and “at cause” for our own lives really is the only way, with our honesty and integrity intact, we can truly make our lives better. 

Any final words you'd like our readers to know?
Only that if anyone is interested in finding out more, there are now several ways to preview the book. You can read through the Table of Contents, find excerpts and quotes, read the entire first chapter or even watch the wonderful video book trailer created by the talented Ann Patterson. All of the previews are available instantly (and free) on my website. Thanks so much for reading.  
Previews for Making Life Better
]]><![CDATA[The Writing/Publishing Process]]>Wed, 28 Dec 2011 20:12:10 GMThttps://www.jamesvandenburg.com/q--a-blog-page/first-postDear James,
I've always thought about writing a book, but was never sure I could do it, or that I could get it published if I did. How long did it take you to write this and how did you find your publisher?

Thanks,
Liz
      
  
Dear Liz,
Well I'm certainly no expert. The process of writing and getting Making Life Better published was chock full of, what seemed to me, overwhelming challenges. But I'm happy to share my own experiences and I hope that it will encourage you to go for it.

For a long time, probably years, I was torn between the old adage, “Everybody's got a book in them” on the one hand and the line from Dorothy Parker, “Poets alone should kiss and tell” on the other. I knew with every fiber of my being that I had something of value to say, but I was deeply concerned that I may not be able, or even know how, to say it well. I'd lived with the concepts and ideas expressed within Making Life Better for years, always holding the thought that “someday, I'd like to try to actually write this book.” 

For me, the process began where, it seems, all things now begin – a Google search. I hadn't yet written the book so I began searching for publishers that would accept unsolicited queries (an industry term for a proposal/idea or book concept) from an unknown, first-time author. I found lots (understatement of the year) of options, but they all seemed to fit into one of three categories: Self-Publishing, Subsidy Publishing, and “Traditional” Publishing. Each publishing option seemed to come complete with plenty of its own unique benefits and challenges. For my own particular blend of circumstances and insecurities, I decided to focus on a “traditional” publishing route. (The quotes around that word is just may way of saying that “traditional is also in the eye of the beholder.”) 

So, I simply started submitting. I got lots of flat-out rejections. I received some replies that simply, and quite reasonably, said “Write the book and then maybe we'll talk.” But there were a few that responded with a much more desirable “We'd like to see more.” 

Most of the publishers I contacted were very upfront about how they operate and provided numerous details of their process. In the end, I chose a publisher that seemed to be the best fit to my needs and circumstances as I understood them at the time. 

The writing process is different for everyone. Despite all of the “how to write a book in three easy steps” blogs, articles and programs, I have yet to find any two published authors who would agree on any one process that will work for everybody. What is helpful to one person can sometimes prove to be an obstacle or even a distraction to another. 

For myself, the writing process took about a year. I kept to a fairly strict schedule. But I also learned that for me, I needed to make sure that my schedule also included some non-writing days from time to time. I learned quickly that the writing process was actually teaching me quite a bit about myself and that I needed to make room in my thoughts (and my schedule) for these “mirror image life lessons” to break through and help me to continually adjust along each step of the way. 

Sorry this has been such a long response to such a short and simple question. But then again, if you've read the book, you're probably used to that ;) 

Hope this was helpful. Thanks so much for writing!
James  
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