When and why did you start writing?
I write medical guides to make my knowledge and experience as a doctor tangible and available to everyone. My first book, "Healing the Center", was published in 2010.
What does your writing process look like?
It usually takes me two months to write a book. That's how long I can keep the thread going, after which I slowly forget what I've already written. I then start writing at 3 o'clock in the morning, work normally during the day and continue writing in the afternoon. The weekend then belongs entirely to writing. During the two months, we subordinate everything in the family to writing.
Do you have a favorite among your own books?
I really like my first book, "The Healing of the Middle", but the last one, "The Golden Path of the Middle", is probably the finishing touch...!
What advantages do you see in self-publishing?
I can decide on my books myself, especially when it comes to translations. Just the fact that I can decide what the cover looks like, what it's called, when and how it's published is worth becoming a self-publisher! And I also have more left over financially.
Do you do everything yourself or do you also use external services?
I get help with the cover from Feiyr and I have an editor who proofreads everything. The rest, such as graphics, drawings, typesetting and of course writing, I do everything myself.
What experience have you had with self-publishing so far?
Only good ones for me. But I have the advantage that I already had a name in the industry when I started self-publishing. When you're completely unknown, you have to do everything yourself, lots of PR, lots of readings, lots of publicity. It's all up to you. No one else does anything for you! You have to want to do it!
Do you have any tips for other self-publishing authors that you would like to share?
The advantages outweigh the disadvantages IF you are prepared to invest a lot of time and initially also money in the work that would otherwise be done by a (good) publisher: typesetting, editing, PR and advertising, readings. The most important tip: Believe in yourself and what you are doing! Who else but you will invest in you, in terms of time and money? So invest in your future! Then you can reap the rewards yourself (and not have to watch the publisher reap and eat them...!) and enjoy them yourself!
Which advertising medium or social media channel do you use most often and do you find the most helpful?
I write a weekly column on Facebook. I also use it to inform people about my readings and concerts. That works really well!
