Kathy Balland, an expert in the mind-body-soul connection, teaches people how to tap into their own inner power for success. Clinically certified in hypnotherapy, her publications and seminars provide deep insights into the true causes and their remedies that prevent people from achieving their goals. As president of Blissful Publications and author of LOSE THE DIET: Transform your body by connecting with your soul, Balland provides information to enrich and empower people to achieve happiness and success. Her website and blog are at: www.LosetheDiet.com. Twitter: http://twitter.com/LosetheDiet

Q: Welcome to Beyond the Books, Kathy. Can we start out by telling us whether you are published for the first time or are you multi-published?

A: I have written many articles and published spoken word CDs, but this is my first book.

Q: What was the name of your very first book regardless of whether it was published or not and, if not published, why?

A: Lose the Diet is my first book, and it was published this year.

Q: For your first published book, how many rejections did you go through before you either found a mainstream publisher, self-published it, or paid a vanity press to publish it?

A: None. I published Lose the Diet through my own publishing company: Blissful Publications, LLC. I chose to publish it that way because I wanted to maintain control of the book, in addition to the entire publishing process.

Q: How did the rejections make you feel and what did you do to overcome the blows?

A: I did not experience rejections, as I did not try to secure a publisher.

Q: How did it make you feel to become published for the first time and how did you celebrate?

A: There is a great sense of satisfaction to see your book in print. Sharing the news with family and friends was the best celebration of all.

Q: What was the first thing you did as for as promotion when you were published for the first time?

A: The first thing I did was send the book out to book reviewers.

Q: If you had to do it over again, would you have chosen another route to be published?

A: No, I would not choose a different route. I enjoyed the entire process.

Q: Have you been published since then and how have you grown as an author?

A: At this time, I have been focusing on book marketing. However, I do have an idea for another book. Working with an editor has helped me to grow, and understand how an editor perceives the written word.

Q: Looking back since the early days when you were trying to get published, what do you think you could have done differently to speed things up? What kind of mistakes could you have avoided?

A: I would have started marketing the book sooner. In my opinion, you can never do too much book marketing.

Q: What has been the biggest accomplishment you have achieved since becoming published?

A: Lose the Diet has won several awards. You can see them here: http://www.losethediet.com/_site/pages/Resources.aspx. Winning awards is one of the biggest accomplishments that I have experienced since becoming published.

Q: If you could have chosen another profession, what would that profession be?

A: I would like to do public speaking to spread the message of the book. I will be speaking at the Ultimate Girls Getaway in October, but would like to do more speaking.

Q: Would you give up being an author for that profession or have you combined the best of both worlds?

A: I definitely plan on combining both worlds: Author and speaker.

Q: How do you see yourself in ten years?

A: I see myself as a best selling author that has successfully helped many people around the world.

Q: Any final words for writers who dream of being published one day?

A: Go for it. As Joseph Campbell said; Follow your bliss, and the world will open doors for you where there were only walls.