Ask the Author: Sandra S. Simmons
Answered Questions (8)
Sandra S. Simmons
We got hit with hurricanes Irma, Ian and Idalia. Now hurricane Lee is a Category 5 and is headed straight for us.
Sandra S. Simmons
I write non-fiction business books, so for me, the best thing about being a writer is getting my knwledge about the subject that is all in my nead down on paper and sharing tips and real life client stories to help business owners apply what I am talking about.
I write non-fiction business books, so for me, the best thing about being a writer is getting my knwledge about the subject that is all in my nead down on paper and sharing tips and real life client stories to help business owners apply what I am talking about.
Sandra S. Simmons
What would my life have been like if I had taken that job with the World Bank as a translator?
Here's the background story. I grew up in a military family, moving overseas from the USA as an infant, living in England, central Europe and Northern Africa. When we returned to the USA I was 13 years old and spoke 5 languages.
My Dad was stationed at Andrews AFB and was well connected in the Washington DC scene. My parents entertained a lot in our home, and my brother and I were expected to be there to welcome the guests to our home. At one party when I was 16 a male guest was conversing with me and asked how many languages I spoke. I told him and which ones and he led me in a conversation switching from one language to another and I followed easily. It was fun.
A week later my Dad took me to visit this man at the World Bank in downtown DC and long story short, he asked me if I would be interested in training to be a translator and coming to work for the World Bank when I finished high school. I was so young that I really had no concept of what kind of job that would be but I thought that working in a bank would be boring so I said no.
Looking back on it over the years I often wondered what my life would have been like if I had accepted their offer. I probably would have gotten to travel the world as a translator for many different people and who knows what adventures that would have led to. I'm sure I could have written a great book about it at some point.
Here's the background story. I grew up in a military family, moving overseas from the USA as an infant, living in England, central Europe and Northern Africa. When we returned to the USA I was 13 years old and spoke 5 languages.
My Dad was stationed at Andrews AFB and was well connected in the Washington DC scene. My parents entertained a lot in our home, and my brother and I were expected to be there to welcome the guests to our home. At one party when I was 16 a male guest was conversing with me and asked how many languages I spoke. I told him and which ones and he led me in a conversation switching from one language to another and I followed easily. It was fun.
A week later my Dad took me to visit this man at the World Bank in downtown DC and long story short, he asked me if I would be interested in training to be a translator and coming to work for the World Bank when I finished high school. I was so young that I really had no concept of what kind of job that would be but I thought that working in a bank would be boring so I said no.
Looking back on it over the years I often wondered what my life would have been like if I had accepted their offer. I probably would have gotten to travel the world as a translator for many different people and who knows what adventures that would have led to. I'm sure I could have written a great book about it at some point.
Sandra S. Simmons
Because I write business non-fiction books, I sometimes feel that I have said everything I need to say and I have a hard time coming up with new ideas. But then I remember that there are millions of business owners who have never read what I have to say, so I take one important point and write about it in a way I never have and add stories from my clients' recent experiences so the new reader can see how their peers applied the message to their company. Unlike a fiction write who can use imagination, I deal in reality. It's a bit different, but talking to people, the writer's audience for real, can often stimulate a good idea and solve the problem of writer's block..
Sandra S. Simmons
I am compiling the most frequently asked questions (FAQs) I get from my clients and my answers to those questions and working out how to best present those in a book. I'm also going to include some (SAQs) "should ask questions" about things they may not know to ask. When it comes to managing money, ignorance is NOT bliss!
Sandra S. Simmons
I get inspired to write by talking to people and finding out what their interests are and what they are experiencing in life. There's always a nugget in those conversations that is the seed for a book or a blog post.
Sandra S. Simmons
Write about what you are passionate about and do your research thoroughly. Decide who your audience is and what the message is you are trying to get across, and then read what you write from that basis to be sure you are doing that.
Sandra S. Simmons
I got the idea for my most recent book from the business owners who are my clients that use my business cash flow management software. Their questions and the software I developed for them are covered in simple, easy to understand and apply, tips to managing a company's cash flow.
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