Here is a link to listen to National Public Radio’s Vanessa Ferguson Interview Mark about his new book Joyous Leadership: LISTEN
NPR Illinois Interview
Book Signings and Presentations (A BUSY WEEK!)
February 26th was a weekend to remember for me. It was my first ever book signings and then capped off with a presentation on Monday at Arkansas State University with Chancellor’s Leadership Class.
The weekend started with a book signing on Saturday at the Senior Bees Community center where new and old friends gathered to hear about Joyous Leadership and reminisce on old times. It was great to see new friends and old friends/coworkers from days past. I love my old Trumann team!
Sunday was a day of worship and then another book signing in the lobby of 7th and Mueller’s CEC building. The highlight of this signing was my fourth grade teacher, Betty Gatlin, coming to purchase a book and to get her book signed in person.
Monday we trekked down to Arkansas State University’s Delta Business Center to cap off a long weekend speaking to a wonderful group of students that were selected into the Chancellor’s Leadership Class. I loved their energy and enthusiasm.
Tuesday evening I participated in a private group on Zoom known as the Campfire Leadership Team. This is a group of leaders from across the Midwest and Northeast that gather to energize and support one another. We always enjoy our time together and it never fails that everyone learns something new at each gathering. We are planning a retreat and service project this summer. It will be so good to finally get together again!
To end a busy week, I presented Joyous Leadership to Innovate Springfield. This is a group of leaders that help to serve as an incubator for new business launches. It is such a fun and energizing group to be a part of.
I’m going to slow down a bit next week!
Book Chat Recap Podcast
Click the link above and listen in as a college classmate, Sheila, and her daughter Kate interview me on Joyous Leadership. We had a great time!
Paragould Podcast
We Have a Cover!
I’m so excited and nervous at the same time. It seems I’m having to make decisions so fast about things I know so little about. I’ve been fortunate to speak with a few other authors for advice, but it seems we all have different circumstances and different objectives that make no two books alike.
The interior layout is still in process along with the back cover and a few other pesky details. As for now, we move a few steps closer. Hardback, paperback, eBook, and audio are all being done simultaneous. Fingers crossed!
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Just A Little Bit Closer
I had Sheryl Crow lyrics in my head all week. Everyday is a winding road, I get a little bit closer. . . This weeks accomplishments:
- Kicked off book cover design
- Line item editor and proof readers started their work
- Copyright filed
- ISBN (International Book Standard) identifiers purchased
- Secured studio and engineer for audiobook (This was something new and unplanned. So excited!)
My publisher is giving me an estimate of two months. Maybe Christmas will come early this year!
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Content Edits Are Done!
I received the final content edits back from my editor this week! This has been such a fun and learning experience. Next week I will meet with the line item editor, layout editor, and cover designer. Still a lot of time consuming work but definitely getting closer to reality.
Here’s where I need your help. The publisher wants me to gather as many email addresses as possible of anyone who might be interested in reading Joyous Leadership. If you’ve already signed up, great! If you haven’t please do so below. I would be also honored if you would forward the link to any of your friends, family, or co-workers that might be interested. You will not get spam mail, only an occasional update as the launch date nears.
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Making Progress
I received my first edits back from my editor a couple of weeks ago. It was exciting but a very humbling process. I haven’t seen that much red ink since my last research paper in grad school.
It was hard finding an editor. To get a good one, you have to interview and they ask for samples of your book. She had some great credentials and had edited for some of my favorite authors like John Maxwell and Philip Gulley.
So for now, I’ve got my head down, working, creating, and re-creating. As Rob Bell describes it, “it is somewhere between intoxicating and maddening.”
If you want to keep up with the process and receive some advanced content, make sure you subscribe to my site or send me an email at johnmarkwatson@gmail.com.