About Cheryl L Ilov:
Please allow me to introduce myself. I am a dancer, martial artist, and a recovering physical therapist turned Amazon best-selling and award winning author. I never planned on becoming an author, nor did I even consider myself a writer. However, I have always had a passion for storytelling, and I suppose my writing career began by chronicling medical documents and progress reports for thousands of patients as a medical professional in the fields of both respiratory and physical therapy. Along the way, I discovered that weaving stories along with treatment modalities helped educate my patients and was a powerful tool in their recovery and ongoing progress.
I started a blog in 2011, when a marketing “expert” I was working with set one up for me, even though I had no idea what a blog was or why I would possibly want one. But once I was able to figure it out, I began writing about health, fitness, and life in general, integrating my knack for storytelling and fine tuning my writing skills at the same time.
After a few years of writing blogs and attracting many followers, I had a mental head smacking moment when I realized that those blogs could be organized to create an outline for a manuscript and subsequent book. And that is when my new career as an author was launched, at the tender young age of sixty-one.
When I am not writing, you can find me in a ballet class dancing with my barre buddies, hanging out in a martial arts dojo beating up bad guys, hiking in the glorious Rocky Mountains, or relaxing at home with my handsome husband and our two adorable Italian Greyhounds. Life is good!
What inspires you to write?
I believe that all of us have important stories which need to be shared with the world. Stories that can inspire, motivate, entertain, educate, or simply give us food for thought. I also believe that when we share our stories, we connect with each other and build healthy relationships which will then help make the world a better place. At least, that is my hope and prayer, and that is what inspires me to write.
What authors do you read when you aren’t writing?
I am an avid reader and enjoy a wide variety of different authors. However, I really enjoy reading the works of other local and independent authors, including both fiction and non-fiction.
Tell us about your writing process.
I usually start with a few ideas, and scribble them down the old fashioned way, taking pen to paper. And I do mean scribble, because sometimes I'm in such a hurry I can't even read my own notes. Once I have several key points and ideas written down, I start playing with the organization of the basic ideas and expand on them over time.
I am a knitter, and I like to think that writing is like knitting with words, only without a pattern, and not knowing exactly how it's going to turn out. It used to cause me high anxiety, but now I just enjoy the process and go with the flow.
What advice would you give other writers?
Don't be too hard on yourself, especially if things aren't going well. If you're feeling stuck or frustrated, step away from the project and go for a walk, do some yoga, sit quietly in nature, or whatever helps you hit the refresh button.
As for myself, I let it go for a few days, get lost in some knitting, dance class, etc. Going up to the mountains also has a powerful and positive effect on getting my creative juices a jump start.
How did you decide how to publish your books?
After doing extensive research, I decided that self-publishing was the best choice for me, and I am very happy that I did.
I recommend that all new authors look into and evaluate all options before they decide which direction they would like to go, and to talk to a variety of published authors to hear what their experiences were like with the choices they made as well.
What do you think about the future of book publishing?
I think it is going to continue to grow and provide great opportunities for all authors to share their work. It's very exciting.
What genres do you write?: Non-fiction
What formats are your books in?: Both eBook and Print, Audiobook
Website(s)
Cheryl L Ilov Home Page Link
Link To Cheryl L Ilov Page On Amazon
Your Social Media Links
Goodreads
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Instagram
YouTube
All information in this post is presented “as is” supplied by the author. We don’t edit to allow you the reader to hear the author in their own voice.
