Interview with Stephanie Rose Bird: 'The Big Book of Soul'

Stephanie Rose Bird is author of The Big Book of Soul: the Ultimate Guide to the African American Spirit, Sticks, Stones, Roots and Bones: Hoodoo, Mojo and Conjuring with Herbs, Four Seasons of Mojo: an Herbal Guide to Natural Living, and A Healing Grove: African Tree Remedies and Rituals for Body and Spirit. She has been published in the magazines, Sage Woman, the Beltane Papers, WitchVox, PanGaia, International Journal of Aromatherapy, Aromatherapy Today, Herb Quarterly, Llewellyn Herbal Almanac, naturallycurly.com, e-pregnancy, Enlightened Practice, The Oracle and others. Bird is a practicing magical herbalist and aromatherapist who lives with her husband, family and animal friends in the Chicago area.

Thank you for this interview, Stephanie. Can you tell us briefly what your latest book is all about?

Stephanie: The Big Book of Soul is about the nature of soul and the rise of soulful practices in the African diaspora from ancient times to the present. Soul is investigated from a healer´s standpoint and the book offers insights on how dance, chanting, singing, prayer, invocation, Herbalisms, midwifery, meditation, ritual, the arts and more are used to feed the soul.

Can you tell us who or what was the inspiration behind your book?

Stephanie: My love for the arts and my recognition of the arts as a healing tool was largely responsible for the creation of the book along with my admiration for herbal healing and African cultures.

Is this your first published book and if so, can you tell us your experiences in finding a publisher for it?

Stephanie: This is my fifth book. Still, I had quite a time finding a publisher for it. Some of the writing of the book is all the way from the year of 2000 and a book that was never published. Then I started working on it again in 2005 but it was no where near the form it is today—around 2008 I found a publisher for it and it was published in 2010.

How has Hampton Roads Publishers been to work with?

Stephanie: I feel very fortunate to have had the pleasure of working with Hampton Roads Publishers. They are very open-minded, thorough about the editorial process in a positive way and terrific with PR and marketing. They are also very good about staying in touch and a very nurturing publishing house.

Do you have an agent?

Stephanie: Yes, Marie Brown of Marie Brown and Associates in New York.

Can you tell us how long it took you to write your book and also how long it took from the time Hampton Roads Publishers sent the contract and the time it was released?

Stephanie: I explained a bit about the lengthy process of creating this book earlier in this interview. I´d say it was roughly two years between the time I received the contract and the book was published.

Do you have any words of inspiration from other writers who would like to be wearing your shoes?

Stephanie: As you can see from my efforts your work can develop, mature, morph and change over the years while waiting to get published. Be patient, enjoy the journey and don´t give up.

I understand that you just finished a virtual book tour. Can you tell us all why you chose a virtual book tour to promote your book online?

Stephanie: The internet is a very important tool of communication. I was happy to find the existence of virtual book tours because it is an excellent way to reach an international and diverse audience.

What´s next for you?

Stephanie: I´m working on a spiritual guide to weight-loss and a book of African women´s healing wisdom centered on crafts.

Thank you for this interview, Stephanie. Can you tell us how we can find out more about you and your new book?

Stephanie: I have a website at www.stephanierosebird.com and author´s pages here: www.authorsden.com/stephanierosebird and I tweet on twitter as: StephanieRoseBi. The book is carried by amazon.com and other online booksellers.