Interview with Terry M. Drake, author of 'Live Happily, Ever After...Now!'

Terry M. Drake is a Licensed Social Worker, National Board Certified Clinical Hypnotherapist, Certified Trainer of Ericksonian Hypnosis and NLP. He has spent the last 15 years learning about himself and others, through his academic studies resulting in his MSW and his professional studies, as a family therapist, clinical supervisor and vast training and research into hypnosis, neuro-linguistic programming, the law of attraction and positive psychology. Terry is currently a Director of mental and behavioral health programs and a Life Coach, Hypnotherapist in private practice. He is also ready to put his skills to use as an author, speaker, consultant and coach. Terry lives in Wellsboro, Pa with his wife and children.

His latest book is Live Happily, Ever After…Now!

You can visit his website at www.livehappilyeverafter-now.com.

Thank you for this interview, Terry. Can you tell us briefly what your latest book, Live Happily, Ever After… Now! is all about?

Thank you for this opportunity. Live Happily, Ever After… Now! Is a self-help book and uses age old, time tested secrets (found in NLP, Law of Attraction, Positive Psychology, and Hypnosis) to teach you how to create the life you want! The key is learning how much control you have over your life, your beliefs and attitudes about yourself, others and the world you live in. Once you understand that you are in control (and you will), then you can use the 9 simple steps to begin living the life you want. This is accomplished by teaching you how your mind works and processes information. You will then learn how you already use these same methods, with varying results, to get what you don´t want or in falling short of true success and happiness. Then I will teach you how to reverse this process and develop healthy and positive ways to think, act and feel about yourself and others. Live Happily, Ever After… Now! is also filled with professional, personal and historical examples that demonstrate how it´s done.

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

It was in April of 2009, when I was preparing a training introducing others to NLP, that it hit me! You see, when I prepare for trainings or in my work as a life coach and hypnotherapist, I do research into self-help material. I have been researching self-help material for over 5 years now and last April I realized, "Hey, I can write a book better than this!" Also, I share a lot from my personal experiences with creating balance and happiness in my life, as well as laying a plan for others to do so. So, my clients, myself and anyone who wants to create a happy and successful life inspired me!

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

Yes, this is my first published book. I didn´t bother submitting the manuscript for rejections, as I found in my research that rejections are common and I decided to go straight to self-publishing. I even started my own publishing company, Lake House Publishing. By doing this I had much more control over the process, although it didn´t come without it´s issues, which is another interview entirely.

How has Lake House Publishing been to work with?

They are awesome! Seriously, I love how I want about getting my book published and in the near future I want to help other aspiring authors to realize the dream of being published. Lake House Publishing will be assisting others in self-publishing!

Do you have an agent?

No.

Can you tell us how long it took you to write your book and also how long it took from the time Lake House Publishing sent the contract and the time it was released?

It took me one year from the time I started writing to the time I had a finished book in my hands! It was a very interesting and at times challenging process, but I wouldn´t have changed a thing.

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

A quote that I use in my book and is from the great American Inventor Thomas Edison, who by the way was a phenomenal person and understood that you can accomplish whatever you want, as long as you take steps to make it happen and enjoy the whole experience.

"Many of life´s failures are by people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up."

So my advice is to go for it! Or pick up a copy of my book could and discover the secrets to success and motivation.

What´s next for you?

I am going to continue promoting Live Happily, Ever After… Now! and work on my next book, which is a happiness challenge designed to get people more active and happy with themselves.

Thank you for this interview, Terry. We wish you much success!