BookBuzzr author Claudette Alexander‘s eBook A Helping Hand On Dialysis: Power Tips To Enhance The Dialysis Life recently hit the #1 spot on Amazon.ca. We reached out to Claudette to learn more about her.
The screenshot below was taken on August 13, 2015.
1. Hi Claudette, thank you for taking the time to do this interview. Can you start off by telling us about yourself?
I was born in St. Lucia and currently live in Toronto, Canada with my family. A strong supportive system fuels me and gives me the strength to manage my chronic kidney failure. I have been on dialysis for the past 12 years.
Visit my website: claudettealexander.com/my-writing.html
2. What’s your book ‘A Helping Hand On Dialysis’ all about?
The book begins with an overview of the kidneys. It explains dialysis—what it is, how it works, what to expect, and the different types available. It offers tips on, cleaning solutions, support systems, renal diet, sex, cramping, exercise, travel, and other feel-good therapies.
A Helping Hand On Dialysis offers help to patients and their families who are undergoing kidney dialysis. Written by a dialysis patient who draws on her 12 years experiences, happily managing the treatment.
I show how you can adapt to the lifestyle changes and continue to enjoy this big beautiful world while maintaining a healthy lifestyle. I offer solutions to handle the hardship, fears, and anxiety associated with dialysis.
An invaluable resource for coping both physically and emotionally with a chronic condition from a patient point of view.
3. How did you learn about your book hitting the number 1 spot on Amazon?
When I got a request for an interview by BookBuzzr
4. You’ve embedded the BookBuzzr flipper widgets and the Landing Page widgets on your website, how does these help you with your book promotion?
They allow readers to read a sample of the book, and the widgets themselves are eye catching.
5. Are you a full-time or part-time writer? How does that affect your writing?
I took early retirement in 2005 due to my illness. Last year, I published my debut novel, ‘Sunrise From An Icy Heart: A Memoir’ and this year I published ‘A Helping Hand On Dialysis: Power Tips To Enhance The Dialysis Life.’
For now, I am a part-time writer. as I spend half of my time in a hospital doing dialysis, and trying to remain among the land of the living.
6. Who are some of your favorite authors that you feel were influential in your work? What impact have they had on your writing?
This is a tough one as I have many favorite authors. Maya Angelou fills me with inspirational quotes, Terri McMillan keeps me laughing, Eckhart Tolle keeps me grounded, Nicholas Sparks pulls at my heart strings, and Bronwyn Elsmore helps me to better understand character development.
7. What writing advice do you have for other aspiring authors?
Read, read, and read again. Read a variety of books. Take courses, attend writing seminars. Critique other people’s writing. You can learn a lot from critique groups.
Join critique groups online and also live.
I have benefited from the feedback of three wonderful online critique groups: Scribophile; The Internet Writing Workshop; Critique Circle. I also have the joy of a live active group called East End Writers’ Group.
8. What can we expect from you in the future?
I started writing ‘How to Publish Your Manuscript’ and put it on hold to complete A Helping Hand On Dialysis. I plan on finishing it by 2016. For now, I’m on rest mode.
Last week I finally got approval to be on the transplant list, so perhaps my next writing will be about life after transplant.
Thank you Claudette, for your interview responses!