Page 53 - Reader's HouseMagazine - Issue 62

others. Pride and ego can obscure our self-view but can transform into confidence and purpose in our lives. Humility complements gratitude and acceptance, fostering personal growth and leading to a stronger, more realistic sense of self.
As an adventurer with hobbies like scuba diving, flying, and hang gliding, how have these experiences influenced the vivid settings and action sequences in your novels?
Flying airplanes, hang gliding off a moun- tain, and scuba diving are undoubtably surreal activities, but to attain these skills I needed
to learn and research a lot. I love researching different technologies or skills to write about. In “Quantum Mind” I spent a lot of time researching how giant building cranes work and in “Carbon Copy” I researched the heck out of 3D printers. Creating a story using these areas of research just makes writing a story, including these, even more fun.
Balancing a 30-year career in software engineering with writing, how do you manage to maintain creativity and productivity in both fields?
During Covid lockdown, I finally found time to write stories like “Bit By Bit,” despite years of writing software code, test plans, technical documentation, emails, and budgets. Balancing work and writing is hard. Story inspiration can come at any time, not just early mornings. I always carried a notebook to jot down ideas, which helped me develop my stories when I had time to write.
What key advice would you offer to aspiring authors seeking to navigate the complexities of self-publishing, especially those from technical backgrounds?
Self-publishing is demanding but rewarding. Utilize free or low-cost resources like Canva. com, kindlepreneur.com, and StoryOrigin.
Join organizations such as authorguild.org for support. Beware of scams. As a self-publisher, you handle roles like author, publisher, market- er, designer, editor, accountant, social media expert, and agent.
“HAVING A SOLID PLAN IS CRUCIAL FOR PROGRESS—
JUST LIKE IN SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT.”
A beautifully written, insightful guide that gently encourages spiritual growth through humility, self-awareness, and a
balanced, purposeful life journey.
In Humility: A Spiritual Way of Life, MD Hanley delivers a warm, insightful explora- tion of humility as a path to self-awareness,
inner peace, and authentic living. Complet- ing his trilogy on gratitude and acceptance, the book offers balanced, accessible reflec-
tions that avoid dogma while encouraging personal growth. Its gentle wisdom invites readers to reflect deeply and embrace a more purposeful, spiritually grounded life.
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