Lawrence Elliott was born in one
of the beautiful islands of the Bahamas called New Providence. He is married to
a lovely woman named Deborah. His passion is to teach humankind time tested
principles, so that they can live their lives more effectively. Over the years,
he has volunteered teaching boys at a junior high school, children at Sunday
school and adults at various churches and community organizations. He believes
that wisdom is a key component to living a successful life; one of his
statements is “Godly wisdom will cause you to live a good life”.
What are some of the things that have influenced/inspired your writing?
Initially, my inspiration to write books
came from my late pastor, Dr. Myles Munroe. Subsequently, I began to write
several books. He taught me that you should “die empty”. This statement means
that you should pour out everything that God has given you, into other people,
so that the world can become a better place. However, the Holy Spirit directly
influenced “Practical Proverbs for Everyday Living”. I thank God for all
avenues of inspiration that He has given me.
Can you share some writing experiences with us?
I would wake up in the morning
looking forward to the Holy Spirit depositing proverbs into me that day. I
would always have my pen and paper ready and write down everything that he gave
me. I also looked forward to encountering situations that I can convert into
proverbs. Sometimes I would tweak the proverbs so that it can be on point to
reflect the message that I wanted to portray. Writing was my daily exercise and
I loved flexing the muscle of my mind to accomplish the task to become a good
author.
Tell us briefly about your recently
published book and what you feel is the most important topic/sub-message you
share.
Practical
Proverbs for Everyday Living is a book of wisdom keys that would help the
reader to make good choices in order for them to live a more fruitful life.
These keys will give the reader wisdom, guidance, protection, prosperity and
peace. This book speaks directly to the heart by giving you wisdom and inspiration
to live your best life. The most important message that I share is that God
should be the foundation of your life. Everything good that we require and
desire comes from Him; when we put God first in our lives, we will have a life
filled with gratitude and peace.
Like
all authors, you have had your fair share of rejection letters. You obviously
did not let the letters deter you. How did you keep your determination without
getting discouraged?
I did not have
any rejection letters. I guess it was because my book was self-published and it
is a positive book. Every self-publishing company that I submitted my
manuscript to approved it. It was only a matter of choosing the best fit for
me.
It has been my experience, some things come quite easily (like creating
the setting) and other things are not so easy (like deciding on a title). What
comes easily to you and what do you find more difficult?
What comes easy to me is the title of the book,
especially with this book because God directly gave me the title. The most
difficult part for me was to write the proverbs in a way that would reach the
heart of the reader in a helpful way. Another small difficulty was placing a
proverb in the most relative category. Some proverbs could have been placed in two
or three categories. I had to decide which category would be most effective for
each multi-categorized proverb.
Please describe to us your relationship between you and your editor. What
makes an author/editor relationship a success?
The
relationship that I have with my editor is beautiful. I have the privileges of
making changes if I so desired. What makes an author/ editor relationship a
success is that both parties should have a great passion for the common goal to
be accomplished. The common goal is for the book to be written in the most
effective way to yield the best results. When both parties focus on the success
of the mission, then this cohesiveness would form a fruitful relationship.
When they write your obituary, what do you hope they will say about
your books and writing? What do you hope they will say about you?
I sincerely hope
that they would say that Lawrence Elliott received wisdom from God and placed
it in books to help humankind live in peace and harmony. His writings are a
cornerstone for building a productive and purposeful life. His books are to be
used as reference points for individuals to refer to when they encounter
situations that are linked to his teachings. I hope that they will say that I
was a righteous man of wisdom, purpose and accomplishments. He was a man that
served his gifts and talents exceptionally well to humanity, subsequently
causing individuals to fulfill their God given dream. He left a great legacy
for generations to come.
Is there any particular book when you read
it, you thought, "I wish I had written that!"?
Yes, a book comes to my mind. The book is,
“Think & Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill. I believe that every person on this
planet should live a comfortable life at a minimum and a luxurious life if they
so desired. This book teaches the reader that it does not matter how deprived
you are, you have a right to obtain wealth in this world. For too long we were
taught that only a few of us have access to wealth. This is a great and
inspiring book for the masses to read so that they can live an abundant life.
Have you ever suffered from writer’s block? If yes, how did you ‘cure’
it?
No, I
have not suffered from writers block. The world is too diverse for that. The
almighty God is a creator and I am an offspring of Him, so all I have to do is
tap into the creativity that he placed within me to get the job done.
What type of books do you mostly write?
I mostly write books of wisdom,
wealth, inspiration and encouragement. Additionally, I write books on how to
live a holistic abundant life.
Who or what inspires your characters and/or plots?
Firstly God, then life experiences
(personal and other people) and the quest to learn how man should function
properly on this planet. I believe that if you follow the patterns of the
manufacturer of this earth, you will have an interesting book.
Tell us about your writing space.
I like to write at my dining room
table when no one is in the front part of the house. It is a nice quiet cool
spot that allows me to think freely. I also get a chance to look at nicely
manicured lawns and the beautiful green trees in the neighborhood.
Is there
anything you'd go back and do differently now that you have been published, in
regards to your writing career?
I would create a page in the book
with the adequate amount of space for me to write autographs. Also, I would
proficiently expand my vocabulary and write more, in order for me to be
categorized as a professional writer.
Do you do first drafts on a computer or by hand?
I do first drafts by hand because
it is more convenient for me. Additionally, the act of writing helps you
clarify your thoughts, remember things better and reach your goals more surely.
How do you see the future of book publishing, both traditional,
electronic and print on demand?
I see traditional publishing
slowly declining. I think electronic publishing will tremendously increase over
the coming years because the young people are technology driven. As their
generation move forward, they will bring technology along with them. I see
print on demand increasing, but at a slower pace than electronic publishing. My
view is that books will always be around. They will not be completely
eliminated; they will only be printed in a more cost effective manner.
What happens before sitting
down to write? (Explain your creative process.)
Before I
sit down to write, I mediate, gather my thoughts, and then begin to write. If I
do, loose my trend of thought during the writing process, I would ask the Holy
Spirit to bring back the thought that I was thinking.
Do you do a lot of research for
your book(s)?
I have
not done any research in my writings thus far. I would only meditate on what I
want to say and then write it. The Holy Spirit has given me many of my proverbs
and the others came from life experiences.
What voice do you find most to
your liking: first person or third person? (Answer only if you write fiction)
Have you received any awards?
No, I
have not received any rewards as yet. However, in the future I do look forward
to receiving some.
What advice would you give to a new
writer?
My advice to a
new writer is to write on a topic that you’re passionate about. In this way,
you will be maximizing your writing gift. If your topic needs researching, then
do your research. I also recommend that you do a lot of reading so that you can
expand your vocabulary and keep up to date with current trends. Additionally,
learn about the publishing types and process so that you will be equipped with
information to make the best choices that are suitable to you. Finally, choose
a good well-rounded publisher who will meet your needs in editing, publishing
and marketing.
Do you have any book signings, tours or
special events planned to promote your book that readers might be interested in
attending? If so, when and where?
I do not have
any events that some can attend at this time. I only have online promotion at
this time.
Use this
space to tell us more about your book’s characters. Anything you want your
readers to know. Include information on where to find your book(s), any blogs
you may have, or how a reader can learn more about you and/or your book(s).
My book is a unique book; it does
not have any characters, only wise teachings to help the reader have a better
life. Practical Proverbs for Everyday Living is a book that should be studied
more than read so that the reader will have the wisdom keys embedded in their
hearts to overcome life’s circumstances. My book is available at Halo
Publishing, Amazon, Barnes&Noble and all major online bookstores. Readers
can learn more about me on www.facebook.com/zirconempowerment.
I thank you for
taking the time to share with my readers about being an author.
