Interview with Steve Schullo

Published 2014-01-21.
What is your writing process?
Write, rewrite, record and listen, rewrite until it sounds and feels smooth and active
Do you remember the first story you ever read, and the impact it had on you?
The Box Car Children. I was amazed that kids did not need parents!
How do you approach cover design?
Hired a pro and wanted it to reflect the title.
What do you read for pleasure?
Fiction novels or sci fi
What is your e-reading device of choice?
Kindle, iPad and Asus tablet
What book marketing techniques have been most effective for you?
Presentations
Describe your desk
Simple computer desk, mahogany, wooden with only one small drawer.
Where did you grow up, and how did this influence your writing?
On a farm in N. Wisconsin. Use my growing up on a farm experience to describe personal finance.
When did you first start writing?
I have a couple of stories to tell.
What's the story behind your latest book?
We learned something that very few people seem to care about, personal finance. It is very puzzling why far too many people automatically trust somebody else to "help" you with your money. The solution is quite simple and that is why we wrote this book.
What motivated you to become an indie author?
No publisher wants to publish our story.
What are you working on next?
I am almost finished with another personal finance book, aimed at people who are entitled to a 401k, 403b or a 457b plan. While this new book is about my experience with the 403b and the 457b plans, those folks who contribute to a 401k plan would also benefit from my story. I have 9 chapters available on my blog: www.latebloomerwealth.com. I propose that it will be titled: "The 403b Jungle: How the 403b was stolen and how to win it back from the insurance industry."
Who are your favorite authors?
Personal Finance Great and founder of Vanguard Group, the most respected investment mutual fund company in the world, John Bogle. I also like Tom Wolf, Herman Hess.
What inspires you to get out of bed each day?
Coffee and to write. It's what I wanted to do all my adult life, write.
When you're not writing, how do you spend your time?
Hiking, movies, reading and learning the Buddhist philosophy and way of life.
How do you discover the ebooks you read?
Google, Amazon, Smashwords, and word of mouth from reading and investing forums.
Do you remember the first story you ever wrote?
It was an essay about something that happens to many people in grade school, getting blamed for something I didn't do.
Do you remember the first story you ever wrote?
It was an essay about something that happens to many people in grade school, getting blamed for something I didn't do.
How has Smashwords contributed to your success?
Adrian by Herman Hess, Little Big Man, Ender's Game, To Kill a Mocking Bird, Moby Dick, Investing by John Bogle.
What is the greatest joy of writing for you?
Reading my own work after writing, rewriting, recording and listening to my words and polishing it up and rewriting again.
What do your fans mean to you?
A lot. Since my book is about personal finance, I want them fans to know that you can learn investing. And one doesn't have to be a math or finance wizard. Heck, we never took a finance course in our life, but there is on a few concepts that we learned well--the power of compound interest, living below your means and thinking long term. Investing is and will remain a fairly easy skill to learn. The hardest part is the psychology and where with all to stick to your well thoughtout plan when the market acts up.
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