Interview with Paul McKey
Published 2015-05-04.
How do you approach cover design?
For the cover to Everyone is a Business I am fortunate to have a talented artist Kerry Gray. We work together discussing and trying ideas but she draws quickly with her fingers on the iPad to rough up ideas and then repeats in Illustrator. We purposely chose not use photography for this non-fiction work.
What are your five favorite books, and why?
I'm a tough reader :-) Walden Pond - Thoreau; Ulysses - Joyce; On the Road - Kerouac; Open Swimmer - Tim Winton; A girl is a half-formed thing - Eimear McBride; Love in the time of Cholera - Marquez.
These are all adventures of some sort but adventures of the mind as well as the body.
For Business Books it is:
Flawless Consulting - Peter Block; Organizational Culture and Leadership - Edgar Schein; The Experience Economy - Pine and Gilmore; David Maister, Geoffrey More, Seth Godin, Chris Brogan...
What do you read for pleasure?
Sailing magazines :-) I'm a sailor. It provides a way to immerse myself in nature and ignore the civilised world.
What's the story behind your latest book?
Seeing a phenomenon unfold - my children going into a very different career landscape than what was available to me. The world is changing fast but not unpredictably so a bit of analysis helps us understand it and how to deal with the change.
Describe your desk
I will as soon as I find it again...
What is your e-reading device of choice?
iPad
Where did you grow up, and how did this influence your writing?
I grew up on the east coast of Australia and this has no influence on my writing as I write non-fiction - except to have a healthy cynical approach to life and a constantly enquiring mind. When I write a novel I will let you know.
What motivated you to become an indie author?
I was starting to bore my friends so they said write a book.
What book marketing techniques have been most effective for you?
Not qualified to answer this just yet but I suspect sharing the love via social will do it.
How has Smashwords contributed to your success?
The ease of use makes it possible. Truly!
What is the greatest joy of writing for you?
Finding a way into a tough subject using nothing but writing technique.
What do your fans mean to you?
The feedback is wonderful. Good and bad. It means someone has bothered. I like that. This morning I got "jumping bear hugs" (virtual) from a fan in Michigan :-)
What are you working on next?
The book book. and a PhD thesis...
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Books by This Author
Everyone Is A Business - Orchestrating Innovation In Your Life, Career And Business
by Paul McKey
Innovation is both threatening and enhancing our lives, careers and the way we do business. However success in a new collaborative economy will require a different mindset from what we are used to. Paul McKey shows how you can take control and orchestrate both high performance careers and businesses through the intelligent use of innovation and the breakthrough strategy of Synergistic Design.
