Interview with Ted DesMaisons

Author of Playful Mindfulness

Where are you from originally and where do you reside now?

I grew up in New England–Boston, southern New Hampshire, RI, western Mass–and now live in Daly City, CA, just south of San Francisco.

If you currently reside somewhere besides where you were born, what’s the story that lead from there to here?

Even as a kid growing up in New England, I felt drawn to the San Francisco Bay Area. My favorite sports teams when I was seven were the Oakland A’s, the Oakland Raiders and the Golden State Warriors. (Granted, they were all good then…)

I came out to Stanford as an undergrad and for grad school. After completing a sabbatical when I was teaching religious studies and philosophy at a western Mass boarding school, I felt a pull to come back. No more winters, good friends out here, and a deep dive into the San Francisco improv scene.

What made you decide to write and publish your first book?

I really wanted to find and share my unique voice. I’ve always loved writing–playing with words, sharing insights, moving folks to act or feel–and wanted the feeling of accomplishment and impact that can come with a book. I also knew that it would help establish myself as an authority–perhaps the first authority?–in this emerging realm of exploration between the fields of mindfulness and improvisation.

How would you describe your books to first time readers?

Playful Mindfulness™ introduces wisdom from the worlds of mindfulness (paying attention to the present moment with curiosity and kindness) and improvisation (making life up courageously as you go along) so you gain greater confidence, calm, and connection.

• Do you long to express that creative project or idea but tell yourself you’re not good or clever or funny enough, so why even try?

• Do you dream of a wide-open life filled with moments of wonder, delight and surprise but find yourself trapped in routine and smothered by stress?

• Do you yearn for deep, meaningful connection with those around you but feel yourself ever more isolated by social media and modern technology.

HOPE IS ON THE WAY.
Playful Mindfulness takes you on a beautiful, surprising and unruly adventure into the lands where mindfulness and improvisation overlap. There, you’ll discover the same freedom, ease, and joy that thousands of my students at Stanford and elsewhere have found for themselves.

Who do you feel is most likely to connect with the topics you write about?

Playful Mindfulness is for you if you are a(n):
• recovering perfectionist who wants to lighten up
• adult learner stepping into the stress and uncertainty of life transitions: leaving or starting a job, letting go of a relationship, making a big move
• someone who struggles with anxiety or wants more confidence
• introvert who longs for connection
• person that others consider abrasive or reactive and you’d like to put them at ease
• an improvisor or actor who wants to add depth and presence to your on-stage work
• mindfulness student or practitioner who wants a new, playful perspective

What unexpected or surprising thing did you learn during the process of writing and publishing?

It’s really tough to format a book effectively, especially if you’re using Microsoft Word to do it. : )

But it feels really good when you get it right.

If you could, what advice would you give to your past self before embarking on this journey?

To the extent that you can, get clear about whom you’re writing for–it will make finding your voice SO much simpler. And then, be super-open about asking for help. There really is no such thing as “self-publishing” because even when you do it on your own, you need the help of a village.

How many people would you ideally like to reach with your books?

I’d like to reach 500K at least.

What has been the biggest challenge and frustration during the process to date?

For me, it’s not having a natural aptitude for marketing. The book is strong and it often sells itself. Like, folks who read it want to pass it along or encourage others to pick it up. Getting the word out is going slow…so far, anyway.

What’s your biggest strengths when it comes to book a) writing, b) publishing and c) marketing?

My voice is strong, I’d say, and my playfulness comes through my writing. So my mode matches my content. I also have a strong sense of logic and flow. I just think it’s really important to escort your reader through the book. Where are we at any given point? What are we about to do? What comes next?

What’s your biggest weakness when it comes to book a) writing, b) publishing and c) marketing?

Definitely the marketing side represents the biggest challenge. It’s all new to me and I recognize that the whole bookselling landscape is changing rapidly so very few know what the heck will work these days.

When do you think you will write your next book?

I imagine I’ll take another year to promote this first one and then get to work on the next.

Are you self published or did you use a hybrid publisher, or a traditional publisher?

I self-published. Wrote the book, got help with some editing, but proof-read and formatted it myself. I use Ingram Spark as my distributor and also sell directly through my website.