Interview with Omar Abed

Author of You, Me, and a Tree

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

I was born in Youngstown, Ohio, but lived most of my life in Springfield, Virginia.

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

My family moved to Virginia when I was 5 years old. My father got a new job in Washington DC.

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

My first book, “You, Me, and a Tree”, is an adaptation of a love story I wrote for my wife. I wanted to learn more about the writing and self-publishing processes, and I figured there was no better way to do it than with a personal story. I thought the story would be a great symbol of love for adults to give as gifts, along with being an easy read for kids.

How would you describe your books to first time readers?

My picture books offer a fun read for both adults and children, though each one may take something different from the story. On the surface, children may see one simple story, but I also wanted adults to derive a deeper meaning while enjoying the process of reading the books. I enjoy music and poetry, and my books make heavy use of rhyme and alliteration to make reading them feel more like a fluid adventure that is fun for adults to read and fun for kids to hear.
My young adult novels explore a very different realm. They tend to focus on young love, how differences attract, and what happens when young love is faced with adversity.

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

I think new parents and young adults will connect most with my picture books. There are a lot of layers to my children stories that I think adults will enjoy exploring. And the heavy use of rhyme and alliteration makes reading these books a fun experience for adults to share with kids.
My young adult novels explore teenage romance in a way that resonates with middle and high-schoolers.

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

I am amazed that different book formats (eBook, audio book, paperback, hardcover) and versions / editions are treated as completely independent books in the publishing process. The amount of formatting and design work that goes into producing each one was definitely a surprise to me.

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

I would tell myself to not be afraid of multiple editing revisions. I tend to want immediate progress, and when I continue iterating on one line or word choice, it makes me nervous that I’m taking too long to produce the output. However, sometimes stories need you to revisit them after some time apart in order to get a fresh perspective. Continue editing until you read your story and say “Wow, I can’t believe I wrote that. That is REALLY good.”

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

As many as possible! I would love to see my books in schools and libraries across the world, translated into different languages.

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

Probably marketing. I got immense support from family and friends when I launched my book, and got a few great reviews from strangers, but maintaining that momentum has been difficult. I wish I could offload the marketing responsibilities and focus 100% on writing.

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

Writing. I wish I could dedicate 100% of my time to exploring my writing style, and offload the publishing and marketing components.

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

Marketing. I love writing, and I don’t mind the publishing process, but I am not a natural salesman. I would love to dedicate my time to producing books and not worry about the sales aspect.

When do you think you will write your next book?

I’ve got my next two books already in progress!
One book is a rhyming children’s book that explores self-comparison and self-acceptance. I submitted it to publishers earlier this month.
The other book is a young adult fiction novel that explores young love and how it handles adversity. I am about 80 pages into writing that book.

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

My first book, “You, Me, and a Tree”, was self-published. For my next book, I am considering going through a traditional publisher.