Interview with Sanee Bell

Author of Be Excellent on Purpose: Intentional Strategies for Impactful Leadership

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

I am originally from Louisville, Kentucky, but now I live in Houston, Texas.

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

I moved to Texas to be closer to my boyfriend at the time who is now my husband of 16 years.

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

I always wanted to write and publish my own book. As a school leader, I find myself giving other leaders strategies and advice to help them in their roles. Leadership can be isolating, so I see this book as a personal guide to help other leaders navigate through some of the most challenging aspects of school leadership. Writing this book gave me the opportunity to share with a broader audience.

How would you describe your books to first time readers?

My book is filled with personal leadership stories that have helped shaped me as a leader. In addition to the stories, I also share strategies that will help leaders reflect on their journey and chart new paths to excellence. The book also has reflection questions and prompts to engage and interact with the readers.

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

I feel that this book will connect with anyone who is in a leadership position in a school or district. It is for teachers, assistant principals, principals, and district leaders. Basically, if you are charged with leading a group of people, whether they are students or adults, this book is for you.

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

During the writing and publishing process, I learned that writing a book is a labor of love. It reminds me of childbirth. The process has its ups and downs. Toward the end of the writing process, I was exhausted and wanted it to come to an end. Getting to the finish line took everything I had cognitively and creatively. But when I held the finished project in my hands, I was over the moon with pride, accomplishment, and a sense of joy.

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

Work in your own time and trust the process.

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

I want to reach as many school leaders across the world as I possibly can. Ultimately I would love for my book to be translated into multiple languages.

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

I am still trying to figure out how to market the book so that I can reach more audiences.

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

Writing the book was my biggest strength. Since I used a publisher, they took care of all of the key aspects of publishing.

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

I struggle with marketing because of the time commitment it takes. I am a full-time principal so marketing is new territory for me.

When do you think you will write your next book?

I plan to write another book in 2020.

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

I used an independent publisher. (Times 10 Publishing)