Interview with Audra Starkey

Author of Too Tired To Cook – The Shift Worker’s Guide to Working (and Surviving) in a 24/7 World.

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

I was born in Tamworth, NSW, Australia, but now reside in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.

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

My dad managed farming properties and research stations which involved moving around a bit.

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

20+ years ago I was searching for a book to help me to manage shift work and could never find one. So from the words of Toni Morrison, “If there’s a book that you want to read, but it hasn’t been written yet: then you MUST write it” – so I did!

How would you describe your books to first time readers?

This book has been written for anyone who is new to shift work, or has been working shift work for years, and is in need of some help to manage their health whilst working 24/7.

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

Shift workers and for those who have family members who are shift workers.

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

I’ve had people tell me that ANYONE could benefit from reading this book which kind of surprised me as it was written especially for those who work irregular hours.

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

Maybe to compare publishing companies as the royalties are quite low given the vast amount of time spent writing it.

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

There are close to 0.7 billion people worldwide who work shift work, so I’d love for each and every one of them to have a copy and read it!

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

Overcoming “perfection paralysis”. It took me about 6 years to write my book, with lots of stops and starts!!

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

That’s a hard one because before writing this book, I had no previous experience in writing, publishing or marketing so I’ve had to learn how to do all 3!

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

See the previous answer.

When do you think you will write your next book?

In the next 12 months – 2 years.

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

I used a self-publishing company, Balboa Press, who are a subsidiary of Hay House.