Interview with Amy Elizabeth Gordon

Author of Moonshot Aim High, Dive Deep, Live an Extraordinary Life

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

Central Florida, Big Island Hawaii

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

I escaped the tropic of torpor of Florida and journeyed to the Rocky Mountains and on to the Pacific Northwest, with my soul leading the way. I needed warmth, and Hawaii beckoned me home to myself. I resonate deeply with the notion of Kapu Aloha, sacred compassion, that fills the island consciousness with great healing and presence.

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

To be of maximum service to God and my fellows. If I didn’t write and publish this memoir, it was going to eat me alive. It is still gnawing at me, but less aggressively.

How would you describe your books to first time readers?

A transformational memoir full of grit and grace and gratitude. The journey into dark neighborhoods of the human mind and shedding light on the shadowy corners of human experience. A poetic heart-felt perspective of the Divine Feminine that human consciousness embraces.

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

People who recognize they are addicted to substances or behaviors that are getting in the way of their extraordinary lives. People who are willing to be responsible for living an extraordinary life of resilience, compassion and service. People who want to know there is no challenge too great or no trauma too debilitating to overcome and be of service. Yoginis, Buddhists, holistic practitioners, recovering Americans.

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

Balboa Press told me mentioning my brothers bought me booze when I was underage or mentioning the Catholic Church could raise issues of libel and they encouraged me to cut it from the manuscript or use a pseudonym.

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

write it earlier
people thought I was too young to write a memoir in my 40s.
this is untrue.

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

10,000 minimum

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

Continually massaging my mind to remind myself that I am good enough. I’m terrifically self-aggressive and it erodes my serenity and makes me less useful to others. When I tenderize my heart, I serve others more graciously and fully.

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

a) give me a prompt and I can write a lot in a short period of time. my writing is real, raw and vulnerable
b) I didn’t stop pursuing my dream when Hay House didn’t pick my book proposal in a contest
c) I send blogs and videos to my growing list regularly. I serve, freely and build a heart-centric approach to marketing

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

a) managing my mind and keeping commitment to single focus
b) not coordinating with my editor for final edits before sending to publisher (it published with many errors)
c) marketing to too many peeps

When do you think you will write your next book?

this year

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

hybrid publisher: Balboa Press