Interview with Amy Norman

Author of Dancing with the Devil

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

I’m from Sydney, Australia – originally and currently.

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

A lot of people who heard my story had encouraged me write it. It took me a long time to actually be able to because of the emotional turmoil in reliving the events in my story. When I finally tried again, it all just fell out onto the page. It took three months and lots of crying but was a very healing experience.

How would you describe your books to first time readers?

People may initially consider the topic to be quite dark. However, it was written to bring awareness of the topic of domestic violence, provide inspiration to those experiencing it and hopefully assist those who never have experienced it to understand it a little better.

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

I’ve had letters and emails from both women and men from all over the world who have read my book. Many have given it to their teenager daughters and sons as well. It’s a good cautionary tale. While it is quite graphic, it is real, honest and raw. I lived this and wanted to reader to feel in some small way what I went through. It helps to put not only your own every day troubles into perspective but to have compassion with a situation you yourself may never experience.

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

I was actually surprised in my case at how easy it was. I had read a lot of horror stories about publishing.

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

The best advice I could have given myself would have been to stop worrying about it and just start!

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

As many as possible. It’s a topic that more and more people hear about these days and it’s an important one.

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

The marketing and PR. While some media agencies in Australia picked it up many were put off by the subject matter.

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

When I write I get into a ‘zone’ where I am oblivious to everything around me. I love that space. I love to speak publicly, especially on this topic, and have spoken at conferences and women’s groups which has helped enormously with the marketing process and getting my story heard.

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

While I love to write I have a day job that keeps me extremely busy so finding the time is challenging. I self published my book a couple of years ago after having it go out of print with a traditional publisher. There are pros and cons of each. The biggest obstacle with self publishing is the marketing aspect.

When do you think you will write your next book?

I’ve started so many! I just need time to finish them. I’m delving into the world of fiction which is certainly much more challenging.

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

I’m self published now, but the same book was originally published in 2005 by Random House under the Bantam imprint in Australia and in 2006 by John Blake Publishing in the UK. When self publishing I added to the story because I had many messages asking me when I was going to write a second installment.