Interview with Caryn Sullivan

Author of Happiness through Hardship – A Guide and Journal for Cancer Survivors, Their Caregivers and Friends

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

I was born in New Jersey, moved to Minneapolis as a young child and spent most of my childhood and first few years post-college there. In my mid-20’s I moved to the east coast and now live in Connecticut.

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

I loved my childhood in Minnetonka (a suburb of Minneapolis.) After college I worked for sports team (MN Tiimberwolves/Lynx) and saw that most of my friends were getting married young, while I was married to my job. That led me to seek a position in sports/entertainment on one of the coasts and landed in NYC.

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

The first time I was diagnosed with breast cancer, I was young. It was three months after my wedding and I was 31 years old. The hospital actually would give out my phone number to young women diagnosed with cancer so I could help guide them through. I did that for many years, but it just doesn’t scale. So, writing a book sharing stories and suggestions for those going through a similar journey as me was a way to give back and help people.

How would you describe your books to first time readers?

It’s meant to be a motivational guide for those touched by cancer…whether they are the cancer survivor or caregiver. It’s short – knowing that most dealing with cancer don’t have the time or energy to read for hours. It’s a balance between heartfelt stories so the reader can relate, but also filled with tips so that the patient or caregiver can learn about resources that can be helpful during a cancer journey. The second half of the book is a journal with note-taking pages so that the patient/caregiver can take notes and bring a lot to their doctors appointments.

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

Cancer survivors, their caregivers and friends will find this book very useful.

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

I was hoping the book would help, but didn’t realize how many people not even touched by cancer could relate to the theme. I hoped it would be that way…hoping people would find a little something positive to help choose joy during the journey. I’ve been incredibly humbled and surprised by all the positive feedback.

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

Trust your gut…your story. So many people have different opinions but when it comes to your book, it’s your story…and embrace that. Love feedback. Enjoy feedback but ask for it early on so it can help grow your story.

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

As many as possible. We all have the ability to choose a positive attitude – even taking baby steps toward it.

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

The challenge is/was figuring out the process of bringing a book to life.

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

My strengths are sharing my heart – taking my story and bringing it to life. I also have experience with event/marketing, so my book signings/events so far have been meaningful.

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

I didn’t have any experience with book publishing so I tried to do a few things on my own and then went with a big publishing company that has a self-publishing arm.

When do you think you will write your next book?

In a few years…

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

I went with Balboa Press – the self-publishing arm of Hay House books. My genre is self-improvement so I wanted to work with a company with authors that I know, love and follow a similar genre as me.