Interview with Christopher Speer

Author of The Grand Illusion- and 20 Habits of Spiritual Transformation

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

Orinially London England – now reside in Santa Fe New Mexico.

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

Well I always had an urge to see other places – starting at age 15 with a cycling trip with a friend from London to France, Holland and Germany. I fell in love early on with American music and films – and later on with American girls. I followed one to America. I married another in Los Angeles where I had a graphics business and was involved in movie advertising, special effects and so on. We made our escape to Santa Fe NM where we raised horses and started a band and I showed paintings in galleries.

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

I had a series of what I can only describe as mystical experiences – one of which was so trans-formative I decided to write a book to describe the experience and the insights it had given me.

How would you describe your books to first time readers?

The books are about spiritual awakening and a guide that anyone can use in their own life to experience their own transformation from drama and stress to the light of internal peace, love and the joy of existence and connection.

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

Anyone who is interested in the subject of spiritual evolution.

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

The experience of writing became at times a download of new information as I was writing – where I asked “How does this work”? and suddenly understood principles I hadn’t before writing the subject of the chapter down and then asking the question our loud.

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

Keep it as simple as possible – and stop using big words!

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

Millions!

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

That the publishing business has gone the way of the music business in many respects. That publishers are looking for authors with a fan base who are celebrities or who are already well known in their field so they can guarantee a number of sales. If you are a big name a ghost writer can even write your book as long as they have the celebrity name to ensure sales.

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

I am writing from personal experiences always – if I hadn’t had them I would have no interest in writing about this subject. I studied art at college – I didn’t study theology. I minored in playing music in bands.

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

A big bag of money to publicize the book!

When do you think you will you write your next book?

The second book is mostly written right now.

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

Self published ( after a literary agent told me unless I was a celebrity I had a snowballs chance in hell of being picked up by a publisher)