Interview with Corey Seemiller

Author of Generation Z Goes to College

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

I call Tucson, Arizona my home but travel so much for speaking and working that wherever my backpack is, is where I reside.

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

I was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania but moved quite a bit as a kid due to my dad’s work. I landed in Arizona for 9th grade and while I’ve moved away from there on a number of occasions since then, I always find a way to come home.

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

My first book on Generation Z, the post-Millennial generation, was truly a journey. My co-author, Meghan Grace, and I never really intended to publish a book at the get-go. We had been interested in Generation Z for a while and did a study in 2014. After that study, we had so much great information that we thought it would be a good idea to share that information with others. Thus, our first book, Generation Z Goes to College, was published.

How would you describe your books to first time readers?

They are incredibly informative, easy to read, yet grounded in research and evidence. So, one person could read them for fun, while another person could use the information to dramatically shape their workplace policies and practices, whereas another could even use the content to write a pretty scholarly research paper.

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

Initially, we believed that educators would be the primary audience. But, we have since found that supervisors, coaches, and even parents connect with our work.

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

As for writing, I learned early on that it is important to stay on top of it. Having writing goals was critical for both completing the book as well as just keeping the momentum going. But, it was also important to know when to go back and read different sections with a fresh eye and make edits, even if it did slow the process down.

I also learned that the reader is always right. If someone didn’t understand what I was saying through my writing, I had to edit it…plain and simple.

As for publishing, we learned that it is a long process – getting a publisher, submitting the work, editing the work, and putting together all the final marketing touches. It isn’t like you turn the chapters over to the publisher and then the book is for sale. There is a lot to do in between.

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

Make sure you think about your work as a long game and not a short game. That means picking a publisher to stay with for the long-haul (rather than seeing each book as a one time event needing any publisher who might be interested at the time) and developing a sustainable marketing strategy that extends beyond the book.

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

I’d like the reach of the book to include anyone who teaches, supervises, coaches, mentors, parents, or works with anyone in Generation Z (born 1995-2010). So, the reach would be EVERYONE!

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

Getting a publisher for our third book was the most challenging. We tried to go with a more mainstream publisher but couldn’t even get a literary agent to bite. We finally decided to try for an academic publisher (after about 6 months) and signed on with one pretty quickly, after having multiple offers.

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

I consider myself an excellent writer. I make sure that my writing is concise by getting to the point quickly while ensuring the words I select best convey my thoughts. Creating that balance can be challenging. But, I tend to write and rewrite my work until I get to that sweet spot. Thus, my writing tends to be easy to understand and easy to follow.

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

I wish I had stronger marketing skills. I can do the basics, but being able to engage in high-level graphic design or having a great deal of connections with media could have served us well. We have had to rely on others for these things, with mixed results.

When do you think you will write your next book?

I love writing. So, I would like to think that in the next year, I will be working on something!

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

I have used two different traditional publishers and have also self-published. I enjoy both routes, but have found with a good editing company, you can really get an excellent product in the self-publishing world.