Interview with Dennis Aaberg

Author of Want to be a REAL Man?

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

I am originally from Glenwood, Minnesota, and now live in Willmar, Minnesota.

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

I originally left my hometown when I was drafted into the United State Army during the Vietnam War. When I returned I went to school and after graduation went to work for a company in the Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota suburb of Fridley. From there I learned of a company called Onan Corporation, which was later purchased by Cummins, Inc. The division I worked in was renamed Cummins Power Generation. Until I retired I worked and lived in the Twin Cities area. After retirement, through a variety of circumstances, I felt God leading me to Willmar, Minnesota.

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

While I was leading Bible Study groups I found myself writing Bible Studies instead of using published materials because I felt most of the materials I reviewed did not have the depth to grow the students significantly in their relationship to God, in Christ Jesus. One day the Senior Pastor mentioned in passing I should get my Bible Studies copyrighted. I checked into it and followed through on that process. Then my wife made the comment the next step would be getting them published. The Holy Spirit inside of me prompted me to check into publishing and ended up with my first set of Bible Studies published.

I thought that would be it, but God kept giving me titles to new books so I kept writing for several years.

How would you describe your books to first time readers?

My books make God’s Word easy to understand and apply to your life, enabling a closer relationship with Christ Jesus, which leads a life of inner peace as you learn how much God loves you and wants the best for you.

They are also filled with practical insights and depth of questions to help the reader more fully understand themselves and the spiritual battle that we are engaged in.

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

Anyone seeking to better understand themselves and God will greatly benefit from the books I have written. My entire purpose is to reveal the loving nature of God in Christ Jesus so the reader will grow in their relationship with God and others.

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

When God is calling you to write the process is a lot of work but not a burden. In hindsight, I am amazed a how everything fell into place because the books I wrote were directed by God.

I know that because I had some subjects that I wanted to vent on and nothing came together for me. I soon learned that if my attempts were not directed by God it was just frustrating and not going to succeed.

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

Follow your heart’s prompting. When it comes from you heart and not your head, God will cause it to succeed.

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

Ideally I would like my books to be in the hands of every living human being. I believe everything I have written provides practical God-based information that will lead readers into a firmer knowledge of God’s love and care for them, as well practical guidance in living a more inner-peace filled life.

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

I am self-published and my biggest frustration has been in promoting. I am not a natural self-promoter. I have tried many of the advertising and promoting options suggested by the publisher with limited results; probably because of lack of persistence on my part.

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

My biggest strength would be in the writing. I write in an easy-flow style that is easily understand and applied to everyday living.

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

Definitely marketing myself and my books.

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

That is undetermined. I want to write a legacy book for my children and grandchildren. I have started and stopped several times over the past few years, but it just hasn’t come together yet. When the time is right I know it will just happen.

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

I am self-published.