Interview with Fiona Simon

Author of Gambling on Granola: Unexpected Gifts on the Path of Entrepreneurship

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

I’m from a tiny mountaintop community called Sunspot, New Mexico, and I currently 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?

I left New Mexico after graduating from high school. I craved international travel. Through the years, my studies and marriage took me to various places in this country and abroad. After my daughter graduated from high school, I knew it was time to return to NM. I had always loved Santa Fe, my parents had retired there, I had made friends there, and I simply knew it was meant to be my next home.

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

After I sold my granola company, which I had started in Boulder, Colorado, friends and former customers encouraged me to write my story. I had never thought to do so, but the encouragement kept coming. I had been a professional writer for much of my career, and I love to write, so the writing part came naturally. My granola business had gone through many ups and downs over the years, which made the emotional aspect of writing very difficult at times. I soon discovered that writing my story offered an emotional release and inspiration to go for my dreams once again. A publisher in Santa Fe learned about my book and offered to publish it.

How would you describe your books to first time readers?

My book is a business memoir. It is a very personal reflection of the challenges I faced while starting and growing my company. I was a single mom and knew nothing about starting a business. But I was determined to be successful and move forward with my life in a positive direction. My book will inspire those who have callings they wish to follow but face challenges that hold them back. My book demonstrates that we can overcome hurdles: emotional, financial, physical, and anything else. We just need to stay focused and believe in our dreams.

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

Single parents, entrepreneurs (and entrepreneur wannabes), business owners, and those who have ties to the natural product industry.

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

I learned how much I love to write. Except for journaling and bits of poetry over the years, my earlier writing had been in journalism and the travel industry, and for corporations and educational institutions. Telling my story allowed me to write more creatively and include an emotional component. I learned how cathartic the writing process can be, and how healing. I also learned how fun it is to inspire others by telling my story.

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

I would advise against trusting too easily. I would encourage awareness of naiveté and impulsivity. I would encourage decision-making that isn’t based solely on emotion. And I would encourage the formation of a core group of trusted people who will act as sounding boards and offer advice with my best interests in mind.

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?

Very soon after my book was published, I fell into grave illness. I was hospitalized for four months, followed by a five-month recovery. The illness itself took a couple of months to set in. Because of this, I was unable to put attention into marketing my book. As soon as I recovered, I started teaching Spanish, which had been one of my earlier professions. Another year went by. Those two years were incredibly frustrating, since what I really wanted to be doing was market my book.

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

Writing has always come naturally for me. Many people have complimented me on my writing over the years and have told me how inspirational my stories have been for them. Because of the positive feedback, I’m inspired to keep writing. As for publishing, the uniqueness of my stories pique the interest of publishers, so this strength lies in the stories themselves and my ability to relay them. As for marketing, as long as I believe that what I’m marketing can help people, the marketing comes very easily to me. I truly enjoy marketing a good product; by “good” I mean something that can benefit those who are willing to try it.

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

I have such diverse interests, and there’s so much going on in Santa Fe, that I often allow myself to be distracted by events and gatherings. These activities take me away from my writing. My biggest challenge is the willingness to give up some of these activities so I have more time to write. The same holds true for marketing – the more I allow myself to be distracted, the less time I have for marketing. I don’t see any weaknesses with publishing, since I’ve always been able to publish what I write.

When do you think you will write your next book?

I’m already writing it! My second book is about falling into mental illness, the difficult road to recovery, my discovery and dedication to Kundalini yoga, and the journey of finding self-identity by delving into our heritage.

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

I used a traditional publisher.