Interview with Jesse Bolinger

Author of Calling all volunteers: New ideas for recruiting and managing

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

I am originally from Creston, IA and recently returned home after living in another community for the past several years.

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

I recently moved back to my home town of Creston, IA after living in Lamoni, IA for nearly seven years. My family returned to Creston in order to be closer to family and friends.

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

After completing my PhD dissertation, I knew I would someday write a book. However, after meeting an author at a conference I was speaking at, I was pushed to write the book now instead of waiting until later in my career.

How would you describe your books to first time readers?

“Calling all volunteers: New ideas for recruiting and managing” is written for both volunteers and volunteer managers. The book not only details how an individuals past education, work experience and mental health can be utilized to select volunteer positions, but also details how each generation views volunteerism and what types of issues are important to a given generation.

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

I feel that this book will benefit both volunteers and volunteer managers.

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

I learned a great deal more about myself than I expected. I also learned that the publishing industry has changed a great deal and that it can take a lot of time to sort through all of the options that are available.

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

I would tell myself to start on this journey sooner and connect with authors as often as possible.

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

I would like to reach every volunteer manager in the United States as well as every person currently volunteering.

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

The biggest challenge was experiencing a great deal of writers-block. However, I learned to overcome this by learning what settings and other factors help me write the best. For example, I have learned that I write really well early in the morning.

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

When it comes to writing, I think my biggest strength is research. In terms of publishing, I am my own publisher so I think my biggest strength is being able to promote myself and my work in all situations. Marketing is one of the easiest things for me. I love social media so that has made marketing really fun. I have also enjoyed thinking outside the box and doing things such as selling the book at the local YMCA and giving them a portion of the profits.

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

In terms of writing, I think my biggest weakness is knowing when to stop. I can be a wordy writer. In terms of publishing my biggest challenge is finding the best companies to work with that create the best product for the money. In terms of marketing, it has has been difficult to get my work into physical bookstores and other locations.

When do you think you will write your next book?

I am currently in the process of writing a workbook to go with Calling all volunteers.

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

I am a self-published author.