Interview with Julie Still-Rolin

Author of Direct ‘n Succeed: Mistakes Companies Make with Recruiting and Retention and How to Avoid Them

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

I am originally from Atmore, Alabama, and I currently reside in Pensacola, Florida.

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

After coming out as a lesbian, I lost my full-time position as a college English instructor. The community in my hometown is not very accepting of LGBTQ people. My wife and I found a more accepting community in Pensacola, and, of course, there’s the beach!

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

My first book was about something that I had experienced, researched, and overcome, and I wanted to share what I had learned to help others. It is a guide for the prevention of sexual harassment along with ways to understand and deal with harassment and assault in the workplace properly.

How would you describe your books to first time readers?

My books are based on my experiences, and I do not hold back. I want others who are struggling as I have struggled to find connection in my words. My first book, The End Game: A Training Guide for Those Who Want to End Sexual Harassment, is just as it sounds. My second book, Evolving through Bullshit: Getting to a Better Place Despite Obstacles, is all about making difficult changes such as going through bankruptcy, coming out of the closet, getting a divorce, and raising teenagers. My third book is about working in a negative work environment and how organizations can be more inclusive. I am currently writing a new book, Coming Out in the South, where I address the issues LGBTQ face and how, despite those issues, I am living my best life so others can see that it’s possible to be 100% true to yourself and be happy even if others don’t believe that’s true.

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

My work will best resonate with people over 30 who want to make positive changes in their lives. My books are not Chicken Soup for the Soul books. They are raw, Southern, mouth of a sailor, heart of a mermaid books, and those are my people.

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

I learned that writing a book is only about one-third of the work when it comes to independent publishing. After the book is written, then you have to get it out to the world through marketing. I also learned that unless you have a huge following or lots of money, you should not use cursing in your title. Many marketing tools will not allow it, especially the free ones.

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

I honestly have enjoyed the learning and the journey so much that it is hard to come up with some advice for my past self. I guess I would say, “Stick with it. It’s gonna be hard, but it’s gonna be worth it. And, have fun.”

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

I would ideally like to reach 1,000 people with my books. I feel like that would be a nice tribe.

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

The biggest challenge and frustration that I have faced is marketing. I struggle with knowing which marketing tools are the best and which ones are worth paying for with either time or money.

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

My biggest strengths when it comes to book writing are my storytelling and my mad grammar skills. Being a teacher really helped me with that, and I simply love telling stories. With publishing, I excel because I am not scared to take risks and just do it. I do my best marketing when I speak. I enjoy talking to people, so this is my favorite way to market my books. I sell more books at speaking engagements than online hands down.

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

My biggest weakness when it comes to book writing is organization. I literally have chapters written on napkins stuck in my purse. With publishing, my weakness is with covers, so I started hiring people on Fiverr to make them. I used to try to do them myself, and that was a nightmare! As for marketing, having a plan and sticking to it is difficult for me. I am trying to improve it, but…

When do you think you will write your next book?

I am working on it now! It will be available on Amazon December 15, 2019: Coming Out in the South: Going from Fear and Frustration to Comfort and Confidence

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

I am self-published completely.