Interview with Anne Morrissey

Author of Business Meets Fashion: How to Use the Power of Image & Style to Make More Money!

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

I’m originally from Sacramento, CA and I now live in Fort Lauderdale, FL

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

It’s a big world out there and I wanted to explore it! My first time away from home I went to Howard University in Washington DC. Totally different than Sacramento. Then I transferred to the University of San Francisco to study Communications and Broadcasting. I thought I would settle down in Oakland CA, but instead, I got married and moved to Paris France to live and work. I’ve lived in Atlanta GA, Chatanooga TN, Miami FL and now Ft. Lauderdale. Now when I get the itch to move, I know I just need to travel, I don’t have to pick up everything and go to a whole new state or country. Ft. Lauderdale is perfect for me and what I’m doing now.

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

I like to speak to groups and I wanted something that they could purchase from me besides my full services.

How would you describe your books to first time readers?

I would describe Business Meet’s Fashion: How to Use the Power of Image & Style to Make More Money as a book to make you think about how you’re currently presenting yourself and what you can do to improve on what you’ve got. A lot of people don’t give much thought to how they come across, image-wise to others and it costs them in more ways than they know. This book is about becoming aware of what you’re projecting and aiming for the top of your range.

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

I feel that people who want to look good, but are overwhelmed by where to start would find my books helpful. People that struggle to put a look together that they are proud of and people that find shopping difficult would also find value in what I write.

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

Writing is less about the information you want to give, than the reason you want to give it. In other words, I started out thinking writing was about WHAT I wanted to say to my audience and realized what was most important was WHY I was writing it. I experienced a shift from all about me – to all about them and it was profound.

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

Get out of your head and into your heart before you start…

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

I would like to be a legitimate New York Times Bestseller! From there I could impact people worldwide through speaking and workshops on my topic. The Art of Personal Presentation.

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

My biggest frustration has been getting halfway through my current book and not liking it!!! I had to stop for a couple of months listen deeply to my intuition and recenter the purpose. But, I’m over that now an back on a roll!

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

Strength: I absolutely know I have something of value to say to people, and I am determined to say it!

I have a fantastic assistant who knows how to publish and find editors.

I now have the capacity to market my next book very well through social media and videos. I didn’t have that capability with the first one.

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

It’s always the doubt. Doubt that anyone will be interested. Doubt that you can get it published and market it so that people will buy it.

But doubt is natural, and it’s always present, the strength is being able to push past it because you know your message will help people and change lives.

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

I am currently writing my next book. It’s called The Art of Personal Presentation!

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

For the first book, I self-published it. For the second, I am looking at hybrid publishers. I’m not interested in going the traditional route.