by
Hey Friends,
Today I am so excited to welcome Jamie Baywood, the author of Getting Rooted in New Zealand
for a very interesting heart-to-heart about her book, herself and just about anything under the sun! 🙂
The best way I can describe Getting Rooted in New Zealandis that it is a funny travel memoir or an accidental true love
story within a comedy of errors.
Today I am so excited to welcome Jamie Baywood, the author of Getting Rooted in New Zealand
for a very interesting heart-to-heart about her book, herself and just about anything under the sun! 🙂
Jamie Baywood grew up in Petaluma, California. In 2010, she made the
most impulsive decision of her life by moving to New Zealand. Getting Rooted in New Zealand
married and living happily-ever-after in the United Kingdom.
Welcome to Njkinny’s World of Books, Jamie! 🙂
Lets start the interview.
Q1. In one sentence, what is
your book about?
your book about?
The best way I can describe Getting Rooted in New Zealandis that it is a funny travel memoir or an accidental true lovestory within a comedy of errors.
Q2. When did it come out? Who
is the Publisher? Any notable awards or praise for it?
is the Publisher? Any notable awards or praise for it?
Most of the book was written as
the events happened; it just took me a few years to work up the nerve to
publish. To write my book Getting Rooted in New Zealand, I relied upon my personal journals, e-mails, and
memories. Some of the names of the characters and organizations, but not all
have been changed to preserve privacy. In February
2013, I organized my stories into a cohesive narrative. It went through several
rounds of editing and then I published it with the Amazon company CreateSpace (www.createspace.com) in
April 2013.
the events happened; it just took me a few years to work up the nerve to
publish. To write my book Getting Rooted in New Zealand
, I relied upon my personal journals, e-mails, andmemories. Some of the names of the characters and organizations, but not all
have been changed to preserve privacy. In February
2013, I organized my stories into a cohesive narrative. It went through several
rounds of editing and then I published it with the Amazon company CreateSpace (www.createspace.com) in
April 2013.
Q3. What inspired you to
write this book?
write this book?
I consider myself an accidental author. I didn’t go to New
Zealand with the intentions of writing a book about my experiences there. I had funny experiences that I had trouble believing were true. I wrote
the stories down to stay sane. I wrote situations down that were happening
around me and shared them with friends.
Zealand with the intentions of writing a book about my experiences there. I had funny experiences that I had trouble believing were true. I wrote
the stories down to stay sane. I wrote situations down that were happening
around me and shared them with friends.
My education is
in fine arts. I had a lot of art shows in California and New Zealand and even
managed an art collective in Auckland. I
was bored with the fine art scene. Everything has already been done before in
painting, but I am the only person that can tell my own story. Writing feels
like a more honest form of art than any other method I’ve tried. While I was in New Zealand I meet a director
named Thomas Sainsbury, he asked me what I was doing in New Zealand. My
everyday stories made him laugh and he asked me to write a monologue for him. I
had never done anything like that before. I was shocked by the adrenaline rush
that came with storytelling and making people laugh.
in fine arts. I had a lot of art shows in California and New Zealand and even
managed an art collective in Auckland. I
was bored with the fine art scene. Everything has already been done before in
painting, but I am the only person that can tell my own story. Writing feels
like a more honest form of art than any other method I’ve tried. While I was in New Zealand I meet a director
named Thomas Sainsbury, he asked me what I was doing in New Zealand. My
everyday stories made him laugh and he asked me to write a monologue for him. I
had never done anything like that before. I was shocked by the adrenaline rush
that came with storytelling and making people laugh.
The stories
made people laugh so I decided to organize the stories into a book and publish
in the hopes to make others laugh too.
made people laugh so I decided to organize the stories into a book and publish
in the hopes to make others laugh too.
Q4. What has been the biggest
surprise or learning experience you’ve seen through the process of seeing your
book get published?
surprise or learning experience you’ve seen through the process of seeing your
book get published?
I wrote,
designed, published and have been marketing my own book. Self-publishing is one person
taking on all of the responsibilities typically held by teams of people in
traditional publishing companies. Writing, designing, publishing and marketing
books are each valid full time careers.
I have been figuring out everything as I go. It’s been a steep learning
curve.
designed, published and have been marketing my own book. Self-publishing is one person
taking on all of the responsibilities typically held by teams of people in
traditional publishing companies. Writing, designing, publishing and marketing
books are each valid full time careers.
I have been figuring out everything as I go. It’s been a steep learning
curve.
The whole process has taught me to trust myself, believe in myself and
follow my dreams.
follow my dreams.
Q5. Tell me about a fun
moment or proud experience you’ve had with your book and readers since the book
got published.
moment or proud experience you’ve had with your book and readers since the book
got published.
I feel very grateful that for the most part readers
understand my sense of humor. I’m always surprised and grateful when I receive
a positive review. I thought my book would mostly appeal to young women in
their 20s or 30s. I was happily surprised by a few middle-aged men emailing me
telling me they loved my book and can’t wait to read the next one. One man told
me my book made him laugh and cry.
understand my sense of humor. I’m always surprised and grateful when I receive
a positive review. I thought my book would mostly appeal to young women in
their 20s or 30s. I was happily surprised by a few middle-aged men emailing me
telling me they loved my book and can’t wait to read the next one. One man told
me my book made him laugh and cry.
Q6. What are you doing to
reach out to readers and book enthusiasts?
reach out to readers and book enthusiasts?
I am currently booking “meet-the-author” events at libraries
and book clubs throughout England and Wales between October 2013 and June 2014.
If you are living in the UK and would like me to come to your library or book
club email me at jamiebaywood@gmail.com.
All of my events are listed on my Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jamiebaywood/events
Q7. What is the one thing
that you hope readers take away after reading your book?
Publishing my book was my way of
transforming poison into medicine. I hope that it can help people that have had
bad dating experiences or bad work experiences – make them laugh and not give
up hope.
transforming poison into medicine. I hope that it can help people that have had
bad dating experiences or bad work experiences – make them laugh and not give
up hope.
Q8. If someone were to tell you one thing before you started
writing, what do you wish it had been?
writing, what do you wish it had been?
Don’t worry so much. 🙂
Q9. What is your overall impression about New Zealand? Given
a chance would you want to return to this country?
a chance would you want to return to this country?
I know my
experiences in New Zealand are unusual, but it was a great improvement from my
life in California. Surprisingly, I seem to be getting the best feedback from
people living in New Zealand both Kiwis and non-Kiwis. I have received very kind emails from New
Zealanders saying they enjoyed reading my book, they are looking forward to
reading the next one and some encourage me to move back to New Zealand.
experiences in New Zealand are unusual, but it was a great improvement from my
life in California. Surprisingly, I seem to be getting the best feedback from
people living in New Zealand both Kiwis and non-Kiwis. I have received very kind emails from New
Zealanders saying they enjoyed reading my book, they are looking forward to
reading the next one and some encourage me to move back to New Zealand.
Following my dream to live
abroad by moving to New Zealand was absolutely liberating. New Zealand turned
me into a writer. I have absolute gratitude for every experience and everyone I
met. I had good, bad and weird
experiences in New Zealand and California. Although I hope that I have learned
from my mistakes, I wouldn’t change anything. My experiences have turned me
into a writer and I am extremely grateful for that. It taught
me to trust myself and believe in myself.
abroad by moving to New Zealand was absolutely liberating. New Zealand turned
me into a writer. I have absolute gratitude for every experience and everyone I
met. I had good, bad and weird
experiences in New Zealand and California. Although I hope that I have learned
from my mistakes, I wouldn’t change anything. My experiences have turned me
into a writer and I am extremely grateful for that. It taught
me to trust myself and believe in myself.
New Zealand is such a
beautiful country. Beaches, mountains, glaciers, lakes, forests, islands, New
Zealand’s got it all. It has such freshness about it, like the islands just
emerged from the sea. It feels like anything is possible in New Zealand. I also
loved the quality of light in New Zealand. It was like looking through a
polarized lenses, but more intense. Everything is so colorful and vibrant.
beautiful country. Beaches, mountains, glaciers, lakes, forests, islands, New
Zealand’s got it all. It has such freshness about it, like the islands just
emerged from the sea. It feels like anything is possible in New Zealand. I also
loved the quality of light in New Zealand. It was like looking through a
polarized lenses, but more intense. Everything is so colorful and vibrant.
By the end of Getting Rooted in New Zealand, it was
time for me to go, but I would be open to moving back there. I would like to go back to New
Zealand and give it another try as a writer.
, it wastime for me to go, but I would be open to moving back there. I would like to go back to New
Zealand and give it another try as a writer.
Q10. Where can people find
you on the Internet?
you on the Internet?
Facebook: Facebook.com/jamiebaywood
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JamieBaywood
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/jamiebaywood/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JamieBaywood
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/jamiebaywood/
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7069448.Jamie_Baywood
Amazon: amazon.com/author/jamiebaywood
Q11. What’s next up for you,
writing-wise?
writing-wise?
I plan to divide my books by the countries I’ve lived in.
I’ve lived in five countries; America, American
Samoa, New Zealand, Scotland and now England. My next book will be about
attempting to settle in Scotland.
I’ve lived in five countries; America, American
Samoa, New Zealand, Scotland and now England. My next book will be about
attempting to settle in Scotland.
Q12. What are your aspirations for the
future?
future?
Getting Rooted in New Zealandis available on
the Amazon US and Amazon Europe sites. I would like to have the book translated
into different languages.
is available onthe Amazon US and Amazon Europe sites. I would like to have the book translated
into different languages.
I would like to have the book
available to purchase in New Zealand and Australia. I’m in the process of
trying to get it printed and distributed in New Zealand and Australia through
Booktopia.com.au, Bookworm.com.au and Whitcoulls. It’s been a struggle to find
a way to properly distribute the book to New Zealand and Australia.
Thanks for talking to us Jamie.. 🙂
available to purchase in New Zealand and Australia. I’m in the process of
trying to get it printed and distributed in New Zealand and Australia through
Booktopia.com.au, Bookworm.com.au and Whitcoulls. It’s been a struggle to find
a way to properly distribute the book to New Zealand and Australia.
Thanks for talking to us Jamie.. 🙂
Jamie found a balance to her life as a result of her visit to New Zealand and met her husband, Grant on her travels. She is now happily married and Njkinny’s World of Books wishes her a Happy Married Life as well as All the Best to her in all her future endeavors and we hope to read more from her.
Thanks for sharing your dreams and your thoughts with us Jamie. 🙂
Read my review of Getting Rooted in New Zealand
:
http://njkinny.blogspot.in/2013/10/bookreview-getting-rooted-in-new.html
Buy Getting Rooted in New Zealand
:
Thank you very much!