Jaymes Ian Woode

Tell us about your recent book and what gave you the idea to start it.

My recent book : 101 Behaviors a Guy Needs to Understand about His Woman! was created because I noticed a hole in relationship books.  That hole was encouraging men to read about relationship growth.  I had counseled many couples over the years and found that traditional counseling wasn’t a good fit for relationship issues.  So, I stepped out-of-bounds and tried something different.  Instead of focusing on right and wrong, or whose fault it was, I cracked jokes, often in a silly manner.  The jokes were not insulting; they were merely to lighten the tension in the room and to make the couple laugh.  When I did this, I found that the guy in the relationship, once he saw his beautiful woman laughing, was more willing to back down from his fighting stance and embrace her; it was amazing.  So, I wrote this book with those experiences in mind to help men learn to back down from arguing with their lover and be the man she needs him to be.  My book also helps woman understand how their man should treat them and pay attention to their needs.  Over time, my book has grown into something that couples can read and laugh through together, hopefully opening up the communication lines and lessening the tension.  I embrace the idea that when someone, whether him or her, in the relationship doesn’t understand what is happening, that the two of them can become closer thus adding depth to their love for each other.

Tell us about Jaymes Ian Woode.

I have lived in 26 states within the U.S.  I have always loved outdoor activities and worked as a Professional Adventure Therapist, working with youth, families, and couples for about 15 years.  I hold a M.Ed. in Counselor Education and a B.A. in Counseling.  For me, life has always been about making each day as enjoyable as possible.  Growing up, I enjoyed surfing and skateboarding which led to further adventures such as backpacking, rock-climbing, snowboarding, mountaineering, ocean expeditions, and so much more.   I love meeting people, experiencing new places, foods, and cultures.  My greatest achievement is adding a smile to someone’s day (I know it sounds corny but its true).  I strongly believe in romance and the power of love.  Oh, and I love helping people and playing a role that helps them take the next step on their path towards a healthy and happy life!

Did you always know you were a writer?

Yes.  I’ve been writing since I was a kid.  At a young age, I would read a book or watch a movie about a great author and then dress in similar apparel, hike into the woods, and write for hours on end.  Something about wearing the right clothes made me feel like a great author then.  I’ve been dreaming about it ever since.  However, my first career was as a Mental Health Therapist.  I also always wanted to help people but my passion for writing never left me.  Now, all I do is write.  I write in different genres, some of which allows me to still help people and use my experiences in counseling.

What inspires you to write?

It’s funny but I am inspired by just about anything.  My brain seems to be able to make an entire story or step-by-step guide around any circumstance that I encounter.  It happens even when I am not trying to make it happen.   I usually carry a note pad around with me to write story lines that come to mind.  I am a big fan of poetry and find that it is the toughest but the most rewarding form for me, almost like creating a seed that grows into a beautiful flower.  Have you ever tried to create a seed?

What challenges do you face when writing and what do you do to overcome them?

My greatest challenge is my confidence in conveying the message or story that I am trying to get across to my audience.  I will write a chapter, short story, poem, or whatever and then hide it away for a few weeks or even years.  Then, an alarm goes off in my brain and reminds me to pull it back out and read it.  So I do.  If I read it and I still like it, my confidence goes up.  If I read it and don’t like it, I’ll do a rewrite and start the process over again until I am confident about it.

Do personal experiences affect your writing?

Everything that I write involves personal experiences somehow.  Whether it is a novel, guide book, short story, or anything else, it all stems from some kind of personal experience.  Because I am inspired by so many different things, and have been involved in just as many, I cannot help but write from experiences.  For example, my book 101 Behaviors a Guy Needs to Understand about His Woman! was created out of my counseling experiences with couples and my past relationships.  I interviewed many women to confirm my thoughts about the behaviors that I chose for the book and sure enough, my experiences were similar.  My thriller novel, which I am currently marketing to agents, has many actual happenings in my life though I made them a bit more dramatic, but not too much, for the purpose of the book.

What advice would you give to people who “run out of creativity” when writing?

I would say to these wonderful people, try something you are not used to; a different genre perhaps.  I believe in challenging ourselves.  I did this with my fantasy book for kids ages 10-14.  I had never written a fantasy story of any kind and found it fascinating to write.  It was definitely a challenge and I probably had more hand written notes in my pad about that book than any other.  I would also say that a writer never truly runs out of creativity.  Typically, it is merely the brain that grows weary and doesn’t appreciate the writing process.  When this happens, take some time off and don’t stress about it.  Stressing about ‘block’ makes it even worse.  Instead, roam around and enjoy life.  Find something fun to do that increases the endorphins and causes you to dream or fantasize.   Too often, writers are so worried about writing that they forget to live life outside of writing.  Remember, you are a writer and you do have stories to tell.  Whatever you do, don’t stop writing though.  Find something to write about each day, whether a blog, a poem, a letter for example.  I use one of my blogs to write poetry and travel ideas.  I use another blog to write about how I feel and what goes through my mind during the writing process.  Even if it’s one paragraph, I have created something.  I just want to encourage writers to continue to believe in their abilities and to remember that they write because they know that’s what they desire to do.

What advice do you have for new aspiring writers?

This is a tough one.  As a new aspiring writer, I would say to make sure that you learn and appreciate, first and foremost, the writing process.  So many people believe they can write a book and get it right the first time.  My first book was a 400 page novel and has been rewritten twice now and is still unpublished.  Since that time, I have written eight more books and with each book the writing gets better.  I had to learn about the editing process, marketing process, publishing process, and so much more.  I am still learning new things each day.  As with any job, it is important to keep learning.  Though writing is my passion, therefore it doesn’t feel like a job, it is a process that has a beginning and an end.  Much like a project manager, the writer needs to be willing to stick with their book and oversee all facets of the development of their book, from beginning to end.  This is coming from someone who is really a ‘no-name’ in the industry (I’m not a movie star or have a television show) and who doesn’t have a large platform which always makes publishing easier.  I’ve had hundreds of rejection letters and received tidbits along the way, from agents, to help me.  Soak up as much information as possible and never let anyone tell you that you can’t do it, because you can.

If you could work with any author, who would it be and why?

Another “wow.”  There are so many great authors.  However, I know that I would certainly choose to work with an author that was truly passionate about their writing.  Unfortunately today, many authors are not passionate about their work.  They simply write a book to check one more thing off of their ‘to-do’ list.  For me, writing is a form of expression that is deep within the author and they are driven to write.  So, I would want to work with Ernest Hemingway or E.E. Cummings.  These two great authors were among the best in crafting each word and each sentence.   They wrote with a paintbrush upon canvas and brought to life a richness of meaning.  Both focused on their personal experiences and created masterpieces by so eloquently detailing their message, often stepping across boundaries and writing in styles all their own.  I believe in writers that don’t necessarily stick to what’s accepted but write how they believe they need to in order for their message to get across.  There is nothing more important than being true to self and both of these authors were exactly that!

Who is your target audience for your recent book and what do you want your readers to take away from the experience?

My target audience for 101 Behaviors a Guy Needs to Understand about His Woman! is young couples (those just starting off or who have been together for a few years) and single young adult men and women.  My book describes some of the behaviors that women may display during several phases of the relationship, from dating, pms, meeting her friends and family, to marriage and bedroom behaviors, and more.  Though, I have had much interest from couples who have been together for more than 10 years.  I have learned a lot through my career as a counselor and from my own past relationships and just want to help lighten the mood for any relationship.  There is a lot of fun in there and I am sure that many couples, or single men and women, will be able to relate and enjoy it!

Where can your fans get your new book?

My full release date is February 14, 2011 (Valentine’s Day, which seems appropriate).  It will be available through several different vendors (Amazon, B&N, Borders, etc.).  Fans can purchase a copy right now, directly through the publisher at http://www.publishamerica.net/product37924.html or they can visit my blog: www.writethroughthestorm.blogspot.com and click on the book cover which will take them directly to the publisher’s page to order the book.  Either way, fans won’t have to maneuver through a bunch of pages to find it; the links will take you directly there!  If you buy it now, you can use the code: Discount20 to save 20% on the purchase.  I don’t mind as I would rather save people money and use it towards buying their lover a cup of coffee or something.

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