Sandy Gillman's 1st book Release Interview: Whispers in Your Mind

This is my second interview with Sandy. She just released her first book, Whisper in Your Mind. Sandy first wrote a story when she was 10 years old. She resistly had a radio interview in the City of Gosnells, Perth.

Fun Fact: You can listen to her radio interview above ⬆️ link.

Mariann: How was your 1st Radio interview experience ?

Sandy: It was a lot of fun. I was initially nervous, but everyone was very nice, and once I answered a few questions, I felt more relaxed. The two hours ended up flying by. I could have kept going; I had so much more to say.

They’ve also featured the story about my radio interview, along with the piece I wrote on Vocal, in their monthly newsletter, which was really exciting to see.

Mariann: What is your first published book about?

Sandy: It’s a collection of fifteen short thriller stories, usually based on ordinary moments in life that go wrong. Each story is short enough to read in one sitting. Writing this way suits me best at the moment, as I have a toddler, so I have to write during nap times and at night after he goes to bed.

Mariann: How long did it take you to write the book? What were the obstacle you face in writing your book?

Sandy: It took me about a year. Most of the stories were originally published on Vocal, so I was building the collection as I went while writing throughout the year.

For me, the biggest obstacle I’ve faced is trying to promote my book once it’s published. It can be hard to stay motivated when you’re not seeing many sales come through, especially when it takes a lot of effort just to sell a couple of books. I think a big factor is building trust with your audience and followers, so that’s what I’m focusing on right now.

Mariann: What's your next project?

Sandy: I’m currently working on a story titled Submission Pending. It’s about a writer who submits a book for publication, then heads off to a log cabin for some time away. While she’s there, she starts running into issues with the book… and some strange things begin to happen.

It actually started as another short story, but I’m still working on it, and it’s now at 24 pages, so I’m not entirely sure where it’s going to end up, but I’m really enjoying writing it.

Mariann: Who is your biggest supporter in your writing career?

Sandy: I’ve been really lucky to have support from a lot of different people in different ways. My family and friends have been very encouraging, especially when it came to actually putting the book out there.

But a lot of my biggest support has actually come from the writing community and people I’ve connected with online. Some of my fellow Vocal writers have read and reviewed my book, shared it on social media, and really helped spread the word, which I’m incredibly grateful for.

I also have some followers on my social media who consistently like, comment on, and share my posts, and that kind of support honestly means a lot, especially when you’re trying to get your work out there. a lot of different people in different ways. My family and friends have been very encouraging, especially when it came to actually putting the book out there.

Mariann: What is the fun part in writing a book for you and why?

Sandy: The most fun part for me has been realising that I can actually do it. I only started properly writing about a year ago, so it’s been really exciting to see what I’ve been able to create in that time.

It’s also made me really curious to see what I can achieve over the next year.

Mariann: I recall you wrote stories when you were young but forgot about them. How young were you then?

Sandy: Yes, I wrote some stories and poems when I was a child, but I completely forgot about them. Last year, my parents brought over some things I had stored at their place, and I rediscovered them.

I would have been about 10 when I wrote this one:

If you want to purchase her book, the link is below: ⬇