BooksChatter: ℚ The Gift of Maybe

Wednesday, 15 July 2015

ℚ The Gift of Maybe - Allison Carmen

Today we have the pleasure of meeting up with author Allison Carmen to talk about The Gift of Maybe 4 November 2014, Perigee Books, 160 pages), a Self Help and Inspirational Non-Fiction book.

Author Q&A | Trailer | Synopsis | Teaser | About the Author | Giveaway & Tour Stops

What was the inspiration for The Gift of Maybe?

"I was inspired to write this book to help people find hope and possibilities during uncertain times. If we fear the unknown, it is sometimes hard to find the courage and strength to pursue our dreams and change our lives.
We see the unknown as another obstacle standing in our way. Yet as we start to embrace the idea of Maybe as explained in the book, we see that the unknown is a place where new possibilities exist and our lives can be different. We understand that just because we don’t know the answer today, it doesn’t mean things will be negative or not work out in the future. We open up to thoughts such as: Maybe things will get better; Maybe a new opportunity will present itself soon; or Maybe we are exactly where we need to be in this moment.

Maybe is a perspective that carries us through the twists and turns of life with the hope that we can still have the life that we desire. Based on the positive response from many readers, I believe the book is helping people shift their relationship with uncertainty and find more hope and opportunity in their lives. "

How much of yourself is reflected in this book, and how?

"This book reflects my journey of alleviating my stress and worry with the mindset of Maybe. When I was afraid of the future, I felt like I was carrying around a fifty-pound weight on my back. It was so emotionally painful to always fear my life was not working out or bad things would happen in the future. It was hard to pursue my dreams with passion and impossible to enjoy the moment.

When I discovered the philosophy of Maybe, everything changed for me. I began to see that the unknown was a place that could be filled with hope and possibility. If I wanted my life to change, I had to be willing to endure uncertainty with an open heart and an open mind. I began to recognize that no matter what I was facing in my life, Maybe what was happening was good, Maybe it would get better or Maybe I could accept my experience and still be okay. Even if I faced a difficult situation or hardship, this mindset allowed me to explore all that was possible from wherever I stood in my life. My mind settled into the moment as I realized I had nothing to fear. It allowed me to enjoy my life as it was happening and liberate my mind to feel joy. "

The first thing that draws me to a book is its cover. Can you tell us about your cover for the Gift of Maybe - why you chose that concept and who the artist is.

"The book has a seedling on the cover symbolizing that there is often more than one way a situation can work out. Even during a difficult time, there are often more possibilities than we can imagine and some of those possibilities are good! The book cover was designed by Lisa Amoroso, the art director at Perigee, an imprint of Penguin Random House."

Why should we read your book, The Gift of Maybe and what sets it apart from the rest?

"I think there are a lot of great books on the market to help people with their stress and worry. However, often these books tell us why we worry but fail to give us tools we can realistically use in our every day life. The idea of Maybe is so simple and I challenge each of you to try it in your life. The first time you are able to alleviate some of your stress and worry with this one simple word, you will find it truly liberating. It will help you feel less emotional pain every day and allow you to feel more joy and seek new opportunities in your life. "

Can you tell us something quirky about this book?

"There are many stories about my clients in the book. I changed the names to protect their privacy. Most of the fictitious names are friends from my childhood who meant a lot to me."

Who would you recommend The Gift of Maybe to and what should readers be aware of (any warnings or disclaimers)?

"The Gift of Maybe is a great book for anyone that worries or is anxious about the future. Sometimes it is hard to calm our minds when we are concerned about job security, our relationships, the well being of our children or the state of the world. With our minds filled with constant thoughts of worry, it is hard to see how life will change and what possibilities are still available for us.

The Gift of Maybe shares my journey of being addicted to certainty and how the simple word of MAYBE became a tool to alleviate my stress and worry and find more hope and opportunity in my life.

The book also shares experiences of my clients, as well as tools and techniques that can liberate us from the pain of the unknown and help us find more joy and opportunity. It comes down to one simple word and MAYBE it changes everything!"

If you could / wished to turn your book into a movie or a piece for TV, who would be your dream team?

"I am not sure my book could translate into a movie, but if it could I would like Tina Fey, Julianne Moore and Oprah Winfrey involved in the project. "

Of course, as The Gift of Maybe is about self-help and non-fiction, it would more likely be suited to a documentary of sorts!

What do you like to write and read about? Do you stick to a particular genre or do you like to explore different ones?

"I only write about self-help. I love reading philosophy books and biographies. "

What is your writing process?

"I write down all my thoughts and experiences and let the creative process flow. After a period of time, I review my material and figure out a good format for a post or book chapter. "

What is in store next?

"I am writing a book about using the philosophy of Maybe in parenting. Maybe has enabled me to parent with less stress and more ease. I am able to recognize that my children’s lives often are not determined by one moment and, even during tough times, Maybe everything will still be okay. Of course there are imperative moments when our kids must listen to us, like taking a particular medicine if they are sick or mandatory safety provisions during certain activities. Yet much of what we believe is  ”imperative” is a story that we are writing in our minds making us believe that there is only one way for our children to have joyful and successful lives. As we embrace Maybe, we remember parenting is a long road and our children’s well-being and futures are always filled with more opportunities and possibilities even when we can’t see them in the moment."