A WRITING JOURNEY INTERVIEW: Rachel Tomlinson

HAPPY BOOK BIRTHDAY to the lovely Rachel Tomlinson! Her book is out today with Skyhorse Publishing and it looks amazing! Check out all the details, plus a cheeky interview with the author herself! 

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​A simple and sweet parenting book with 365 tips—a new one to try every day!

As a parent, you want the best for your child, and one of your greatest hopes is that your child will grow up to be a good person. So, what makes a good person? Generally, we think about good people as being kind: those who are compassionate, empathetic, generous. However, it seems that, in our fast-paced, individual-driven society, kindness is fading and the pressure on parents to raise socially conscious, empathetic, and caring children can seem overwhelming at times.

In Teaching Kids to Be Kind, Rachel Tomlinson draws from her professional experiences to provide 365 inspiring strategies to help children and families practice kindness every day of the year. Daily tips include:
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• Taking your child shopping around the holidays to select a new toy to donate to another little boy or girl their age.
• Leaving little notes in their lunch box or school bag for them to find. This models unconditional love and consideration for others.
• Baking a cake together to teach patience and teamwork and build on their ability to delay gratification.

An essential tool for parents, Teaching Kids to Be Kind will help children develop empathy, regulate their emotions, and improve their general well-being as well as support families in strengthening their overall relationships.
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Find out more here! 

AMAZON
SKYHORSE PUBLISHING
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​I am a Registered Psychologist in Australia and have experience working with adults and children (birth to 18) in a variety of settings, including; generalist counselling, play therapy, education settings, residential support and attachment/parenting groups. I also present at national conferences (Play Therapy and Trauma, Masculinity and Mental Health etc) and provide expert commentary to journalists on mental health topics.

​Follow Rachel here...

WEBSITE
TWITTER

THE INTERVIEW... 

​Who are you and what do you write?

My name is Rachel Tomlinson and I write non fiction parenting books and picture books focussed on mental health topics.

Where and when and how did the writing life begin for you?

I originally wrote stories for the children I worked with in counselling. Many could never see themselves in stories due to their diverse backgrounds and complex lives... so I wrote stories to help them navigate their distress and to show similar characters who were strong, coping and empowered.

How has the journey to this point been? Can you give us a basic rundown?

I took one of the picture books I had written and adapted it and started querying. I had some wonderful feedback and close calls, but no cigar! While I was querying I started getting immersed in the wonderful writing community on Twitter. It was through this I made a connection with a fellow writer who had just gotten a publishing contract and she suggested I get in touch with her editor. I put my big girl pants and asked her about a project she had mentioned on her twitter page, we got talking and I ended up pitching a non fiction parenting book about how to teach kids to be kind. Within a month of our initial contact my proposal had been accepted at an acquisitions meeting and I was offered a publishing contract.

What's been the hardest part of your writing/publishing experience so far? And the most enjoyable?

I’ve enjoyed the writing part immensely! I love the creative element, it helps me process things and is very fulfilling. The hardest part would be the self promotion. My whole focus as a psychologist has been on others... so it’s very strange to talk about myself and have the attention on me.

Would you go back and change anything?

No. I have been incredibly fortunate to have met some beautiful people along the way and ultimately been given the opportunity to publish a book. No regrets here!!

Where would you like to be in 5 years time? And 10? What are your plans for the future?

I have some exciting news that I’m holding on to...I can’t announce anything official just yet, but there will be another book out there with my name on it and I am incredibly proud!!! That news has really shifted something in me and I feel like I’ve solidified my niche writing about mental health topics for parents and children. In regards to plans for 5-10 years... I’d love a shelf full of books with my name on. Big goals of course, but it’s something to aim for!

What's one piece of advice you'd give to new writers just starting out?

Write what you love! Don’t write to meet a trend or because you think someone else wants you to write a particular way. Write what sets your soul on fire and gets you up in the morning and one day someone will read it and really connect with what you’re saying because it’s authentic.

And most importantly... 

Ketchup or Mayo? Both... mixed together with hot chips to dip in
Night or Day? Day
Inside or Outside? Inside
Dogs or Cats? Dogs (boxer dogs specifically)
Twitter or Facebook? Twitter for the win!
Ebook or Paperback? Paperback every day of the week. I love second hand books in particular!
Walk or Drive? Walk
Sun or Rain? Sun... I’m an Aussie, so I love the heat and summer!
Keyboard or Pencil & Notebook? Pencil and a notebook. I don’t process things in the same way when I’m typing.
Comedy or Drama? Comedy for sure. My work can be quite intense... so a bit of a laugh is really important to me.
Chips or Chocolate? Chips all the way! My step dad used to work for a chip company and we got free packets allllllll the time, and I still love them. Potatoes are my favourite food, in all forms.