After living in Vietnam for 11 year, why did you decide to come to the United States?
For eleven years, I spent my early childhood in Vietnam as a mixed-race outcast; I went to school in fear of being made fun of, being called names, and getting beaten up on the way home. I struggled blending into that society, so throughout adolescence with little hope for the future. In 1985, my adoptive mother and I left the land of our Mothers with expectations of finally finding a home and looked forward to a new chapter of my life in my new Fatherland called United States.
What do you appreciate the most about your introversion?
I appreciate the most about my introversion is my alone time to connect to myself and who I am, which in turn leads me to value modesty, calmness, and empathy.
I appreciate everything surrounding me, moreover, the farmers, cultures, personalities and the world around me. The simplest things like the singing of the birds, the colors of the trees, and the scent of the flowers are enough to make me feel happy.
Being an introvert, how do you think writing has helped you to express your feelings?
I write because as I was growing up, I was very timid and afraid to speak up because I got bullied a lot by other children in the neighborhood as well as in school just because I'm a half-breed, with that means I am actually Vietnamese and American. So, instead of expressing in speech, I felt more comfortable expressing my thoughts and emotions in writing. I wrote more or so when I was sad, disappointed and lonely.
How did your mother's death inspire you to become a writer? Did you always want to be a writer?
Throughout my adolescence, I was an introvert and still am partly due to my culture, so in order to express myself was in writings. But I have never dream to be a writer.
When I lost the love of my life, my adoptive mother, it was the darkest time of my life. That’s when I had suicidal thoughts almost everyday. Yet on the outside I had everything...a perfect family, a great business, two beautiful children, four lovely dogs.
After four years of depression, I had the opportunity to look into my inner self, aware of my conscious, emotions and actions and how to tame it. As my inner self becomes stronger, I am offered the chance to move as I ease throughout my day.
Only by experiencing my own unique journey of healing, it had inspired me to become a writer in hope to help and guide people so they can embrace happiness in their lives.
How long have you been working with Reiki? How do you personally use Reiki?
In 2010, I met a gentleman whose later, I had the privilege to called him a teacher and Godfather. Although, he had passed away, but his Reiki teaching passed on to me. Since then I used Reiki to heal my family, my migraine headaches, back pain and/or every time I felt I’m under the weather. Also my four dogs has benefited from Reiki. In addition, I utilize Reiki in my grief coaching as well.
What inspired you to start writing "The ACTIONS"? How do you think the book will help your readers to overcome their trauma and struggle?
After fell into depression for four years, the inner healing journey had inspired me to start writing The ACTIONS, and in hope by providing highly adaptive techniques for readers to start reconstruct their priorities, and with practical advice, tips and tools for everyone to overcome the barriers they face and take action towards creating a new life.
How important do you think book covers are? Who usually designs your book covers?
Book covers are the first impression of a book as our face can reflect our inner feelings, similarly a book cover can also reflect what is inside that book, therefore book covers play a vital role of introducing the book to the potential readers. As for my book, I have to send my gratitude to Marina Woods and The Book Angels for designing my book cover.
Why did you decide to become a life coach? What specific areas do you focus on?
My mother’s death affected my family, relationship with my husband and took such a major emotional toll on me. I broke down physically, mentally, and spiritually.
Surviving trauma offered me the chance to rebuild my life and implement the lessons I had learned. I became so passionate about solving my problem that I began to find meaning for myself and help others find their meaning.
Almost everyone is suffering in one way or another. Sometimes, all we need is a hand to pull us out of the quicksand and guide us to safety. I want to be that hand, so you don’t have to do this alone; there is always support and help available. I can help you come to terms with your loss and begin to heal.
What is the importance of self-care? How do you help others integrate the tools and practices that you have learned, used and succeeded?
Self-care is extremely important because in order to maintain a healthy relationship with yourself as it produces positive feelings and boosts your energy and confidence levels, as well as self-esteem and productivity.
Self-care starts at the individual level, and they play an active role in each of the activity of being mindful, by that I mean that they’re attuned to and understand what they need to be their most constructive, effective, and authentic self.
Some might find themselves annoyed when someone suggests that they need to take better care of themselves, especially when it seems they don’t understand how much they have on their plate. Furthermore, through my journey of healing, I have learned that we need to take one action step at a time, and pay attention to a wider set of criteria, including the mind, emotions, relationships, environment, time, and resources.
Who suggested the name "Powerful Change"? What is the biggest challenge you helped one of your clients through?
At first, I had my subtitle as “New Mindset New Results,” and truthfully, I just ‘had a feeling’ about the type of book I wanted to write. When I met Marina Woods and The Book Angels team, I took their advice and changed to “Powerful Change.” I may end up confusing a few readers but to be honest, I have many, many years of writing ahead of me. I want to position myself for the long term, so I needed to change it.
The biggest challenge I had to help one of my clients through was when someone with a fixed mindset is likely to: not deal very well with setbacks, negative self-talk, and try to hide their mistakes. The fact is, when going through a change process, people can get stuck for different reasons, and at different places.
In order to identify the challenge with my client, I had to relate to what my client is going through, and embrace the entire emotional spectrum of change process. After all, chances are something we’re similar in some aspect of my life.
When reading a new book, what is one thing that is a surefire way to capture your attention?
When reading a new book, one thing that is a surefire way to capture my attention is their personal storytelling which they share their experiences, important knowledge, advices, tips or tools and so that helps it slip it right into my awareness.
What are your plans for the future as a writer? Are you working on anything new?
Although, writing this book was the most difficult, at the same time, writing it was the most fun I’d ever had in my life. I wrote it when priorities in life became very clear. Despite that I never forget my first published book, there is another topic that I want to focus in writing about in the future.
What is the toughest criticism you've ever received as an author and how did you take it? What about the best compliment you've ever received?
The best compliments I ever received was that my book has influence positively the lives of readers, and this is a must have for others collection of personal development material.
Before I became an author, the toughest criticism I have received was from someone who’s dearly close to me and said, “You‘re bilingual, your English is limited, how can you write a book and who is going to read your book?” In despite of It’s painful to hear, I decided not to keep my pain of heartaches to myself, even though, I easily could have instead, I transformed it into power. Let me tell you, if I can do it anyone can surely do it as well.
What is the best writing tip you ever received and who gave it to you?
The best writing tip I ever received from was Dr. Lauria Angela and she said, “Write it like you’re writing a love letter to someone you deeply in love.”
Another piece of advice that I have read and it was written by Brian A. Klems posted in Writer’s Digest, “Always remember that you love and enjoy writing, even on the days when it’s the most difficult thing to do.”
What kind of feedback do you have for AllAuthor? Would you recommend this platform to your other author friends?
AllAuthor has so many cool features and I deeply grateful that my book is tweeted out from different handles, which I don’t have to do everything myself. In general, AllAuthor helps me with my personal branding, showcase my book, which truly simplifies my author life and energy in promoting my book. My only feedback to AllAuthor is keep up your awesome job. I definitely recommend AllAuthor to all of my author friends.
