I was born in Brigham City, Utah. My father taught Metalwork for the federal government and my mother was a housewife. I was the last of seven children. This turned out to be a valuable gift for me in that I had immense freedom to think and do whatever I wanted. My parents had a very relaxed attitude towards their children by then. I was very curious about how things worked. It wasn’t uncommon to find the kitchen toaster all taken apart.
What was your dream job when you were younger? When did you start writing?My very first dream of what I wanted to be was an astronaut. I remember the moon landing like it was yesterday. The notion of going into outer space was very exciting to me.
I started writing around 2005. For the first part of my life I had no notion of being an author. Zero. None. I was working in Broadcast Television as an engineer. I would have sworn that that is what I would be for the rest of my life. But at the age of 35, I had a very powerful energetic experience. I released a massive amount of energy from my subconscious. And THAT changed everything. It so moved me, that I wanted to know more about this notion of having so much unconscious energy that we all store in our subconscious and how it can totally control our lives.
Tell us a little about the first book you ever published and what makes it so special.My very first book was called Swimming with Your Boots On. It has to do with our Human Nature as Energy. It took me six years to write. Although I did get it published, through a very small self-publishing agency, I took it off the market soon thereafter. What made it so special was the conversation about our human demeanor as an energetic experience. Working in television gave me a lot of hands-on experience working with very high-power equipment, and that helped me put a unique language to the notion of our own human energy experience.
What is your reading comfort zone? How often do you read out of your comfort zone?Reading has been a curious thing for me. Once I had that spiritual awakening, I read a lot of books over a 10-year period. I wanted to know everything I could learn about the unseen etherical aspect of our human persona.
But lately, I get so many books from the hundreds of guests that I interview on my New Human Living radio show, that I don’t really read much for pleasure, so to speak, though I certainly find reading these books to be quite pleasurable, to say the least.
I do not read fiction. But as far as a comfort zone, I am willing to entertain very eccentric points of view.
What are the other activities apart from writing you like to indulge in your free time?A curious thing happens when you interview so many people about the nature of our human consciousness. One of those things is the realization that your brain can, and actually loves to, rewire itself. I have found that starting new hobbies is a great way to keep your brain young. Some of the new hobbies I have started are playing the drums, 3D printing, and a new form of metal welding.
What do you think is the most important thing an author must keep in mind while writing a book?How the reader is going to experience the book. Although there is a place for technical books that might be considered dry and boring, for the most part, you want to pull the reader into the feeling of what you are looking to convey in your writing. Let them feel it through the words on the page. If you are writing non-fiction, you can still bring the feelings into the writings. Perhaps share a moment in your life that would relate to the topic you are writing about. Convey what it felt like to have that experience. Describe the scene and what you felt through the experience.
What is your take on the importance of a good cover and title? Have you ever designed any book cover?A good cover, and an equally important tile, are critical to the success of the book. I designed the titles and the covers for my first several books. The second release of my book, Citizen King: The New Age of Power, is the first book for which somebody else deigned the front-page graphics. And it certainly made a big difference. I have titled every one of my books. And now, I will definitely seek the advice of others before I title my next books.
I will give you an example of what I thought was a clever title and how it kind of backfired. For my last book, Forgiven Sinner: God’s Last Savior, I took a long time coming up with that title. Forgiven Sinner, for me, meant that we forgive ourselves. Forgiven. Already done. Completed. Finished. Where we have completely forgiven ourselves of our past. What would happen if we actually forgave ourselves? And regarding the subtitle, God’s Last Savior, what would our lives look like if we could fully embody the teachings of our saviors?
I thought I had nailed it. Well, not so much. There are those that might relate to the title as I had intended it, but I got an unexpected surprise when many people thought it was a religious book. Which it is not. I had painted myself into a corner, so to speak. Many people won’t even consider the book because they are not looking for a religious book. And my title really implies a religious topic. But, again, it is not a religious book and thus my “clever” title was not that clever after all. In hindsight, it is quite obvious to me that the title implies a religious perspective. Live and learn.
How has been your experience of being a radio host and speaker?I very much enjoy being a radio host. I love to interview people about how they have been able to transform their lives. To investigate the notion of our human consciousness and the hidden treasures there are to discover about ourselves. Whether it is a quantum physicist talking about how our consciousness influences the quantum field, or an individual who was able to bring themselves out of a deep personal struggle, I love interviewing people who are shaping the future of human consciousness, and who strive to lead a more enriched life from a place of personal power. Being a radio host is one of my most treasured roles that I play out in my life.
And speaking is such a powerful experience for me too. Primarily because of my heart. I can feel my heart connect with everyone in the room. And my heart guides my words. It is really a surreal kind of experience to open up my heart, in the moment, and feel it hold the room with such love and compassion. I can see my role as a speaker expanding over these next few decades.
These two elements, the radio show and public speaking, are part of a platform I created over a decade ago. New Human Living was created to help the awakening of our own human potential. It has become clear that it will be through us, the humans, that the transformation of our human condition will finally be resolved.
In what ways do you think your books will help to create a more positive reality?My answer to that question really comes in two parts. One is from my own experiences. That moment when my life changed forever, and what has happened since then, from my own experiences, has shown me how there are subconscious factors that can completely control your life without your mind ever knowing about it.
And the second part is, perhaps, you. A theme I am seeing, from those who have reviewed my books, is that I give the reader a sense of personal accountability. It is the notion that we are all participants to this human experience. And that your own personal life-purpose plays an important role in how humanity will ultimately solve our long-standing problems. And that it will be through everyday human beings, following the inspirations of their heart and soul, that the birth of a new paradigm will unfold, leading to a new genre of possibilities for the future of humanity.
I know there are vast amounts of human beings on the planet at this time that want to change their condition. They want a more authentic understanding of who they are and what they are capable of. Through my books, I enjoy bringing some fresh perspectives to what that might look like.
What inspired you to write "Forgiven Sinner: God’s Last Savior"?Working in the television industry, I have watched the world growing up. Literally. In our daily newscasts, I watch news feeds from all over the world. I have watched humanity struggle with the tough problems of our past. Financial crises. Wars. Diseases and health issues of the masses. Violence and poverty. And I didn’t see much change from decade to decade. Even today, those topics are front and center in the newscasts that are being broadcast these days.
I realized that there had to be a deeper story to tell. There had to be a better perspective of what might transform our human condition. And, just from what I observed growing up, I did notice some core issues and how our current narratives have fallen short of addressing the issues in a more fundamental way.
Forgiven Sinner takes a look at our mythology and what it has promised us. It also takes a look at what we have been told that would “save” us too. Yet, as mentioned, the proverbial song remains the same decade to decade. There has to be a personal “human” role in the transformation of our human condition. And Forgive Sinner take a deeper look at what that might be.
What is your writing dream? How close do you think you are to achieving it?Writing has anchored itself in my psyche. Not only will I write many more books, but I will create platforms to help others write books too. I don’t think I will be close to accomplishing everything my heart is showing me about my future in writing until I am much older than I am now. And I promise you, I will love the journey.
What is the toughest criticism you've ever received? What was the best?I have been told that my writing is just a bunch of crap. That there is no value in anything I have written. That my words have no real value. And I am OK with that. I get that. When you venture off the beaten path, with your ideas and perspectives, you are bound to ruffle the feathers of those that are anchored in what they believe to be the truth.
And the best? People have come to me in tears, saying they finally understand why they had such a difficult time with their divorce, for instance. Why it happened, and how, after listening to my perspective, what caused it. It is a very moving experience to help people at such a deep level. Seeing the relief on their faces was priceless. Such a wonderful feeling.
Which is the next book that you are writing? When is it due for release?I am looking to start a trilogy. Three books that break down the most common ways we get stuck and, perhaps more importantly, what we can do about it. The first of those books should come out in 2020.
What are some of your other hobbies? How often do you travel?I enjoy designing electronic and computer circuits. I also enjoy computer programming. I like to sand cast, melting metal in a foundry and pouring it into a casting made of sand. I also enjoy snow skiing and exploring the great outdoors.
I haven’t traveled as much as I would like to, but I do certainly see that changing in the coming years.
When did you first join AllAuthor and did you join as a free or pro-member first? What are your thoughts on this website?I am pretty new to the AllAuthor community. Initially I joined with a free membership. AllAuthor is an excellent platform for new and established authors to step up their game. AllAuthor gives you the tools to bring some pop and flare to your marketing efforts. It also helps you to connect with other authors, and also with your readers. To have a community to learn from can really help new authors “learn the ropes.”
Born in Brigham City, Utah, Colorado author Les Jensen is a radio host, speaker, energy master, and visionary. His very first dream of what he wanted to be was an astronaut. He started writing around 2005. His very first book was called Swimming with Your Boots On. Les Jensen tackles tough subjects to show where personal responsibility can help create a more positive reality.