Mike J.B. Interview Published on: 16, Oct 2023
How has your life changed since publishing your first book?Have you had any further encounters with objects or events that have inspired your writing or creative endeavors?
MY LIFE HAS NOT CHANGED IN ANYWAY AND NO FURTHER ENCOUNTERS OR EVENTS HAVE INSPIRRED ME IN MY SECOND BOOK TO BE PUBLISHED.
Can you tell us about your journey from being an Electric Motor Repair Apprentice to starting your own Electrical Motor Repair Business? What inspired you to pursue this career path?MY CARREER PATH WAS INFLUENCED BY THE FACT THAT AS A CHILD I WAS ALWAYS TAKING THINGS APART AND BUILDING THINGS LIKE PUSH BIKES ETC, ENGINEERING WAS MY THING AND BUSINESS WAS THE WAY FORWARD AS I FOUND IT EASY TO MEND THINGS THAT WERE BROKEN.
What were some of the most challenging and rewarding experiences you had while running your electrical motor repair business for over 30 years?MY MOST REWARDING, WAS WHEN INVOLVED IN PERTICULAR HIGH PROFILE WORK, LIKE VERY OLD MOTORS AND PUMPS FROM OLD THEATRE CURTAINS, EARLY 20TH CENTURY MOTORS, PUMPS FROM HIGH PROFILE ESTABLISHMENTS.
Since retiring, you've been involved in various projects. Could you tell us more about your current interests and activities, such as writing, traveling, and golfing?SINCE RETIRING, WRITING AND RESEARCH HAS BECOME A BIG PART OF MY LIFE, ALSO THE SOCIAL MEDIA STUFF, TALKING WITH OTHER AUTHORS OF ALL GENRE, S.
How has your background in electrical engineering influenced or inspired your writing projects? Have you written about topics related to your career or experiences?NO, MY BACKGROUND DID NOT INSPIRE ME TO WRITE A BOOK, JUST An EXPERIENCE WHILE OUT WORKING, THAT GAVE ME THE INSPIRATION.
Can you tell us more about the moment you first encountered the "angry" toolbox? What thoughts and emotions were running through your mind at that time?THE MOMENT I ENCOUNTERED THE ANGRY TOOLBOX WAS WHEN,I WAS WORKING IN A SUPERSTORE OR MALL,EARLY EVENING AND WAS USING A MAN LIFT MACHINE,I WAS SERVICING EXTRACT FANS IN THE ROOF,AND ON THIS OCCASION,THE FAN WAS ABOVE SOME HIGH RISE STACKING SHELVES,SO I HAD TO STAND ON THIS,AS I DID I STOOD ON A PIECE OF SHEET WOOD ,WHICH WAS NOT FLAT ,BUT PIVOTED FURTHER ALONG,AS I DID ,I HEARD A NOISE AND THERE WAS A TOOLBOX UP THERE DUSTY AND ALONE,WHICH VIBRATED DOWN THE WOOD AND STOPPED AT MY FEET,AT THIS TIME I JUST THOUGHT STRANGE AND STARTED TO TALK TO IT.
The title of your book, "The Very Angry Toolbox," piques my curiosity. Why did you choose this title, and what does it signify in the context of your story?BASICALLY, THE TOOLBOX WAS ANGRY AT BEING LEFT UP ON THE SHELF WITH NO ONE TO TALK TO, AND THE START OF THE STORY BEGINS HERE.
Many people might have dismissed the toolbox as just a random occurrence, but you decided to write a book about it. What motivated you to explore this encounter further and turn it into a story?I WENT HOME AND JUST WROTE DOWN WHAT HAD OCCURRED WHLIE I WAS WORKING, PUTTING A FEW THINGS ON PAPER AND FILLING IT AWAY FOR YEARS WITHOUT ANYFURTHER THOUGHTS.
The toolbox's shiny hinges are described as resembling a pair of eyes. What symbolism or significance do you attach to this imagery in your book?WELL, THE TOOLBOX IS ALIVE, AND THE HINGES/EYES ARE OF COURSE HOW HE CAN SEE EVERYTHING GOING ON.
Reflecting on your career and retirement, what do you consider your greatest achievements or proudest moments?LOTS OF MOMENTS, BUT GETTING A BOOK PUBLISHED AND CHILDREN ACTUALLY LIKING IT, AND BEING ASKED TO SIGH COPIES AND GO TO PLACES TO SIGN COPIES IS A NICE ACHIEVEMENT.
What are some of your favorite memories or experiences from spending time with your family and looking after your grandchildren?I THINK SPENDING TIME WITH FAMILY IS ALWAYS PRESHASH, AND ITS ALWAYS SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT WITH GRANDCHILDREN AS THERE ARE GAPS IN BETWEEN SEING THEM.
Can you share any valuable lessons or advice for aspiring entrepreneurs, especially those looking to start a business in the field of electrical engineering or a related industry?BETTER TO HAVE TRIED AND FAILED, THEN TO LIVE LIFE WONDERING WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IF I HAD NOT TRIED. ALFRED LORD TENNYSON.
Many people struggle with finding a balance between work, family, and personal interests. How did you manage this balance throughout your career and into retirement?IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT IN THE EARLY STAGES OF MY BUSINESS YEARS WITH GETTING A WORK LIFE BALANCE, HAD TO SACRIFICE MANY SOCIAL EVENTS DUE TO THIS, IT WAS NOT EASY, BUT ONCE YOU ARE ESTABLISHED THEN YOU HAVE TO FIND A BALANCE AND NOT LET IT TAKE OVER YOUR LIFE.
Are there any plans for future books or projects that you'd like to share with your readers?I HAVE PLANS FOR ANOTHER 2 BOOKS, WHICH IS A FOLLOW ON FROM THIS BOOK, WITH ALL TYPES OF TWISTS AND TURNS.
What do you think of AllAuthor? Has this website been helpful to you?ALL AUTHOR HAS BEEN A HELPFUL MARKETING TOOL, AND I AM PLEASED WITH ALL WHAT IT OFFERS, I AM NOT 100% ACTIVE WITH EVERTHING WITH THE INTERNET ETC, AND ALL THE SOCIAL NETWORKING BUT I ENJOY LOOKING AND COMMUNICATING WITH OTHERS, VERY GLAD I AM A MEMBER THANKYOU.
