Accidentally Well received a 4+ star review, making it an IndieReader Approved title.
Following find an interview with author John Webster.
What is the name of the book and when was it published?
Accidentally Well, published February 14, 2022 (by John Webster)
What’s the book’s first line?
My favourite part of this journey was being struck by an unexpected epiphany about wellness decades after life’s big questions had submerged into the depths of my mind.
What’s the book about? Give us the “pitch”.
My memoir recounts a surprising story: how I let myself slide into an unhealthy state, then finally turned that around. Getting in touch with physicality led to an epiphany about how to achieve wellness and balance in my life, decades after I gave up on figuring things out. My book is about how it felt to experience an astonishing transformation. I share my epiphany and hope to inspire others to be healthier.
What inspired you to write the book? A particular person? An event?
An eclectic set of life experiences positioned me for a life-changing breakthrough. They produced an “aha” moment. Concepts about holistic wellness and balance were demystified and fell into place. I came upon a way to work towards them in a practical and manageable way.
What’s the main reason someone should really read this book?
They will enjoy anecdotes and storytelling. They will find my story relatable. Ideally, they will be inspired by it to improve wellness in themselves and in others, and they will believe that’s possible.
When did you first decide to become an author?
It was an organic process. I started making notes to record my breakthrough at the start of 2019. The notes turned into chapters and then a manuscript by early 2020. I showed it to friends and family and received great input. I revised it and refined it. Then I sat on it until the fall of 2021, when I found the courage to share my personal life in a published book.
Is this the first book you’ve written?
Yes.
What do you do for work when you’re not writing?
I love to spend time with family and friends, to run and bike, and to spend time in nature. I am a civil litigation lawyer by profession.
How much time do you generally spend on your writing?
I typically spent a few hours each weekend writing, with an hour or so on weeknights, here and there.
What’s the best and the hardest part of being an indie? Not knowing about the process or the industry and feeling like I’m taking a big chance without any concept of how my book will be received.
What’s a great piece of advice that you can share with fellow indie authors?
Take the time to polish and refine your manuscript after you believe it’s done, then work with an editor with at least a couple rounds of substantive editing. Working with an editor made my book more interesting and more readable. The flow improved.
Is there something in particular that motivates you (fame? fortune?)?
I’m 57. When I was in university so many decades ago I imagined I could change the world for the better, by making a difference. I thought I would add something innovative to our lore. Then I got busy with life and forgot how great it felt to think that way. My breakthrough brought back those youthful feelings and dreams. Telling my story gave me my chance to leave my mark, to add to our lore and just maybe help a few people (which would make the world a bit better after all).
Which writer, living or dead, do you most admire?
Fyodor Dostoevsky.
Which book do you wish you could have written?
The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón.