Featured Interview With Chad Elliot
Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I’ve had an adventurous life. After growing up in homeschooled in a small town, I went sky diving twice and then hitchhiked away at 17. I didn’t run away, I let everyone know months in advance. I didn’t bring any money though! People I met helped me. I made it across the country with many adventures. I wound up in another small town (ugh!) but got to study with a great teacher of psychology and personal development. We had all sorts of animals when I was growing up, horses, cats, dogs, birds. Now, I don’t, so I make up for it by going to the zoo!
At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I hated books when I was young. I didn’t read much until I was about 12. Then, I would go to the library and check out stacks of books. Mostly books on personal development, marketing, strange stuff for a teenager. Then, I got into fiction around 18. Devoured all the classics. I thought I had to make up for lost time since I thought everyone had read the classics and I’d seem stupid if I didn’t. Turns out most people haven’t read Samuel Richardson’s book Pamela, all of the Sherlock Holmes stories, or the rest of it. But, I did. That’s all that matters…
Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
I adore Neil Gaiman’s creativity and the world’s he creates. The depth and feeling of Anton Chekhov. The incredibly humor of a lot of David Sedaris. The vividness and adventure of Rudyard Kipling. Roald Dahl is creep as hell! I love it! That’s kids books? No way!
Tell us a little about your latest book?
It’s called Improv Manifesto: 7 Simple Steps to Unstoppable Confidence, Powerful People Skills, and Unlimited Creativity!
It’s my first published book. I actually wrote a much longer book on personal development first. But, I realized I ought to get some experience publishing. So, I took a bunch of my writings I’ve used for my website and workbooks I give my students and brought them together. Then, I polished and structured them. Initially I just wanted to get something out there quickly. But, it took longer than I expected because I wanted it to be the best. (I’m a bit competitive in that regard.)
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