Meet E.d. Hackett

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful E.d. Hackett a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

E.D. , thank you so much for joining us. You are such a positive person and it’s something we really admire and so we wanted to start by asking you where you think your optimism comes from?

Up until Halloween of 2019, I always saw the glass as half empty. It was a direct result of my childhood, and it had formed early on in my life. Being raised in poverty by a single mother who happened to also be an alcoholic, was stressful for my little mind and body. I had been conditioned to expect the other shoe to drop, and save the day when it happened.
On Halloween weekend in 2019, I went to the emergency room because I had lost my vision suddenly. I could no longer drive, complete my responsibilities at work, or read. Something was wrong and it scared me.

Diagnosed with a pituitary tumor growing against my optic nerves, resulted in a year of treatment. Multiple surgeries, six weeks of radiation, and COVID changed my life. It no longer mattered we were barely living paycheck to paycheck. Our family, friends, and community rallied around us, lifting us up with meals, Christmas gifts for the children, and services to help manage the household. Since I had a taken a medical leave just prior to the COVID pandemic, I worked from-home during my recovery because I didn’t have to drive to work.

Instead of feeling sorry for our situation, an overpowering sense of gratitude penetrated our lives. I knew we would be okay, and if the other shoe dropped? Well, we’d figure it out.

I remember going for a walk in the fall of 2020, and the colors of the leaves, river, and sunsets blew me away. I hadn’t seen colors like that in years, and the sheer beauty of what I was witnessing filled me with an appreciation for the life my husband and I had built.

Despite the long road to recovery, I could see again. Was there anything better?

Looking back on my life, I swung from one end of the outlook-on-life spectrum to the other, and I realized that being positive, understanding that things go wrong but our reaction really matters, and living through a medical crisis rewired my outlook. Yes, things get tough, but as long as your family and friends surround you during the difficult times, you’ll get through it. Instead of expecting the worst or preparing myself for disappointment, I learned that gratitude, positivity, and understanding of others really could change the trajectory of your life. No longer expecting the worst, I learned to find the blessings and the lessons during life’s most difficult moments.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

Another blessing from my medical crisis was the realization that life is too short. For my day job I am a Speech-language pathologist, but my heart has always been in the world of fiction. Reading books was a survival strategy for my childhood. I fantasized about living other people’s lives, and now through writing, I can.

When COVID hit and my life was turned upside down, I needed to process my medical journey. Over time, I found that many people know someone who knows someone with a pituitary tumor, yet there is little understanding of the condition. Pituitary tumors impact your reproductive system, immune system, metabolism, mental health, and vision. I needed to spread the awareness, so I wrote a novel based upon my pituitary journey. The Havoc in My Head is the novel I am most proud of.

I am a self-published women’s fiction author whose stories keep one foot in romance. I try to publish two novels a year and focus on identify, family drama, friendship, and acceptance of self and others.

You can find my books across all retailers and find information about me at https://www.edhackettauthor.com

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

When becoming an author, the amount of knowledge needed can be overwhelming. It may even cause you to doubt yourself and quit. Three things a new author must demonstrate in order to complete your goal of writing a book is perseverance, forgiveness, and open-mindedness.

Writing a novel is complex, time consuming, and vulnerable. You need to possess the grit and drive to dig deep and follow through. Even if people hate it. Or you chose the wrong cover. Or you don’t quite understand the elements of a novel. Look at all the feedback as learning opportunities. If you wait around until you know everything, your novel won’t get written. You’ll have a wealth of knowledge, but no product for others to enjoy.

Imposter syndrome is a real thing, and can be debilitating. You get a one-star review. Someone comments that your book is the worst writing ever. You need an editor. It’s boring. There are so many critics that want to spout their negativity online, but you have to understand it may not be you, but them. If the feedback is consistent, then you look at your story and figure out how to improve your next one. Don’t let the opinions of a few shatter your dreams and halt your progress. There are people who love your writing, and you need find them and grow your community. You can do this.

Sometimes when you first start writing, it is difficult to accept the constructive feedback of other authors who’ve read your work-in-progress. Remember, you may be on the same journey but you’re on different parts of the path. They may be further along with more experience. Maybe they’ve read more books or listened to more podcasts. Take their feedback with an open-mind, let it sit for a few days, and then approach their comments objectively. The writing community is strong and authors are always helping authors. Take their feedback and consider the changes.

How would you describe your ideal client?

In addition to being an author, I am also a book coach for indie authors. I help new writers learn the process of writing a book, getting their story from their head onto paper, how to strengthen their story, and how to get it published.

My ideal client is motivated, hard working, open to feedback, and curious. I love when clients ask questions.

I am an Enneagram 2, which is the Helper, and my number one strength is the Developer. Helping new authors is my passion. Coaching clients requires a reciprocal relationship, and I give 150% to all my clients. I want my clients to be successful, for whatever that definition means to them.

If you are a new or inspiring author, please check out my website at https://www.thestorykeeperbookcoach.com

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