I enjoy exchanging information with those I meet, especially about books and writing. A summer day at the beach with my youngest grandson Rafe led to discovering an interesting writer and later to learning her writing and publishing story.

My five-year-old grandson Rafe wanted to connect with two little girls he’d met at camp who were in the town I live in. What a delight not only to help him have a play date with the sisters, but to enjoy the company of their mother. When our conversation turned to talking about what Grandma Sheila does when her grandsons aren’t visiting, and I talked about Writing It Real, Caitlin told me about her mother-in-law’s books. She followed through by sending copies of them to me. The topics of both books struck a chord with me and I wanted to know the author’s route to writing and publishing them.

I am pleased to post this interview with Connie Leas, and I hope the experiences and ideas we talk about help you in your commitment to writing from your experiences and interests. 

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Sheila
One of the first things Caitlin told me about you and something I’ve read on yourwebsite and in your book’s “About the Author” pages is that you were a career technical writer. How did you get into technical writing?

Connie
In the late 70s, we were living on a farm in Michigan (my big idea). I decided to get a master’s degree in entomology and save the world from pesticides. I couldn’t get a job doing that, and ended up being director of an urban gardening program in Detroit. I liked the work, but hated the guy who was my supervisor (long story), quit that job, and told myself, “OK. I’m going to be a technical writer.”

Sheila
It seems like you already had the desire to be a tech writer and the knowledge that such jobs existed.

Connie
As a student, I’d always loved it when teachers assigned papers, knowing I could do a good job and that I’d get A’s. I simply liked to research and write. Somewhere along the line, I also learned about that tech writing jobs existed. I can’t remember how I learned that, but I do remember thinking “that’s the kind of job I’d like to do.”
I knew nothing about tech writing, except that it entailed translating technical material into understandable English, something I was certain I could do. After scanning the classifieds for jobs, I talked my way into my first job, which was writing manuals for the Marine Corps on how to fix trucks. I can’t remember exactly what I did or said that landed me the job. I’m sure I must have sent a resume and writing samples. What I do remember is that at the person-to-person interview with the VP (a woman whom I liked a lot, by the way), I exuded confidence, essentially saying, “I know I can do this job.” Later, I learned from the VP that she took a chance with me — me having no technical writing experience.

As to my first writing assignment, writing a manual on how to fix trucks, I was required to “verify” what I’d written by teaching the truck repair material, such as how to repair the Stanadyne DB2 fuel injection pump, to the marines at Camp Lejeune.

I never regretted my decision to become a tech writer. It was a perfect job for me. It was perfect because all I did was research and write — something I felt confident that I could do well. The confidence part was important because the tasks were often daunting. I had plenty of moments (as with the injection pump) when I thought, “I can’t do this.” Then I’d tell myself, “This stuff is knowable. Someone knows how to do this.” Then I’d find the answers by asking people and doing more research. It was also perfect because, no matter what you’re writing about, writing is a craft — organizing the material and writing it so that others will understand it. It’s basically translating technical material into understandable prose. I find it completely absorbing.

Sheila
But after you retired your writing career took a different turn.

Connie
Yes, I decided to write books that struck my fancy. I wrote the first one as a result of not having received a thank-you note for a wedding gift I’d sent. Giving the recipient the benefit of the doubt, I thought that perhaps she (and others like her or him) were intimidated by the prospect of writing a note and needed a little help. I came to the conclusion that a little book on how to write thank-you notes would be just the thing.The Art of Thank You: Crafting Notes of Gratitude was published in 2002.

After that, I started getting interested in fat and the facts behind the information that the media were tossing out along with terms like triglycerides, polyunsaturated fat and trans-fats. I was quite sure that most people had no idea what these terms meant and would want to know. So I decided to write a book that was sort of “everything you always wanted to know about fat….” The thing is, once I got started with the research, I started forming a point of view, especially where cholesterol and saturated fat are concerned. On the cholesterol chapter, for example, I started out prepared to spout the party line. But the more I researched, the more I learned that the party line is doing more harm than good. I can get very exercised about this national obsession over cholesterol. I would never take a cholesterol-lowering drug and I never have my blood checked. I titled my book Fat: It’s Not What You Think. Prometheus Books published it in 2008. As it turns out, going by sales numbers, fewer people care about fat than about writing thank you notes, although I think that’s probably because the fat book is a bit on the scientific side. It’s interesting to see which of your own interests are shared in greater numbers.

Sheila
Was it difficult to find a publisher?

Connie
It wasn’t difficult to find a publisher for the thank-you book. I just lucked out. A while back, the Maui Writers’ Conference had an arrangement whereby you could submit a mini-book proposal along with some money, which I did. Agents and publishers would then review the proposals. As it turned out, my future agent and future publisher, who were both at the conference, were both interested. I submitted the manuscript and Beyond Words took it. That press was then bought by Simon and Schuster, which is kind of neat.

Sheila
My copy says MJF Books, Fine Communications. Is that an imprint of Simon and Schuster?

Connie
Oh, dear, I’m afraid that’s very confusing. MJF Books bought the rights from Beyond Words and printed their own version, which bears the Barnes & Nobel imprint. The covers are different, but the innards are the same. The book also has also been published in Indian and Japanese editions.

Sheila
Thanks for clarifying. It might be confusing, but it is also very exciting!

Connie
About publishing the fat book — that was more difficult. My agent wasn’t interested, nor was Beyond Words (they’re kind of new age-y). So I just looked through various online sources, such as “The Top 101 Independent Book Publishers,” and the Writer’s Digest’s Writer’s Market for small presses that publish health and science sorts of books. I sent out lots of queries, proposals, sample chapters — all the usual requirements. I got lots of rejections, then finally a taker — Prometheus Books. Now I’m at it again! I’ve written a book about hands (Your Hands: Their Secrets Revealed), that includes their evolution, influence on our brains, gestures, palm lines, prints, handwriting, etc. etc. Prometheus isn’t interested (they said they didn’t think anyone would want to read a whole book on hands). So I’m back to beating the bushes. Sigh.

Sheila
I admire your stick-to-it-tiveness and allegiance to what interests you! I have a friend who is a retired hand surgeon who wrote a collection of essays about his patients and how their lives were changed by corrections to their hands. You might be interested in reading it: In Our Hands: A Hand Surgeon’s Tales of Our Body’s Most Exquisite Instrument by Arnold Arem. A few years ago, I printed an excerpt from the book and a short interview with the author in Writing It Real.

Connie
Thanks for the tip! I was really glad to hear about a book written by a hand surgeon — I never came across that one in my research! I can add some of his stuff to my book, since it’s still sitting around.

Sheila
Glad to be of service connecting writers and writing. Like Arnie, you must have leveraged your background, in your case science writing, in your queries to publishers. Has it made a difference in getting their attention for the fat book?

Connie
Not that I could notice. I got no indication that publishers were impressed by my background. I do think, however, that my years of technical writing honed my writing skills, which I think helped to sell my books to publishers.

Sheila
Have you written articles for publication based on your books or on research you did for your books?

Connie
No. I probably should. It would probably boost sales. I’m afraid I’m more interested in writing than selling.

Sheila
Yes, I think having some excerpts and articles based on your work would boost sales. Writing articles counts as writing. You might think about using parts of the book for online journals in the appropriate subject areas. And you could become a freelance editor for an organization like eHow.com and write short pieces about individual fats and also quick insights into thank you letter writing and hands! I hope you’ll check them out.

Do you have any advice for others who long to publish nonfiction books?

Connie
Just try to write a good proposal by studying the publisher’s offerings and submission guidelines, and providing them with what they want. Don’t let rejections get you down. One of the biggest difficulties for me has been not being “somebody.” I have no credentials for the books I write. I’m neither a Miss Manners nor a scientist. Publishers are concerned about that sort of thing. For my fat book, Prometheus required that I find a doctor to write a foreword, which I did. On the book cover, his name is in bold black, mine, in white, fades into the background.

Sheila
Ironic, of course, but I can see the minds of the marketing committee at work. Have you had some gratifying responses to the fat book, even if the sales numbers aren’t what you wanted?

Connie
Yes, very gratifying. One nutritionist, for example, tells me it’s her “go to” reference book on fats. I also got an email from someone in New Zealand who works for the Ministry of Health and who found the book in the “work library.” “I can only hope,” she says, “that it is read by lots of our policy makers, particularly those involved in our current Healthy Eating, Healthy Action program.” Gratifying, indeed!

Sheila
That is wonderful praise. How about for the thank you book? The back jacket flap says, “When you experience its effect on your own family, you may be moved to send her a thank-you note of your own.” Have you received thank-you notes? What does it feel like as an author to receive them?

Connie
I have received lots of thank-you notes from readers of that book. Of course it’s gratifying, but it can get a little embarrassing for me because they’re better thank-you note writers than I am. Also, having written the book, I feel compelled to always write wonderful thank-you notes. But mine are quite ordinary and not even as frequent as they should be.

Sheila
Connie, that makes me smile. What you have done with your book is affirmed the importance of addressing thanks to the person who gave the gift. The letters are eloquent, I am sure, because the readers so appreciate the gift that is your book. As a teacher, I know that we continue to learn from those who use knowledge we provide — and it’s natural that they take it and run with it and surpass their teachers.

Thank you for letting us in behind the scenes. I look forward to posting excerpts from your books next week — with links again for purchasing them. I think WIR readers will be interested through reading your work how what peaks one’s interest can turn into the subject of a book.

Connie
Thank you, Sheila. I should send you a note!