Better U TV Author Spotlight: Dr. Chantrise Holliman
Dr. Chantrise Holliman, an award-winning educator, published author, and entrepreneur, shares her poignant story of losing both of her legs after suffering a debilitating heart attack.
Dr. Chantrise is transparent about the trials as well as the triumphs. Hers is a story of incredible faith and tremendous support, and perseverance. She is the owner of Disturb the Universe, LLC and the Founder of Disrupt xEL, a business focused on providing quality professional development and motivational workshops to a variety of organizations.
During this author spotlight, Angela, the lead strategist and owner of The Better U Project, primarily focuses on Dr. Chantrise's third published book, "Shoes Without Feet: A Journey of Strength, Hope, Obstacles, Encouragement & Success."
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Angela M. Odom
Do you mind sharing your story?
Dr Chantrise Sims Holliman
My most current story begins with the incident that happened on March 23, 2018, I suffered a heart attack and due to infections and other complications, I ended up losing both legs.
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Angela M. Odom
Can you tell us about your books?
Dr Chantrise Sims Holliman
Book #1 is titled, "The Teach Stay Love Journal: A Reflective Journal to Help You Stay in the Profession You Love" was published in February 22, 2019
Book #2 is titled, "Speaking My Truth: the Blog Years: My Quirky, Sometimes MisMatched, Often Off-Color Thoughts on Education and Other Stuff" was published in July 3, 2019
Book #3 is titled, "Shoes Without Feet: A Journey of Strength, Hope, Obstacles, Encouragement & Success " was published in September 27, 2019
Book #4, an anthology is titled, "The Gyrlfriend Code Women's Empowerment Breakthrough Edition" was published in January 14, 2020
Book #5 is titled, "Noah Had An Ark. You Need a Raft: Resiliency and Flexible Thinking. How Changing Your Thoughts Can Change Your Life"
My upcoming Book #6 is the sequel to "Shoes Without Feet: A Journey of Strength, Hope, Obstacles, Encouragement & Success " and is titled "You Don't Need Feet to Step Out on Faith"
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Angela M. Odom
When someone reads, "Shoes Without Feet: A Journey of Strength, Hope, Obstacles, Encouragement & Success", what do you want them to take away?
Dr Chantrise Sims Holliman
Primarily what I want people to get out of the book is just because things aren't going your way or don't go the way that you plan doesn't mean that there isn't a plan.
There is a plan. Your life is still valuable. It's still important. You can still accomplish everything you wanted to accomplish even if things don't go the way you intended.
The biggest compliment I get from people who've read my books is that they can hear me; in my voice as they read my personal stories.
I'm using my story to encourage other people to continue to press on.
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Angela M. Odom
What has the reception been for "Shoes Without Feet: A Journey of Strength, Hope, Obstacles, Encouragement & Success"?
Dr Chantrise Sims Holliman
It's been overwhelmingly positive. I was just at a MLK Ecumenical Service on Sunday and ran into a woman who bought my book back in October. She stopped me and talked to me for five minutes about the book, what she gained from it, and how significant was in her life.
I'm always overwhelmed when people come to me and tell me the impact that it's has. You write a book and you want it to be impactful but you don't really grasp how impactful it is or how impactful it's going to be. I've had nothing but positive reviews. I wish they would go on Amazon.com to enter those reviews.
They tell me all of the time about how much they've enjoyed it and how its helping them to get through rough times in their life. That does my heart good.
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Angela M. Odom
What's the physical act of writing for you? Do you have a laptop? Do you have a home office?
Dr Chantrise Sims Holliman
I usually spend a lot of time in my head over and over again. So by the time I get to my computer it flows really easily. I edit as I write. So, by the time I'm done with the book, the content is pretty much done. I've molded it and sculptured it the way I want to.
Then I'll usually have someone go back to do the proofreading part to make sure all of my 'i's' are dotted and my 't's' are crossed.
Sitting on my sofa with my laptop on my lap is how I write my books.
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Angela M. Odom
How long does it take you to write your books?
Dr Chantrise Sims Holliman
I wrote Book #1, "The Teach Stay Love Journal: A Reflective Journal to Help You Stay in the Profession You Love" over Christmas Break.
I wrote Book #2 , "Speaking My Truth: the Blog Years: My Quirky, Sometimes Mismatched, Often Off-Color Thoughts on Education and Other Stuff" was written over some months and I pulled it together. My father compiled my previous blog post and presented them to me when I was recovering in the hospital to remind me who I am.
I wrote Book #3, "Shoes Without Feet: A Journey of Strength, Hope, Obstacles, Encouragement & Success " in about 40 hours.
I wrote Book #5, "Noah Had An Ark. You Need a Raft: Resiliency and Flexible Thinking. How Changing Your Thoughts Can Change Your Life" in seven days.
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Angela M. Odom
What is your revision process?
Dr Chantrise Sims Holliman
Because I edit while I write, I don't spend a whole lot of time revising things. It's the proofreading and the formatting that I focus my time.
PRO TIP: "Write your book in a template that is formatted to the size of your book you will ultimately publish."
~Dr. Chantrise Sims Holliman
PRO TIP: "Amazon, Kindle Direct Publishing has templates available for writers to download and format their text to the correct format initially."
~ Dr. Chantrise Sims Holliman
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Angela M. Odom
What was your inspiration for the book cover for "Shoes Without Feet"?
Dr Chantrise Sims Holliman
Before I decided to write this story a friend of mine called me one day and said "I have the title for your book and I hope you're not offended". When she shared the title of the book with me, I said, "This is awesome! If I ever decide to write a book this is the title I'm going to use"
I loved it!
When I decided to write the book, I put it out there on Facebook. I posted that I needed someone who could do a cover for me.
Nineteen different people recommended the same graphic artist, "Benford Dwight Stellmacher Jr., the owner of Authentic DNA"
He and I spoke for about 45 minutes. He sent me the draft maybe an hour later.
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Angela M. Odom
Who is your favorite author and what is your favorite book?
Dr Chantrise Sims Holliman
Zora Neale Hurston (January 7, 1891 – January 28, 1960) was an American author, anthropologist, and filmmaker. She portrayed racial struggles in the early-20th-century American South and published research on Hoodoo. The most popular of her four novels is Their Eyes Were Watching God, published in 1937. (copied from various internet sources)
One of the most important and enduring books of the twentieth century, Their Eyes Were Watching God brings to life a Southern love story with the wit and pathos found only in the writing of Zora Neale Hurston. Out of print for almost thirty years—due largely to initial audiences’ rejection of its strong black female protagonist—Hurston’s classic has since its 1978 reissue become perhaps the most widely read and highly acclaimed novel in the canon of African-American literature. (Copied from Amazon)
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Angela M. Odom
What's The Most Valuable Piece of Advice You've Received As An Author?
Dr Chantrise Sims Holliman
Be my authentic self
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Angela M. Odom
What are you working on that's got you excited?
Dr Chantrise Sims Holliman
Project #1: I'm working on a Dynamic Educator Blueprint, It's a book series for 6th through 12th grade teachers in the classroom.
Project #2: I'm working on turning the book, "Noah Had An Ark. You Need a Raft: Resiliency and Flexible Thinking. How Changing Your Thoughts Can Change Your Life" into an online course.
Project #3: Using my background as an award winning educator, I'm developing a course to teach entrepreneurs how to turn their expertise into training modules.
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Angela M. Odom
Where can people purchase your books?
Dr Chantrise Sims Holliman
CONTACT me for books, online courses, panel discussions, and keynote speaking engagements at www.drchantrise.com.
Watch / Listen to the Recorded Interview HERE.
ABOUT THE HOST
Most Women Undervalue Themselves. Angela M. Odom developed the S.O.A.R. success system for women leaders who want to develop their talent, progress in their career, and thrive in their social environments.
Angela, a proud US Army veteran, is a leadership coach, the lead strategist and CEO of The Better U Project, she helps individuals, corporations, government entities and non-profits become the hero of their own personal leadership story!
Hire her on https://www.angelaodom.com/
Better U TV weekly episodes cover topics to help you lead yourself, others, organizations and processes; such as Leadership Communication and How to Respond with a Full Body Yes to Interviews with amazing women and a few focused men, Movie & Book Reviews, Relevant Case Studies and author spotlights. Watch Episodes HERE on Tuesdays at Noon EST
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Angela M. Odom is a leadership coach and an author of BRONCO STRONG: A Memoir of the Last Deployed Personnel Services Battalion and a contributor to Camouflaged Sisters: Leadership Through The Eyes of Senior Military Women Leaders
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