Pump Up Your Book Chats with Stephanie Vlahov

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stephanie vlahov

Stephanie Vlahov has her Masters Degree in Therapy/Counseling, in addition to a year of clinical internship in psychiatric settings. . However, her “day job” is that of corporate recruiter. She is married and has two sons-one of whom (Alex) was the impetus for the book “The Active Creative Child.” Now 21, he attends the prestigious London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts (LAMDA ) after attending two years at UCLA in the theatre dept. Stephanie’s passion is writing and painting. Through years in community theatre and school involvement, she has drawn upon her well of professional insight and “gut level” parental intuition to draw up one conclusion: We are over diagnosing and labeling some of our most creative minds. While not discounting the validity of a real disorder, ADHD has become a catch all “diagnosis” for children who march to the beat of a different drummer. One of her goals is to empower parents to question the oft heard need to diagnose their child-from educational systems that often hamper creativity at the expense of test scores.” If Einstein were alive today, he would be put on Ritalin.”

For more information on Stephanie and her book visit http://svlahov.com

The Active Creative Child is her first book.

On The Active Creative Child

Q: Can you tell us why you wrote your book?

I wrote it to empower parents to question the casually used diagnosis of ADHD. And, to then see their child’s precocity in a whole new way while retaining their sanity!

Q: Which part of the book was the hardest to write?

The school part-while I know that I am somewhat hard on the educational machine-and I see it as a machine-both of our boys had wonderful teachers, some of whom I am still in touch with to this day.

Q: Does your book have an underlying message that readers should know about?

Yes. I have gently told parents to keep their ego out of it and let their child be who he is. There is a nasty phenomenon going on now of parents living through their kids. You see it in sports most blatantly and in the creative arts. Horrible.

On Writing

Q: Do you remember when the writing bug hit?

As a kid-I would write stories with a girlfriend of mine and we would send our “manuscript” back and forth by mail to complete. She would write one piece, I would write another. I think we were ten or so. And it was about Bobby Sherman-gee I am showing my age.

Q: What’s the most frustrating thing about becoming a published author and what’s the most rewarding?
Most frustrating-fighting for shelf space at the big box stores since I am not Stephen King…most rewarding. That I am published, not self-published.

Q: Do you have a writing tip you’d like to share?

Do not quit your day job. And keep calm and carry on, to quote the Brits.

On Family and Home:

Q: Would you like to tell us about your home life? Where you live? Family? Pets?

We live in Northern California. I have a wonderful husband, John, father of our two sons. He is from Croatia so we take trips abroad fairly often. I am an executive recruiter by profession, after doing all of that training to become a marriage and family counselor, I decided to go in a different direction. Our eldest son Alex (subject of the book) is studying in London at an acting conservatory and our youngest son Nick is in his second year of college out of state. I am a huge “animal person”, belonging to various animal rights organizations. We have three cats-Linus, Zoey and Cleo. And our Golden Retriever Erica-who I like to call our red headed daughter.

Q: Where’s your favorite place to write at home?

On my Imac, in my office, surrounded by the two cats staring at me.

Q: What do you do to get away from it all?

I paint. Or I go the Monterey Bay Aquarium or anywhere aquatic. The ocean especially.

On Childhood:

Q: Were you the kind of child who always had a book in her/his hand?

Yes, one of my goals at age eight or so was to read the entire Encyclopedia. I made it to “D.” I was kind of a nerdy kid.

Q: Can you remember your favorite book?

“Magic Elizabeth” . A story about a doll who comes to life to be a little girls playmate. I was an only child with a big imagination.

Q: Do you remember writing stories when you were a child?

Yes-usually about fantastical lands and Atlantis type places. I would intersperse my writing with my art.

On Book Promotion:

Q: What was the first thing you did as far as promoting your book?

Local book signings and talking to everyone about it. I am a relentless marketer.

Q: Are you familiar with the social networks and do you actively participate?

I am very familiar and not there yet. I am active on LinkedIn, though.

Q: How do you think book promotion has changed over the years?

Thankfully, more has been done electronically. Like what we are doing now-which I think is fantastic. Most people do not have the time or the means to drop everything and run from one city to another for signings. To be able to do both to some degree is ideal. I still believe in the power of personal connection.

On Other Fun Stuff:

Q: If you had one wish, what would that be?

That every child be able to use his imaginative gifts and not have them stifled by parents or schools.

Q: If you could be anywhere in the world other than where you are right now, where would that place be?

Anywhere tropical.

Q: Your book has just been awarded a Pulitzer. Who would you thank?

My family. For their support and patience and willingness to have a little spotlight shone on our corner of the world.

Award-Winning Book Publicity Company Since 2007

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Maria Andrade, DEFIANCE AND REDEMPTION

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Irene Woodbury, HONEYMOON ROULETTE

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Kathleen Shaputis, HIS KILT DROPPED HERE

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Aiken Brown, SON OF A SOLDIER

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Laura Preble, ANNA INCOGNITO

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Miri Leshem-Pelly, SCRIBBLE & AUTHOR

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Shami Stovall, KNIGHTMARE ARCANIST

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Sharon House, BRIMSTONE AND WATER

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Bacon Press Books

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T.M. Wallace, WINTERGARDEN

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Deborah Serani, DEPRESSION AND YOUR CHILD

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Mary Lawlor, FIGHTER PILOT'S DAUGHTER

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Lee Papa, TEMPLE OF ALL KNOWING

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Madeline Wynn, DAUGHTER OF THE FALLEN

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Mary Lawlor, FIGHTER PILOT'S DAUGHTER

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Karen-Anne Stewart, ASH TO STEELE

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Lauren Carr, Best-Selling Mystery Author of Mac Faraday, and Lovers in Crime, Mysteries

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Monique Roy, ACROSS GREAT DIVIDES

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Kaylin McFarren, BURIED THREADS

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Question of the Day

How do you make sales happen for you?

A lot of hard work! I sponsor a lot of on line parties, festivals and contests. Book sales don’t magically happen, believe me. An author has to work hard to earn her readers. And then she has to work hard to keep them by giving them something they’ll enjoy reading. I try hard to make my books worth a reader’s time.

-- Sheila Roberts, Author of Winter at the Beach