Being the youngest member of my family I remember being a kid thinking, the older kids in school must know all the answers.  Once I got into school, it was the high school kids, then the college age kids, and when I was in college, it felt like the diploma must come with some magic tome that would explain the real world.   It didn’t come in the diploma or even during the discussions I had with friends in the same situation.  Now, that magic tome is here.

In her new book, “Life After College: What Your Parents and Professors Never Taught You”, ChaChanna Simpson, has taken her years of experience, combined it with experiences from the readers of her web page Twentity.com and created one of the most useful books imaginable for those who are fresh from college or even those who put college off.  Life advice intended for one group usually is valuable for others and the information in this book is a shining example of the transportability and usefulness of ChaChanna Simpson’s work. 

For the data curious types her bio provides a comprehensive look into her qualifications to help guide young people from school to the real world.  The following biography and more is available the Pump Up Your Book Promotion Virtual Book Tours site. 

ChaChanna Simpson is an editor, professional speaker, syndicated columnist with The Connecticut Post online (www.connpost.com) and author of her first book Life After College: What Your Parents and Professors Never Taught You. She has been featured in The Stamford Advocate, NewsTime180.com, Power 104.1fm’s radio show, What’s Good Hartford? and 89.5fm’s radio show, Black Prospectives, empowering twenty-somethings with real, no holds barred advice on successfully transitioning into life after college. Her favorite quote is "You may be disappointed if you fail, but you are doomed if you don’t try."- Beverly Sills

Additional information can be found at http://www.twentity.com/.

It isn’t an easy thing to succeed in today’s world, and the book is an exceptional example of what twenty-somethings can do with drive, ambition, a plan and the right information.  For readers, you have to supply the drive and ambition and plan, but now you have access to the kind of information you need to be successful.  The book will lead you to the web site and I am certain both will serve you well as you transition to the working world. 

Parents who have sought to provide their children all the benefits possible should also take a look at this book.  It might well be one of the keys to your children’s success.  For thirty and forty somethings, better late than never applies.  Give this book a chance to improve your chance.

PlotDog had the opportunity to ask ChaChanna Simpson a few questions from the perspective of a writer.  Here are her answers.

THE INTERVIEW:

PlotDog: Do you think there is a significant need for a book like this for each group in their 30s and 40s and 50s?

ChaChanna Simpson: I honestly don’t know. I wrote this book based on my experiences from graduating college and living in my 20s. I haven’t experienced life in my 30s and above yet to know if a book is needed for those age groups.
 
PlotDog: How long do you expect the information to be relevant to readers given the unusual changes to the social and economic environment that exists now and will you have updates?

ChaChanna Simpson: I expect the book to always be relevant. The topics I chose such as moving back home, getting your first apartment, job interview tips and more are things that anyone coming out of college is going to have to face.

And yes, I will have an update, some of the financial examples and information may need to be updated as some laws and rules change.
 
PlotDog: Is the book a tool to support the web page or the web page to support the book?

ChaChanna Simpson: The book is a tool to support my website, it is actually based on the website. I wanted a different medium to reach out to my target audience.

PlotDog: When you started this multi-media format that you currently use, did you have an overall business plan in mind and was a book part of it?

ChaChanna Simpson: Actually, I didn’t. I just wanted to get my information out there. I had approached two newspapers with the idea of having a column for twentysomethings.  One paper liked it but didn’t have the budget and the other never responded. I really didn’t feel like waiting around so I decide to just go and do it myself.
 
PlotDog: What was the path to publication like for this book?  What was the best part and the worst part of the process?

ChaChanna Simpson: I chose to go with a print-on-demand publisher so I didn’t have to wait find a publisher or negotiate my rights away. The path was quite easy. I would say the best part was getting the book done and seeing the first copy in my hand. The worst or challenging part is promoting the book.
 
PlotDog: Do you consider yourself more a speaker, a writer or a life coach?

ChaChanna Simpson: I definitely consider myself more a writer. That is what I do best. I hadn’t actually thought of myself as a life coach. I’m just trying to help people get off on the right foot after they graduate.
 
PlotDog: Do you have any advice for non-fiction writers, that is something you have always wanted someone to give in an interview but no one ever asked?

ChaChanna Simpson: Yes, I have had plenty of people tell me that they want to write a book and ask me how do I did it. And to all those would-be authors, I want to say if you want to write a book, just start writing. You don’t have to write the whole book in one day. Commit to writing one sentence, paragraph or page a day.  And after awhile you will have a manuscript. Take it one step at a time.

Also, I want to stress writing the book is the easy part, enjoy it. You have to be fully prepared to market the heck out of your book in order tosell it.

PlotDog: Would you consider doing a book like this for writers and the writing life?

ChaChanna Simpson: Hmm, it’s an idea I hadn’t considered before.

BOOK EXCERPT:

INTRODUCTION

Finally, after four or six years of hard work, studying and a bit of
partying, you have graduated from college. You must be so excited.
Heck, I’m excited for you. But you must be wondering if there is more
to life than just getting a job. Let me tell you, there is. Fancy that. 

Yes, college has prepared you to be proficient in your major, but my
goal is to prepare you to function in the real world. Now, I’m not going
to promise that you are going to learn everything there is to know
about surviving and thriving in the real world from this book, but I’ll
give you enough to get you started. 

There is so much out here in the world I can’t wait for you to
experience. Maybe you think there is nothing that will impress you
and that is a sad thought. But really think about it. You are an adult.
You can do whatever you want. You could get arrested if you are
breaking the law but overall, the world is really yours for the taking.
Like Nas rhymed, “Whose world is this?” And the chorus replied, “The
world is yours.” Take comfort in that. You are in the position to make
Life After College: What Your Parents and Professors Never Taught You
your life whatever you want it to be. You are the artist standing before
the canvas that is your life. 

What are you going to paint?

Find out more at:

http://www.twentity.com/

http://www.booklocker.com/books/3488.html

http://twentity.com/LifeAfterCollege08.html