They say to beware when a naked person offers you a shirt. You can’t sacrifice for others to the point that you rob yourself because you cannot give what you don’t already own. But if your well does not run dry, if your cup runs over, if you are overflowing, then you can afford to be of service, truly, to others. If you have a love for yourself then you can give love to others. If you are confident in yourself then you can inspire others, and if you are knowledgeable yourself then you can teach others. It all starts with self. To quote Iyanla Vanzant, ‘what’s outside of the cup is yours, what’s inside the cup is mine.’ In order to be of service to others, you must learn to keep yourself full.
Today I’d like to extend a warm welcome to Sean Mungin. Welcome to The PBS Blog! Let’s get started.
What is your name and where are you from?
My name is Sean Mungin and I live in Los Angeles, California.
I always wanted to visit Cali. What would your perfect writing / reading room look like?
My perfect writing/reading room would have bookshelves (filled with books, of course) covering every wall (except for the window and sitting area) from the ceiling to the floor. It would have soft music and sounds of water running in the background. It would have a comfortable sitting area next to the window.
I love that sound of water, I imagine that would be peaceful. What job do you think you’d be really good at?
I think I would probably be a pretty good counselor. I have always been the person that others would come to talk through their problems. I think the most memorable moment was when I was in high school; a married co-worker of mine came to me and began sharing issues she was having within her marriage. I do not remember what I actually said to her, but I do remember that she returned to me and thanking me because whatever I said to her worked.
That’s what’s up. Speaking of being good at things, what was your childhood dream?
My childhood dream was to be a musician. I have always had an ear for music. I once asked my mother for music lessons, but we were not in a position financially for me to ever begin them.
Cool. Do you play any instruments?
I play around with the keyboard and was teaching myself to play guitar until I broke a finger on my right hand.
Aww. Boo. Speaking of childhood, any siblings?
I have five siblings. Two older brothers, an older sister, and two younger sisters.
What’s your favorite drink?
My favorite drink is coffee. I love to try different blends from around the world. The smell is intoxicating. The taste is awesome. Dark, bold roasts…of course.
A coffee drinker, yaass. What state or country do you never want to go back to?
I never wanted to come back to California, but it is amazing how my life has come full circle and I am right back here in the Greater Los Angeles area again 20 years later.
The Thorn in the Flesh is available now on Amazon.
Lol. Let’s switch it up a bit. Does blogging help you to write?
Blogging has helped me write in a major way. I have always loved to write. It helps me to process my thoughts and life experiences. However, because becoming a successful blogger and growing a larger reading audience requires consistency, it also requires that I pay close attention to the content and the reading patterns of my audience. As we try to interpret the data from our sites, we have to tailor everything towards the things that work and make the necessary adjustments on the things that have not worked.
True. Sean, what’s your favorite food?
I am not certain that I have a favorite food. I like to try different dishes at least once.
C’mon Sean. I know you have a favorite food! If all the food in the world no longer existed and you had to eat one meal every day, what would it be?
If I were in that situation, I would have to choose an egg and cheese sandwich. I can eat breakfast any time of the day.
Nice. I love eggs. Well, except for…anyway. Let’s move on. What’s your favorite color?
I have four favorite colors: white, black, blue, and olive green. I am not certain if white and black qualifies though, but I like them anyway.
Ha! Your one of those “black and white aren’t colors” kinda guy huh? Lol. Who is your favorite writer?
I think it would be blasphemous for me to say that I do not have a favorite writer, but it is true. I like to read across different genres and I believe that my writing has been influenced by each in their own respective ways.
Nice. You said you wanted to be a musician, what kind of music do you like?
I like to listen to Christian, classical and soft instrumental music.
Let’s go back to writing, when did you publish your first book? What was that like?
I published my first book back in 2003, I think. It felt like a great accomplishment. But, as I have matured in my thinking about life, I think I would do a complete overhaul of the work to include my current perspective on things. Back then, I was really just venturing out for the first time in this capacity, so I am certain that there were a lot of errors in need of major editorial assistance.
I feel you. I felt the same way about my first work. Although my baby, I have since pulled it from shelves for that reason. What do you wish you knew more about?
I wish I knew more about public policy. I, for some reason, am in love with policy.
Interesting. What do you think of the world we live in?
I think, at some point, we all have lost our way. Everything has become focused on global competition instead of what is in the best interest of the global community.
What are your thoughts on Race?
Contrary to the beliefs of many, I believe race is still an issue. It has an undeniable presence within our society. I believe that it has become more overt within the past 14 – 15 months. Maybe that was needed to force others to acknowledge its existence. We cannot address something if others are unwilling to meet us at the table to discuss how to best remedy this problem.
What is the most thought provoking book you’ve ever read?
The Bible.
Yasss! What’s your favorite scripture or book?
I love the entire Bible. If I had to choose my favorite books, they would be everything written by Paul. My favorite verse is John 15:5. That verse keeps me grounded.
Powerful verse. What’s the most difficult thing about being a writer? The most exciting thing?
The most difficult thing about being a writer is overcoming writer’s block. One day, things may flow more fluidly than on others. At this point, you are at the mercy of the process. In a world where there is so many negative events taking place, it is sometimes difficult to be inspired.
The most exciting thing is the finished product. The sense of accomplishment is a big deal to any writer, I would imagine.
Indeed.
Thank you Sean for spending this time with us. We enjoyed you!
Sean Mungin is a public figure who has embodied the spirit of individual and corporate success. Sean graduated from Lee University in 2005 with a Bachelors in Theology. He also earned a Masters in Psychology from the University of Phoenix in 2010. He also completed the Masters in Religious Education program from the Mason Kelly Washington Religious Training in Long Island, NY.
Sean’s current positions as an administrator and minister align him with his previous positions as an individual genuinely concerned about the holistic well-being (spiritual, mental, physical, and socio-economical) of all people. His most recent accomplishment was becoming a Certified Writer/Editor for the International Association of Professional Writers and Editors. Sean is currently working on focusing on developing and implementing several entrepreneurial projects. His goal is to create multiple opportunities for a higher quality of living for all within his area of influence.
Sean’s is known for his favorite motto, “Love God…love people…love yourself”
Are you an author? Looking for more exposure? Learn more about my Introduce Yourself FeatureHERE.
Don’t forget to clean up your environment. Pay attention to how being around certain people makes you feel. Do you suddenly feel drained or negative? Mad? Irritated? Are these people always complaining? Do they reach out to you just to share bad news? Is it always about them? Are they interested in your life at all? Remember that we cannot grow in the same environment that broke us. Only surround yourself with people who lift you up, empower you and challenge you to become the best version of yourself.
Finances are a big deal when it comes to Indie Book Publishing. For those who want to do it right, it pays in more ways than one to have a budget for every book you intend to publish. Check out this article from Angela Ford on ways to break it down and later, I’ll publish a separate post on how I break down the costs for my very own books. Until then, enjoy:
“Can you afford to be an indie author? As independent authors, we have to be aware of the way cost plays into self-publishing. Cost can mean the difference between turning book publishing into a business versus having a very expensive hobby. The question is, how much is too much? When do you know if your books are bringing in a positive return on investment?” – Angela J. Ford
Keep reading through to the original article here.
The PBS Blog Podcast is now available on Itunes. Click Here.
Inspired by Maya Angelou who said that love liberates, today’s podcast speaks about how freeing it is when you know yourself enough to love yourself and to be yourself. In this, you are not just liberated from your own personal demons but also the negativity around you as well.
Listen to Love Liberates and be sure to subscribe for notification of new episodes.
For some reason the track is not showing up in the player. You’ll have to CLICK HERE.
Also I’d like to thank everyone who have been actually clicking on the links and listening. Thank you.
“When I dare to be powerful, to use my strength in the service of my vision, then it becomes less and less important whether I am afraid.” – Audre Lorde
After letting Revelation: The Nora White Story Book Two, sit for about two months, I am right back into revisions and getting excited all over again. As such, I decided to give those of you who have not read Book One an opportunity to do so.
Renaissance: The Nora White Story (Book One) is now available for just 99cents in eBook on Amazon from now through Friday, December 29, 2017. Also, be sure to leave me an honest review if you feel so obliged after this short read. Reviews greatly help readers to understand what to expect from these books and are a great source of feedback for Indie Authors. As always, your support is golden.
“The writing is of a very high quality, evoking period and place so well that I was transported to the Jazz Clubs and writers’ circles of nineteen twenties New York and to the equally hot and humid atmosphere of the Mississippi Delta.”
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