Meet Amanda Hanono | Author & Business Manager

We had the good fortune of connecting with Amanda Hanono and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Amanda, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking

I think calculated risk is the secret sauce for success. In my creative and even corporate endeavors, risk helped me make huge strides.

Taking calculated risks in corporate roles meant jumping into new industries, taking new challenges head on, and learning new skills that fall outside of my typical wheel-house of expertise. I’ve done it many times. These risks helped me grow, landed me bigger roles and new titles, as well as, added way more skills to my arsenal. I would say it was worth it every time.

In terms of my creative career it goes without saying that risk drives the life of all of my projects. As an author who writes autobiographical poetry the vibe is be raw, be real, be vulnerable or go home. My books talk discovery, sex, trauma, love, heartbreak, self-love, self-hate. I mean if that isn’t a risk I don’t know what is. Publishing books based on your own experiences is a huge risk because the goal is that the book will land in the hands of as many people as possible right? That means all of these people will know me at my most vulnerable, happy, sad, intimate. Hello new besties… I would do it and will do it again and again.

The risk has ALWAYS been worth the reward. My book Cursing in Cursive is available on Amazon, Walmart, and many other sites. When I read the reviews and have readers reach out to me directly to tell me how much the book resonated, it shows me that the reward is not just book sales, it’s connection. That’s the best part.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.

I am an author with one published work and two more in the works. My book Cursing in Cursive is a collection of poetry broken up into five chapters that navigate heartbreak, love, hard truths, intimacy and remembering who the hell you are. I wrote this book for any person who has loved, lost and rebuilt. I like to tell my readers that they should prepare to feel, ache, laugh, tingle with pleasure, and roar with power. Cursing in Cursive is a total triumph, honestly.

Writing, editing, and publishing a book while working full time was challenging but totally worth it. I think when you’re passionate about something it feels less like work and more like a release. I ended up going to my writing as my “zen” place. I’ve learned that you need to count on yourself first. No one is going to hold your hand through the process. No one is going to want it more than you, so you have to find your own discipline.

I want people to know that my writing is for everyone. Not just for women, poetry lovers, or avid readers. Some people hear poetry and think “roses are red, violets are blue” or obscure verses that require a PhD to understand. If you have felt love, looked for love, looked for peace, or even looked for yourself, these books are for you.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.

South Florida is a hub for culture, food, and good times. My list of must visit places include
Wynwood for art and cocktails
Smoke on the Water and Empire Social for all my cigar and whiskey-loving friends
Hollywood beach for clear water, open skies, and quaint eateries
MainSpot for healthy/delicious drinks and snacks with a family vibe
Calle Ocho/Little Havana for some fun cuban vibes and food The Alchemist for delicious coffee and jungalow vibes.

If you like to dance Ball & Chain is a must-see

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I’d like to dedicate my shoutout to my husband. He always encourages me to take those risks to get me to the next level. His support and belief in my vision is unmatched. Also my best friends and sister who ultimately have read every crappy version of my book before it was final and gave me their feedback and encouragement along the way.

Website: https://linktr.ee/amandahanono

Instagram: @amandahanono