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

Hi Dana, how do you think about risk?
I think that risk taking is a major factor in determining a person’s success. If you just stay in your comfort zone, you never know your full potential. As an independent author, I take a lot of risks with the way that I market myself to the public. I don’t have a big publishing house or an agent to rely on which puts all the pressure on me. My success is directly related to how much work I put into it. The past year and a half has been a major learning process based on experimenting with what’s effective and what’s not. For example, getting my book on the shelf in bookstores was a challenge at first because generally brick and mortar sellers shy away from unrepresented authors. My approach was to network and communicate regularly. I had to sell my name and brand in order to convince them that I was worthy. Ninety percent of the time I’ve been effective. People just want to see that you have the drive and the vision. Once they recognize that in you, they almost always support you on your journey.

 

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
I published my memoir, Plenty of Laughs: One Woman’s Journey Navigating the Online Dating Waters in August 2018. Since then, I’ve been regularly participating in book talks, author signings and working on the sequel. After I published, so many people reached out to me and asked about the process, so I put together an online workshop called, “Write Your Story: From Idea to Publication” www.danabuckmir.com along with a coaching program to guide aspiring authors on their path to authorship. It has been a rewarding experience to pair my teaching experience with my passion for writing to assist others through the various stages of their works in progress. I’m a firm believer that we are all storytellers. Stories are currency that become valuable when we share them with others. Sometimes people just need someone to help bring the story out in us. My role as a writing coach gives me an opportunity to inspire others and motivate them to make their stories come alive on the page. I’ve also been drawing on the comedic element in my book to create Adult Story Time videos that I share on social media. The videos are a fun and relatable way to engage the reader by discussing a dating topic and reading aloud an excerpt from my book.

Any great local spots you’d like to shoutout?
If my best friend were visiting we would spend a lot of time at the beach. The beach is such a peaceful and restorative place for me. We’d bike to the beach everyday. I love Casablanca’s on Fort Lauderdale Beach for lunch. They have a great ocean view and the food is delicious. I think that my guest would enjoy the water taxi. We could take it to different happy hour spots along the intracoastal waterway. There are so many dining options in the area that I’ve highlighted on my website, www.DanaLiciousReviews.com. Some of my favorites are: Boatyard, Catfish Deweys and Southport Raw Bar. She would love a spa day, so I’d take her to the Hilton Fort Lauderdale Beach or the Westin Fort Lauderdale Beach for a day of treatments. We could go for a boat ride or go snorkeling. Also, my friend, Rene owns SEABOB beach ventures which gives you a unique underwater experience. Hugh Taylor Birch State Park is a great place to relax, get some exercise or have a picnic. There really are endless possibilities along A1A on Fort Lauderdale Beach and the weather is always accommodating.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I’d like to recognize all the readers who have supported me with my first book, Plenty of Laughs: One Woman’s Journey Navigating the Online Dating Waters. They’ve embraced me as a newbie author and given me a chance to share my story. I’m truly humbled by the continuous encouragement I receive.

Website: www.danabuckmir.com
Instagram: @danabuckmir
Linkedin: @danabuckmir
Twitter: @danabuckmir
Facebook: @Authordanabuckmir
Youtube: @danabuckmir