Life, Be In It by Susan A. Marshall

What is Life, Be In It about?

This book is a compilation of articles that I wrote over a period of 20 or 25 years. I wrote short pieces to encourage the readers of “West Bend News”, which were published a long time ago. I also wrote a column for “Wisconsin Woman” magazine for seven years and published several pieces in “BizTimes” which is a business-oriented journal here in Milwaukee. The subtitle of the book says it all “Words of wisdom humor and encouragement”.

Do the articles cover a range of topics?

Absolutely. It’s not the kind of book you pick up and read cover to cover. It’s more like a devotional of that order, you pick up the book and read a piece or two at a time and you get a little pick-me-up for the day.

One of the first people who read the book just randomly opened it and the title of the first piece they saw was “How to Work for a Jerk”. Another example is “The Downside of Helping Too Much”. Another piece discusses how we need perspective from other people at times.

Another I wrote about was how on a Girl Scout campout experience I had, I ended up upside down in my sleeping bag and couldn't get out. Of course, somebody watching from the outside that this is hilarious. I needed somebody to unzip the bag so I could get out and that article’s topic was how often we need other people to do those kinds of things to help us.

It's a full collective around happiness and perspective. Lots of different topics and stories.

What inspired you to make a book compilation of your articles?

I had a book published 10 to 12 years before this book’s release, which was called “How to Grow a Backbone: 10 Strategies for Gaining Power and Influence at Work”. It was aimed at a working audience and a business audience published by a company in Chicago but subsequently acquired by McGraw-Hil. I had worked with an agent to do that first book which was a very interesting experience, not often done anymore.

I wanted to write the second book in the Backbone Guide Series, which was “Beauty and Substance a Backbone Guide for Women”. I thought as I was writing that it would be good to get another work into the marketplace, just to get some visibility and some name recognition. That's why we put together this compilation of pieces, which I had accumulated over like I said 20 or 25 years.

What part of the production of the book did you enjoy the most?

Working with Kira, the publisher, to give some perspective. To have somebody else’s eyes on it to help shape it and to have the articles paced in a way to help it flow better. To have another perspective saying, “That's kind of interesting.” or “No, that's really dated.”. That kind of objective outside look was very helpful.

What is the most important advice you can give someone?

Pay attention. Slow down. Your life has a purpose, and it will unfold.